85: Everything about you is no longer my concern!

Li didn't return that night.

However, Tu Nan received a message from Hain early the next morning, telling her to go to the intersection.

A small package fell from the sky and landed precisely in her arms. But when she looked up, she only saw a Bird Beastman flapping its wings and flying away.

Two identity bracelets, one of which was a Children's model. Tu Nan hid them and went home.

It wasn't until late that night that there was movement at the courtyard gate. Tu Nan heard Gaia and Li's simple conversation.

She got out of bed and said to the two furballs, who had also been woken up, in her mind, "Did you remember? You must stay in Beast Form these two days, even in front of Father."

Then she put on her clothes and went out to meet them.

Li's face was very grim, and he was clearly injured. Seeing Tu Nan, his expression was complex. After saying a few casual words to Gaia, he walked towards Tu Nan.

"It's cold at night, why did you come out?" He took Tu Nan's hand and led her back into the house.

Before turning around, Tu Nan noticed Gaia's worried gaze.

"How did you get hurt?" Tu Nan pressed Li into a chair, then bustled about, getting him a healing spray. Li watched Tu Nan move around the room, the Children huddled in a corner.

For a moment, he didn't know if the decision he made was truly correct.

That afternoon at Sheng Ranran's place, although he had erupted in an instant, he was ultimately suppressed by the people Father Sheng brought.

Now, recalling Sheng Mingqian's cruel yet true words, he still felt both angry and unwilling.

"Li, we have more people, do you think it's unfair?" Sheng Mingqian smiled. "There's no fairness in this world—that's the first thing you need to know about becoming my son-in-law."

"You're a good fighter, but what good is it if you're strong alone? If you're strong, you'll still only be risking your life for others in the army. What about your Children? Inheriting your fate, they'll only be fit to live such a life."

Li's struggle was severely suppressed.

Six B-class thugs, one of whom might have already touched the shadow of A-class, he would only have a chance to win if he fought to the death.

But now he had Tu Nan and the Children; he was no longer the one who could gamble his life so freely.

"Only by marrying my daughter do you have the right to talk about fairness and continue the family head competition. Otherwise..." Sheng Mingqian looked in the direction Li was familiar with, which was his home.

"Can you guarantee to always be by their side? Accidents can happen at any time, can't they?"

"Aren't you afraid... I'll kill you?" Li asked fiercely.

Sheng Mingqian curled his lips.

"What foolish talk. When you truly become the Sheng Family head, you won't have such thoughts." He burst out laughing, as if laughing at Li's naivety.

"The beauty of power, you will understand. By then, you'll be too busy thanking me."

He gestured for his subordinates to release Li.

"What, are you really going to risk your life for a Foster Mother? I've already said, Ranran will be a qualified mistress, and she won't stop you from keeping a Foster Mother. As for those Two Children, as long as they change their surname to Sheng, not only will we treat them as our own Children, but they will also gain noble status in the future."

"Ranran promised you, didn't she? Then let them be recorded as her Children."

Li wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and stood up.

Fiona, that Female Beast, was standing behind Sheng Ranran, sneering at him. He finally saw her clearly again.

He regretted it.

He truly didn't care about Tu Nan's Foster Mother status, and he also didn't want Tu Nan to seem to need him less and less now.

However, his vision of a home had never changed.

Only him, Tu Nan, and the Children. There should be no other Female Beast among them.

Not to mention whether Tu Nan would be wronged, he himself couldn't accept it.

But now everything had become irreversible. How could he know that the Arena Competition Sheng Ranran asked him to participate in was under the identity of her future husband? And now they were even threatening him with Tu Nan's Foster Mother status.

Tu Nan, as a Foster Mother, disguised herself as a commoner, or even a noblewoman. If no one investigated, then everything would be fine, but Fiona accused Tu Nan of murdering her brother, and the Sheng Family said they would prosecute Tu Nan for the crime of disrespect using her noble status.

Tu Nan would die!

No, absolutely not! He couldn't accept losing Tu Nan.

He just needed to agree to the Sheng Family first... and talk to Tu Nan properly. Once he truly climbed to a high position, he would make all those who threatened Tu Nan die!

"Have you made your choice? Let's have the wedding before the next Arena Competition in three days."

Li stood there for a long time, then silently walked to the corner and picked up his saber. The thugs immediately wanted to rush over again, but Sheng Mingqian gently raised his hand to stop them.

No need, this Male Beast had already made his decision.

Indeed, Li looked at his scimitar for a long time, his arm muscles bulging, then he suddenly raised his knee and snapped the scimitar, which had accompanied him for half his life, in two.

He casually threw the scimitar aside, looked up, and this Male Beast seemed to suddenly truly understand something at this moment. He stated to Sheng Mingqian expressionlessly, "Father-in-law, let the wedding be set for three days from now."

"Hahahahaha!" Sheng Mingqian laughed loudly, then turned to instruct his daughter, "Remember to find a better saber for your future husband!"

Li's eyes were calm and waveless.

When he finally returned and saw Tu Nan, Li suddenly found it hard to speak. He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out the ruby he had secretly prepared for a long time.

"Here, I bought it before. You don't have much jewelry, this would make a very nice necklace." He suddenly remembered that the money for this gem was given by Sheng Ranran, claiming it was Arena Competition earnings.

He wanted to take the gem back, but Tu Nan had already picked it up with a surprised look.

Tu Nan was always so easily satisfied, delighted with everything he gave her. She hardly ever made demands, she just said she wanted to stay with him forever, not as a Foster Mother.

She anxiously begged him to deal with Fiona, and what about him? He lightly sent her home.

He also had to personally shatter her beautiful dream.

Tu Nan was admiring the beautiful gem in the light, and Li almost couldn't bear to destroy this last moment of her dream. But if he didn't say it, and the Sheng Family came knocking... "Tu Nan..." Li suddenly pulled Tu Nan into a hug. Tu Nan smelled fragrant today, and Li's eyes suddenly felt hot.

He could almost imagine that his Tu Nan, after being scolded by him yesterday, had come back in fear to tidy herself up, and even applied scented oil all over her body, hoping to have a wonderful night with him.

But he had failed her.

"Fiona... has been found." He finally spoke the news.

Tu Nan's body stiffened. She squeezed out of his embrace and asked him fearfully, "Did she say something bad? Does anyone believe her?"

Li answered with difficulty, "It's Sheng Ranran, she took her in. Her father found me... and said that only if I marry her, they won't accuse you of murder and forging noble identity."

Tu Nan was pulled back into Li's embrace. She listened as the Male Beast told her in a heavy tone, "They're threatening me to marry her. But it's okay... you're still my Foster Mother, I'll protect you."

Tu Nan felt nothing inside.

Perhaps, as that piece of flesh and that number left her body yesterday, her last shred of expectation for Li was stripped away. Everything happening now was like the hanging shoe finally dropping.

She heard herself speak in a frightened, fragile, crying voice.

"When... is the last time I can openly be by Lord Li's side?"

"Three days," Li said. "The wedding will be held in three days."

"It's fake. Nothing will change, I promise."

Ah... it doesn't matter, this isn't important.

Tu Nan thought. She buried her face in Li's chest and muffled her plea, "Can you give me some time to recover... I know you can't help it, but I also need some time. Two days, okay? Let me stay in the small courtyard by myself."

"I'll figure it out. Just... two days."