18 Better to rely on oneself than on a beast master!

Inside the Che family house.

Cang Qian sat on the long wooden armchair in the living room, yawning repeatedly. She was newly pregnant and had spent the entire previous night with Banai, so it was obvious she hadn’t had enough sleep.

Che Baiyuan noticed her constant yawning and teased her with a smile, “So tired, huh? Someone might think you’re not even pregnant!”

Cang Qian raised an eyebrow. “Maybe I am.”

Che Baiyuan’s eyes widened in surprise, then she exclaimed joyfully, “Really?”

But then she frowned. “Wait, didn’t you say you haven’t formed the beast bond with Banai yet?”

Cang Qian pulled her closer, rolled up the sleeve on her left arm, and whispered, “We did last night.”

Che Baiyuan’s face lit up when she saw the beast imprint on Cang Qian’s left arm. “Congratulations! Looks like the push I gave you yesterday morning really helped!”

The beast bond was a mark symbolizing the union between a female and a male beast person. The imprint would display the male’s species—Banai, being a blue fox, had his mark shown as a blue fox head.

The more male beasts a female beast person bonded with, the more beast imprints would appear on her arms.

If a bonded male died, his corresponding imprint would vanish from her arm.

If danger arose, the relevant imprint would flicker constantly.

Male beast persons, after bonding, bore the female’s species imprint over their heart.

If the female was in danger, the male’s heart imprint would burn hot like fire.

If the female died, the male’s heart imprint would ignite fiercely, causing his death as well. The female, however, would remain unharmed.

For a male to remove a beast imprint, he must sever an arm or leg before the Beast God’s golden statue, forever relinquishing the chance of offspring.

This rule was established by the first Beast God to protect the relatively scarce female beast persons in their world.

Hearing Che Baiyuan’s congratulations, Cang Qian smiled. “I really have to thank you for your help yesterday. Without that, Banai and I wouldn’t have completely cleared up our misunderstanding.”

“Glad I could help!” Che Baiyuan replied cheerfully.

“By the way, after you left yesterday, my father and mother beasts sent a letter. They said they’ll return to the village in three days to visit me.”

“You know they’ve been trading far away for years and rarely come back. This time, they’re returning because they know I gave birth to little beast cubs and also about how you saved me.”

“Even though you’re the chieftain’s granddaughter, they last saw you years ago. So this visit, they specifically said they want to meet you!”

Cang Qian said, “Since they are your father and mother beasts, of course I want to meet them.”

Che Baiyuan held her hand earnestly. “My parents have been trading far and wide for years, and they know many people, including the head maid of the Blue Fox Beast Palace’s princess. So you really should seize this chance!”

“Huh?” Cang Qian looked puzzled. “Seize what chance?”

Che Baiyuan clicked her tongue. “Naturally, the chance to enter the Beast Palace! If the Blue Fox Beast King favors you and you get in, you’ll live a life of wealth and honor!”

“Even if the Beast King doesn’t favor you, if the son of our Blue Fox clan chieftain or sons of the other three great clans take notice, you’ll never lack for riches.”

After hearing this, Cang Qian laughed and shook her head. “No thanks. Whether it’s the Beast Palace or those great clans, there are surely too many rules. I prefer freedom—better to avoid all that.”

“You’d reject all that wealth and status?!” Che Baiyuan raised an eyebrow. “Or is it because you truly like Banai, so you don’t want other beast mates?”

Cang Qian smiled and shook her head again. “I do like him, of course. I wouldn’t bond with any male beast I don’t like.”

“But I’m not saying it has to be just him. It’s just that money is an external thing—I can earn it myself, so wealth and status aren’t my priorities.”

Che Baiyuan poked her on the head playfully, lecturing like an older sister. “In the beast world, when has a young female ever earned beast coins herself? It’s always the beast mates who make the beast coins for you to spend!”

Rubbing her sore head, Cang Qian said, “Why not? That’s how I think—better to rely on myself than on beast mates.”

“You’re really unique,” Che Baiyuan disapproved. “But to rely on yourself, you have to be capable. We female beast persons can’t cultivate spiritual power, so we can’t fight forest monsters. Without going into the forest, you can’t gather raw materials. Without raw materials, how will you trade and earn beast coins?”

“Sure, you can buy raw materials from other beasts, but that will raise your costs. Higher costs mean higher prices, and if you’re more expensive than others, who will buy from you?”

After hearing this, Cang Qian understood why no female beast persons ran their own businesses here—it was this reason.

But she knew she was different from the others; she could awaken spiritual power and cultivate it, so raw materials wouldn’t be a problem.

If she wanted to open a shop someday, she could do it all on her own.

Still, she didn’t want to share this ability with anyone yet—not even Banai or Che Baiyuan.

Cang Qian nodded with a grin. “You’re right! When your parents arrive, I’ll do my best to win their favor and get them to recommend me.”

Seeing her playful smile, Che Baiyuan gave her a mock stern look. “I’m serious, not joking! You’d better be earnest—don’t be a sly fox!”

“All right, all right, I promise to be serious and attentive then!”

Laughing, Cang Qian stood, stretched, and yawned again. “Sister, I’m really exhausted. Mind if I borrow your guest room for a bit?”

Che Baiyuan nodded.

Watching her walk drowsily toward the guest room, she thought: Is Banai really that amazing? Did they really spend the whole night together?

Che Baiyuan then called out toward the kitchen, “Naiwa!”

Naiwa, busy in the kitchen, promptly appeared. “Yuan Yuan, what’s up?”

“Qian’s tired and going to rest in the guest room. I’m a bit tired too, so I’ll head to my room. Cook the lunch and call us when it’s ready.”

“Got it.”

Naiwa walked over, lowered his head, and kissed her softly. “Yuan Yuan, want some fish soup for lunch?”

“Yes, please.”

After saying that, Che Baiyuan smiled and stood on tiptoe to peck his lips. “Thank you for taking care of me.”

Naiwa beamed instantly. “You gave birth to two little beast cubs for me, almost risking your life. Making fish soup is nothing!”

The two little fox cubs Che Baiyuan bore this time were both Naiwa’s.

Though both were males and thus less precious than females, having twins made Naiwa especially happy.

Che Baiyuan reminded him, “I’m going to rest now. Be careful when you go to the fish pond to catch fish.”

The village had fish ponds specifically stocked to supply the tribe with food, purchasable with beast coins.

Naiwa nodded and headed out toward the pond.

Che Baiyuan glanced at Chen Yu, who had been standing by the window all along. “If you’re tired, you can rest in the other guest room. Qian is very well-behaved—she won’t sneak off!”

Without waiting for Chen Yu’s reaction, she turned and left the living room, stepping into her own large room.

After Che Baiyuan left, Chen Yu waited a moment, then quietly tiptoed to her door to listen carefully.

Hearing nothing, he moved to the guest room where Cang Qian was staying and listened again.

Confirming silence, he glanced back to ensure Naiwa hadn’t returned, then gently pushed open the guest room door and peeked inside.

Chen Yu saw Cang Qian fast asleep on the bed. He stepped fully into the room.

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