Qiu Hui felt as if the sight of her snow-white skin had burned his eyes, and he quickly looked away.
He sat down. This stone bed was one Feng Yu had taken from his Nine-Colored Pocket Dimension Space. It was covered with several layers of Beast Skins, making it soft and comfortable without losing its shape.
Little Jing had trouble sleeping in unfamiliar beds, so Feng Yu took this one with them everywhere they went.
Qiu Hui couldn’t stop himself from reaching out and brushing her messy hair aside.
Giggling in her sleep from the ticklish sensation, Little Jing hugged his arm. Her voice was husky with sleep as she murmured, "Feng Yu, stop messing around. I want to sleep a little more!"
Qiu Hui froze, not daring to move. He could only feel the soft little creature clinging to his arm, terrified of waking her.
Little Jing was surprised at how obedient Feng Yu was being. When she told him not to move, he didn’t move. ’He must be feeling insecure,’ she thought, ’that’s why he’s being so good.’
With her eyes still closed, she rested her head on his lap and hugged his waist. "Feng Yu, I’ve already told you, no matter how many Beast Husbands our family has, you are the most, most, most special one.
"I like you the best. I want to lie in your arms every day and not move..."
Qiu Hui looked down at the little one snuggling against his waist, his heart pounding. He slowly raised his hand and gently stroked the back of her head.
The girl in his arms gave a contented little wiggle of her head, snuggling even deeper into his embrace.
He could feel her light, warm breath puffing against his abdomen...
Qiu Hui’s entire body tensed. It was a mixture of torment and fascination that left him bewildered.
When Feng Yu still didn’t say anything, Little Jing sat up with a little laugh and gave him a quick peck on the lips. Only then did she open her eyes. "Alright, a good morning kiss. I’m getting up..."
When she saw it was Qiu Hui, Little Jing froze on the spot.
All of Qiu Hui’s rationality had just vanished. He cupped the back of her head and kissed her fiercely. But he had no experience, so he could only press against her in helpless urgency, not knowing what to do next.
It was only when Little Jing opened her mouth to speak that he took the opportunity, conquering her defenses...
Little Jing was left dizzy from the kiss, and it was a long while before she found herself pressed into his arms. ’Alright, I’ve been gradually getting used to Qiu Hui’s presence lately,’ she thought. ’That’s why I wasn’t sensitive to his aura. At least, not enough to realize it wasn’t Feng Yu while I was still half-asleep.’
Qiu Hui’s voice was muffled. "Little Jing, I... I’m sorry. I couldn’t control myself."
Little Jing tried to stifle her laughter, but she couldn’t hold it back any longer. She threw her arms around his waist and burst out laughing.
Qiu Hui watched helplessly as she laughed so hard she cried, and he resignedly patted her back.
When Little Jing finally calmed down, she covered his eyes with one hand and deactivated the Transformation Talisman, reverting to her original appearance.
"Alright, I’ll come clean," Little Jing said, lowering her hand. "The truth is, I’m not a male. I only have one Beast Husband with me when I travel, so to be safe, I disguised myself as my older brother."
’If I keep this up, I’m really going to turn this sweet, simple Beast Husband gay!’ she thought in alarm.
Qiu Hui watched, stunned, as the previously flat-chested "little male" transformed before his very eyes into an even more beautiful and delicate young female.
When she saw him staring at her chest, Little Jing moved to cover his eyes again, but Qiu Hui caught her hand.
His gaze was blazing with joy. "Little Jing... you’re a female?"
"That’s right. The very same benefactor you swore to repay with your life," Little Jing said, shaking her head with a smile. "You’ve already made the vow. Whether you’re satisfied with me or not, you have to accept reality."
Qiu Hui kissed the back of her hand. "Satisfied? I’m more satisfied than I could have ever imagined!"
If all the torment he had suffered before was just the Beast God’s way of bringing this female to him, then he felt it was all worth it.
And so, for the rest of their journey, Feng Yu and Qiu Hui took turns carrying Little Jing as they hurried on their way.
By the time they reached Changping, the capital of Jiuzhou, half a month had passed. By then, a Striped Tiger Beast Seal had appeared on Little Jing’s chest.
"Family Head, the men of our Qiu Family have never married into another family. It has always been the females who bring their mates to live with the Qiu Family. If you become mates with the female from the Long Tusked Elephant Bai Family, you will be turning the entire Qiu Family into a subordinate family.
"What will all of Changping City, and even all of Jiuzhou, think of our Qiu Family then?"
In the Qiu Family’s council hall, several elders were desperately trying to persuade Family Head Qiu Luo.
Qiu Luo sneered. "What I want isn’t just the Qiu Family. It’s all of Jiuzhou, and even the entire Yongchang Continent!"
"Why should a mere White Fox get to be the Beast King? We Striped Tigers are the pinnacle of Beastmen—we are the true kings."
"Whether as Wild Beasts or Beastmen, the Long Tusked Elephants are massive and powerful, with almost no natural enemies. With their help, it will only be a matter of time before our Qiu Family rules the entire Yongchang Continent."
"After all, Bai Qin’s other Beast Husbands all come from extraordinary families and are incredibly powerful. With their help, our success will be swift and certain."
’He’s far too arrogant,’ the elders thought. ’A mere Peak Seventeenth Level Beastman who thinks he can rule the entire Yongchang Continent.’
It was all due to the turmoil in the clan two years prior. The old Family Head had died of a sudden illness, and the new one was attacked and went missing before he could even secure his position. The clan’s unity shattered overnight. Many of the more powerful clan members, refusing to submit to the new leadership, had long since left home, claiming they were searching for the true Family Head.
Those who remained were the ones with deep ties to the clan, who couldn’t bear to see the Striped Tiger family struck from the records of Changping’s great families.
This Qiu Luo had little actual ability, but he was ambitious and full of underhanded tricks. No one knew how he’d managed it, but now Bai Qin was crying and begging to take him as a Beast Husband.
The Qiu Family and Bai Family had never gotten along. The Bai Family Patriarch, unable to endure his daughter’s tantrums, finally relented. However, he demanded that Qiu Luo live with Bai Qin in the Bai Family’s home!
’We get it now,’ they thought. ’This Qiu Luo is trying to drag the entire Qiu Family down into the abyss with him.’
But even so, they were helpless. There was almost no one left in the clan who could stand against Qiu Luo...
Just as they were speaking, someone suddenly shouted excitedly, "The Family Head is back! The Family Head is back!"
The elders shot to their feet, trembling as they stumbled toward the door like children rushing to greet their long-lost mother.
Qiu Luo gritted his teeth in anger and couldn’t stop himself from shouting, "Elders, you’d better think this through! The moment you step through that door, you’re making an enemy of me."
"As long as I am here, you will no longer be elders. An elder’s duty is to support the Family Head, not to obstruct him."
"Qiu Hui has been missing for over two years. If he were fine, he would have returned long ago. Who knows if he can even practice Cultivation anymore."
"Are you sure you want to cross me for his sake? You’ve seen plenty of what happens to those who do, haven’t you?"
The elders shuddered inwardly. Since becoming Family Head, Qiu Luo had grown brazen, acting on his every whim with no regard for the clan.
But they exchanged a look, and with a cold sneer, strode decisively out the door.
"Whoever wants to be this kind of stifled elder can have the job. We’re done serving. At worst, we’ll just be like the youngsters and roam the world. No matter how capable you think you are, can your power really reach every corner of Jiuzhou? Can you truly control the entire Yongchang Continent?"
Qiu Luo gritted his teeth in fury. ’These old fools. They won’t give up until they’re staring death in the face!’
’Fine,’ he thought. ’I’ll go with them. Let’s see just how high their hopes are, and how great their disappointment will be.’
Just as Qiu Hui’s party of three reached the reception hall, the elders rushed over. They pulled him around, looking him over from every angle, tears of relief streaming down their wrinkled faces as they nodded again and again...