Beast World: A Fragile Beauty Blessed with Many Children-Chapter 178 - 177: What’s a Male Like Me Got to Lose?
Si Shuo understood that she had to remain vigilant at all times. Disguised as a young White Fox, she was not only evading the Winged Dragon Clan’s surveillance but also using the cover to investigate with Ji Liang.
"I came here to wander around with a friend. I heard Iron-eating Beastmen lived here, so I came over to your wall to take a peek."
"It must be fate, right? You just happened to see me jump the wall to run away from home! Come on, let me tag along on your stroll, huh?" Wei Ce’s eyes were full of expectation, completely unguarded around a stranger.
Si Shuo pursed her lips. "My friend hasn’t caught up yet."
Wei Ce turned to look in a certain direction, jutting his chin out. "There. Isn’t he hiding over there?"
Sure enough, Ji Liang emerged from behind a tree. His expression was cold, and he walked with difficult steps toward Si Shuo as the intense stare made his scalp tingle. He asked in a low voice, "Are you all right?"
Si Shuo smiled and took his hand, finding it slick with cold sweat. "I’m fine. If you’re uncomfortable, should we head home first?"
Ji Liang’s pupils contracted. He understood her meaning all too well. Having spent the most time with the young female at home, he knew she had an irresistible fondness for Iron-eating Beasts.
For her to suggest going home now meant she was considering giving up on the Iron-eating Beasts and choosing another clan or family instead.
’Is it just because Iron-eating Beasts and Snake Beasts are natural enemies?’
He couldn’t help but swallow, his Adam’s apple bobbing. He smiled and ruffled her hair. "I’m fine. I heard there’s lots of good food in the North City District. Let’s walk around for a bit. It won’t be too late to go home after that."
’The Combat Power of a Level 14 Iron-eating Beast is not to be underestimated. Even the Level 15 Golden Python, Ni Chang, would have to steer clear of him...’
Wei Ce nodded repeatedly. "Yeah, yeah! We have tons of delicious food here. Look, it’s about time to eat. Are you really going to go home with an empty stomach?"
As he spoke, his stomach even rumbled twice in agreement. He subconsciously clutched it and laughed, a little embarrassed.
The intimidating aura he had just been exuding completely vanished, leaving only a simple and honest expression. Even Ji Liang felt much more at ease.
Only then did Si Shuo purse her lips into a smile and nod, pulling Ji Liang along.
Wei Ce hurried to her other side, his head swiveling to look at all the different foods and trinkets in the market. He looked even more inexperienced than she did!
Si Shuo couldn’t help but ask with an amused smile, "Wei Ce, do you not get out much?"
Wei Ce nodded vigorously, his eyes darting toward her from time to time. ’Ah, are all White Fox Clan Members this beautiful? I can’t control my eyes. Maybe I should go back and give the elders the nod. Have them help me pick a young female from among the White Foxes? Preferably from the same litter as the White Fox Cub, Si Cheng!’ "Yeah. I’m usually either in the Beast Soldier Camp or at home. I rarely come out."
Si Shuo remembered him climbing the wall and couldn’t contain her curiosity. She continued, "Wei Ce, you said you were running away from home. Why?"
Wei Ce leaned in conspiratorially. "I’ve come of age, haven’t I? Ever since my Beast Mark was added, my family’s been nagging me every year to find a Female Saint!
This year, they said that if I don’t find one and refuse to follow the family’s arrangements, I shouldn’t bother coming home. So, I ran out on my own.
White Fox Cub, how about you take me in for a few days?"
’That way, I can go right to the fox den and find a pretty young female myself. Ah, actually, finding a young female to mate with doesn’t sound so bad after all.’
Si Shuo lowered her eyes, a hint of a smile flashing within them. "Wei Ce, would you have followed anyone you met outside the wall home?"
"No way! A White Fox Cub as beautiful and kind as you would never try to harm me. I can’t trust other Beastmen!" Wei Ce swore solemnly.
"Haven’t you ever heard that foxes are the most cunning of all?" Si Shuo asked, tilting her head with a smile.
Wei Ce moved his face closer, gazing at the White Fox Cub’s fair, smooth skin. It was more tempting than a bamboo shoot, making his teeth itch with the desire to take a bite.
He immediately clapped a hand over his mouth and straightened up. He knew all too well the power of his teeth. Just a moment ago, he had only flicked the fox cub’s forehead lightly, and it had turned red. The bright mark was still there.
It was because of that flick that the Snake Beast’s aura had been exposed for him to sense. If he had actually bitten down, he could have chewed the skin right off the White Fox Cub.
"So how are you going to trick me, White Fox Cub? What’s there for a male like me to lose?" Wei Ce asked nonchalantly, lowering his hand.
"Oh, lots of ways," Si Shuo said, smiling as she counted on her fingers. "We could slip you a knockout drug. No matter how powerful you are, one bowl and you’d pass out, leaving you at our mercy.
For example, we could send a message to the Iron-eating Beast Clan and make them spend a lot of Crystal Stones to ransom you. If they’re short, we chop off a finger!"
As she spoke, she even used her hand as a blade, making a sharp chopping motion accompanied by a "CHOP!" sound.
Both Ji Liang and Wei Ce couldn’t help but feel a phantom pain in their fingers. ’As expected of a beast cub. So vicious!’
"Or, since you’re an Iron-eating Beast with formidable Combat Power, we could drag you to the Beast Fighting Arena. I wonder how many Crystal Stones you’d sell for. We could make you perform, chewing on cages, giant rocks, or bamboo?"
Wei Ce’s face darkened. Him? A majestic Iron-eating Beast, putting on a show for others?
"Or... we could have our females bear your cubs. Just one cub would tie you to us, and then we’d be entangled with your Iron-eating Beast Clan. They’d ask for the stars and the moon, and how could you refuse?"
Wei Ce wanted to go home. ’Are the cubs out here really this vicious?’ he thought. As a male with high Combat Power, he suddenly felt that everyone in the market was looking at him with sinister eyes...
"White Fox Cub... you... since you’ve told me all this, you must not be planning anything against me, right?" Wei Ce couldn’t help but swallow and ask.
Si Shuo was laughing hysterically on the inside, but her face remained dead serious. "Of course I am. I have a whole line of older sisters at home. Are you sure you want to come home with me for a few days, Wei Ce?"
Wei Ce’s face flushed, and he coughed twice. "White Fox Cub, I’m a very traditional male. I only have one Beast Mark, and it can only be given to one Female Saint."
Si Shuo was starting to get a headache from his straightforward and unguarded nature. If she had really harbored ill intentions, wouldn’t this Iron-eating Beast have walked right into a trap?
He was lucky it was her he had run into.
"Let’s go. We’ll eat first," Si Shuo said, taking Ji Liang’s hand and striding forward.
Wei Ce’s eyes glinted. He stepped forward and grabbed Si Shuo’s other hand, grinning. "It’s crowded in the market, and it’s full of arrogant and rude Beastmen who rely on their family backgrounds. Hold my hand tight, White Fox Cub, and don’t get lost!"
He strode forward, giving Si Shuo no chance to refuse, and began clearing a path with one of them on each side.
Ji Liang gently squeezed Si Shuo’s palm and gave a slight, smiling nod. It was a clear signal that this candidate was worth further consideration. After all, an Iron-eating Beast who was a loner with no social experience but excellent Combat Power would be very easy to win over!
’A little foolishly naive is fine. I can help teach him later. I’ll definitely make sure our own doesn’t lose out.’
Si Shuo pursed her lips, her face growing hot. She just... really, really wanted to see Wei Ce’s Beast Form. That was the most important thing!
She had a feeling that if she saw it, all her principles would fly out the window, and she would agree to anything he asked...
