Future Beast World: Becoming A Pampered Beauty-Chapter 498 - 437: Keep Your Word, Or Else... Punishment
「Chuanwu City.」
It was originally just a remote little city on the border of the North Continent, with an initial population of only a few thousand—about the size of a large tribe on other continents. After it was incorporated into the territory of Ice-breaking City, Lan Cang inspected the local situation and decided to develop light industry within its walls.
The North Continent had few natural resources but was rich in minerals and energy, though extraction was difficult. The major territorial powers had either resigned themselves to fate, maintaining their primitive ways, or focused on developing heavy industry.
Lan Cang had always done the same. Under his leadership, Ice-breaking City and its subordinate cities had thrived. But a shortcoming had become increasingly apparent: the long-neglected light industry had become a critical vulnerability, a chokepoint others could exploit. Thus, Lan Cang designated Chuanwu City and a few other border cities as a pilot project for developing light industry.
When Zhi Xin learned of this, she volunteered to come and oversee it.
Zhi Xin had just returned from an inspection at the factory when she saw a familiar figure in the courtyard.
She rubbed her eyes, thinking she must be dreaming. "Mother!"
Sang Luo opened her arms, a wide smile on her face. "My precious daughter, it’s been so long!"
The young woman threw herself into her mother’s arms and burst into tears with a "WAAAH!"
"Mother, I missed you so much! You! Why did it take you so long to come back?!"
Of her three Wolf Pups, Sang Luo doted most on her adorable Wolf Daughter. Little Zhi Xin had also spent more time with her than her two older brothers, and the bond between mother and daughter was exceptionally deep.
Sang Luo gently patted the young woman’s back, tears falling from her own eyes as well.
The little girl from her memory had blossomed into a graceful young woman, now nearly as tall as she was. Her long, snow-white hair was soft and dreamlike, cascading casually over her shoulders. She had a delicate, small face and clear, sapphire-like almond eyes. Her features were a perfect blend of Sang Luo’s and Lan Cang’s best traits—possessing Sang Luo’s playful charm and her father’s touch of steely calm. Her skin was as white as porcelain, and she was dressed fashionably in a trench coat, scarf, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt. She was an absolute beauty!
"My Little Zhi Xin has truly grown more and more beautiful!"
Looking at her from every angle, Sang Luo felt that no male in the world was worthy of her daughter. She was both happy and worried. ’...I wonder which rotten brat will end up stealing her away someday.’
"Hmph, Zhi Xin won’t be stolen away by anyone~ If anything, I’ll be the one to snatch up a few handsome males for you to inspect, Mother!" Little Zhi Xin said, affectionately taking her arm.
When mother and daughter stood together, they looked more like sisters to any outsider.
The two peerless beauties, each with their own unique style, created a stunning and eye-catching sight. The young Beastmen all stared, forgetting how to walk.
"Haha, Mother trusts her precious daughter’s taste. Not that anyone could be better than your father!"
"Better than Dad? I doubt anyone like that exists in the world~" In Little Zhi Xin’s eyes, her father was the best Male Beast in the world—reliable, family-oriented, capable, and hardworking. If she were to look for a Beast Husband, she would follow that same standard!
"Didn’t you used to like Uncle Lou when you were little? You even complained to me that Dad wasn’t as handsome as Uncle Lou and that you wanted to trade him."
"Ahem!" Little Zhi Xin choked, recalling that she had indeed said such outrageous things as a child. She blushed and quickly shook her head. "A childish slip of the tongue! I think... you can’t just judge a Male Beast by his looks. A good personality is what’s most important."
"Mm, I think you’re right. Look at your father and Uncle Lou—their personalities and looks are both top-notch, and they’re great at taking care of children. Otherwise, with so many of you, I would never have been able to manage."
The mother and daughter hadn’t seen each other in a long time, and they had much to talk about—secrets and heartfelt words alike. They chatted idly about whatever came to mind, the atmosphere light and harmonious.
Just as they stepped into the house.
"WHOOSH!" A tiny blur shot out toward them.
Little Zhi Xin took two steps back and caught a small, fluffy thing. She patted it under its head and said, "My mother is back today, so you’d better behave. If you hurt her, I’ll skin you alive!"
"A little pet of yours?" Sang Luo got a clear look and saw a small, mottled black-and-yellow Snow Mink in her daughter’s arms.
Zhi Xin skillfully wrapped the little Snow Mink around her neck, making it look like a large fur collar from a distance. "I found it in the snow a couple of years ago. The silly mink had frozen stiff. I thought it was dead and was about to find a place to bury it, but it revived after I held it for a while. I brought it home, and it never ran away, so I’ve been keeping it ever since."
She grinned. "Mother, go on, pet sesame ball. He’s very well-behaved and never bites! He’s also really warm when you wear him around your neck!"
She had heard that minks looked small and cute but were actually quite ferocious. Sang Luo tentatively stroked the little Snow Mink. It really didn’t bite. It even rolled over and exposed its belly for her to rub.
Sang Luo laughed as well. "It seems quite intelligent. You don’t think it’s a Beastman cub from some family, do you? Did you try asking around?"
"I did look. I didn’t hear about anyone in the city losing a cub. If it really was someone’s child, it would have gone home long ago. It’s never spoken a word, either. It’s just a normal wild animal."
Sang Luo looked at the little Snow Mink’s amber beast eyes. "It’s strangely cute. Go ahead and keep it."
Her children all had their own things to do and were very busy, so Sang Luo didn’t want to disturb them for too long. Seeing that all three were doing well, she left with her mind at ease.
Before she left, Sang Luo gave Little Zhi Xin a set of paints and a set of brushes made from Ice Crystal Snow Fox Fur.
She had brought the Ice Crystal Snow Fox Fur back from 100,000 years in the past. When she saw it in a shop back then, she immediately thought of how much Little Zhi Xin loved to draw and that it would be perfect for making brushes, so she brought it back along with her other Refining Materials.
Little Zhi Xin absolutely loved it and gave her mother a big kiss on the cheek.
"Mother, I love you so much!"
"Mother loves her Little Zhi Xin, too."
...
「The Holy Palace.」
Hephis was there as well. He had grown a bit and was now a young boy of thirteen or fourteen. He had short, curly, golden-brown hair, exquisite and beautiful features, and a face that still held a bit of baby fat, making him as handsome as a sculpture or a painting.
He was followed by his younger brother and sister. The two Little Angels had also taken human form. They had the faces of five or six-year-old children, with chubby cheeks and features so beautiful they were beyond belief. They had brilliant golden curls and skin as white as milk—two Little Angels sent to the mortal world by a God!
Little Rose’s eyes were the color of roses, while Little Apple’s were the color of green apples.
No wonder Fei Yuan had given them those nicknames.
"Luoluo." Minos had been in a meeting at the Holy Palace, but he appeared in an instant after sensing her presence.
Sang Luo turned and hugged him. "I missed you."
Minos carefully wrapped his arms around her waist, deeply inhaling her sweet scent. A profound longing filled his eyes. "A few hundred years isn’t a long time for me, but only when you were gone did I realize how unbearable it is."
"I’m back this time, and I won’t leave again. I’ll stay here with you and the children."
"You have to keep your word, Luoluo."
"Mmm~ When have I ever lied to you?"
"How many days will you stay at the Holy Palace this time?" he asked, gazing deeply at her as a golden light surfaced in his clear blue eyes.
"I don’t have anything else to take care of. I’ll stay with you for a few more days."
Minos lowered his head and kissed her lips. "Keep your word. Otherwise... there will be a punishment!"
