The beast form of a Snake Beast was ferocious and terrifying, which was why females found them unappealing. This often led to them being ostracized and becoming Wandering Beasts.
Although Gu Yin was certain his Jin’er was different, he was, in fact, extrely cautious every ti he transford into his snake form in front of her. He would only breathe a sigh of relief after sensing she felt no revulsion.
But even so, he still restrained his wild and bestial nature, trying his best to present a more docile and gentle side of himself.
Gu Yin grew anxious. ’Now that she’s seen what I truly look like when I hunt and attack, will she be afraid of ? Will she hate ?’
"What are you thinking about? You’re so lost in thought." An Jin patted his head.
"HISS~"
Gu Yin snapped out of his daze, shifting into his human form and pulling her into his arms. He licked the blood from his lips clean before leaning in to steal a kiss from her cheek. "It’s nothing," he said cheerfully. "You’ve been busy all day and haven’t eaten. Let’s go ho and eat."
"Mhm."
An Jin nestled obediently in his arms as the two of them followed the crowd back to the tribe.
Her mind was racing the entire way back. She couldn’t stop thinking about Luoten. ’How could he have beco a Demon Beastman for no reason?’
Their mate mark allowed their thoughts to connect. "Because he was too weak," Gu Yin said casually, his voice dripping with undisguised mockery.
An Jin looked up at him.
Her face was fair and delicate, her ink-black, seaweed-like hair spilling over her shoulders and onto his chest. With her soft hands resting on his neck, she tilted her head up to look at him.
Her eyes were large and round, the corners tilting upward. Her pupils were a pure, deep black. As she gazed at him in confusion, her curly lashes fluttered, making his heart flutter along with them.
Gu Yin covered her eyes, feeling her lashes sweep against his palm like tiny brushes. A sudden realization struck him. ’Jin’er is too beautiful now.’
’So beautiful it scares .’
’Once the tribe gets bigger, she’ll et more, stronger Beastn. Many of those powerful Beastn will be drawn to her beauty...’
Gu Yin found himself selfishly wishing she would never beco so beautiful.
He buried his thoughts deep inside, his expression remaining placid. His long fingers stroked her fair, delicate cheek as he chuckled softly. "Because his talent and bloodline are too common. Without Green Crystals to prolong his life, he would have forever remained a Fifth Rank Beastman until the day he died of old age."
"Not to ntion, he was only getting older. If he didn’t use so other ans to enhance his strength, he would never be able to advance in rank and obtain more Green Crystals."
What Gu Yin hadn’t expected, however, was that Demonic Qi could apparently be stored stably within the body. It didn’t seem to cause the madness and mutations spoken of in rumors, and it could also rapidly increase one’s strength.
For him, this new discovery was a pleasant surprise.
Gu Yin’s eyes narrowed, his tone growing profound. Seeing the dark, brooding expression on his face—like a villain on the verge of corruption—An Jin felt a sense of dread. "Don’t you dare do anything reckless! Don’t even think about it. I won’t allow you to use those kinds of thods to increase your strength!"
"...I won’t."
Gu Yin shook his head, offering his assurance.
’At least, as far as I know, no one can match . As long as my current strength is enough to protect her, I won’t resort to such crooked and heretical thods.’
The Luoten Tribe was formally absorbed by An Jin. Its Beastn were enslaved, with the possibility of having their slave status revoked based on their future contributions to the tribe.
These Beastn were filled with regret.
’If only we had chosen to go with her back then, how could we have ended up as disgraced slaves of a defeated tribe? Branded with this ugly, humiliating mark?’
They could only watch as the kinsn they had once mocked now thrived in this new tribe, their lives improving day by day.
Ample food, warm and comfortable wooden cabins...
The stark contrast made the Beastn of the Luoten Tribe feel even more wretched. They miserably gnawed on the at left on the bones, cast aside by the other Beastn at the bonfire.
This was the life of a slave on the losing side.
Waking up early and going to bed late, doing the most labor, and turning over all food from the hunt to the tribe, only to hide in a corner and eat the scraps.
In stark contrast to their bleak atmosphere, An Jin’s Beastn were holding a grand bonfire feast. The soaring flas threatened to pierce the dark night sky, and the air was filled with joyous laughter.
The Beastn were celebrating their victory with fervor, singing, dancing, and feasting lavishly. But a sudden scream shattered the harmonious atmosphere.
"Why? Why are you branding with that ugly slave mark? I’m a female! I refuse to beco a slave!"
If it weren’t for that sharp, piercing voice, An Jin would have almost forgotten about Shana.
Shana burst from the crowd with several males in tow. She glared at An Jin’s beautiful, fair face, her small, narrow eyes wrinkling with jealousy. Seeing her made the rage in Shana’s heart swell even more.
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