Chapter 312: Chapter 312: Xuyu’s generous reward for the cubs
The tension that had filled the village finally broke.
Laughter rippled through the crowd, starting with the younger females and spreading outward like a wave.
"Oh heavens, look at them!" one wolf woman laughed, covering her mouth. "They’re so chubby I just want to squeeze them!"
Another female fox sighed dramatically, then turned and shot a sharp glare at the male beside her. "And you! Look at her cubs, then look at . Why am I still not pregnant after all this ti?"
That glare spread like a disease.
One by one, all females turned toward their own beast husbands, their eyes filled with suspicion and bla.
"Hmph. After Witch Doctor Su healed us, we’re perfectly fine," a female fox said, crossing her arms. "So clearly, the problem isn’t us."
"Exactly," another chid in. "It must be you who are useless."
The accused beast husbands stiffened.
Several of them actually shuddered under the weight of their mates’ angry stares, suddenly feeling that the chilly air had nothing to do with the weather.
"I swear I’m trying!" one cried out in panic.
That only made things worse.
anwhile, Grandma Su finally waved her hand, satisfied, and slowly made her way back to her ho, still muttering about blessed cubs and stubborn girls.
Su Qinglan also turned to leave, her arms full and her heart warm. Han Jue walked beside her, carefully shielding her from the crowd, while Hu Yan followed a few steps behind, his expression as calm and detached as ever.
They had barely gone ten steps...
When suddenly, Hu Yan was grabbed.
"Hey!"
Several beastn lunged out at once, dragging him backward and surrounding him in a tight circle.
"Don’t think you can run," one bear beast said with a serious expression. He was four years older than Hu Yan.
"Tell us the truth," another demanded. "What are you eating secretly?"
Hu Yan frowned. "What?"
An orange fox beast pointed accusingly. "Your female gave birth to those cubs! Look at how round they are! And you haven’t even mated much for months!"
"That’s right!" a wolf added bitterly. "We’ve been mated for years, and our cubs are still skinny!"
The circle tightened.
"What are you feeding them?"
"What’s your secret?"
"Did your female give you so herbs to get stronger?"
Hu Yan’s lips pressed into a thin line.
For a mont, he considered running.
Then...unfortunately...his mind betrayed him.
An image flashed through his thoughts: Su Qinglan sitting calmly, holding the cubs close, feeding them patiently, one after the other, her expression gentle and focused.
And more importantly, he rembers her round mounds more than the expression of his cubs.
Suddenly he felt thirsty.
His ears burned.
A faint blush crept up his neck.
"...!"
The beastn stared. "Why are you turning red?"
Hu Yan’s expression imdiately turned cold again. He forcefully pulled his arm free, his voice low and sharp.
"There is no secret."
He glanced at them once, his gaze cool and disdainful.
"If you want healthy cubs," he said flatly, "then get stronger."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving behind a group of stunned beastn and several very thoughtful and angry females.
The mont Su Qinglan reached her treehouse, she didn’t even sit down.
"Han Jue, quickly," she said. "Make the milk."
Han Jue didn’t ask anything. He was already used to this routine. He placed the cubs carefully onto the soft fur bed and imdiately went to heat water over the small stone stove.
The two little cubs, Xiao Yi and Xiao Er, had just stopped crying earlier, but the mont they sensed they were ho, their tiny noses twitched.
"Waaah... aoo..."
"Mmm...woo!"
Their short legs kicked excitedly, their bellies round and obvious under the fur.
Su Qinglan smiled helplessly. "Alright, alright, Mama knows. Food is coming."
The truth was, the cubs growing this fast wasn’t normal at all.
But Su Qinglan knew exactly why.
At the mont of their birth, the system had rewarded her with a huge package...so huge it had nearly blinded her.
A complete cub care set and many food items for her and necessities.
Inside were all kinds of things: warm beast furs made just for newborns, soft cleaning cloths, dicine safe for cub digestion, and most importantly...several full cartons of special formula milk.
The system, Xuyu, had explained it very seriously.
"This milk is specially designed for beast cub growth. It strengthens bones, muscles, and vitality. It is safe and extrely beneficial."
And it even ca with three giant milk bottles, made to survive sharp little teeth.
So Su Qinglan didn’t hesitate at all.
Along with her own milk, she had been constantly feeding the cubs this formula.
Otherwise, where else would you see cubs that were barely fifteen days old, yet so loud, energetic, and full of life?
Han Jue poured the warm water carefully, mixed the milk powder exactly the way Su Qinglan had taught him, and shook the bottle until it was smooth.
He had never asked her where this thing ca from, just accepting all of it as if it were the most normal thing.
"Ready," he said.
Su Qinglan picked up Xiao Yi, while Han Jue lifted Xiao Er.
The mont the bottles touched their mouths...
"Chu...!"
Both cubs latched on instantly.
Their tiny paws wrapped around the bottles, their ears twitching happily as they drank with all their might.
"Slow down," Su Qinglan laughed softly. "No one is stealing your food."
Xiao Yi ignored her completely, gulping so fast that milk nearly spilled from the corner of his mouth.
Han Jue watched Xiao Er drink, his tense expression finally relaxing. "No wonder everyone stares at them," he said quietly. "They really are... different."
Su Qinglan looked down at her cubs, her eyes gentle and full.
"Eat well," she whispered. "Grow strong."
The treehouse was warm, filled with the soft sounds of drinking and quiet breathing.
Outside, the tribe was still buzzing with rumors and laughter.
Inside, the little family had already returned to their peaceful, busy routine and another day of waiting for Xuan Long.
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