Chapter 39

Chapter 39: First Beast Consort’s Status

In the Devil-Hunting Plan, Zulu had killed the most devil beasts, but Agma·Lei Shi hadn’t rewarded him much—less than Lin Lang, even.

The rabbit clan’s old clan leader, however, made up for it generously. Very generously.

When Su Yan saw the rewards piled like a small hill, she went silent for a moment, then sighed. Pure favoritism. The doting of an old father toward his son.

Oro had Little Luo sort the goods, then turned to Su Yan with concern. “How are you? Is the child alright?”

“It’s fine,” Su Yan said, rubbing her still-flat belly. Picky already, and not even showing. “Healthy.”

“I’ll go look at my grandson.” Oro’s face brightened. “If you’re fine, go lie down and rest. Take care of yourself, alright?”

“Got it, Dad,” Su Yan replied.

Jun Sen and Zulu emerged from the ice cellar carrying a bucket of chilled tender back meat.

“Dad will love this,” Jun Sen said.

“If you want some, come take it anytime,” Zulu said with an easy smile.

Su Yan stepped forward, all warmth. “Second Brother, stay and eat roast meat with us. Zulu’s roast meat is amazing.”

“Next time.” Jun Sen chuckled. “Third Brother told me—you’re pregnant again. Big news. When Dad finds out, he’ll be overjoyed.”

Su Yan glanced down at her belly. “Sorry to trouble him with worry. Another day, Zulu and I will go pay our respects.”

Jun Sen’s eyes crinkled. “You’re sensible. Unlike this brat. He packed up and left home, and he hasn’t been back once. Heartless.”

Zulu took the scolding without flinching. “Yes. My fault.”

After a few more words, Jun Sen left.

Su Yan and Zulu walked him out and watched him climb onto an ox cart. The wheels creaked away into the dark, carrying torchlight with it until the lane beyond their home looked suddenly emptier.

As the cart rolled out of sight, Zulu said quietly, “I want to hold a banquet. Make your first beast consort status official.”

Su Yan blinked. “Oh? Why now?”

“Others do it,” she said after a beat. “Ashley and Shava both did. We never did.”

“Then we will,” Zulu said simply. “I’ll prepare it.”

Su Yan searched his face. “If you don’t want to, we can skip it. It’s a hassle. The children are already born. No one will say anything.”

Zulu squeezed her hand. “If others have it, you’ll have it too.”

A smile bloomed across her face, bright and soft. “Thank you, Zulu.”

Zulu’s grip tightened slightly, his gaze fixed on her. “If one day I vanished… what would you do?”

Su Yan’s smile faded into stillness. For a moment, she couldn’t speak.

Zulu released a slow breath and changed the subject as if he’d never asked. “Second Brother told me Lai Yin from the fox clan rejected Rona·Lei Shi.”

Su Yan wasn’t surprised. They didn’t match at all. “Why?”

“He said he can’t afford her. Just her skirt—he couldn’t buy it.”

Su Yan huffed a laugh. “An excuse. He simply didn’t like her.”

“Not entirely an excuse,” Zulu said. “The fox clan came to seek a marriage alliance. The mouse clan is known to be wealthy. But Rona’s behavior at the banquet likely displeased him.”

“Because her skirt tore?”

“She had it mended,” Zulu said, “and her body type isn’t a problem in beast clan standards.”

Su Yan’s eyes narrowed in understanding. “Because she kept chasing you. Anyone not blind can tell the male she wants is you.”

“Among males and females, love comes second,” Zulu said. “Fertility comes first. But for those who aren’t worried about marriage, they still choose what they like.”

“Like you,” Su Yan teased, her gaze drifting over his face. “You saw my looks and threw yourself at me without caring whether I could bear children.”

For a brief moment, something warm and tender rose in her chest—like ripples spreading across still water.

Then a cold voice cut through her mind.

Warning, host. Do not develop romantic feelings for breeding male.

The warmth shattered, vanishing as if it had never existed.

Zulu watched it happen—the flicker of daze, the sudden clarity. “What’s wrong?”

Su Yan shook her head. “Nothing. I want to see the children.”

“Alright.”

He took her hand and led her to the nursery.

Emma was holding the second female, Yu Shi Shi, rocking her gently to sleep. When she saw them, she motioned for them to be quiet.

Only after Yu Shi Shi’s breathing evened out did Emma set her down and gesture for them to come closer.

Three Little Furballs lay in a cradle cart. Yu Shi Shi slept curled tight, while the other two sprawled with their paws in the air, bellies exposed, lost in shameless comfort.

Su Yan lifted Yu Shi Shi carefully. Of the three, she didn’t have Fa Se’s talent. She didn’t have Yu Xuan’s surname and attention either. She was the middle one—the one most easily overlooked.

Su Yan stroked the soft fur with aching tenderness.

“She’s fine,” Zulu said.

“I know.” Su Yan handed Yu Shi Shi to him. “Her brows and eyes look like mine. When she grows up, she’ll probably resemble me.”

Zulu stared down at the white-and-blue mouse cub in his palm. The hardness in his eyes softened. “She’s beautiful.”

Su Yan nodded, then poked Fa Se’s round belly. “Little glutton.”

Oro came in carrying a packet of jerky. “Emma, I brought you the salty jerky you like.”

Emma hurried over, grabbed Oro’s arm, and tugged him out. “The children are asleep. And Zulu and Su Yan are here.”

“Oh—right.” Oro let himself be pulled away.

Su Yan watched them go, thoughtful.

When they were far enough, she whispered, “Do you think my dad and Emma… have something going on?”

Zulu’s mouth quirked. “A couple days ago, I saw Emma go into Father-in-law’s room.”

Su Yan’s eyes widened. “That really happened?”

Zulu set Yu Shi Shi back in the cradle and rocked the cart gently. The three Little Furballs sank deeper into sleep. Even Yu Shi Shi slowly uncurled, limbs loosening, as if the world had finally decided to be kind.

Su Yan reached out to pat Little Yu Xuan’s fluffy rabbit head. “Let’s go back.”

“Okay.”

Zulu’s gaze lingered on her belly for a brief second as he took her hand.

That night, Su Yan woke drenched in heat. Her body searched blindly for something cool until she pressed against Zulu’s chest and finally sank back into sleep.

Zulu held her—hot, soft, unbearably tempting—and forced himself to endure it. Over and over, he endured it, until exhaustion finally dragged him under.

Early the next morning, Su Yan had only just gotten up when Little Luo rushed in, breathless.

“What happened?” she demanded. “Why are you panicking?”

“Rona was raped by a wandering beastman last night!” Little Luo blurted. “Before dawn, a patrol squad found her in a grass nest outside the clan.”

Su Yan’s sleepiness vanished. “A wandering beastman? Where did he come from?”

“Hu Chai tribe.” Little Luo’s face was grim. “He raped his own sister-in-law and got driven out. He’s been roaming ever since, doing nothing good. Yesterday he sneaked into the victory banquet, set his sights on Rona, and when she was alone… he took her.”