Chapter 43

Chapter 43: Had Enough?

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen Sister Su Yan,” Jia Lian said, and her smile held for exactly one heartbeat.

Then her gaze dropped to Su Yan’s belly, and the smile cracked.

“You’re pregnant again?!” The words came out like they’d ripped through her throat.

Su Yan rested a hand over her belly and nodded, smiling. “Yes. Only a few more days.”

Jia Lian stared, unblinking, as if her eyes had glued themselves to the swell beneath Su Yan’s palm.

“How is that possible?” she whispered. “Even with super high-grade fertility, there should be at least half a year between pregnancies.”

Su Yan’s tone stayed light. “Mine is the kind where I get pregnant the moment I’m touched.”

The look in Jia Lian’s eyes shifted—envy curdling into something uglier, something that made the air feel tight.

Su Yan continued, gentle as a blade. “With fertility like mine, I could probably have a hundred or two while I’m still young.”

Jia Lian’s eyes reddened. “Why…”

Su Yan blinked. “Why what?”

“Why do you get pregnant from one touch,” Jia Lian hissed, “while I’ve been with so many males—even some with Yellow-grade talent—and I still can’t even catch a hint of pregnancy?”

Her voice climbed higher with every word, control slipping like water through fingers.

Su Yan stroked her belly, slow and content. “Fertility is strange like that. But it has its troubles. I have to eat so much. This morning I finished a whole bucket of fresh meat.”

Jia Lian took a step closer. “Why you?” Her hands trembled. “Your fertility stone didn’t even light up, and yet you keep getting pregnant. I work so hard, and all I get is disappointment.”

Su Yan’s smile faded. “What are you doing?”

The hatred in Jia Lian’s eyes flared like fire catching oil. “You should die. Fertility like yours shouldn’t exist.”

Su Yan’s voice sharpened. “What does my fertility have to do with you? Rona’s fertility was great too.”

At the name, Jia Lian flinched—just for a breath.

Su Yan leaned into it, pushing her belly forward ever so slightly, as if the gesture were accidental.

Jia Lian snapped. “Rona was killed because of you!”

Su Yan didn’t move, but her body went tense. “How did I kill her? I left early at the victory feast.”

“Who told you to leave?” Jia Lian shrieked, words breaking apart. “Who told you to go? If you didn’t leave, Rona wouldn’t have died! She was my only friend, and you—this is all your fault! All of it!”

Jia Lian lunged, reaching to shove Su Yan.

Su Yan dodged fast, heart hammering. “I left when I wanted. What does that have to do with Rona?”

“Because you’re beautiful!” Jia Lian spat. “If you stayed, it wouldn’t have been Rona’s turn!”

Su Yan’s breath caught. “What do you mean, it wouldn’t have been her turn?”

Jia Lian’s eyes flicked to Su Yan’s face, then to her belly, as if both were crimes. “That jackal was coming for you.”

Su Yan’s voice went cold. “Why would he come for me?”

“Because I wanted Brother Zulu,” Jia Lian said, the confession tumbling out like poison. “His talent. His offspring. I wanted all of it. But if you’re alive, he won’t look at anyone else.”

She sprang again.

Su Yan ducked and stumbled back, the heel of her foot scraping the floor. “Then why are you blaming me for Lin Lang?”

Jia Lian’s face twisted. “You came back and hooked Brother Lin Lang. You made him forget his childhood promise!”

“What promise?”

“He said he’d marry me,” Jia Lian hissed. “He said he’d make me his female. But because of you, he chose someone else!”

Su Yan’s laugh came out sharp. “Then I’m sorry.” She dodged again, keeping distance. “But childhood promises are jokes. When I was little, I swore I’d grab the moon and explore the stars. That doesn’t make it real.” Her eyes flashed. “And your fertility doesn’t match Lin Lang. Only Ashley is worthy of him.”

Jia Lian’s face went ugly with rage. “Yes, my fertility is low grade! And you—your fertility stone didn’t even light up. How are you pregnant again and again? Because Brother Zulu’s talent is strong. That’s all!”

She grabbed a wooden stool from the corner and hurled it straight at Su Yan’s face.

Su Yan’s eyes widened. It was too fast, too accurate—coming for her head.

For a split second, she reached for the Teleportation Technique—

A shadow appeared behind her.

A large hand caught the stool midair with effortless strength. The wood creaked once under the pressure of his grip.

“Had enough?”

Zulu’s voice was low—too calm, too controlled. Rage sat underneath it like a beast chained at the throat.

Su Yan instinctively tucked her chin, then forced a bright, obedient smile. “E-enough.”

“Go home.”

Zulu scooped her up in his arms as if she weighed nothing and strode for the door, leaving her no room to argue.

The aura he’d been holding back burst outward.

Su Yan, pressed against his chest, didn’t feel it.

But Jia Lian did.

Her face went ashen. Sweat beaded on her temples. Then her legs gave out and she slammed to her knees with a thud.

She shook there, trembling in her red dress like a painted ghost.

Su Yan tried to look back, but Zulu tightened his hold and blocked her view. His voice cut close to her ear. “If that stool had hit you, have you thought about the outcome?”

Su Yan swallowed and buried her face against him. “I’m sorry,” she pleaded, voice softening. “I was wrong.”

Only then did Zulu’s expression ease slightly. The pressure in the air loosened, like a storm cloud shifting away.

Outside the guest room stood Clan Chief Agma, the clan chief’s wife, Grom, Lin Lang, Ashley, and several mouse clan members—some familiar, some not. Shava and La Ge were there too.

Every face was grim.

The room wasn’t soundproof. They’d heard everything. Every word. Every scream.

Su Yan struggled a little, embarrassed to be carried in front of so many people. Zulu set her down, but kept an arm around her as if he didn’t trust the ground under her feet.

Su Yan faced Agma. “Clan Chief, that’s the truth. As for the details—how Jia Lian and that wandering beastman plotted against Rona—you can ask her.”

Grom’s hands shook with fury. “To think she looked so meek. A poisonous female, this vicious—Clan Chief, you must punish her severely!”

Ashley’s eyes burned. Lin Lang had to hold her back or she would’ve stormed in. “We can’t let her live.”

The clan chief’s wife looked like she wanted to tear Jia Lian apart with her teeth. She rounded on Agma. “The murderer of my daughter—and you kept her, fed her, dressed her—Agma, you—”

Her voice broke. Her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed again.

Agma’s face was black as storm clouds. He didn’t shout. He didn’t flail. But the fury in his eyes was a whirlpool.

“Men,” he said, voice like stone, “go in and seize Jia Lian. Lock her in Penal Cave.”