Chapter 55

Chapter 55: Little Mei Warning!

Pei Xuan stopped mid-step and looked back.

The light caught the gold in his eyes, and for a second Su Yan couldn’t tell what she was seeing—hesitation, irritation, something darker. His gaze sat on her face like a weight.

She thought she had dirt on her cheek and brushed at her skin. “What’s wrong?”

His voice was steady, almost too calm. “Once a male has a child, the female who bore it becomes his wife. Unless she dies, or clearly says she doesn’t need him to be her beast husband, he can’t take a second female for the rest of his life.”

Su Yan’s breath snagged. “There’s a rule like that? Then I—”

The rest wouldn’t come out.

Three males. Three litters.

That meant she already had three beast husbands.

Zulu was dead, but the other two… wait. After giving birth, she always entered that fake-death state. They would have thought she’d died.

If she was “dead,” then they wouldn’t keep clinging to her. They’d let go. They’d move on.

The thought loosened something in her chest. For once, she was grateful for the system’s cruel little “feature.”

From now on, she could give birth, play dead for a while, and slip out of the net. As long as no one burned her and buried her properly—whole and intact—she could escape.

And she wouldn’t drag the males down with her. Their future mate choices wouldn’t be ruined because of the female who’d borne their cubs.

As for the children… if the fathers wanted to take them, fine. If they didn’t, she could raise them herself.

Besides, in the beast world, males raised the young. It wasn’t seen as a burden. It was something to boast about.

A male without offspring was looked down on, as if he’d been stripped of some vital power.

But a female caring for cubs? That was, in a way, an insult—to the male, and to his clan.

Ashley was a perfect example. After she gave birth, she handed everything to Lin Lang. She carried no weight at all. If anything, she strutted with it—telling anyone who would listen how Lin Lang raised the cubs plump and heavy, strong as little monsters.

Lin Lang had been envied until it was ridiculous.

“What’s wrong?” Pei Xuan asked when Su Yan fell silent, her thoughts running too fast to catch.

Su Yan forced a small smile and shook her head, tossing the spiraling calculations aside. “Nothing. Then… where’s Little Hao’s mother?”

Pei Xuan’s eyes flicked over her—quick, sharp, unreadable—before he turned and kept walking.

Little Hao gave a soft “Awoo~” and wrapped his forelegs around her neck, shamelessly clinging. His warm breath puffed against her skin. He nuzzled like he’d decided she belonged to him.

Pei Xuan didn’t get anything like that. When he heard the cub’s spoiled little hum, the corner of his mouth twitched once, almost imperceptibly.

“She’s dead,” he said.

Su Yan’s face went still. “…I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.” His tone didn’t change. “She probably wouldn’t mind.”

He brought her to a cliff that broke the mountain like a snapped tooth.

To reach the mansion hidden in the forest above, they had to climb straight up.

Su Yan stared, speechless. Her true form was tiny. She could climb, sure—but she’d spend half a day slipping and cursing.

Pei Xuan held out his hand. “I’ll take you up.”

“Thanks.”

Relief drained into her limbs. She placed her hand in his palm.

His skin was hot—warmth rolling into her like a pulse. The contact sent a shiver through her body that had nothing to do with cold rock.

Before she could stop herself, she blurted, “Um… how’s your talent?”

The question hadn’t gone through her brain at all. It rose from somewhere deeper. The childbearing system never stopped pressing at the back of her ribs, and whenever she met a “suitable” male, her instincts snapped into task mode.

Pei Xuan looked at her. “Half-Spirit Realm.”

“Half-Spirit Realm?” Su Yan frowned. “What’s that?”

She’d never heard of it. Wasn’t it always heaven rank, earth rank, profound rank…

Pei Xuan’s voice remained even. “After Heaven Rank comes Spirit Rank. Half-Spirit Realm is Spirit Rank—beginner rank.”

Su Yan’s eyes flared bright, like someone had struck a match behind them.

Then why was she even going to Divine Beast Academy?

Wasn’t this the perfect male, right in front of her—above Heaven Rank, already Spirit Rank?

A cold voice cut straight through her excitement, ringing inside her skull.

“Warning, Host. The mortal beast-grade childbearing system has not evolved to spirit beast grade yet. You cannot bear children across ranks.”

Su Yan blinked hard.

Little Mei.

It had been so long since she’d heard that voice that, absurdly, it stirred a thread of familiarity. “The update’s done?” she asked inwardly.

“Yes, Host. The childbearing system can now be used normally.”

There was no warmth in it, only precision. “However, the male before you is not compatible with Host for childbirth at present. Keep him as backup and continue seeking mortal beast-grade males.”

Such a premium resource—untouchable.

Su Yan swallowed a sigh and hugged Little Hao closer.

Little Mei continued, “The system shop has new items. Host should take a look.”

If Little Mei mentioned it, there had to be something worth seeing. Su Yan opened the shop immediately.

Beast-nurturing pill: Randomly increases a young beast’s (0–1 year) talent. Max three doses. Cost: 1 point.

Without hesitation, Su Yan exchanged for one.

When she surfaced from the system, she realized she was in Pei Xuan’s arms.

He was already carrying her up the cliff. Rock and roots and jagged edges passed under his feet as if the mountain had flattened for him.

Little Hao lay asleep in her arms, warm and heavy.

Pei Xuan lowered his gaze to her. His lips pressed into a thin line. “Forgive my offense.”

“It’s fine.” Su Yan let out a breath, half-laughing. “My talent’s bad, and my true form isn’t exactly useful.”

Her eyes fell to the cub and softened. “I have a gift for him. I don’t know if you… would be willing.”

“As long as he likes it,” Pei Xuan said.

“It’s something he eats.”

“Fine.”

Su Yan’s mouth curved. “Not afraid I’ll poison your precious son?”

Pei Xuan held her gaze without flinching. “You won’t.”

“Thanks for trusting me.” She hesitated, then asked, “What talent does he have?”

“Profound Rank. Lightning-type.”

That jolted her. It was the same as her little black panther.

She looked from Little Hao to Pei Xuan, a thought flickering up—then vanishing just as fast.

Pei Xuan was Spirit Rank now. She couldn’t bear Spirit Rank offspring.

At the top of the cliff, he set her down. Little Hao stirred awake, blinking slowly.

Su Yan pulled the pill from her system space. “This is for young beasts. It can raise talent. How much depends on luck. I came in a hurry and didn’t bring a proper gift, so… I want to give this to Little Hao.”

Pei Xuan’s expression sharpened. “It can raise a young beast’s talent?”

“Yes.” Su Yan nodded. “But luck matters.”

She offered the wooden box. “Little Hao is your child. Whether he takes it—that’s your call.”

Pei Xuan’s gaze flicked to her. “Do you want him to take it?”

“Me?” Su Yan scoffed softly. “I’m the one giving it. Of course I want him to.”

Little Hao was still drowsy in her arms, cheek pressed to her like a soft pillow. The next moment, his father hooked a hand under the scruff of his neck and lifted him.

The cub opened his mouth to complain—

—and a sweet, round pill slid down his throat.

Lightning erupted inside him in an instant, flaring in violent arcs. The air snapped and crackled, the scent sharp and bright like storm rain on stone.

Su Yan jolted. “Little Mei—what’s happening?”

After a brief pause, Little Mei answered, “Talent advancement. The young beast is not in danger.”

Su Yan muttered under her breath, “You feel slower after updating than before.”

Little Mei ignored her completely.

Su Yan forced herself to watch. If it was advancement, there was nothing she could do but wait.

Pei Xuan didn’t have that luxury. This was his only child.

On the Beast World Continent, the higher a male’s talent, the harder it was to have offspring.

And… he glanced at Su Yan, unease tightening in his chest. She might not be willing to give him a second.