Chapter 51: Preparing to Leave

The female beastman was delighted at the sight, then started introducing herself: "I'm Gong Mei. Since you've agreed to come to our tribe, from now on we'll be beastmen of the same tribe, but I still don't know what your name is."

"I'm Yun Li, and he's Leng Xiao."

Yun Li went around behind Leng Xiao and said her and Leng Xiao's names.

"How about I call you A Li from now on?"

Yun Li nodded, and Gong Mei didn't waste words, telling them how the Snake Beastmen of the Youbuluo had discovered them in this area: "...... So when we found out from Asheng that you were pregnant, that's why we came over so quickly."

"After all, there are many unmarried males in the Youbuluo; if they discovered you, they'd certainly disregard your pregnancy and rush to take you by force."

Hearing this, Yun Li sucked in a breath, shocked at how inhumane it was—even forcing a pregnant female.

Leng Xiao's face darkened as well: "They dare!"

Gong Mei glanced at Leng Xiao, already having rolled her eyes at him who-knows-how-many times in her heart, "They are the Snake Beastmen of the Youbuluo, and over half of the Youbuluo's Snake Beastmen, when they beast-transform, have poisonous fangs."

"Those two Snake Beastmen are of the poisonous kind; if you were careless and got bitten at first, could you, as a female, escape?"

"Moreover, even if he were on guard and not bitten, as long as Leng Xiao didn't kill both of them, they wouldn't give up on Yun Li, and from then on they'd have to guard against the Snake Beastmen attacking Yun Li every day."

Leng Xiao clenched his fists tightly; he was naturally confident he wouldn't fail to kill two Green Rank Snake Beastmen.

But as Gong Mei said, the Snake Beastmen have poison fangs; if he gets bitten even once, A Li will lose his protection and fall into danger.

He could disregard his own life, but A Li cannot afford any safety risk.

Seeing him lower his head in silence after Gong Mei's words, Yun Li hurried to comfort him: "It's not your fault; you didn't know we'd be discovered by those two Snake Beastmen."

Leng Xiao gave a low "en," "If I'd known earlier, I'd have had my brother stay behind so I could go back to rescue the Witch Doctor and find Mu Qing."

If his brother were here, he certainly wouldn't let A Li fall into such danger.

Hearing that, Yun Li's face instantly showed surprise: "You've always said you and your brother are roughly equal in strength, haven't you?"

Leng Xiao's mouth twitched; not wanting to show weakness in front of his female, yet not wanting to lie to her, he could only say, "What I said was correct; it's just that his mind works a bit better than mine."

"Just a bit?"

Yun Li blinked, recalling how several times her brother had snatched away his chances to go to bed, thinking in her heart, "This isn't just a bit; it's clearly......"

Leng Xiao seemed to read her expression, laughing angrily while also unable to suppress a sour feeling in his heart: "What kind of look is that? Do you only like my brother and not me?"

Yun Li was used to his occasional remarks vying for favor, and she answered perfunctorily with practiced ease: "I like you, I like you, I like you most—is that enough?"

Leng Xiao wanted to say it wasn't enough, but after she kissed him he believed she liked him most; however, as his hand had just reached her waist, Yun Li slapped it, and he instinctively showed a hurt expression.

Seeing this, Gong Mei and the others instantly felt their teeth ache— a male actually showing such an expression, truly enough!

Gong Mei had a moment where she wondered if Leng Xiao hadn't risen by his own strength, but rather by his looks or other means to win Yun Li over.

"Otherwise, Yun Li clearly has three beast husbands; why is it that the arduous task of rescuing people isn't undertaken by this male, but by the other two males?"

"Leng Xiao didn't know anyone was badmouthing him for rising by looks; if he did, he'd just say, 'Sure, as long as A Li takes a liking to him, using looks to rise is also his talent.'"

Seeing him still aggrieved, Yun Li gave him a sideways glance: "Don't act hurt; hurry up and pack my things, and by the way leave a noticeable marker for Leng Xiu and them."

Not receiving a pleasant expression from the female, Leng Xiao, seeing he'd gotten what he wanted, gave those few outsiders a dark look and obediently walked into the cave.

The stared-at Gong Mei felt her brow jump, silently chanting in her heart, "Tribe reward, tribe reward."

She currently doesn't hold it against Leng Xiao; after she brings Yun Li back to the Silver Eagle Tribe, she'll find an excuse to beat him up, and if she can't gain favor in front of her mate, she'll take it out on her, wondering what's going on.

Gong Mei suppressed her displeasure toward Leng Xiao, and with a beaming face told Yun Li, "If you need any help, A Li, just call us."

After all, aside from her, the other four present are all unmarried males; at this juncture we can't afford any trouble.

It's just that they're taken with Yun Li and want to curry favor before her, but they still need to mind their bounds.

Yun Li nodded, her gaze sweeping over the four males, pausing momentarily on the one called "Asheng," the Hawk Beastman.

Finally she smiled at Gong Mei and said, "I'm a bit hungry; could you trouble you to make me something to eat first?"

"What's so hard about that? Rest assured, leave it to them."

Gong Mei waved her hand, setting the four males behind her into motion; Yun Li had spoken, and with this opportunity they certainly shouldn't delay.

"Then I'll go gather dry firewood."

Asheng was the first to respond; he knew his gaze on Yun Li lingered a bit longer on himself, but he couldn't believe that Yun Li, who had once held a knife to his throat, would now look favorably on him.

But he also wanted to find a female to form a mate bond with; regardless of whether there was a chance, actively showing himself now was certainly not wrong.

The other three males shared this idea, and they all spoke up:

"I'll go hunting!"

"I'll go fetch water!"

"I'll go look for wild fruits and vegetables!"

One or two of them quickly transformed into beast form and flew away.

Yun Li was helped to sit by Gong Mei, "I don't need you to support me like this; I can walk on my own."

Her careful treatment of Gong Mei made Yun Li both laugh and cry; those who didn't know might think she was her own natal family, she was so cautious.

"That also won't do; your belly is obviously big now—what if you fall......"

Before she could finish, Gong Mei spat out a series of "pahs," "What I just said doesn't count; don't take it to heart. You and the babies in your belly will be safe and sound."

Having said that, she looked enviously at Yun Li's belly, her face showing a bashful hesitation as she asked, "May I touch your belly?"

There's a rumor in the tribe that being on good terms with a pregnant female lets one absorb some pregnancy aura; who knows, she might someday have her own offspring.

Otherwise, Gong Mei wouldn't be acting so earnest; after all, she and Yun Li are both females, and even for the tribe's reward, there's really no need to fawn over Yun Li like this.

Yun Li smiled: "You may touch my belly, but don't press hard; I'm afraid they'll get dizzy from your handling."

Actually, she's afraid that too much touching will cause the infants' umbilical cords to wrap around their necks.

Although she doesn't understand how, through the belly skin, she could make them dizzy by touching.

Nevertheless, Gong Mei solemnly nodded, "Rest assured, I'll just touch, definitely not rub."

"A touch is fine; if I can make contact and get a bit of pregnancy aura, that'll do."

She certainly doesn't want to keep touching and accidentally make Yun Li's babies disappear.

If the Tribe's beastmen found out, even if I am female, I would be punished.

Compared to females and offspring, the status of the two has always been equal; otherwise, how could the Tribe develop?