Chapter 56: Just kill them

Ye Xi'an hadn't even had a chance to look closely before a long, clean hand covered her eyes.

"Don't look, it'll dirty your eyes."

Lin Zhi Jing's voice was gentle, as if Ye Xi'an's earlier refusal of him had never happened. Beside him, Bao Jing, who had just raised his hand, silently lowered it upon seeing this.

"It's just blood," she said. "She's not some baby who's never seen anything."

Ye Xi'an pulled Lin Zhi Jing's hand down, walked toward Ye Ling, and several males followed her in unison to guard against Ye Ling suddenly ambushing her.

The beastman lying on the ground felt someone approach, struggled to lift his eyelids, and saw a slender white calf.

To preserve his last shred of dignity, Ye Ling endured the pain of his bones shattering, propped himself up against the wall, and stared numbly at Ye Xi'an as she approached.

Ye Xi'an glanced at Ye Ling indifferently, without a trace of sympathy: "Bao Jing, how are males who betray the clan usually dealt with?"

"Either kill them outright or expel them from the clan."

Although there are usually two ways to handle it, the result is actually the same.

Because males lose the ability to pay after marriage, being expelled from the clan means they cannot rent housing, buy food, or even accept missions from the Mission Hall; they can only slowly await death, which can be said to be more painful than killing them outright.

Fearful that Ye Xi'an might not understand, Bao Jing added: "Expelling them from the clan is no different from letting them die."

Ye Xi'an nodded; she had already guessed that this planet values females greatly, so if a male truly betrayed a female, he would certainly not be spared.

She said to Ye Ling: "Then you may leave."

Ye Ling staggered, then realizing he had been expelled from the clan, he instantly flew into a rage; his upright golden pupils flashed with pain, he half-crouched on the ground, and shouted hoarsely at Ye Xi'an: "Why do you get to mark me if you want to, and expel me if you want to?"

Blood surged into his brilliant golden eyes, the corners of his gaze turning crimson; he bit his tongue hard, and blood spurted out as he spoke: "I am clearly a living beastman, yet because of you I have lost everything!"

Ye Ling's voice trembled, each word dripping with desperate anguish: "I struggled so hard to earn experience, to gain clothes, jewelry, and food, barely surviving one mission after another, yet you can effortlessly take it all away!"

One questioning cry after another silenced everyone present, their faces showing moved expressions—this is none other than the inner voice of all males.

They don't understand; although females are indeed powerful, we are also useful beastmen—why must we be forced to depend on females without our consent, and be subjected to involuntary spiritual marking?

But Ye Ling's unforgivable mistake was laying hands on Ye Xi'an.

Ye Ling wept heart-wrenchingly; nobody spoke, and Lin Zhi Jing merely stood by, watching the spectacle.

Ye Xi'an felt the strange atmosphere around her, felt awkward moving, and finally couldn't bear it: "Are you still going to expel Ye Ling or not?"

If Ye Ling doesn't leave, she will have to go; although she isn't afraid of Ye Ling, she lacks the courage to live day after day with someone who wants to kill her.

Bao Jing suppressed his emotions: "We'll expel him; Yi Yang, let's two of us carry him out."

"No need, I'll walk out myself."

Ye Ling's voice was low, his emotions seeming to have calmed; he leaned heavily on the wall to stand and walked outward.

Everyone instinctively made way; just as Ye Ling passed Ye Xi'an, the situation suddenly changed—his unstable body burst forth with astonishing power, and the surrounding space almost warped.

Everyone's scalp instantly tingled—Ye Ling was about to ignite his crystal core!

"Ye Xi'an, go die!"

Ye Ling pushed his speed to the limit, his sharp five claws digging toward Ye Xi'an's heart.

"Ugh!"

All the power Ye Ling had gathered vanished in an instant; he stared in disbelief at his chest, where a flat torso should have been, now a slender arm protruded.

Lin Zhi Jing's eyes showed no ripple as he yanked his hand from Ye Ling's chest; his bloody palm now held a gleaming yellow crystal.

He narrowed his eyes to admire the second‑level crystal in his hand; due to the recent burning, its surface bore several cracks: "Hmph, this kind of male should just be killed outright, lest he become a future menace."

He had fixed his gaze on the male named Ye Ling from the moment he entered the room; even when Ye Ling finally showed resignation, he did not relax—and indeed, he struck at Ye Xi'an.

His merciless blow instantly robbed the silver‑haired male of breath; his body fell like a broken‑string kite, and as it hit the ground it felt as if it had struck everyone's hearts.

Yi Yang stared blankly at Ye Ling's twisted limbs on the ground; in fact, he and Ye Ling had known each other before marrying Ye Xi'an—back then he was optimistic, whenever he had money he'd take missions from the Mission Hall, always returning covered in blood, and though weary he always wore a smile.

Such a male now lay cold upon the ground.

Ye Xi'an was still reeling—first frightened by Ye Ling, then startled by Lin Zhi Jing; now her nostrils were filled with the foul smell of blood.

Ye Xi'an had just thought to have them dispose of the corpse—after all, he was the original owner's husband, find a place to bury him—but when she looked up, she saw Bao Jing and the two others with vacant expressions.

"Could they have been scared stupid by Lin Zhi Jing?" Indeed, having once been brothers who earned money together to support the family, suddenly seeing one killed before their eyes would be hard to accept.

Ye Xi'an wasn't good at comforting people; she could only mimic what she'd seen on TV and try to hug Yi Yang and the others.

But as she approached, the three seemed frightened, each stepping back to avoid her embrace.

Ji Jiangci went further, asking directly: "What do you want?"

Yi Yang reacted, shoved Ji Jiangci aside, and put on a smile for Ye Xi'an: "Older Brother Ji was just startled; wife, don't blame him."

Ye Xi'an frowned; although Yi Yang still called her wife and smiled at her, she sensed an added distance and fear.

She was wondering about that when a clear embrace enfolded her, her face pressing against Bao Jing's smooth chest, and she blinked in surprise: "Bao Jing?"

"'Mm.' Bao Jing's voice was low, his eyes full of guilt; he had actually doubted that he himself would someday share Ye Ling's fate."

But Ye Xi'an has now changed; as long as she can change, he can forget the past and live happily with her.

Bao Jing's tone suddenly shifted: "I was just frightened by Doctor Lin—he's so ferocious!"

Ye Xi'an breathed a sigh of relief; sure enough, she had been frightened by Lin Zhi Jing, she raised her arms to return his embrace, gently patting his back: "Don't be afraid, I'll protect you."

(End of chapter)