Chapter 60: Family Covenant

Ji Jiangci eased his mopping, perking his ears to hear Ye Xi'an's reaction, though he didn't really expect her to remember the mission, but just in case.

Bao Jing, however, was somewhat nervous; now that he was Ye Xi'an's husband, he had to shoulder a male's responsibility within the family.

Work hard to earn money, level up as soon as possible; after leveling up, Bao Jing's face flushed, he gazed longingly at Ye Xi'an, and when his ability level reaches 7, he could have a cute baby with Ye Xi'an, possibly a female baby.

On Zhu Shen Xing, it's difficult for females and males to conceive; research found that the low quality of the semen of low-level ability beastmen prevents it from fertilizing female eggs, so only males who continually raise their ability level, at minimum to level 7, have a chance of successful fertilization.

Of course, the higher the beastman's level, the greater the chance of conception.

Lin Zhi Jing didn't quite grasp these beastmen's ideas; he glanced around at Ye Xi'an's several husbands, saw they all had strange expressions, and couldn't help but lower his gaze, wondering if perhaps these husbands of Ye Xi'an didn't want to go out to work, just wanting to stay in this sunless slum like a bunch of rats.

"Ye Xi'an."

"Ah?" Ye Xi'an was suddenly shouted at by Lin Zhi Jing, and instinctively looked up at him: "What's up?"

"Do you still remember what I said?" Can't feel sorry for the males; feeling sorry for the males brings bad luck for a lifetime.

If she still pities these lazy husbands of hers and never goes to take missions, poverty would be trivial; once the insect tribe invades, the fact that several people can't protect her would become a major issue.

"I suggest you go to the Mission Hall tomorrow to pick up a mission."

Having said that, Lin Zhi Jing's clear gray eyes narrowed, taking in Ji Jiangci and the two others: "Do you three have any objections?"

"Ah? I have no problem." Yi Yang was bewildered by Lin Zhi Jing's question; why would they have objections to taking missions? They'd love to go on missions, and he wants to become the strongest male in his wife's family, the first male to have a beastman baby.

Bao Jing raised his eyebrows in a disdainful glance; of course he would go get a mission, but what business is it of Lin Zhi Jing's? He hasn't even gotten Ye Xi'an's consent yet, and he's already putting on airs?

Before, I considered his strength and his status as a researcher, and had thought of matching Ye Xi'an with Lin Zhi Jing; but now, Lin Zhi Jing's possessiveness toward the family is too strong—if he truly joined the family, he would definitely use his strength to monopolize Ye Xi'an, and I would never let that happen.

Bao Jing's upper body was bare, arms crossed, muscles tensed and bulging; each muscle looked as if heaven had meticulously carved it, glowing with an alluring sheen.

"An'an, do you know the family covenant?"

"Not really." Ye Xi'an searched her memory thoroughly, but found no trace of a family covenant.

"Ji Jiangci, Yi Yang." Bao Jing stepped forward in front of Ye Xi'an, merely calling their names, and knew what he intended to do.

Ji Jiangci tossed aside his rag, elegantly standing beside Bao Jing, while Yi Yang had already taken his place on Bao Jing's other side.

His eyes shone bright; the family covenant was taught to him by his mother since childhood; she told him that only by memorizing every article of the family covenant and carrying them out perfectly could he win his wife's affection, so he would silently recite the family covenant ten times before bed each night to fall asleep, and now he could finally show it off to his wife.

Ji Jiangci was somewhat speechless; Bao Jing must have had a brain fart—why memorize a family covenant for no reason? His chores aren't even done yet.

Lin Zhi Jing gazed dangerously at the three standing in a row, as if they were building a wall between him and Ye Xi'an; is Bao Jing trying to resist his joining the family? Hmph, nonsense—only the strong deserve to stay by Ye Xi'an's side.

"What are you guys doing?" Ye Xi'an stared at them with a stiff mouth corner, their gazes glued to her as if trying to drown her.

The first to speak was Ji Jiangci.

"I am Ji Jiangci."

Having said that, Ji Jiangci paused, waiting for the next person to speak.

"I am Bao Jing."

"I am Yi Yang!"

The three spoke in unison.

"I hereby, with my thousand-year life, solemnly swear:"

I will devote all my loyalty and sincerity to you.

Regardless of life or death, no matter how fate may shift,

my soul and flesh shall always be with you.

I make this vow:

Life and death together—if you leave, I will scour the yellow springs and blue heavens, never living in vain; if you call, I will go through fire and water.

Never betray, protect to the end.

In all matters, the female master comes first; the female master rules the household, and I will never interfere with her decisions.

Not jealous, not prone to internal conflict, not instigative, not lazy, not slovenly.

With the Zhu Shen System as witness, should I break this oath, may heaven and earth jointly punish me, and my life end.

This oath is eternal, unchanging through life and death.

The three's expressions were so solemn that, if Ye Xi'an didn't know what they were saying, she would think they were reciting a party oath.

But why are they reciting this for no reason? It's like they've caught a case of chuunibyou.

"You guys recited it really well."

Ye Xi'an gave a dry compliment, and the three remained motionless, just staring at her with bright eyes.

She felt at a loss waiting for them to speak; the atmosphere was terribly awkward, Ye Xi'an's toes curled as if they'd dig out a three-bedroom apartment from the floor; she could only feign composure, smoothing the stray hairs by her ear, mentally urging herself to say something quickly, then lowered her shirt sleeves and neatly rolled them back up.

"After the oath, without your command they can't move; you have to kiss them and then say 'I understand.'" Lin Zhi Jing said with a blank face; if he weren't seeing Ye Xi'an's embarrassment, he wouldn't have reminded her.

Hearing Lin Zhi Jing's words, Ye Xi'an felt the sky was about to fall—should she just forcibly kiss them? Or line them up for kisses? What's the difference between that and bumping into an acquaintance on the street, with the person standing across the road watching you walk by to find her?

But not kissing them while they stand like that isn't an option either; she had to go through with it.

Ye Xi'an trembled as she cupped Ji Jiangci's face, gently pulling his male head to where she could reach.

She closed her eyes tightly, lips slightly pursed, rose on her tiptoes, and pressed her mouth to Ji Jiangci's warm lips.

At the instant of the kiss, Ye Xi'an instantly opened her eyes—this feeling was too soft, like kissing a kitten's mouth.

But as soon as she opened her eyes, she met Ji Jiangci's gaze.

Ji Jiangci still wore a carefree expression, his peach-blossom eyes glimmering, though one couldn't read his emotions from them; only the faint pink tint hidden beneath his hair at the ear tips gave a hint.

This was his first kiss; although he didn't like Ye Xi'an, his male virtue told him that in this lifetime he could only be with Ye Xi'an.

His eyes drooped, his curled lashes lightly brushing Ye Xi'an's eyelids, stirring a shy, tingling sensation.

Ye Xi'an quickly pulled away, her face flushed like a rose, and she softly said:

"I understand."

(End of chapter)