The cubs all nodded and began treating Xuyou and Ali as brides. The male cubs, mimicking the adults, set up a fighting ring and started to brawl.

Xuyou watched excitedly, waving her little fists and cheering along. Ali, on the other hand, was a bit more shy and reserved. She watched with sparkling eyes, determined to claim a child husband.

It hadn’t been so bad before, when she could just cling to her older brothers and sisters. But now her sisters were getting their own child husbands, one after another, and her brothers were even getting child wives. She felt a huge sense of being left out.

’She also wanted a child husband who would have eyes only for her!’

’Xuyou felt this even more strongly. The other little sisters could all change into their Beast Forms, but she was the only one who couldn’t. Even though Little Jing was a whale and couldn’t transform on land, her beast nature still strengthened her body. When it came to running away, she was the biggest laggard in the family!’

The cubs were having a blast, and soon, the older male cubs had battled it out to determine the top ten.

"So, what’s next?" The Mountain Wolf male cub who had won first place asked, raising an eyebrow at Tian Pan and the others. They were the ones who started this game, after all. His eyes sparkled as he panted slightly. ’They’re not going to make me carry the bride, are they?’

Tian Pan and Hu Bai exchanged a glance and said with innocent smiles, "Now you have to bow to heaven and earth and pray to the Beast God to be joined as partners!"

Hearing this, the hearts of the cubs from Golden Lion City all sank. They didn’t usually play this game.

Everyone revered the Beast God. Even though they had been disappointed in him this past year, and some had even started believing in the Golden Lion Beast God instead, they still wouldn’t dare bring up the matter of becoming partners before the Beast God.

It would come true! After all, when it came to forming a Contract, as long as both the male and female were willing, the Beast God was always especially happy to help. He would not, at the very least, allow anyone to joke about it.

The adults had warned the cubs time and again, especially the female cubs, afraid they would be tricked at a young age into agreeing to a partnership.

A female could have an unlimited number of Beast Husbands, but the power of each one was a reflection of that female’s appeal. Males were drawn to strength and willing to follow powerful females.

You could say that for any female with decent fertility—whether for her own health, the quality of her offspring, her safety, or her quality of life—the males around her were destined to be strong, and every one of them would have a superpower.

Cubs with good talent might awaken their superpowers at five or six years old, but it was more common at seven or eight, or even around ten. Until a male reached adulthood, no one knew what he would become.

Besides, the cubs were in different age groups. This particular group was mostly three- or four-year-olds, with the oldest being only six. Almost none of the male cubs had awakened their superpowers. Making a contract now wasn’t necessarily a boon for the female cub; he could turn out to be a useless weight dragging her down.

The young Mountain Wolf’s pupils constricted, and the look in his eyes as he watched Xuyou dimmed. ’The chances of awakening a superpower are small.’ His Mother’s fertility wasn’t high; she had only borne three litters in over ten years. His Father was also an ordinary Beastman, with no superpower. He lowered his gaze, his fists clenched tight. Although he was young, he had always worked hard to improve himself. At six, he still had a chance of winning against a teenager with a superpower.

’But without a superpower, he could only seek out a female with low fertility. And Xuyou is the cub of the Female Saint Si Shuo. Her father has the Wind Ability. When she grows up, her fertility will be at least mid-tier, if not higher.’

’They weren’t meant to be...’

Ali poked Youyou and whispered with a laugh, "Hey, Big Sis, you want that wolf cub? If not, then I’m going to..."

Before she could finish, Xuyou smiled and poked her forehead. "Of course I want him! Wolf cubs are the most loyal. Besides, a Mountain Wolf’s Beast Form is huge and powerful in a fight. He’ll be perfect for carrying me around!"

Ali pursed her lips in a smile. "In that case, I’ll find myself a Tiger-headed Sea Eagle child husband. They’re beautiful and fierce, and Eagle Falcon Beastmen are also very loyal and devoted." ’Most importantly, they can fly! Who could resist the temptation of wings?’

Xuyou looked at the young Mountain Wolf. ’If he were in his half-beast form right now,’ she thought, ’his ears and tail would surely be drooping.’

"Hi there. What’s your name?" she asked with a smile.

The young Mountain Wolf stood frozen until a friend next to him bumped his shoulder. He then looked up blankly, only to meet Xuyou’s beautiful, dewy, and innocent deer-like eyes. He pointed to himself in disbelief. "Little Deer female cub, are you talking to me?"

Xuyou nodded. "I’m not cross-eyed. I couldn’t possibly be looking at you while talking to someone else, could I?"

The crowd roared with laughter. The tips of the young Mountain Wolf’s ears turned bright red. Scratching his head, he said softly, "Cang Jing." Then, he stood up straight and shouted, "My name is Cang Jing!"

Youyou’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. She held out a pudgy, pale arm. "Brother Jing, are you willing to become my partner? To follow only me from now on, for richer or for poorer, in happiness and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, never to abandon me?"

Cang Jing still looked dazed, but that didn’t stop him from nodding vigorously. "I’m willing! I’m so willing!"

His sheer eagerness made everyone double over with laughter again.

But one of the cubs couldn’t help reminding Xuyou, "Little Deer female cub, you need to think this through. Praying to the Beast God to become partners is the same as making a marriage contract."

"You won’t be able to back out of it later, or you’ll be punished..."

"That’s right, Youyou! This Mountain Wolf cub is pretty strong, but he hasn’t awakened his superpower yet. What if he never awakens one and can’t protect you?"

Some cubs who were friendly with Cang Jing tried to persuade him too. "Cang Jing, it’s still uncertain if you’ll ever awaken a superpower. You have to be careful when choosing a female. The Female Saint’s cub isn’t necessarily the right match for you."

"Brother Jing, what happens when all your Couple Brothers are stronger than you? How much pressure will you be under then? You might not even be able to get into her den, let alone have cubs with her!"

But they could say what they liked. Xuyou paid them no mind, and Cang Jing didn’t want to listen.

"Let’s go! You have to carry your bride to pray before the Beast God Statue," Xuyou said, spreading her arms wide, her face alight with an excitement she couldn’t hide. ’Aah! I’m about to snag someone who’ll work his tail off for me without a single complaint, who’ll only ever care for and cherish me!’

Cang Jing strode forward with a grin and swept her right into his arms. ’The little female cub might be small, not even reaching his waist, but she was plump and weighty—warm, fragrant, and soft in his embrace.’

As if afraid she would change her mind, Cang Jing took off toward the Beast God Statue like a gust of wind, a whole troop of cubs WHOOSHING along behind him.

When they reached the Beast God Statue, Cang Jing carefully set Xuyou down. Then, with great earnestness, he dropped to his knees with a THUD and began kowtowing, his head hitting the ground with a series of loud THUMPS.

The sound was giving Xuyou a headache. She quickly grabbed his hair. "Stop! Stop kowtowing! We just have to recite a few lines. The great Divine Beast will surely hear us."

Cang Jing, however, simply sat back on his heels and looked at Xuyou seriously. "Little Deer female cub, do you know what we are doing?"