Chapter 29: Chapter 29: You Can’t Leave Without XX

"Where on earth are we going? You’re being so mysterious."

"We’re almost there. It’s my secret base."

After eating, Han Li pulled Yu An and the others toward the place he mentioned. Mo Yan followed close behind, holding Xiao Yu, leading Da Hu by the hand, and carrying San Dan in his arms.

After a series of twists and turns, the group finally arrived in front of a narrow cave. The entrance was hidden by vines; you really wouldn’t notice it if you weren’t looking carefully.

"This is my secret base," Han Li introduced with a grin. "There’s a whole other world inside. I used to come here to play all the time as a kid, but I haven’t been back since I grew up."

A look of nostalgia flickered in his eyes.

Da Hu asked curiously, "Uncle Han, why haven’t you come back since you grew up?"

"Because I got busy with so many things," Han Li said, bending down to pat his little head. "But today, we can play to our hearts’ content."

The entrance was narrow, barely allowing one person to pass, but after several dozen steps, it suddenly opened up.

After walking through the passage, Yu An glanced back and thought to herself, ’This is just like the Peach Blossom Spring.’

While she was recalling the story of the *Peach Blossom Spring*, she heard Da Hu’s gasp of surprise from up ahead. Yu An walked over to take a look—

No wonder Han Li considered this his secret base. There were mountains, water, flowers, and trees, but it was completely different from the forest outside.

It was spring, and the peach blossoms were in full bloom. Da Hu excitedly ran back and forth under the peach trees, even climbing one to shake down a shower of petals for Xiao Yu.

"Mo Yan, can you do me a favor?"

Han Li quietly sidled up to Mo Yan and pleaded, "Can you watch the Zaizai? I want to take An’an somewhere."

The slight smile on Mo Yan’s lips vanished. "Where?" he asked, his expression blank.

"That sea of flowers," Han Li said, a faint blush creeping onto his face as he thought about what he was going to do. "I want to confess my feelings to An’an there."

"I like An’an, and I want to be her Beast Husband. She had some concerns, so she couldn’t agree last time, but I can feel that she likes me too."

Han Li took a deep breath and said coaxingly, "If you help me with this, we’ll be like blood brothers from now on. When An’an and I have a Zaizai, how about we make you the godfather?"

Mo Yan took a deep breath, trying hard to suppress his emotions. "I am Yu An’s Beast Husband. And you’re asking me to help you?"

Han Li said dismissively, "You didn’t willingly follow An’an. Besides, aren’t you leaving soon? I’ll be here to protect An’an and the Zaizai in the future, so you can rest easy."

’This is so frustrating!’

Mo Yan was so angry his chest hurt. But on second thought, Han Li had a point.

He was destined to leave, and Feng Xuan wouldn’t stick around long after achieving his goal. No matter how you looked at it, Yu An was a delicate female. The exiled land was full of dangers; she couldn’t be without a Beast Husband to protect her.

Thinking of this, Mo Yan pressed a hand to his chest, forcing out the emotions that didn’t belong to him. "Go on."

Han Li’s face lit up. "Thank you, godfather of my and An’an’s future Zaizai!"

Mo Yan: "..."

"Han Li, where are you taking me?"

Yu An was completely confused. She had been enjoying some quality time with her Zaizai when Han Li covered her eyes and led her away.

Han Li didn’t say anything. After a moment, he finally let go.

Yu An’s vision was suddenly filled with light. Before her was a vast sea of flowers, layer upon layer of small blossoms packed together. Their fragrance, carried on the wind, gently rustled the loose strands of her hair.

"It’s so beautiful here! I’ll go get the Zaizai..."

’This is the perfect place for photos, and I just happen to have a camera in my storage space!’

"An’an," Han Li said, suddenly hugging her from behind. "Let’s just stay here alone for a while, okay?"

"I have something I want to say to you."

Yu An froze for a second, then broke free from his embrace and turned to face him.

She said seriously, "Han Li, if this is about what you brought up at the bottom of the cliff, don’t say it. My answer will always be the same."

Han Li grew anxious. "Why? Is it because my family won’t agree?"

"An’an, you don’t have to worry. I’ll take care of it. I’ll never let you or the Zaizai get hurt in the slightest..."

"It’s because of the Exile Grass," Yu An interrupted. "If you’re with me, your future Zaizai will also have the scent of Exile Grass in their bloodline. They’ll never be able to take a single step outside the exiled land. Are you willing to accept that?"

"I..."

Yu An covered his mouth. "Think it over before you speak. I don’t want you to make a decision in the heat of the moment that you’ll regret for the rest of your life."

She turned to leave, but before she had taken two steps, Han Li grabbed her arm and looked her straight in the eye. "Yu An, I’ve thought it through."

"For a male, home is wherever his Female Master is. For a cub, home is wherever their Female Mother is. I won’t regret it..."

"Female Mother, what game are you and Uncle Han playing?"

Da Hu’s voice suddenly rang out. The sturdy little boy then pounced over, looking at them curiously.

"Female Mother was just about to find a nice spot to take a few pictures of you and your brothers."

Yu An pulled her hand free from Han Li’s, took the camera out of her storage space, and started gesturing about, looking for the best angle.

Han Li: "..."

He lowered his voice and asked Mo Yan, who had come over with the kids, "Bro, didn’t we have a deal...?"

Mo Yan set down Xiao Yu and San Dan and said calmly, "The Zaizai wanted to find their Female Mother. There was nothing I could do."

Yu An took a whole series of photos of the Zaizai, not even leaving out the still-unhatched San Dan, which she affectionately dubbed pictures from "San Dan’s egg days."

His confession plan was interrupted, and Han Li sighed in frustration. But his mood immediately brightened when he got the candid photos Yu An had taken.

"An’an, is this me in the picture? This is amazing!"

He also had Yu An teach him how to use the camera and took many beautiful pictures of her.

"Not bad," Yu An praised him. "Your technique is pretty good."

Han Li beamed.

"Take one of me and Mo Yan."

Han Li: ’Not happy!’

He unhappily raised the camera and aimed it at the two people standing across from him. A handsome man and a beautiful woman, a perfect match... Ptooey!

’What nonsense. He and An’an are the ones who are made for each other.’

After pressing the shutter, Han Li looked up and saw only Da Hu and Xiao Yu. Yu An and Mo Yan were nowhere in sight.

He was completely baffled. "Da Hu, where’s your Female Mother?"

Da Hu pointed to where they had just been standing, his little face pale. "Female Mother... f-fell down!"

The ground beneath their feet had suddenly split open, and before either of them could say a word, they fell straight through.

The crack sealed shut in an instant. The whole process took less than a second—smooth as silk.

Thrown to the ground, Yu An was stunned.

’Do I have some kind of beef with the ground? How did I fall again? It doesn’t hurt, though.’

Beneath her, Mo Yan grabbed her flailing hands. "Get off me!" he gritted out.

Yu An scrambled to get up, but in the darkness, she stepped on something, stumbled, and fell right back on top of Mo Yan.

"Sorry, sorry! My foot slipped..."

Before she could finish, faint points of light appeared, allowing Yu An to see where they were—a perfectly square, seamlessly constructed stone room.

She looked all around but couldn’t find an exit.

Mo Yan pulled her behind him. "Stay back. I’ll see if I can break us out."

But before he could act, Yu An’s sharp eyes spotted some characters carved on the stone wall. "There are words over there. Let’s go see what they say first."

They exchanged a look and walked over together. Carved on the stone wall was a single sentence—

"You can’t get out unless you have sex."