The Bai family residence.

Bai Xue’s eyes widened in shock after hearing Mrs. Bai’s account. "How is that possible? Mom, are you sure you saw correctly? The Lanton Family? Couldn’t she have just hired actors to trick you?"

Mrs. Bai shook her head. "It’s the absolute truth. There’s no mistake."

"He had the Lanton Family’s insignia tattooed on the back of his hand. There’s no mistaking it. In the entire world, almost no one would be reckless enough to fake that symbol."

Jealousy burned in Bai Xue’s heart like corrosive acid. ’Her? What makes her worthy? Are the people of the Lanton Family blind?’

"Xue’er!" Mrs. Bai’s expression turned stern. "Watch what you say."

Bai Xue was already fuming, and hearing this, she lost her temper. "Why do we have to be so careful? This is our own house! Don’t tell me you’re afraid someone’s going to show up here and cause trouble?"

Mrs. Bai sounded helpless. "Xue’er, when will you ever learn that a loose tongue invites disaster? You have to be careful, even in your own home."

Knowing she was in the wrong, Bai Xue nodded sullenly. "I know..."

Feeling wronged, she threw herself into Mrs. Bai’s arms. "Mom, she’s suddenly being so high-profile, showing her face all over the internet and claiming she has a superpower. Even Major General Lu and the Lanton Family are drawn to her. Do you think... she’s back for revenge?"

Bai Xue couldn’t help but touch her own stomach worriedly. "Could she have found out about what happened back then?"

"Impossible," Mrs. Bai’s eyes turned cold. "Our plan was flawless. There’s absolutely no way she could know."

And yet...

Mrs. Bai thought back to the child she’d seen at the mountaintop orphanage, and a flicker of worry crossed her mind.

If it was just an ordinary child, that would be fine. But if it was...

"Rumors are flying online that she has a superpower, and it’s even stirred up the nobility," Bai Xue said, dejected. "What if the Lu Family takes notice of her? If they take her in and give her a medical exam..."

"With the Royal Family’s advanced medical technology, they might discover what we did to her. What are we going to do, Mom?"

Mrs. Bai pondered for a moment. "If that’s the case, then we have no choice. We have to get rid of her before the Lu Family takes notice."

Hearing this, Bai Xue looked troubled. "Are you sure about that? Mom, are you going to kill her?"

Mrs. Bai stroked her head lovingly. "Silly girl. I listened to you and spared her life back then. Are you getting soft-hearted again?"

"I’ll handle it. You just focus on getting ready to marry Lu Yanhua."

"I don’t want Lu Yanhua!" Bai Xue’s eyes filled with disgust. "He’s a good-for-nothing, nothing like Lu Tingyan, who’s powerful and smart."

Mrs. Bai looked at her disapprovingly. "Silly child, what’s so great about Lu Tingyan? Why are you so hung up on him? Lu Yanhua is the son of the *current* Federation Leader!"

Bai Xue didn’t want to argue about it. "Just stay out of it," she said, annoyed. "I can make my own decisions!"

’The Bai Family just doesn’t understand the situation at all right now.’

’The future she’d foreseen was slowly coming true. Lu Tingyan was gradually recovering his spiritual power, a fact that almost no one knew.’

’She’d only managed to dig up a few clues by using Lu Yanhua. She’d heard that the military’s attitude toward Lu Tingyan had recently begun to shift.’

’Before long, she estimated, Lu Tingyan would reclaim his position as Federation Leader.’

Mrs. Bai frowned. "But Lu Tingyan has obviously taken a liking to Bai Su. I heard a few days ago that he turned down several matchmaking offers, saying he already has someone he loves. And that someone is clearly not you."

Bai Xue instantly recalled Lu Tingyan’s warning on the mountaintop.

’He had actually warned her, for that bitch’s sake, not to be a nosy busybody and try to set Bai Su up with anyone.’

’It seemed Lu Tingyan really had fallen for that bitch.’

’She would have to take drastic measures!’

*

After a busy shift, Bai Su saw off her last customer and closed up shop, only to see Bai Xiaolang dozing at her side.

She felt a pang of guilt. "Little Wolf, are you exhausted? Why don’t you go upstairs and sleep?"

Bai Xiaolang startled awake, rubbing his eyes. "No," he said in a sweet, sleepy voice. "I can help Mama."

Bai Su frowned. "But you’ve been nodding off for the past two days. Are you feeling sick?"

Bai Xiaolang’s eyes flickered. He buried his face in Bai Su’s embrace, hiding his expression. "Of course not! I eat Mama’s delicious food every day, how could I possibly be sick?"

’It was just a lack of sleep, that’s all.’

’On Grandpa Yarco’s recommendation, he’d made contact with an underworld organization and registered as one of the Bounty Hunters on the black market.’

’For the past two days, he’d been taking on small assassination jobs in the area.’

’His targets were all small-time gangsters.’

’He’d only realized it was possible after seeing Lu Tingyan use Tearing Space when they were rescuing the trapped children in the cave.’

’Just a small tear on a person’s body was enough to suck them in instantly, where the black hole would grind them to dust and devour them, leaving not even ash behind.’

’His own Level 5 ability was temporary Invisibility, so he could use the thirty seconds of stealth to instantly approach his target and go for the kill.’

’Even the smallest cut from a Tearing Space rift was enough to devour a person whole.’

’He’d been running jobs for the past two nights and hadn’t gotten enough sleep, which was why he was always dozing off during the day.’

Bai Su was still worried. "You’re still so young. If you’re tired, you need to get more rest. As it happens, I’ve been looking to hire some help for the shop."

"Whatever Mama says," Bai Xiaolang nodded obediently.

Seeing him acting like a soft, sweet little dumpling, Bai Su’s heart melted, and she couldn’t resist playfully ruffling his ears.

’Heaven knew how much she adored these fluffy little cubs.’

’Such an adorable little guy. So obedient and well-behaved, and so responsible too. He looked after the other little cubs at the orphanage like a miniature adult.’

’When he ate something delicious or she praised him, he would flash a sweet smile and wag his tail.’

’He was just too cute!’

’Definitely not some future supervillain!’

After lunch, Bai Su waited until the little ones were down for their afternoon naps before putting on a sun-blocking cloak and heading out.

’She needed to buy some ingredients and, while she was at it, hire a new employee from the Beastman Market.’

Both errands required a trip into the city.

The summer heat was brutal, making a trip out at this hour a form of torture, but it couldn’t be helped.

Because of the summer heat, the city market would likely close up before evening, and she wouldn’t be able to find fresh produce at the night market.

She’d meant to go out in the morning but had been delayed by various chores.

When Bai Su got to the market, she first went to her usual stalls to pick out fresh ingredients. She settled on a price with the vendor, paid a deposit, and arranged for his assistant to deliver everything to her mountaintop restaurant that evening.

She had lost a lot of weight. At around 120 pounds, she still had her curves, but her features had become much more delicate.

Add to that a light sheen of sweat from the summer heat, and she was practically a walking magnet for male Beastmen.

Many males on the street couldn’t help but sneak glances at her.

Bai Su was long used to the attention. After all, anyone who dared to make a move on her would be... dealt with by Lu Tingyan the very next day.

Everyone in the area knew it, so after a while, nobody dared to try anything.

But today, something seemed a bit off...

Bai Su frowned, discreetly quickening her pace.

The shuffling footsteps behind her quickened as well, and it sounded like more than one person.

Bai Su tried to head toward a more crowded area, but a sudden scent drove her back.

’This is...’

’Beast-Driving Grass.’

’It’s used specifically against Rabbit Beastmen.’

Even though Bai Su knew she should head for the crowds, her instinctive revulsion to the Beast-Driving Grass was overwhelming, and she found herself being herded toward the edge of the city.

She tried to use the smart-wristband on her arm to call for help, but found the signal was jammed.

’Damn it.’

Several tall Bear Beastmen blocked her way.

"Well now, what a tender and tasty little rabbit we have here."

"I wonder how delightful she’ll be in heat?"

The Bear Beastmen let out menacing laughs.

Bai Su could already feel something was wrong with her body. A burning heat spread from her lower abdomen, her breath came in ragged gasps, and her skin felt scorching hot.

They were the signs of her going into heat.

She didn’t have time to question them. It was a targeted attack, and their audacity to assault a female Beastman in broad daylight made it clear they were hired guns.

Bai Su spun around and bolted.

The Bear Beastmen laughed menacingly as they gave chase.

Bear Beastmen were massive, giving them an absolute advantage in size and raw strength.

But in moments like these, Bai Su grew even calmer.

She was a Rabbit Beastman; speed and agility were her natural advantages.

The Bear Beastmen might overpower her with sheer strength, but they were clumsy. They were all explosive power with poor endurance.

But her body had been forced into heat by the herbs, and the sky was already dimming toward dusk.

Bai Su darted into a cave, using her rabbit instincts to squeeze through every nook and cranny.

The Bear Beastmen followed her in. "Little pet, where are you?"

"Quit playing games. You can’t escape. You must be in so much pain right now... why not come on out and let us brothers take good care of you?"

Bai Su pressed herself against a rock wall, struggling to stifle her ragged breaths.

’Thankfully, all the physical training she’d been doing to lose weight was paying off.’

But the heat was agonizing. Her limbs grew weak and unresponsive, and her consciousness began to fray.

She uncontrollably sagged back against the wall. The cool stone against her feverish skin made her let out an involuntary whimper. "Ngh..."

Suddenly, the excited panting of a great beast echoed beside her. "Heh heh, found you!"

Bai Su’s head snapped up, her eyes locking with those of a Bear Beastman peering down at her from over the top of the rock wall!