Beast World: A Fragile Beauty Blessed with Many Children-Chapter 22 - 21: Now That’s a Normal Pace

By noon, the gathering team had returned, and Yimei brought Si Shuo a small basket of fruit.

Si Shuo smiled and gave her some fishballs in return. "These are made with fish from the river and some plant powder, all rolled into balls. They’re delicious in a soup with wild vegetables and salt!"

Yimei accepted them without any fuss, letting Rongxing go cook while she pulled Si Shuo over to the platform in front of the cave to chat.

Half of the males were away hunting, so the tribe was much quieter than usual. There was even less gossip to go around.

For the past few days, everyone’s conversations had revolved around the Rogue Beasts in the Traveling Merchant Team and the Beastmen from other tribes who had come to trade.

"Your sister and Ma Hui... aren’t their mouths tired? They go on all day, grabbing anyone they can to boast about taking in those Rogue Beasts. As if we all don’t know, with the racket they make at night... And have you seen the way they walk? They don’t seem tired at all..."

Yimei vented to Si Shuo.

Si Shuo nodded, leaned close to Yimei’s ear, and whispered, "Yimei, do you... also want a Rogue Beastman with high Combat Power as a Beast Husband?"

Yimei stifled a laugh and whispered back, "What’s this? Are you finally taking an interest in these things, Si Shuo? This is the first I’ve seen you so laid-back about it. Who doesn’t pick two or three candidates for their first selection!"

"Of course I want one! But I know my own limits. I’m no great beauty, and my fertility is just average at best.

Every Rogue Beast in the Traveling Merchant Team is so worldly and experienced. Why would any of them look twice at a plain female like me?"

"Just tell me," Si Shuo said, pressing her lips together and nudging Yimei’s shoulder. "You never know, it might just happen."

Yimei blushed slightly. "I think that Kouba guy is pretty great."

Si Shuo was a little confused. ’Which one was that?’

"He’s the tall, slender one with yellowish-green hair! The rattlesnake beastman! He’s really handsome and such a sweet-talker."

Si Shuo nodded in realization. He was indeed a Rogue Beast who knew how to curry favor with females. If she recalled correctly, he had a single orange Beast Pattern on his neck.

Male Beastmen had Beast Patterns on their necks, which were divided into seven colors according to their Combat Power Level, from lowest to highest: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple.

Each color contained three Levels. For example, a single orange Beast Pattern represented Level 4 Combat Power!

The color changed every three Levels, and the power suppression between each color level was immense.

Si Shuo smiled and nodded. "So you’ve really set your heart on him? You’re sure?"

Yimei beamed. "Yes, yes, yes, he’s the one for me. You make it sound like all I have to do is choose him and he’ll become my Beast Husband."

Si Shuo said cryptically, "To make it a reality, the first step is to dare to want it!"

After lunch, Si Shuo went back to lazing about in the cool breeze. The most difficult two days were over, and she could finally get some comfortable sleep.

After practicing her Catalyst Technique in the afternoon, she had just returned to her cave when the males from the hunt came back, marching proudly with their many kills.

Si Shuo’s gaze immediately fell on Ji Liang leading the way. This time, he was actually leading six Curly Horned Long-haired Sheep!

Instead of avoiding her as he usually did, Ji Liang walked directly to the space below her cave and squinted up at her with a smile.

Si Shuo pressed her lips together, the corners of her mouth curving up into a smile that revealed faint dimples. Her azure eyes crinkled prettily, making her look both sweet and beautiful.

After gazing at her for a long moment, Ji Liang finally shook the rope in his hand and said in a tone that was clearly looking for praise, "Little Shushu, I hunted some milking sheep for you. Remember to drink some every day to stay healthy."

Si Shuo smiled and nodded. "Okay!"

Ji Liang let out a soft hiss, his mind flashing back to the previous night when they had slept in each other’s arms. He was utterly powerless against her.

When she let her guard down, the little female was so soft and delicate it made him want to give her his entire heart.

He handed the vine rope to a nearby Beastman, telling him to take the sheep to be raised in the tribe’s gully. Of the six Curled Horned Sheep, three were for the tribe, and three were for Si Shuo!

After giving his instructions, he leaped up beside Si Shuo and whispered, "I also hunted some tasty bamboo rats and gugu birds, and I found a few clutches of wild duck eggs. How about I come over for dinner tonight?"

They were standing very close. Ji Liang knew she was still a little afraid of him, so he had to restrain the excited urge to flick his tongue out.

Si Shuo glared at him. "I’m eating in the main square tonight!"

’If he eats here tonight, he’ll be making himself at home. When it’s time to sleep, would I even be able to make him leave?’

’He was taking advantage of her being too shy to refuse his advances, which seemed gentle on the surface but were actually quite domineering.’ 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Ji Liang tapped her lightly on the forehead. "You clever little thing. I really don’t know what to do with you. Fine, I’ll just sit next to you at dinner tonight!"

With that settled, he looked over at Yimei, who was craning her neck to eavesdrop. He asked with a lazy smile, "You must be my Si Shuo’s friend, Yimei, right?

Have you taken a fancy to any of the males in our Dark Crow Trading Team? Go on, pick one. As a thank-you, I’ll give you some good things to help condition your body and improve fertility.

All I ask is that you help look after our Si Shuo."

Yimei froze, feeling as though a prize had just dropped from the heavens and knocked her senseless.

She looked from Ji Liang to the beaming Si Shuo and suddenly understood. "Thank you, Lord Ji Liang," she said, a little excitedly. "Can I choose Kouba? W-would he feel like he’s settling if he’s with me?"

Ji Liang turned his head and called out, "Kouba, you heard her, didn’t you?"

The Beastman who had been called out, dressed in cyan Beast Skins, had stylish, yellowish-green short hair. His handsome face split into a wide grin, and with a single leap, he landed beside Yimei.

"I’m not settling at all. What we Rogue Beastmen hope for most is to have a home and a female’s unwavering devotion for the rest of our lives.

As long as Yimei doesn’t chase me away, I couldn’t possibly feel like I’m settling!"

Beastmen were generally straightforward, even the traders. All they really wanted was a loyal partner who would never leave them, and to have cubs of their own.

Males like Ji Liang, who wanted to fall in love at first sight and had high standards for both appearance and destiny, were a minority.

Si Shuo watched as Yimei and Kouba hit it off instantly. After taking the celebratory gift from Ji Liang, the two of them immediately disappeared into her cave...

Seeing the little female’s stunned expression, Ji Liang muffled a laugh and ruffled her hair. "Why is our little female so hard to woo?

Look at them—that’s the normal pace of things. After all, once you’ve decided to give your Beast Mark, it’s only natural to want a taste of the passion you’ve been craving."

Face flushed, Si Shuo sat down beside him, pulled the Peace Pendant from her beast-skin pouch, and tied it to his waist.

The Peace Pendant featured a perfectly round pearl at the top and a beautiful phoenix-tail knot at the bottom.

Against his dark clothes, the fiery-red, gold-trimmed Peace Pendant stood out, looking exceptionally exquisite.

"May you have peace and joy, and may all your endeavors be successful."

Ji Liang looked down, rubbing it gently in his hand, a warm, soft feeling spreading through his heart.

Although he had never heard the phrase before, he savored every word, feeling the sincere blessing and hope behind it.

He smiled and praised her enthusiastically. "Our Little Shushu is so clever with her hands and so sweet with her words. Everything you say is beautiful. You’re a thousand, ten thousand times better than the females raised in the great families from the center of the continent!"

Si Shuo asked curiously, "The center of the continent? What’s it like?"