Jiang Zheyu darted past, slipping under Grandma Witch’s arm. The old woman didn’t even have time to react.

By the time she did, Jiang Zheyu was already inside and had seen the person within.

Jiang Zheyu walked to the bedside and saw the person lying there. His buzz cut was eye-catching, and her gaze quickly fell upon his face.

It really was Shan Xun!

Jiang Zheyu felt a surge of joy and surprise!

Shan Xun wasn’t dead. He was alive, and they had found each other so quickly.

The reason they’d met again so soon, however, was because of Shan Xun. When he had woken up, he’d discovered Jiang Zheyu was gone. He had treated his own wounds while following her tracks, which led him near this tribe.

He was delayed along the way by wild beasts and large insects, and also spent time recovering from his injuries. In the end, though, he had only lost a day.

Still, he quickly found the area near Jiang Zheyu’s tribe, where he encountered a female being attacked by a large insect.

Driven by the instinct to protect females, Shan Xun charged forward without hesitation and killed the insect.

In the process, his wounds, which hadn’t fully healed, split open again.

He was injured again during the fight and passed out from blood loss, which is how Aliya found him and brought him back.

So, Aliya’s encounter with Shan Xun was no accident. He was already on his way to this tribe to find Jiang Zheyu.

The man on the bed was still unconscious, his eyes closed.

Just then, the people from outside rushed in.

Grandma Witch, Aliya, and Aliya’s own Beast Husbands all walked in.

"Jiang Zheyu, get the hell out of here!" Aliya’s finger shot up to point at the doorway, her face a mask of fury.

Jiang Zheyu stood right beside Shan Xun and spoke coolly, "This is my friend. I’m waiting for him to wake up. I’m not leaving."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Aliya stomped her foot. "You’ve taken a liking to the Beastman I brought back, haven’t you!"

"So what if I have!" Jiang Zheyu stood her ground. She wanted to see what Aliya could possibly do to her.

Aliya hadn’t expected Jiang Zheyu to admit it so readily.

"Grab her and throw her out!" Aliya hurriedly commanded the Male Beastmen behind her. "Don’t interfere with my plans."

The Male Beastmen exchanged hesitant glances.

After all, she was also a female.

"She’s just a female with a Fertility Value of 1. What are you afraid of!" Aliya said coldly.

The Male Beastmen seemed to snap out of it and rushed forward to grab her.

"Why are you in such a hurry to throw me out? What are you planning to do to Shan Xun?" Jiang Zheyu frowned, spreading her arms to shield him. "My Beast Husband, Yin Ji, is the number one warrior in the tribe. If you dare do anything to me, I’ll have him teach you a lesson."

At this moment, it seemed only Yin Ji’s reputation could deter these men.

Sure enough, at the mention of Yin Ji’s name, the Male Beastmen hesitated once more.

When Aliya saw her own Beast Husbands falter, she was livid.

"Who the hell is Yin Ji? Is he really worth you being this scared?" Aliya stomped her foot. "Hurry up and drag her out, or I’ll cast you all out!"

After she said that, the Beastmen stopped hesitating and advanced on Jiang Zheyu.

After all, none of them wanted to become rogue beastmen, doomed to a life of solitude.

Jiang Zheyu grew even more confused. ’Why is she so desperate to drag me out? It’s like she’s planning to do something terrible to Shan Xun.’

But they were all covered in some green juice, so Jiang Zheyu’s spiritual power had no effect on them. Physical strength was even more useless; she stood no chance.

Jiang Zheyu wrapped her arms tightly around a nearby wooden pillar. She wasn’t leaving. She would stall for as long as she could, hoping to hold out until Yin Ji got back.

’I don’t know what they’ll do to Shan Xun once they drag me out of here. I absolutely cannot leave. I have to stall.’

A Male Beastman reached for her arm, but another arm shot out first, clamping down on his wrist.

Shan Xun stood in front of Jiang Zheyu, his cold gaze sweeping over them. "Get out!"

His tone was as harsh and cold as ever.

But to Jiang Zheyu, his voice didn’t sound harsh at all. It was like music from the heavens, incredibly pleasant to her ears!

"Shan Xun, you’re awake!" Jiang Zheyu exclaimed in delight, subconsciously grabbing his other arm. "When I went back, I didn’t see you. I almost thought you were dead! I’m so glad you’re okay."

Shan Xun: ...

"Beastmen have a strong Healing Ability. They don’t die that easily," Shan Xun explained.

"Right, right." Jiang Zheyu nodded eagerly.

Seeing how close the two of them were, Aliya didn’t feel particularly heartbroken. After all, she had only just met Shan Xun; it wasn’t as if she had suddenly fallen deeply for him.

She was simply irritated. It was the feeling of having something she’d claimed as her own being stolen away by someone else.

She had originally planned to form a Beast Mate contract with him while he was unconscious. But now that he was awake, that plan was clearly off the table.

Aliya had no choice but to give up on making him her Beast Mate. Still, she couldn’t stand seeing the Male Beastman and Jiang Zheyu acting so intimate and friendly.

"I’m the one who rescued you," Aliya said coldly. "How do you plan to repay me?"

Only then did Shan Xun’s gaze fall upon Aliya. His lips twitched. "I saved you. We’re even."

Aliya faltered. She hadn’t thought of that. All she remembered was bringing him back and getting him treated. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

In her mind, it was only natural for a Male Beastman to protect a female. It didn’t warrant any repayment; it was their duty, their privilege.

So when she heard his reply, her expression filled with disbelief. Her face stiffened, and she gritted her teeth. "Saving me was your privilege. How dare you suggest that makes us even?"

"Then what do you want?" Shan Xun’s brow furrowed.

"What do I want? For you to get out of this tribe." Aliya pointed at Shan Xun. "You’re not from this tribe. You have no right to be here."

Shan Xun didn’t mind. He had no intention of joining this tribe; the planet was simply too primitive. He still needed to build a Starship and take the female away from this place. So, he looked at Jiang Zheyu and said, "Let’s go. We’re leaving."

As he spoke, he took Jiang Zheyu’s hand and started walking outside.

Jiang Zheyu didn’t even have time to react before she was pulled out of Grandma Witch’s house.

’But I can’t just leave like this!’