Nan An instantly flew into a rage: "Qiao Ci, don't push me too far! If you dare to harm me even a little, see if the beasts who have contributed to the tribe won't feel chilled in the future!"
"I'm not trying to take their lives, so how could I chill their hearts? As for you, I've given you a choice. You can leave the tribe on your own, but you can't take this woman who attempted to harm our tribe." Qiao Ci suddenly grew weary of conversing with him this way and ordered her men to seize Lu Yan directly.
Ming Xi, standing beside Qiao Ci, felt a slight discomfort seeing her speak so much with this male beast named Nan An. How could he be worthy?
He narrowed his eyes at Nan An, his gaze flickering.
So damned annoying.
Nan An suddenly felt as if he were being pricked by needles. Only then did he notice the god-like man beside Qiao Ci.
He found it strange. The man was so exceptionally handsome; why hadn't he noticed him earlier?
He must be Ming Xi from the leopard tribe that Qiao Ci brought back when she went out to play, right?
Heh, a few days ago she brought back a useless little milk tiger that only knew how to eat and loved peeking at others… and now she's picked up another weak leopard tribe member abandoned by his own kind. She really does have a penchant for collecting trash.
With this thought, a sense of superiority surged through him. He glanced disdainfully at Ming Xi and said to Qiao Ci, "As the Saintess, you've always claimed to be destined for the gods. You bring this pretty boy around to mingle with daily; aren't you afraid of soiling yourself and profaning the divine?"
Ming Xi finally shifted his gaze from Nan An, looking at Qiao Ci with teary eyes, yet they were filled with excitement. Had she really said she was destined for the gods?
Ming Xi felt his face grow warm. She, she, she had loved him for a long time?
A gust of wind blew past, and an inappropriate thought suddenly sprouted in Ming Xi's heart: Did she like the aloof him, or the current soft and cute him?
If she admired a god, and then became his mate…
Was he cuckolding himself?
Hearing his questioning, Qiao Ci's expression became unusually gentle. She looked at the pure youth beside her, who was lost in self-doubt yet still gazing at her with those harmless, pleading eyes.
She gently parted her lips, her voice filled with immense affection, "Yes, a Saintess is indeed meant for the gods. Ming Xi is my god."
Ming Xi looked at Qiao Ci in astonishment. The moment he saw her gaze, filled with doting possessiveness, envelop him, he felt almost suffocated.
Was he her god?
Not the aloof him, but this him who was only good-looking, weak in character, and utterly useless?
Hearing this, the surrounding beasts looked at Qiao Ci in terror. How could she utter such blasphemous words?
Was she not afraid of divine punishment?
But when they saw the dim sky, the moon slowly emerging to cast its pure light, countless stars twinkling in a brilliant display, and mysterious shooting stars filling half the sky – these peculiar phenomena caused them to look at Qiao Ci with uncertainty.
Could this be a union that even the gods approved of?
The gods truly doted on Qiao Ci.
With the gods' divine manifestation, the beasts immediately knelt down to pray with sincerity.
Lu Yan looked at Qiao Ci with jealousy and hatred. Was that god blind?
Seeing this, Nan An felt both fear and regret. But with things having reached this point, he had no way back. He sneered,
"I don't know when Qiao Ci learned to speak such sweet nothings. This useless pretty boy, how could he be compared to a god? Be careful, lest after being spurned by the gods, you end up worse than me."
Qiao Ci looked at him thoughtfully and said, "Suddenly, I don't want you to die so easily. I'll leave you one leg."
As she spoke, she had already dashed towards Nan An.
Lu Yan, standing beside them, retreated in terror, not daring to step forward, afraid that if Qiao Ci became brutal, she would deal with her too.
After ensuring Nan An was beaten so severely that he could never regain his vigor, Qiao Ci let him go and then looked at Lu Yan, suddenly wanting to give her a gift.
Seeing Qiao Ci looking at her with amusement, Lu Yan was so terrified that she wet herself. Disregarding everything, she turned and fled. Qiao Ci didn't chase after her, but simply stuck out her foot and kicked Nan An towards her.
Nan An's head slammed heavily into Lu Yan's side, and the powerful momentum sent them tumbling.
From behind them came Qiao Ci's lazy voice: "Scram together."
Wouldn't it be fitting for the two scoundrels to be together? After all, it's only in shared adversity that true feelings are revealed.
Lu Yan and Nan An helped each other up and left.
Qiao Ci turned and saw Ming Xi's flushed eyes, tinged with an indescribable affection, gazing deeply at her.
Qiao Ci was no stranger to such a look. She walked forward and naturally took his hand, "Are you cold?"
Ming Xi's eyes flickered at her words. He had been frail since childhood, and even after a fortuitous encounter, he disliked the cold. Even the slightest chill would make him inexplicably irritable.
He had only mentioned it to her in passing during casual conversation, yet she had remembered it.
He heard his own voice, laced with a smile, reply, "Yes."
Then he clasped her soft, warm hand in return.
"Then let's go home."
"Okay."
Many of the surrounding beasts, though seeing Ming Xi for the first time, took an immediate liking to him.
Who wouldn't like such a beautiful youth?
Standing beside the stunning and commanding Qiao Ci, they were truly a pleasing sight.
A couple blessed by divine omens, what reason could they have for not supporting them?
The beasts whispered and nudged each other, their eyes filled with envy and blessings. After a while, the crowd dispersed, as it was already dark and time to rest.
Qiao Ci's small hand was enfolded in Ming Xi's large palm as he led the way.
They walked without speaking, yet they felt no awkwardness or silence.
A warm atmosphere flowed gently between them, like that of long-time… lovers.
Upon returning to the room, the flickering light of the fire cast an intimate ambiance.
Qiao Ci walked to the window and closed it, allowing the flame of the oil lamp to return to normal.
As Qiao Ci gently pulled her hand away, Ming Xi felt a slight sense of disappointment. Immediately afterward, the confined space of the room and the single bed caused his ears to blush furiously.
This soon?
They had only just decided to be together and were already to sleep in the same bed. Wouldn't that make him seem too forward and casual?
He was not like those beasts who readily coupled; his heart had always remained pure and conservative, like that of a female beast.
Primarily… he had little experience and wouldn't be disliked for having poor technique?
What should he do later? What was the order of events in those storybooks?
In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Ming Xi's mind.
"Not sleepy?" Qiao Ci looked at the soft and fragrant youth, yearning to hold him. However, she had always prioritized her image and dignity and didn't know how to prompt him to willingly join her on the bed. After some thought, she finally asked.
If there was one thing Qiao Ci was satisfied with in the beast world, it was not having to have a wedding. Once their relationship was confirmed, they were considered mates.
Of course, some beasts preferred a sense of ceremony and insisted on certain rituals, but they were not complicated.