With everyone gone, Hei Ting's heart felt empty. He gazed in the direction of Warrior City, his eyes filled with determination.
Upon returning home, Shu An was, as expected, called for a talk by her mother. Shu Yue hadn't anticipated that the one to ultimately stop her would be An An herself.
As someone who had been through it, how could her daughter's feelings escape her notice? "An An, do you like Hei Ting?"
Shu An fidgeted, her fingers twisting together. "I don't know. He's a fallen beast. It's impossible for me to be with him. You wouldn't agree, and I don't want to disappoint you." Her rationality could suppress her inner emotions.
Hearing this, Shu Yue sighed. "Who says it's impossible? If Hei Ting is willing to change himself for you, then it's not impossible. If he continues to act as he always has, it means he doesn't truly love you, but merely wants to possess you. At that point, An An, no matter how unwilling you are, you must resolutely give up!"
Shu An's head shot up at these words. "Mom, you mean...?"
...
Three days later, Shu An disappeared. Went, furious, slammed his fist on the table at home. "Yue Yue, why didn't you discuss it with me?!"
Shu Yue looked at him innocently. "I did discuss it with you, but you wouldn't agree to anything. Are you willing to watch your second daughter suffer heartbreak and experience the pain of lost love?"
Went: "..." He couldn't bear to scold his mate, so he could only take his anger out on the table. That kid is too lucky!
"Aren't you afraid he'll take An An away? Then An An will be the one hurt!"
Shu Yue sighed softly. "Of course I'm worried. We can continue to stop them, but An An isn't happy. An An has feelings for Hei Ting; why shouldn't we give them a chance? Besides, you don't need to worry. Consider this a test for Hei Ting. An An has a concentrated anesthetic with her. If things go wrong, it'll be enough to make Hei Ting sleep for a few days. She can then set off a signal flare, and we'll go pick her up."
Love is freedom. In modern times, two people in love might not end up together due to family background, social class, financial status, personality, and various other reasons.
Here, these things didn't exist. Since the two young people had feelings for each other, why should their parents obstruct them? Even if Hei Ting was a fallen beast, he wasn't a beast who had committed heinous crimes. If he could change, why not try to accept him?
Except for the stubborn Went and Lei Te, everyone else wanted to give Hei Ting a chance. It wasn't that they thought highly of him, but they didn't want An An to have regrets. First love is a beautiful thing.
If Hei Ting wouldn't change for her, Shu An would naturally give up. If Hei Ting truly passed the test, then it would be a happy ending for everyone.
Thus, they deliberately let their guard down, allowing Hei Ting to abduct An An. Hei Ting thought it was an opportunity given by the Beast God, but in reality, it was a well-orchestrated plan.
Seeing his mate speak so logically and even having contingency plans prepared, Went was speechless. He thought that Hei Ting had better not disappoint him.
As long as Hei Ting wronged An An, he would hunt him down to the ends of the earth to kill him, regardless of whether An An agreed!
...
Hei Ting, who was being spoken of, sneezed loudly under the bright sun.
Hei Ting touched his nose suspiciously. Was his physique this weak now?
"An An." Finally, An An was his again.
Shu An leaned quietly into his embrace, sitting with him on the mountaintop, overlooking the dense forest below.
"Hei Ting, I want to be your mate. Are you willing?"
Hei Ting was stunned. He had expected to hear reproaches, but what he heard was beyond his expectations. "An An, are you really willing to be my mate?"
Shu An looked at him earnestly. "I am willing. Are you?"
"I am willing too!" Hei Ting quickly and earnestly replied.
Shu An curved her lips. "Then are you willing to live with me in Warrior City? From now on, you won't be a fallen beast, but a part of Warrior City. We'll live happily ever after in Warrior City."
"..."
Hei Ting froze, then fell silent.
His silence lasted a long time, and the light in Shu An's eyes slowly faded. "If you don't..."
"But will they accept me? I'm a fallen beast..." Beneath Hei Ting's fierce exterior lay apprehension and confusion. He was an exiled beastman; could he return to tribal life?
Shu An paused upon hearing his answer, then nodded affirmatively. "They will! They will definitely accept you. In our Warrior City, fallen beasts are not beings abandoned by the Beast God. Let me tell you why some beastmen become fallen beasts..."
The two talked for a long time about the topic of fallen beasts, and Hei Ting finally understood why there were no fallen beasts in Warrior City.
...
The next day, Went paced back and forth at home, agitated. An An had been missing for a full day and night!
Shu Yue couldn't eat breakfast in peace. "Can you rest for a bit? Stay calm!"
Went frowned. "I can't stay calm. An An hasn't returned for a day, and I worry all day."
Shu Bei couldn't help but persuade him. "Dad, it's okay. An An isn't that foolish. Hei Ting will definitely return with her!"
Hearing this, Went turned his gaze to her. "Can you guarantee that? I haven't even spoken to you yet. Don't you always dislike Long Rui? Why were you on the same side that day?"
Shu Bei: "..." Well, the battlefield had instantly shifted to her!
"When did I dislike him? I just don't want to date him. Really, Dad, believe me. The fact that Hei Ting came all the way from the West Sea to find An An shows that An An is the most important person in his heart, so he will definitely come!"
As the saying goes, bystanders see clearly. Women are more sensitive in matters of the heart and notice certain details.
To avoid her father lecturing her, Shu Bei voiced her opinion and, without finishing her meal, quickly slipped away.
Went, who was about to lecture her: "..." He suddenly understood what "elbows turning outward" meant!
No wonder it felt a bit cold; his little cotton-padded jacket was leaking.
Went sat down, feeling stifled. Shu Yue paid him no mind. This incident would make him realize that when children grow up, parents should let go.
Shu Bei, who had run out, ran into Long Rui, who had a sore on his lip, on her way to her aunt's house for a meal. Long Rui was initially excited upon seeing her, but the excitement lasted less than a second before turning into dejection.
Shu Bei's eye twitched. "What's wrong with you?"
Long Rui looked pitiful, like a puppy kicked out of its home. "Xiao Bei, you must compensate me! I sacrificed so much to help you with something..."
Shu Bei's face twitched too. "What did you sacrifice?"
Long Rui said with great disappointment, "Uncle Went won't let me see you. I went to your house once, and your dad hit me. Look, I'm so anxious that I've developed sores on my lips."
As he spoke, he brought his mouth closer for her to see the sore. They were very close, and Shu Bei instinctively took two steps back, saying sheepishly, "Um... then I'll get you some medicine to clear the heat."
Long Rui held her hand. "No medicine is needed."
"Then what do you need?" Shu Bei felt awkward about not pulling her hand away, as he had gotten himself into this state by helping her.