Yin Chuan's strength was not weak; if he wished, finding a mate would be an easy matter.
The pair became a trio. Yin Chuan was Shu An's benefactor, and the Went family had been very close to Yin Chuan over the years, always offering their full support whenever they could.
Yin Chuan felt quite embarrassed, always believing it was what he should do, both from his brother's perspective and his own. He felt indebted for the Went family's help.
"An'an, what do you two want to eat? I'll buy it for you."
Shu An smiled and refused, "No need, I have money. Brother Yin Chuan, what do you want to buy? We can go buy it together."
Seeing the crowd growing and fearing the two sisters might be jostled, Yin Chuan led them into a pottery shop.
He had intended to buy a few pottery jars anyway; the new house had just been built and required some necessities.
After buying the jars, Yin Chuan said, "Are you still browsing? If not, I'll take you back."
Shu An looked at the items in her hands and shook her head, "We've bought everything, and it's time to go home."
Yin Chuan nodded, "I'll take you back."
Shu An didn't refuse, giving him a sweet smile, "Thank you, Brother Yin Chuan."
"You're welcome."
The two adults and one child walked along, occasionally chatting. They encountered an uncle, and Yin Chuan stopped, looking at the approaching person.
Shu An also looked curiously, finding the person somewhat familiar, as if she had seen him before.
Yin Chuan called out, "Brother Ayong?"
The uncle before them was indeed one of Miao Xiaocui's mates, Ayong. Ayong was about the same age as Yin Xiao, in his prime, but the Ayong before them had a full beard and was more than half thinner than he had been over a decade ago, giving the impression of being much older.
Shu An remembered who he was upon hearing the familiar name!
Yin Chuan blocked Ayong's direct gaze at Shu An, defensively saying, "If there's nothing else, Brother Ayong, we'll be leaving now."
"Mm." Ayong finally uttered a syllable and walked ahead of them, without looking back.
Shu An watched his departing back, "Brother Yin Chuan, he's very strange."
Yin Chuan nodded in agreement, "Ever since Cui... his mate died, he's become like this."
He became taciturn and uncommunicative. He used to be a good hunter, but perhaps because he had lost his purpose, he became unmotivated in everything he did.
Yin Chuan didn't meet him often, and each time he did, he felt Ayong's health had worsened. His current appearance had no connection to strength; instead, he resembled an elderly beastman.
Yin Chuan collected his thoughts, deciding it had nothing to do with them.
"An'an, let's go."
"Okay."
The two didn't dwell on this small interlude.
However, Ayong firmly remembered Shu An's appearance.
In the eyes of outsiders, he had become uncommunicative and reclusive, but in reality, he disdained interacting with them. His true home was outside the city.
Many beastmen entered and exited the city daily, and Ayong was not conspicuous. After showing his identification, he left Warrior City and flew towards his home.
Ayong was a Winged Tiger beastman, with fur colors of gray, white, and yellow. It was a recognized fact on the beastman continent that beastmen with fewer colors had greater growth potential.
For example, Dragon beasts were all a single color of black scales.
Ayong was thin in human form, and even thinner in beast form, appearing as if he had suffered from long-term malnutrition.
He flew alone into the dense forest, passing over the hunting grounds, avoiding his kin, and arriving at the foot of a cliff covered in wildflowers.
The wildflowers at the base of the cliff were abundant; they should have been beautiful, but they lacked moisture and were wilted, lacking any aesthetic appeal.
Ayong didn't even glance at them, stepping over the wildflowers to reach a large rock. He moved the rock, revealing a dark cave entrance behind it.
"You're back?" a gentle voice came from inside the cave.
Hearing the voice, Ayong's slightly sunken pupils softened, "Cui, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting so long."
"It's alright, no matter how long I wait, it's fine." Miao Xiaocui met Ayong as he entered the cave, gently brushing the dust from his shoulders.
Ayong couldn't help but pull his mate into his arms, inhaling her scent deeply, and saying from the bottom of his heart, "Cui, you are so beautiful."
Miao Xiaocui smiled shyly, "You say that every day."
Ayong said affectionately, "I can never say it enough."
Miao Xiaocui was moved, "Ayong..."
The two kissed deeply.
After a long while, Ayong spoke of the day's events, "Cui, guess who I saw today?"
"Who did you see?"
Ayong said, "I saw Shu An after she grew up. She's very beautiful."
Upon hearing this, Miao Xiaocui's gentle face showed a moment of blankness, a fleeting flicker in her eyes, and she murmured softly, "Mm... she's grown up then..."
Listening to his mate's voice, Ayong's expression became tinged with self-reproach, "I'm sorry, Cui, I still can't get revenge for you!"
Miao Xiaocui gently shook her head, "Ayong, don't blame yourself. Went is very strong, and you can't defeat him. Rather than revenge, I hope you stay alive."
If you live, I can live.
Hearing this, a warmth surged through Ayong, and his boundless love had nowhere to be released.
"Cui, I've made you suffer."
Miao Xiaocui shook her head, "As long as I can be with you, I don't suffer."
As she spoke, her expression suddenly turned sorrowful, "Ayong, I'm thinking of our child again. Why don't we let Shu An go down to be a new bride for our son?" Her words were chilling.
Ayong's expression remained unchanged, and he dotingly said, "Okay, I'll find a way to bring Shu An here."
Hearing this, Miao Xiaocui smiled and snuggled into his embrace, "Ayong, you're so good to me~"
Ayong's affection remained unchanged, "Because I love you."
After their passionate encounter, Ayong fell into a deep sleep on the bed, while the naked Miao Xiaocui glowed with a faint luminescence.
There was no sign that she hadn't eaten for a long time.
"How many times have I told you, you can't be hasty about revenge! Your most important task now is to protect your body!" a sharp voice suddenly emerged, and Miao Xiaocui seemed accustomed to it.
Miao Xiaocui said, "I've endured for over ten years. If I don't act soon, Ayong will die!"
The sharp voice sneered, "If you absorbed less vital energy, he wouldn't die so quickly. If you can't even endure this much, how can you achieve great things!"
Miao Xiaocui was provoked, and anger flared on her beautiful face. Within a few breaths, her fair complexion began to turn grayish-white, emanating a deathly aura.
"Hehehe~ Tone it down. You're revealing your true form!" a bone-chilling laugh echoed in the cave.
If anyone were present, they would be horrified to discover that these two different voices were coming from the same person.
Miao Xiaocui's expression changed upon hearing the laughter, and she quickly suppressed the rising anger until her complexion returned to its rosy hue.