Chapter 81: A Visit from the Beast Husband

Chapter 81: Chapter 81: A Visit from the Beast Husband

"Even if I have many Beast Husbands and many cubs, they’ll still be my cubs."

Bai Wanwan had actually considered this. If she had too many cubs, their Father Beasts would have to share some of the responsibility, and she’d be more than happy with that.

It’s not like she’d never see them again. She could always go visit them if she missed them.

But Chou Rong was different. He had his own mission to complete and couldn’t raise the cubs himself.

So, she couldn’t agree.

Chou Rong’s sharp brows knitted together. "You don’t want to give them to me?"

’She hadn’t even gotten Chou Rong’s consent to get pregnant with these cubs.’

’And now, she wasn’t even going to let their Father Beast take them away.’

Bai Wanwan immediately rushed to explain, "That’s not it. If it were safe where you are, I would never stop you from taking them, though I’d still have the right to visit. But it’s not safe with you. Since you’re just going to have someone else raise them anyway, why not let them stay with me? They’re my own flesh-and-blood cubs. Do you really think I’d mistreat them?"

Chou Rong wasn’t sure. His own Mother had treated her different cubs with wildly different attitudes.

And Bai Wanwan’s own past actions had left a deep impression on him.

His tightly pressed lips and suspicious gaze had already given Bai Wanwan his answer.

’Alright...’

’Given what had happened between her and Chou Rong, she really didn’t have the leverage to earn his trust.’

"I understand you don’t trust me. You can think it over. If you leave the cubs with me, I swear I’ll fulfill my responsibility as a Mother and take good care of them. But if you still feel you have to take them, then as their Mother, I have one demand: you absolutely must guarantee their safety."

Their gazes locked, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.

Finally, Aunt Lu’s voice came from inside. "Chou Rong, come here. Aunt Lu has something to say to you."

Only then did Chou Rong pull his gaze away from Bai Wanwan and turn to walk into the stone house.

Once Chou Rong’s figure disappeared into the doorway, the system’s voice rang in her mind.

"Host, Host..."

"What is it?" Bai Wanwan asked, fidgeting with her Beast Skin Skirt, her mind elsewhere.

’If Chou Rong was truly set on taking the cubs, there was nothing she could do to stop him.’

’But her heart ached at the thought of parting with them.’

"Host, have you ever considered making him your Beast Husband? His Talent has huge potential for growth. If he improves further, you could have another litter of cubs with him. The second litter’s Talent would definitely be higher than this one’s."

Bai Wanwan laughed out loud. "You’ve got some nerve! I’m just thankful he didn’t snap my neck after finding out the truth. Look at him. Does he look like he has the slightest intention of becoming my Beast Husband?"

’Chou Rong was different from other males. Even if she tried to seduce him, it might not work.’

Meanwhile, Aunt Lu had pulled Chou Rong aside, her face etched with worry. "I heard what you two were talking about just now. You’re going to take the cubs away?"

"Yes. I have to go back. I probably won’t be able to come here often in the future."

Aunt Lu’s expression was grim. She stared at him for a long moment before speaking again. "Tell me, what’s really going on between you and Wanwan? You two haven’t become mates?"

Chou Rong hadn’t wanted to say too much and worry her, but he didn’t expect her to have overheard.

"Yes. I am not her Beast Husband."

Aunt Lu’s mouth fell open. "But she’s already borne you cubs! Chou Rong, listen to me. Don’t go back. Settle down and live a good life with Wanwan. I can tell that Wanwan is a good female. She treats you and the cubs very well."

Chou Rong fell silent. His own Mother had been very good to his Father Beast once, too. But later, she surrounded herself with more and more Beast Husbands—so many that she eventually forgot his Father Beast entirely.

His Father Beast was beaten and injured by her other Beast Husbands just trying to see her. She didn’t even come to see him once before he drew his last breath.

Nearly every female he had ever known was heartless, blindly enjoying the devotion of males only to cast their old Beast Husbands aside as soon as a new one came along.

Almost all females were like that.

That was why Chou Rong decided from a young age that he would never take a mate.

He had been framed and grievously injured, and he had clung to life by a thread for one reason: to one day return and take revenge on them!

"Aunt Lu, she already has Beast Husbands. I will not become her mate."

Bai Wanwan is a Holy Female. In the future, the males around her will only grow more numerous and more powerful.

If he became her Beast Husband, he would only be following in his Father Beast’s tragic footsteps.

Aunt Lu grew anxious, tugging on his arm to persuade him. "You’re a Tiger Beast, so why are you as stubborn as an ox? Wanwan is so fertile, beautiful, and gentle. You should take this chance, now that she’s borne you cubs, and become her Beast Husband. If you regret it later when the opportunity is gone, what will you do then?!"

Chou Rong answered with almost no hesitation. "That day will never come."

The voices inside were deliberately kept low, so Bai Wanwan couldn’t make out what they were saying.

Not that she was interested in eavesdropping.

Still, she found herself getting up and walking to the door to peer outside again and again.

The wind and snow had died down considerably. ’I wonder how Zhu Xiu and Xin Feng are doing?’

’She was worried sick, but there was nothing she could do to help.’

’I hope that without me dragging them down, even if they can’t beat Yin Da, they can at least escape.’

As she went to the door to look out for the fifth time, footsteps sounded behind her.

Bai Wanwan turned and watched as Chou Rong approached and stood beside her.

"Your Beast Husbands should find this place by tonight or tomorrow."

His words did little to soothe Bai Wanwan’s unease. She just gave a noncommittal grunt in response.

"Bai Wanwan..."

Chou Rong’s voice pulled her gaze back from the world outside.

"Yes? Go on."

’Has he made a decision?’

Chou Rong’s dark eyes locked onto her face. "I’m taking some of the cubs."

Bai Wanwan had already expected this answer. Chou Rong had gone to great lengths, even risking his life to sneak into Wandering Beast City. Rescuing her had just been a secondary objective; his true goal was to take the cubs.

’He wasn’t about to be swayed by a few simple words from her.’

"You’ve really decided? Can you guarantee their safety?"

"As long as I live, I will risk my life to protect them. If a time comes when I can no longer guarantee their safety, I will send them to you ahead of time. I hope that when that day comes, you’ll be true to your word and won’t mistreat them."

Bai Wanwan took a sharp breath. "Is there really no room for negotiation?"

"No. You will have many more cubs in the future, but I only have them. If you agree, everything you’ve done in the past will be forgiven."

’Did he mean that if she didn’t agree, he would still hold her accountable for when her predecessor drugged him with a thorn flower?’

Bai Wanwan’s heart ached with reluctance. "Then... can I visit them? And what if you run into danger? How will you know where I am? I don’t even know where I’ll be."

"I have my ways of knowing. If things are safe on my end, you can come visit them."

Without any argument, the two of them settled the matter of the cubs’ custody.

Knowing the cubs would be leaving her soon, Bai Wanwan spent the entire afternoon by their side, holding them close and refusing to let go.

As darkness fell, Chou Rong suddenly stood up, walked to the entrance, and pulled the door open.

Standing outside were two tall, handsome males.