Chapter 165 - 162: Xuan Snake’s Confession and Plea to Stay

Nan Zishi gazed at her five beast husbands and answered with conviction, "I don’t know if I’ve ever said it, but I love you all very much. Every single one of you, and the cubs, too. I love you, so, so much."

"Then don’t go!" Xuan Jin, who had just returned, rushed in front of Nan Zishi after composing himself.

His dark eyes were full of pleading. "Little female, don’t go."

"Xuan Jin..." Nan Zishi said. "I understand you’re worried, but you have to trust me a little more. I need to go home..."

The Xuan Snake Beastman’s massive black tail whipped out, coiled around Nan Zishi, and whisked her away!

The other males snapped to their senses and were about to give chase.

Hu Bai stopped them. "He has his own demons to face. Let him go. He won’t harm our female master."

’Hu Bai had his own selfish reasons.’

’Xuan Jin wouldn’t let Nan Zishi go, which meant he would do everything in his power to make her stay.’

’He’d better succeed.’

Watching Xuan Jin leave, the remaining males were all on edge.

Chi Xiao said, "Hu Bai, I never would have thought the Little Female Master came from another world. Is it really that far away? Is it one of the stars in the sky? She’s so tiny, how did she end up in this world?"

"She’s so small and frail, and she wandered alone in the Beast World for nearly two years? And..." Chi Xiao couldn’t bring himself to say the rest. "What the hell is that ’system’ thing anyway? How do we kill it? Let’s catch it and kill it!"

Lanxing suddenly spoke up. "No wonder Big Sis never agreed to mate..."

The males fell silent, lost in thought at Lanxing’s words.

Hu Bai said, "Our female master’s heart was probably wavering before. She hadn’t firmly decided to stay in the Beast World, which is why she wouldn’t agree to mate."

Chi Xiao said, "You mean she’s still not sure? Then what are we going to do? If the Little Female Master doesn’t come back, this family will fall apart."

Wolf Day’s trust in Nan Zishi was firm. "I believe she’ll definitely come back."

Wolf Night said, "I believe in her just as firmly as my brother does."

Chi Xiao shot back, "So what will you two do if the Little Female Master doesn’t come back?"

Wolf Night replied, "Wait. We’ll wait as long as it takes."

Chi Xiao was speechless.

...

Xuan Jin ran, carrying Nan Zishi. He moved so fast that she had to bury her head in his neck.

She asked in a muffled voice, "Xuan Jin, where are you taking me?"

Xuan Jin used his free hand to protect her head and neck. He crossed from one end of the Oasis to the other, found a large tree, and climbed it, still holding Nan Zishi.

"This time, I’ve abducted you. Are you scared?"

Nan Zishi shook her head. "I’m not scared."

"Why? Because you can sprout wings? Chi Xiao isn’t nearby now."

Nan Zishi shook her head again. "Because I trust you."

He froze.

Xuan Jin’s arms began to tremble. He hugged her tightly, his long, forked tongue darting across her neck. "Do you have to go? Can’t you stay for my sake? Not just for me, but for Hu Bai, Lanxing, Chi Xiao, Wolf Day and Wolf Night... And the cubs..."

’As long as she was in this world, Xuan Jin could try everything to win her affection. But this... this was about crossing worlds.’

’He had never felt so helpless.’

He paused, choked up for a moment, and gripped her arms before finally speaking in a soft voice:

"Little female, Yang’er is actually our cub."

Nan Zishi froze. "Yang’er is really the little snake cub I gave birth to? He’s Little Seven?"

’Scenes of her time with Yang’er began to flash through Nan Zishi’s mind.’

’When she’d first arrived in this world, she had found a disabled little snake beastman hanging from a tree.’

’And now... that pitiful little snake beastman turned out to be her cub?!’

"It’s true."

Nan Zishi slapped him. The Xuan Snake Beastman took the blow without flinching. "Xuan Jin! If it weren’t for you, Yang’er wouldn’t have had such a miserable life!"

He kissed her neck lightly, the totem on his chest faintly visible. "Nan Zishi, did you know that every time you spare me a glance, it makes me happy for half the day?"

"When you’re willing to kiss me and hold me, my cold blood starts to boil."

"I yearn for you so much. I care about you so much."

"You are more important than my own life. I really, truly love you."

"I can’t imagine how I would live without you."

Xuan Jin held her tighter. He, who had always been so domineering, was now begging humbly. "Nan Zishi, I’m begging you. Can’t you stay for me and our son?"

’Nan Zishi’s hands clenched and then relaxed. Her heart ached for him. But she was only going home for a visit; she was going to come back.’

She hugged him gently. "Xuan Jin, I *am* staying for you and Yang’er. I’m just making a trip home."

Nan Zishi stayed with him, looking up at the sky, at the twinkling stars.

"Xuan Jin, look. Which one of these stars is my real home?"

"I always remember that I’m a human girl from Earth. My original home is on Earth, and on Earth, I have family who loves me and whom I love. I have to go home for a visit to tell my mom, my dad, and my little brother about you all. To tell them that I already have Xuan Jin as my Beast Husband, and that Yang’er is my little cub. I want them to know you, to remember you with me."

"They are my family. I never got married on Earth. But I can at least tell my family that I have a home here now. That I’m doing very well. That my Beast Husbands and my cubs all dote on me."

She held his hand and said, "Where I’m from, when you get married, you’re supposed to tell your family and friends. I have to tell my closest family about you."

"Xuan Jin, believe me. For you, for Yang’er, and for everyone else. This time, I’ll come back even if it costs me my life."

’Does she really have to go?’

’Does she really have to abandon him again?!’

His heart felt like it was being torn to pieces.

His teeth grazed Nan Zishi’s neck, the pressure surprisingly light.

"What do I have to do to make you stay..."

Nan Zishi was taken aback as Xuan Jin climbed higher up the tree with her, into the dense foliage.

He laid her down on a wide branch, and her hands came to rest against his chest.

Xuan Jin took one of her small hands, bringing it to his lips for a gentle kiss.

A tingling sensation spread through Nan Zishi’s hand.

He guided her hand to the totem over his heart, letting her feel its frantic, unsteady rhythm.

The Snake Beastman suppressed his innate coldness, laying his heart bare before her.

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP.

He lowered his head and kissed her lips as gently as if he were handling a precious treasure.

Nan Zishi’s heart softened, bit by bit.

She tilted her head back, covering her eyes as a soft, sweet sound escaped her lips.

’Nan Zishi couldn’t believe that sound had come from her.’

He kissed his way down, pausing for a moment at her collarbone before looking up, gently moving her hand away, trapping her in his embrace, and looking at her with desire. "Little female... may I?"

His face was so red. His eyes, his ears, his neck—his skin was flushed red all over.

Nan Zishi’s heart softened. Her hands rested on his sturdy arms, and she gave a slight nod.

Xuan Jin’s heart pounded wildly. He gazed at the little female before him who made him lose control. He tried his best to control himself as he undid her sash.

Seeing the sight before him, the rims of his eyes grew redder, and he lowered his head to continue kissing her.

...

Little Lu Ming sat to the side with Huo Jun.

Fox Qi, Yang’er, Lang Xian, and Wolf Mu were all tumbling about in a playful heap.

Little Fu watched her brothers play from inside a large wooden tub, clapping and cheering.

Huo Jun tilted his head, smiled, and said to Lu Ming, "Lu Ming, Fufu just called you ’big brother’."

"Hm?"

Huo Jun chuckled softly. He had only recently learned that the Mermaid Clan was very sensitive to bloodlines.

Little Fu called him ’big brother’, so he was Little Fu’s big brother.

Little Fu called Lang Xian and Wolf Mu ’big brother’, but it turned out they were her younger brothers.

In all her other interactions, Little Fu never called any of the other cubs ’big brother’.

But today, the moment Little Fu saw Lu Ming, her eyes lit up and she called him ’big brother’.

’He must be the second oldest in the family, then.’

"You grew up in the mining district?"

"Mhm," Lu Ming responded.

"What do you think of your little brothers and sisters?" Huo Jun asked.

Lu Ming looked down at his feet, rubbing them together gently, and said, "Surprisingly... nice."

’He wasn’t a very likable cub, so he hadn’t held out much hope. He’d assumed they would reject him, just like the other cubs in the mining district. But to his surprise, whenever he interacted with his new siblings, they were always happy. Lang Xian and Wolf Mu’s tails wagged furiously. Fox Qi always had a smile on his face. Little Snake Yang was a very warm little snake beast. Fufu was innocent and adorable. And the eldest brother, Huo Jun, was gentle and magnanimous.’