Chapter 194 - 190: You Really Kept So Much From Me

From that day on, Long Yi suddenly grew cold toward Nan Zishi and stopped coming to see her.

A Little Priestess ran up to Nan Zishi and said respectfully, "Zhi Nan the Sage, Yi asked me to tell you not to wait for him. He’s busy today and won’t be coming."

"I know," Nan Zishi sighed.

Shi Ling, however, came over to mooch meals as reliably as ever.

So, Nan Zishi happily cooked for herself and her dear friend.

Several more days passed, and Long Yi still hadn’t come to see Nan Zishi.

Nan Zishi counted the days, realizing a long time had passed.

’Maybe I should just tell him I’m a female and ask if he’s willing to become my mate. If not, then so be it. I’m running out of time. If he’s not willing, I’ll have to find the next suitable male.’

Nan Zishi knew she couldn’t truly be responsible for these males.

All she could give them was a single child.

’If the feelings are mutual, we’ll mate and I’ll give them a child.’

’If not, then on to the next one.’

She stopped several people to ask, and after finally learning Yi’s whereabouts, she hurried over.

When she found Long Yi, Shi Ling was chatting with him.

Shi Ling said excitedly, "Long Yi, I think I like Zhinan. I want to become his mate. Do you think he’ll agree?"

High Priest Long Yi’s eyes darkened. He said coolly, "Shi Ling, have you forgotten that we have a mating pact? You promised that Ten Thousand Beasts City and the Priest Hall would form a powerful alliance, and that you would not accept any other males."

Shi Ling coughed lightly. "But I just don’t feel anything between us...

"Unlike with Zhinan. My heart races whenever I see him."

’I’m already powerful, so I don’t need a powerful partner,’ she thought. ’A quick-witted little male like Zhinan is exactly my type.’

’I can protect Zhinan,’ Shi Ling thought.

Shi Ling found herself looking forward to becoming mates with Nan Zishi more and more.

Long Yi’s expression turned utterly black. "She is not an option."

"Why not?"

"She just isn’t!"

Nan Zishi arrived just in time to overhear their conversation.

’No way.’

’Did I just get involved with a man who’s already engaged?’

’It’s my fault.’

’My fault for not asking.’

Shi Ling’s face lit up when she saw Nan Zishi. "Zhinan!"

Long Yi’s expression grew even darker, as if someone owed him a fortune.

Nan Zishi asked in a low voice, "Ling, are you and Yi going to become mates?"

’Is Zhinan asking because he cares about me?’

Shi Ling whispered, "No. I prefer you."

Nan Zishi couldn’t help but smile.

Long Yi stated, "I will become mates with Shi Ling."

Nan Zishi said, "Huh?"

Nan Zishi understood now. Her heart grew heavy.

Seeing her with downcast eyes and furrowed brows, Long Yi felt a pang of unease.

’Does she like Shi Ling that much??’

Nan Zishi gently removed Long Yi’s hand. Her gaze was deep and strange as she glanced at Shi Ling and said, "I’m sorry."

’I didn’t mean to get close to a male who already had a mating agreement. Now that I know, I should leave.’

Long Yi asked, "Why are you apologizing to her?"

Nan Zishi said, "Yi, I think it’s best if we don’t see each other anymore."

’Actually, Long Yi hasn’t come to see me these past few days either. I’m the one who’s been looking for him.’

’He probably wants to keep his distance, too.’

’I don’t have much time, and I can’t afford to get emotionally attached in this Beast World. I need to detach myself and find the next Beast Husband to have a child with!’

Long Yi’s mood suddenly soured. With a dark expression, he demanded, "Zhinan, what are you talking about?"

Nan Zishi took a few steps back. "It’s nothing. Sorry for bothering you. Don’t follow me."

Seeing her unfamiliar and distant attitude, Long Yi felt at a loss for the first time.

’Does she really want to become mates with Shi Ling and be the City Lord’s Husband of Ten Thousand Beasts City?’

After living for so many years, Long Yi was throwing a childish tantrum for the first time, like some immature boy.

However, he had no idea that because of this one little tantrum, Nan Zishi would pack her bags and leave Ten Thousand Beasts City that very night.

...

Nan Zishi had indeed been attracted to Long Yi’s good looks.

But that didn’t mean she absolutely had to become his mate.

’This is so frustrating. I’ve wasted so much time...’

’I have to hurry and find the next Beast Husband I can mate with!!!’

And because Nan Zishi was in such a hurry, she fell into a swarm of bees and was poisoned by their venom.

Meanwhile, Long Yi was busy in the Priest Hall, deliberately holding himself back from seeking out Zhinan.

He didn’t even know why he was sulking. Perhaps he was waiting for Nan Zishi to come find him.

One day, two days, three days... After nearly half a month passed with no word of Nan Zishi looking for him, he finally went to ask the priests in the Priest Hall.

He asked, feigning casualness, "How is Zhi Nan the Sage doing?"

The priests in the Priest Hall exchanged confused glances.

A Little Priestess said, "Lord High Priest, Zhi Nan the Sage hasn’t been in Ten Thousand Beasts City for half a month."

Long Yi asked in astonishment, "What did you say?"

"Zhi Nan the Sage left Ten Thousand Beasts City half a month ago. He didn’t tell anyone where he was going."

Long Yi’s heart hammered in his chest.

"He’s gone?"

"Yes, my lord."

A belated sense of panic washed over Long Yi. "Summon all the priests! Have them find Zhi Nan the Sage and bring him back to me!!!"

...

High above the barren desert, the mighty Nine-striped Beast Emperor, the Black Dragon Long Yi, soared through the clouds, utterly infuriated.

’Zhinan, you’ve really done it now, Zhinan.’

’You disappear for five years, and for five years, I haven’t been able to find a single trace of you.’

’If you won’t be my friend, must you be my enemy?’

’How did I not know you had the ability to destroy a high-level Priest Array like this?’

’Could it be that you’re a Priest, too?’

’You’ve really hidden so much from me!’

...

Back with Nan Zishi, after stowing away the Beast God’s physical body, she and her three Beast Husbands fled.

Outside the mining area, the five Eight Pattern Priests all sensed the disturbance coming from the underground caves!

Xiang Ze shot to his feet and strode toward the place where the Beast God’s body was being suppressed.

He ran in such a hurry that he failed to notice Nan Zishi and her group hiding in a corner of the cave.

After he rushed past, Nan Zishi and her group found an opening and ran out as well.

Xiang Ze ran to the gate of the chamber imprisoning the Beast God. When he saw the gate was open, he raced inside, only to be completely stunned at the sight of the empty space where the Beast God’s body should have been.

"The Beast God’s body is gone! Damn it!"

The Eight Pattern Priest Xiang Ze sprinted out of the cave and immediately lit a fire to alert the other four Eight Pattern Priests.

This was the highest-level signal flare, indicating that a major catastrophe had occurred in the mining area!

The other four Eight Pattern Priests in the mining area—Shide, E Zheng, He Lian, and Mao Qing—instantly appeared at the four corners of the site.

Their sharp, cold eyes scanned the entire area.

He Lian flew over from a distance to Xiang Ze’s side and asked, "Xiang Ze, why are you lighting a cooking fire?"

Xiang Ze yelled as he ran, "The Beast God’s body is missing!!"

He Lian’s eyes widened. "What did you say?"

"He the deaf! I said, the Beast God’s body is missing!!!"

He Lian tilted his head. "A Beef God’s body is missing? What’s a Beef God? Is it tasty?"

Xiang Ze grabbed He Lian’s ear and roared, "I said, the BEAST GOD’S BODY IS MISSING!!! You deaf fool!!"

He Lian quickly covered his ears. "So the Beast God’s body is missing. Why are you yelling?"