Sang Guo had never seen Shi Wei, the tribe's number one Warrior, treat a female so attentively—even using his own saliva to help stop her itching.
And this female was so unappreciative, scorning his saliva. Sang Guo was instantly annoyed. She stepped forward and said aggressively, "If you don't want to use his saliva, you can use mine."
"My saliva can also help with the itching. But let me be clear, I'm not trying to help you. I just can't stand seeing you look down on Brother Shi Wei."
Shi Wei's expression changed instantly. He tightened his grip on Su Yu's hand to prevent Sang Guo from snatching it away and said fiercely and impatiently, "She's my female. Even if she scorns me, it's my honor. You don't need to say another word!"
Su Yu: "..."
'Was it possible she didn't want *anyone's* saliva?'
Just as the two were about to start fighting, Granny Wu Zhi's voice called out, "Coming, coming! The medicine is brewed."
Su Yu let out a subtle sigh of relief.
'Saved.'
Before Shi Wei could speak, Su Yu cut in, "Granny Wu Zhi, could I trouble you to apply the medicine for me?"
She couldn't see, so she didn't know where the red bumps had appeared, but she could feel the itch gradually spreading across her back. She guessed there were probably a lot of them there too.
That made having Shi Wei help apply the medicine rather inappropriate.
After all, she had just met him. Being naked in front of him... it was more embarrassment than she could bear.
She couldn't quite handle it.
Shi Wei domineeringly took the medicine. "Granny Wu Zhi is old and her eyesight isn't what it used to be. Don't always trouble the old lady."
"Besides, you're my female. We'll be living together soon. When you're itchy and need medicine, are you going to come down to find Granny Wu Zhi every time?"
Granny Wu Zhi, whose beast form was a crow: "..."
'Oh, right, right, right. My old eyes are dim.'
Su Yu was speechless. Her rosy lips parted slightly as she 'looked' pleadingly in Sang Guo's direction.
Even though Sang Guo couldn't stand this vixen who had seduced Brother Shi Wei, being watched by her so pitifully made her heart soften a little.
Just as she was about to speak, Shi Wei shot her a cold glance.
The fur on Sang Guo's body instantly bristled. Fluffy wolf ears popped out, flattening against her head.
"I-I-I, I suddenly remembered I have something to do! I'm leaving!"
With that, Sang Guo transformed into her beast form and quickly ran off.
Granny Wu Zhi also took the hint and started to leave. "Oh my, I'm getting old. Being busy all morning has tired me out. Shi Wei, you take good care of your female."
Su Yu opened her mouth, her small face slowly turning beet red. She clutched the Beast Skin. "Then... I'll have to trouble you."
Seeing the little female's shy expression, a smile flashed in the depths of Shi Wei's eyes, but his voice remained serious. "It's no trouble. Besides, I am your Beast Husband. You need to get used to my touch."
Su Yu only felt her face burn hotter and mumbled a soft "mm."
...
After the medicine was applied, Su Yu, her face bright red, huddled under the Beast Skin and played dead.
Shi Wei took a deep breath. Knowing she was shy, he didn't tease her anymore. He used the gentlest touch he had ever mustered to pat her back soothingly.
Suddenly, a wolf howl echoed from outside the cave. Shi Wei stood up. "The leader and the others are back."
He explained, "The tribe is short on food during winter. After I brought you back, I had the leader take some people to drag back the Tun Tun Beast I killed. We can distribute some meat to the Beastmen in the tribe, and it'll help us hold out a little longer."
"You get some rest. I'm going out to distribute the meat. I'll bring your share back too."
Females were physically weak, and Su Yu was even more so. He didn't dare take her back to his own cave, so he could only let her stay with Granny Wu Zhi for now.
He would take her up once spring arrived.
Su Yu nodded, her voice soft and sweet. "Okay. Thank you for the trouble."
Shi Wei ruffled her hair and left the cave.
Su Yu took a shallow breath of the cave's musty air. 'Well, since I'm here, I might as well accept it.' From now on, she was the Su Yu of this world.
'I will survive and live well.'
The leader, Ruer, came over carrying the distributed meat with Shi Wei, also intending to finally meet Su Yu.
This was the first female Shi Wei had ever brought back, after all. He was quite curious.
Unexpectedly, Su Yu was already asleep when he arrived. Ruer didn't dare enter without permission, so he just stood at the cave entrance, craning his neck, and asked Granny Wu Zhi about Su Yu's condition.
The more he learned, the graver his expression became.
Ruer asked Shi Wei worriedly, "Her body is so weak. Can she really bear you cubs?"
Granny Wu Zhi sighed. "She's not just weak; her Fertility is also very low. Bearing cubs... I'm afraid it will be difficult."
"That won't do. Shi Wei, you have to choose another female." Ruer's expression changed as he said to Shi Wei, "Before your Father and Amu passed away, I promised them I would find you a fertile female who could give you a whole litter of cubs to carry on your bloodline."
"A female who can't bear cubs is absolutely not worthy of you."
Ruer had nothing against Su Yu personally.
It was just that for Beastmen, passing on the bloodline was the most important thing. In their eyes, a female without Fertility could only serve a comforting role.
Shi Wei subconsciously glanced back into the cave. Only after seeing Su Yu still fast asleep with her eyes closed did he turn to Ruer with some irritation. "Leader, there are no females in the tribe that I like."
He said stubbornly, "I'm the one who found her. From now on, she is my female. I'll have her whether she can bear cubs or not."
"Alright, this doesn't concern you anymore. You can go back now."
After saying his piece, Shi Wei turned and entered the cave, refusing to speak with Ruer any further.
Ruer was so exasperated by his attitude he nearly fell over backward. His beast ears almost popped out. He pointed at the cave, muttering with frustration, "Brat! Who do you think I'm doing all this for?!"
"Forget it, forget it. You're an adult now, I won't meddle anymore. Just take good care of her." After saying this, Ruer turned and left.
「Inside the cave.」
Su Yu had actually woken up during their conversation. She lay motionless on the bed, listening quietly to their exchange with a complicated mix of emotions.
She had to admit, hearing Shi Wei's words had touched her heart.
Before dying of illness, she had read quite a few Beast World novels, so she naturally knew that for males in the Beast World, heirs were the most important thing.
Yet, Shi Wei still wanted to form a bond with her, even knowing she probably couldn't have children.
She was, deep down, a little moved.
After all, this was the first time she had ever been chosen so definitively.
When Shi Wei entered the cave, he immediately and keenly sensed the change in Su Yu's breathing. He crouched down by the stone bed, peering at her. "Can't sleep? Is it too cold?"
Su Yu's hand, hidden under the Beast Skin, tightened slightly. She awkwardly opened her vacant eyes and 'looked' toward him. "I'm not cold."
She bit her lip and asked Shi Wei in a small voice, "If... if I really can't have cubs... would you still want to form a bond with me?"
Shi Wei's face instantly darkened. He arched an eyebrow. "What? You don't want to form a bond with me anymore?"
Su Yu shook her head. "It's not that I don't want to."
She paused, then said quietly, "It's just... I'm a bit high-maintenance. I'm afraid you'll..." regret it later.
Even though she knew from the original owner's memories that after a male and female formed a bond, the male would be one hundred percent loyal to the female.
But they weren't inanimate objects, nor were they a Wild Beast, Wild Beasts, or an Exotic Beast. They had their own feelings, and Su Yu's heart was still filled with unease.
This was a common affliction she'd brought with her from her past life:
A deep distrust of the fickle human heart.
Shi Wei understood her unspoken words and looked at her with a strange expression. "Do you have some kind of misunderstanding about the bonding Beast Mark?"