Standing beside Anna was another female, about the same height as her.
Hearing Li Ta's words left Anna with a bitter taste in her mouth. Still, Lang You's fever had already broken, and she'd heard his condition was steadily improving.
That once-mad female was now very likely to become the tribe's next shaman. Anna might like Bai Ying, but she wasn't stupid. Competing for a beast husband with a shaman blessed by the Beast God was something she didn't even dare to seriously consider. She still had to live in this tribe—if she ever fell ill in the future, she might very well end up begging that "mad" female for help.
Besides, Bai Ying was just one male beastman. It wasn't as if Anna couldn't find others just as strong. Apart from Bai Ying, the tribe was full of fierce and powerful males for her to choose from.
The second-strongest warrior was even her guardian beastman and had protected her all along. Thinking of that brought a hint of warmth to her heart. Since Bai Ying had chosen another female, there was no reason for her to reserve the position of her first beast husband for him any longer.
"Li Ta, you don't need to bring this up again," Anna said, crossing her arms as she looked at the ape-tribe female beside her. "It's just a male beastman. I'm not that desperate."
Li Ta hadn't expected Anna to give up so easily.
"Anna, are you really just going to let Bai Ying go?" Li Ta protested. "He has the purest bloodline and the greatest strength in the entire tribe. You're so beautiful—he should be your beast husband. You should be the one bearing the strongest snow-wolf cubs with him."
Anna pursed her lips. She had thought the same way once.
"But he doesn't like me," she said flatly.
"That's easy to fix."
Li Ta leaned in and whispered something into Anna's ear. Anna's face flushed red, then drained of color.
"Li Ta, are you insane?" Anna exclaimed in shock. "That 'mad' female might become the tribe's new shaman! Competing with her for a beast husband is something I will not do—especially in that way. I'm afraid that if things go wrong… neither of us will escape the consequences."
She stared at Li Ta in disbelief. She hadn't expected such a terrible idea. With Bai Ying's temperament, if he ever found out, he really might tear her apart.
Li Ta looked at Anna's reaction and suddenly let out a cold laugh. "So, Anna… you're scared?"
Provoked, Anna bristled. "Who's scared? I just don't care enough to scheme over a single male beastman."
With that, she stopped paying attention to Li Ta and walked straight back into her cave.
Li Ta watched Anna's retreating, almost fleeing figure, her eyes filled with disdain—and a sharp glint of calculation.
Yue Ling was completely unaware of all this. When she finally woke up, it was already afternoon.
[What time is it?]
She stretched lazily, feeling unusually refreshed. There wasn't much sense of time in this world, so she relied entirely on System 999 to keep track.
[Host, Beast World time: 3:10 p.m.] System 999 reported obediently.
Bai Ying was nowhere to be seen in the cave. Just as she was about to climb down from the stone bed, she noticed a pair of soft shoes made from animal hide placed neatly beside it. The soles were layered thickly, and the yellow-brown hide gave them a distinctly vintage look.
Her heart softened instantly.
Bai Ying made these for me.
She slipped her feet into them—they fit perfectly.
Her mood lifted at once, her heart feeling full and warm. She kept glancing down at the shoes, admiring them. With these on, the sharp stones on the ground would no longer hurt her feet.
When Bai Ying entered the cave, he saw the small female happily spinning in place, wearing the hide shoes he had made.
"Do they fit?" he asked.
His voice was low and clear, especially gentle when slowed, and unexpectedly pleasant to the ear.
"They fit perfectly. Thank you, Bai Ying," Yue Ling said, her eyes curving into a bright smile. A partner who noticed small details and quietly solved problems like this was truly wonderful.
They still hadn't formally confirmed their bond, but everything Bai Ying had done over the past two days was clear to her. Combined with System 999 informing her that Bai Ying's affection level had already reached ninety percent, she was certain—he liked her.
Yue Ling's sweet smile made Bai Ying's heart waver. He suppressed the surge of emotion and asked softly, "Are you hungry? I made roasted meat."
Yue Ling rubbed her stomach. "I really am a little hungry."
Bai Ying's gaze drifted to the small female's pale, delicate waist. He cleared his throat lightly and said, "Come with me."
She followed him out of the cave.
"I moved in next door to you," Bai Ying said, his ears faintly red as he gestured toward a newly finished cave.
"A new cave? But there wasn't one beside mine before," Yue Ling said in surprise.
She stared at the stone cave that had seemingly appeared out of thin air beside her own. The nearest existing cave had been dozens of meters away.
"I dug it today," Bai Ying replied, his face heating even more, especially under her gaze.
In just a single day, he had fallen headlong into love.
"That's incredible," Yue Ling said in genuine shock. She placed a hand against the stone wall and slowly walked inside, examining it carefully. The cave was much larger than hers, spacious and empty, waiting to be lived in.
The entrance was about three meters high and two meters wide, with more than forty square meters of space inside. And all of this had been completed in a single day. Truly worthy of a beastman—if this were the modern world, it would have taken at least a week.
She was polite, expressive, and generous with praise. Bai Ying found himself loving her more by the second. She was nothing like the spoiled, demanding females who relied on favor and took it for granted.
"When we become mates, we can connect our caves," Bai Ying said, his voice filled with quiet anticipation for the future.
Yue Ling glanced at him, her tone carrying a hint of playful pride. "You want to be my partner?"
He hadn't even confessed properly yet, and he was already talking about marriage. In her ideal romance, even if there were no blazing bouquets of roses, it should at least begin with a confession.
Bai Ying nodded emphatically.
"I can't become mates with you just yet," Yue Ling said calmly.
"I know," Bai Ying replied at once. "I can be your guardian beast for now. We can become mates later."
Hearing this, Bai Ying was convinced she had agreed. Joy surged through him, and he pulled her into his arms without thinking.
That sweet, warm scent enveloped him again. He couldn't help but breathe it in greedily, as if afraid it might disappear.
Yue Ling was caught completely off guard, crushed into his embrace. His arm tightened around her waist, holding her far too firmly.
"Let go—Bai Ying, you're squeezing me," she said, patting his shoulder.
He immediately released her, his pale skin flushing with regret. Suddenly, he didn't know where to put his hands.
"I—I—I got too excited. I'm sorry," he blurted out, flustered.
Seeing his nervous, at-a-loss expression, Yue Ling couldn't help laughing. "It didn't hurt that much."
"And don't keep calling me 'little female.' Just call me Yue Ling."
Hearing her sweet voice, Bai Ying nodded repeatedly, grinning foolishly.
"You want to be my guardian beast," Yue Ling said softly, looking straight at him. "Is it because you like me… or is there another reason?"
The kind of love she wanted might not need grand gestures, but it should at least begin with an honest confession.
Bai Ying grew even more awkward. Then he nodded again, firmly this time.
"I like you," he said, his voice low but certain. "I really like you."