The bear beastman was nearly two meters tall—huge, broad-shouldered, built like a small mountain. Even kneeling on one knee, he radiated an overwhelming sense of pressure.
Seeing Yue Ling's panicked expression, Bai Ying immediately stepped forward and drew her protectively behind him. Inwardly, he couldn't help thinking that this little female was far too timid, her temperament overly delicate and soft.
He deliberately lowered his voice and explained gently, "Don't be afraid. You saved Lang You, and you were favored by the Beast God and granted the power of a shaman. They only want you to become the tribe's new witch doctor."
Yue Ling shook her head slowly. Becoming the new shaman would mean staying here permanently.
No. She did not like this place.
The original owner of this body had lost her beast-father because of this wolf tribe. Stricken with grief, she had gone mad, and instead of receiving care, she had been treated cruelly by the tribe. She had never been fed properly or kept warm.
At the slightest disobedience, she would be locked away in a dark hut. Just yesterday, Yue Ling had learned that the chief had publicly declared her a "shared mate" of the tribe—a blatant act of ingratitude and humiliation. If Bai Ying hadn't been here, she would have wanted to leave immediately.
"I will not become your new witch doctor," Yue Ling replied firmly, her tone resolute.
The bear beastman was still half-kneeling on the ground. He lifted his head in shock, staring at the petite female before him. Becoming a witch doctor was the highest honor for any beastman. Once chosen, one gained authority and reverence, holding a status even higher than that of the chief.
"Why?" Bai Ying was equally confused. Her rejection was far too intense. What could possibly be wrong with becoming a witch doctor?
With Xiong Da present, Yue Ling didn't want to explain everything. She pressed her lips together tightly and said coldly, "You can get up and go back. I won't be attending this bonfire celebration."
The bear beastman looked even more bewildered than Bai Ying. He cast a pleading look toward Bai Ying for help. Bai Ying shot him a cold glare, and only then did Xiong Da stand up, retreating awkwardly and leaving the cave in a hurry.
Once Xiong Da was gone, Bai Ying softened his tone again. "Why don't you want to be a witch doctor?"
Yue Ling shook her head, then looked straight at him and asked quietly, "Bai Ying, have you ever taken care of 'me' before?"
Bai Ying froze for a moment, then shook his head. As the strongest beastman in the tribe, he bore greater responsibilities. Caring for a mad female had never fallen to him. He and Yue Ling had barely crossed paths before.
Yue Ling let out a silent breath of relief. Her heart had been tightly knotted. If Bai Ying had also abused the original "her," she truly wouldn't have known how to face him. She had no inclination whatsoever to develop feelings for someone who had hurt her.
"The beastmen who took care of 'me' treated me terribly," Yue Ling said slowly. "I was always hungry and cold. They forced me to eat raw meat. If I didn't obey, they locked me up. My beast-father died for this tribe, yet they wanted to turn 'me' into a public mate."
She told Bai Ying everything she had seen and felt over the past few days. Though there had been no outright physical harm, all of it was still abuse. Lang Zuo and Lang You had been no different—only after realizing she had regained her sanity had they shown some restraint. As she spoke, a trace of resentment seeped into her voice, all of it directed at the wolf tribe.
Bai Ying's brows knitted tightly together as he listened. He had never imagined that those male beastmen could be so vile, that they would treat a mentally unstable little female in such a cruel way. His fists clenched unconsciously. No wonder she was so weak and frail—her poor health was entirely the result of those despicable males.
As for the death of Yue Ling's beast-father, Bai Ying vaguely remembered it. He had been an exceptionally handsome and powerful fox beastman who had sought refuge with his young daughter in the Snow Wolf Tribe.
Back then, the chief had taken them in because he had his eye on the little female. During a beast tide, the fox beastman died protecting the tribe. Not long after that, his daughter went mad. She was abandoned in the most remote part of the tribe, and it was agreed that once she came of age, she would become a shared mate for males without a female of their own.
"That's why I will never be the wolf tribe's witch doctor," Yue Ling said quietly but firmly. "I won't stay in the wolf tribe forever. Bai Ying, I'm telling you this because of what we are now. If you can't accept it, then leave. Let's pretend none of this ever happened."
Her words carried an oddly heartless finality—like someone pulling on their clothes and turning away once things were said and done.
Setting aside the seduction mission, she did genuinely like Bai Ying's gentleness and thoughtfulness. But she would not abandon her original resolve because of him. She would not stay in this wolf tribe.
Privately, she thought: I've already gained ten extra years of life anyway. At worst, I'll miss out on the five years tied to reaching one hundred percent favorability. What's five fewer years of living? She refused to swallow this kind of humiliation.
Hearing her final words, Bai Ying's anger flared, quickly turning into hurt. What did she mean by pretending nothing had happened?
"You're going to abandon me?" His voice was full of pain, and his beautiful wolf eyes drooped sadly.
[Host, wolf beastmen only recognize one partner in their entire lifetime. Treating him like this is far too cruel.]
System 999 couldn't stand it anymore. Such a beautiful wolf—how could the host bear to let him go? If she abandoned him, his century-long life as a beastman would be nothing but endless loneliness and emptiness.
Seeing Bai Ying's wounded expression and hearing System 999's commentary, Yue Ling's heart softened suddenly. "I'm not abandoning you," she said gently. "I'm just telling you that I won't stay in your tribe forever. You're the strongest wolf beastman here… so, would you come with me?"
Summoning all her courage, Yue Ling asked the final question. Bai Ying had been born and raised here, deeply attached to the wolf tribe. They had only known each other for two short days. Would he really choose her?
Bai Ying's lips curved upward into a smile, warm and certain. "I'm your beast husband. Of course I'll go with you."
So that was it—she had been worried he wouldn't follow her. Once a mating bond was formed, a male beastman always put his female first. Everything else came second. Naturally, he would follow his female wherever she went.
Besides, the tribe wouldn't collapse just because he left.
Yue Ling hadn't expected such a decisive answer. She had thought he might hesitate, or be torn between loyalties. Seeing his bright smile and hearing his explanation, the heavy stone in her heart finally crashed to the ground.
She lifted her slender, pale arms and wrapped them around Bai Ying's strong waist, burying her head against his chest and listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. "Thank you, Bai Ying."
She kept saying thank you—so polite it almost hurt to hear. They were already certain of their relationship; such distance felt unnecessary.
Feeling her warm embrace, sweetness welled up in his heart. He quickly returned the hug, holding her tightly against him.
They hadn't been able to linger in that warmth for long before a series of hurried footsteps echoed toward the cave.