Xue looked at Ziqian's expression. There was no trace of fear in his eyes, only quiet curiosity and admiration. "Aren't you afraid of them?" he asked.
Ziqian shook his head. "Why would I be?"
Xue wasn't sure how to feel. It relieved him that Ziqian wasn't frightened, yet it left him feeling uncomfortable. The way Ziqian's gaze lingered on the men lined up ahead made him uneasy.
Xue pushed aside his discomfort and occupied himself with getting everything ready for their departure. He had agreed to let Ziqian come with them, so he needed to make sure the sub-beast would be safe.
Bei went to report the situation to the Elders, and Lia busied himself with preparing herbs and concoctions that would help the wounded beastmen of the hunting group.
Ziqian remained behind, quietly admiring the men standing in formation.
"You should be calm by now, Ah-Zi, since you already have time to admire other men," Ero teased, drifting in front of Ziqian and blocking his line of sight while Phi floated beside him.
"Have you not gotten used to seeing half-naked men every day?" Ero added, voice full of amusement.
What are you talking about? I'm just thinking about Huo and Nia! Ziqian snapped back.
He was still restless. It was just that the men's powerful presence had distracted him for a moment, but the unease in his heart refused to fade.
Thinking back to what happened earlier, he frowned. What exactly happened to me earlier?
It was overwhelming—for the first time, he was carried away by his emotions, making him act before he could think. In that moment, his only thought was to find Xue and ask for help.
Now the entire tribe knew what had happened and started to cause panic.
When he finally calmed down and realized what he had done, Ziqian was left speechless. How could he explain how he had known about the hunting group's misfortune? Thankfully, Lia and Bei hadn't questioned him. Instead, they chose to believe him without hesitation.
That, too, puzzled him. Why had they trusted him so easily?
"It was Nia, Ah-Zi," Phi explained, his voice tinged with sorrow. "You know that when we experience strong emotions, you feel a part of them too. Nia was terrified for Huo—so much that he used his power to interfere, even knowing he'd be punished for it. We believe he unconsciously shared not only his emotions but also his vision with you. That's why everything you felt—fear, worry, and distress—was so intense. It wasn't just yours but also Nia's."
'Wait! Punished?' Ziqian's eyes widened. 'Who would punish Nia?'
"The Beast God, Cernunnos," Ero sighed softly. "We've told you before that we can't directly interfere in this realm not only because we lack physical form, but because we don't truly belong here. If we intervene, it could disrupt the balance of this world."
Ziqian was about to ask Phi and Ero more questions when Lia's voice interrupted him. He approached with a few bundles of herbs, giving a brief explanation of their uses so he could treat the wounded beasts.
There were only three kinds—one used to stop bleeding, another to ease pain, and a third to prevent infection.
Lia also handed him a pouch filled with small tubes, each containing a different concoction, but there was no time to explain their use—Xue's voice was already shouting for their departure. The high priest only said, "Xue knows how to use them. Just leave the hard work to him."
"I'm sorry to trouble you all with this," Lia added with a weary sigh as he clasped Ziqian's hands. "I can't leave right now."
Lia couldn't go with them, no matter how much he wanted to. As the high priest, he couldn't leave the tribe so easily—especially now, when so many of the old and young were ill.
Rumors about Ziqian had also begun to spread, and there were some speculations that needed to be addressed before they grew out of control.
Lia, Bei, and the five elders were certain that Ziqian was the one mentioned in the Beast God's oracle. The sub-beast's appearance, abilities, and knowledge all pointed to it.
If what Ziqian said this time proved true, it would confirm his identity—and that would be the right moment to reveal his identity to the tribe. For now, their priority was to calm everyone and put an end to the rumors that were damaging Ziqian's name.
"You don't have to apologize," Ziqian replied. "I'm the one who wanted to go. After what I saw, I won't be at ease until I see Huo safe with my own eyes."
Just then, Xue appeared with Bei at his side, their expressions steady. "We're ready to go," Xue said.
Lia nodded softly. "Please… bring your brother back." His voice trembled, eyes misty with a pleading look that said far more than words could.
As the high priest, Lia carried the responsibility of caring for everyone in the tribe, yet at that moment, he wanted to be selfish. No matter what the situation was, he wanted Xue to bring Huo back alive. That was what he truly meant to say but couldn't bring himself to voice out.
If something really happened to Huo, Lia would never forgive himself.
"I will," Xue said quietly. He placed a steady hand on Ziqian's waist and guided him toward the waiting group.
Ziqian glanced back once. Lia and Bei stood watching from afar. Lia's hand was pressed over his heart, lips moving in a silent prayer.
Turning away, Ziqian gripped at the pouch Lia had given him, feeling the faint clink of the wooden tubes inside. Beside him, Xue's presence is a silent reassurance.
"Stay close to me," Xue murmured, his tone calm but firm.
Ziqian nodded as he silently uttered a prayer to the God he knew. He just hopes that the Beast God, Cernunnos, will not get offended by it.
They had barely crossed the tribe's boundary and walked a short distance into the open plains when the fifteen men began to transform.
Ziqian froze as the men's bodies shifted before him—fur rippling across skin, limbs stretching and reshaping into powerful forms. Claws gleamed like blades, tails whipped through the air, and wings of varying sizes unfurled with a rush of wind.
The first time he saw Xue partially transform, he had been left in awe. But this—this was something entirely different. Watching the beastmen shift so naturally between man and beast filled him with a sense of wonder.
This world is truly incredible, he thought, unable to look away.
Ziqian's breath caught when he saw Xue's full beast form. It was magnificent beyond words. Silver fur streaked with black stripes shimmered under the light, and when Xue spread his wings wide, he looked truly imposing, a creature born of strength and grace.
In that moment, all the other beasts faded from his sight. There was only Xue. Ziqian couldn't look away. "So beautiful," he whispered, the words slipping out before he even realized it.
"You're not afraid?" Xue's voice reached him, though his mouth hadn't moved.
Ziqian blinked, momentarily startled. The voice echoed in his mind.
"They can communicate through telepathy when in their beast form," Ero explained before Ziqian could even ask.
Ziqian smiled faintly. "How could I be afraid? You look amazing."
Xue didn't respond, but the tips of his tiger ears flushed red, betraying him completely.
Ziqian couldn't help but chuckle. "So… am I supposed to ride you?" he teased, his voice lilting with mischief.
The red on Xue's ears deepened, the flick of his tail the only sign of his flustered silence.
For a single beast, allowing a sub-beast to ride on his back in his beast form was no small thing—it was a silent claim. Xue knew that, yet he still agreed to let Ziqian come with them.
No... He knew it, and that's why he agreed.
The thought made his chest tighten. He wanted everyone to see it—to understand that Ziqian was his. Still, the awareness left him flustered, his composure slipping whenever Ziqian's bright eyes met his.
Ziqian surely didn't know what such an act meant, yet Xue couldn't shake the feeling that the sub-beast was hinting at something else.
Still, he lowered himself slightly, his wings folding neatly against his sides.
Ziqian stepped closer, his voice soft. "You're really letting me?" It sounded almost like a whisper, as if he feared the question itself might ruin the moment.
"Yes. Get on," Xue replied, his tone steady, though his heart was beating fast.
Ziqian smiled and reached out, his fingers brushing the soft fur along Xue's neck. The touch was brief, but it sent a spark racing down Xue's spine—wild, unexpected, and utterly impossible to ignore.
As Ziqian climbed onto his back, settling between his wings, Xue's instincts stirred. Every nerve in his body screamed mine—a primal urge he struggled to bury.
"Comfortable?" he asked.
"Very," Ziqian replied, laughter lacing his tone. "Your human form's always been cold, but this one… it's warmer than I expected. I might not want to get off."
Instead of responding, Xue spread his wings wide, the air vibrating with strength, and leapt forward into the open sky—hoping the wind might cool the fire that Ziqian had so effortlessly lit within him.