The males behind Wu Xuan were not to be outdone, each issuing a duel challenge, their direct gazes seeming as if they wanted to rush up and devour Wen Shu!
Wen Shu instinctively felt danger and pressed her back tightly against the chair.
She had no idea what they were saying, but "life and death duel" didn't sound like a good term.
Noticing the chaos inside, the middle-aged male responsible for security, Tas, came over, "Female, do you need help here?"
Wen Shu nodded, puzzled, and asked, "Why are they suddenly asking my Beast Husband for a duel?"
Tas glanced at the excited males and calmly reassured her, having also heard the stirring words earlier, "Don't be afraid, they just seldom see such devoted females, so they're quite excited."
Wen Shu was speechless for a moment; she already had two Beast Husbands, could that be considered devoted?
However…
She had been observing earlier from the stage.
Aside from a few newly adult females with fewer males around them, nearly all the other females had seven or eight males trailing them, some even surrounded by dozens.
In comparison, her current situation really could count as devoted…?
But that's not the point.
She surveyed the males below and cautiously spoke, "I reject the life and death duel on behalf of my Beast Husband."
The males collectively froze, and after several seconds of an eerily quiet atmosphere, their faces became grim but surprisingly uniform.
A rough-looking male snorted, "Are Wen Shu's Beast Husbands all cowards?"
A male close to the edge of the platform smirked, shouting downwards, "Wen Shu's Beast Husband, you haven't come up yet, are you really scared?"
The males unanimously erupted in laughter and mockery.
"Coward! Stand up! Don't embarrass us males!"
"If you don't dare to come on stage today, you're unworthy of being a female's Beast Husband!"
Upon hearing these disgruntled provocations, Wen Shu suspected she might have said something wrong, leaned close to Tas, and whispered, "I can't refuse?"
Tas pondered for a moment, remembering that females had just come of age, so it was normal not to understand, and patiently explained, "Duels between males are common. They can lose, and you can choose to reject the ultimate victor..."
"But if you don't accept the duel, your Beast Husband will be unable to hold his head up in the tribe for life; it's a matter of male dignity."
Wen Shu understood, but her two nominal "Beast Husbands," one was injured and would never fight for her, while the other was present but had too low a rank, accepting a duel would be like being a punching bag.
After considering, she decided to utilize her exemplary acting skills again.
"Um," Wen Shu swayed, resting her elbow on the armrest and supporting her forehead with her palm, "my head hurts..."
The males' expressions turned worried, and Tas asked, concerned, "Female, are you alright?"
Wen Shu peeped at the reaction below, the males showed concern, and none mentioned the duel anymore. Just as she was about to feign fainting, out of the corner of her eye she saw a familiar figure.
At some unknown time, Nan landed on the edge of the platform, unfolded his snowy, fluffy wings, and hurried towards her through the crowd.
"Female," his pale long hair was a bit disheveled, he stood beside Wen Shu, gazing at her with glittering eyes, "No need to refuse, I accept their duel!"
Wen Shu glanced at him, halting her forehead-supporting hand, suddenly feeling genuinely headachey.
Couldn't he have come a bit later?
Receiving no reply, Nan shrank his neck timidly, and continued, "Rest assured, even if I'm beaten to death, I won't disgrace you."
It's really not necessary...
Seeing Nan standing so close to Wen Shu, Wu Xuan glared at him unfavorably, his eyebrows raised disdainfully, "Are you the female's Beast Husband?"
Nan turned his head, meeting his gaze coldly, his voice trembling, "Yes, I accept your challenge."
Impatient males stepped forward, "And me!"
"Then stop dawdling! Hurry up!"
Realizing they couldn't avoid it, Wen Shu rubbed her temples in resignation, and stopped Nan's shoulder, "Nan..."
She leaned to the male's ear, saying in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Don't be serious, just go through the motions and concede, leave the rest to me."
Warm breath brushed against the ear's side, inexplicably causing itchiness.
Nan restrained the discomfort, lowered his gaze, long eyelashes veiling the dark depths beneath, he firmly didn't believe the female's words.
He had thought she had truly changed, but apparently, she just found a new way to torment him.
Making him concede? Those bullies among the Beastmen would likely intensify their bullying!
Watching Nan step into the arena, Wen Shu saw the dozens of strong males across from him, her heart subtly anxious.
Wu Xuan was about to challenge first, but before he could move, a Beastman had already charged out from behind him, leaping into mid-air and morphing into a beast shape, "I'll go first!"
The duel had just begun, and Nan was startled enough to tremble, before he could transform, he was tackled by the oncoming Wolf Beast.
Seeing such a weak opponent, the Wolf Beast pressed its advantage mercilessly, not giving Nan a moment to breathe, biting down on Nan's arm, wolf fangs instantly smeared with blood.
Under the Wolf Beast's massive jaws, Nan had no power to counter!
The Wolf Beast sneered disdainfully, "Coward, you can concede!"
Nan furrowed his brows tightly, struggled to free his right hand, transforming it into a wing, harshly flapping sharp feathers towards the Wolf Beast!
His movements were quick, but the Wolf Beast was quicker, easily dodging the attack, simultaneously pinning Nan below its paw!
The Wolf Beast made no attempt to retract its force, Nan's chest slammed against the ground, chest bloody fumes surged, spewing mouthfuls of fresh blood.
Wen Shu's pupils constricted, she stood up sharply, "Nan!"
At her voice, the Wolf Beast eased its grip, raised its paw to return to human form, approached her and pounded its chest, "Female, he's too weak!"
With bulging muscles, the Wolf Beast deliberately tensed its abdomen to demonstrate superiority, showcasing its robust physique to Wen Shu, "Choose me, in every aspect, I can offer a better life!"
Its towering figure loomed in front of Wen Shu, its gaze was deliberate.
Such behavior was common in the Beast World, but to Wen Shu, it felt more like harassment.
Wen Shu, reasonably tall herself, could only reach the Wolf Beast's chest; she raised her gaze, rejecting with some annoyance, "I've said, I won't take new Beast Husbands!"
She circumvented the male, saw Nan pale-faced, feebly lying on the ground, she furrowed her brows.
That Wolf Beast was too ruthless!
She forcefully propped Nan up, using animal hide to wipe the blood from the corner of his lips, "Didn't I say to concede?"
"Female, it's my fault, I've shamed you." Nan leaned against her arm, trembling slightly, attempting to rise from her embrace.
Unwilling to listen to more of this, Wen Shu forcefully pinned him down, then turned back to Tas seeking help, "Could you help me take Nan home?"
Her phrasing surprised Tas; females were born noble, in their eyes, males caring for them was their due.
Even the males believed this, it was the first time a female was so polite.
The surrounding males heard too, "The female is very gentle."
A Rabbit Beast appeared impressed, "Being her Beast Husband must be very happy!"
"..."
Tas, smiling, nodded, "Of course, you're too polite."
Wen Shu handed Nan over to Tas, ready to take them home.
Unconvinced, the Wolf Beast chased after them, "Wen Shu, your Beast Husband is too weak, incapable of truly protecting you! I'm a Fifth-tier Beastman, please consider me..."
Blocked from leaving, Wen Shu glanced at the Wolf Beast, then the males behind it, and seriously stated word by word, "I appreciate your admiration, but I repeat, I don't plan to find new Beast Husbands!"
Finishing her sentence, ignoring the palpable gazes behind, she turned and left the platform.