Could it be that his own son and Tu Ze liked the same female?
But thinking again.
What Tu Ze did in the wolf tribe was just like an extreme version of his son.
At most, You Xing only avoided and brushed off the matter of finding a mate, but Tu Ze would even shed blood over it.
So this was impossible.
It only showed that Tu Ze thought his older brother worked too hard managing the wolf tribe, so he wanted to help him.
Shi Lu finally concluded that Tu Ze suddenly grew a conscience.
That was the only explanation.
Then he thought again about how his own son always messed around, and this time it was even about the tribe's continuation. His sleepiness completely vanished.
He kept tossing and turning in the grass nest.
That brat, sooner or later I'll have to teach him a lesson.
Shi Lu fumed until he was exhausted, then finally fell asleep.
Kana and You Xing were originally going to head back, but it got too dark. They wandered in the forest and ended up lost.
Nighttime was when the beasts were most active. Strange sounds came from all around, along with the roars of magical beasts.
The noises behind them grew closer and closer.
Under You Xing's lead, Kana ran quickly. Luckily, they found a small cave high up in the forest, just big enough for two people.
As soon as they hid inside, magical beasts appeared at the spot they had just left. The beasts sniffed the ground frantically, searching for their scent.
But since they couldn't find them, the beasts growled angrily and ran off in another direction.
"That was close." Kana wiped the sweat from her forehead. "How did you know there was a hiding place here?"
"I hunt often. Sometimes I run into groups of beasts, so I memorized a few hiding spots. Didn't think I'd actually use one today." You Xing still looked shaken. "Good thing we found the right place."
Hearing the sounds of beasts outside, they didn't dare to talk anymore. In the quiet, they could only exchange glances.
Kana pulled up her sleeve and gently wiped the sweat from his forehead.
That was when You Xing realized how close they were in the small cave, pressed against each other.
He could feel her body warmth through the narrow space, and her faint scent reached him.
His face instantly turned red.
Luckily, it was night. Kana didn't have the strong night vision of true beastmen, so she couldn't see his reaction.
But to You Xing, her every move seemed magnified.
And those sensations he knew too well but dared not think further about.
He struggled to control himself, not to think, not to feel.
His hands braced against the cave ceiling, looking as if he were surrendering.
Heaven! Why torture me like this?
"You Xing, what's wrong? Why are you so hot? Are you hurt?"
Worried, Kana reached out, gently touching his body. "Are you injured? Don't push yourself, let me check."
You Xing, who had been forcing himself to stay calm, saw her pure gaze and her searching hands. His defenses completely collapsed.
He sighed, dropped his arms from the ceiling, and held her hands.
One of his hands was enough to wrap around both of her wrists.
"You Xing, are you really okay?"
He held her wrists gently against his chest, his other hand softly lifting her neck. Then he lowered his head and whispered tenderly, "Tonight, the moon is so beautiful."
He embraced her tightly, feeling her warmth, and kissed her deeply.
The night was dark. Outside the cave, there were bloodthirsty beasts. Inside the cave, under the moonlight, two companions lay together.
At dawn, Kana woke up first. A system message appeared in her mind.
"Detected pregnancy. Please keep a healthy diet."
"Huh?"
She turned her head. Yuxing was still sleeping.
That was fast. Hunting must be good for health.
Kana carefully looked outside the cave and saw no signs of beasts. She gently woke Yuxing. After checking around, they left the cave together.
Thinking of last night, Yuxing couldn't stop smiling. He just wanted to stay close to Kana all the time.
"Yuxing, I'm so hungry."
Her stomach felt completely empty. The craving for food was overwhelming. Only meat could satisfy her. She couldn't wait until they returned.
So she stepped aside, took dried meat from her system storage, and ate quickly. Of course, she also gave some to Yuxing.
Watching her eat, Yuxing felt distressed. She must not have eaten properly for a while. He promised himself to hunt harder and make her the happiest female.
After eating a lot of dried meat, Kana finally felt better. She almost thought she would starve to death.
Then they slowly walked back to the settlement.
Before reaching the entrance, they saw their home surrounded by many wolf tribe members.
They rushed over to see what was happening.
"Does the Akost family really want my son to be with a female who can't have children? You're ruining him! This is so unfair!"
Yujin and Wayin's faces turned red with anger. "Say my sister is infertile again and I'll tear you apart!"
Many wolves had already heard the rumor that the beautiful fox girl had no fertility.
"I saw it myself. At the coming-of-age ceremony, the amethyst showed no reaction." Some fox tribe members gossiped loudly.
"She should have been sent to the care land, but you hid her!" A lame wolf shouted.
Wayin lost control and attacked. Before Yujin could stop him, that wolf was already injured.
The scene was getting chaotic, so Yuxing stepped in to stop it.
When his father, Shilu, saw him return, he was overjoyed. But after noticing Kana by his side, he immediately realized this must be the infertile female.
He pulled Yuxing, trying to drag him away.
"You brat! If you keep mixing with the Akost fox tribe, I'll have the chief kick you out!"
Yuxing refused, shaking off his father's hand. He stood firm.
"I'm already bonded with Kana. If anyone dares to spread rumors," he raised his claws and snapped a tree in half, "this tree's fate will be theirs!"
Shilu's blood rushed to his head, his beard trembling with anger. "You! You really want to end our bloodline?!"
Kana quickly stepped forward and explained, "He won't end it. I'm already pregnant."
Her words fell like thunder among the beastmen.
The lame wolf that got beaten up refused to suffer quietly. He argued, "You can't get pregnant at all, you're just making excuses to avoid going to the breeding grounds!"
Yuxing rushed forward and punched him. The lame wolf immediately fell unconscious.
Even though that solved the troublemaker and served as a warning, Yuxing couldn't use the same method on the rest of the beastmen watching.
Seeing one of their own beaten, many beastmen started shouting that they would go to the fox tribe leader to complain.
"For a little female who can't even have children, you dare attack your own kind."
"Exactly. What's so good about her? She's just got a foxy face."
Some of the female beasts watching grew jealous when they saw Kana and started gossiping.
"I thought it was something serious. Turns out it's just a group of gossiping females talking nonsense about other tribes."
A familiar wolf's voice came from the crowd.
It was Tuzé, an old acquaintance.
When Kana saw him, her head started to ache. She silently prayed he wouldn't cause more trouble.
Tuzé had originally planned to visit Kana today but found her house surrounded by a crowd. As he got closer, he heard the unpleasant things the females were saying.
Since Tuzé was from the wolf tribe, the crowd automatically made way for him.
As he walked forward, he said, "Even if she can't get pregnant, I…"
"I'm willing to be her mate."
Yuxing quickly cut him off, taking the chance to speak.
This of course provoked Shilu again. He gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, if you want to be her mate, that's your business. But earlier she said herself that she was pregnant. If she really is, then I won't say anything more."
Tuzé froze on the spot.
"When did this happen?" He rushed over, grabbed Kana's shoulders, and asked, "What's going on? Why didn't I know about this?"
Before she could answer, Yuxing pushed him aside.
"Don't touch a pregnant female so casually." His voice was low and threatening.
The crowd grew restless again.
"So just because she says she's pregnant, we're supposed to believe it?"
"Yeah, she's clearly lying to avoid the breeding grounds."
"Is it so hard to just let a witch doctor check?"
Tuzé looked around at the growing hostility. Then he looked at Kana, hiding weakly behind Yuxing.
Yuxing was thinking: pregnancy isn't that easy. If it were, the whole continent wouldn't be so worried about reproduction. Who started this mess anyway?
"Father, how did you know I was here?"
Of course Shilu didn't admit anything. Not wanting to offend either side, he just stiffened his neck and said, "Enough nonsense. Take that little female to the witch doctor. If she really is pregnant, I won't say another word."
Kana didn't want to stay surrounded by the crowd, and she didn't want Yuxing to be in a difficult position either. She took the initiative and walked toward the witch doctor's place.
Behind her followed her brothers, Yuxing, Tuzé, Shilu, and many other beastmen.
If this little female could really be pregnant, it would be a great opportunity for them.
But Kana hated this feeling.
It was like being prey trapped in a hunter's snare.
When the witch doctor saw the large group coming, he rushed out to see what was happening. The moment he stepped outside, he was surrounded.
After understanding the situation, he sighed in relief. He thought Tuzé had gotten into trouble again.
Looking at the pale little female in front of him, the witch doctor asked, "You said you're pregnant. When did you first notice it?"
"This morning."
"When was the last time you were close?"
"Last night."
When Tuzé heard this, he felt like his heart shattered into pieces. The more he looked at Yuxing, the more upset he became.
The witch doctor looked embarrassed and explained, "Pregnancy can only be detected at the fastest after three days. It can't be tested after just one day."
After hearing this, Shilu snorted loudly and said with dissatisfaction, "Kana Acoste, stop struggling. Yuxing will soon become someone else's partner. Don't even think about it."
"When did I become another female's partner? Why don't I know this myself?!" Yuxing's eyes widened as he asked, "Father, you have so many sons, why must you keep forcing me? I already have a female I like, I don't need you to arrange it for me!"
Shilu's beard curled with anger as he said harshly, "Let me tell you, they are my sons, and so are you!"
Kana turned her head away, not wanting to see them argue.
She was most afraid of quarrels. Those words pierced into her heart like needles.
Tuzé stood behind Kana and gently patted her shoulder to comfort her.
But Kana avoided his touch.
"Enough, stop arguing!" The witch doctor scratched his ear impatiently and said, "You're giving me a headache. Let this little female stay here with me for three days. After three days, there will be results."
Looking at the little female, the witch doctor couldn't bear it either. At least he could protect her for three more days.
This time would also be enough for her brothers to come up with a plan.
"After three days, I will ask the chief to be the witness."
Finally, the witch doctor managed to drive the orcs away. Listening to their endless gossip annoyed him greatly.
"Kana, stay here for the next few days. No one will dare to bully you." The witch doctor said gently, "If any orc dares to disturb you again, I'll ask the chief to drive them out."
Looking at the witch doctor, Kana felt much warmer in her heart.
"Sorry for troubling you."
She was not worried about the result of the test. What she really hoped was that after the chief witnessed it, no more rumors about her fertility would spread everywhere and bother her like today.
"Yuxing, Yujin, Wayin, you should go back now. Don't make trouble here!" The witch doctor comforted them when he saw how worried they were, "This is not a monster's den. What are you so afraid of? Go quickly."
The three of them gave Kana a lot of instructions before leaving, promising to deliver her food on time every day.
Not long after, the place finally became quiet.
Kana curled up in the witch doctor's grass nest.
It was actually quite comfortable.
"Kana, are you really pregnant?"
"Yes, I didn't lie to you."
After the orcs left, Tuzé returned quietly without being noticed and stayed nearby to watch over Kana.
He stood on a tree, looking at Shilu and Yuxing still arguing in the distance.
Then he jumped down and entered the witch doctor's house.
When Kana saw him coming in, she immediately pretended to be asleep. Of course, such a small act did not escape Tuzé's sharp eyes.
He squatted beside her, leaned in, and looked closely at her sleeping face.
The first time he met her was also here. Now he could be this close to her again, still here.
"Kana, if you want to leave, I'll take you away. No orc dares to stop me." Tuzé spoke slowly.
She kept pretending to sleep.
The witch doctor looked at Tuzé, shook his head, and said, "If you had known this would happen, you should have listened to your brother back then…"
Tuzé glanced at him coldly, and the witch doctor wisely left the room.