You Don't Have to Apologize

A gust of wind suddenly struck her in the face.

Feng Rumeng saw a purple afterimage flash before her eyes. The next instant, she was in a firm embrace.

Ling held her tightly. "My Little Meng'er, you're alive. You're still warm."

Feng Rumeng let him hold her, her eyes closed. "Ling, I'm here."

Ling's body trembled slightly. "If I hadn't found you soon, I really would have gone mad."

Feng Rumeng tipped her head back and cupped his face.

Ling looked haggard, his eyes sunken and his lips dull. In just a few days, his cheeks had hollowed out; it was obvious he hadn't rested well.

"You found me. It's all right now, Ling."

Ling looked at Feng Rumeng. "It's all my fault. I failed to protect you."

Feng Rumeng wrapped her arms around his neck. "Ling, this has nothing to do with you."

Ling nuzzled his head against the hollow of her neck. "Promise me that when I'm not around, you won't leave the tribe alone again."

Feng Rumeng sniffed lightly. "Ling, are you hurt?"

She struggled out of her embrace and looked at the crisscrossing wounds on his arms and body. Her eyes reddened, and she took hold of him. "Let's go find the witch doctor."

Ling didn't move. He pulled her into his arms again. "These little wounds are nothing. They'll be better tomorrow."

"No," Feng Rumeng said, growing anxious. "It hurts me to see you like this."

A trace of tenderness appeared in Ling's purple eyes. "Don't move. Let me hold you for a while."

Beside them, Jianyue spoke in a nasal voice. "What a touching scene."

Hu Feng watched them, his gaze dark. He truly couldn't understand what was so good about this ugly female that a madman like Ling cared so much about her.

Hu Yun noticed Feng Rumeng's exposed, fair arm and murmured to himself in puzzlement, wondering how she had managed to have white arms and a black face.

He looked at Ling again. They had known each other since childhood, and the Ling he remembered had been cold and utterly without warmth, always wearing a face that begged to be punched. He hadn't expected having a female to change him so much.

He gave a cold laugh, turned, and walked away.

Batu scratched the back of his head. "Jianyue, now that we've found the female Rumeng, can we set off back to the tribe?"

Jianyue looked at Hu Feng, a question in her enchanting eyes. "Hu Feng?"

Hu Feng nodded, then turned to Ji Feng. "Chief Ji Feng," he said, taking out Beast Crystals and beast hides and offering them to him. "Many thanks."

Seeing this, Ling waved a hand and also took out the appropriate payment. After thanking Ji Feng, he transformed into his beast form and carried Feng Rumeng away.

With Ling beside her, Feng Rumeng felt safe for some reason. Before long, she fell asleep lying atop the snake's head.

When Ling sensed it, he stopped and used the tip of his tail to cover her with a beast hide.

Hu Chun teased, "Ling, I didn't expect you to have such a thoughtful side."

Ling didn't reply and continued slithering forward.

Hu Feng looked at Hu Chun displeased and said in a low voice, "Focus on the journey."

Seeing that Feng Rumeng was asleep, Jianyue lay down too. She hadn't slept well these past two days either, worrying about Feng Rumeng.

By evening, they were beside a river.

Jianyue and Feng Rumeng sat on a rock by the stream, watching Hu Feng, Hu Chun, Ling, and Batu prepare the prey.

Jianyue asked quietly, "Rumeng, what do you think of Hu Yun?"

Feng Rumeng turned to look at Hu Yun, who was starting a fire. "We haven't spoken, so I don't know him very well."

Jianyue lowered her voice even further. "Then do you like him?"

"What? Weren't you going to take him as a mate?" Feng Rumeng asked innocently.

"No, my other mates wouldn't agree. I'll choose my new mate in Beast City," Jianyue said, bringing her head close to Feng Rumeng's ear.

"Rumeng, I think you could consider him. Hu Yun is strong, and he's a good person too."

Feng Rumeng understood what she was getting at and shook her head. "Ling and I are doing well as we are. Having just him is nice too."

Though the two women kept their voices very low, several of the males still heard their conversation clearly.

Hu Yun showed no reaction. Hu Feng, Hu Chun, and Batu kept their hands moving, continuing to prepare the prey. They weren't interested in matters beyond their own mate.

Ling was happy to hear it. He didn't want his mate to have other males either, but with his strength, he simply couldn't protect her properly.

He was very fond of his little female and wished he could hold her in the palm of his hand at all times.

With her looks, even if she couldn't bear children, once other beastmen discovered her, she would still be snatched away and reduced to a tool for them to vent on.

He raised his eyes toward Hu Yun. Hu Yun felt his gaze, and their eyes met for an instant before they both looked away.

Hu Chun watched Ling catch fish by the river. "Ling, what are you catching those for?"

Ling picked up a fish by its tail. "My mate likes eating them."

Hu Chun glanced at Hu Feng, then looked back at the fish in Ling's hand. He seemed about to speak, but stopped.

Ling cleaned the fish thoroughly, then marinated them with coarse salt and a kind of fruit that could remove the fishy smell, just as Feng Rumeng had taught him before.

Once they were cooked, Ling handed a grilled fish to Feng Rumeng, who ate it in big mouthfuls.

Seeing how much Feng Rumeng enjoyed it, Jianyue wanted to try some too.

Feng Rumeng's eyes curved slightly. Understanding, she handed her another golden, fragrant fish.

Smack! Who would have thought Hu Feng would knock it away in one blow? It fell to the ground and became covered in dirt.

Ling's purple eyes narrowed to slits, and his nails shot out. "Hu Feng, you're courting death."

At some point, his legs had turned into a snake's tail, and he whipped it at Hu Feng without hesitation.

Hu Feng took his beast form and dodged. The two were both fiercely aggressive, poised to attack.

Feng Rumeng immediately stepped in front of Ling. "Ling, don't be rash."

Jianyue also shouted angrily, "Hu Feng, what are you doing?"

Batu and Hu Yun were holding Hu Feng back as well.

Ling flew into a rage. "You dare hurt my mate? I'll tear you apart!"

Hu Yun frowned. "Ling, say less."

Feng Rumeng put her arms around Ling's snake body. "Ling, listen to me. Take a deep breath and calm yourself."

Ling curled his tail around Feng Rumeng and brought her into his arms. Looking at the reddened back of her hand, he licked it. "Does it hurt a lot?"

"It's all right. Just blow on it and it'll be better," Feng Rumeng coaxed him gently.

Jianyue walked up to Hu Feng. "Hu Feng, what on earth is wrong with you?"

Hu Feng was furious. "My younger brother was tricked by a female into eating a Baibai Beast and was pierced to death. Even ferocious beasts won't eat that thing. What exactly is this black-hearted female trying to do?"

"Jianyue, Hu Feng, ever since I woke up in the Fierce Tiger Tribe, I haven't been able to remember many things from before. When I was alone, I wasn't so particular, so I often ate Baibai Beast. Just now, I thought Jianyue wanted to eat it."

"You don't have to apologize, Little Meng'er." Ling took her hand, his voice icy. "You can hurt me, but you can't hurt my female."

Jianyue embraced Hu Feng. He took human form and held her.

"I'm afraid. I'm afraid you'll end up like my younger brother. I don't want to lose you. Anyone who tries to hurt you, whether she's a female or anyone else, I won't let them off lightly."

Jianyue gently stroked Hu Feng's trembling back. "I'm all right, Hu Feng. I know you're protecting me. Rumeng won't hurt me, so please don't hurt her, all right?"

Hu Feng was silent for a long time. "I'm tired, Yue. Let's go to the cave first."

Feng Rumeng asked Ling to take human form, then walked over to Jianyue. "Jianyue, I didn't expect the Baibai Beast to cause something like this."

"It's all right, Rumeng. That's just Hu Feng's temper. He'll be fine once he calms down. Let's keep eating." She took Feng Rumeng by the arm and led her toward the campfire.

After they sat down, Jianyue asked Hu Chun to take some meat to Hu Feng.

Ling didn't come over to sit down. He went deep into the woods.