Come Catch Me

The morning dew had yet to dry when Ling got up to cook. He simmered his mate's favorite vegetable soup and made several meat pies.

By the time Feng Rumeng woke up, the food was just the right temperature. They finished it, feeding each other bite by bite.

Feng Rumeng deftly braided Ling's long hair and tied the end with a blue diamond hair tie that refracted a charming halo in the sunlight.

Ling tilted his head and lowered his eyes to glance at the braid, his lips curving. He liked the hairstyle; it was convenient when he was working.

Feng Rumeng suddenly cried, "Oh! Ling, will it get in your way when you're in beast form?"

Ling pressed his slightly cool, thin lips to her cheek. "If I'm careful, it won't."

"Okay." Feng Rumeng took out some liquid foundation, darkened her face with it, and put on her hat.

Outside the tribe's gates, Ling placed Feng Rumeng on his snake head. "Sleep, Little Meng'er. We won't reach the Green Snake Tribe until this afternoon."

Feng Rumeng obediently lay down and fell asleep, sleeping all the way to their destination.

In the Green Snake Tribe, inside the tree hollow belonging to Ling's mother, Su Qian.

Ling laid the sleeping Feng Rumeng on the wooden bed and covered her with a beast hide.

He walked out of the tree hollow.

The snake beastman Qing Ran looked at Ling. "Your mother left half a month ago." He held out a space ring. "Qian asked me to give this to you."

Ling's hand trembled as he accepted it, his jade-like fingers closing tightly around the ring. "She left after all. Did Mother leave any message?"

"Not to look for her. She told us to wait for her return." Jing raised his green eyes.

"Your mother was very happy to hear you had a female. She's already dealt with the matter of Lan, and the chief gave his word that you can still stay in the Green Snake Tribe in the future."

"I understand, Father Qing Ran. My mate and I are living well in the Tiger Tribe. We won't be coming back for now."

Ling took a beast-hide pouch out of his space. "There are ten green crystals here. Keep them for when you advance."

Qing Ran refused to take it, pushing it back. "I know you're a good cub, but you're about to advance too. Keep them for yourself. I don't need them for now."

Ling pressed it into his hand, leaving no room for refusal. "When Mother and I came here in trouble all those years ago, if you hadn't saved us, we might have..."

"Father Qing Ran, please take them. When I'm strong enough, I'll go and bring Mother back myself."

Qing Ran's green eyes trembled slightly as he looked at the Beast Crystals in his hand. He had no idea how many injuries the cub had suffered to save up these crystals.

"Then Father will hold on to them for you. When you need them, I'll bring them to you."

"Ling." Feng Rumeng came out of the tree hollow and looked at the handsome Qing Ran, whose green hair reached his waist. He was so handsome; he must be Ling's father. "Hello, Father?"

Qing Ran looked toward the voice, his lively eyes filled with a father's concern. Was this little female cub ill? Why was she so dark!

Qing Ran nodded. "Little female cub, I'm Qian's mate, Qing Ran."

Ling turned around, his gaze gentle. "Little Meng'er, this is Father Qing Ran."

Feng Rumeng bowed slightly and greeted him again. "Hello, Father Qing Ran."

"This is our first meeting, but I don't have anything particularly good to give you." Qing Ran took a beast-hide pouch out of his space. "I traded for these seasonings in Beast City. Sprinkle them on roasted meat, and they give it a very special flavor."

Feng Rumeng accepted it with both hands, an appropriate smile on her face. "Thank you, Father."

Qing Ran felt gratified. This little female was very polite and gentle-natured. With Ling following her, he could rest easy.

He looked at Ling and said earnestly, "Little Ling, you must take good care of your mate. If you need anything, tell Father. Don't be shy."

Then he turned to Feng Rumeng, his tone growing even gentler. "Little female cub, the beastmen of the Green Snake Tribe are all very friendly. Come visit with Ling often when you have time."

Feng Rumeng nodded obediently. "Okay, Father."

They chatted for a while longer before the two of them said goodbye to Qing Ran.

From their conversation, Feng Rumeng learned that children in the beast world separated from their parents once they grew up. Males followed their mates for life, while females might stay in their own tribes.

In the Green Snake Tribe's square, the fair-skinned, beautiful goddess Gao Yue was laughing and playing happily with the young chief, Qing You.

"Come catch me~"

"Quick, come catch me~"

The alluring Gao Yue suddenly stopped, her eyes flickering. "Who are they?"

"That's Ling." Qing You's gaze shot over to the large purple snake. "The female on his back should be his mate."

Gao Yue's eyes rolled. "Aren't all your beast forms green snakes? Why is he purple? Is he a mutant?"

Qing You's cool, smoky blue-green eyes shifted slightly. "They came from outside the Sunset Forest and joined the tribe later."

"Oh, I see." Gao Yue pressed herself coquettishly against Qing You's chest. "I'm tired. Let's go back."

The night breeze blew gently, and moonlight filtered through the tree canopy.

In the forest, Ling carried Feng Rumeng in his beast form, like a ghostly high-speed train.

Feng Rumeng lay on the snake's back, listening to the wind howl. Ling would soon leave to advance, and he would be gone for three months again.

She had grown used to having him around, and the thought of not seeing him for several made her feel a little upset.

Apart from her mother, he was her first so-called family member.

The next day, in the forest stirred by a gentle breeze, Feng Rumeng led Ling around looking for food.

She had already gathered plenty of mushrooms in her carrying basket. She picked only the ones she recognized and had Ling check a second time to see whether they were poisonous.

Ling never tired of accompanying her as she wandered around. He liked these peaceful, quiet days.

When the sun was shining high overhead, the two headed back.

A large crowd had gathered in the tribe's square. Feng Rumeng and Ling weren't in the habit of joining the commotion, so they went straight back to their cave.

In the crowd, Hu Yun shoved his way through, carrying an injured female toward Aima's cave.

Inside the cave, Hu Yun laid the female on the stone bed. Aima glanced at the crisscrossing wounds on her body. "Fortunately, none of the wounds are deep. Go fetch some water and clean them for her."

After Hu Yun went out, Aima went to grind the herbs into a paste.

When Hu Yun returned with water, he pulled away the tattered beast hide on the female's body and helped clean and tend her wounds, his face red.

The female blearily opened her eyes and looked at the handsome man busy in front of her. Suddenly, she jolted and came fully awake.

She grabbed Hu Yun's arm and sat up, shrinking into a corner of the stone bed in a panic. "You... what are you doing?"

Hu Yun was at a loss and stammered, "I... I... I'm helping you treat your wounds. Don't misunderstand."

After speaking, Hu Yun looked at Aima, who was grinding the herbs.

Bai Zhenzhen looked around the cave, where many herbs had been laid out, and felt a little embarrassed. "Um, my... my clothes."

Hu Yun hurriedly took out a piece of white beast hide and covered Bai Zhenzhen with it.

Bai Zhenzhen grabbed the hide and wrapped it tightly around herself. Embarrassed, Hu Yun didn't dare look at her.

Aima brought the herbal paste over, and Hu Yun left the cave of his own accord.

Ding! Host, congratulations on reaching your destination, the Fierce Tiger Tribe. Please conquer the seven male leads and become pregnant with their cubs as soon as possible.

Bai Zhenzhen was startled. Seven?

"Little female." Aima tugged at her beast hide. "The wounds on your body need to be treated as soon as possible. Females are delicate; the slightest carelessness can bring on a high fever."

Bai Zhenzhen obediently moved the beast hide aside and raised her fair, pretty little face. "Lady witch doctor, I'm afraid of pain. Please be gentle..."

"Mm, bear with it. It'll hurt a little, but it'll be over soon." With that, Aima applied the green herbal paste to her.

Once the bandaging was done, Aima called Hu Yun in from outside the cave and asked tentatively:

"Hu Yun, you brought the little female back. Why not let her stay in your cave for a few days? When the chief returns, a cave can be assigned to her."

Hu Yun's Adam's apple bobbed, and a little deer bounded about in his heart. He nodded, bent down, and picked up Bai Zhenzhen, who was wrapped in the beast hide.

Aima watched Hu Yun's stiff back and sighed softly. "Little cub, if you don't seize this chance, you really will spend the rest of your life a lone beast."

Back at the cave, Hu Yun gently placed Bai Zhenzhen on the stone bed. "Get some rest. I'll stand guard at the entrance. Call me if you need anything."

"Thank you for saving me." Bai Zhenzhen sat up and grabbed Hu Yun's beast-hide skirt, letting the hide around her body slip off. Since Hu Yun was one of the male leads and the mood was right, she wouldn't hold back.

When Hu Yun's blue eyes fell on that pair of snow-white mounds, he immediately turned his face away, breathing heavily. "Your... your beast hide fell off."