TFBAT – Chapter 30

At this moment, Chi Yuyang felt that Hu Jin’s words were like a feather—pure and flawless—brushing lightly at the tip of her heart, ticklish and teasing.

Yet Hu Jin himself was unaware of it.

As if afraid she wouldn’t believe him, he quickly added another sentence.

“Even among the tiger cubs, once they reach adulthood, it’s possible that they might also…”

Before he could finish, Chi Yuyang reached out and pinched his restless, swishing tail.

“I will never break off our mate bond.”

She knew exactly what he was worried about.

Halfway through her words, an image of his father’s story flashed across her mind.

So she slid her hand upward and lifted her other arm as well, trying to wrap both around Hu Jin’s neck.

But Hu Jin was far too tall.

Chi Yuyang had to stand on tiptoe just to embrace him.

Ignoring the pain coming from the balls of her feet, she slowly finished the words she wanted to say.

“As long as you don’t leave me.”

The next second, just as she expected, Hu Jin slipped an arm around her waist and lifted her into his arms.

At the same time, he said the very words she had already foreseen.

“Wife, I will never leave you.”

Chi Yuyang couldn’t help laughing out loud.

Although sometimes she really couldn’t figure out how Hu Jin’s mind worked, she could more or less guess what his actions meant.

For example now—Hu Jin’s hands were once again becoming restless…

“Hu Jin! We’re in the ape tribe’s settlement! Control yourself…”

…

Chi Yuyang sighed as she looked at the white tiger beside her, who had reverted to beast form in order to suppress his desire.

“Hu Jin.” She stroked the sleek body of the white tiger. “Once we find your father, let’s go home.”

Here in the ape tribe’s territory, even if both were willing, she dared not do such a thing.

“Awuu!”

The white tiger’s bright, gleaming eyes clearly said “Alright.”

“I’ll go with you into the forest.”

Before standing up, Chi Yuyang smoothed the fur on Hu Jin’s chest.

Ever since Hu Jin began shedding his coat, Chi Yuyang had gained one more legitimate reason to stroke his beast form’s fur—

She had to check whether he was shedding again.

To be fair, it wasn’t that Hu Jin forbade her from touching him.

It was just that, as a beastman—especially a tiger beastman—he couldn’t understand Chi Yuyang’s obsession with fur.

He always thought she was trying to convey some deeper meaning.

But she really, honestly, just wanted to pet some fur.

—

No sooner had Chi Yuyang followed Hu Jin out of the stone hut than a beastman blocked their way.

His tone was hard, his stance unyielding, his whole person cold as a rock—utterly devoid of emotion.

He said, “The two of you cannot leave together.”

“Why?” Chi Yuyang fixed her gaze on the ape beastman before her, but she couldn’t read a single useful thing from his detached expression.

“The chief’s orders—only one of you may go out.”

His answer, however, was exactly what Chi Yuyang had expected.

As she thought—Yuan Wu.

“Awuu!”

At that moment, the white tiger stepped forward, swiftly batting away the obstructing beastman with his forepaw.

Hu Jin intended to carry Chi Yuyang on his back and force their way out.

“The chief said, if you break this rule, your agreement with him will no longer stand.” The beastman’s hollow voice came from behind.

Those words made Chi Yuyang quickly call out to the white tiger beneath her, “Hu Jin, let’s go back inside first.”

Before entering, she turned her head to glance at the ape beastman guarding their door.

From start to finish, he hadn’t shown even the slightest trace of emotion.

“Wife.” In human form again, Hu Jin pulled Chi Yuyang into his arms, his eyes tinged with a dark hostility. “Yuan Wu wants to separate us.”

“No wonder there’s nothing in this stone hut,” Chi Yuyang instantly realized Yuan Wu’s scheme.

He wanted to separate her from Hu Jin—so he could take advantage.

No, it wasn’t just that.

After thinking deeply for a while, Chi Yuyang finally spoke again: “Hu Jin, when you go hunting, pick some fruit on the way back.”

“Wife.” Hu Jin hesitated, staring at her. “But you…”

“As long as I don’t fall under Yuan Wu’s spiritual control, he can’t do anything to me.” Chi Yuyang tilted her head up, giving him a reassuring smile. “Go quickly and come back quickly.”

Hu Jin hunted fast—so even adding in the time to gather fruit, the round trip should only take about ten minutes.

Besides, Yuan Wu’s frail body looked weaker even than hers.

If he truly ‘liked’ her, he probably wouldn’t harm her… right?

More importantly, she needed to know what Yuan Wu was planning.

And why he was targeting Hu Jin.

“Alright.” Hu Jin pressed a light kiss on Chi Yuyang’s forehead. “I’ll be back soon.”

With that, he transformed into his beast form and walked outside.

Before leaving, he turned his head again, seeing Chi Yuyang still standing in place watching him, and only then continued on his way with peace of mind.

Even though she was cold, she hadn’t sat down on the beast pelts prepared inside the hut.

At this moment, Chi Yuyang quickly opened the cloth bag she carried.

She swiftly found a blunt-tipped scissor and a molar, tucking them into her pocket.

If her guess was right, Yuan Wu would come soon.

The beastman guarding their door would report to Yuan Wu the moment he saw Hu Jin leave alone.

Just as she kicked the bothersome animal pelts into the corner, Chi Yuyang heard a cold voice from outside the door.

“Chi, may I come in?”

“Come in.” Chi Yuyang spat out the words expressionlessly.

She couldn’t reveal any emotion in front of Yuan Wu—nor could she let him glimpse her true thoughts.

“Cough, cough.” Supporting himself with a crutch, Yuan Wu stepped in slowly, one deliberate step at a time.

When the door opened, Chi Yuyang saw a beastman following behind him—the very same one who had stopped her and Hu Jin earlier.

But this beastman did not enter the hut.

Once again, Yuan Wu refused to accept any help.

“You don’t want to see me.” His very first words after stepping inside were almost exactly what Chi Yuyang had predicted.

Seeing no response from her, Yuan Wu’s already flickering black eyes grew brighter.

“So you do want to see me, Chi…”

“…” Chi Yuyang sighed inwardly.

Even though she had only done it to avoid his mental control, in some sense, she had still walked right into his trap.

“You haven’t known that tiger for long, have you?” Yuan Wu’s eyes swept toward the beast pelts lying in the corner, and he shook his head. “Whatever that tiger can do, I can do as well.”

Those words sounded eerily familiar.

Chi Yuyang looked at the coughing beastman who had just finished his long line, and suddenly, she broke into a grin.

“That’s not necessarily true.”

This Yuan Wu—he clearly wasn’t up to par.

With his weak, sickly look, how could he possibly compare to her tiger?

These past few days, Chi Yuyang had come to deeply realize that Hu Jin’s abs weren’t just for show.

Hu Jin’s stamina was truly impressive.

Yet Yuan Wu was dazzled by Chi Yuyang’s smile. He didn’t even bother to think through the meaning behind her words.

“This is the first time you’ve smiled at me.”

“Oh, that’s a mocking smile.” Chi Yuyang replied while quietly calculating the time in her head.

How long until Hu Jin returned?

Even though she had said she was fine, without Hu Jin by her side, she couldn’t help feeling unsettled.

Chi Yuyang had long known that Hu Jin’s presence gave her a profound sense of security.

Now that he wasn’t here, that feeling was stronger than ever.

“I’m about to break through. Once I advance to the fifth rank, that tiger won’t be able to hurt me. He’ll just be a paper tiger.” Yuan Wu’s expression carried an unintentional arrogance. “He just failed his advancement, didn’t he?”

Only because of you.

Chi Yuyang couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him.

“So you came all this way just to spout nonsense?”

“No.” Yuan Wu’s gaze fell on her neck, where faint traces lingered. The tiger’s scent was all over her.

So heavy it made him want to destroy it immediately.

But for the moment, he couldn’t find a way in.

“I came to confirm if you’re worthy of being my mate.” His lips curved in satisfaction. “You’re even more suitable than I imagined.”

Chi Yuyang looked at his face coldly, avoiding his eyes.

“I’ll say this one last time—my mate will only ever be Hu Jin. So put away your self-delusions.”

“What if he dies?” Yuan Wu laughed instead of getting angry.

“No matter what, Hu Jin will always be better than you…” Chi Yuyang was about to snap back, but she saw Yuan Wu’s smirk deepen.

From her perspective, Hu Jin would definitely outlive this half-dead Yuan Wu.

So she always thought Yuan Wu hated Hu Jin because Hu Jin could live longer.

But even if Hu Jin really died, it wouldn’t change the fact that Yuan Wu himself was running out of time.

Unless…

Chi Yuyang dared not think further. She mustn’t. Yuan Wu was still here.

Seeing her shifting expression, Yuan Wu suddenly burst into laughter. “Chi, I like you.”

Chi Yuyang quickly turned her face aside to avoid his eyes.

Even though the chief had said that mental control didn’t rely on eye contact, she always felt like Yuan Wu’s eyes could drag people in.

But not like Hu Jin’s deep, natural gaze.

To her, Yuan Wu’s eyes were terrifying black holes, forcibly pulling people in.

“Awoo!”

Hearing the familiar roar, Chi Yuyang looked toward the outside.

She was about to step out when Yuan Wu blocked the doorway.

“So the tiger’s back…” Yuan Wu also heard Hu Jin’s voice. “Chi, goodbye.”

To Chi Yuyang’s surprise, Yuan Wu didn’t linger.

After saying farewell, he walked straight out.

“Oh, by the way, among us ape beastmen, we trade goods. But you already learned that from the sheep tribe, didn’t you?”

He tossed out those words and disappeared before Chi Yuyang could respond.

When Hu Jin pushed open the door, what he saw was Chi Yuyang squatting on the floor, hugging her knees.

“Wife, what’s wrong?” Hu Jin instantly shifted to human form and pulled her into his arms. “Did Yuan Wu…”

As if trying to scrub away some filth, Chi Yuyang stared into Hu Jin’s eyes for a long time.

Only when her eyes began to sting did she rub them gently.

“Hu Jin, I think we’ve fallen into Yuan Wu’s scheme.”

“Yuan Wu’s target has always been you.” Chi Yuyang burrowed closer into Hu Jin’s arms. “Taking interest in me probably wasn’t part of his original plan.”

“But that doesn’t change his goal.”

Hu Jin held her quietly, listening.

“I think the reason he sabotaged your advancement is also tied to his plan.”

She hadn’t expected to end up saving him.

“Since his first attempt failed, he used your father to bait you.”

“I used to think he hated you because you’d live longer than him.” Chi Yuyang paused. “But now I realize… he must have some way to use you to extend his life.”

Her nose stung at the thought.

She remembered how wounded Hu Jin had been when she first met him.

To stop herself from crying, Chi Yuyang tilted her head up.

She found Hu Jin gazing at her calmly.

“Hu Jin?”

His composure unsettled her.

“Wife.” Hu Jin licked away the tear threatening to fall from her eye. “I’m so glad I met you.”

“Now’s not the time to say that…” Chi Yuyang squirmed at the ticklish sensation but didn’t pull away.

Hu Jin’s arms tightened around her. “He can’t control my mind, and he can’t defeat me.”

“So he resorts to tricks to harm me.”

“If I hadn’t met you, maybe I really would’ve fallen for it.”

“But you came into my life. You can even see through his intentions.”

“So…” Hu Jin leaned closer to her face. “With you here, I don’t fear Yuan Wu.”

Chi Yuyang was left speechless.

She saw the light in his bright eyes beneath those long lashes—just like when she first confessed she liked him.

Hu Jin was right. She was letting fear cloud her thoughts.

Yuan Wu deliberately revealed his purpose to rattle her.

But Hu Jin’s strength was already troublesome. With her reasoning added, Yuan Wu’s scheme became even harder to pull off.

That’s why he needed a weak point.

Perhaps no matter which of them left the stone house today, it would have been that weak point.

Thinking this, Chi Yuyang exhaled slowly.

Still, how could this tiger manage to speak sweet words even in a life-threatening situation?

“Wife, I believe you’re smarter than Yuan Wu,” Hu Jin added.

“Mhm, I think so too.” Chi Yuyang nodded.

Yuan Wu’s schemes weren’t all that complicated. What was frightening was that he wanted Hu Jin’s life. That truth had shaken her.

Now, calmer, Chi Yuyang reconsidered Yuan Wu’s words.

She suspected he was aiming for two birds with one stone.

He believed too much in his own cunning, even at the cost of exposing his plan, hoping to lure them into a trap.

Normally, if she and Hu Jin felt hesitant, they wouldn’t seek out his father.

But judging from everything that happened in the ape tribe, Yuan Wu was certain they would go.

“Unless my father wants me dead, I can’t die.” Hu Jin smoothed the frown on her brow. “The chief said my father reached the fifth rank upon adulthood, so he truly has the power to kill me.”

But a tiger never devours its cub.

Chi Yuyang was about to say that when she noticed Hu Jin’s gaze dimming.

His mother had already abandoned him once. If his father did too…

In her heart, Chi Yuyang had a faint suspicion.

Maybe Hu Jin’s father had an unspeakable reason for leaving.

Maybe Hu Jin thought the same.

That’s why he wanted to meet him—to confirm it.

After all, before knowing the harsh truth, anyone would cling to hope.

“Hu Jin.” Chi Yuyang brushed his silver bangs from his brow. “Even without Yuan Wu’s interference, we’d still have gone to find your father. Now that he wants to interfere, it just saves us the trouble of seeking him.”

“With you here, I’m not afraid either.”