TFBAT – Chapter 46

Hu Jin’s ears drooped along with his downcast gaze, slowly folding downward.

If one didn’t look closely, his pair of round ears seemed to disappear into his silver hair.

“Still more than four months to wait.”

After saying that, Hu Jin glanced at the person whose hand he held. His ears quietly popped back up again.

Chi Yuyang felt the heat of his stare and sighed.

“Hu Jin, what do you want to say?”

“Wife… before then… can we maybe…” Hu Jin’s ears trembled, “try it first?”

Before Chi Yuyang could react, Hu Jin had already turned into his beast form.

Staring at the white tiger before her—tail wagging wildly, big round eyes fixed on her—Chi Yuyang instantly understood what he meant.

“Hu Jin, are you sure you want to do this here?”

The forest, which had been silent days ago, now held faint chirps and rustling footsteps of small animals.

…Outdoors?

The moment that word flashed through her mind, Hu Jin pounced.

“Stop! Hu Jin!”

The tiger’s head pressed into the crook of her neck.

Unlike when they slept, this time Hu Jin’s body temperature was scorchingly high.

He could smell that strange scent on her body had disappeared. After seven days of forced abstinence, every inch of him was restless.

Chi Yuyang glanced around, suddenly regretting everything.

She should’ve had Hu Jin take her straight back to the forest.

This mountain wasn’t far from the snowy mountains. They’d stayed because, before the Mist of Origin incident, she had planned to explore this mountain before returning.

She had wanted to see if there were plants or animals she couldn’t find in the forest.

Maybe the fruit Xue-yin mentioned was here.

“Hu Jin! We still haven’t found the Soothing Fruit!” — the name she gave that fruit that made the barbs less painful during entry.

As she spoke, Chi Yuyang grabbed Hu Jin’s tail.

His tail had stretched into a place it absolutely should not go.

Hearing her words, the white tiger’s tail froze. He flipped over and placed her on his exposed belly.

Chi Yuyang propped herself up, inevitably brushing against the fur on his stomach.

“What’s this?”

From the snowy fur, she spotted a round, black… thing.

…That wasn’t what that part was supposed to look like in her understanding.

“Rawrr!” Hu Jin curled his tail around the object and placed it in her hand.

It was a fruit.

“This isn’t… the Soothing Fruit, right?” Chi Yuyang looked down at the fruit in her palm.

“Rawrr!”

Yes!

“…” She almost forgot—before they left, Grandpa Xue had secretly shoved something into Hu Jin’s hands.

She had casually asked about it, but Hu Jin only said it was “something good for his body.”

Grandpa Xue definitely knew about the Soothing Fruit.

And Hu Jin!

Chi Yuyang swiftly pinched both his ears. While he froze, she rolled off his tiger body.

She didn’t fall to the ground.

Because Hu Jin caught her in his arms.

“Wife, you promised you’d satisfy me.”

“…Did I promise this?!”

Shrinking ten months down to four had already shocked her enough! And now she learns that Grandpa Xue actually gave Hu Jin a Soothing Fruit!

“Hu Jin.” Chi Yuyang turned to face his eyes.

Hu Jin blinked.

She hesitated for a long time, unable to form the words.

What she wanted to ask was—

Since it wasn’t his mating season, could he even…

As far as she knew, male tigers behaved differently outside mating season.

Not only was the question too embarrassing, but even though Hu Jin wouldn’t overthink it, she still felt like asking would sound like doubting his… capability.

Hu Jin blinked again.

Chi Yuyang involuntarily blinked back.

“Wife?” Seeing her gaze back at him with “yearning” (in his interpretation), Hu Jin thought for a moment, then leaned in and kissed her.

Hu Jin actually preferred using his human form for intimacy.

However, not only the chief, but Grandpa Xue also told him that the beast form felt different.

Since his wife wasn’t ready, he wouldn’t force her.

But the human form should be fine.

She had promised him. She never lied to him.

As Hu Jin’s face suddenly filled her vision and their distance vanished, he continued what he had started.

This time, Chi Yuyang didn’t stop him.

But she soon regretted it.

So he had been holding back before.

“It hurts… ah…”

Her fragmented cries echoed through the mountains, drawing animals near.

Yet, just as they attempted to approach, an unseen pressure made them freeze, turn around, and flee.

…

Hu Jin carried Chi Yuyang to the hot spring to wash away the traces he left.

What had she just done?! Even though it was an uninhabited mountain forest—

Still! It was outdoor!

Chi Yuyang buried her face between her knees, unable to look at Hu Jin directly.

“Wife, I want to bring the Soothing Fruit back for the chief to examine.” Hu Jin grinned with great satisfaction. “I was too impulsive earlier. Father only gave me one Soothing Fruit.”

So once they found more, using his beast form wouldn’t be too late.

Can’t waste future opportunities just for one moment of happiness.

Calculating Hu Jin thought seriously.

Chi Yuyang stared at her reflection in the water—her face was flushed red.

She closed her eyes and tried comforting herself. This was normal behavior for mates.

If it were in modern times, this would also be… normal—

Like hell it would!

Outdoor?! What part of that was normal?!

She absolutely had to explain to Hu Jin that doing it outdoors was wrong.

Too… shameful!

“Hu Jin, next time you’re not allowed to do it in the forest.” Chi Yuyang said sternly, trying her best to look serious.

Hu Jin nodded.

But his pure, innocent eyes made her swallow the harsher words.

“I also think the stone house or the cave is better. The forest is too noisy.” During the process, he’d heard the animals. “It affects my performance.”

“…” Chi Yuyang glared at him.

He had clearly performed extremely… long today.

But at the mention of a cave, Chi Yuyang thought for a moment.

“Shouldn’t we go back to the tribe first and let the chief know we’re safe?”

“Mm. I want to return soon.” As he spoke, Hu Jin’s eyes subtly changed.

Chi Yuyang sensed nervousness—but mostly anticipation and joy.

“Father said my mother might have recovered her memory.”

“Really?” Chi Yuyang was genuinely happy for him, her earlier embarrassment fading.

Who told her to fall in love with a tiger?

Seeing the smile on Hu Jin’s face, the weight that had lingered in her heart finally lifted.

“At least all the time and effort we spent wasn’t for nothing,” she smiled. “Your mother remembering you is the biggest gain from this whole trip.”

“Mm.” When Hu Jin saw her putting on her clothes, he turned his back.

Chi Yuyang waited for him to transform and take her back to the tiger clan.

But he stood there silently.

“Hu Jin?” she asked. “Do you still have something to say?”

“Wife.” Hu Jin didn’t turn around. “I feel like… you seem to like me more now.”

And with that, he quickly transformed into a white tiger.

Chi Yuyang froze.

Then burst into laughter.

As she climbed onto his back, she rubbed the white tiger’s head. “Mm. It’s true. I like you very much, Hu Jin.”

So once they found another Soothing Fruit, she would try the beast form with him.

Silently, she told herself this.

Next time, she wouldn’t run away.

—

It was Chi Yuyang’s first time seeing so many female tiger-tribe beastmen.

It was as if they had arranged it beforehand—all gathered at the chief’s cave entrance.

“Hu Jin, why are there so many beastwomen?” From a distance, she heard them chattering nonstop.

And their topic seemed to be the man beside her.

“Maybe because when I entered the territory, I used a tiger roar to notify the chief.” Hu Jin scratched his head.

But he didn’t understand why so many females had gathered.

Chi Yuyang spotted Hu Shu among them.

Hu Shu, with better eyesight, had been waving at them since they arrived.

At first, she thought Hu Shu was welcoming them back.

But the moment she got closer, she realized something was off.

Hu Shu’s face was full of tension.

“So this is Hu Jin’s mate?” A female tiger beastman gave Chi Yuyang a hostile once-over. “Fight me.”

“…” Chi Yuyang froze.

What was happening?

Hu Jin immediately shielded her behind him.

“Hu Jin, what are you doing?” Another female shot him what she thought was a seductive look.

But Hu Jin didn’t spare her even a glance.

“Sorry, make way. I’m looking for the chief.”

“Hu Jin, you can go in, but your mate,” the first female lifted her chin, “must stay and accept my challenge.”

Hu Jin narrowed his eyes.

Before he could speak, another female shoved the first aside.

“Why should she accept your challenge first? I was here before you!”

“No, I was first!”

“Hey, what rank are you two? Let me go first!”

…

A whole group of female beastmen began arguing instantly.

Chi Yuyang looked sideways, seeing the confusion in Hu Jin’s eyes.

Hu Shu was desperately winking at her.

Chi Yuyang finally understood what was going on.

She sighed.

“Hu Jin, let’s go see the chief first.” She pulled his hand, trying to bypass the group blocking the way.

“Wait!” the first female pointed at her. “Who said you could leave? The mate of our tribe’s strongest male is such a coward?!”

Chi Yuyang rolled her eyes.

The jealousy in the air was so thick she didn’t know how to comment.

And the source of all this—Hu Jin—looked innocently at her.

Seeing her nod, Hu Jin scooped her up and walked straight into the chief’s cave, ignoring all the females yelling.

“Hu Jin, after we see the chief, I’m settling this with you!”