TFBAT -Chapter 74

By the time Hu Shu found the location where her mate’s match was taking place, he had just knocked his opponent to the ground.

From the other beastman’s mouth came the slow words, “I give up.” Then, as if all his strength had been drained, he closed his eyes.

Hu Shu’s mate was about to exhale in relief when his gaze caught sight of his own tigress…

Along with Hu Jin and Chi Yuyang.

“Your next opponent is me,” Hu Jin said as he walked over, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Come on, give it your all.”

The gesture was unusually friendly, leaving him momentarily confused.

Hu Jin’s attitude toward fellow clan members had always been cold—why suddenly show him kindness?

A mix of doubt and excitement flickered across Hu Shu’s mate’s honest, simple face.

Maybe Hu Jin was acknowledging his strength.

But no, Hu Jin actually meant that, in consideration of how he and Hu Shu had helped them, he would quickly end this match.

Hu Shu hesitated for a moment but eventually stepped between them, separating Hu Jin from her mate.

She nudged her tiger. “Are you tired? Rest a bit before continuing with Hu Jin for the next round?”

Hu Shu worried he wouldn’t withstand Hu Jin’s few decisive strikes.

However, the fired-up male said without concern, “I can fight right now!”

Chi Yuyang looked at Hu Shu with a pitying sigh and then grabbed her tiger by the ear, heading toward the stream.

She also turned to ask, “Hu Jin, do you want some water?”

After speaking, she fumbled through her cloth bag, trying to find the plastic water bottle inside.

But Hu Jin held her hand and shook his head.

“Wife, it’s better not to take that bottle out in front of the clan members.”

While temporarily staying with the ape clan, he had observed that ape beastmen also made items similar to a wife’s cloth bag by exchanging things with the sheep clan.

But he had never seen anything like the bottle his wife mentioned.

There were many knowledgeable and experienced tigers in the clan, not just the chieftain.

During the Tiger Contest, most clan members would appear, for fear that someone might notice anything unusual about his wife.

Chi Yuyang froze for a moment.

But she quickly understood the implication behind Hu Jin’s words—her human identity was even more sensitive than the ape beastmen’s.

She swiftly pushed the plastic bottle down in the bag and covered it with spices and other items.

When Hu Jin pulled her to watch other beastmen, she couldn’t help but steal glances at his profile.

His face showed no expression at all.

It was as if, to Hu Jin, the mysterious bottle in her hand was no different from any other object on the continent.

Just as her past didn’t change his view of her, this wouldn’t either.

…

Hu Jin had originally intended to take Chi Yuyang to watch other beastmen’s Tiger Contests.

But halfway there, a twinge of regret surfaced.

The words Hu Shu hadn’t yet spoken grew wildly in his mind.

Seeing Hu Jin slow his pace, Chi Yuyang asked, “Hu Jin, are there no other beastmen around for the Tiger Contest?”

The contest didn’t have a fixed arena; beastmen chose their battlegrounds based on personal preference.

Some tigers disliked areas with too much vegetation, while others couldn’t perform well due to animal noises.

So, the chieftain stipulated that contestants could go to their chosen spots after reporting to him, ensuring the chieftain and shaman could reach them for assistance if needed.

“The chieftain’s territory is huge!” Before Hu Jin could answer, Chi Yuyang exclaimed.

Though the battleground could be chosen freely, it had to remain within the chieftain’s territory for safety.

“Hm.” Hu Jin finally emitted a low grunt, thinking of how to change his wife’s mind.

Chi Yuyang’s thoughts had long since drifted away from the Tiger Contest.

“The trees here are growing so well…”

She hurried to one, looking up. “By autumn, it should bear quite a lot of fruit.”

The fruits of this continent always brought her surprises—she wondered what this tree would yield.

Hu Jin followed.

“Wife, this is a Blue Fruit tree.”

Then, casually, he asked, “Do you want to take a little walk around?”

Chi Yuyang nodded slightly. Hu Jin twitched his ears and eagerly transformed into his beast form.

She mounted his back, thinking she indeed preferred being led by him.

—

Hu Jin finally stopped in front of the chieftain’s den.

From a distance, Chi Yuyang saw many clan members gathered there.

They seemed to have been waiting for some time.

She instinctively tugged at the fur on the back of Hu Jin’s neck.

“Hu Jin, why are so many people gathering near the chieftain’s den?”

“This year, I was drawn to fight the third-tier winner. For contests that cross tiers, the chieftain and shaman must both be present.”

While dressing, Hu Jin stole glances at his wife. Seeing her eyes constantly drift toward the den, he looked too.

He furrowed his brow slightly.

Several female peers, some familiar—these were the ones who had previously targeted Chi Yuyang, like Hu Wan.

Hu Jin narrowed his eyes, mentally matching their names to their faces.

He had some memory of Hu Wan and her sister, mainly because they looked different from most female clan members.

He couldn’t help thinking the lion genes were truly poor.

Chi Yuyang, approaching, also saw Hu Wan and the other females chattering around her.

When faced with a common enemy, they decided to put aside past grudges.

After defeating the enemy, they would reconsider other matters.

But Chi Yuyang, as the “enemy,” merely curled her lips at them and went over to Hu Shu, who was speaking quietly with her mate.

She noticed the females were isolating Hu Shu—so childish.

Hu Jin didn’t even lift an eyelid, his gaze fixed on his wife’s arm.

Her injuries were finally healed! But had she lost weight recently?

Winter was coming. Once he won…

Hu Jin couldn’t help but smile faintly.

“Hu Shu.” Chi Yuyang stood beside her, shielding Hu Shu from the female group’s sharp gazes.

Her overly apologetic expression made Hu Shu embarrassed.

“Xiao Chi, last time when you and Hu Jin were targeted here, I couldn’t stand up for you. But now I want to say, I don’t regret being your friend.”

She lowered her voice. “And when I decide to spend my life with my tiger, I’ll draw a clear line with them.”

Arriving at the chieftain’s den, Hu Shu couldn’t help feeling emotional.

Before, she could only secretly pass messages to Chi Yuyang. Now she could speak freely.

Thinking of this, she walked a few steps toward the female group, raising her two glaring black stripes.

“You all just have mouths, right? I’ll leave my words here. Next year, I’ll join the Tiger Contest. Anyone who can’t stand me, we’ll settle it there!”

The females looked at each other, then at the only two second-tier females among them.

The two blushed instantly.

Born without striving for strength, they had risen purely from superior genes.

Second-tier beastmen would usually fight in mixed battles, but spoiled as they were, they didn’t want to endure hardship.

Hu Shu scoffed.

Once, even little Chi had tried fighting Hu Wan despite her disadvantages, yet these two second-tier females didn’t even dare try.

“Xiao Chi, they’re nothing compared to you,” Hu Shu concluded.

Hu Jin nodded in agreement. “Hu Shu is right.”

He was grateful Hu Shu spoke for his wife—but that didn’t mean he’d go easy in the contest.

This little encounter didn’t last long. The chieftain and shaman arrived, signaling the start of Hu Jin’s match.

Reluctantly releasing his wife, Chi Yuyang called his name.

“Hu Jin.”

Hu Jin turned.

Chi Yuyang kissed his cheek.

“Good luck!”

Hu Jin’s eyes brightened.

“Wife!”

“All right, now go!” She pushed him gently, hiding her embarrassment.

Though she had kissed Hu Jin publicly more than once or twice, she always felt a strange, indescribable emotion.

Hu Jin nodded. “Okay!”

“Xiao Chi, that last move of yours was good!” After Hu Jin left, Hu Shu whispered.

“What?” Chi Yuyang’s mind was still reeling. Hearing her friend’s teasing tone, she looked up sharply.

Hu Shu tapped her shoulder, indicating she look at Hu Wan and the others.

The females were staring at her, their eyes filled with complicated emotions.

“You were emphasizing your relationship with Hu Jin, right?” Hu Shu smiled.

“Though our tiger clan shows intimacy through licking, it’s less common among humans.”

She paused, then asked carefully, “Do ape beastmen who maintain human forms like to lick each other in human form?”

Chi Yuyang’s ears still heard Hu Shu’s voice repeating, but her gaze went blank.

She didn’t know if the ape beastmen even understood such kisses.

When the females appeared again, she realized she had zero interest in them and didn’t want to engage.

So she had only intended to encourage Hu Jin, nothing more.

“Hu Jin, are you ready?”

The chieftain’s loud voice pulled Chi Yuyang’s thoughts back and focused everyone on the two beastmen standing face-to-face.

She realized the crowd was huge.

Initially drawn by Hu Wan and the others, she now noticed female beastmen with their cubs on the ground, and others perched in the trees.

All faces were directed toward Hu Jin’s spot.

A Tiger Contest with the chieftain and shaman present was more thrilling, perhaps offering a chance to witness a cross-tier fight.

Hearing the question, Hu Jin nodded.

Though last year’s winner and recognized as the strongest tiger, not everyone could identify him.

Some newborn cubs and older tigers had only heard his name; some had just passed by the chieftain’s den briefly.

Most importantly, Hu Jin’s pale wrist bore no black markings indicating rank.

Murmurs arose among the uninformed clan members.

Hu Jin, however, smiled indifferently—a harmless smile.

Discussion broke out.

Since Chi Yuyang and Hu Shu were both contestants’ partners, they were invited by the shaman to sit nearby.

Looking up, Chi Yuyang saw Hu Jin bowing.

Hu Shu held her breath.

Seeing both ready, the chieftain said, “Then let’s begin.”

At that sound, Hu Jin’s opponent fell with a thud.

Before Hu Shu could even catch her breath:

“I give up,” said the defeated beastman decisively.

Those who had assumed Hu Jin would lose didn’t even dare breathe.

Hu Jin shrugged casually.

Breaking prejudice wasn’t new to him.

Other beastmen rubbed their eyes in disbelief.

But the pain was real.

The shaman hurried over to examine the defeated.

Hu Shu exhaled.

Though the result was as expected, Hu Jin was far too strong!

“Wife!”

Chi Yuyang looked at Hu Jin walking toward her, her face full of excitement and joy.

Not because he had won, but because of the reward.

She reached out, hugging him. “You did great!”

“Chieftain, who is my next opponent?” Hu Jin asked, looking at the chieftain standing with arms behind his back.

This tiger cub had not only grown stronger than last year but had also changed in mindset.

The chieftain appraised him before answering, “Last year’s second place, your old rival.”