In the depths of a dark cave, a pair of golden beast eyes slowly opened, a cold and suspicious gleam flickering within.

Miss me? What is this female up to now?

Back then, she had been so desperate to drive him out of the tribe, determined to bear Ying Yuan’s cubs, and even swore that he should never return.

Recalling Hu Jiao Jiao’s fierce and sharp demeanor, the golden eyes darkened.

Outside the cave, Hou Xiaotiao grew anxious as Long Mo remained silent for a long time. Could Long Mo not believe him?

After all, it was Hu Jiao Jiao herself who had banished him, forcing him to survive in the harsh mountain wilderness like a wandering beastman.

Just as Hou Xiaotiao was about to come up with a bunch of flattering words to explain on Hu Jiao Jiao’s behalf, that cold voice finally drifted over.

“I understand. Next time, I’ll bring the prey myself.”

He agreed.

Hou Xiaotiao’s face lit up with relief. “Alright, I’ll head back now.”

With that, he darted into the forest without looking back.

He never wanted to come back to this creepy, ominous place.

Inside the cave, the massive golden eyes, like two suns, glowed in the darkness, staring at the cave entrance for a long time before dimming and disappearing.

Fine. Even if that female doesn’t like me, she is still my mate and the mother of my five cubs. Any requests she makes are justified.

I’ll comply. But if she dares to harm the cubs again or let anything happen to them, I’ll make sure to end her myself!

…

Back at the tribe, outside the wooden hut.

Hu Jiao Jiao, wanting to make up to Long Zhong, prepared a feast of delicious food.

She had plenty of time, so she didn’t make a big pot meal but instead cooked various dishes—braised venison, stir-fried venison, beef with sauce—and made a pot of venison bone soup to nourish the cubs.

She also sliced some beef neck meat, making beef meatballs to add to the venison bone soup. By the time the sun began to set, dinner was ready.

Hu Jiao Jiao lowered the fire, letting the soup simmer. The roasted sweet potatoes from the morning had been forgotten, but luckily they weren’t burnt—just cold. She placed them near the stove to warm them up.

Though they wouldn’t taste as good as when freshly roasted, they were still edible.

Long Xiu had been sitting quietly inside the wooden hut, listening to the constant sounds of Hu Jiao Jiao busying herself in the yard.

He wanted to help, but knowing he was blind and could do nothing, he remained seated, feeling every bit like the useless person he thought he was.

His pale face clouded with gloom.

“Xiu Xiu.” Hu Jiao Jiao’s voice suddenly called from the yard, making Long Xiu tense up.

Then, in a gentle tone, she said, “Mom’s going to get the others for dinner. You stay here and watch over the house.”

After that, her light footsteps faded away.

Inside the hut, Long Xiu unconsciously gripped his cane tighter.

Help her… watch the house?

She doesn’t see me as useless. Even though I sit here all day, unable to do anything, she doesn’t despise me for being helpless…

Long Xiu’s pale lips pressed into a thin line. After a long pause, he finally stood up, leaning on his cane and slowly making his way to the yard.

The sparse sunlight from the setting sun fell on his face.

His pale, delicate cheeks were tinged with a faint blush, warm—a feeling of light.

Long Xiu was momentarily dazed, lifting his fingers to touch his warm cheek. He suddenly realized that even though he couldn’t see, the light had always been there, shining upon him, never disappearing…

At the river, Hu Jiao Jiao found the cubs.

Long Zhong, after some time alone, had calmed down. Hearing Hu Jiao Jiao calling, he said nothing but followed Long Yu and Long Ling’er back home.

Meanwhile, Long Yao, like a sticky little puppy, clung to Hu Jiao Jiao and refused to let go.

Weighing barely two or three pounds, the little one was light as a feather. Hu Jiao Jiao didn’t push him away, letting him snuggle up to her.

Behind them, Long Ling’er cast an envious glance, wishing she could turn into a small beast and hang on her mother too.

…

Meanwhile, Hou Xiang was growing more and more furious. After hearing from the females outside that Hou Xiaotiao had given three animal hides to Hu Jiao Jiao, her anger boiled over.

Upon checking at home and confirming that three hides were indeed missing, she stormed off to Hu Jiao Jiao’s house, ready to settle the score before Hou Xiaotiao returned.

Bursting into the courtyard, she saw only the blind child, with no sign of Hu Jiao Jiao, and immediately assumed Hu Jiao Jiao was hiding inside. Furious, she roared:

“Hu Jiao Jiao, come out!”

“You shameless wench! How desperate are you for a male? How dare you set your sights on my Hou Xiaotiao? Today, I’ll tear your face apart!”

Hu Jiao Jiao, walking back with the cubs, suddenly heard an unfamiliar voice hurling curses from the direction of her home.

Remembering the last time Xiong Hua caused trouble and the cubs were bullied, and knowing that only Long Xiu was home now, her face changed and she rushed back worriedly.

Behind her, the three cubs exchanged glances before hurriedly scrambling after her on their short legs.

As soon as they arrived, they saw a plump female standing outside the courtyard, hands on hips, shouting insults into the yard.

Hu Jiao Jiao’s heart skipped a beat. She pushed past the female and rushed inside, relieved to find Long Xiu still standing there unharmed. She ran over and hugged him.

“Xiu Xiu, thank goodness you’re alright. Don’t be scared, Mom’s here.”

Long Xiu, who had been frowning, ready to argue with the female, stiffened when he found himself suddenly enveloped in a warm embrace.

If this were the Vicious female, she would surely blame him for failing to watch the house properly, letting trouble come to their door.

Turning his head away, he was about to say, “I’m fine,” but the words that came out instead were, “She said she was going to tear your face apart.”

His voice was cool and indifferent, with a hint of frustration, as if tattling.

Seeing Long Xiu’s pale face and hearing his sullen tone, Hu Jiao Jiao thought he was frightened and gently patted his back, speaking softly, “Don’t worry, Mom will protect all of you.”

With that, she turned to the female outside and coldly snorted, “I’d like to see you try and tear my face apart.”

To barge in and start cursing without reason—she wasn’t about to be a pushover.

Hou Xiang, seeing Hu Jiao Jiao’s arrogance, became even angrier, jabbing her finger at her as she yelled, “Hu Jiao Jiao, you shameless tramp! You’re seducing both Ying Yuan and my Hou Xiaotiao!”

“No matter how much meat you give him, he won’t be tempted by you! Who cares about your pathetic meat!”

Hearing this, Hu Jiao Jiao finally understood. So this woman was Hou Xiaotiao’s mate, Hou Xiang. Given her own bad reputation, Hou Xiang must have assumed the meat Hou Xiaotiao took home was part of some plot to win him over.

With a calm expression, she patiently explained, “Monkey Xiang, I chased after Ying Yuan before because he didn’t have a mate. Now that he’s with Lu Mian’er, I haven’t bothered him, and I certainly wouldn’t go after Huo Xiaotiao. You’ve misunderstood.”

She also explained why she had stopped pursuing Ying Yuan in recent days.

Hou Xiang’s anger seemed to deflate upon hearing this.

Hu Jiao Jiao was right—females pursuing males without mates was fair game. There was no rule saying a female who is not liked couldn’t try. And it was true, Hu Jiao Jiao hadn’t caused any trouble with Ying Yuan lately.

Could she really have misunderstood?