Chapter 17

Cheng Youyou’s brows furrowed tightly, her expression grim. She had carefully removed all the cooling herbs from the medicine she gave Lu Xi yesterday—she was certain none of it could harm Lu Xi or her unborn cub. So why was Lu Xi having a difficult labor now?

She turned slightly, her gaze falling on the meat glistening with oil after a full day of sun-drying.

Lu Xi had always made trouble for the original host, mocking and ridiculing her at every turn. But at least she had offered such a large, high-quality piece of meat in exchange. If anything, Cheng Youyou had gotten the better deal. And Lu Xi was pregnant—there was a life inside her.

Cheng Youyou’s eyes darkened as she stared at the bone knife gripped tightly in her hand. After a moment, she turned and silently walked back to the cave.

Zuo Wa watched Cheng Youyou’s retreat, her smile deepening. Her eyes gleamed with malice as she stared at Cheng Youyou’s back.

If it were confirmed that Cheng Youyou had poisoned and harmed a female and her cub, even as a rare female, she would be expelled from the tribe. And now that her biggest supporter was gone, and her contracted beast-husbands all disliked and avoided her, no one would protect her. They’d likely seize this chance to break their contracts.

Cheng Youyou would be forced to leave in disgrace, and Mu Feng and Mu Yu would return to Zuo Wa’s side.

Back in the cave, Cheng Youyou moved swiftly. She grabbed the bone knife and needle, then picked up the hemostatic herbs from her basket. Her gaze landed on the humanoid-shaped ginseng. She tossed everything into the stone pot without hesitation and headed out. She strode past the gathered females outside the cave without sparing them a glance.

If Lu Xi was truly in labor, there was no time to waste. Saving a life was urgent.

Watching Cheng Youyou’s hurried departure, Zuo Wa’s eyes darkened. Was she trying to flee out of guilt? That wouldn’t do.

She hadn’t broken her contracts with Mu Feng and Mu Yu yet—she couldn’t let Cheng Youyou escape.

“Is Cheng Youyou running away because she’s guilty? Shouldn’t she at least apologize to Sister Lu Xi?”

“Yeah! We can’t let her get away so easily!”

“She needs to be punished properly…”

The group of females chased after Cheng Youyou, afraid she’d disappear. But when they saw where she was headed and where she stopped, they froze in shock. They’d never seen such a brazen and vicious female—not only did she not run, she went straight to the victim’s home.

Lu Xi would never forget that night—Cheng Youyou stepping through the moonlight. It was as if the Beast God had heard her prayers and sent Cheng Youyou to save her and her cub. Or perhaps, in that moment, Cheng Youyou was the god herself.

As Cheng Youyou entered the cave, she saw a gray rabbit lying on a wide stone bed. The pain had forced Lu Xi out of her human form—she had reverted to her beast shape.

No wonder Lu Xi was so fertile—she was a rabbit beastfolk. Her belly was grotesquely swollen, and she was curled up in agony. Her gray fur was soaked with sweat, and the cave reeked of blood. The beast-hide on the stone bed was drenched in blood and amniotic fluid.

An elderly female beastfolk knelt beside the bed, murmuring prayers to the Beast God.

Cheng Youyou stepped forward, pushed the elder aside, and sat on the edge of the bed, her gaze cold. “Praying won’t help her. Move aside.”

The elder wanted to protest, but one look at Cheng Youyou’s sharp eyes silenced her.

Lu Xi flinched as Cheng Youyou approached, gasping in pain.

“Lu Xi, don’t be afraid. I’m here to help you.”

Whether it was Cheng Youyou’s unexpectedly gentle tone or the calm in her pale eyes, Lu Xi’s panicked heart began to settle.

Seeing Lu Xi relax, Cheng Youyou gently placed her palm on Lu Xi’s belly. She quietly activated the little healing power she had left.

Lu Xi’s gaze followed Cheng Youyou’s hand. As it touched her belly, she trembled. Warmth and softness spread from Cheng Youyou’s palm, easing the intense pain. Her eyes moved from Cheng Youyou’s hand to her face—those lowered eyes were so focused and serious.

In that moment, one could forget her appearance entirely.

Cheng Youyou carefully examined Lu Xi’s condition. As time passed, her expression grew darker. The situation inside Lu Xi’s womb was dire. She had identified the cause of the difficult labor.

Lu Xi was carrying twin bear cubs—large in size, with incorrect fetal positions. Combined with Lu Xi’s petite frame, it was a recipe for disaster.

Cheng Youyou’s healing ability was too low-level. She had already exhausted her powers on Mu Feng the other night. Now, she could only ease Lu Xi’s pain and guide the cubs into proper positions. But ultimately, Lu Xi would have to rely on herself. If things got worse, Cheng Youyou would have to perform surgery.

However, the beast world lacked the necessary conditions for surgery—no antibiotics were available, and large wounds could easily lead to infection.

Cheng Youyou’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Lu Xi’s face, her voice soft and soothing. “Lu Xi, don’t worry. The cubs’ positions are a bit off. I’ll help guide them into place. It’ll be a little uncomfortable, but you can handle it, right?”

A gray paw gripped Cheng Youyou’s hand tightly. Lu Xi’s brown eyes stared into her pale ones. “Cheng Youyou, can I trust you?”

Cheng Youyou looked into those tear-filled eyes and nodded firmly. “Of course you can.”

Just then, the group of females who had followed her into the cave saw this scene.

Cheng Youyou’s hands were pressing on Lu Xi’s grotesquely swollen belly, pushing forcefully.

Lu Xi, in pain, bit her lip but couldn’t suppress her cries.

“What are you doing, Cheng Youyou? Haven’t you done enough to hurt Lu Xi?” The fiery elder female burst out in anger, seeing what looked like abuse.

Cheng Youyou looked up, sweat dripping from her face. She fought off dizziness—her powers were nearly depleted.

Zuo Wa, hidden in the shadows, spoke with false concern. “Cheng Youyou, don’t hurt Sister Lu Xi!”

Her words snapped the others to attention. They stepped forward, ready to rescue Lu Xi from Cheng Youyou’s “harm.”

But Cheng Youyou’s voice rang out cold and clear, “I’m helping her give birth.”