Chapter 100
“Lord Priest, slow down. Wait for me.”
He had never thought that a sub-beastman could walk so fast. With a stride, he was as fast as flying, and in the blink of an eye, he had walked two miles. Chang Qing hurried and trotted all the way to catch up with Hua Shi’an.
It must not feel good to be kept in the dark. Chang Qing hurried forward and, through the night, glanced at Hua Shi’an’s expression. The smile in her eyes gradually faded, and she said cautiously, “Lord Priest, it’s my fault for this matter. I didn’t discuss it with you in advance. You’re not angry, are you?”
It would be a lie to say he wasn’t angry. Hua Shi’an was more resentful than a ghost now.
But compared to meaningless anger, he wanted to know what was going on. So he stopped and smiled at Chang Qing. “I’m not angry. We have to see the play through to the end. There’s no one here now. Tell me, what are you guys up to?”
“I can’t explain it in a few words. Let’s go. Let’s talk somewhere else.”
The Great Chief and Chief Mu could come over at any time. Chang Qing looked around, beckoned to Hua Shi’an, and then turned and went into the pitch-black jungle beside them.
A lone man and a lone woman exploring the jungle at night. Hua Shi’an chuckled and quickly followed.
The light was too dim. Chang Qing didn’t dare to take Hua Shi’an too far. A hundred meters from the nearest tree hollow, she stopped, crossed her arms, and leaned against a large tree, speaking directly, “The Great Chief wanted to set us up. It started the day after we returned to the tribe. He specially had me work with you, get to know you, and build a good relationship, and then—court you.”
It started the day after he returned?
Hua Shi’an’s brow furrowed as he listened. This was a big game of chess.
But there was one thing he didn’t understand. He quickly asked, “But you don’t have that kind of feeling for me either. Why didn’t you just refuse? It seems the tribe doesn’t have a rule of forced arranged mates?”
“Lord Priest.” Chang Qing raised an eyebrow, a playful smile on her lips. “I’m a single beastman. I have the opportunity to get in touch with an outstanding sub-beastman. Why should I refuse?”
Hua Shi’an suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with disbelief as he looked at Chang Qing. “So you really had that idea at the beginning?”
Chang Qing nodded frankly. “That’s right. I also want to find a mate, so I tried to get close to you and get along with you. But later, I found that our personalities are too similar. We’re more suitable as friends, not as mates.”
Similar? How are they similar? One is gentle and kind—
Wait. Hua Shi’an stared at Chang Qing, a trace of surprise in his eyes.
The beastman was leaning against a large tree in a leisurely posture, her left leg crossed over her right, her arms crossed in front of her chest, a smile on her bright and unrestrained face, and a pair of peach blossom eyes staring straight at Hua Shi’an, her gaze firm.
This was no gentle and kind big sister. This was a rebellious and cool sister!
Is she showing her true colors? No more pretending?
Hua Shi’an was so angry he laughed. “I really couldn’t tell, Chang Qing. It must have been hard to pretend.”
“It was so hard!” Chang Qing shrugged. “There’s nothing I can do. There are few sub-beasts now, and many beastmen. They all say that sub-beasts like gentle ones. If I don’t pretend a little, it will be hard to find a mate.”
Hua Shi’an: “Not necessarily. You’re very outstanding.”
“Then why don’t you like me?” Chang Qing suddenly said.
Hua Shi’an muttered in a low voice, “You don’t like me either.”
Chang Qing burst out laughing and teased, “Don’t be sad, Lord Priest. I don’t like you not because you’re not good, but on the contrary, it’s precisely because you’re too good. You’re smart, knowledgeable, and capable, unique and independent. A sub-beastman like you will never rely on others.”
“And as for me,” Chang Qing stroked her chin and thought for a moment, “I prefer cute, soft, and especially dependent sub-beasts who cling to me every day. Besides, what’s the use of liking you? There’s a beastman in your heart. You can’t see anyone else.”
The last sentence reminded him. Hua Shi’an raised an eyebrow. “Thank you for the compliment. You should have seen it long ago, right? My relationship with Mo Huaishan is… relatively close.”
Chang Qing grunted in acknowledgment. “You didn’t deliberately hide it. I saw it on the way back. But so what if you have a good relationship? So what if you’re close? As long as you haven’t become mates, there’s still a chance for fair competition.”
Goodness, she’s so righteous about being a home-wrecker. The big sister’s persona had completely collapsed. His head hurt a little. Hua Shi’an pinched the bridge of his nose and, after a moment’s thought, asked again, “Why so sudden tonight? Although we’re familiar with each other, we’re far from the point of courtship. Is the Great Chief so impatient? He can’t wait anymore?”
Hearing this, Chang Qing let out a heavy sigh. “Sigh! This is mainly my fault. When I found out that we were not suitable as mates, I should have found a chance to make it clear to the Great Chief. But the Great Chief saw it first. He was afraid that I would quit, and it just so happened that there was an animal skin tonight, so he hurried me over.”
“You don’t look like a beastman who completely obeys arrangements and is at the beck and call of the Great Chief.” Hua Shi’an gave her a meaningful look.
Chang Qing’s eyes lifted slightly, and she met Hua Shi’an’s gaze from across the distance, suddenly chuckling. “Of course, it’s because of… the animal skin! If you refuse me, that lizard skin will be mine. The competition is so fierce now. I definitely have to prepare something for my sub-beastman.”
This topic was a little subtle. Hua Shi’an regretted it as soon as he said it.
Courtship was a big or small matter. If you succeeded, you’d get a mate. If you failed, you’d inevitably be teased by your companions and become the talk of the tribe. No matter how anxious the Great Chief was, he would never force her, unless Chang Qing was willing herself.
It’s a good thing, it’s a good thing. Whether before or now, Chang Qing was still a gentle and delicate person at heart. She didn’t pierce that layer of gauze, didn’t make the other person feel awkward, and left room for both sides.
It was getting late. Hua Shi’an smiled at Chang Qing and turned to walk back. “It’s late. Let’s go. We still have to work early tomorrow morning. Let’s go back and rest early.”
“Is the Lord Priest not angry?” Chang Qing followed behind him unhurriedly.
Hua Shi’an said truthfully, “I was a little at first, but I’m fine now. After all, it’s not your fault.”
If it wasn’t her fault, then it was the Great Chief’s fault. Chang Qing sighed silently. “Lord Priest, it is indeed the Great Chief’s fault. He’s being too nosy, trying to force you and Mo Huaishan apart. But it’s not just his fault. I also have a big problem.”
“We’ve wronged you. How about this? I’ll promise you one thing unconditionally. In the future, if you need anything, just ask. As long as I can do it, I will. I hope you won’t hold a grudge against the Great Chief. He’s also doing it for the tribe and was just confused for a moment.”
She took the blame and tried to get the Great Chief off the hook. She was quite righteous. Hua Shi’an smiled. “Don’t worry. I won’t hold a grudge against you for this. Although this matter was started by you, the final result is not something you can decide.”
The Great Chief did intend to break him and Mo Huaishan up, but he had only done two things from beginning to end: tell Mo Huaishan the truth and have Chang Qing get close to him. There was no coercion or inducement. It was just that their relationship was too fragile, too weak to withstand a single blow.
