Chapter Seven: One Wife, Multiple Husbands

A dull, throbbing ache persisted three inches below his abdomen. Mo Yin forcibly endured the rising tide of desire, his hair already damp with sweat at the temples. This wave of heat came as quickly as it went; he could still maintain his composure, so it was not unbearable.

Mo Yin rose, rubbed his brow, and gazed down at Ling Yinyin’s peaceful, sleeping face. She looked so foolish and carefree that it was impossible to imagine her as a spy sent by another tribe. Truth be told, taking her out tonight had been a test. He had left his mark within her; should she dare to flee, he would hunt her to the ends of the earth. Yet, she had returned obediently. Mo Yin found this female difficult to decipher. With her exotic scent, she was truly special. A female capable of soothing a male’s mating season would be a target for abduction wherever she went. The outside world was far too dangerous for her. If that was the case, she was better off staying by his side. Whether the incident with the Desire Fruit was a coincidence or not, the fact remained, and it could not be changed. He only cared about the results. Ling Yinyin owed him, and she would have to take responsibility. He would never let her go.

...

When Ling Yinyin woke up, she felt dizzy and weak, her body drained of all strength to the point where she couldn't even sit up. She pressed her chapped, pale lips together and closed her eyes. *Mo Yin, you bastard! How much of my blood did you drink last night to leave me in such a miserable state?!* She was too exhausted to move, so she simply played dead.

Just then, Mo Yin returned from outside, carrying two stone bowls which he placed beside her. "Eat."

Ling Yinyin opened one eye, remaining silent.

"Fine, don't eat then," Mo Yin said, reaching for the bowls.

"Wait, wait, wait! I'll eat, okay?" She quickly sat up and snatched the bowls from him. Upon discovering they contained small pieces of cooked meat, her gloomy mood instantly brightened. "Thank you!"

Mo Yin sat down and watched her quietly. *I didn't expect this guy to be so considerate, bringing me breakfast. I'm so understanding—I forgive him.* The other bowl contained fresh water. After she had eaten her fill, she finally asked, "Where did you get these bowls?"

"Borrowed them," Mo Yin replied.

"Oh." *That explains it. There’s nothing here but a broken bed; I figured they must have been borrowed.*

"Are you full?"

"Yeah, why?"

Mo Yin suddenly grabbed her wrist, pulled her off the bed, and turned away. "Someone wants to see you."

"Ah? Wait... hold on!" Ling Yinyin was bewildered by his sudden action. She had only taken two steps before her legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground. Mo Yin turned back, frowning, confused.

"It's all your fault for drinking so much of my blood. I'm not feeling well and can't walk..." Ling Yinyin complained.

Mo Yin could not refute this. Without a word, he bent down, scooped her up into his arms, and stood up.

"Ah...!" Ling Yinyin was startled. She felt dazed, wondering if she had just woken up in a stupor or if she was still dreaming. But as she snuggled into Mo Yin’s sturdy chest, the cold, icy body temperature seeping through his clothes told her this was no dream. Something was wrong... he wasn't acting like himself today.

"No, I think I can walk..." She pushed him gently, beginning to struggle.

"Don't move." Mo Yin’s tone allowed no room for refusal, and his grip tightened, rendering her unable to budge.

"Who wants to see me, anyway?" she muttered. She didn't know anyone in this beast world; it was all very strange. Mo Yin did not answer, his expression cold and stern.

Outside, the sky was clear and bright, filled with the sounds of birds and the fragrance of flowers. The sun was so piercing she couldn't open her eyes for a long while. Mo Yin carried her through a forest until a cluster of low stone houses came into view.

"Is this your tribe?" she asked curiously.

"Yes. Several females live here."

They arrived at one of the stone houses. Mo Yin pushed the wooden door open with practiced ease and stepped inside with her. The interior was spacious, filled with seven or eight snake-kin beastmen. Simple stone furniture was arranged in the center, giving the place a lived-in feel. When everyone saw them, they stopped what they were doing, staring in stunned silence.

Ling Yinyin felt incredibly awkward as she met their gazes. She scanned the room and noticed Mo Yue was there as well. On a bed in the corner lay a middle-aged woman with features identical to a normal human. Upon seeing Ling Yinyin, she exclaimed with delight, "You finally made it!"

With all eyes focused on them, Ling Yinyin quickly jumped out of Mo Yin’s arms, feeling flustered. "Hello, I'm Ling Yinyin..." She buried her head, feeling her social anxiety spiking. *Why is everyone looking at me?*

Mo Yue noticed her discomfort and stepped forward to introduce her. "Yinyin, this is our female mother, and the others are our beast-fathers."

"Oh, I see..." She nodded, then reacted with surprise. "So many beast-fathers?!" Counting out Mo Yin and Mo Yue, there were six other male snake-beastmen in the room!

"Is something wrong?" Mo Yue asked.

"No, nothing..." Seeing everyone’s calm expressions, Ling Yinyin tried to act composed so as not to stand out. *So, beastmen practice polyandry.*

The middle-aged woman waved at Ling Yinyin, signaling her to come forward with a kind, gratified smile. "I never thought I’d live to see Xiao Yin carrying another female."

Her voice was weak, and she had to pause for breath after speaking. Two middle-aged males stepped forward anxiously to help her sit up. One of them said, "Lan, your body hasn't recovered yet. Say what you need to say quickly."

Mo Lan covered her mouth to cough, patted his hand to reassure him, and turned to Ling Yinyin. "Little one, where are you from?"

Ling Yinyin didn't know how to explain, so she made up a reason: "I don't remember... I fell off a cliff and got lost, ending up here."

"How pitiful," Mo Lan sighed. She looked her up and down, finding Ling Yinyin beautiful, delicate, and flawless. It was no wonder Mo Yin was so taken with her that he wouldn't even let her walk to the door. Her son, Mo Yin, had been temperamental since childhood; he was cold and ruthless to everyone but her, and he detested other females to the point of refusing to let them get close. Everyone had assumed he would never find a mate. Who would have thought a Ling Yinyin would appear out of nowhere? Mo Lan felt a glimmer of hope; her son's future finally seemed secure.

"Since you're in the Snake Tribe, we are family now. Xiao Yin has a difficult temper, but don't take it to heart. He is hard-mouthed but soft-hearted; his nature isn't bad..."

"Uh, okay," Ling Yinyin nodded blankly. She had already figured that much out. She glanced at Mo Yin, begging him to say something to help her out of this, but he avoided her gaze.

Mo Lan noticed their little exchange, and her smile deepened. "If you need anything to eat or use in the future, just tell me. I have everything here. If you can't get Xiao Yin to help you, Mo Yue will do it."

"Th-thank you... Female Mother?" Ling Yinyin forced herself to say the words.

Mo Lan’s face lit up instantly, her complexion visibly improving. "I am so happy you are willing to call me Female Mother."

At these words, everyone’s expression shifted. Mo Yin furrowed his brow in displeasure. Mo Yue smiled, though he was gritting his teeth. Ling Yinyin, unaware of the implications, assumed they were just being polite and nodded frantically.

Mo Lan coughed again, and her beast-fathers doted on her, covering her with blankets and offering water—a sight that made Ling Yinyin envious.

Mo Yue intervened then. "Yinyin, Female Mother still has things to discuss with my brother. I'll take you out for a walk."

"Go ahead," Mo Lan said. "The scenery of the Snake Tribe is lovely. Take her out to relax."

"Understood," Mo Yue nodded.

After they left, Mo Lan’s smile faded. She handed over the empty water cup, which her beast-fathers took away as they tucked her in carefully. Mo Yin lowered his eyes and finally spoke: "Female Mother."

Mo Lan’s expression turned serious. "We all know about the Desire Fruit. There is no need to dwell on it; there are gains in every loss. I think Yinyin is excellent; you two are a perfect match."

"I haven't thought about that kind of thing."

"Is your mating season going alright?"

"Yes."

"It was Yinyin who helped you, wasn't it?"

"Yes."

Mo Lan sighed. "We see the way you treat Yinyin. I only hope you stay safe and are not blinded by hatred. It’s rare for a female to be willing to interact with you—try to behave better."

Mo Yin could only reply, "I know."

"The sixth-stage breakthrough is coming soon, right?"

"It should be within these few days."

"Good." Mo Lan looked out at the sky. "Your ten-year pact with Xiao Ze is almost here. If he hasn't reached the sixth stage by then, I hope you can show mercy..."

Mo Yin remained silent in response. Mo Lan knew better than to push; she sighed, deciding to look away to avoid the frustration. "You may leave. I need to rest."

"Very well." Mo Yin stood up.