His smile is so beautiful!
His hand is so soft!
Huo let Ziqian pull him along. He still couldn't believe that the sub-beast was talking to him—and even holding his rough, calloused hand.
Along the way, Ziqian asked random questions about Huo and the Winged Tiger Tribe, which Huo answered with enthusiasm.
Ziqian apologized and came up with an excuse for ignoring Huo earlier.
Huo, however, believed that what had happened earlier was his fault. Sub-beasts were innately weak and emotional. It was normal for them to be frightened and avoid a beast who wasn't their mate.
He didn't mind Ziqian ignoring him. He was far more surprised that the sub-beast had spoken to him at all. Whatever the reason, what mattered most was that Ziqian was no longer afraid of him.
The atmosphere between them grew harmonious, as though they had known each other for a long time.
When they reached the entrance of the tribe, Ziqian let Huo take the lead. The moment they stepped inside, Ziqian immediately drew attention from the surrounding beasts.
Not only was his appearance striking, but it was also the first time anyone had seen the hot-blooded Huo so close to a sub-beast. They looked intimate, even holding hands.
At the center of the tribe, a duel was underway. But as Huo and Ziqian passed by, the intense fight came to an abrupt halt, and the cheers of the crowd quickly faded.
Huo glared at those who openly stared at Ziqian. An urge suddenly rose in him—to hide the sub-beast away, afraid someone might try to steal him.
When they arrived before the largest tent in the tribe, a few people had already begun to follow them. Some were drawn by the beauty of the unknown sub-beast, while others were simply curious and eager to gossip. But they immediately dispersed the moment they saw who emerged from the tent.
Huo instinctively pulled Ziqian behind him, his grip on the sub-beast tightening.
"Are Mother and Father inside?" Huo asked, his voice edged with impatience.
"Yes. They're resting," the man replied, ignoring Huo's tone.
The cold, unfeeling voice sent shivers down Ziqian's spine. He peeked out to see who it was—only to find yet another handsome man.
This man's fair skin stood in stark contrast to the other beasts Ziqian had seen so far. His silver hair, streaked with black highlights, gleamed brilliantly, and his ocean-blue eyes sparkled like gems. He looked like an aristocratic prince lost in the land of barbarians—truly a figure who stood out in their midst.
"He's Huo's twin brother, Xue," Gae informed.
Both of them are exactly my type. But… they don't really look alike. Ziqian studied the two men intently until he spotted faint traces of resemblance.
"Many say he rivals the most handsome man in Gaia," Ero added.
Someone more handsome than these two? Impossible! At this level of beauty, how could anyone possibly surpass them? Ziqian thought in disbelief.
When Xue met the curious gaze of the sub-beast behind Huo, he was momentarily stunned. Huo's expression darkened, and he moved to block his brother's line of sight, forcing Xue to quickly avert his gaze.
As Xue looked away, he noticed the odd behavior of the people around them.
"Bring him inside," he ordered before stepping into the tent.
Huo placed a hand on Ziqian's shoulder and gently guided him forward—leaving the curious onlookers behind.
_______________.
Sitting in front of Ziqian was a burly, brooding middle-aged man. His upper body was full of deep and shallow scars. Resting on his head was the preserved hide of a tiger-like monster with three horns; its bared fangs looked as though it was still ready to swallow him whole. The intact paws of the beast draped over his shoulders like a cape.
Beside him sat a beautiful, gentle-looking man dressed in white fur, adorned with crystals of varying colors.
"These are my parents," Huo introduced. "My father, Bei, is the patriarch, and my mother, Lia, is the high priest of our tribe."
"Hello, I'm Ziqian. Nice to meet you." He greeted them with a smile and reached for Lia's hand.
"Hello, Ziqian." Lia's handshake was light and graceful, every movement exuding elegance.
Bei simply gave a curt nod, accepting his handshake without expression.
The Winged Tiger Tribe was one of the five great tribes of the Gaia Continent.
According to the four fluff balls, it was also known as the second-strongest.
For once, everything seemed to fall perfectly into place for him.
He had been ready to accept any tribe just to spend the night and complete his quest. He hadn't expected that the first one he stumbled upon would be one of the largest and strongest.
"I'm Xue," a calm voice said.
"Hello." Ziqian was about to extend his hand toward Xue, but the man beside him stopped him.
"No one's asking." Huo clasped Ziqian's soft hand and glared furiously at his brother. "Aren't you leaving?"
"No," Xue answered flatly.
Are the two of them in dispute? Ziqian asked the four fluff balls, who were roaming the tent, as he watched the twins with a puzzled look.
"Unlike other twins, they're not very close," Ero explained.
Why?
"Hmmm… we don't know, Ah-Zi. If you like, we can look into it," Gae offered, perched lazily on one of the crystals hanging from Lia's clothing.
No need. I'm just curious.
"You're not needed here," Huo snapped.
"Don't mind me," Xue replied coolly.
Observing the brothers, Ziqian mused that their names were almost too perfect: Xue, distant and cold as winter snow, and Huo, quick-tempered and blazing as fire. Whoever had named them clearly knew what they were doing.
"Ignore them, Ziqian," Lia said with a warm smile, already used to her sons' bickering. "Can you tell us what tribe you came from?"
Hearing his mother's question, Huo finally stopped arguing with Xue.
Ziqian had already discussed this with the four guardians. They advised him that, aside from hiding their existence, he could be honest about everything else.
Of course, he wasn't about to say that he had already died once and transmigrated here. That might make them think he was some god who could resurrect the dead. Unless absolutely necessary, he would never volunteer such a story—he would only answer what was asked.
"I don't have a tribe," he said calmly.
Lia frowned, and the three beasts looked at him in confusion.
Sub-beasts were rare. No tribe would ever reject one or cast one out—unless he had committed an unforgivable, heinous crime. Yet Ziqian didn't look like someone capable of such things.
"All I can remember is waking up in the middle of the forest," Ziqian continued as he recounted his day-long adventure before eventually finding his way to the tribe.
The family of four could hardly believe what they were hearing.
Is it really safe for a sub-beast to travel alone in the forest now?
"You didn't encounter any monsters?" Huo asked in disbelief.
"Yes," Ziqian replied with a nod. With the guardians' radar, it was possible to avoid monsters entirely—as long as he didn't want to encounter them.
"You mentioned earlier that you woke up in the middle of the forest. Can you tell us which part it was?" Lia asked. A sudden thought flashed through her mind.
Based on Ziqian's story, he might truly be the one they were searching for. Like everyone else in Gaia, Lia and Bei were looking for the person described in the oracle.
The oracle of the Beast God had proclaimed that they must welcome the one destined to bring both aid and great change to Gaia. To find and safeguard this chosen soul was not merely the responsibility of their tribe but the solemn duty of every being across the continent.
Ziqian tried to recall the direction he had come from, but after turning left and right countless times to avoid monsters, his memory was hazy.
"I'm sorry," he said hesitantly, "but all I can remember is that the place was full of plants and trees with heart-shaped leaves." He wasn't sure if that was useful at all.
"Other than the heart-shaped plants, did you see anything?" Lia pressed, exchanging a glance with the silent Bei.
"I got these fruits there." Ziqian pulled a small bunch of heart-shaped berries from his pocket. "I also saw giant flying monsters."
The heart-shaped plants—commonly known as love plants—were unique. They grew in only one place. Everyone in Gaia knew this.
A legend had been passed down through the generations of every tribe: the love story between the Beast God and the first sub-beast, after the creation of Gaia.
It was said that the Beast God had taken pity on the people of this world, surrounded as they were by vicious monsters. To help them defend themselves, he granted them the ability to transform into spirit animals. Yet this evolution weakened the females, and so the Beast God created a third gender.
The first sub-beast was said to be so beautiful that even the Beast God himself fell in love with him. Many believed it was for this reason that the Beast God chose to remain in Gaia. The place where he and his beloved had lived together for hundreds of years was now revered as the Hallowed Ground.
The Beast God had made all the leaves and fruits inside the Hallowed Ground heart-shaped—a symbol of his love for the first sub-beast. The giant flying monsters served as guardians of the sacred place, protecting it from intruders.
The small pile of berries Ziqian produced left the four in shock.
These were undeniably fruits from the Hallowed Ground.
"Did the guardians—the giant flying monsters—attack you?" Huo asked anxiously. He wanted to check if the sub-beast had suffered any injuries.
The Hallowed Ground was abundant with herbs, fruits, and docile monsters. Many had tried to hunt there, but the guardians would always attack before anyone could even set foot inside.
"No, they just flew above me," Ziqian answered.
Lia's heart stirred. This might truly prove that Ziqian was the one sent by the Beast God—the God's Messenger.
"You've traveled far. Huo, bring him to Xue's tent so he can rest," Lia said suddenly, his voice softening and his smile turning gentle.
"Oh." Ziqian was puzzled, but before he could respond, an angry voice cut in beside him.
"Why does he need to stay in Xue's tent? He can stay in mine!"
"Say that again once you've actually cleaned your tent!" Lia scolded, his gentle smile vanishing into a stern glare. "The last time I visited, your clothes were scattered everywhere."
"Mother! Please, stop it," Huo interrupted, his face burning with embarrassment when he noticed Ziqian covering his mouth, trying not to laugh.
"Don't laze around all day!" Lia snapped at Huo one last time before turning back to Ziqian, her gentle expression returning as if nothing had happened. "Rest for a while. We'll call you once the food is ready."
"Thank you," Ziqian said, bowing slightly to Bei and Lia before leaving with Huo.
The tent fell into silence.
After a few moments, Lia asked quietly, "What do you think?"
"I don't think he's lying," Bei replied simply.
"After visiting several tribes, I've never seen clothing like his. Unless… he came from the place beyond the fog," Xue said.
Lia nodded. Ziqian's clothes stood out—so different from the garments made of monster hide and fur. They looked both elegant and comfortable.
Bei picked up a fallen fruit, wiped it clean, and handed it to Lia.
Ziqian had wanted to share some of the heart-shaped berries. Sub-beasts were known to love fruit, and Lia was no exception. The sweet aroma made his mouth water, but he politely declined.
"The guardians didn't attack him, even after he gathered so many fruits," Lia murmured, studying the perfectly shaped fruit in his hand.
It was believed that everything in the Hallowed Ground had been dedicated to the first sub-beast and that coveting it was a grave sin. Those who tried were punished by the guardians' claws, torn apart before they could leave.
"Take care of him. Let him grow familiar with our tribe," Bei instructed Xue.
"Yes," Xue affirmed.
Before Xue left, Lia added, "Let him do as he wishes. Just make sure he is safe." If Ziqian was truly the one sent by the Beast God, they could not allow any harm to befall him.
Bei left soon after to speak with the elders, leaving Lia alone.
He glanced around the empty tent before slipping the fruit into his mouth. At once, a burst of sweetness and juice filled his palate. This was the first time he had ever tasted something so delicious.
As he savored the lingering flavor, Lia began pacing back and forth. He searched among the hides and furs, hoping to find something he could gift to Ziqian. Perhaps, by chance, he might also come across a few more fallen fruits along the way.