CHAPTER 281: CHAPTER 272: OLD FOURTH, YOU’RE PREGNANT?_1

"One... one to three Beast Era Years?!!!"

Not only was Tai Seng shocked, but all the surrounding Beastmen were astonished as well.

The gray parrot abandoned its own work and rushed over.

Many weaker Beastmen desperately squeezed toward the front.

The weaker Beastmen’s faces turned red, their hearts thumping wildly.

"One to three Beast Era Years! Si Yan the Wise said it’s one to three Beast Era Years!!!"

"Red Earth Fruit! Red Earth Fruit is easy to find! As long as we get enough Red Earth Fruit and turn them all into dried noodle strips, we won’t have to worry about food in the winter!!"

"Weaker Beastmen... we weaker Beastmen are saved!!"

The weaker Beastmen were ecstatic, staring eagerly in Si Yan’s direction as if they were looking at a savior!

Weaker Beastmen were not like the stronger ones. Being feeble, they always depended on the stronger Beastmen and received less food and land in comparison.

Their lives were extremely tough. During the barren winters, when they had to go out and forage for food across the wilderness, they were easily attacked and killed by hungry wild beasts.

They couldn’t defeat the wild beasts; they were weaker Beastmen, after all.

But if they had food they could stockpile for winter, they wouldn’t have to risk their lives going up the mountains, and the females and cubs of the tribe wouldn’t have to starve to death!

Moreover, sweet potatoes, firewood, stones, and water—these were all easily obtainable materials!

The gray parrot asked excitedly, "Wise Si Yan, can these dried noodle strips really be preserved for that long?"

Si Yan nodded. "Yes, I’m very sure."

Noodle strips, dried noodle strips—I often ate these in my past life.

"Once they’re turned into dried noodle strips, when it’s time to eat, just boil water and cook the noodle strips in it until they soften. Then they’ll be edible," Si Yan explained.

The weaker Beastmen collectively buzzed with excitement, whispering among themselves and even mentally replaying the entire process Si Yan used to make the noodle strips.

Dried noodle strips with a shelf life of one to three Beast Era Years—this was truly a thrilling food for the weaker Beastmen!

"Wise Si Yan... Si Yan must be more than just a wise person; she’s the Beast God’s messenger!!!"

"Wise Si Yan, we thank you! Wise Si Yan, may the Beast God above bless us! Thank you, Beast God!!"

Si Yan said with a smile, "Don’t rush. My noodle strips aren’t even dried yet."

「On the other side」

Jin Yang, whom Jin Yao had been stuffing with food all night, really felt like his stomach was going to burst.

His eight-pack abs were stretched taut, presenting a comical sight at the competition.

Jin Yao had a big belly, and Jin Yang did too. The two of them arrived late, only to find everyone inexplicably excited.

Jin Yang asked a nearby Beastman, "What happened?"

A member of the Golden Dragon Clan, not daring to offend Jin Yao, carefully phrased his response, "Si Yan’s food is almost ready, so everyone’s a bit excited."

Jin Yang nodded.

It was the sixth day already. Not only was Si Yan’s food almost ready, but their cured meat was also taking shape.

Jin Yao nudged Jin Yang anxiously.

Remembering what he had to do, Jin Yang felt a bit uneasy, but he clenched his teeth and walked over to Si Yan.

Having finished her work, Si Yan looked up to see Jin Yang and Jin Yao approaching.

She was somewhat puzzled. What are they up to?

Jin Tong glanced back. He actually shared Si Yan’s sentiment, believing the earlier incident must have been Jin Yao’s doing.

I originally thought that with me gone, Jin Yao would lack someone to frame, Jin Tong mused. This time, she probably had to get Old Fourth to take the blame for her.

But the moment he saw Jin Yang’s belly, Jin Tong lost his composure!

"Fourth, have you freaking gotten pregnant?! Whose is it?!"

Jin Yang’s face immediately turned green. "Jin Tong, if you don’t know how to speak, then shut up!"

"But... this..." Jin Tong couldn’t help himself. He put down what he was doing and ran over, circling Jin Yang.

"I didn’t know males could give birth to cubs! Geez, if males could give birth, they wouldn’t have to live so constrained! They could raise their own offspring, not be controlled by females—how great would that be?!"

"Fourth, awesome! You’re truly awesome!"

Jin Yang’s face grew greener by the minute. Worried the surrounding Beastmen would misunderstand, he hurriedly said, "Jin Tong, this isn’t pregnancy! I’ve been poisoned!"

"Poisoned? What poison?" Jin Tong was extremely curious.

Besides green, a tinge of embarrassed red colored Jin Yang’s face. "Let’s talk alone."

Jin Tong crossed his arms. "Talk alone? No way. I’m not accepting that. You’d better speak up now, or we can talk after the contests are all over. Otherwise, I’m worried you two will try to frame us!"

"Frame me? My ass!" Jin Yang retorted angrily.

Jin Tong crossed his arms arrogantly, looking at him.

The corners of Jin Yang’s mouth twitched fiercely.

Jin Tong didn’t trust him. Fine, Fifth has really grown his wings, Jin Yang thought.

However... wait until after all the contests are over? My stomach has been stuffed once; it’ll go down in a couple of days. But Jin Yao... can she wait until after all the contests are over?

As expected, Jin Yao’s face had already turned green.

Her stomach hurt so much it felt like it was going to explode. She couldn’t wait until all the contests were over, let alone until this afternoon.

She tugged at Jin Yang’s clothes, looking at him with pleading eyes. "Fourth Brother, I can’t wait! It hurts so much."

"But now... right here in front of everyone, you want me to take the blame for you in public?"

"Fourth Brother..." Jin Yao couldn’t bear it any longer. "I’m begging you, please."

"Jin Yao! Hold on! Hold on until this afternoon. Si Yan always leaves in the afternoon or at night. We can see her alone then."

"Fourth Brother..." Jin Yao started crying. "My stomach hurts so much, it really, really hurts! I can’t bear it, I just can’t..."

They had the Witch Doctors examine them last night, but the Witch Doctors couldn’t cure this poison. Jin Yao herself was even less able to.

In fact, the more remedies they tried, the more her stomach swelled.

Jin Yao had never suffered much since childhood, so the pain in her stomach was now unbearable.

She was truly wailing in pain.

Jin Yang’s expression grew increasingly grim.

After a while, he gritted his teeth.

"I..." He looked towards Jin Tong, his voice suddenly dropping to a whisper, quieter than a mosquito’s buzz. "I messed with Si Yan’s work and got poisoned by her."

"What?" Jin Tong exclaimed. "You can’t even speak clearly now that you’re ’pregnant’?"

Jin Yang’s face became a kaleidoscope of colors. "Jin Tong, I messed with Si Yan’s stuff and got poisoned by her! Now I can only eat but can’t shit! My stomach’s about to explode!!"

Jin Tong shouted, "Oh, Fourth! So after all this, your stomach’s filled with shit!"

Jin Yang’s face grew even greener.

Jin Tong looked at Jin Yang with his big belly, then at Jin Yao with hers.

So Jin Yang really did play the idiot and take the blame for Jin Yao, Jin Tong mused. Seriously... Still the same old formula, still the same old taste.

Si Yan walked over and looked at Jin Yang. "Pregnant?"

Jin Yang’s face instantly turned an even deeper shade of green. "No."

Then, Si Yan turned to Jin Yao. "You’re pregnant too?! Your belly looks even bigger than mine."

Jin Yao mentally cursed Si Yan hundreds of times, then said softly and pitifully, "No, I’m not! Si Yan, can we talk alone?"

Si Yan tsked internally. I actually thought Jin Yao could last until the contests were over. Turns out she couldn’t.

"Sorry, no can do," Si Yan said with a smile. "Given our relationship, it’s better we talk under everyone’s watchful eyes. Otherwise, I’m also worried you’ll try to harm me."

After speaking, Si Yan asked with a smile that stung, "What was Jin the Fourth Fool saying just now? That he meddled with my creation and was poisoned by me? What poison did you contract?"