CHAPTER 31: CHAPTER 28 TAI SENG WANTS TO BE HER GUARDIAN BEAST_1

"Find him a mother?"

Mu Xiao shook the small mermaid in the wooden bucket, who affectionately nuzzled him back.

"I mean, little female, a mermaid’s entire body is a treasure. If you take him home and let him cry a bit, the pearls that fall out will be worth a fortune," Mu Xiao said, his eyes shining as he watched the mermaid.

The little mermaid was so frightened that it quivered. Its chubby little face was entirely scrunched up.

Si Yan casually picked up a large leaf to block Mu Xiao’s view. She said nonchalantly, "Mu Xiao, put away those scary eyes."

Mu Xiao chuckled twice, straightened up, and asked Si Yan, "Are you really not considering keeping him?"

Si Yan looked at the tearful baby in the bucket, crouched down, and gently touched his little head. "He belongs to the sea."

Mu Xiao sighed. "All right then. But there’s no need to make it so troublesome. Just leave him here to wait for his parents. The mermaid’s parents will find him."

"Hmm."

Si Yan watched the small mermaid, who frolicked in the water before opening his arms towards Si Yan, his five chubby little fingers spread wide, his little face adorably plump and rosy.

"Mommy, mommy," his voice, so soft and babyish, was ridiculously cute.

Si Yan naturally couldn’t resist a cute baby, and her usually stoic face blushed slightly.

With her face slightly pink, Si Yan lowered her voice and softly teased him, "Little guy, I’m not your mommy. You need to stay here and wait for your mommy and daddy beast."

The little mermaid seemed to understand her words and immediately looked crestfallen.

His little fists clenched, he looked as if he was about to cry pitifully. "Mommy, mommy, no, I..."

Seeing this made Si Yan’s heart tighten, and she immediately turned her head away.

Seizing the moment, Mu Xiao petted the pitiful little mermaid’s head and suggested to Si Yan, "Shall we give him a name?"

A name holds significant meaning for Beastmen; in the White Eagle Clan, whoever gives the name can become the hawkling’s godmother or godfather.

A name?

Truth be told, she was terrible at naming. But she did have a ready-made name to borrow.

She remembered from *Beast World Seduction* she had read, the female lead’s chief husband was an exceptionally beautiful water-blue merman named—Lan Hai.

What a fitting name for this little mermaid.

Si Yan smiled faintly and crouched down to tap his little nose. "From today on, you’ll be called Lan Hai."

The merbaby really liked the name. After tumbling around in the bucket a few times, he slapped his tail and leapt towards the sea.

He created one beautiful arc after another on the sea surface, and before long, the little turtles on the ocean also began to stir.

Watching these beautiful scenes, Si Yan’s mood also lifted.

Little Lan Hai didn’t swim far, and before too long, he jumped back into her bucket.

By Si Yan’s feet, there were several clear water membranes, filled with snow-white powder.

Little Lan Hai excitedly pointed at the bags. "Mommy, mommy."

Si Yan, curious, lifted a water membrane and asked, "Little Lan Hai, is this for me?"

Little Lan Hai nodded vigorously.

Si Yan opened the water membrane and saw the fine powder—it was made of grains of salt crystals.

Si Yan tasted a bit and, with a slight contraction of her pupils, exclaimed, "It’s salt!!"

The merbaby happily did a few somersaults.

Mu Xiao said enviously, "Little Lan Hai, how come you didn’t give me any salt?"

The merbaby did a somersault and swam away.

Mu Xiao said jokingly, "Really playing favorites."

Mu Xiao sneakily glanced at Si Yan.

Si Yan turned her eyes. "What are you looking at?"

Mu Xiao raised his hands and scratched his head.

Si Yan put all the salt bags into another big wooden barrel. Seeing the little mermaid in the sea, who seemed to realize she was leaving and was unwilling to come ashore, she helplessly waved her hand.

She said to Mu Xiao, "I need to go back."

She was worried about the four cubs at home who lacked a sense of security. If she didn’t return soon, she figured there would be chaos at home.

"Don’t tell me again that you’re injured." Si Yan’s all-seeing eyes glared at Mu Xiao.

"How could I possibly lie to you? I was indeed injured before. But my recovery is fast because I heal quickly." Mu Xiao proudly patted the feathers on his shoulder, then shifted into his beast form, spreading his wings. "Come on, little female. I’ll take you back to the Yanxiang Tribe."

The little mermaid in the sea looked toward the shore at the male and female Beastman with renewed sorrow.

The pretty female had given him a name; she was his godmother now. But his godmother was leaving so soon!

He was going to be alone again, without a father beast or a mother.

As Si Yan flew through the air, the churning in her stomach became so intense that it made her want to vomit. She lay on Mu Xiao’s back, her complexion turning as pale as paper.

When the turbulence became too severe, she could only weakly clutch at Mu Xiao’s feathers. She thought to herself that she would rather be kicked in the head by a donkey than choose a hawk to be her Beast Husband.

She was simply not cut out for flying...

Why did she have the foolish idea to fly back? She should have built a boat.

「 」

In a secluded cave of the Yanxiang Tribe, the atmosphere was tense.

The mother of four cubs, Si Yan, had disappeared for a day and a night. After some inquiries, it seemed the tribe’s warrior, Tai Seng, had only just returned as well.

When the cubs found Tai Seng, he wore a face full of apologies.

Only then did the cubs confirm that their mother might indeed have encountered trouble.

Bei Ji, infuriated, stomped his foot in the cave. "It’s all your fault, all of you! You only remember Mother’s bad side; don’t you see she’s changed for the better now? I finally had a mother, and now she’s gone! She’s gone again!"

Xi Qing grabbed Bei Ji to comfort him. "Bei Ji, it’s okay."

Dongchi, with a cold expression, said, "Could that female really die out there? She’s too tough to die."

Hearing this, Bei Ji wanted to go and argue with Dongchi.

「In the cave of the Yanxiang Tribe’s village chief.」

Tai Seng looked a bit pale.

Under his protection, Si Yan had actually been taken away by a stupid bird.

Tai Seng felt very guilty.

"Uncle, I’ve decided, regardless of whether Si Yan agrees or not, I will be her Guardian Beast."

The village chief vehemently said, "No!!"

In the Beast World, in addition to forming mate contracts, one could also form guardian contracts.

Entering into a mate contract is already quite unfair to males, but forming a guardian contract is even more unfair than forming a mate contract.

After voluntarily entering into a guardian contract with a female, he will only be the Mistress’s Guardian Beast, ranked below the Mistress and her Beast Husband. He may not enter the cave without being called, nor dine together without permission.

Even more so, he could only stealthily go out hunting for food, not causing any trouble or burden to the Mistress. He had no right to confide in the Mistress, let alone the right to mate with her.

Generally, only males that were truly undesirable would offer themselves as Guardian Beasts to the Mistress for the slim chance of gaining her favor.

But Tai Seng was different.

Tai Seng was the first warrior of the Yanxiang Tribe, one who had activated his Special Ability. He was a once-in-five-hundred-years genius of the tribe!

Even being a Zheng Xiong for a female would be more than enough for him, and he would be highly sought after. And now, he was proposing to become a Guardian Beast for a skinny and unhealthy female?!

The village chief, exasperated by Tai Seng’s lack of ambition, said angrily, "Tai Seng, look at your own strength! You’re the strongest warrior in the village. Why would you stoop so low as to become a Guardian Beast to a female?"

Tai Seng raised his head. His Wolf Clan bloodline naturally predisposed him to tenacity in matters of loyalty.

"Uncle, I like her, I really do."