CHAPTER 44: CHAPTER 39: THE BEAUTIFUL FEMALE IS EVEN MORE PRECIOUS_1

Just like Si Yan, many beastmen were braving the rain to climb the mountain.

The rain washed over her delicate cheeks. The traces of mud and mascara that had stained her face couldn’t withstand the constant washing, revealing her beautiful, fair complexion.

Young Dongchi hugged Si Yan, experiencing for the first time how beautiful his mother truly was.

Xi Qing and Bei Ji also noticed Si Yan’s appearance. It was rare for them to see Si Yan without any disguise. They remained silent and tranquil, occasionally stealing glances to admire their mother’s beauty.

"Si Yan?"

The surprised call of a male voice from behind made Si Yan turn. In the not-so-distant rain, a grey wolf beastman was staring at her with shining eyes.

Si Yan recognized the male before her: Lang Feng, the first male beastman she had seen after her rebirth in this world.

Dongchi, his hands cold and muddy, smeared mud onto Si Yan’s face.

Si Yan, already stiff from the cold, felt an extra chill from the mud he had smeared on her. She looked at Dongchi, puzzled.

The look on Dongchi’s face was terrible. His eyes had narrowed into dangerous vertical pupils, his cold gaze fixed on Lang Feng, as if warning the male in the distance.

Not only that, but the way Xi Qing and Bei Ji looked at Lang Feng also changed.

This series of changes left Si Yan slightly stunned. Is Lang Feng a bad male? she keenly wondered. Is that why my cubs are suddenly so alert?

At this moment, Si Yan had no idea how dangerous it was for a mateless male to see her beautiful face, glistening with rain.

In human society on Earth, women in ancient times indeed had to dirty their faces to protect themselves. However, after cultural shifts, women had long since gained the freedom to present their appearance as they wished.

Women beautify themselves for their own pleasure. This had been the consensus among women for many years, ever since they gained the ability to protect themselves.

But the social rules in the Beast World were different. Males outnumbered females, so even a female like Xiong Rou attracted pursuit from males. Beautiful females were considered even more precious treasures.

To obtain a female, to be able to procreate, what did it matter if it cost them their lives?!

A flicker of annoyance flashed in Dongchi’s eyes. He had long noticed that the rain had washed his mother’s face clean. But for some reason, he had greedily savored the sight of his mother’s true face, just for that brief moment, so much so that other males had now seen her true face.

Noticing his intentions exposed, Lang Feng quickly retracted his gaze. He tried to appear as harmless and amiable as possible.

"Si Yan, you’re all climbing the mountain too?" he greeted.

Si Yan tightly gripped her cubs’ hands, her expression alert. She replied, keeping her expression neutral, "The rain is too heavy; our cave got flooded."

Lang Feng chuckled. "Don’t worry, this is only temporary. The rain will stop by tomorrow."

"Why do you say that?" Si Yan asked.

Lang Feng replied, "The Village Chief just sent a message. The Grand Priest in Myriad Beasts City has made an announcement: the Day of Blazing Flame is coming. This heavy rain is just a deceptive lull before the Day of Blazing Flame. The Grand Priest’s prophecies have never been wrong."

Dongchi’s pupils quivered slightly. The Day of Blazing Flame! The Day of Blazing Flame was truly coming!

He gripped Si Yan’s hand a little tighter.

Lang Feng looked towards the base of the mountain and said, "The Village Chief is trying to store water, but it’s actually useless."

Si Yan comfortingly squeezed her three cubs’ hands and said to Lang Feng, "We’ll head up the mountain first."

Lang Feng quickly said, "I’ll go with you."

Si Yan created more distance between them and replied, "Thanks, but there’s no need."

Si Yan led her three cubs up the mountain. Lang Feng watched the silhouette of the family of four, the greed in his eyes gradually becoming undisguised. No wonder Tai Seng liked her. She really is a beautiful female. She doesn’t have a second male yet, and her reproductive ability is strong. Whatever it takes, as long as I can have a litter of cubs with her, I’d willingly die!

After Si Yan moved further away, Dongchi’s cold voice sounded beside her ear, "He’s not a good beast."

Despite his chilly tone, Si Yan could sense the concern beneath it. "Don’t worry," she said, "I won’t bother with him."

Dongchi was slightly taken aback, then immediately turned his head away. "Don’t get me wrong. I’m not concerned about you."

Hearing this, Si Yan chuckled. "Yes, yes, I know."

Dongchi, hearing her teasing tone, felt a bit angry and was about to argue. But when he turned back and saw her face, which he had smeared with muddy water, he somehow forgot his anger.

In the end, he turned his head away again.

No one knew if the rain would stop tomorrow, but it continued to pour heavily throughout the day.

Si Yan found shelter under a massive overhanging rock. The ground beneath it was higher up and not too damp.

She took the grass mats the cubs were wearing, hung them under the rock to block the splashing rainwater, and luckily found a few relatively dry pieces of wood nearby.

She lit the wood with a lighter, and the cubs took off their beast-skin skirts to dry them beside the fire.

For a moment, the atmosphere became unexpectedly cozy.

Ultimately, it was Si Yan who broke the comfortable silence.

She asked softly, "What will happen during the Day of Blazing Flame?"

"People will die," Dongchi said coldly.

Xi Qing gently stirred the fire and spoke softly, "They’ll die of heat, die of thirst."

Bei Ji added, "Legend says that the Day of Blazing Flame is when the sun god is angry; it’s a day of disaster."

As the three cubs spoke one after another, the warmth of the moment vanished, leaving only the fear of death and a pressing sense of urgency.

Si Yan laughed. "Is it that terrifying?"

Dongchi shot Si Yan a chilly glance. "Females die the quickest."

Si Yan patted his head. "Can’t you wish something good for me for once?"

Dongchi touched his head and then fell silent again.

Xi Qing said, "I heard that during the Day of Blazing Flame, the heat can cook an egg very quickly. That kind of temperature is almost enough to wipe out bird species."

"I heard cooked eggs taste quite good," Bei Ji looked up and said.

Xi Qing looked at Bei Ji. "Our skin will also be roasted hot; we won’t be able to stay in the caves."

"Water will quickly evaporate; there will be none to drink," Dongchi said. "Females will start complaining quickly. They’re too delicate to withstand the sun’s wrath and will certainly be the first to die."

"You really seem to be looking forward to my death," Si Yan said with a smile.

Dongchi gave a soft snort. Even though it was pouring rain, she had taken him with her. But the Day of Blazing Flame... that was a true life-or-death situation. His mobility was impaired; he was a burden to her. She would definitely, definitely, *definitely* abandon him!

"How long will the Day of Blazing Flame last? Is there any way to avoid it?" Si Yan asked.

Dongchi answered, "I heard the last Day of Blazing Flame lasted a month."

"A month..." Si Yan mumbled. "Indeed, that is a bit long."

Dongchi continued, "When the Day of Blazing Flame arrives, all the water on the ground will dry up, except for Dark Sun Lake... It’s a natural underground lake, surrounded by lush vegetation. Even when the Day of Blazing Flame comes, the water there won’t completely dry up. It’s the only place to take refuge."

Si Yan perked up upon hearing this.

Dongchi added, "But..."