CHAPTER 71: CHAPTER 64: THE MASK FOR XI QING_1

The outcome of this conversation was clearly not to Ming Yan’s liking.

In the cave, amidst the darkness of the night, the firelight flickered.

His dark eyes pierced the gloom, staring at the female Beastman before him as if trying to see right through her.

She was forging a metal he didn’t recognize, sitting there, watching the firelight dance across her face.

"Si Yan," the male slowly spoke again, breaking the silence of the night, "curious about the two scars on my face?"

She looked towards Ming Yan, beads of sweat shimmering on her brow. She nodded. "I am."

Si Yan’s lips curved slightly. "Are you ready to talk about it now?"

Ming Yan said slowly, "In the Beast World, females are not only protected by males but also by the Beast God."

"Beast God?" Si Yan was a bit puzzled. Could this term be more than just a belief? Does this world actually have gods?

Ming Yan’s rough fingers touched the hideous scars on his face as he continued, "Although the Beast God has departed, the protection for females remained. These two scars are because I killed two females."

Si Yan was shocked. "You killed two females?"

Ming Yan chuckled lightly. "Yes. I killed my mother and my older sister."

The male stared at her intently, not missing the slightest flicker of her reaction or expression.

"Won’t you ask me why I killed them?" Ming Yan suddenly asked.

Si Yan didn’t quite know how to react. In the end, she shook her head. "Don’t dwell on it. There’s no need to revisit painful memories."

Ming Yan’s eyes flickered, a self-mocking smile touching his lips. So my past is too vile for her to even hear about?

Si Yan sensed his distress. "Ming Yan?"

The tall male stood up. "I’m leaving. Prepare yourself. Tomorrow we set off for Dark Sun Lake."

Si Yan nodded. "Alright."

The Black Tiger Beastman stood at the highest point in the city, gazing at the distant, cold, and immense moon.

His expression was frigid, devoid of warmth.

His hand clutched a tree trunk, which shattered under the sheer force of his grip.

In the Beast World, there are White Tigers and Yellow Tigers, but there are no Black Tigers.

The day he was born, the heavens and earth suddenly darkened. Yet, White Tiger City erupted in joyous celebration!

His father beast held him high for all the city to see.

He was a Black Tiger cub—a symbol of the Beast God!

Initially, everything was beautiful.

But after the day his father beast fell in battle, he noticed things had changed.

His once-gentle mother became paranoid.

She hated his father beast, yet his father was dead.

And because he looked so much like his father, his mother made him stand naked in a corner, subjecting him to insults and humiliation.

Not a single male dared to step forward to help him.

He, it seemed, grew accustomed to being the target of his mother’s emotional outbursts and wanton humiliation.

Everything had changed.

He even grew to hate his parents for weaving such a beautiful dream for him, and he hated his mother even more for shattering that dream with her own hands.

He had endured it all.

But finally, his mother looked at him with eyes that saw him as a lowly creature and said, "Ming Yan, you filthy, vile, debased thing. And you actually managed to become a Red Crystal Beastman. How about this? I’ll pair you with your own dear older sister. She will take good care of you."

In that instant, Ming Yan fell into complete despair.

He understood all too well. His mother only valued his abilities and didn’t want him to leave her household. She despised and loathed him, yet she wanted to exploit him completely.

These two, his closest blood relatives, were using every despicable method to possess him!

What followed was almost inevitable.

He killed them.

He killed his mother and his older sister.

And he freed himself from that horrific family.

Those who kill females are punished by lightning.

He remembered that day, seeing purple lightning fall from the sky; he thought he would die.

But he survived the lightning’s judgment.

...

On the stone bed, Hu Yong, his body covered in wounds, woke up.

His awakening meant he was past the critical period. His injuries, though numerous, weren’t life-threatening. He sat up and saw the tall figure on the stone cliff outside the cave.

He shook his head sadly. Life is truly hard for our Lord.

"Lord Hu Yong!" Hu Que immediately supported him.

Hu Yong swayed slightly, his gaze still fixed on Ming Yan.

At such a young age, he had lost both parents, his hands were stained with the blood of his closest kin, and his face was forever marked. That mark had transformed the once most handsome male in White Tiger City into the ugliest. He fled the pursuit of White Tiger City, enduring countless hardships before finally establishing himself. And he had established himself solely to survive.

Hu Yong knew everything about Ming Yan; he was Ming Yan’s paternal uncle.

He had watched this newly adult Black Tiger struggle, slowly find his resolve, found Black Tiger City, and carve out his own territory.

But he also believed that the scars of the past still scarred him deeply, never truly fading.

I’ve always thought that if a female could truly love our Lord, perhaps he could break free from his fear and reservations towards females. But he probably won’t ever like females again. They are so fickle and so terrifying.

The young Ming Yan had witnessed so many females resorting to any means necessary to win over males. He had experienced it firsthand, leading him to detest and fear females.

His purpose in growing into a powerful male was singular: freedom.

...

Si Yan was still working on the piece of silver.

When the flame died down, Si Yan picked up the beautiful mask she had crafted and examined it repeatedly, making sure it had no flaws.

At that moment, Hu Li called from outside, "Teacher Si Yan, we are setting off for Dark Sun Lake today. Please prepare."

Si Yan came out and saw the brawny Hu Li.

Seeing Si Yan, Hu Li awkwardly lowered his head, then pulled out the meat he had behind him and passed it over. "Teacher Si Yan, this is food for the road."

Si Yan accepted the meat. "Thank you," she said.

"No need for thanks," Hu Li said. "It’s from the city’s distribution."

After speaking, the brawny male hurriedly left.

Back in the cave, Si Yan was packing her things.

"Are we leaving now?" young Bei Ji asked.

Si Yan patted Bei Ji’s head and said, "We can’t wait for Flaming Sun Day. The river is drying up, and with the insect disaster, nearby food sources have dwindled significantly. We really need to migrate now."

The three cubs all nodded in agreement.

Then, Si Yan crouched down to look at Xi Qing. Her direct gaze made his face turn red.

Si Yan said, "Xi Qing, wait a second."

She took out the silver mask she had worked on all night. "Xi Qing," she smiled, "give me a couple of strands of your hair."

Xi Qing was slightly stunned. He knew Si Yan had been working on something all night, but he didn’t know what it was.

He was confused but still gave Si Yan a few strands of his hair.

Si Yan threaded the hair through the mask, checked it, comparing it briefly. It was perfect.

As she did so, Xi Qing slowly realized what the object was.

His pupils widened; he was so shocked and moved he couldn’t speak.

Dongchi and Bei Ji also looked at Xi Qing, their faces slowly breaking into smiles.

Si Yan brushed aside the hair covering Xi Qing’s cheek, then gently and tenderly placed the mask on him. She smiled slightly. "Very handsome. Dongchi, Bei Ji, don’t you think he looks handsome?"

Bei Ji laughed foolishly. "Third Brother looks good."

Dongchi’s lips curved slightly. "Not bad."

Xi Qing was still dazed. Si Yan pulled him in front of a water basin and asked sweetly, "Xi Qing, have a look for yourself. Do you like it?"

Xi Qing looked at his reflection in the water.

Si Yan had pulled his green hair back. One half of his face was exposed, while the other was covered by the exquisite mask she had spent all night crafting.

An immense warmth spread through Xi Qing’s heart.

Suddenly, he turned and flung himself into Si Yan’s arms, sobbing, "Mother, I like it! I really like it!"