CHAPTER 33: CHAPTER 33: POOR HU YAN !!

Hu Yan reached the riverbank, his golden eyes scanning sharply. But no matter how he searched, Su Qinglan was nowhere to be found. His chest tightened. Where did she go?

Before he could move further, a loud voice boomed from behind.

"Oii! Hu Yan!"

He turned and suddenly half a dozen beastmen had surrounded him, grinning like foxes that found a chicken.

"We heard the news!" one shouted, slapping him on the back so hard his tall frame almost staggered.

Hu Yan frowned. "What news?"

Another leaned close with a wicked grin. "Don’t play dumb. You’ve mated with Su Qinglan, haven’t you? Our Hu Yan has already become her first beast husband!"

The group erupted in whistles and laughter.

Hu Yan’s ears burned red instantly. His face, usually calm as stone, was turning crimson. "Nonsense," he said stiffly, trying to push past them.

But they only followed, blocking his way.

"What’s it like, ah? Being pampered by a female?" one teased, wagging his brows.

"Did she make you cook? Or does she feed you with her own hands?" another added.

"Haha! Does she scratch your ears when you behave like a good mate?"

Hu Yan had already turned red to his ears, but the beastmen weren’t done with him yet.

One bold fellow leaned closer, whispering loudly enough for everyone to hear.

"Tell us honestly, Hu Yan, how does it feel? To be held by a female?"

Another chimed in, "En! Some of us have lived our entire lives without even touching a female’s hand. Meanwhile, you already being slept beside! Truly, the Heavens are unfair!"

"Yeah, yeah!" a third joined in, eyes wide with curiosity. "Do females smell different when they hug you?"

The whole group burst out in laughter, some even doubling over and clutching their stomachs. A few covered their faces like innocent cubs, but their eyes glittered with pure gossip.

Hu Yan’s neck flushed red, his jaw so tight it looked like it might crack. "Shut. Up."

But his stern voice only made things worse.

"Woahhh, he didn’t deny it!"

"Hahaha! Look at his face, that’s the face of a male who has definitely tasted the warmth of a female’s arms!"

"Ah, if only I were as lucky as Hu Yan..."

One particularly miserable beastman sighed deeply, staring at the river like it had betrayed him.

"All my life... I’ve never even had a female glance my way. Our tribe has so few females, and with my face.." he touched his wide face gloomily..."not even the old aunties want me."

Another nodded in despair, pointing at his own crooked teeth.

"Same here. My face is worse than wild boar. If I try to court a female, she might faint just from looking."

A third beastman, with scars across his cheek, let out a heavy sigh.

"We’re doomed from birth. Females want strong males with good looks... not us bad looking nobodies. But you, Hu Yan—tall, broad-shouldered, golden-eyed—you make them all fall. Even Su Qinglan, she still picked you first."

They all looked at him with a mixture of jealousy, admiration, and despair.

Hu Yan’s mouth twitched violently.

Before he could retort, another slapped his thigh and added with a dirty grin:

"So, tell us, when she holds you close... does her belly make a good pillow?"

"Pfft—!" The group exploded into roaring laughter.

Hu Yan’s fists clenched so tightly his knuckles cracked. His golden eyes swept over them like a predator ready to tear them apart.

But that only made them laugh harder.

"Ahh, our Hu Yan is so scary now! Truly protecting his female’s honor!"

"Envy! Too much envy! We’ll never know what it feels like..."

"Even if she is a evil female, it is still better than sleeping alone on cold stone, ahhh!"

The riverbank shook with their teasing, while poor Hu Yan felt like the ground couldn’t swallow him fast enough.

The laughter doubled. Hu Yan’s jaw clenched tighter with every word.

Among the teasing voices, a few mature beastmen spoke seriously.

"Hu Yan, even if Su Qinglan is... not the best female, she is still the tribe leader’s daughter. You should respect her. Don’t shame her name."

"Yes. And remember, offending a female is never wise. Their hearts are sharp, sharper than claws. Better to stay on her good side."

Hu Yan’s lips pressed into a thin line. His hands curled into fists at his side.

Then, another voice cut through, loud and careless.

"Actually, I never thought Su Qinglan was pretty before. Always fat, always dirty. But now—look at her! White face, tender skin... fat females are even more desirable. If she chose me, I’d accept her right away! Maybe I should persuade her a little, eh?"

The words weren’t even finished before Hu Yan’s fist shot out.

BANG!

The beastman flew back two steps, clutching his chest with a groan. Hu Yan’s golden eyes flashed cold as he growled, "Don’t you dare."

For a breath, silence.

Then — chaos.

"OHHH! Look at him! He’s already protecting her!"

"Fierce! Fierce husband!"

"Haha, truly bitten by a female’s love, ah!"

"Su Qinglan hasn’t even declared him openly, but our Hu Yan is already acting like a jealous mate!"

Hu Yan’s face was now scarlet. His ears twitched, his broad shoulders stiff. He tried to walk away, but every step he took, they followed, still teasing.

In the past, Su Qinglan had been a nightmare for the tribe. Dirty, smelly, swinging fists at anyone who came close. With beastmen’s sharp noses, being near her had felt like suffocating in rot. And her bad temper? No male wanted to be within a hundred steps.

But now—things were different.

They had seen her return from the cabe clean, her face pale and smooth, her body round but healthy. They had heard she cooked food so good even the picky fox followed her like a tail.

They had heard how she saved Han Jue when the witch doctor wasn’t there something admirable for any female.

Now, looking at her again, many beastmen had to admit: she wasn’t bad at all. In fact, with her strong, healthy body, she could probably give birth to many cubs.

"Truly, Hu Yan, your luck is strong!"

"Yes, yes! Who would have thought the dirtiest female in the tribe would turn into a desirable mate?"

Their laughter rang across the river, wild and unrestrained.

And poor Hu Yan?

His face was so red it could match the setting sun. He clenched his fists, glaring silently, but no matter what he did... the more serious he became, the more they laughed.