CHAPTER 35: CHAPTER 35: HAN JUE’S LOSING BATTLE

Su Qinglan was frozen stiff under the man’s gaze.

Damn. Where had this handsome beast popped out from?

Her heart thudded like a drum.

Was she really this astray in the beast world...drooling over every man that crossed her path? No, no! It wasn’t her fault. She was innocent! The real problem was these beastmen. They were all too beautiful, too tall, too dangerous-looking, and too hard to ignore.

What could she do? She was just a maiden... a maiden easily swayed by handsome faces.

Her eyes blinked, trying not to stare too much at his icy blue eyes that looked like frozen lakes.

But then, his expression changed.

Just a second ago, he had looked at her with calmness, even with a hint of gentleness. But suddenly, it twisted. His face scrunched up like he had just swallowed a fat fly.

"...???"

Su Qinglan’s mind went blank.

What was with that expression? Why did he look like he was disgusted by her?

She stiffly touched her own cheek. Droplets of water clung to her skin. Her round face still looked the same, right? No dirt, no mud. She had just bathed!

When he came, his voice had been low, calm, and even polite. And now... this?

Was he disgusted by her face?

Her heart sank a little, and she poked her own cheek with her finger. "Still round, but not that bad..." she muttered under her breath.

But wait.

The more she looked at him, the more his face poked at her memory.

Those sharp icy blue eyes... that aura colder than winter...

Her mind flipped through the messy memories left behind by the original owner.

And then it hit her.

Her stomach dropped.

This wasn’t just some random beastman.

This was one of those men.

The kind the original Su Qinglan had shamelessly pestered, clinging to his leg, begging him to be her mate and beast husband.

And what did he do back then?

He didn’t budge an inch. He was ruthless. He didn’t care if she was a female. If she provoked him, he treated her like any other male...merciless in his actions. There had even been times when he beat her without blinking.

He doesn’t even fear the Beast God, let alone the tribe leader. If someone pesters him, they’d better be ready to get beaten.

Su Qinglan’s shoulders stiffened. Her whole body shuddered.

Of all people, why did it have to be him?

And why was he asking where she came from? Was he here to settle scores? Was he planning to beat her into the ground for past grudges?

Her throat went dry. Still, she forced herself to answer, her voice timid and soft.

"I... I am from the fox tribe..."

The man’s icy eyes flickered, and he grumbled under his breath.

"I knew."

Su Qinglan blinked at him, dumbfounded.

... If he knew, then why the hell did he ask?!

Was this beastman testing her patience? Or just enjoying scaring her half to death?

She bit her lip, glaring at him in her heart.

Sure enough, handsome men really were all dangerous.

On the other hand, Han Jue was wondering if he had completely gone nuts.

Why... why was he finding this evil female’s humming pleasant?

What was wrong with him? Since when did her voice sound nice to his ears? And what was with that stupid thought of wanting to get closer?

His jaw tightened. He must have really lost it.

He, Han Jue...the most cold-hearted wolf in the tribe swayed by her voice? No, impossible!

But then his gaze landed on her face.

Her round cheeks were flushed from scrubbing hides, her lips rosy, and her eyes sparkling under the sunlight.

Han Jue stiffened. His heartbeat skipped, and strange thoughts started bubbling up in his mind.

No. No, no, no!

How could he even think something like this?

That evil female? The one who used to chase him around like a shameless leech? He should despise her!

He scowled, shaking his head.

Yes. This must be another one of her tricks. She had to be using her vixen ability, trying to seduce him.

But then... why now?

In the past, her so-called charms had never affected him. He had ignored her completely, even beaten her when she crossed the line. So why, all of a sudden, was her voice swaying him? Why was the urge to... mate, of all things, crawling into his head?

Disgust curled in his chest...not at her, but at himself.

"Hmph," he growled inwardly. "I would never mate in this life. And definitely not with this evil female."

Just as he was about to lift his foot and run straight back into the forest, a sudden sharp screech ripped through the air.

Han Jue’s icy eyes snapped toward the sound.

Two disgusting beasts moved at the edge of the trees. Their twisted forms headed straight toward them, their eyes filled with hunger as they looked at her.

His face darkened.

Evil ferocious beasts.

Han Jue’s blood boiled as he looked at their greedy gaze. Females were their favorite prey.

He turned his head to look at her.

And what did he see?

The female was just... standing there. Staring wide-eyed at them without any expression. She was not even screaming, let alone running.

His jaw dropped slightly.

What was wrong with her? Any normal female would have already been screeching her lungs out, calling the whole tribe. Has she gone silly with fright?

But he had no time to waste.

In a blink, his body shifted into his powerful wolf form. Soft white fur gleaming in the sunlight as he lunged at the first beast.

The ferocious creature snarled and tried to fight back, but against him it was useless. With one crushing move, he tore it open in a bloody move; blood splattered everywhere, but he didn’t even flinch.

Han Jue landed firmly on the ground, chest rising with pride. He turned his head, already imagining her terrified face, her grateful gaze, maybe even awe...

But what he saw nearly made him stumble.

That round female...

Instead of running away, instead of crying for help...

She was charging head-first toward the second ferocious beast!

"What the hell?!" Han Jue’s brain blanked.

Did she lose her mind completely?