Chapter 99
"..." Zhao Qi paused. Wasn’t canceling the engagement something this person had suggested to him earlier?
Zhao Qi lowered his eyes and thought for a moment before suddenly realizing something. He gave Cheng Bai a helpless look and advised, "Although it’s a bit much for this young master to act intimately with another beastman right in front of you, his fiance, you don’t like him anyway. Be generous, turn a blind eye, and let it pass. Once you return to the city, just remove the title of fiance, and everyone will be happy."
"...What ‘everyone will be happy’?" Cheng Bai frowned and muttered, "You don’t understand at all."
"..." Zhao Qi was puzzled by his response. Just as he was about to speak, a soft voice came from the side.
"Cheng Bai."
Zhao Qi saw the beastman beside him, and the corners of his lips visibly lifted. His previously dull silver eyes now looked as if they had been washed clean, startlingly clear and bright.
He looked like someone who had just laid eyes on the person they cherished most—filled with surprise and joy.
This... Young Master Cheng...
A flicker of astonishment passed through Zhao Qi’s eyes before he saw the man stride forward to meet the other.
Over there, the young master who had left earlier with another man had turned back, holding a bundle of what looked like medicinal herbs in his hands. Seeing Cheng Bai approach, he handed them over.
"What’s this?" Cheng Bai looked down and saw rare herbs like Rui grass and Blood Lotus...
"These were gathered by Brother Heng. You take them first. The ingredients for the Qianjin Pill aren’t all collected yet, but once we have everything, we’ll definitely repay you."
"..." Cheng Bai’s fingers trembled, nearly dropping the herbs. "Little ger, what do you mean by this?"
"Returning the Qianjin Pill, of course."
The little ger said it so matter-of-factly, as if he were truly just repaying a debt.
But the underlying meaning was something no beastman could miss. When a ger starts refusing—or even actively returning—everything a beastman has given him, it means that ger is rejecting him...
Cheng Bai’s fingers curled slightly, and he stood frozen in place. As Wang Jin turned to leave after handing over the herbs, Cheng Bai finally snapped out of it. He grabbed Wang Jin and hurriedly stuffed the herbs back into his arms.
"What I gave you was a Qianjin Pill, and you’re returning a bunch of incomplete herbs? Little ger... since when has the world been this generous?"
His low, hoarse voice carried a tremble he himself didn’t notice. Though his words sounded like a complaint about the insufficient repayment, they also carried a fear—as if he dreaded the thought of Wang Jin actually returning everything in full.
After forcing the herbs back, he seemed afraid of hearing anything else from Wang Jin. Pulling Zhao Qi along, he quickly walked away. "I’ll take him to rest now."
"..." Wang Jin was silent.
"..." Zhao Qi, too, seemed stunned as he stared at the figure walking ahead of him.
Young Master Cheng was handsome, his delicate features as if painted stroke by stroke. His demeanor was aloof, and his tall, slender frame made him look like an immortal wherever he stood.
His personality, too, was as detached as an immortal’s...
Back in Ning’an City, this young master had won the hearts of countless gers with his good looks, his prowess in hunting and combat, his mastery of the arts, and his knowledge of medicine. He was one of the most sought-after bachelors in the city.
Gers who adored him were beyond counting, and many actively flirted with him. The city lord’s younger brother, Xi Yao, followed him around all day, calling him "Brother Bai" in a sweet, coquettish voice. That young master was timid around everyone else—except Cheng Bai, toward whom he was bold, straightforward, and passionately affectionate.
Any ordinary beastman would have melted at such attention, happily taking in such a soft and delicate ger. But this man was like Liu Xiahui—unmoved by any ger, including Xi Yao. Even with the city lord and his elder brother, the head of the martial hall, acting as matchmakers, his heart never wavered in the slightest.
[Liu Xiahui (柳下惠): a famous historical figure from ancient China known for his extraordinary self-control and moral integrity, particularly in resisting temptation. ]
Every time Zhao Qi had seen Young Master Cheng before, he always wore a faint, polite smile. But beneath that mask, his heart was colder than anything.
No one could warm it.
But now... Zhao Qi felt as if he was witnessing that mask shatter—crumbling into pieces and scattering on the ground.
That icy heart seemed to have gained the warmth of an ordinary man’s...
Come to think of it, this change hadn’t started just now. From the moment he entered the Danmu tribe, Young Master Cheng’s emotions had been more visible than ever before.
Perhaps it wasn’t that the old Cheng Bai had been skilled at hiding his feelings—but that the current him was finally living as a real, flesh-and-blood person.
And this change was all because of...
Zhao Qi glanced back, watching as Xi Yao’s petite figure disappeared around the corner...
"Cheng Bai..." Zhao Qi stopped in his tracks and called out seriously. The man ahead paused, and Zhao Qi walked up to him, frowning. "You... don’t tell me... you’ve fallen for the young master?"
"..." Cheng Bai’s fingers twitched, and his lips pressed together tightly—as if staying silent would keep his heart hidden.
Seeing this, Zhao Qi knew his guess was almost certainly correct.
He shook his head, his expression one of disbelief, and said haltingly, "You..."
"Are you... out of your mind?"
"?" Cheng Bai’s eyebrow twitched uncontrollably, and he shot Zhao Qi a dangerous look.
Zhao Qi waved a hand in explanation. "I genuinely don’t understand. Back when the young master was clinging to you, when he adored you, you didn’t want him. You made him believe he was supposed to marry your elder brother, breaking his heart. And that wasn’t enough—you even pushed your brother and the young master together... Now, when the young master has finally forgotten you and found another beastman, you’ve started developing feelings for him. Do you just enjoy stealing—"
Seeing Cheng Bai’s gaze grow even colder, Zhao Qi finally shut his mouth.
Cheng Bai clenched his fists. "I don’t have that kind of twisted preference... It’s just... he... he’s completely different from before. I..."
He didn’t finish, but Zhao Qi understood.
Recalling the young master’s behavior earlier, Zhao Qi had to admit he did seem different—though the extent of the change wasn’t entirely clear.
He was still the same clingy, delicate ger. The biggest difference was that the one he clung to had shifted from Cheng Bai to Yuan Heng.
Maybe Cheng Bai’s sudden feelings were making him see the young master in a new light.
"So, your plan is to marry him?" Zhao Qi asked.
Cheng Bai lowered his eyes, his long lashes veiling the thoughts in his silver pupils...
Zhao Qi pressed further. "From what you’ve said, the young master has lived as a husband with that ancient beastman... He might not love you as purely as he once did. Are you sure you really want to marry him?"
Cheng Bai’s grip tightened. When he raised his eyes, his gaze was resolute. "He was supposed to marry me from the start. I won’t cancel the engagement."
"..." The beastman’s firm tone was like a vow, so serious it demanded respect.
As his longtime friend, Zhao Qi knew Cheng Bai meant it. Sighing, he said, "If you’d realized this earlier, none of this mess would’ve happened."
Shaking his head, he added, "But since you’ve made your decision, as your friend, I’ll do what I can to help."
He then analyzed, "When I ran into Yuan Heng in the forest earlier, I saw how effortlessly he moved through the beast horde, fearless and formidable. After arriving at the Danmu tribe, just because I glanced at the young master a few times, he treated me with hostility. His feelings for the young master are genuine... And as a rare ancient beastman, if he truly treats the young master well, he’d be a good match. As long as the young master is willing, once we return to Ning’an City, if Yuan Heng puts in the effort to win over the city lord, he likely won’t oppose it too strongly—given how much he dotes on the young master."
He then laughed bitterly. "Originally, this would’ve been good news for you, since you wanted to cancel the engagement. But now that you don’t... things just got complicated."
"Yuan Heng will be your biggest rival," Zhao Qi said.
Cheng Bai pressed his lips together. "I know."
"And right now, the young master only clings to Yuan Heng. If he’s serious about him... you don’t stand a chance," Zhao Qi said, clicking his tongue.
"..." Cheng Bai’s expression darkened.
Zhao Qi thought for a moment before offering, "The good news is, the young master has only lost his memories—it’s not that he has no feelings for you. If he recovers his memories, his feelings for you might return. That’s your only opportunity."
"Mn. My expertise lies in healing wounds, not illnesses. I can’t figure out why the little sweetheart lost his memories. Once we’re back in Ning’an City, I’ll find him the best physician. He will remember," Cheng Bai said, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes—as if he could already see that future.
Zhao Qi nodded. "If the young master does regain his memories, you’d better apologize properly. Tell him you lied before—that the one he was supposed to marry was always you, not your brother. Otherwise, he’ll keep thinking he’s your brother’s fulang, suffering every day."
"..." Cheng Bai’s face burned with shame at his own past deception.
Zhao Qi chuckled. "At least there’s one good thing—he’s forgotten you, along with your lies. Now that he knows you’re engaged... even if Yuan Heng objects, you can use your status as his fiance to get closer. After all, you were officially betrothed to him by his elder brother. Use this time wisely. Treat him well, so when he remembers, he’ll forgive you faster."
"..." Cheng Bai’s throat tightened, rendering him speechless.
Zhao Qi frowned at his reaction. "What? Did I say something wrong?"
After a pause, realization dawned on him, and he asked in disbelief, "Don’t tell me... he still doesn’t know you’re the one he’s engaged to? He still thinks it’s your brother?"
Cheng Bai didn’t deny it.
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