Yuan Heng's gaze grew distant, his thoughts seemingly returning to those years.
"My a-die was in poor health. He didn't last many years and passed away. Beastmen are devoted. After A-die died, Father never considered finding another ger. He was constantly depressed and sorrowful, and before I even reached adulthood, he followed A-die..."
Yuan Heng paused. "The tribe was already feeling empty, but after Father and A-die were gone, it became even emptier. I slept in different houses every day, from one end to the other. I could sleep for a year and there would still be houses I hadn't slept in."
"..." Wang Jin listened silently to Yuan Heng's account, as if truly seeing a little beastman, lonely, changing houses to sleep in within the empty tribe.
His heart ached with sorrow. Then he heard Yuan Heng continue: "To be honest, it wasn't that I never considered finding a solution. But by the time I was old enough to comprehend things, our tribe had dwindled to only my family. Father explained that our ancestors had tried every conceivable method, yet nothing had succeeded."
"At first, the entire tribe's fertility rate declined. Newborns decreased, especially ger. Ancient beast tribe beastmen rarely formed bonds with other races, they usually sought mates within their own tribe. With fewer ger, many beastmen remained alone their entire lives. Gradually, those beastmen grew old and passed away. The tribe's population dwindled more and more, until finally only one branch remained."
"According to father, when he was born, the tribe still had quite a few people, but mostly elders. Grandfather had father late in life. The declining fertility rate made every newborn in the tribe a celebrated event... Often, a family would pray for a lifetime and not be granted a child. When father was born, the entire tribe celebrated for a whole year. But later, those who celebrated grew old and died. By the time I was born, only a few were left. I heard they celebrated then too, but it wasn't lively, and didn't last long. After that... there truly was no one left..."
"Brother Heng..." The man had never mentioned these things before. Now, these images were like breaking a dusty seal, pouring into Wang Jin's mind with the man's low voice.
Wang Jin's eyes stung. Just hearing it, he could feel the sorrow and despair of an entire tribe. He reached out and embraced the beastman who had been destined for loneliness from birth.
Yuan Heng buried his face in Wang Jin's embrace, his voice unusually muffled: "Before he died, Father told me I was the last child of the Winged White Tiger Tribe, likely the last bloodline. I would most probably never have a child in my lifetime. Father also told me the ancient beast tribe only bonds with ger of their own race. I would not only never have my own child, but also never have a ger to bond with."
Yuan Heng's voice suddenly rose a bit, like someone who had been in a dark abyss finally seeing a crack of sunlight from above: "I really want to tell father he was wrong. He was completely wrong."
"..." This was the first time Wang Jin heard the man speak so much.
Yuan Heng loosened his hold, his gaze lingering tenderly on Wang Jin. "Not only do I have a child, but most importantly, I found an exceptionally good ger. Better than any other ger in the world, even better than A-die."
"!" Wang Jin's heart uncontrollably raced. The man's sweet talk was truly deadly.
"The ger of my Xi family is naturally the best." A male voice came from the doorway. Immediately after, Xi Ning pushed the door open and entered, followed closely by Uncle Shan.
"Brother." Wang Jin called out sweetly to Xi Ning.
Xi Ning walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. "Yao'er, do you feel unwell since waking up?"
Wang Jin shook his head. "Aside from feeling somewhat weak, everything is fine."
"That's how pregnancy is. You must rest well. The child in your belly now is not only the hope of the ancient beast tribe, but also the hope of our Xi family."
? Wang Jin was puzzled.
Xi Ning said, "The Xi family has few descendants. By our generation, it's just you and me. Now that you are with child, I can finally be at ease."
?
At ease?
What does he mean by 'at ease'?
Xi Ning made it sound as if he were the Xi family's only hope. While he understood the child being a hope for Brother Heng and the ancient beast tribe, the Xi family still had Xi Ning himself—a beastman. Moreover, the Xi family didn't have fertility problems.
Wang Jin muttered quietly, "Even if I couldn't have children, isn't there still you, brother? Brother could completely find a ger to marry and have several children..."
Wang Jin's emotions were in complete turmoil. The child absolutely must be kept now. It was simply that he had just been determined to reject the child moments ago. Yet now, after hearing the two of them speak, he himself began to feel that the child in his stomach was exceedingly precious.
This quiet muttering seemed to have been heard by Xi Ning. Xi Ning, unusually, coughed twice awkwardly: "Regardless, this child is a blessing. Before, I kept delaying your marriage because I feared there would be no heir. Now that there is one, this matter is no longer suitable for delay. The two of you must marry immediately. We absolutely cannot let the child be without a proper name and status."
"!" Hearing this, Wang Jin's spirits immediately soared.
Yes... he's finally agreeing to my marriage with Brother Heng.
If marriage is possible, then having a child is simply a part of it.
Brother Heng is so wonderful; I must secure him quickly through marriage, so no one else can take him away.
Wang Jin beamed with joy: "Brother, do you mean what you say?"
"Of course!" Xi Ning replied. "I've already thought it out for you. Once you are married, Yuan Heng will serve as deputy city lord in the city, protecting the peace here. I believe with Yuan Heng's abilities, he will excel at this."
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