Chapter 173
He felt at ease staying in the man's embrace, allowing the man to carry him forward, not caring where he was being taken.
Perhaps it was because the man's embrace was too comfortable, or perhaps because his pregnant body was prone to sleepiness. Before long, Wang Jin actually drifted into a drowsy sleep.
When he woke up, he was lying on the bed in the pavilion. The man had already left with the people from the four tribes.
"..." Wang Jin was annoyed. However, Uncle Shan informed him that the man had promised to return once every two days.
Initially, Wang Jin didn't believe it. The distance to the chosen city site would take at least one day. If the man returned once every two days, all his time be spent on the road.
But on the night two days later, the man really did return.
It was only then that Wang Jin realized that when Yuan Heng had previously mentioned "a minimum of one day," that calculation was based on the travel speed of a Celestial Fox tribesman. According to Yuan Heng's own speed, he could make a round trip in just half a day.
Yuan Heng did not stay long after returning. He cooked a meal for Wang Jin, ate with him, waited until Wang Jin had fallen asleep, and then left overnight.
Two days later, he returned again...
After more than ten days like this, the man had noticeably lost weight. Seeing this, Wang Jin felt distressed and told him not to come back. However, the man would not listen and insisted on returning every two days to check on Wang Jin.
Just as Wang Jin was beginning to feel impatient, Zhao Qi returned, escorting Lai Yuan, Mu ger, and their family.
Wang Jin was overjoyed and went out to welcome them.
As soon as he stepped out, he saw a petite figure walking over, supported by a beastman, limping slightly.
He was also carrying a baby in his arms. In his haste, his feet couldn't quite keep up, and he occasionally stumbled.
Beside them followed a plainly dressed ger. Wang Jin recognized him at a glance. It was Qi ger, the ger of the former leader of the Danmu tribe who had shown kindness to Yuan Heng, and also the a-die of the former leader who had once schemed to eliminate Yuan Heng.
Wang Jin quickly quickened his pace.
From afar, Mu ger saw that ger walking out of the building. The person had gained a little weight compared to when he left the tribe, but not too much. Instead, the added flesh made him appear more delicate.
He wore simple clothes made of obviously fine material. His long sleeves danced with his movements. A group of people followed behind him, each one treating him with the utmost respect. And he himself seemed to accept all this as perfectly natural, appearing both composed and noble... Mu ger and the other two involuntarily stopped walking. They felt that person's imposing nobility... it made them feel ashamed of themselves.
By the time Wang Jin reached Mu ger, Mu ger was standing right at the main gate's entrance, where one step over the threshold would lead into the pavilion.
Seeing them stop, Wang Jin thought the threshold might be difficult for Mu ger with his limp. He reached out to support Mu ger, saying, "A-Mu, come, come inside. Uncle Qi, you also watch your step on the threshold. Tomorrow I'll have someone remove it."
The careful way the ger supported them and the concerned expression on his face were exactly the same as they remembered. No matter how much the ger himself had changed, his treatment of them remained unchanged. The three exchanged glances and entered the pavilion together.
The spaciousness and splendor inside the pavilion astonished all three.
From the moment they entered, Wang Jin had noticed the swaddling clothes in Mu ger's arms. He carefully peeled open a small corner, his round eyes wide with curiosity.
A small half of the little beastman's face peeked out from the swaddling... To his surprise, it was not the spotted face of a little tiger, but the white, chubby face of an infant.
Wang Jin looked on in amazement, gently poking it with his index finger. It was soft and tender... like poking a soft dough. Delighted, Wang Jin poked it again and again.
The chubby baby whimpered in discontent twice and buried its face in Mu ger's chest.
Seeing this, Mu ger chuckled softly, turned, and handed the baby to Wang Jin, saying, "Here, A-jin, you hold him."
"Me?" Before Wang Jin could react, Mu ger had already placed the baby into his arms.
Suddenly holding a warm, soft object, Wang Jin stiffened, not daring to move a muscle.
Perhaps because it was uncomfortable, the baby in Wang Jin's arms began kicking its little legs and waving its little arms. Wang Jin only focused on protecting him, not daring to restrain him, making his whole body even more rigid.
He didn't even dare to smile, standing stiffly and dumbly at the doorway, unable to take a single step.
Seeing this, Mu ger laughed heartily. "A-jin, you don't look like someone who's about to become an a-die at all."
As these words were spoken, everyone in the pavilion looked at the rigid Wang Jin, but they all broke into smiles.
Even Qi ger, who had grown dull and gloomy after losing his loved ones one after another, showed a smile.
Wang Jin stiffly twitched the corner of his mouth, wearing an expression of helpless pleading. Qi ger stepped forward to adjust Wang Jin's hold on the little beastman, instructing, "Hold him like this, you'll feel more relaxed."
Mu ger laughed and said, "It's fine, A-jin, relax. Hu Hu is very healthy. Even if he fell on the ground, it would be okay. He can already run by himself."
"?" What did I just hear? It's okay if he falls on the ground?
Wang Jin looked skeptical. Then, as if to confirm Mu ger's words, the baby in his arms suddenly kicked free from the swaddling. Wang Jin only felt his arm being kicked by something, and then saw the infant jump to the ground.
Once on the ground, the little beastman was no longer in infant form. He had transformed into a small tiger with short legs and paws. The little tiger tilted his head clumsily at Wang Jin, wagged his tail, and scurried into the room in a few bounds.
"!" Wang Jin stared, mouth agape in shock.
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