I paid tribute to my ancestors on my homeland, my heart heavy with sorrow.
At that moment, a Silver Gradient tiger quietly approached me.
I froze, but it did not attack.
Instead, it seemed to be trying to please me, rubbing its furry head against my palm.
Startled, I instinctively pulled my hand back.
But it grasped my wrist firmly.
"Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you."
Its voice echoed in my ear, deep and gentle.
I leaned forward and saw that it was indeed a Silver Gradient tiger, massive in size and radiating a silvery glow.
Its deep-set eyes locked onto mine, as if conveying its determination.
"My name is Bai Chen."
"I am willing to protect you."
Bai Chen would follow me around every day, no matter where I went.
One day, he went out hunting and brought back his catch for me.
"This is your favorite dish, Braised Pork."
"I learned how to make it specially from the Human World."
I gazed at the plump wild boar before me and gently stroked his head.
Bai Chen wagged his tail happily, clearly enjoying the moment.
"Do you... do you like it?" he asked cautiously.
"I do," I replied with a smile.
At that moment, Xiang Yueming suddenly appeared.
Seeing Bai Chen and me together, he was instantly filled with rage.
"Ji Yu! How can you be with a wild wolf like him? Look at you, you've already been enchanted by him!"
Xiang Yueming rushed over and tightly grabbed my hand, trying to pull me away from Bai Chen.
"A Yue, how have you changed so much? You once said you would love me forever."
I broke free from his grip and took a few steps back.
"Love?" I scoffed, my heart aching. "Is love forcing me to bear your children? Is love allowing your people to drive my entire family to extinction?"
"Is love just about treating me as a breeding tool, draining the last bit of value from me?"
"Xiang Yueming, which family are you referring to?"
My voice was icy, laced with a hint of sarcasm.
"Ji Yu, please listen to me..."
Xiang Yueming reached out to grab my hand, but I pushed him away with a forceful slap.
"Enough!"
I shouted, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably.
"Xiang Yueming, I never want to see you again."
I took a few steps forward, and Bai Chen hurried to catch up, carefully shielding me.
"Ji Yu, don’t go! I beg you..."
Xiang Yueming pleaded from behind us.
Yet I never looked back.
Deep down, I knew that all of this was his doing.
The tragic deaths of our kin, the innocent children, the adorable beast cubs... none of it could ever be undone.
"A Yue..."
Xiang Yueming continued to call my name from behind.
I halted and turned back to look at him coldly.
“Xiang Yueming, if you truly love me, then just die.”
With that, I left without looking back.
Bai Chen silently followed behind me, his gaze steady and gentle. I had a dream. In the dream, my children were burned alive, one by one. They cried out, “Mommy, save me!” I rushed forward, but they kicked me away. I watched helplessly as they turned to ashes before my eyes.
This nightmare jolted me awake. I lay in the cold cave, gasping for breath. Xiang Yueming had appeared by my side at some point, his hands roaming over my body without restraint. He murmured, “Xiaoyu, I miss you so much.”
Hearing this made me feel sick. I couldn't help but gag, and upon seeing this, Xiang Yueming quickly got up and left. As he walked away, he cursed, “What a cursed woman.”
It dawned on me then that he still fantasized about having more children. He had no idea that our children had already been reduced to a handful of ashes. Just then, a noise came from the neighboring cave.
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