After Being Transformed Into Cannon Fodder For Death, The Heartthrob Chapter 80
byChapter 80: Beastman Extra
Ye Qingyun had Transmigrated, landing in a Beastman world.
When he first arrived, he was very unaccustomed to it. However, after some time passed, he was now able to leisurely transform into his Beast Form during his free time and lick his long cat fur.
On this day, Ye Qingyun went out to work as usual to earn his keep. But on the way home after finishing his work, as he walked, he noticed something was wrong.
He smelled a very strong scent of blood.
This road was quite secluded, and at this hour, there was no one else around besides him. Where was the smell of blood coming from?
Could someone have been murdered and dumped here?
Ye Qingyun’s analysis scared even himself. However, holding onto the thought that perhaps the person could still be saved, Ye Qingyun didn’t leave but cautiously began searching.
There were no strange large garbage bags or boxes, and no lying corpses. Ye Qingyun followed the scent deep into the bushes, where he saw a small Black Cat, covered in wounds and only the size of his palm.
Ye Qingyun only took one look before a surge of anger flared up in his heart.
This was too much! Who would lay such a heavy hand on such a small child! Are they even human!
…Well, they were Beastmen, so they were indeed not human.
Ye Qingyun carefully picked up the small Black Cat. He felt the faint heartbeat of the kitten in his palm and couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Perhaps sensing someone approaching, the small Black Cat opened its eyes, which were filled with vigilance. It extended a claw and quickly and forcefully scratched Ye Qingyun’s arm.
“Hiss—”
Ye Qingyun gasped. Several bloody scratches appeared on his forearm, nearly making him instinctively fling the little creature away.
“You’re quite fierce,” Ye Qingyun tucked the small Black Cat into his pocket, preventing it from scratching him again. “Alright, I’m not going to eat you, don’t be nervous.”
Ye Qingyun took the little fellow to the village doctor, hoping the doctor could help treat it.
Ye Qingyun had never been here before and didn’t know much about the medical standards of this world. Therefore, he was shocked when he saw the doctor simply spray some water on the small Black Cat and then stop.
Ye Qingyun: “…That’s it?”
“We do not treat black, inauspicious creatures. This is customary,” the doctor said, sitting back down with a cold expression. “Is this your younger brother? Better prepare some money for him to have a good meal before he dies. If he doesn’t die, he will bring misfortune to your family sooner or later.”
What kind of quack doctor was this!
What was wrong with black? It was dirt-resistant, which was great! You could even wash it less often!
Ye Qingyun angrily took the small Black Cat back to his home. He decided to treat it himself.
The small Black Cat had closed its eyes after the doctor said those words. Its little black face was expressionless, as if it was used to things always turning out badly and had no attachment to the world.
“You’re not dead yet, cheer up!” Ye Qingyun placed it on a soft cushion. “Don’t mind that quack. The idea that black is inauspicious is just superstition, completely untrue.”
The small Black Cat looked up at him, then lowered its head and lay there quietly.
Ye Qingyun was not a doctor, much less a veterinarian, so he wasn’t entirely sure how to save a kitten. He took out some hemostatic herbs he had found previously, applied them to the small Black Cat, placed the kitten on a soft, comfortable bed, and then began meticulous care.
Such a tiny cub couldn’t eat much, so Ye Qingyun cooked various nutritious porridges and fed them to its mouth with a small spoon.
The little fellow was clearly unaccustomed to being cared for this way. The first time Ye Qingyun fed it, its half-closed eyes widened, looking at him as if startled.
“Why aren’t you eating? Is it not to your taste?” Ye Qingyun put down the spoon and met the small Black Cat’s gaze. He had to admit, the little black face was quite cute. Ye Qingyun gave in. “Fine, I’ll go get you something else.”
Ye Qingyun tried to get up, but his clothes were snagged. After watching him for a long time, the small Black Cat slowly moved and began to eat.
A period of time passed like this, and the small Black Cat, which had been covered in wounds, was mostly healed.
Ye Qingyun sighed in relief. Taking care of this little fellow had been exhausting. After confirming that the kitten would not die from its injuries, he immediately threw himself onto the bed.
Ye Qingyun was lying with his eyes closed when he felt something wet and warm press against his forearm.
He opened his eyes in surprise and saw the small Black Cat had moved over, sticking out its tongue and slowly licking the scratches on his forearm.
Seeing him open his eyes, the small Black Cat paused, its dark, bright eyes looking at him, as if afraid of being chased away. Seeing no reaction, it continued licking as if nothing had happened.
Ye Qingyun felt a warmth in his heart, like a rebellious son at home had finally started listening.
He really liked this little fellow and hoped they could be a family, but regardless, that wasn’t an excuse to keep the little guy for himself. He still needed to help the little fellow find its way home.
Now that the small Black Cat was healed, Ye Qingyun started thinking about taking it to find its family.
Ye Qingyun told the small Black Cat about this, expecting it to be happy, but instead, the little fellow looked at him, and the light instantly dimmed in its eyes.
In the end, it didn’t make a sound. Instead, it slowly walked over and rubbed its face against his arm.
That day, Ye Qingyun took the small Black Cat to the village chief’s house.
“A lost cub, and you want to find its family?” The village chief stroked his goatee and frowned. “Isn’t it normal for an inauspicious black creature like this to be abandoned? Not killing it directly is already a sign of great affection. No one handles these matters. You’ll have to rely on fate to find its people.”
Ye Qingyun: “…”
Ye Qingyun’s human worldview was severely impacted.
“You should abandon it soon too,” the village chief continued. “Little Ye, even if you don’t believe the black inauspiciousness talk, you aren’t married yet. Raising it will make it hard to find a partner. Do you have anyone you like? I think the hyena family’s son at the village entrance is quite good. He’s liked you for a long time; you two are sure to work out. He definitely won’t accept something like this…”
The village chief kept rambling. Ye Qingyun lowered his head, his gaze meeting the small Black Cat’s eyes, which had been watching him.
Those eyes were lifeless, holding a self-mockery that didn’t suit its young age, and a cold indifference that showed complete lack of surprise at being abandoned.
“Do you want to go back?” Ye Qingyun asked.
The small Black Cat closed its eyes and shook its head, as if giving up on itself.
Ye Qingyun couldn’t describe how he felt. He stroked the fluffy little head and whispered, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll raise you.”
It was impossible not to feel nervous about suddenly having a cub in the house.
Ye Qingyun urgently bought a pile of early childhood education books, wanting to see how professionals raised cubs.
Ye Qingyun read the first book and learned that he should sleep in his Beast Form to accompany cubs that hadn’t yet learned to shapeshift.
So that night, Ye Qingyun transformed into a long-haired white cat and slept with the small Black Cat nestled against him. His tail covered the small Black Cat, making a perfect large blanket.
The small Black Cat hugged his tail for a long time and let out a very unnatural “Awooo.”
Ye Qingyun looked at it kindly.
What a good child. It didn’t even know how to act spoiled, which showed it had never been spoiled in its previous home. They should be meowing, shouldn’t they?
Not long after, Ye Qingyun learned new knowledge from another book.
The book stated that studies showed the act of nursing provided cubs with a strong sense of security, letting them know they were loved and that their parents would stay by their side to ensure their safety.
The book also suggested that even parents with insufficient milk should not give up this behavior, or it could easily lead to the cub becoming introverted and insecure.
Ye Qingyun was stunned.
Introverted and insecure—weren’t those words describing his little Blackie?
Could this really alleviate those two emotions?
Should he…
The small Black Cat was actually lying nearby, its tail flicking against him. But when it saw that page, its tail stopped, and the whole cat stiffened.
Ye Qingyun stroked its head and made a difficult decision.
As a human, Ye Qingyun couldn’t bring himself to do such a shameless thing.
But as a cat, he could.
That night, Ye Qingyun transformed into his Beast Form. Without the psychological burden of being human, he exposed his fluffy belly and gestured to the little Blackie: “Come here.”
The small Black Cat walked closer, its body somewhat tense.
Ye Qingyun was too embarrassed to say the next words, so he directly extended a paw, picked up the small Black Cat, placed it on his fluffy belly, and pressed the kitten’s head down.
Ye Qingyun was concise: “Eat.”
Immediately after, Ye Qingyun felt a struggle. He was shocked to find that the little fellow was resisting.
“N-no,” the small Black Cat’s still-tender voice rang out.
Ye Qingyun: “???”
This guy could talk?
It could talk so young! A genius!
“You don’t have to do this,” the small Black Cat lowered its head. “You don’t have to be so good to me. I’m not worth it.”
Ye Qingyun: “…”
Ye Qingyun frowned.
“I’m inauspicious. If you change your mind one day and decide to abandon me, I’ll understand…”
Ye Qingyun interrupted the small Black Cat: “Do you have a name?”
The small Black Cat looked at him, then whispered after a moment, “Gu Shenyuan.”
“Good, Gu Shenyuan, listen,” Ye Qingyun lifted Gu Shenyuan up with his paw. “I happen to like black, so I won’t abandon you. If you want to repay me, then eat properly, sleep properly, and grow up quickly, understood?”
Gu Shenyuan didn’t speak, just stared at him blankly.
This time, when Ye Qingyun hugged Gu Shenyuan into his arms, he thought Gu Shenyuan wouldn’t resist, but he was pushed away again.
Gu Shenyuan seemed to have made a great decision before saying the next words: “I’m already big… I’m not a cub. I can’t do this. It’s not good for you.”
Ye Qingyun was confused: “You’re big? How big?”
Gu Shenyuan looked down at the blanket. He was fully developed, a Black Panther who was mature in both mind and body. His current small size was only due to accidentally being hit by a shrinking curse.
He had been discovered in his cub form by the Beastmen who considered black inauspicious and they had tried to kill him. He had thought he was doomed this time, but he never expected to meet Ye Qingyun.
He hadn’t told Ye Qingyun the truth before because he was shamefully greedy for this warmth, afraid that if he told Ye Qingyun the facts, he would immediately be driven out.
But now, he couldn’t hide it. Ye Qingyun was trying to treat him this way without knowing the truth. If he let the misunderstanding continue, he would be a scoundrel.
Gu Shenyuan whispered, “Three years old.”
They possessed inherited knowledge, so they weren’t born ignorant. Three years was enough time for them to absorb enough information and become a mature panther.
Ye Qingyun: “…Three years old?”
Was three years old considered big? That was still a baby, wasn’t it?
Sigh, this guy was three years old and still so small and thin. Who knows what he had been through.
Ye Qingyun had lived alone since arriving here and rarely discussed age with other Beastmen. He only knew that the average lifespan of Beastmen was the same as humans, so he subconsciously assumed the age of maturity for Beastmen was the same as humans.
“Three years old is three years old,” Ye Qingyun stroked Gu Shenyuan’s head. “It’s okay.”
This time, when Ye Qingyun pressed Gu Shenyuan onto his fluffy belly again, he met no resistance.
Ye Qingyun found that Gu Shenyuan was heartbreakingly sensible and never had the minor flaws that ordinary cubs should have.
He didn’t cry or fuss, never made demands of Ye Qingyun, and instead did his best to help Ye Qingyun with chores.
He diligently and earnestly licked Ye Qingyun’s fur, and even tried to save his own food so Ye Qingyun could eat more.
Ye Qingyun was both touched and amused as he pushed the food back: “You don’t need to give it to me. You need to eat your fill first, understand?”
Gu Shenyuan looked at him quietly for a moment, then shook his head: “You are more important.”
Ye Qingyun was moved to tears.
What a good child!
Days passed, and Ye Qingyun lived a happy and fulfilling life, but he recently developed a new worry.
He noticed that the small Black Cat named Gu Shenyuan was growing incredibly fast.
Not long ago, it was smaller than his tail and slept cuddled in his arms. Now, it had grown much larger than him and was cuddling him in its arms while they slept!
At this size, continuing to do those things with Gu Shenyuan felt completely different.
It instantly changed from a warm and harmonious child-rearing program into an adult-rated cat film.
…In fact, it didn’t seem to be an ordinary cat.
This seemed, possibly… to be a Black Panther.
After Ye Qingyun confirmed that Gu Shenyuan was indeed a Black Panther, he felt a strange mix of heartbreak and pride.
His cute little kitten was gone.
But for him, a cat, to be a father to a panther—that was impressive!
That night, after being thoroughly licked while cuddled in Gu Shenyuan’s arms, Ye Qingyun was pressed against Gu Shenyuan’s chest again.
Gu Shenyuan groomed his fur, licking every part meticulously.
Gu Shenyuan was now significantly larger than him. Ye Qingyun no longer felt he was being groomed by a little baby, but by a powerful creature.
Gu Shenyuan rubbed his head against him and said in a deep voice, “I’ll groom you like this every day from now on, okay?”
Ye Qingyun stroked Gu Shenyuan’s fur, feeling both happy and worried.
He was happy about Gu Shenyuan’s filial piety, but worried that Gu Shenyuan had grown up, and they couldn’t continue like this. He needed to find a way to maintain a normal social distance from Gu Shenyuan.
Ye Qingyun hadn’t figured out how to talk to Gu Shenyuan about this when Gu Shenyuan suggested going out to hunt, telling Ye Qingyun to rest at home, as he would provide for the family.
How could Ye Qingyun agree to let a three-year-old baby provide for the family! Would that make him a human!
Even though Gu Shenyuan looked completely like an adult Black Panther now, it was still unacceptable!
The next day, when Ye Qingyun went out to work, he locked the door.
When he returned home that evening, he saw Gu Shenyuan sitting quietly by the door, and in front of Gu Shenyuan lay a huge piece of meat that had been cleaned and prepared.
Ye Qingyun was immediately startled.
The strongest hunters in their village rarely managed to hunt such large prey, and they were always exhausted afterward. How had Gu Shenyuan brought this back so easily?
Gu Shenyuan flicked his tail, walked over, and rubbed his head against Ye Qingyun.
Ye Qingyun: “…How did you get out? Are you hurt?”
“I jumped out the window. I’m not hurt,” Gu Shenyuan replied. He looked up, gazing deeply at Ye Qingyun. “I have the Ability. From now on, you can leave the hard work to me, okay?”
Gu Shenyuan’s eyes were profound, looking at Ye Qingyun as if he were his entire world.
Ye Qingyun couldn’t articulate his feelings. His heart felt warm, and he reached out to rub Gu Shenyuan’s head.
Soon after, Ye Qingyun discovered that Gu Shenyuan’s definition of “hard work” covered all aspects of life.
Not only hunting, but also various daily chores like cleaning and cooking were all taken over by Gu Shenyuan. Gu Shenyuan seemed determined to raise him into a pampered ancestor who only needed to open his mouth to be fed.
The first time Ye Qingyun saw a Black Panther cooking, his eyes nearly popped out. He wanted to push Gu Shenyuan away, afraid Gu Shenyuan might accidentally cut his paw. But Gu Shenyuan, being a panther, was much stronger than him, a small cat. Not only could Ye Qingyun not push him away, but Gu Shenyuan finished dinner in a very organized manner.
And the dinner tasted exactly to Ye Qingyun’s liking, leaving him completely stuffed.
He wondered who Gu Shenyuan’s partner would be in the future. They would be so lucky to eat such delicious food. He just hoped that person would still allow him to occasionally mooch a meal or two.
Ye Qingyun transformed into a cat and lay down. Gu Shenyuan massaged his belly. Ye Qingyun squinted contentedly and sighed, “You’re so good at taking care of people, and so powerful. Many people will want to marry you in the future. You must…”
Ye Qingyun originally intended to say that Gu Shenyuan must be devoted to his partner, but then he suddenly remembered that the Beastman world didn’t have monogamy, and the strong often had multiple partners.
Ye Qingyun often watched nature documentaries before, and animals were like that too. So, after Transmigrating to this world, Ye Qingyun quickly adapted. He changed his words to fit the local customs: “You should build a big house later, or you won’t have enough room for so many partners.”
The hand massaging his belly stopped. Ye Qingyun felt something was wrong and opened his eyes, seeing Gu Shenyuan looking at him with displeasure: “I won’t have many partners.”
Ye Qingyun: “Huh?”
“I only want one,” Gu Shenyuan said.
Ye Qingyun was happy that Gu Shenyuan shared his view on marriage. He stroked Gu Shenyuan’s fur and agreed, “Good, just one then.”
Gu Shenyuan then asked, “What about you? What kind of partner will you look for?”
“Me?” Ye Qingyun smiled. “I haven’t planned on finding a partner. Don’t worry, there won’t suddenly be a step-dad who abuses you, my poor little cabbage.”
Gu Shenyuan’s expression was subtle, hard to tell if he was happy or unhappy. Then he hugged Ye Qingyun close, smoothed his fur, and whispered, “Sleep.”
Ye Qingyun fell into a deep sleep, his soft, white fur contrasting sharply with Gu Shenyuan’s black coat.
Gu Shenyuan lowered his head and restrainedly licked the wonderfully textured white fur.
He didn’t want multiple partners; he only wanted one.
The one currently in his arms.
He didn’t know when this feeling had changed in nature, but it was growing deeper, gradually engulfing him.
Ye Qingyun treated him like family and had no intention of finding a partner. If he confessed rashly, it might only cause Ye Qingyun to feel aversion.
…As long as he could stay by Ye Qingyun’s side, he was satisfied.
Ye Qingyun thought life would continue peacefully like this. Once Gu Shenyuan grew up, found a partner, and achieved status with his superior strength, Ye Qingyun could retire and enjoy his later years.
However, accidents always came faster than expected.
That day, Gu Shenyuan went out hunting as usual, while Ye Qingyun woke up late because Gu Shenyuan had kept him up half the night grooming his fur.
Ye Qingyun was worried. Gu Shenyuan’s grooming skills had improved dramatically recently, making him feel both pleasure and a sense of unease, even guilt.
He had to admit, Gu Shenyuan, in his adult Black Panther form, was truly handsome and appealed greatly to his aesthetic taste.
…It seemed they really needed to sleep in separate beds. The cub was grown up; things couldn’t be like when he was little.
He would talk to Gu Shenyuan about it tonight.
Ye Qingyun got ready and opened the door to leave, only to hear an unusual commotion in the distance.
It was a mix of crying, roaring, and wailing. Ye Qingyun immediately felt something was wrong. He transformed into a cat, jumped onto a high tree branch, and finally saw what was happening.
Large groups of unfamiliar fierce beasts were rampaging and killing, while the beautiful Beastmen were tied up and piled together.
The village was under attack!
The sound of flapping wings rang out. Ye Qingyun nervously turned his head and saw a strange crow land on a nearby branch, looking at him with ill intent.
“There’s a pretty little cat hiding here,” the crow’s voice was hoarse. “Our people love playing with pretty ones like you—”
Ye Qingyun lunged forward, biting the crow’s wing and knocking it off the tree.
Cats were always fierce when fighting birds. The crow was caught off guard and scratched by Ye Qingyun. It angrily transformed into its Humanoid Weapon form, while Ye Qingyun ran away without looking back.
The crow’s accomplices were nearby. Fighting the crow now would only give its allies time to surround him. Running away quickly was the priority.
His movement attracted the attention of many enemies, and soon, enemies were chasing him.
Ye Qingyun initially thought only a few people would chase him, and he could find a chance to shake them off. But when he looked back while running, he saw at least a dozen fierce beasts chasing him, their savage faces filled with excitement.
Ye Qingyun broke out in a cold sweat. He didn’t know why so many people were chasing him, but he knew his chances of successful escape were low in this situation.
Ye Qingyun gradually ran into the forest outside the village. He was starting to feel exhausted.
It had rained the night before, and the soil was still damp, leaving footprints with every step. As Ye Qingyun ran, he saw a set of paw prints on the ground.
The prints were much larger than his, a size and shape he was very familiar with.
…These were very likely Gu Shenyuan’s paw prints.
The prints led forward, deep into the forest. It seemed that following these prints would lead him directly to their owner.
Ye Qingyun’s breathing quickened. If he followed these footprints, he might run into Gu Shenyuan. That way, he wouldn’t be alone and wouldn’t have to face so many enemies by himself. Maybe he would have a chance to live.
Ye Qingyun glanced back at the pack of fierce beasts behind him. They were clearly very interested in him, the small cat, chasing him relentlessly and occasionally saying things to provoke him, claiming that once they caught him, they would play with him until he completely turned into a docile little cat who only accepted feeding while lying in their arms.
If only he could find Gu Shenyuan…
Ye Qingyun gritted his teeth, finally turning his steps and running in another direction, one without Gu Shenyuan’s footprints.
Why would he go find Gu Shenyuan? To drag Gu Shenyuan down to die with him?
This was something he, the adult, should face alone.
Ye Qingyun ran and quickly scrambled up a tall tree, climbing to the very tip of the branches.
This tree grew on the edge of a ravine, and beneath the branch was a deep valley.
It was high enough, and the branch was thin enough that those overweight guys would only break the branch if they forced their way over, falling to their deaths with him.
Ye Qingyun sighed in relief and sat up straight.
The group of enemies was furious: “Fine, I’ll wait here and watch you jump!”
Ye Qingyun ignored them and closed his eyes.
He was afraid of pain too.
But if he fell after falling asleep, it probably wouldn’t hurt, right?
He wondered what Gu Shenyuan would do when he returned and saw the village occupied, and whether he would be caught by the remaining enemies.
He hoped Gu Shenyuan was smart enough to run far away and never come back.
Time slowly passed. The sun set, and Ye Qingyun shifted from sitting to lying down on the branch, preparing to bid himself farewell in his sleep.
Drowsiness gradually set in. Just as Ye Qingyun was about to fall asleep, he heard some sounds below.
It was the rustling of fallen leaves being stepped on. Ye Qingyun opened his eyes. In the dim light, using his excellent night vision, he saw a familiar figure.
It was a Black Panther with a long, sleek body. It squinted, carefully searching every area.
Its gaze suddenly shifted and met Ye Qingyun’s.
Ye Qingyun was startled and instinctively shrank back, not wanting the Black Panther to see him, but it was too late. The Black Panther ran towards him without hesitation.
This was precisely the Gu Shenyuan Ye Qingyun least wanted to see right now.
Ye Qingyun was anxious. Why had Gu Shenyuan come here! What was he doing here? Didn’t he see all those enemies below?
The enemies guarding him beneath the tree also stood up, taking defensive stances.
Ye Qingyun couldn’t worry about anything else and shouted at Gu Shenyuan: “Stop! Don’t come over, run!”
But Gu Shenyuan seemed unable to hear him or see the piles of enemies, continuing to run towards him.
Ye Qingyun was frantic, and his words started coming out without thinking: “Did you come here specifically to let me watch you die, you unfilial son? If you take another step, I’ll jump!”
Gu Shenyuan didn’t stop. He ran forward resolutely, plunging straight into the enemy group.
Ye Qingyun watched the commotion below, wanting to go down and help, but also afraid that going down would only hold Gu Shenyuan back. He was pacing frantically.
Why was he only a cat? If only he were a dinosaur! Then he could ram into these things and kill them all!
He couldn’t wait any longer. Gu Shenyuan, a single panther, definitely couldn’t defeat so many adult fierce beasts. He had to go down and help.
His position was too high; jumping directly would certainly kill him. He could only climb down to a suitable height first.
Ye Qingyun broke out in a cold sweat. He didn’t dare look down, afraid of seeing Gu Shenyuan torn to shreds. He could only climb down as fast as possible. After great effort, he finally reached a height where he could jump down and still stand up to help. At this point, he finally dared to look up at Gu Shenyuan.
What he saw stunned him.
The scene he imagined—Gu Shenyuan being surrounded and torn to shreds—didn’t happen. Instead, the originally aggressive enemies had fallen in large numbers, and the remaining ones no longer tried to attack Gu Shenyuan. Instead, they tucked their tails and retreated step by step. Once they reached a certain distance, they immediately turned and fled.
Ye Qingyun: “…Wow.”
Amazing. His cub had grown up and become successful.
Gu Shenyuan didn’t chase the fleeing enemies. Instead, he walked to the base of the tree, his eyes glowing in the darkness, staring intently at Ye Qingyun.
Gu Shenyuan’s fur was stained with thick blood, whose it was Ye Qingyun didn’t know, and he had scattered wounds on his body, looking quite alarming.
Ye Qingyun’s heart ached. He jumped down, wanting to carefully check Gu Shenyuan’s injuries, but was immediately pulled into a powerful embrace.
In contrast to the strong force, Gu Shenyuan’s movements were gentle. He lightly licked Ye Qingyun’s fur, tidying the white coat that had become messy from running.
“Don’t be afraid,” Gu Shenyuan said, his eyes focused. “As long as I live, no one will hurt you.”
Ye Qingyun froze, feeling his heart pound uncontrollably.
Ye Qingyun and Gu Shenyuan returned to the village and drove away the remaining invaders. This time, no villagers treated Gu Shenyuan as an inauspicious creature. They tentatively tried to talk to Gu Shenyuan, but Gu Shenyuan ignored them, only following Ye Qingyun.
Life returned to peace, but Ye Qingyun’s heart began to feel restless.
He found that ever since that heroic rescue, his feelings toward Gu Shenyuan were different than before.
He used to look at Gu Shenyuan with the affection of a parent towards a good cub. Now, when he looked at Gu Shenyuan, he felt an involuntary nervousness.
Ye Qingyun wasn’t stupid. What this meant was self-evident.
He had developed some kind of unhealthy feelings for Gu Shenyuan.
He was a beast! Gu Shenyuan was only three years old! Although Gu Shenyuan spoke and acted maturely and looked like a big panther, that was only because panthers grew fast! If Gu Shenyuan transformed into his Humanoid Weapon form, he might only be slightly taller than Ye Qingyun’s calf!
After a sleepless night, Ye Qingyun made a difficult decision.
Gu Shenyuan was still young and didn’t understand anything. If he deliberately misled Gu Shenyuan, there was a high chance Gu Shenyuan would be seduced by him and end up with him without even knowing what love was.
He could restrain himself from doing that, but what if his subconscious made him perform seductive actions he wasn’t even aware of?
No, no, he had to leave. He couldn’t let Gu Shenyuan be corrupted by him!
Gu Shenyuan noticed that Ye Qingyun had been avoiding him lately.
Even a brief exchange of glances would be quickly avoided by Ye Qingyun.
But he hadn’t done anything recently that might cause Ye Qingyun to dislike him. Why the sudden change?
An ominous feeling welled up from the bottom of Gu Shenyuan’s heart. He thought of another possibility.
—Ye Qingyun had discovered the feelings hidden deep in his heart and was disgusted by them.
Ye Qingyun had kindly helped him, only to be desired by a panther like him. Ye Qingyun must feel utterly sickened now.
Gu Shenyuan gave a self-mocking laugh.
…He was finished.
That day, Ye Qingyun prepared himself mentally. After finishing dinner with Gu Shenyuan, he took a deep breath and said, “Shenyuan, I have something to tell you.”
Gu Shenyuan didn’t speak. He acted as if he hadn’t heard, getting up to take the dishes to the kitchen.
Ye Qingyun reached out and grabbed Gu Shenyuan’s hind leg, preventing him from leaving. He spoke with determination: “I need to leave for a while and probably won’t be back anytime soon. This house and everything in it is yours. You need to be careful living alone, don’t open the door for strangers, and don’t be a picky eater. You need a balanced diet for good nutrition, and also…”
Ye Qingyun trailed off. He realized that his instructions were useless for Gu Shenyuan. Gu Shenyuan was always disciplined and strong, so the things he usually worried about with small children weren’t a concern for Gu Shenyuan.
“In short…” Ye Qingyun released Gu Shenyuan’s hind leg. “Even if I’m not here, you need to take good care of yourself.”
Gu Shenyuan turned back: “Where are you going?”
Ye Qingyun fabricated: “Going home to visit.”
Gu Shenyuan immediately said, “The road is unsafe. I’ll escort you back.”
Ye Qingyun was silent for a moment, then shook his head.
He expected Gu Shenyuan to press for the reason, but Gu Shenyuan just looked at him, the light gradually fading from his eyes.
“I understand,” Gu Shenyuan lowered his head. “You don’t want to see me. I’ll leave.”
Ye Qingyun was completely unprepared for Gu Shenyuan to say this and stared in surprise: “What—I don’t dislike you, don’t misunderstand!”
Gu Shenyuan tentatively rubbed his head against Ye Qingyun’s hand. Seeing Ye Qingyun didn’t object, he pressed his whole body against him.
This might be their last intimate contact.
But he wouldn’t go far. He would find a place nearby to live, and every night when it was quiet, he would secretly come and look at Ye Qingyun.
Ye Qingyun couldn’t let Gu Shenyuan continue to misunderstand. He gritted his teeth, deciding to tell the whole truth and let Gu Shenyuan see what a terrifying, monstrous cat he was.
Ye Qingyun held Gu Shenyuan, making him sit up straight, and said seriously: “You’re still rubbing. Do you know why I want to leave?”
Gu Shenyuan: “…I know.”
“Then you must have guessed wrong,” Ye Qingyun said. “I told you before that I had no intention of finding a partner and wouldn’t find you a step-dad. Do you remember?”
Gu Shenyuan nodded slightly.
Ye Qingyun sighed: “But I’ve changed my mind now. I want to find one. I’ve met a Beast I like, and I want him to be your step-dad.”
Ye Qingyun originally intended to follow up by saying the Beast he liked was Gu Shenyuan, and he wanted Gu Shenyuan to be his own step-dad. This would surely shock Gu Shenyuan and make him realize what a morally corrupt cat Ye Qingyun was.
But before he could say the words, Ye Qingyun saw Gu Shenyuan’s body instantly tense up into an aggressive posture, and undisguised killing intent flashed in his eyes.
Ye Qingyun was startled. Before he could figure out why Gu Shenyuan was so hostile, Gu Shenyuan headbutted him, sending him sprawling onto the long chair unexpectedly.
Gu Shenyuan loomed over him, his eyes filled with emotions Ye Qingyun couldn’t decipher: “You want to leave because of that Beastman?”
This position made Ye Qingyun feel threatened. He tried to move away, but Gu Shenyuan’s tail wrapped around his ankle, forcing him to say stubbornly, “…Something like that.”
Ye Qingyun seriously suspected Gu Shenyuan was about to bite him, punishing him for going back on his word. However, Gu Shenyuan squinted at him for a moment and said in a deep voice, “I only accept one person as my step-dad.”
Ye Qingyun was shocked: “You actually scouted a partner for me? Who is it?”
Gu Shenyuan seemed quiet and reserved, but how many things had he done without Ye Qingyun knowing?
Gu Shenyuan didn’t speak. He looked down at Ye Qingyun beneath him, then suddenly lowered his head and touched Ye Qingyun’s red lips.
Gu Shenyuan: “Me.”
Ye Qingyun: “!!!”
Ye Qingyun sprang up in shock, hitting Gu Shenyuan, then bouncing back to lie flat.
Ye Qingyun touched his lips in disbelief. He could still feel a slight warmth there.
The morally corrupt words he used to scare Gu Shenyuan were spoken by Gu Shenyuan without batting an eye!
This Black Panther was truly terrifying.
Gu Shenyuan didn’t have mind-reading Ability, so what he said must be his true feelings.
Ye Qingyun felt both joy and sorrow. Joy that they were mutually attracted, but sorrow that Gu Shenyuan’s affection might be fundamentally different from his own.
Ye Qingyun quickly thought it over and decided to tell Gu Shenyuan the whole truth directly.
Then Ye Qingyun saw Gu Shenyuan, who was usually expressionless, stop breathing. His tail released Ye Qingyun’s ankle and started flicking uncontrollably.
Gu Shenyuan whispered, “You like me?”
Ye Qingyun admitted: “That’s right.”
Then Ye Qingyun saw Gu Shenyuan’s tail flick even more violently. Gu Shenyuan lowered his head again, wanting to kiss him again, but Ye Qingyun quickly stopped him.
Ye Qingyun held Gu Shenyuan down and said seriously: “Listen to me. You’re still young and can’t distinguish between the love for a partner and familial affection. Wait until you grow up…”
Gu Shenyuan: “I can distinguish. I want to spend my life with you.”
Ye Qingyun said with a headache: “Being partners isn’t just about that. There’s also…”
How was he supposed to explain to the three-year-old Gu Shenyuan that besides mutual devotion, partners also had other urges? Would Gu Shenyuan even understand?
Ye Qingyun’s ankle tightened. He looked up and saw Gu Shenyuan’s tail wrapped around him again. This time, the tail wasn’t just wrapped around him, but slowly rubbing against his lower leg.
Gu Shenyuan said, “Qingyun… I dream of mating with you.”
Ye Qingyun: “…”
“Be realistic. You don’t have that function yet!” Ye Qingyun gritted his teeth and cruelly rejected Gu Shenyuan. “You haven’t even learned to shapeshift into human form yet. Wait until you can transform into human form and look as big as me. If you still like me then, we can try.”
No sooner had Ye Qingyun finished speaking than the Black Panther looming over him vanished, replaced by a man who looked about the same age as him, perhaps even slightly taller.
Ye Qingyun: “…?”
“This big?” the man asked.
Ye Qingyun: “…?”
Seeing Ye Qingyun’s reaction, the man transformed back into the Black Panther with a thump and muttered, “Not handsome.”
Ye Qingyun finally reacted and reached out to stroke Gu Shenyuan’s back: “Who said you’re not handsome? You’re incredibly handsome. It’s just… weren’t you only three years old? How do you look fully grown?”
“Panthers mature at two or three years old. I’ve been mature for a year,” Gu Shenyuan said, frowning. “Why do you look so surprised? Don’t cats mature at just over a year old?”
Ye Qingyun: “…”
If Gu Shenyuan was already an adult Beastman, then some of his previous actions were…
Ye Qingyun covered his face, feeling deep shame, wishing he could bury himself in the ground and isolate himself from the world.
Gu Shenyuan seemed to have transformed back into a man, his hand gripping Ye Qingyun’s waist: “I will always be good to you. Don’t leave.”
Gu Shenyuan’s chest pressed against his. Ye Qingyun could hear Gu Shenyuan’s heartbeat, steady and strong.
Ye Qingyun smiled, wrapping his arms around Gu Shenyuan: “Alright, I’ll spend my life with you.”