Billionaire’s Journey into the Beast World, Suitors Compete to Be Fed by Her! - Chapter 25

A crowd had gathered at the gates of Tiger City, where an elderly male with graying hair was conversing with two male guards stationed there.

Both guards possessed Green-level strength and looked down on a tiger beast who wasn’t even Yellow-level.

Their attitude was dismissive as they shoved the old male away, telling him not to linger at the gate and be a nuisance.

As she drew closer, Mi Yue recognized the elderly male as the Tiger Tribe’s chief. The man, who had always been so arrogant, was now bowing and scraping before those with greater power.

How laughable.

If the Tiger Tribe chief was here, then Xiu Ka and Wu Er must have arrived as well.

Mi Yue scanned her surroundings and soon spotted Xiu Ka’s figure beneath a tree not far away.

She turned to say something to Xing Chi, only to find him already pushing forward to watch the commotion.

So, he was a fish who enjoyed spectating.

Seeing this, she didn’t disturb his fun and instead walked straight toward Xiu Ka.

Xiu Ka sat beneath the tree, lost in thought, not even noticing her approach. She circled behind him and gently tapped his shoulder.

Xiu Ka looked up in confusion, only to be met with an exquisitely beautiful face and a pair of expressive, captivating eyes.

“Shaman Yue, you’re back!” Xiu Ka’s face lit up with joy as he stood abruptly and pulled the long-missed figure into his arms.

Mi Yue could feel his body trembling, like a lost puppy finally reunited with its owner.

Her heart softened, and she couldn’t resist raising a hand to ruffle the little tiger’s head.

Xiu Ka inhaled the familiar, sweet scent of the petite figure in his arms, and the hollow ache in his heart was finally filled.

He stopped overthinking it. He had fallen for her, and that was that, regardless of whether she was male or female. As long as it was her, as long as she stood there, she would endlessly draw his heart in.

Meanwhile, Xing Chi turned back after watching the commotion, only to find Mi Yue gone. Panic and anger surged in his chest.

Just as he stepped out of the crowd, he spotted the two embracing beneath the tree. His face darkened, his deep blue eyes frosting over with ice.

“If you want to live, get your filthy paws off her!”

Xing Chi strode forward, gripping Xiu Ka’s wrist and forcefully separating the two before pulling Mi Yue behind him.

“She belongs to me now, you stinky four-legged beast. Stay the hell away!”

Then, he wrapped an arm possessively around Mi Yue, pressing his cheek against hers in an intimate display.

Xiu Ka’s eyes burned red at the sight. Clenching his fists, he swung at Xing Chi. “I won’t let you force her!”

Xing Chi, still holding Mi Yue, effortlessly dodged the attack and chuckled. “Yue, tell him this is mutual. I didn’t force you.”

Xiu Ka’s eyes brimmed with hope as he reached out to Mi Yue. “Shaman Yue, just shake your head. Even if it costs me my life, I’ll protect you.”

(No, you mustn’t die!) Mi Yue’s almond-shaped eyes widened in alarm.

She nodded and gestured frantically, not caring if Xiu Ka understood. (He didn’t force me. I’m willing. Don’t provoke him.)

Then, she took Xing Chi’s hand and placed it together with Xiu Ka’s. (If possible, I hope the two of you can become friends.)

Xing Chi watched Mi Yue struggle to communicate without speaking and immediately understood, she was pretending to be mute again.

He tapped the tip of her nose lightly, amusement dancing in his eyes.

Little liar, back to your tricks.

Xiu Ka’s heart felt as though it had been sliced open. In just a few short days, Shaman Yue already had someone else by her side.

His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. “Since this is your wish, I’ll try to be friends with him.” With those words, he trudged away, shoulders slumped in dejection.

Wu Er watched his grandson’s despondent departure with growing concern.

“Gurgle~” A mortifying growl erupted from Xing Chi’s stomach.

Clearing his throat, he barked, “This master’s going hunting. You stay put and don’t dare run around, or I’ll break your legs!”

Despite his ferocious tone, Mi Yue recognized it as empty bluster and remained unfazed.

She whispered conspiratorially to Xing Chi, “I understand. I won’t run away.”

Xing Chi snorted and left for the hunt, though not without turning back every few steps.

Meanwhile, the Tiger Tribe chief returned from the city gates, his failed attempt evident. Tribe members quickly gathered around him.

“Chief, what did they say? When can we enter the city?”

“With so many young females in our group, surely we qualify now.”

“Our tribe has newly matured females too. They could choose Tiger City males as their first mates.”

Questions and suggestions poured from Tribesmen and elders alike.

Mi Yue listened nearby, her brow furrowing. (These shameless curs. Instead of finding proper ways to enter, they only think of trading young females for admission.)

Xiu Ka and Wu Er approached, and hearing Mi Yue’s thoughts, Xiu Ka quietly explained, “Tribes are inherently exclusionary. Allowing outsiders in would affect mating rights for our own females, benefiting strangers instead.”

“But males who bring new females into the tribe are different. Their presence increases mating opportunities for everyone.”

Mi Yue curled her lip. (Typical. What’s theirs is theirs, and what’s yours is also theirs.)

Yet observing the Tiger chief’s gloomy expression and his obsequious demeanor toward the gatekeepers, she guessed entry wouldn’t be so simple.

The chief hesitated, unwilling to speak.

Then a middle-aged male with yellow hair and green eyes appeared atop the high city walls. His tiger-like roar drew all eyes upward.

“To enter Tiger City, males must possess at least Green-tier strength or offer one Blue-tier crystal.”

“Young females may enter, but their mates cannot accompany them. Females must pass fertility testing, only those with Green-tier or higher fertility will be admitted.”

Mi Yue had only heard from Xing Chi about the male requirement. The female condition surprised her.

“But none of us are Green-tier. Does that mean we can’t enter at all?”

“Blue-tier crystals? Those only come from the depths of Giant Beast Forest! Where would we get those?”

Despair washed over the Tiger Tribesmen, neither condition was within their reach.

Mated males gazed anxiously at their partners, while children old enough to understand stared pleadingly at their mothers.

The arduous journey had taken its toll. Once-plump females had grown thin, their vitality wilted like flowers deprived of sun and rain. Now, hearing of possible entry, many felt tempted.

At the gates, several males carried out a massive spherical object.

“Young females wishing to enter may come forward for fertility testing.”

Seeing the Tribe’s confusion, the chief spoke gravely: “All young females should take the test. Those who pass may stay. The rest of us will continue southward.”

The males showed displeasure upon hearing the tiger tribe chief’s words. No one wanted their partners to abandon their husbands and children.

Unfazed by the resentful gazes of the males, the tiger tribe chief instructed his son beside him, “Gai Ya, take the young females for fertility testing. The rest of you will wait here and are not allowed to move.”

Under the chief’s authority, no matter how unwilling they were, the males could only watch as their partners, daughters, and mothers went for fertility testing.

Only after all the young females had left did the tiger tribe chief lower his voice and say, “Don’t worry. The chances of our tribe’s young females reaching green-tier fertility are very slim.”

“If we stubbornly refuse to let them try, they’ll only grow resentful toward us.”

“Only after they’ve tried and realized there’s no hope will they give up and settle down to live properly with everyone.”

Mi Yue, standing nearby, heard the tiger tribe chief’s scheme loud and clear. (What a cunning plan. Isn’t he afraid that one of the young females might actually reach green-tier?)

Xiu Ka pressed his lips together and explained, “A young female with green-tier fertility can bear at least two litters of offspring a year. There are no such females in our tribe.”