Werebeast Gongs CH 128 Three Years
"Ol’ Dad, ol’ Dad..." Lei Jin was busy grinding flour inside the cave when he heard their overlapping shouts long before he saw them.
"Where have you two been running wild all afternoon?" Lei Jin brushed flour dust off himself and walked out with a stern expression. He saw two identical golden fluff balls puffing and panting as they dragged a plump pheasant out from the red flower bushes. One even had a large, comical dried leaf plastered to his forehead.
"Ol’ Dad, meat! Meat!" The slightly larger cub, catching his breath, pushed the pheasant towards his ol’ Dad with an expression full of anticipation for praise.
"Hmm, Pomelo is such a good boy." Lei Jin couldn't hold back a smile anymore. He rapped his knuckles lightly on the cub's little head.
"Ol’ Dad, me too..." the other one chimed in, blinking identical violet eyes and dragging out his words in a soft, coaxing tone.
"Orange is a good boy too." Lei Jin shook his head helplessly and plucked the leaf off his forehead.
The two cubs cheered, leapt into Lei Jin's arms, and instantly transformed into two naked, chubby toddlers. Their limbs were plump and round, like sections of lotus root. Both had golden hair and violet eyes, looking lively and energetic. However, their ears and tails hadn't mastered transformation yet, remaining in their beast form. Lei Jin had found it odd-looking at first, but now he was used to it and even found it rather cute—especially when they misbehaved and tried to run away knowing a spanking was coming. Lei Jin, unable to catch them easily, had learned to snag their tails instead—a guaranteed catch every time.
"Ol’ Dad, eat meat! Meat!" Pomelo wrapped his arms around Lei Jin's neck, pleading in his sweetest baby voice.
"Alright, alright. I'll make wontons stuffed with mushroom and meat for dinner tonight." Still young, they couldn't name animals like pheasants yet; they just knew it was "meat." Likely a werebeast instinct, they'd been carnivores from a very young age. Starting a while back, without being taught, the two little ones had begun catching small prey like pheasants and rabbits and bringing them home.
This was their third summer in this secluded valley. The two cubs were now three years old. Before two, they'd stayed in beast form. Gradually, they'd learned to shift into human form, initially only for very short periods. Now they could maintain it for most of the day.
"Be good now. Practice the characters I taught you a few days ago. I'll make dinner." Lei Jin set them down and handed each a small stick. He wasn't necessarily aiming to cultivate great scholars, but they needed to be literate at least—enough to read and write letters within the family. He had zero interest in those complex knotted ropes used for messages.
The two little ones pouted, ready to bargain, but seeing their ol’ Dad's expression darken, they quickly weighed their options. Ears drooping, they squatted reluctantly by the dirt pile near the entrance and began practicing their characters.
Lei Jin grabbed two handfuls of dried mushrooms from the stone shelf in the corner and soaked them in water. He turned and vigorously pounded the remaining red-flower peaches. The shells cracked, powder scattered, revealing the dark, sticky substance inside. He picked it out and placed it on a sunny rock outside to dry. Once dried, he could crush it, filter it with water to remove impurities, and use it as flour. Though it tasted astringent, it was the only flour-like staple he could find in the valley.
Back when he'd encountered Rong Chuan, Lei Jin had thought it was the end. Postpartum weakness, covered in injuries, unable to even stand—how could he possibly escape a werebeast with two newborn babies? But just as his mind raced, Rong Chuan had simply thrown himself on top of him. Seeing this, Lei Jin had actually relaxed. Firstly, he knew as long as Rong Chuan remained obsessed, he and the babies were likely safe from immediate death. Secondly... he strongly doubted Rong Chuan could actually perform. Sure enough, after groping him for a long time, the flesh between Rong Chuan's legs remained flaccid. Getting felt up wouldn't kill him; it was disgusting, yes, but not worth dying over.
Three years had passed, and the two households had coexisted in this small valley, somehow making it through.
Lei Jin mixed the ground meat paste with the mushrooms and began rolling out dough wrappers. The two little ones suddenly perked up, hearing something. They shifted back to beast form, fur bristling, eyes fixed warily on a spot not far away.
"Alright, come wash up. Dinner's almost ready." Lei Jin gave them a casual glance, seemingly unconcerned, and called them in calmly. With their tiny bodies, he could handle them easily in a fight, let alone Rong Chuan.
"My papa sent over some salt." Rong Chuan grumbled, carrying a partially filled animal-skin sack on his shoulder.
Before Lei Jin could stop them, the two cubs let out low, fierce growls. Each lunged at one of Rong Chuan's legs and bit down hard.
Rong Chuan frowned in annoyance, lifting his leg to kick them off.
"Rong Chuan, don't you dare!" Lei Jin yelled sharply, rushing forward to scoop up the two little ones who stubbornly clung on, refusing to let go.
"Why are you so jumpy? Did you think I'd kill them? If I wanted to, I would've done it long ago," Rong Chuan muttered. He walked straight into the cave. Though he disliked the little brats intensely, Lei Jin treated them like treasures. He was still holding out hope that Lei Jin might soften one day and agree to be with him. He wasn't stupid enough to provoke Lei Jin into a fight to the death.
The two cubs still struggled, baring their tiny sharp milk teeth.
"Enough! Quiet down. Behave." Lei Jin shot them a stern look, though his hands gently rubbed their little bellies before setting them down in a basin of warm water.
"What tasty thing are you making now?" Rong Chuan asked, making himself at home. He leaned in to sniff the filling. "Smells pretty good."
Unwilling to engage, Lei Jin kept wrapping the wontons, answering coldly, "Wontons."
"What's that? Never heard of it." Rong Chuan seized the chance to inch closer, his hands starting to wander.
Lei Jin looked up, lips tightening into a thin smile. "If your memory's failing, feel free to come even closer."
Rong Chuan flinched, instinctively covering his stomach where the scar still was. How could he forget? He was already like this, what more could he do? He just wanted to sneak a feel when Lei Jin was asleep. Who knew Lei Jin would be so ruthless? That single downward slash had nearly gutted him, leaving him bedridden for half a year.
The two cubs, finished with their bath, automatically shuffled over to the fire to dry their fur. There were no towels here.
"Haven't I been good to you?" Rong Chuan blurted out, unable to suppress his resentment. They'd lived together in this valley for three years. He brought game, he brought salt... Why was Lei Jin still so cold to him?
Lei Jin almost laughed. What kind of messed-up logic was that? Just because someone was "good" to him, he was supposed to accept them? What a lousy principle. Well... those three back home might be the exception.
He wondered how they were doing. The first year, he'd tried every possible way to escape. But the surrounding cliffs were sheer; climbing was impossible. There was only one subterranean river leading out of the valley, but the underground waterways were complex. He'd tried several times but failed to find the real exit, nearly getting swept away by undercurrents more than once. The only one who could likely come and go freely, Rong Chuan, clearly had no intention of helping.
Over the past two years, he'd gradually come to terms with it. Maybe some separation wasn't a bad thing. In just over a year since meeting them, they'd gone through sex, childbirth... it had all happened so fast. Looking back now, he realized he had left no retreat route for himself. That really wasn't his style at all. As for those three... well, he hadn't exactly trusted their integrity anyway. This separation was a chance to see things clearly. Granting his complete trust had always been difficult for him.
He never demanded they remain chaste for him. They were all men; sometimes urges were hard to control, he understood that. But once they took someone else, it meant the end of their relationship. However, he would take Grapes with him. No matter who the father was, Grapes was his own flesh and blood, carried for seven months. The child was his. The men? If they strayed, they could go to hell. He wouldn't force them to stay.
The stone pot had a thick bottom; the water took its time to boil. Lei Jin used this time to ladle out some pre-made bamboo shoot and chicken broth into a bowl. He asked Rong Chuan, "How many do you want?" Rong Chuan and his papa had helped a lot over the years. He wasn't so stingy as to deny him a meal.
Rong Chuan looked both surprised and wary, carefully gauging Lei Jin's expression. "I... I can really have some?"
Lei Jin shot him an impatient glare.
"I want these," Rong Chuan pointed to a row of particularly plump and round wontons.
"No." Lei Jin refused without hesitation. This guy had sharp eyes, those were specially packed for the kids, extra filling.
"Then... whatever." Rong Chuan swallowed hard, hovering right behind Lei Jin as he deftly slid the wontons into the boiling pot. Watching him, that familiar clawing ache of desire twisted in Rong Chuan's gut again. This female was bad-tempered, yes, but beautiful and a fantastic cook. Why couldn't he be his?
"Slow down, there's more in the pot." Lei Jin handed a bowl of slightly cooled wontons to the two little ones.
"These are for you and your papa." Lei Jin scooped two more bowls and handed them to Rong Chuan, who had been waiting eagerly nearby.
Rong Chuan wanted to linger, but seeing Lei Jin's clear dismissal, he knew he'd been given more face than usual today. He left, looking back every few steps, clinging to the hope that as long as Lei Jin couldn't leave, he'd eventually get his chance.
Once Rong Chuan was finally gone, Lei Jin slumped in exhaustion. He knew well that dealing with Rong Chuan required avoiding direct confrontation. If truly provoked, who knew what he might do? Though outwardly strong, inwardly, Lei Jin remained constantly vigilant.
"Ol’ Dad, yummy!" Orange mumbled, his face still buried in the bowl.
"Yummy? I'll make them again another day." Lei Jin ruffled his hair. These kids had suffered with him here. Though he tried his best to cook tasty things, the food options in the valley were severely limited. There really wasn't much to work with.
After dinner, the father and sons washed the dishes together. These bowls and utensils were painstakingly carved by Lei Jin from wood. Though crude and not very pretty, they served their purpose.
"Ol’ Dad, I wanna go out." Pomelo pointed at the sky outside, squirming restlessly in Lei Jin's lap.
"You can go out when you can fly." Though he said it, the two cubs were still covered in baby fluff, their tiny wing buds barely noticeable. He didn't know at what age werebeasts learned to fly, but it certainly wasn't now.
"Ol’ Dad, I wanna see Brother Grapes too," Orange added softly. They often heard their ol’ Dad talk about how amazing Brother Grapes was, beating up little werebeast cubs who didn't dare fight back.
"Go to sleep now. We'll talk tomorrow." Mentioning this stirred a pang of sadness in Lei Jin. He hadn't slept well during these three years. Grapes must be nearly four now. Did he still remember him? When Lei Jin left, Grapes could barely walk. Now he should be running and talking.
"Grapes, sleep with Dad tonight?" Moya asked his son, who emerged from his bath with a solemn little face.
Grapes silently shook his head and climbed into his small bed by himself.
"Grapes, look! Youngest Dad prepared snacks for the journey. Tomorrow, Youngest Dad will take you to Grandpa Hao Chen's house." Mingya leaned over the bed rail, carefully laying out the prepared items for Grapes to see.
Only then did Grapes hook his arms around Mingya's neck, offering a small smile.
"Then call me 'Youngest Dad,' okay?" Mingya coaxed.
Grapes blinked, remaining silent.
Mingya knew he'd failed again. Grapes was nearly four years old and hadn't spoken a single word. Yet, Chunji insisted there was nothing wrong with his vocal cords.
"Eldest Brother, why are you back so late today?" Moya looked up as Xiya entered.
"Many in the tribe suggested clearing the woods on North Mountain to plant more grain," Xiya replied, sounding weary. "But Papa said if we do that, landslides will likely happen in a few years due to the loss of tree cover, and our tribe will suffer the consequences. You know how it's been these past couple of years. Grain harvests have been good. Many females have seen the benefits of growing grain and are joining the clamor now. No one can persuade them otherwise. And you know how Papa hates explaining these things." The thought of those noisy females gave him a headache.
"Papa's advice always has its reasons." Uncle An Bu, though still nominally chief, had never fully recovered from a serious injury years ago. His health had declined, and he was gradually handing responsibilities over to Xiya.
"If only Lei Jin were still here..." Mingya sighed. Everyone listened to him, especially the females.
Grapes turned away and burrowed into his blanket.
Mingya, seeing his brothers' somber expressions, knew he'd misspoken again. He bit his lip and stayed quiet.
"Go to sleep, Grapes. You have a long journey tomorrow." Xiya came over to check on Grapes, deliberately changing the subject. Every year around this time, Grapes went to stay with the Tiger Tribe for a while.
"Moya, this bed looks a bit small for Grapes now." Xiya remarked, looking at the small bed—the same one Lei Jin had asked Jia He to make years ago.
"I thought so too. I'll take him to Jia He tomorrow to have it enlarged," Moya replied.
Three years ago, Moya had rushed to the Tiger Tribe. Midway, he met Jing Yue, who had come to deliver the news: Lei Jin was missing. They had searched the entire Tiger Tribe but found nothing.
Moya had entered that room. Everything was as Lei Jin had left it—even a freshly changed shirt lay draped over the bed. It seemed as if he had just stepped out for a casual walk. But no one in the tribe had seen him that afternoon. Lei Jin had vanished as if evaporated into thin air, leaving as abruptly as he had arrived.
Papa had suggested Lei Jin might have truly returned to his own world this time. Perhaps the path back wasn't limited to the one they knew. But they refused to believe it. Lei Jin had been seven months pregnant; why would he choose to leave then? And he had promised to stay. So they had never stopped searching.