Werebeast Gongs CH 129 Never Leaving, Never Abandoning

In the height of summer, the valley was perpetually cloaked in dense, humid greenery. Lei Jin had to set out early every morning, walking long distances to forage for food. Though the valley was large, edible resources were scarce. The two little ones' appetites grew daily, and Lei Jin also needed to stockpile provisions for emergencies. Unless it rained, there was no day he could afford to be lazy. Although Rong Chuan had offered many times to share his family's hunted game, Lei Jin felt that as a grown man with hands and feet, he hadn't yet reached the point of needing support from unrelated people.

Rong Chuan's papa had lived in the valley for nearly four years. Growing older and lacking companionship, he had gradually come to accept that Rong Chuan might never father children. Consequently, he treated the two clever, mischievous little ones quite well, often sending over fruits or sewing small clothes for them. So when Lei Jin went out, he usually entrusted the two little ones to his care, never forgetting to reciprocate with tasty dishes each time.

"Come inside quickly. The morning breeze is chilly; don't catch a cold." Rong Chuan's papa sat on a rock by the cave entrance weaving a wicker basket. Seeing Lei Jin bring the children over, he hurriedly rose to greet them.

"Ol’ Dad, come back early." As Lei Jin set them down, Pomelo rubbed his sleepy eyes, forcing them open a slit. Orange remained sound asleep throughout, not stirring at all.

Lei Jin softly acknowledged, then continued, "Watch your younger brother here, listen to Grandpa. Your ol’ Dad will be back mid-afternoon." But judging by Pomelo's drowsy state, it was unclear if he heard.

"Why are they so sleepy? A pair of little lazy pigs." Lei Jin chuckled, pinching their little noses before standing up.

"All children are like this. Sleeping a lot helps their little bones grow strong and sturdy. Rong Chuan was just the same when he was little. Sometimes he'd sleep a whole day…"

"Uncle, these two packets are steamed meat I made this morning. One is for you to try, the other is their lunch." After three years of interaction, Lei Jin had heard Rong Chuan's childhood stories at least eight, if not ten, times. Humoring him to pass the time was one thing, but now, busy as he was, he had no leisure for it. Getting away was the priority.

Rong Chuan's papa sighed habitually, holding onto Lei Jin's hand and returning to his old refrain. "Lei Jin, I know Rong Chuan wronged you before, and you don't like him. But look, it's been three years now, and he treats you well. He's strong, can hunt plenty of game. Why should you, a female, wear yourself out like this? Besides, even if you long for your mate... you can't get out. It's not that I want to say it, but that's the reality."

You might not want to say it, but I didn't ask you to either. I wish you'd stop bringing it up someday. Lei Jin felt a surge of impatience. But this man could still somewhat rein in Rong Chuan and treated him decently. Lei Jin didn't want to sever ties. So he forced his acting skills to new heights, effortlessly slipping into an expression of deep devotion, "Uncle, Rong Chuan is fine in every way. It's just... I still can't forget the father of Pomelo and Orange." This excuse had worked better in the first two years; recently, it was losing its effectiveness. But he'd drag it out one day at a time.

With that, he turned and left. He wasn't oblivious to Rong Chuan hiding nearby. Dodged another one today. Lei Jin cheered inwardly, unconcerned, as he slung the basket resting outside onto his back.

Lei Jin looked up at the sky. The sun hadn't risen yet, but dawn had broken. When will those three idiots finally find their way here? If they've given up, will I really have to wait until Pomelo and Orange grow up to get out? He remembered Rong Chuan boasting proudly that it was extremely difficult to find this valley from the outside; only he knew the entrance. No wonder, despite being so close to the Tiger Tribe, not a single outsider had been seen in three years.

"Papa, didn't you say he'd definitely agree?" Rong Chuan stepped out from the adjacent cave entrance, his face dark.

"Don't be impatient. Three years have passed; what's the rush? He can't leave anyway. Sooner or later, he'll be yours." Lei Jin was truly hard to deal with. After saying everything possible for three years, why hadn't he softened at all? His son was clearly much better than that Leopard Tribe guy, Xiya. What a lack of taste! "You say that every year." Rong Chuan complained discontentedly. He'd waited three years. How much longer did he have to wait? He didn't want to wait anymore.

"Grapes, do you miss our Dada? I can barely remember what he looks like anymore." Bubbles was over four years old now. His golden tail slapped the river surface, dazzling under the sunlight.

"I hate him." The words came out in a raspy, unused childish voice.

"My Dad says Dada wouldn't leave. He must be stuck somewhere and can't get back." Bubbles scratched his mop of golden hair, then added, "My Dad also says Dada loved Grapes the most. He wouldn't have wanted to leave." Bubbles held Grapes' soft little hand, repeating what he'd heard from Berg.

"People in the tribe say he left. That he abandoned me and my dads." Though young, he understood many things.

"Dada disappeared. Uncle Lan Qi disappeared too." Bubbles said dejectedly.

Grapes blinked away tears and asked, "What happened to Uncle Lan Qi?" He remembered Uncle Lan Qi too; he always gave Grapes lots of things whenever they met. It was hard to forget.

"I'll tell you secretly, Grapes." Bubbles glanced around to ensure no one was nearby before whispering, "I think it's because Uncle Lan Qi made my Dad angry."

"Uncle Berg?" Grapes' attention shifted temporarily.

"Once, I saw Uncle Lan Qi pinning my dad on the bed. Dad seemed to be in a lot of pain; he kept crying out. I rushed in to save Dad. Later, Uncle Lan Qi was kicked out by Dad."

"If Uncle Lan Qi bullied Uncle Berg, then he's a bad person." Grapes puffed out his cheeks, clenching his little fists.

"I don't know. But Uncle Lan Qi said he was planting a little brother in Dad's belly." Bubbles wrinkled his little face, looking quite troubled.

"Planting a little brother?" The two little heads huddled together, muttering for a long time, but neither could figure it out.

"Grapes, Bubbles, time for lunch." Mingya was coming down the mountain path.

"I thought you'd be here these days. I sneaked out today; haven't even told Dad yet. I need to go back. I'll come play with you again tomorrow."

"Then take this. It has the yummy snacks I brought for you." Grapes took off a small pouch hanging at his waist.

Bubbles took it and hung it around his neck. He waved at Mingya. "Youngest Uncle Mingya, I'll come again tomorrow. Grapes, I'm leaving."

Mingya reminded Bubbles to be careful on the way back. He bent down and picked up Grapes, wiping his face. "Did Grapes cry? Did Bubbles upset you?" Tear tracks were still visible at the corners of his eyes.

Grapes shook his head.

"That's good. Otherwise, your Youngest Dad would feel so sad. Shall I carry Grapes back?" Mingya asked.

Grapes affectionately nuzzled his cheek in agreement.

Mingya chuckled softly, a note of nostalgia in his voice. "When your Youngest Dad met your Papa, he carried Youngest Dad just like this too. Grapes misses him; Youngest Dad misses him very much too." His voice gradually softened towards the end.

"The food's all ready, just waiting for you two." The dining table was set up in the courtyard. Hao Chen was bringing dishes out from the kitchen. Seeing the red-rimmed eyes of the father and son pair, he paused, opening his mouth but ultimately asking nothing.

"Uncle Hao Chen, so many dishes!" Mingya remarked with a smile.

"En, some are the kinds Lei Jin found in the mountains years ago. Many families in the tribe grow them now." Jing Yue still wasn't used to calling Lei Jin 'big brother'.

"Eat your meal." Mu Yue put a piece of food into his bowl, stopping him from speaking further. Three years could change many things. For instance, he and Jing Yue now had a child. Jing Ping had also found his werebeast mate. What remained unchanged was perhaps their family's lingering guilt and the unwavering persistence of Xiya, Moya, and Mingya.

"Uncle Hao Chen, I'll go out for a walk after lunch." Mingya was older now and knew when to pretend not to hear certain things.

"Go ahead. I'll nap with Grapes later." Hao Chen replied with a smile.

Grapes tugged at Mingya's sleeve under the table.

"The sun's very strong. Youngest Dad will take you out tomorrow morning, okay?" Though it wasn't obvious on the surface, Grapes' constitution was ultimately weaker than other children.

Though clearly reluctant, Grapes nodded in agreement.

Approaching noon, Lei Jin sat by the lake, kicked off his straw sandals, soaked his feet, and took out the mixed-vegetable steamed buns he'd made. Breaking one in half, he could eat two or three washed down with plain water.

The harvest wasn't good. The traps he'd set were empty. Today, he'd only gathered a few wild greens, two handfuls of bamboo shoots, and a large chunk of brown root that could be used as seasoning. Its squeezed juice had a slightly sour and spicy taste, adding a bit of flavor to dishes when cooked.

After eating, he washed his hands. Using the lake's surface as a mirror, he trimmed his now much longer hair. Thankfully those three aren't around, or they'd stop me again. He wondered how they were doing. Pretending he didn't miss them at all would be a lie. But more often than not, his mind was occupied with filling his and the children's bellies and keeping Rong Chuan at bay. Honestly, given his past temperament, since Rong Chuan couldn't get it up in the front, tricking him into providing him relief from the back wouldn't have been difficult. But for some reason, he didn't know what was wrong with him; for three years, his lower half had remained surprisingly well-behaved, relying solely on self-sufficiency. Hope I haven't damaged something by holding back? Lei Jin gave himself a feel. Not bad. Still quite spirited.

Pushing aside the reeds by the lake, he revealed a large patch of wild lotus flowers. Pink blooms flourished amidst dense water plants. Lei Jin had discovered this spot long ago. Judging by past years, there should be tender water chestnuts and lotus roots ready to eat. Lei Jin jumped into the water. Sure enough, he soon gathered half a basket of water chestnuts and two large, washed lotus roots. He also picked a large bunch of a weed with small purple flowers. Though he already had plenty at home.

Last year, he'd accidentally fed this weed to two young antelope he was raising. They'd been paralyzed for two days before they could move again. Lei Jin figured this should count as an anesthetic. Since then, he'd always kept some on hand. With Rong Chuan becoming increasingly restless lately, it might soon come in handy.

It was high noon, the sun at its fiercest. Lei Jin was just about to strip off and swim a few cool laps in the lake when he sensed something wrong. Turning around, he saw Rong Chuan standing on the bank with intense interest, his eyes dark and unreadable.

"Oh, it's you. You scared me. What are you doing here?" Lei Jin held the basket in his left hand, forcing a smile as he greeted him. Be polite first, then resort to force if needed. His right hand, hidden underwater, already gripped the bronze knife, ready to strike.

Rong Chuan stared at the wet collar clinging to the female's chest. He'd touched the skin beneath; it was smooth, tempting him to cling to it forever.

Lei Jin narrowed his eyes, killing intent flaring. Damn it! Even if I'm handsome enough to outrage heaven, I wasn't made for you! Will this never end?

A werebeast's innate instinct screamed at Rong Chuan that Lei Jin was dangerous to approach right now. But a fire burned within him, uncontrollable. He jumped into the water anyway, advancing step by step towards Lei Jin.

Lei Jin flung his basket ashore, kicked water, spun around, and darted into the lotus thicket like a fish. He knew well that even in the water, head-on, he was no match for Rong Chuan. His only tactic was evasion and guerrilla warfare.

Seeing Lei Jin slip away, Rong Chuan roared in frustration and gave chase.

The lotus thicket was dark and stiflingly dense. Lei Jin, relying on agility and familiarity with the terrain, slipped into a blind spot. He stabbed his knife into Rong Chuan again and again—accurately, viciously, targeting spots that caused excruciating pain without being immediately fatal. He still retained some sense, knowing he couldn't actually kill Rong Chuan. But if he didn't teach a harsh lesson this time, Rong Chuan was clearly preparing to force the issue. The fight lasted at least an hour. Rong Chuan was covered in wounds. Lei Jin didn't look much better, bloodied and covered in countless scratches and tears from Rong Chuan's clawing. But at least the lust in Rong Chuan's eyes was finally extinguished. He should stay quiet for a while.

Lei Jin spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, washed the blood off his body haphazardly, and climbed ashore. He turned and waved amiably at Rong Chuan, still in the water. "I'll head off first. No rush; take your time washing." He smiled.

Rong Chuan, furious, punched the water surface, only to wince as the movement aggravated his wounds. He was left sucking in cold air. He cursed inwardly: Lei Jin, let's see how long you can keep running.

"Ol’ Dad! Ol’ Dad…"

Pomelo and Orange spotted Lei Jin's figure from afar and raced towards him, calling out.

"Did you eat well today?" Lei Jin took one hand in each of his. His arms hurt; he couldn't carry them today.

"Yes! We ate meat at Grandpa's! Dad, today elder brother and I caught a huge fish!" Orange stretched out his short little arms as far as he could to demonstrate.

"Really huge, ol’ Dad!" At this, Pomelo's eyes also lit up.

"What did I tell you? You're not allowed to play by the lake! Didn't you listen at all?" The lake was deep, and the area deserted. If the little ones accidentally fell in… Lei Jin didn't dare think about it.

"Not at the lake, ol’ Dad! Little Brother and I... catch meat... mountain side." Pomelo, still young, wasn't very clear, but Lei Jin understood. They'd found it while hunting near the mountainside. That was the land entrance to the underground river; perhaps some fish had been washed ashore.

"True! True! Ol’ Dad! Fish has big big tail!"

"Alright then. Where's the fish?"

"In our pot! Grandpa doesn't know!" Pomelo declared proudly. Though Rong Chuan's papa treated them well, the two children seemed inherently distant from him.

Lei Jin chuckled softly. Watching their wobbly forms, his wounds didn't seem to hurt as much anymore.

"You even started the fire?" Lei Jin returned home to see flames flickering beneath the stone pot. He habitually left a few embers in the hearth—partly to keep water warm, partly because it made lighting the fire easier; just add dry grass. The two little ones, watching him every day, had clumsily learned to do it too, despite their awkwardness.

"Ol’ Dad, fish soup!" Orange spun around, his large violet eyes bright and gleaming as he grinned.

Fish soup? With a pot of water and one unprepared fish? Lei Jin thought wryly. But the kids had tried so hard; he couldn't criticize them outright. He went to lift the lid off the pot.

"Bubbles?" Lei Jin exclaimed in shock. Lying at the bottom of the pot was a golden-haired merfolk, his face flushed red from the heat, blowing streams of bubbles from his mouth. Though three years had passed, that familiar little face was unmistakably Bubbles'.

He quickly scooped the boy out. Thankfully, the stone pot heated slowly. Had he returned any later, these two little rascals might have boiled Bubbles alive! Lei Jin checked him over. Bubbles had some scrapes and scratches, but none were deep. Lei Jin guessed he must have knocked against something in the underground river, temporarily knocking himself out.

The two little ones seemed to know they'd messed up again. They crouched side-by-side in a far corner on all fours, clearly afraid of a spanking.

"Come here. This is your big brother. Watch over him. Ol’ Dad's making dinner." Only then did they obediently crawl over, eyeing the still-unconscious Bubbles with curiosity. Orange gently poked him with a tiny paw, tilting his head and asking Pomelo, "Elder Brother, is Brother Grapes a fish?" He only knew he had an unseen older brother named Grapes.

"Fish yummy." Ol’ Dad's cooked fish was delicious.

"Then... is Brother Grapes yummy?" Orange nibbled on his little paw.

Pomelo glanced outside. Ol’ Dad was still busy cooking and hadn't noticed. He whispered a suggestion: "How about... we take a bite to taste? Just one bite."

Orange swallowed his saliva, thinking Elder Brother Pomelo made sense. They each leaned in and took a bite on either side of Bubbles' face.

"OWWWW!" Bubbles screamed, clutching his face as the pain jolted him awake.

"What's wrong, Bubbles?" Lei Jin rushed in.

Pomelo and Orange widened their eyes, trying their best to look utterly innocent and uninvolved.

"Dada?" Bubbles tentatively called out. He couldn't clearly remember Lei Jin's face, but the scent was familiar.

"It's me, Bubbles. I'm Dada. It's been three years; Bubbles' all grown up." Lei Jin said excitedly.

"Dada, where did you go? We couldn't find you anywhere!" Once confirmed, Bubbles immediately showed the familiar closeness of old.

"Dada's stuck here and can't get out. How did you get here, Bubbles?"

"Grapes and Youngest Uncle Mingya came. I sneaked out to see Grapes. Didn't tell Dad. Wanted to take a shortcut back to the sea. Then... the water got really strong. I don't know how I ended up here. Dada, where is this?"

"Bubbles, did you say Grapes and Mingya are at the Tiger Tribe?" Lei Jin asked, a note of excitement in his voice. But thinking they were so close yet couldn't meet, his expression dimmed again.

"Uncle Xiya, Uncle Moya, Youngest Uncle Mingya... they come with Grapes all the time."

"Oh?" Lei Jin replied somewhat listlessly.

"They've been looking for Dada all along, but couldn't find you. Grapes misses you so much too. Look! This is what Grapes brought!" Bubbles took off the small pouch hanging around his neck.

Hearing about his child, Lei Jin perked up. He asked many detailed questions about Grapes. Knowing they were all well now eased his mind somewhat.

He wanted to ask more, but the loud "gurgling" sound from Bubbles' stomach was impossible to ignore.

"Dada will make you something delicious tonight. Bubbles hasn't eaten since noon, right? There's meat stewing in the pot right now." Lei Jin smiled.

Bubbles agreed sheepishly. The two little ones, hearing about the delicious food, hopped up and down with joy.

"None for you two! What were you doing biting Brother Bubbles’ face just now?" Lei Jin scolded. He'd clearly seen the two neat rows of tooth marks on Bubbles' cheeks.

Only then did Bubbles notice the two chubby fluff balls shrinking off to the side.

"Dada, who are they?"

"These are your little brothers, Pomelo and Orange." Lei Jin grabbed one in each hand and presented them to Bubbles.

"Wow! Dada! They look exactly the same!" Bubbles cried out in amazement, looking from one to the other, unable to tell which was Pomelo and which was Orange.

"Tell your Brother Bubbles, which one of you is Pomelo, which one is Orange?" Lei Jin instructed.

Pomelo's eyes darted. He declared loudly, "I'm Orange!"

"Then I'm Pomelo!"

They even nodded at each other with surprising coordination.

"Say that again. Ol’ Dad didn't hear clearly." Lei Jin asked slowly, enunciating each word.

"I'm big brother Pomelo. He's little brother Orange." Faced with his ol’ dad's nearly fierce gaze, Pomelo could only tell the truth obediently. Why doesn't ol’ Dad ever get confused? Grandpa and that Rong Chuan uncle can't tell us apart!

"Play nicely with Brother Bubbles here. If you lie again, ol’ Dad will carve your names onto your foreheads with a knife." Lei Jin threatened, twirling his small knife in his palm. One had to admit, Lei Jin was truly something—he didn't even spare his own sons from intimidation.

That night, they had boiled water chestnuts, tender stewed pork with lotus root chunks, stir-fried shredded chicken, and Lei Jin specially steamed two fish for Bubbles. The three little ones ate until their mouths gleamed with oil. Lei Jin was busy shelling water chestnuts for them and didn't eat much himself. Besides, he was in too much pain to have much appetite.

Once they were all sound asleep, Lei Jin boiled a pot of hot water to wash himself. By moonlight, he went outside, picked a few handfuls of green greens, mashed them, and applied the paste to his wounds.

Seven or eight days passed like this in the valley. Bubbles, Pomelo, and Orange had become good playmates. But Bubbles began thinking of home.

"But Bubbles, there's no exit here. Ol’ Dad doesn't know how to get out." Lei Jin crouched down, trying to explain.

"Dada, I can go out the way I came in! Through that river!"

"No! The currents in that underground river are too strong! What if you get swept somewhere else?" Lei Jin refused. If Bubbles stayed here, even though he couldn't leave, Lei Jin could at least take care of him.

"It's okay, Dada! Look! This is the pendant Uncle Lan Qi gave me. He said as long as I hold it in my mouth, I won't fear any waves in the water."

"Is that so?" Lei Jin turned the pendant over. He couldn't tell what material it was made of. But Lan Qi was Bubbles' biological father; he wouldn't harm him.

"Alright then. Dada will tie a rope around your waist. If you can't get out, shout loudly, and Dada will pull you back." Lei Jin took precautions.

"Dada, I'll go out and find my Dad and Youngest Uncle Mingya to rescue you!" He had seen the bad man coming to fight Dada at night.

"Bubbles, good boy." It seemed Bubbles had witnessed Rong Chuan's nightly sneak attacks over the past few days. Lei Jin hadn't initially planned to rely on Bubbles—he was only a four-year-old child. But now, he couldn't help feeling a flicker of hope. He leaned close to Bubbles' ear and whispered a few simple instructions. Anything too complicated, the child wouldn't remember.

"Dada, I remember everything!" Bubbles flawlessly repeated the instructions.

"Alright, don't cry. When we get out, we'll see Brother Bubbles again." Lei Jin pulled the rope back. Tied to the end was a small pouch—their agreed signal. If Bubbles made it out safely, he would tie this pouch to the other end.

"Ol’ Dad, I want Brother Bubbles."

"Me too, ol’ Dad."

"We'll definitely see him again." Lei Jin carried them home. The two little ones had been confined to this valley since birth for three years, without any playmates their age. Seeing Bubbles leave, they cried until their eyes were swollen.

Lei Jin carried the salted chicken and meat to the cave at the back to hang up. Strangely enough, though the valley was damp, the cave was exceptionally cool and dry. Food stored here rarely spoiled; it was a natural preservative. Standing on a rock, he hung the meat in a cool, ventilated spot high in the cave, letting it air-dry. This way, it could be stored longer, ensuring food for winter.

It seemed things weren't going smoothly. Over half a month had passed since Bubbles left, and there was still no news. Had something gone wrong in between? Today, he'd managed to trick Rong Chuan into leaving with much difficulty. Hopefully, they could seize the opportunity. Troubled by this thought, he suddenly felt a tight grip around his waist. Two thick arms locked around him from behind, and the knife he always kept tucked at his waist was swiftly removed.

"Let go, Rong Chuan!" Lei Jin jabbed his elbow backward hard against Rong Chuan's head.

Rong Chuan grunted, but his arms didn't loosen an inch. He simply lifted Lei Jin off the rock, pinned him against the cave wall, and began licking his neck.

"Rong Chuan, let's talk this over." Lei Jin struggled to stay calm, thinking, thank goodness the little ones are out.

"I won't listen to you this time!" He had fallen for Lei Jin's tricks countless times before, big and small. He wouldn't be fooled again.

"You can't even get it up down there anymore! What the hell are you thinking?" As Rong Chuan groped his front, Lei Jin finally couldn't contain his fury and roared.

"Just let me touch... just let me lick..." Rong Chuan panted heavily.

"Fuck! Are you deliberately trying to disgust me?" Lei Jin struggled to dodge, the mere thought of the scenario making his scalp crawl. I wouldn't want you even if you were given to me for free! How dare you try to take advantage!

Finally freeing an arm, Lei Jin reached into his pocket, grabbed a handful of powder, and flung it backward.

Rong Chuan coughed, releasing Lei Jin to wipe his face. Lei Jin spun around instantly, pinned Rong Chuan's arms, and punched him hard in the eye.

"How's the anesthetic treating you? Have a nice nap here." Rong Chuan, now affected by the drug, lay sprawled on the ground. Lei Jin delivered a ruthless kick to his chest, retrieved his knife, dusted off his hands, and prepared to leave.

"If you leave today, once I can move, I'll kill those two little brats!" Rong Chuan refused to give up.

But he regretted it the moment he spoke. He saw Lei Jin's expression change. Gone was the usual teasing and mockery. The man turned lethally sharp in an instant.

"Let's not revisit the grievances from three years ago. Over these three years, no matter what, you and your papa have helped me a lot. I do understand repaying kindness. That's why I've tolerated you repeatedly and spared your life. Did you think I genuinely couldn't kill you?" His physical strength was inherently inferior to a werebeast's, but some things depended not just on strength, but on brains.

"No... I didn't..." Rong Chuan felt Lei Jin's knife slide across his neck and began to panic. He knew exactly how sharp this knife was.

"I truly don't want to kill you. But if I have to choose between the children and you... I can only choose to let you... DIE!"

"Lei Jin! Lei Jin! Where are you?"

Lei Jin's body jolted. Had he misheard? Have they finally come?

"Lei Jin! It's Mingya! Where are you?"

"That's Mingya's voice."

Previous

Next