Werebeast Gongs CH 086 Keeping Him
Lei Jin’s first reaction was: this Healer Qing Qiao, though clearly not young anymore, was surprisingly quick and agile. Sure, part of it was that Lei Jin wasn’t on guard, but the way he snatched the hawthorn from him was impressive—a clean grab and toss, and the last few pieces of hawthorn rolled smoothly down the slope. What a shame. They were sour and sweet, and actually tasted quite good. His second reaction came only after: Two months along—what was that supposed to mean?
Before Lei Jin could ask, Healer Qing Qiao turned, face darkened, and lashed out at Roger.
“He’s young, and it’s his first pregnancy. It’s understandable that he doesn’t know better—but what about you, his papa? Do you also not know? You just let him do as he pleases? The first few months are crucial. Everyone else is cautious to the extreme, terrified of losing the baby. But you lot are feeding him hawthorn of all things? Cold and damp food types could cause a miscarriage! What, are you trying to get rid of it on purpose?”
Xiya and the others had all been delivered by Qing Qiao, especially with Moya—it had been a difficult labor, and Roger had nearly given up. If not for Qing Qiao, things would’ve ended differently. Because of this, Roger had always held deep gratitude and respect for him. Now that he was angry, Roger could only bear it quietly.
But inwardly, he was panicking. How was he supposed to know that someone like Lei Jin—whom Chunji had already diagnosed as infertile—would suddenly turn out to be two months pregnant?
“Healer Qing Qiao, are you sure? He…” Roger asked cautiously after the outburst. He didn’t mean to doubt—it was just too strange to believe.
“I’ve been a healer for over thirty years. I’ve delivered more children than I can count. One look at Lei Jin’s body and I can tell—he’s over two months along,” Qing Qiao replied with certainty.
“What are you all talking about?” Lei Jin got up from the ground, dusting off his hands. Come on, he wasn’t stupid. Two months along—he understood what that meant. But could they just throw that out there like it was nothing? Chunji had said he couldn’t have children! And besides, he’d never done it with them in their beast forms.
So it had to be impossible, right?
Even though he kept telling himself that, an uneasy feeling kept gnawing at him. Two months? Could it have been that time in the cave with the two of them? He couldn’t recall how many times it had happened, but he did remember that both Xiya and Moya had came inside him every time—so much heat that it had left his insides soft. But Chunji had said the chances of getting pregnant in human form were very low. And even though his eyes were blindfolded at the time, he was fairly certain neither of them had shifted.
So why was he still so anxious?
Lei Jin’s heartbeat grew faster. He couldn’t have a child here. He couldn’t end up like Roger, stuck in this world. His arms had healed. He was supposed to leave. How could he have a child now?
“Lei Jin, don’t panic. Let’s hear what the healer has to say,” Roger said when he noticed Lei Jin’s pale face. Honestly, if this was true, it was terrible timing.
Healer Qing Qiao was confused by their reactions. Being pregnant was good news! Most families would be overjoyed—so why did it feel like the opposite here?
Roger had reacted this way before. Now Lei Jin too? Were people from outside the tribe always this strange?
“Healer Qing Qiao, could you please check again?” Roger gently tugged Lei Jin’s sleeve, signaling him to calm down.
Lei Jin wanted to act like he didn’t care, but the stiffness of his expression made it impossible to even fake a smile.
“Sit down then. I’ll take a closer look,” Qing Qiao said. Whatever the situation, he had to first check the condition of the child inside this young papa who seemed to completely lack any awareness of becoming a papa.
“Let’s sit by the creek,” Roger pointed to a few large rocks nearby. They’d already drawn some attention, and it was better to move away from the crowd. Besides, there was a rock about waist-high that would be perfect for resting an arm on.
The three of them sat by the stream, reeds and tall grass providing a bit of cover.
“Place your wrist here,” Qing Qiao instructed, pointing to the flat rock.
Lei Jin put his right hand on it. Qing Qiao laid three fingers on his wrist. Normally, Lei Jin might’ve made some joke about the traditional pulse-taking method, but right now, he wasn’t in the mood.
Qing Qiao closed his eyes and listened for a while, his frown deepening. After a while, he opened his eyes and said, “Switch to your left hand.”
He repeated the process, murmuring, “Strange…”
“What is it?” Roger asked quickly.
Lei Jin didn’t say anything, but the question was in his eyes too.
“Lift your shirt. I need to see your abdomen,” Qing Qiao requested.
Lei Jin didn’t like it, but at this point, he had no choice but to cooperate.
Qing Qiao’s rough hands prodded around Lei Jin’s belly, muttering, “So strange… really strange…”
“Healer Qing Qiao, what’s going on? Please tell us. We’re getting anxious,” Roger said.
“By all appearances, Lei Jin’s body is over two months pregnant—there’s no mistake there. But the pulse—there’s barely any sign of a child. That’s odd. At this stage, the baby should be noticeable, especially for a werebeast pregnancy, which lasts eight months. For females, it's nine. Lei Jin’s nearly three months along, and yet... nothing.”
“Could I have been mistaken?” Qing Qiao murmured. This was a first for him—he’d never encountered anything like it.
Lei Jin didn’t know whether to feel relieved or not. He was covered in cold sweat after just a few minutes.
Roger, however, wasn’t reassured. Though he wasn’t a doctor, he knew that not detecting a fetal pulse didn’t necessarily mean there wasn’t a baby. It could mean a lot of things. But seeing Lei Jin’s current mental state, he knew better than to press further. He’d wait to confirm things first. But Xiya and Moya needed to be told.
Later, Lei Jin helped Roger dye thread. They worked in an assembly line—someone brought the thread, they dyed it, dried it, then laid it out. Mingya was on fire-watching duty.
Elsewhere, female tribe members prepped lunch: whole pigs and sheep were roasted over open flames, slashed, seasoned, the dripping fat making the fire flare with delicious scent. Meat chunks boiled in large pots, bubbling with steam. Dressed in coarse linen or animal skins, everyone gathered with loud chatter.
But this world wasn’t his. Lei Jin had to go back.
“Come on, time to eat, Lei Jin,” Roger called.
“Coming.” Lei Jin hung the last bundle of thread on the bamboo fence.
They all ate similar food, but werebeasts and females sat separately. Since they were all from the same tribe, there was no fuss about formalities—just grab what you want and eat.
“Let’s share a bowl,” Roger said, placing a large, brick-red ceramic bowl in front of Lei Jin. Inside was a single, watermelon-sized chunk of meat—enough for two. Lei Jin noticed that outside of Roger’s household, everything here—dishes, portions—was huge. Meals were bold, lavish.
“Thanks.”
Roger nodded and went to get a bowl for Mingya, who was still young enough to eat wherever.
“You’re so polite with your own family,” teased Su Rui, Qi Luo’s papa, who sat nearby.
Lei Jin smiled faintly. It was just habit. Hopefully, when he returned, he’d be able to shake all the habits from here too.
Roger fumbled with chopsticks, trying to pull the meat apart. Others around them simply speared meat with their chopsticks and gnawed directly, getting oil on their faces and hands. Although he wasn't as particular as Roger, Lei Jin also couldn’t accept the eating habits here, no matter how used to the place he was.
“Papa, Mingya can help.” Seeing Roger struggle, Mingya eagerly offered.
“Go eat, good boy.” Roger looked at those fuzzy paws and gave up hope.
“Papa, Lei Jin,” Xiya came over, holding two plates.
“This one’s cut by dad,” he whispered smugly into Roger’s ear.
“Moya went to bring some meat to Berg,” Xiya added, then turned to Lei Jin with a bright smile and held out his plate. “These are pre-cut. Your motor skills are still weak—it’s easier to eat small pieces. We'll apply medicine again tonight, Chunji said it’ll heal soon.”
Lei Jin paused for a moment before reaching directly for the oil-slicked meat—only to burn himself.
“My fault! I forgot to say it’s still hot,” Xiya panicked, setting the plate aside and grabbing Lei Jin’s fingers to suck on them gently.
“Their relationship is so good. Just like you and An Sen and An Luo,” Su Rui chuckled, nudging Roger. “Look at all those young females staring enviously.”
Roger looked up and sure enough, many were watching with jealous faces. But no matter how much love was shown, Lei Jin didn’t feel secure. He didn’t even want to stay—how could he accept having a child?
“Still hurt?” Xiya asked.
His lavender eyes were pure—so pure Lei Jin could see only himself reflected in them.
Lei Jin sighed, palm to forehead, chuckling. “Xiya, how old are you again?”
Xiya glanced at Roger for help: Should I tell the truth? I might not get away with it this time.
Papa always said telling his age would make Lei Jin dislike him. Though Xiya never understood why being younger was a bad thing.
Lei Jin raised a sardonic brow, and turned to the little guy nearby. “Mingya, do you know how old you are?”
Mingya raised a paw, swallowed his meat, then said, “Mingya knows. Mingya will be fifteen soon.”
“And Moya?”
Mingya counted on his claws and replied, “Second Brother’s two years older than me—so he’s seventeen.”
“What about Xiya?” Lei Jin glanced sharply at Xiya, warning him not to interrupt.
“Mingya knows that too! Eldest Brother is two years older than Second Brother. So he’s nineteen!” Mingya beamed at Roger. “Did I get it right, Papa?”
“Smart boy,” Roger said with a smile.
The game was up. Xiya drooped his head in defeat and snuck glances at Lei Jin’s face—no reaction. Maybe Lei Jin didn’t care? But it was hard to say. He could never read Lei Jin.
So, Xiya could only put on a bold front and pick up the plate again, “Lei Jin, the meat’s cooled now, any more and it’ll be greasy.”
That night, Lei Jin and Roger went to gather more plant dye. Moya, thinking about applying Lei Jin’s medicine, returned early.
After dinner and another round of medicine, Lei Jin fell asleep early.
Roger called Xiya and Moya outside, leaving Mingya to watch over Lei Jin. Not because he wanted to keep secrets—but because anything Mingya knew, Lei Jin would know within minutes. The little guy couldn't keep a secret from Lei Jin to save his life.
He relayed everything Qing Qiao had said and added his own thoughts. At first, the two were in disbelief. They’d long accepted that they’d never have a child. And now, to hear that there might already be one inside Lei Jin?
Two months—of course their minds jumped to that afternoon in the cave. They didn’t know whose it was, but if it was Lei Jin’s, then it was theirs too.
“Don’t get your hopes up just yet,” Roger warned. “There’s a reason Chunji said he couldn’t have children. Nothing is certain right now. Be alert, but don’t act suspicious around Lei Jin. He’s already uneasy. No need to add to that. Until we understand what’s going on, don’t tell him.” He could tell Lei Jin had his own suspicions and was likely feeling under pressure so there was no need to add to his mental burden.
Moya remembered how Lei Jin once said that if he ever got pregnant, he would never keep it. A chill ran down his spine.
Back in the room, Lei Jin was sprawled on his back under a blanket, stomach showing a faint but definite curve.
“I thought he was just gaining weight,” Moya murmured, tucking the blanket’s edge.
“Moya, I really think Lei Jin has a baby,” Xiya said, resting a hand over the blanket and kissing the belly it covered gently. “I don’t know why—I just feel it. Our baby is in there.”
“Then why am I scared?” Moya whispered. Could they really keep the person in front of them?
“Don’t overthink it. Our job now is to take care of him,” Xiya said, patting Moya’s shoulder. But his own heart was uneasy too.