Werebeast Gongs CH 088 Dangers Of Coming-of-age
The three of them were too engrossed in their conversation to notice how Jia Nuo had entered. Lei Jin was still reeling from the shocking information he’d just heard. No matter how you looked at it, just imagining that kind of scenario made his whole body feel cold—copulating for an entire month? He was genuinely curious how any female could come out of that alive, especially those with multiple werebeast partners.
Hmm? Lei Jin stroked his chin thoughtfully. Maybe he could ask Roger about it—assuming Roger wouldn’t blow his head off for even bringing it up.
While Lei Jin was still pondering life’s deeper questions, it was Berg who first noticed someone had entered, as he was facing the door. Catching the unfriendly look in Jia Nuo’s eyes, Berg frowned subtly and turned to Lei Jin. “You have a visitor.” Though with that kind of attitude, “visitor” might not be the right word.
Lei Jin was sitting right beside Berg. At a glance, he saw Jia Nuo. Now, Lei Jin wasn’t the type to repay kindness with resentment—but having someone come kicking down his door? That was a different story. Though normally easygoing, generous, and handsome as hell, he wasn’t about to pretend pleasantries for someone like this. His gaze clearly signaled: If you have something to say, say it. Otherwise, get lost. Not a hint of welcome in sight.
Jia Nuo hadn’t expected Lei Jin to be so blunt. He was the son of a tribal elder, after all, and good-looking to boot. When had he ever been treated like this?
His face darkened, but thinking of the reason he came, a smug smile tugged at his lips. Without hiding his disdain, he said, “I heard you can’t have children?”
“You’re such a pain! You even chased him all the way home?” Mura, who had been sitting with his back to the door, immediately jumped up when he heard Jia Nuo’s voice and scolded him sharply. He wasn’t the least bit afraid of Jia Nuo.
“What’s it to you?” Jia Nuo shot back without hesitation.
“Even if you can give birth to ten or eight babies, Brother Xiya still wouldn’t like you. Give up already!” Worried that Lei Jin might feel embarrassed, Mura shoved Jia Nuo since he had no intention of leaving.
Jia Nuo clearly hadn’t expected Mura to get physical. Caught off guard, he stumbled to the ground. Climbing up with a clenched jaw, he growled, “Don’t think I won’t hit you just because you’re the chief’s son.”
Lei Jin cut in before the argument could escalate. “Jia Nuo, did you come here just to discuss my fertility issues?”
Jia Nuo swept a sarcastic glance over Lei Jin’s nonchalant expression. “Hiding out here all relaxed... Do you even know what’s happening with Xiya and the others—”
“That’s none of your business. Get out,” Mura interrupted, clearly anxious.
“Let him finish, Mura.” Lei Jin frowned and said calmly. There was obviously something he didn’t know.
Berg already had a good idea of what Jia Nuo was going to say. After all, the merfolk tribe had similar customs. He had wanted to stop it, but facing Lei Jin’s sharp, unyielding gaze—a side of him that was almost unfamiliar—he swallowed the words.
“You probably know that females in the tribe are precious,” Jia Nuo said, his tone matter-of-fact. “If a werebeast’s female mate can’t get pregnant within two years, he has to give him up. If he refuses, then when he grows old, he’ll be exiled from the tribe. And you should know what that means.”
Lei Jin’s breath caught. He looked at Mura. “Is that true?”
Mura nodded, albeit with difficulty.
From Berg’s position, he could clearly see Lei Jin’s fist clench on his knee, knuckles turning white. His own heart ached. Every tribe prioritized the survival of their offspring. It was cruel, yes, but with so few females, such rules were hard to change. Even when it was actually the female who was infertile, blame always fell on the werebeast. And exiled, aging werebeasts almost always ended up as a wild beast’s meal.
“So?” Lei Jin asked lazily, facing Jia Nuo’s determined gaze.
Jia Nuo was thrown off. Wasn’t the situation obvious? “You should leave Xiya before you hold the ceremony. Otherwise, you’ll ruin him.”
“And then what?” Lei Jin shifted positions casually, propping his chin up with a hand.
Jia Nuo was baffled by his attitude.
Lei Jin raised an eyebrow and offered, “Then Xiya falls for you? Holds the ceremony with you? You’ll have his children?”
“Better than someone who can’t give birth,” Jia Nuo muttered under his breath—but everyone heard.
“My advice? Come back when you’re carrying Xiya’s child. You’ll have more weight to your words then.” Lei Jin said this with complete seriousness.
“You—!”
“You agree, don’t you... Xiya?” Lei Jin’s gaze shifted to a spot behind Jia Nuo.
Jia Nuo instinctively turned around—only to see Xiya standing at the doorway, his expression unreadable. Who knew how much he had overheard, but Jia Nuo could tell he didn’t approve of him confronting Lei Jin like this.
But Xiya didn’t even spare Jia Nuo a glance. He strode over to Lei Jin and smiled gently. “Don’t listen to nonsense. No one but you will ever carry my child. How was lunch?”
Jia Nuo’s face flushed red with rage when Xiya dismissed him as if he wasn't even there. It was Lei Jin’s fault! Before Lei Jin showed up, Xiya had always treated him kindly. If not for Lei Jin, Xiya would have been his mate!
Lei Jin ignored Jia Nuo’s hateful glare and looked Xiya up and down with a half-smile. “En, the roast was good. There’s still plenty left. Want some?”
Xiya glanced at the cold leftovers on the table and suddenly felt a bloating in his stomach. “I already had lunch at Qi Luo’s place.”
“So you’re not eating?” Lei Jin slammed the bowl of meat onto the table.
“Uh... I guess I’m still a little hungry. I’ll have some more.” Xiya sat down beside him.
Only then did Lei Jin’s expression soften. He personally picked the biggest piece of meat and fed it to Xiya. You dare bring a third party to irritate me when I haven’t even left yet?
Xiya groaned inwardly—he was stuffed—but had no choice but to eat the meat Lei Jin offered.
Berg, watching the two, smiled slightly and gave Mura a meaningful glance.
Mura understood. Ignoring Jia Nuo’s protests, he shoved him out the door and slammed the bolt shut behind him. He and Berg disappeared into the inner room.
Xiya rubbed his stomach secretly. So full...
Lei Jin pretended not to notice, picking up another piece of meat. “No rush. Drink some water first, then eat. There’s plenty more.”
“I’m... not in a rush.” Xiya gave up resisting and closed his eyes to bite the meat.
“Forget it, you don't have to.” Lei Jin dropped his chopsticks and suddenly stood up.
Xiya seized the moment and got up too, slinging an arm around Lei Jin’s shoulders. “What’s wrong? Are you really mad?”
Lei Jin touched the other's face. “Why would I be? I’ve heard it’s hard to win over females, and yet you’ve got one chasing you home. I’m proud of you. Just... pick better next time.” He wasn’t angry, he definitely wasn't angry. He was just annoyed at Jia Nuo's pathetic manner.
“I’ve always had great taste in partners,” Xiya said confidently, locking eyes with Lei Jin.
But Lei Jin thought back to Jia Nuo’s words. He wasn’t unaffected—just unsure how to face such weighty emotions. At least once he left, Xiya and Moya could be free. Exile and death shouldn’t fall on them.
“By the way, what’s that little guy been up to lately? He used to stick to me like glue. Now he’s gone all the time.”
“Mingya’s coming of age in two months. He’s training with the tribe’s priests and healers every day now.” Xiya also clearly didn’t want to keep discussing the matter either. Think what you want—I'm not letting go.
“He’s really growing up.” Lei Jin murmured. Would he still be around to see it? Two months... that should be enough time for him to prepare. Still, it felt like a shame not to witness it.
“What’s the coming-of-age ceremony like?” Lei Jin asked as he walked to the door, expecting it to be a simple symbolic thing, just like their so-called wedding rituals.
To his surprise, Xiya looked pained. “It’s agonizing.” The body grows rapidly, wings tearing through skin as they spread. Even after almost four years, the memory still made his joints ache.
“Some werebeasts don’t survive it.” This wasn’t an exaggeration. Every year, some young ones never come out of the ceremony. Their lives end before even starting adulthood.
“What?” Lei Jin turned back, stunned. He’d only seen Mingya display his power once. Who knew if that was a fluke? The thought of the usually cuddly little thing in danger made his chest tighten.
“He’s probably still in the temple’s side hall. Let’s go check on him.” Xiya was just as worried. What he hadn’t told Lei Jin was that deaths during a cycle year were even more common. The tribe had begun preparations two months early, and every family with a young werebeast was on edge.
The temple side hall was tucked into the tribe’s southeast corner—just two small buildings in a north-south row, almost insignificant compared to the grand temple. It was just past noon, and sunlight poured through the large windows on both east and west sides. Lei Jin looked through a window and clearly saw ten or so fluffy little leopard cubs seated inside, backs to him. Mingya’s silvery coat stood out sharply. As if sensing his presence, Mingya’s tail twitched, and one soft paw reached sneakily behind him, waving ever so slightly.