Werebeast Gongs CH 099 In The End
Roger had initially been puzzled about why Healer Qing Qiao would so easily hand over the abortion prescription. After all, Healer Qing Qiao had once had three children in his lifetime—two died shortly after birth, and the third disappeared on the first hunt after coming-of-age trials and never returned. These tragedies, combined with his role as a healer, made him deeply protective of every child in the tribe. He couldn’t bear the thought of harming a child—though such incidents were rare to begin with.
"That white tea flower isn’t an abortifacient at all. It’s a mild, nourishing herb that soothes both the baby and the bearer’s restless emotions. It also warms and regulates the body. Drinking it in moderation is beneficial for both bearer and child."
In other words, Qing Qiao had taken advantage of Xiya and the others’ inexperience to deceive them outright. Any experienced female in the tribe would have known better.
Though Moya now knew the baby in Lei Jin’s belly was likely still alive, he felt little joy. From the moment Lei Jin drank that bowl of medicine, his heart had felt like it had been hollowed out, filled only with icy winds. Putting himself in Lei Jin’s shoes, he didn’t blame him—only hated himself.
Xiya’s expression was equally joyless. He understood this was merely a matter of time. If not now, Lei Jin would demand it again later. Sooner or later, the baby’s fate would be sealed.
"Uncle Roger, you’re all here? Have you collected your family’s share yet?" Ivey’s loud voice carried over as he supported Yaxi, who walked slowly beside him.
"Why are you so late? Everything’s been distributed already," Xiya said, tying up the bags of beans before looking up.
"I already asked someone to collect ours. The weather’s nice today, so I brought Yaxi out for a walk. We ended up here."
"I think you did it on purpose—you just want everyone to know Yaxi’s pregnant and you’re going to be a father again," Xiya teased, hefting the sealed bags. There was quite a lot—he wondered what Lei Jin planned to do with so many beans.
"Of course I did it on purpose! What are you going to do about it? Jealous?" Ivey was a few years older than Xiya, but the two had been close friends for years. Back when tensions arose over Moya and Yaxi, they’d each taken sides and avoided each other for a long time. After reconciling, they grew even closer. So when Xiya teased him, Ivey fired back without hesitation.
Yaxi, however, was more sensitive. He tugged at Ivey’s sleeve.
"What’s wrong? Are you feeling uncomfortable?" Ivey didn’t pick up the hint.
Yaxi anxiously shot him a meaningful glance, then subtly gestured toward his belly. Only then did Ivey belatedly recall the recent rumors. But the words were already out—he couldn’t openly apologize now. He awkwardly rubbed his nose and chuckled dryly.
Lei Jin had already stepped away from the crowd when Ivey spoke. After all, the land reform idea was still in its early stages. The chief and tribal elders would need time to discuss it.
A few people lingered near Lei Jin, eager for more details. If each family really got their own plot, they’d need to plan ahead.
Lei Jin understood—once the land belonged to them, enthusiasm would naturally rise. Seeing this, An Bu grew more convinced of the proposal’s merit. Whether it was Lei Jin or Roger, they always brought fresh ideas that revitalized the tribe.
It was just a pity about the past. He had disappointed Roger, causing the other to ignore him even now. It was fine though, as long as Roger and Moya were well, he couldn't ask for more. Once Mura found his own werebeast mate, his promise would've been fulfilled.
Roger noticed An Bu’s gaze and frowned in disgust. How dare he play the lovelorn martyr after what he did?
When the crowd caught sight of Yaxi’s belly, they swarmed forward with congratulations—some tinged with envy.
Ivey, spotting Lei Jin, gave him an awkward nod. Lei Jin didn’t understand the context, but everyone else did. Their expressions turned uneasy—not just toward Lei Jin, but Xiya and Moya as well. Pity? Sympathy? The undercurrents varied, but soon, excuses were made, and people hurried off.
Yaxi came over to greet Roger. He'd once visited the family often and they’d gotten along well in the past.
"Yaxi, how many months along are you? It’s starting to show," Roger asked with a smile. Yaxi was gentle and meek—not that Roger disliked him, but he never knew how to interact without accidentally saying something hurtful. Lei Jin was easier—their conversations could be direct and unfiltered.
"Almost four months." Yaxi touched his slightly rounded belly, cheeks flushing shyly.
Lei Jin wasn’t obtuse. He understood now—especially since he’d heard the rumors. It was like avoiding the word "cripple" in front of someone who couldn’t walk or “blind” before those who couldn’t see. The more people tiptoed around it, the more it emphasized their discomfort.
The pressure Xiya and Moya faced in the tribe was palpable.
"Let’s go. I’ve packed everything. Traded for plenty of beans, just like you wanted," Xiya said casually to Lei Jin.
Lei Jin was about to reply when he felt a faint movement in his belly. Startled, he pressed a hand to it.
"Stomachache?"
"I think... I felt it move." But now there was nothing again.
"Father said Healer Qing Qiao’s medicine wasn’t an abortifacient—it was to stabilize the pregnancy. The baby should still be fine." Despite his reluctance, he said it anyway.
Before Lei Jin could respond, trouble arrived. Jia Nuo pushed through the crowd, dragging a male werebeast by the arm. Brushing past Lei Jin, he eagerly took Yaxi’s hands.
"Brother Yaxi, congratulations! You’re going to be a papa again. Good thing you chose Ivey back then—who knows where you’d be now? Unlike some people who’ll never have children. Who knows what the real reason is?"
Jia Nuo had confronted Lei Jin before. Though Xiya hadn’t reacted at the time, he’d later given Jia Nuo a stern warning—no mercy shown. That made Jia Nuo realize any hope with Xiya was gone. Even his doting father had scolded him for stirring trouble. All of this caused resentment to fester. Seeing Lei Jin surrounded and admired today only fueled his bitterness. Now, spotting the pregnant Yaxi, an idea struck.
Ivey’s face darkened as he pulled Yaxi’s hand back. Everyone knew Yaxi had once liked Moya—the tribe was small, after all. But that was in the past. Why bring it up now?
Others caught the insinuation. Eyes flickered between Lei Jin and Xiya’s family. Whispers spread. That's right, they only heard that Lei Jin was infertile, but who knew what the real truth was. Maybe it was actually Xiya and his brothers’ problem.
Xiya smirked lazily and stepped slightly in front of Lei Jin. "Yeah, like how some people have pretty faces but keep doing disgusting things. I wonder why? Maybe because no one wants them." Xiya didn't want to quarrel with a female, so in the past he always made his warnings in private, but Jia Nuo seemed to have become more and more bold.
Someone in the crowd snickered.
Jia Nuo’s face flushed with rage.
"Ivey, Yaxi—congratulations." Moya took Lei Jin’s hand, expression calm.
Yaxi blinked, then smiled. "Thank you, Moya." This was the first time Moya had spoken to him in years. Only now did Yaxi truly feel like he had put down the past.
Ivey nodded in acknowledgment.
Seeing his plan backfire, Jia Nuo forced a stiff smile and turned to Lei Jin. "Lei Jin, you’ve gained weight. Could you be pregnant too?"
The crowd tensed. First, Jia Nuo spread rumors about Lei Jin’s infertility, then implied it was the brothers’ fault. Now he was stomping on their sore spots. It was downright cruel.
Lei Jin saw the glint of triumph in Jia Nuo’s eyes and rage suddenly filled him.
"Ignore him," Moya said.
"Yeah, forget him," Xiya scoffed.
"Mingya doesn’t like him. He’s too annoying."
Hearing their attempts to comfort him, Lei Jin’s eyes stung. He smiled faintly, released Moya’s hand, and stepped forward. He gave Jia Nuo a once-over with a sweep of his eyes.
"Sorry, but I’ve always preferred keeping a low profile. I hate flaunting trivial matters. But since you asked—yes, I am. Almost six months along."
Never had Lei Jin been so grateful for the life inside him. I’m still here, and you dare bully my people? Whether he stayed or left, he’d protect them while he could.
His tone was downright arrogant.
"I don’t believe it! I heard Moya and Qi Luo say—"
"Since when do I need your belief to have a baby? Who are you to me? Or is there some tribal rule that says if Jia Nuo doesn’t believe it, I can’t be pregnant? Xiya?" Lei Jin’s talent for provocation was well-honed.
Xiya, named, stifled a grin and coughed solemnly. "I’ve never heard of such a rule. Maybe it’s new. Anyone else know about this?" He scanned the crowd.
People shook their heads, barely containing their laughter.
"They’ve never heard of it, Lei Jin."
Lei Jin had to admit—when it came to messing with people, he and Xiya were a perfect match.
Jia Nuo was speechless with fury. He lunged forward, but the werebeast beside him quickly dragged him away. With those three around, he stood no chance.
Lei Jin knew engaging with Jia Nuo was beneath him, but if it bought peace, it was worth it. Brats needed setbacks to grow.
Once the crowd dispersed, Moya approached, hesitant. "Lei Jin, are you...?" He didn’t dare hope—what if this was just a momentary impulse?
Lei Jin nodded faintly. "En."
If this child was unavoidable, if it meant Xiya and the others could live happier lives—then perhaps it was the only repayment he could offer for their unrequited love.
The gloomy atmosphere at home lifted instantly. Xiya and Moya’s joy was unmistakable—their steps lighter, their faces brighter.
"Are you really sure?" Roger helped Lei Jin soak a large bag of beans in a wooden basin.
"En."
"Then rest more. Why keep running around like this?" Since that day, Lei Jin had been frantic, refusing to let himself idle.
"I’ve been taking the medicine." The pregnancy-stabilizing herbs from Healer Qing Qiao.
"What are you planning now?" Earlier, Lei Jin had commissioned someone to grind wheat, corn, and rice flour. Now he was soaking beans.
"Trying to make tofu and bean curd. When the baby’s born, there’ll be soy milk too. Homemade soy milk has a lot of residue—you’ll need to filter it multiple times." Lei Jin’s tone was casual as he added more water to the basin. No one knew how much his chest ached. This was his first child—perhaps his only one.
In this world, a year had eighteen months of twenty days each, divided into four distinct seasons, plus a forty-five-day sacrificial month at year’s end—totaling three hundred sixty-five days. But the plains tribes preferred simply distinguishing between dry and rainy seasons. Winter was approaching. Even if the baby was a female, it would be born before the sacrificial month.
Roger had said that during the sacrificial month, the tribe held a grand ceremony. That would be the best time to leave.
"Don’t worry. Even if those three find new partners someday, they’ll still cherish this child. And so will I. I’d never mistreat them."
"En. That’s a relief." Lei Jin racked his brain for anything else he could leave behind to ensure the baby’s future happiness. But the more he thought, the more he realized how little he truly had to offer.
In the end, he’d made the same choice as that woman—coldly, cruelly abandoning his own child. What right did he have to condemn her? They were the same. No difference at all.
At dinner, Lei Jin mentioned wanting to visit the seaside salt flats to collect brine for making tofu. Mingya eagerly volunteered to fly him there.
Berg’s eyes lit up at the mention of the sea.
It was just that Lei Jin never expected to run into an old acquaintance there—though they’d only met once, it still counted, right?