"Look up." Jue's voice wasn't loud, but it was still quite effective.

Jing immediately tilted her head back obediently and softly called out "Brother".

Jue asked, "What are you doing here?"

Jing pursed her lips, her round eyes glancing at Xi, and she secretly made a hand gesture—"Brother, brother, please, please."

Xi leaned on Jue's shoulder, winked at Jing, and said, suppressing a laugh, "The kid might be lost."

Jing immediately nodded in agreement: "Yes, we're lost."

"Iron Egg and I are lost."

Tie Dan cast a puzzled look at its little master; it wasn't that stupid.

Jue flicked his forehead with her finger: "Even if we all get lost, Tiedan won't."

Tie Dan nodded in agreement: "Moo~"

Jing moved closer to Jue little by little, tentatively took his hand, and softly called out "Brother".

Xi's smile deepened as she said, "Jing was so amazing just now, all thanks to him—"

"With Tie Dan."

"Otherwise, we'll be skewered like candied hawthorns by the fangs of the Humming Beast."

To appease the child, Xi had to exaggerate a bit, but the effect was obvious.

Tie Dan wagged its tail contentedly. Jing Gang was about to proudly puff out its little chest when it realized it had made a mistake and immediately shrank back.

Suddenly, the sky darkened as a large, dark cloud drifted in with the wind. Several claps of thunder followed, and soon, a heavy autumn rain began to fall, chilling the skin.

The cubs immediately became excited, spreading their arms and jumping around to catch the rainwater with their hands, picking leaves from the side and putting them on their heads, having a great time.

Because the child was still sick, Jue opened his coat, and Jing instantly transformed into his beast form and jumped up, where he steadily supported him.

The silver lynx cub curled up into a tiny ball and burrowed into its older brother's clothes. Its fluffy head pressed against his chest, and it let out a soft "meow," revealing only its adorable big eyes.

Jue pulled his coat tighter, then reached for the animal skin bag beside him, put it on the heads of the cubs behind him, and led them toward the tribe.

Bai Ze was standing under a tree taking shelter from the rain.

Mo, returning from the market, strode over upon seeing him, took off his coat, draped it over his partner's head, pulled him into his arms, and touched his hands and face: "Are you cold?"

"It's not cold, the sun was shining just now." Bai Ze looked up and asked, "Did you see Jing?"

Mo frowned: "That brat snuck out again?"

Bai Ze nodded: "There's no one in the cave."

"Tiedan isn't here either."

As Mo led Bai Ze home, he said, "It's alright, there are many orcs patrolling around the tribe."

Bai Ze was a little worried: "Jing had a fever this morning."

It's not that dangerous, but my son is still sick and I'm worried that if he runs around in the mountains and gets all sweaty, he might take off his clothes and catch a cold.

Mo pulled up Bai Ze's collar and turned to shield him from the rain blowing in his face: "I'll beat him up when we get back."

"You'll behave next time."

Bai Ze laughed: "Then take him out and beat him up."

"The baby has a loud voice, and his crying is too noisy."

Mo said, "Okay."

Seeing his serious expression, Bai Ze asked in surprise, "Are you really going to beat him up?"

Mo: "Yeah, I kept you up most of the night yesterday, you deserve a beating."

"That's because none of you were home." Bai Ze looked up and kissed Mo. "The kid's at that playful age."

"It would be better if it were bigger."

"Whoosh—!" The little lynx squinted, sneezed, and its fine whiskers trembled. It scratched its face with its paw, tilted its head, and meowed.

Jue lowered her head, cradling the lynx's chin with one hand, and asked, "Cold?"

The baby lynx licked its brother's hand: "Meow~"

Over time, Xi gradually learned to understand some foreign languages. He leaned down and asked, "Is the baby hungry?"

The little lynx nodded.

"Hehe, I'm hungry too, little brother." Xi smiled and moved closer to Jue, saying, "Jue, let's grab something to eat when we pass by the market."

"My beast father might be there."

Jue had always indulged Xi and Jing, and looking at the two adorable little ones in front of her, it was hard for her to say no.

Whenever Yan has free time, he sets up a stall at the market. He loves to cook barbecue, and there are already quite a few customers gathered around him, all eagerly waiting.

Because of the booming business, Kun and Chen were just passing by when they were "kidnapped" to work as waiters. They were initially a little "unenthusiastic," but after Yan stuffed a skewer of grilled pork belly with the secret sauce into their mouths, their eyes immediately lit up and they started eating while they were working.

"Father of Beasts!" Xi waved to Yan across the crowd, "I want three roasted grumpy beast legs!"

"A huge bunch of grilled lamb skewers!"

"Mine, mine~" Jing, lifted up by Xi, waved her hands vigorously in the air and said happily, "It tastes like honey!"

Yan chuckled twice: "I heard you!"

Yan was sitting on a wooden stool, eating roasted sweet potatoes and red bean dumplings. Qing and Xing were sitting next to him. Hearing the noise, they looked up and waved to the children with smiles.

Jing, drawn by the aroma, moved closer and asked, "Little brother, is it delicious?"

"Delicious." Yan scooped up a big spoonful and fed it to Jing's lips. "It's warm and very sweet."

Jing licked his lips, still wanting more: "Little brother, where did you change?"

Yan rubbed his head and pointed to the stall not far away where Li was helping out: "It's at my beast father's place."

Jing immediately ran over and gave Li a sweet smile.

Li Le was delighted and served him a large bowl, even helping to carry it over.

Jing was overjoyed: "Li is the best!"

He ate the red bean dumplings with great satisfaction, while Xi brought over the skewers and roasted chicken legs. Jue also ordered a few cans of hot milk tea, and he sat down at the table with Qing and Xing.

Qing raised her hand and touched Jing's forehead, asking gently, "Is my child feeling better?"

Jing looked up, her cheeks puffed out: "Father said it will be soon."

Xing poked his little cheek: "Sweetie, do you want to come to my house to play tonight?"

"Is tomorrow okay?" Jing asked hesitantly. "Tonight... I have to go back and get scolded."

Yan asked in confusion, "Why?"

"Because I was sick, I still secretly ran out to play."

Jue tapped his head: "You know this is wrong, don't you?"

Jing felt guilty and moved closer to Xi.

Halfway there, Bai Ze remembered that he hadn't gotten the medicine for his son yet, so the two of them went to the Great Shaman's place again.

Outside the cave, a bamboo shed was set up. Zhao was sitting on a recliner eating pastries. The rain gradually fell, the mountains and forests swayed, and the autumn yellow and summer green blended into one.

Si brought a blanket and draped it over him, then poured some hot tea into the cup next to him.

Zhao Chao reached out his hand.

Si leaned down: "What's wrong?"

Zhao put his arm around Si's neck, pulled him closer, and gently bit his lips.

Si smiled and lowered his body.

……

When Bai Ze and Mo arrived, Zhao had already changed his clothes and was lounging lazily in a rocking chair, most of his body covered by a blanket, his long, dark purple hair hanging halfway down in Si's palm.

Si originally wanted him to continue sleeping in bed, but Zhao insisted on coming out to enjoy the wind and rain, so he had no choice but to stay by his side.

The rain gradually stopped in the evening.

When Bai Ze got home, Mo pulled him into a hot bath, and now he's sitting by the fire drying his hair.

Jing followed behind Jue guiltily, peeking out half of her head and calling out "Uncle" and "Father of the Beast".

"Dry yourself off." Bai Ze saw that Jue was soaking wet, so he got up, grabbed a blanket, and poured her a bowl of hot ginger tea. "Drink more."

Jue nodded: "Thank you, Father."

Mo glanced calmly at Jing, then ladled out a large bowl of dark, murky medicine without adding honey and placed it directly in front of the boy: "Drink it."

Jing made a mistake, and to appear well-behaved, she immediately took a big gulp, only to burst into tears from the bitterness the next second: "Ugh—I vomit!"

The poor child tried to snuggle into his father's arms for comfort, but Mo quickly picked him up.

"Your clothes are so damp."

"Stay away from your adoptive father."

"Brother..." Jing pouted and turned to throw herself into Jue's arms.

Bai Ze leaned over and pinched the boy's cheek: "You can't run around like that next time you're sick."

Jing apologized sincerely: "Father, I'm sorry."

"Father, I know I was wrong..."

Mo finally showed his fatherly love by adding a spoonful of honey to the medicine bowl.

Bai Ze smiled gently: "How about we bake some bread and cookies tonight?"

Jing lifted her little face from Jue's arms and smiled again.

……

It was another sunny afternoon. As soon as the wind blew, the withered leaves in the mountains and forests rustled down.

Bai Ze lay in the hammock, the soft sunlight filtering through the treetops and falling on his smiling face.

Mo sat next to Bai Ze, occasionally nudging him gently, while holding a cup of hot milk tea in her hand.

In the orchard not far away.

The little lynx climbed a tree, aiming for the largest fruit at the top. After successfully picking it, it hesitated when it came to coming down.

so high!

Jue stretched out her hand: "Little one, jump down, brother will catch you."

Xi also cheerfully opened her arms: "Don't be afraid, kid, your little brother is right here to catch you."

—Extra Chapter of "What Happened Afterwards"

(Finish)

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