After the Ice Dome was made to protect the whole area around the cave, the tribe was firmly protected inside. The temperature had returned to its normal state and the tribesmen had no need to wear extra coats or clothes on them to survive. The children had recovered from their sickly state and were now running around the interior of the cave spreading cheerful laughter. There were some male beastmen going out the cave to check around in groups while the female beastmen were all busy with dinner preparations.
At the inner chamber of the cave, a black jaguar and a white snow leopard were cuddling at each other almost forming a yin-yang symbol. It is mostly the larger pitch black jaguar who is keeping the small from getting cold. The white snow leopard is obviously in deep sleep. These two were Xuebao and Meizhou in their beast form. Ever since Xuebao fell asleep yesterday, he suddenly turned into his beast form last night as if he couldn't control his human transformation. Meizhou had returned to his beast form to keep the slumbering snow leopard warm.
Shizi and Sheya visit to do their reports. Since the temperature inside the cave had returned to its normal state, even Sheya who is a cold blooded creature in his beast form had woken up.
"Sir, we came to make our daily report." said Sheya.
The huge black jaguar moves a bit and turns his head to face them while still leaning on the white snow leopard under him. He groggily opened his feline eyes revealing the golden orbs within. He squinted at the newly arrived pair languidly.
Meizhou said, "Keep your voice down."
"Yes. This morning the warrior patrolling around the cave had fully checked the surroundings. The ice dome created by the leader had spread 10 meters away from the cave from all sides. The trees and plants within the dome had all revived after the ice and snow had melted overnight." reported Shizi, he reported with his voice obviously lowered.
"There will be a dinner banquet tonight. Are you joining or..." asked Sheya while peeping at the slumbering snow leopard near the black jaguar.
Meizhou replied, "It will depend. If Bao'er wakes up tonight then we will join you guys for dinner. Otherwise if we didn't come out there is no need to serve my meals. Good work with the reports. Continue again tomorrow. You may now go."
Shizi and Sheya were sent away after they've finished their reports. Clearly Meizhou doesn't want them to see his wife's beast form, his possessiveness is very visible for them to notice. It got worse enough that even the young leader's father was sent away every time he dropped by to visit his son. If not because his darling son is sleeping near Meizhou that this childish old man would had longed jumped on Meizhou with intention to beat him up.
Meizhou spoke to the invisible system hovering in the room, "Executioner 13, are you sure you've checked it thoroughly? If you are lying then..."
Meizhou's tone is clearly threatening as he spoke to his subordinate, Zhi Yue.
System Zhi Yue as if afraid of getting punished instantly replied.
[My Lord this little one is not lying. The host is truly 4 weeks ongoing now. In this world female beastmen's pregnancy only needs half a year to fully develop the baby. My Lord only needs to wait 5 months to see your child.]
"5 months? When did you say that beast stampede coming?"
[According to the data it is supposed to happen 7 months from now. The host would be able to safely deliver the baby without worry for the second trial.]
"Hm~ did you know the cause of stampede?"
[A-Ah. Yes! According to the world data the beast stampede was caused by the migration of Tyrannosaurus Rexes from all over the lands. Since the 3 kings of savage beasts had met, endless fighting between three kings had caused chaos in the whole primitive world. There are originally four Tyrannosaurus Rex. The one the Lord had killed is the king of the north forest.]
"I see... so I need to kill three more overgrown lizards. Don't tell my wife about this. Since he is pregnant I don't want him to fight with those useless things."
[M-My Lord are you going to break the plots for the trials?]
"It would not be called breaking but completing it ahead of schedule. Though my wife would have enjoyed fighting during the stampede his current state isn't compatible for it."
Meizhou turned to his human form and gently placed his hand over his wife's stomach, rubbing it gently with a smile.
"I was only joking when I said we could have a child in this world. We were not original residents of this star. It is obviously impossible for use to have descendants in any world. With my current state it would be even more impossible for me to have authority over the other worlds but... now that his little one has come, can only mean something..."
[It is because the host wanted it, that it fully developed even against the rules of this world.]
Meizhou's smile turned adoringly at his wife while carefully touching his flat stomach. He knows that his wife had loved him dearly, enough to destroy worlds for him if he must. He even toned down his real nature of liking destruction because of him.
It is very hard to receive the love of those with the bloodline of Mo. As they were a special existence whose origin is unknown like the God of creation. They just exist but no one knows how and when. The only thing that could differentiate them from the rest is their initial attribute which is coldness. They would hardly care for others except their own family. Not only they wouldn't treat others differently, they never care about those who they don't like. There's a clear-cut between their likes and dislikes. And rarely someone or something could enter their line of sight.
Meizhou actually doesn't know why he feels attraction towards this man. His soul is fragmented and his memories are in disarray. Very vaguely he remembers someone saving his soul before it fully extinguished. He doesn't remember whom it was nor could clearly recall that person's appearance but when he met his wife in that first world his frozen heart had suddenly started beating. He doesn't understand the reason, he just feels that Xuebao is supposed to be his. The obsession and possessiveness had just resurfaced from his heart. He doesn't know the reason and could only indulge these addictive feelings. Within in the end made him fall deeply and unable to stop.
"Our child is something my wife had wished to have and now that it came true as the father my responsibility is to love my wife and protect our child. Once we finish the collection of my soul, we can live together as a family somewhere quiet and away from those who wish to harm us." said Meizhou.
Evening.
The banquet for the tribe had started a few hours ago. Since Xuebao didn't wake up, Meizhou told the elders who dropped by to check on them that he wouldn't be attending as he needed to look after his sleeping wife.
Zhubao looked at his sleeping child worriedly, "Brat, are you sure there is nothing wrong with my Baobao?!"
"Father. Keep your voice down. There is nothing wrong with Baobao. Didn't you have the tribe doctors check on him last night? He is just sleeping to rest. He needs time to recuperate the strength he used to create the Ice Dome." replied Meizhou to his father-in-law.
Priest Anbao pats his elder brother's shoulder, "Brother please calm down. We should just let Baobao continue his rest. There is A'Zhou looking after him. It will all be fine. He should wake up soon."
The former tribe leader Zhubao grumbled silently in the corner as he couldn't scold Meizhou with his sleeping son around. Afraid of waking him up from his slumber.
"Of course... I know... It just... that..." grumbling Zhubao.
"But A'Zhou you shouldn't forget to eat. You need strength to keep watching at Baobao. You haven't eaten since yesterday. I will have someone send you food. You must eat." said Priest Anbao.
Meizhou responded, "I understand."
"Then... we will go now. I will have someone to guard your place. You should have some sleep as well. Those guards will prevent others from meeting you unless it's an emergency. Take the night off and sleep after you eat dinner. If something happens to you as well, the tribe might collapse." said Priest Anbao.
Meizhou replied, "I know. Father, Uncle An, this snowstorm would stop once this week had passed. After a few days we should make preparations to send someone back to the tribe's territory. Judging from the strength of the storm our original house might be in a wreck."
"This... is correct. There is no way that our camp would be left unharmed by the storm. Okay. I will make the necessary preparations." said Zhubao.
Priest Anbao said, "There is no need to be in a hurry to return home. We also need to expand our camp as our tribe is bigger now than before. There are still six more days before the storm ends. There is enough time for the rest to be planned for."
Afterwards these two elders had taken their leave as they've finished talking with Meizhou and checked on Xuebao's current state. Even though Xuebao is still asleep checking on Meizhou is right as well. After all he is the current proxy leader as Xuebao is still in his slumber.
In the middle of the night, Xuebao finally wakes up.
Groggily opening his heavy eyelids, those pair of sky blue orbs were finally revealed for the others to see. The first thing Xuebao saw is a huge black head leaning on his own. He was startled for a moment and calmly observed his surroundings. He saw a huge obsidian jaguar hugging him with its four limbs and tails. Then he checks on his hands to see white big paws. Obviously he is in his beast form.
Seeing a huge black cat growling silently in front of him left Xuebao completely amused. He placed his huge white paws on the jaguar's face. Covering both its nose and mouth then waited for a few minutes. After a few minutes the jaguar startled and struggled as it shook its head while huffing. Xuebao watched his husband wake up from lack of air and his eyes widened seeing him. Only then did Xuebao remove his naughty and cruel paws on his husband's face.
GASPED!
"B-Baby! You're awake!" exclaimed Meizhou as he suddenly turned to his human form.
Xuebao followed after him and became human as well. There's a playful smile on his face as he saw Meizhou's slightly red face due to that short moment of lacking air to breath.
With a teasing smile on his face, "Yes~ I'm awake~" replied Xuebao.
Meizhou pulled him tightly in his embrace, he could even feel him slightly trembling. Seeing this Xuebao would only hug him back and pat him gently to calm him down.
"Haven't I been asleep for only a day and a night? What's wrong?" asked Xuebao while pampering his sticky husband.
Meizhou spoke, pulled away and smiled excitedly at his wife, "Baby~ I have good news for you? Do you wish to listen?~"
Xuebao looked at Meizhou with a bewildered expression but still nodded his head. Then his husband suddenly made him face his back and hugged him. Every movement his husband made is so gentle as if he is something fragile to touch. As a doting wife, he let his husband do whatever he wanted. No he is being hugged from behind. Then he slowly felt Meizhou gently place his huge hand on top of his tummy gently rubbing.
"Baby you are pregnant! It's 4 weeks old~" said Meizhou as everyone could hear the excitement within his voice.
For the first time Meizhou saw his wife show an obviously stunned expression on his face. The surprised emotion imprinted on that beautiful face is unexpected. For someone like his wife who could remain even when his life was in danger had now shown a shocked expression that even his lips slightly parted and his phoenix shaped eyes almost turned round. He looks so cute in such a stunned state. Meizhou couldn't help but give him fleeting kisses on his face and lips. Due to Xuebao's late reaction he couldn't stop this sticky rice cake called Meizhou scattered saliva on his face.
"Enough. Stop kissing!" said Xuebao as he turned around to face his husband. He is now straddling on his lap while the latter's arms were supporting his body from behind. He suddenly grabbed his husband's collar in disbelief.
Xuebao responded, "I-Is this true? I'm really pregnant!? If you are playing with me I'm going to beat you up A'Xia!?"
Seeing the obvious excitement, happiness and fear that his husband might be teasing him were all shown on his eyes. Meizhou could even feel his wife's hand slightly trembling.
Meizhou could only kiss his wife's trembling hands to comfort him. "I'm not lying. It was 13 who informed me last night. Baby, you are really pregnant~" he said while soothing his wife's nervous state.
Xuebao finally let go of his husband's collar and trembling placed his hands above his tummy very carefully as if a single touch could destroy the little life within him. Xuebao's cunning expression turned shocked and disbelief at first, then he suddenly smiled with a few tears in the corner of his eyes. He was extremely delighted with what he heard from his husband.
Seeing his wife's ever-changing with no hints of calmness for the first time made Meizhou's heartbeat uncontrollably when he saw the traces of tears impending to fall from the corner of his eyes he felt something stung his heart the whole being. His wife in this world is too human like. Unlike before where his wife's expression only varied into changes of either fake smiles, mischievous smile, anger or slight happiness, now he could see him grin, cry and pout.
Once he realized that he is the one causing his wife's changes, Meizhou couldn't help but smile with all his heart. It made him happy seeing different kinds of emotions on his wife's face even when only facing him.
Meizhou kissed his wife's tears and forehead lovingly.
"Are you that happy, Jing'er?" asked Meizhou.
A sweet smile appeared on Xuebao's lips and said, "Yes! A'Xia, I'm very happy!" he replied with a joyous tone Meizhou had never heard from his wife before.