A breeze picked up in the valley, and the sky suddenly grew overcast; it was about to rain again. Watching Xu Shuangci bustling by the stream, he said, “It’s here.”

Xu Shuangci turned his head. “I haven’t finished them all!”

Qing slapped his tail against the animal hide.

“It’s going to rain.”

“I know… Just a minute, just a minute!”

Xu Shuangci worked with great efficiency. He used to watch his grandfather slaughter chickens and geese, and once he’d learned the ropes, he took over the task himself.

Now, although he was dealing with a different kind of animal he wasn’t very familiar with, it was just a matter of one swift cut.

The stone knife was dull; if one cut didn’t do it, he’d make two.

The long-eared beast’s fur felt very soft to the touch, so Xu Shuangci kept it—it would come in handy in the winter. The remaining four weren’t slaughtered yet; he’d have to keep them alive for now and eat them tomorrow.

Xu Shuangci carried the long-eared beast on his back and called back the red-feathered beast, which had already run far away. Just as he had put the red-feathered beast in its cage and brought it into the cave, the rain began to fall. The rain was heavy—though not as torrential as the last time the rain had flooded the land—it still fell in heavy drops.

The rain drifted into the cave entrance, and before long, his face was drenched. Qing had already carried a piece of animal hide over to the stone bed.

It was a skin meant for spreading out. Seeing Qing strain with all three legs, Xu Shuangci flapped his arms like a person herding chickens to shield it from the side. Once Qing lay down, Xu Shuangci took the skin from his mouth and spread it anew in front of the fire.

The stone pot was small, and stewing meat took an incredibly long time, so Xu Shuangci had only cooked one pot; the rest was all made into grilled meat.

The torrential rain poured down, driven by the wind deeper into the cave. The wind made the flames flicker, and the cave grew even chillier without a sound. 

Xu Shuangci sneezed.

Feeling a gaze on his face, he said, “I’m not sick.”

Qing stared at him.

Xu Shuangci turned around, wrapped his arms around Qing’s large head, and pressed his forehead against the tip of Qing’s nose.

“Not too hot, not too cold—I’m just fine.”

Qing felt him for a moment, then swished his tail, pulling Xu Shuangci’s slightly open fur coat tightly around him.

“You’re skinny—you can’t slack off.”

Xu Shuangci looked down at the collar, which had already been tightened. 

“I’m just taking care of him,” he said, tossing a few more herbs to ward off the cold into the stone pot.

After filling his stomach, Xu Shuangci leaned against Qing’s rock-hard front leg, hooking his fingers around the large paw pads and examining each one.

After pressing the pads enough, he pushed out the sharp claws. They curved like hooks, gleaming coldly.

He touched them with his hand.

Qing dodged, curling his legs and tucking his paws against his chest.

Xu Shuangci ruffled the big cat’s head and laughed, “What are you dodging for? Do you think I’d hurt myself?”

Qing pressed his chin against Xu Shuangci’s head, and once again, Xu Shuangci found his mouth covered in fur.

He struggled a couple of times.

He couldn’t match Qing’s strength and collapsed at his feet.

“Covering my mouth isn’t exactly a feat!” Xu Shuangci struggled to free his head and took a breath. After playing around with Qing for a while, he loosened his grip around Qing’s neck and stared blankly at the cave entrance.

“I want to build a boat.”

“I want my pots, pans, and big water cistern…”

He’d looked around the valley, but there was no suitable spot to dig a cave.

Qing wouldn’t let him dig outside the valley, so the kiln project was off the table.

Even if there were, hunting had already taken up most of his time; by the time he finished digging the pottery kiln, Qing would likely be all better. As he thought about it, Xu Shuangci suddenly tried to sit up, thinking of Qing’s injury. He flopped around a couple of times, but to no avail.

Lying flat on his back, Xu Shuangci scratched Qing’s chin and said weakly, “Get up. I need to change your bandages.”

Qing narrowed his eyes and let out a snore.

He reached out a paw to hook around Xu Shuangci’s waist, making it clear he wouldn’t let go until he was scratched just right.

Xu Shuangci had no choice but to attend to the big cat, cuddling and scratching him for quite a while before Qing finally let go. Crouching by Qing’s hind leg, Xu Shuangci peeled off the handkerchief wrapped around it.

The herbal paste had already dried.

Xu Shuangci gently touched it, and the herbal residue fell right off.

Upon closer inspection, he noticed that the edges of the wound had already begun to scab over.

Relieved, Xu Shuangci ground up fresh herbs to apply another layer of paste and rebandaged the wound with animal hide.

He washed the used handkerchief, scalded it with boiling water, and hung it out to dry. Cotton was more breathable than animal hide; given their limited resources, it would be usable once dry.

Xu Shuangci washed his hands, then turned his back to Qing and tended to the roasting meat.

Thinking about the wound he’d just examined, he asked, “Does the wound hurt a lot?”

Qing pressed his head against Xu Shuangci’s back, but he didn’t control his strength and nearly sent Xu Shuangci tumbling into the fire. He hooked his tail around him and immediately pulled him back.

Xu Shuangci touched the hair that had nearly been singed by the fire and tugged at the tail at his waist.

“The wound?”

“It’s fine.”

“Does it itch?” 

“A little.”

“It’s already starting to heal after just one day?” 

“I don’t know.”

Qing’s breath landed right on the small of his back.

Xu Shuangci shuddered and reached back to cover his nose.

“Move back a little.”

Qing licked Xu Shuangci’s hand and tilted his head to the side.

Once the meat was roasted over the fire and had cooled slightly, the man and the tiger devoured it all in no time. The rain had been falling for a long time, and mist had risen in the valley.

Worried that he might catch a chill while sleeping, Xu Shuangci used animal hides to make a curtain and hung it across the cave entrance. The cave grew dim, and the red-feathered beast locked in the corner let out an occasional cry.

Before it was time to sleep, Xu Shuangci made a few more slingshots, all for Qing. After finishing, he went back to weaving rattan baskets and containers.

It rained for three days, at times heavy, at times light.

A mist seemed to linger outside the cave entrance, and the handkerchiefs left out to dry had remained damp for days.

The clouds cleared and the rain stopped, finally bringing a sunny day. Xu Shuangci immediately ironed and folded the handkerchiefs again, then hung them outside the cave to air out.

The sky was clear and vast, a deep, azure expanse.

Xu Shuangci took down the curtain, faced the azure sky, and stood at the cave entrance, stretching contentedly.

After loosening up his muscles, he climbed down from the cave.

First, he’d go hunting; once he’d eaten his fill, he’d immediately set up the Redfeather Beast’s shelter.

These past few days, his meals had consisted of nothing but fish or long-eared rabbits, prepared either by boiling or roasting, so Xu Shuangci had lost some of his initial enthusiasm for hunting. He started by using smoke to drive the game out, then gave chase.

It was a silly method, but he needed to run. Whether he caught anything or not, Qing was there to back him up.

Qing lay in wait at the cave entrance, playing her part.

His paw hooked around the slingshot, moving with a nimbleness that hardly seemed tiger-like.

In just half a morning, he’d caught enough game, and Xu Shuangci’s training for the day was done. After eating, he hurried to build a shelter.

He sharpened a few thick logs and drove them into the mud as stakes, leaving the shelter slightly elevated off the ground. He laid a row of thin sticks across the top to form a base. Then he built the walls and the roof.

Fearing leaks, Xu Shuangci cut some grass and laid a thick, tight layer over the roof. As for the inside of the shelter, he simply lined the floor with dry grass to make a few nests.

Once the shelter was ready, the red-feathered beasts moved right in. Usually, they foraged for food in the valley, and he occasionally fed them some vegetable leaves. It had been five days since they arrived, and they had settled in nicely.

Xu Shuangci spent most of his time hunting, and in his spare moments, he processed the animal hides he’d stockpiled. As time went on, Qing’s health gradually improved.

Xu Shuangci made rapid progress in hunting the Long-eared Beasts, but Qing refused to let him leave the valley to search for materials to build a boat. Unable to sit still, and thinking it was about time to start cultivating fields and raising crops, he began clearing land in the valley.

The valley wasn’t very deep, and the sunlight was plentiful.

The soil was loose and fertile, making it ideal for cultivation.

Xu Shuangci cleared out a vegetable patch and a medicinal herb garden. He also diverted stream water and dug a paddy field on the edge. He immersed himself in the work of clearing the land.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. Batch after batch of flowers in the valley had faded, leaving only a sea of lush greenery. Qing’s hind legs had finally fully recovered, and he could run and jump again.

After preparing the seedbeds in the paddy field, Xu Shuangci washed his hands and feet and went to the cave.

Qing was tending the pot.

Hearing Xu Shuangci enter, he raised a paw.

Xu Shuangci buried his face in his fur, wrapped his arms and legs around him, and sighed contentedly.

“I’ve finally finished tending the fields.”

It had taken him half a month to work through three plots all by himself. Between weeding, loosening the soil, and improving the soil quality, he was completely exhausted. But the benefits were obvious.

Qing pressed his paw pads against Xu Shuangci’s waist.

It was covered with a thin layer of muscle—no longer the pitiful, bony frame he’d been before. 

He’d put on some weight; even his face looked better.

Qing couldn’t resist nuzzling him with the tip of his nose.

But his skin was so pale—it wouldn’t tan no matter how much he was out in the sun. It was so soft and delicate that he didn’t dare press too hard. Qing said, “It’s time to go hunting.”

Xu Shuangci replied immediately, “Let’s find materials to build a boat first.”

Qing: “Alright.”

For the first time in a fortnight, Xu Shuangci and Qing went out together.

The morning light was just beginning to glow, and the mountain mist had not yet cleared.

After filling their bellies, Xu Shuangci first parted Qing’s hind legs to take a look. The wound had healed, and the tender flesh was covered with a layer of fine downy hair.

Xu Shuangci was completely reassured and climbed onto his back.

“Hold on tight.” Qing stood at the cave entrance.

Xu Shuangci leaned forward and wrapped his arms around his neck. Qing leaped straight out of the cave.

Xu Shuangci felt a sudden loss of balance, clutching tightly with both hands as his heart leapt into his throat.

It had been half a month since he’d felt this kind of thrill, and he found himself a bit out of practice.

“Did I hurt you?” After they’d descended into the cave, Xu Shuangci hurriedly rubbed Qing’s neck. Qing was completely unfazed.

“No.”

No?

Xu Shuangci withdrew his hand and saw a large clump of white fur caught between his fingers.

Feeling a pang of sympathy, he rubbed Qing’s neck again.

Qing led Xu Shuangci out of the valley and into the nearby woods to search for materials to build a boat.

The light in the woods was dappled.

Xu Shuangci lay on Qing’s back, his chin resting against the back of his head.

Bright patches of light fell upon them in a jumble, shifting and dancing, creating a dreamlike, ethereal scene.

But after searching three hillsides, Xu Shuangci was deeply disappointed. He said dejectedly, “There’s no suitable bark.” Qing asked, “Is there anything else we can use to make a boat?”

Xu Shuangci looked at the various trees passing by and, after a moment’s silence, said, “Yes. A dugout canoe made from a single large log—but forget about bamboo rafts or bark boats…”

“But we’d have to hollow out a tree that big…” 

“Wait!”

Xu Shuangci suddenly sat up.

“I’ve got it!”

Qing used his tail to hold Xu Shuangci in place.

“What do you know?”

“Let’s make a raft.”

“If we do it right, it could take half a year to build.” But what he needed most right now was to transport his belongings, so a rough-and-ready version would do.

“Let’s go hunting.” 

“Okay.”

Qing turned sharply.

He loosened his grip on Xu Shuangci’s waist, gave a quick reminder, then ran down the mountain.

Once they were out of the forest, the view suddenly opened up. Before them lay the great, winding river at the foot of the mountain. Qing slowed down and walked along the riverbank toward the southeast.

“What’s a raft?”

Xu Shuangci paused, pulled his legs—which had been dangling on either side of Qing—back, and lay flat on his back. He gazed at the blue sky and white clouds, squinting contentedly.

“It’s just a treated animal hide that’s been inflated and tied to a wooden raft.”

Qing immediately grasped the key point.

“The hide can’t tear.”

Xu Shuangci narrowed his eyes slightly, then lowered his hand to scratch the fur on Qing’s side.

“Right. When you hunt the sharp-horned beasts, pick the big ones, and try not to tear the hide around their backs and bellies.”

The river was wide, and the current wasn’t too swift. Both banks were dotted with lakes, streams, and marshes… where wild ducks swam and flocks of birds hunted for food.

A gentle breeze blew, and the spring grass was lush.

Every year, the grass along these riverbanks attracts many herbivores.

Qing followed the herd of Horned Beasts to the first bend of the Great Bend River.

Across the vast expanse of grass, brown, curly-haired spiked-horned beasts were bent over, munching on the green grass. This was a small herd, consisting of several adult spiked-horned beasts accompanied by three newborns.

Xu Shuangci asked Qing to set him down beside a small pond. There, he spotted some spicy grass.

Qing bent his legs to let Xu Shuangci step down, then stood up and nudged his face with his snout.

“Don’t wander off.”

Xu Shuangci stood still and smiled. “I won’t go.”

Qing touched his other cheek again, then turned and walked away.

Xu Shuangci crouched down and plucked a handful of the spicy grass growing nearby. It looked just like spicy knotweed—he just didn’t know if it had the same effect. Xu Shuangci glanced in Qing’s direction.

He was lying flat in the grass, moving quickly; by now, he was already several hundred meters away.

Xu Shuangci looked away.

First, he picked some tender tips of the spicy grass. These could be used as a seasoning or cooked directly in a stir-fry.

After picking two handfuls, Xu Shuangci found two stones.

He crushed the spicy grass and tossed it into the small lake in front of him. Next, he walked around the lake’s edge, digging up wild vegetables. The spicy grass gradually took effect, and fish of various sizes began to float to the surface of the small lake, which was only a few square meters in size.

Xu Shuangci was delighted. It works!

By the time all the fish had surfaced, the lake’s surface glistened silver, as if glowing.

It was like picking up free gifts; Xu Shuangci used a stick to hook the fish toward him, taking his time to sort through them, keeping the big ones and releasing the small ones. Just as he was happily gathering them, he felt a heavy weight on his leg.

Xu Shuangci looked down.

A plump little white bird had just flown into his leg. Now it lay sprawled in the grass, flapping its tiny feet as it tried to get back up.

Xu Shuangci held his breath.

This little ball of fluff was smaller than his palm, its chest puffed out with down. Its beak and two tiny claws were yellow, while its feathers were pure white. Round and plump, it looked just like a glutinous rice ball.

Seeing that it had been flapping for a long time without getting up, Xu Shuangci reached out and gently cupped it in his hand.

“Cheep, cheep!”

Xu Shuangci noticed its black, beady eyes, which seemed to hold a hint of wariness, and withdrew his hand.

“I mean no harm,” he said, placing the fish he’d just caught in front of the little plump bird. “Here, have some fish.”

The little plump bird glanced at him, then, without a moment’s hesitation, grabbed the fish in its beak and tilted its head back to swallow it.

Xu Shuangci propped his chin in his hand and watched for a moment. Seeing that it couldn’t swallow it, he gathered some more small fish and piled them in front of it.

“Forget the big one—just eat the small ones.”

The chubby little bird promptly let go and picked up a small fish to eat.

It was eating so happily that Xu Shuangci felt the urge to stroke the downy feathers puffing out on its chest.

But as soon as he reached out, the chubby little bird nimbly hopped back, watching him warily with the fish still in its beak. Xu Shuangci had no choice but to withdraw his hand.

“I won’t touch you. Take your time.”

He watched it for a moment, then caught another fish.

By the time he’d caught nearly all the fish, he saw the chubby little bird drag the last few into the grass, then disappear into the thicket.

“What a pity—I can’t keep it.”

“I have a big cat at home who gets jealous easily. If I brought that little chubby bird home, it would probably be scared to death.”

Thinking of the big cat, Xu Shuangci looked up.

Qing had already run far ahead, chasing the herd, but there were two horned beasts lying on their backs—they must have been caught just now. After waiting a moment, Qing returned, carrying two more horned beasts on his shoulders.

Xu Shuangci met him with a wicker basket on her back and helped him tie the horned beasts to his body. Qing: “Want some hides?”

Xu Shuangci: “A few. But we can’t eat them all even if we catch them, so let’s do it for now.”

Qing nodded and crouched down.

Xu Shuangci climbed onto the big cat with ease. Qing’s nose brushed against his waist, and a faint, almost imperceptible scent of birds wafted over. 

Qing: “Did you run into a bird?”

Xu Shuangci paused in his climb up the tiger’s back.

See? Even a hint of that scent is a problem.

He explained, “I was bumped by a chubby little bird.”

Qing’s tail brushed against Xu Shuangci’s leg, as if trying to wipe away the scent. He said, “Next time, keep your distance.”

Xu Shuangci climbed onto Qing’s back, shielding the wicker basket. “It doesn’t look like it would attack anyone.”

Qing replied coldly, “The little ones won’t, but the big ones will.”

Xu Shuangci sighed helplessly, “I get it.”

Upon reaching the cave, Qing placed the animal hide directly downstream in the stream.

Xu Shuangci emptied the fish and wild vegetables from the wicker basket, then walked with Qing to the base of the cave. He pointed at the sheer stone wall and said, “What about the ladder we agreed on? Isn’t it time to start digging?”

Qing replied, “I’ll dig it if you trade me a hide.”

Xu Shuangci looked puzzled. “Trade which animal hides?”

Qing didn’t bother explaining; he simply dropped to his hands and knees.

“I’ll get you up first.”

Xu Shuangci shook his head and nudged the big cat. “You go up first. Bring down a leather bag and the wicker basket. I’ll catch them from down here.”

Qing glanced at him, swished his tail, and nimbly leaped onto the cave entrance.

Xu Shuangci waited for a moment, but Qing didn’t come out. He said, “The wicker basket and the animal skin bag are together, on the right…” Xu Shuangci’s throat tightened, and the words he was about to say were choked off.

He stared in disbelief at the person emerging from the cave.

A person!

Where did this person come from?!

“Who are you!” Xu Shuangci took two defensive steps back, his expression cold and stern as he stared at the cave entrance, immediately drawing the stone knife from his waist. Qing’s gaze swept over his hand.

The wicker basket he was clutching creaked under his grip.

Qing jumped down from the cave, still holding the basket. Instead of answering Xu Shuangci, he held up the object in his hand.

“I got it.”

Xu Shuangci glanced at the cave entrance again. No big cat.

And the man standing before the stone wall… Xu Shuangci’s pupils contracted. It was the person he had dreamed of so many times!

Qing set down the wicker basket and said, “I’m Qing. Come here.”

Xu Shuangci instinctively took two steps forward, then snapped his head up as he realized what was happening.

It was definitely Qing’s voice!

Seeing that he wasn’t moving, Qing simply walked toward him.

He was tall, and even though he slowed his pace, he was at Xu Shuangci’s side within two meters in the blink of an eye.

He didn’t understand why the sub-beastman would react so strongly, but he didn’t want him to keep his quills bristling in his direction. Qing steadied his steps and moved a few more inches closer.

Xu Shuangci stiffened and took a step back.

Qing grabbed the half-beast’s wrist first. He lowered his head, and his long white hair slid down, brushing against Xu Shuangci’s cheek.

“It shouldn’t be.”

What shouldn’t happen…

Xu Shuangci’s mind was a jumble.

She caught that scent of fresh grass again and clearly saw the man’s ice-blue eyes, identical to Qing’s.

Xu Shuangci stared blankly: “Big Cat…”

Qing stood up straight. “Don’t call me Big Cat.”

The exact same exchange, but now directed at this white-haired man standing before him instead of Big Cat. Xu Shuangci shut his eyes tightly. It was Qing.

But what kind of world is this, anyway!

A chill ran down his cheek.

Xu Shuangci’s eyelashes fluttered like grass swaying in the wind, disheveled and trembling. He opened his eyes and saw Qing Che’s face.

A demon…

Qing bent down and picked up Xu Shuangci.

At 5’10”, Xu Shuangci sat in his arms; compared to Qing, who stood at 6’3”, he was indeed a bit slender.

“How could that be… You’re clearly a big cat. Am I dreaming…”

Hearing his incoherent mutterings, and considering the half-beast’s reaction, Qing felt he needed to have a serious talk with him.

The Golden Continent was a land of beastmen, and it was rare for a beastman to be unable to transform into human form from birth. Someone like Xu Shuangci, who was practically terrified at the sight of a beastman taking human form, clearly had a problem.

Qing worried that he might have suffered a head injury. If that were the case, he’d have to take him to see the Priest.

He didn’t even bother with the game they’d brought back.

Inside the cave, Qing sat on a stone bed and cradled Xu Shuangci, seating him sideways on his lap.

“Shuangci.”

Xu Shuangci was lost in a tangled web of thoughts and didn’t hear her.

“Xu Shuangci.”

In his human form, Qing resembled snow atop a mountain peak—his appearance was cold. Without the soft fur of his beast form to create an illusion of warmth, the chill of his nature was laid bare.

He called him by his full name: Xu Shuangci.

The person in his arms shuddered, then looked up to meet the face before him—a face that was almost unrecognizable.

He grabbed the hand at his waist and pulled him back into a corner.

Xu Shuangci hugged his knees, a hint of wariness in his eyes, but mostly a sense of helplessness.

“What’s going on… Where am I? Why are you…”

He looked at the town, his voice trembling.

Qing cut to the chase. “This is the Golden Continent. I used to be Qing, a beastman from the Central Tiger Tribe, but I was expelled from the tribe several years ago.” 

“Beastman?” Xu Shuangci was even more confused.

“Yes. On the Golden Continent, there are Beastmen and Sub-Beastmen. Beastmen hunt to protect the tribe. Sub-Beastmen gather, weave, and raise the young. You’re a Sub-Beastman I found in my territory.”

Xu Shuangci furrowed his brow.

He looked at Qing by the stone bed, thinking of that big cat he’d been kissing and petting… “I’m not a sub-beastman.”

“Then what are you?”

Xu Shuangci suddenly fell silent.

He clutched the animal hide at his feet, staring at the aloof man before him.

“Shuangci.” Qing tried to move closer.

Xu Shuangci grabbed the animal hide and pulled it over his head.

“Give me a moment!”

The big cat was gone from the cave; there was only a man left. He was the big cat, and the big cat was him.

Xu Shuangci clutched his head in agony.

What kind of world had he ended up in?

Seeing that he was startled, Qing stood still.

Xu Shuangci peeked at him through a gap in the animal hide. When their eyes met, he shrunk back into the corner.

Just like when he first arrived.

A chill crept into Qing’s eyes; he didn’t like this kind of defensiveness.

“I’m leaving.”

Xu Shuangci instinctively sat up straight and blurted out, “Don’t you dare leave!”

Qing stopped in his tracks, his tone growing slightly cold. “You’re afraid of me.”

Xu Shuangci flinched, resting his chin on his knees. His voice was a little weak as he said, “I… I just didn’t have time to react. Give me a moment.”

Qing turned away, his face silhouetted against the light; his towering figure made him seem overwhelmingly imposing.

“I won’t abandon you. Besides, you said you’d be my partner.” There was a fleeting softness in his voice, but Xu Shuangci, who was too flustered, didn’t catch it.

Xu Shuangci: “That was just…”

Qing: “Just what?”

Xu Shuangci looked into those eyes and said nothing more. His mind was in turmoil.

Qing looked at him and spoke the words he had held in his heart for so long: “If you want to go to the tribe, I can take you there.” With that, he turned and walked away.

To Xu Shuangci, it seemed like he was walking away decisively.