Chapter 22: The Sacred Bonding Ceremony

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At that moment, Qiyue suddenly asked, “By the way, you said if Chier soaks in lava, does he need to eat? And will his internal space be affected? Won’t the things inside get destroyed?”

“How would I know? We have to feel our way through this. We’ll keep watch nearby; if he’s hungry, he’ll naturally come out and ask us for food. As for his internal space, who knows? Just put things in my space first, that should be fine.”

“How big is your space?” Qiyue asked curiously.

“Well, how to put it… it’s about the size of five yards like this front courtyard,” Feng Yu estimated.

Hmm, the front yard was about forty square meters, so Feng Yu’s space was roughly two hundred square meters. “Can your space preserve things fresh?”

“Preserve things fresh? What do you mean?” Feng Yu was puzzled by her question.

“In Chier’s space, time stands still. That means whatever you put in stays exactly the same when you take it out. Is yours like that too?” Qiyue thought their spaces might be similar since they were father and son.

“Oh, it’s not like that. Chier’s space is more advanced. Mine is only temporary storage; it doesn’t preserve freshness, and only dead things can be stored, not living creatures.” Feng Yu wondered if Chier’s beast form was more advanced than his because his space definitely was.

Inside the house, Qiyue laid two bear skins on either side as beds. She didn’t care about sharing a room with Feng Yu; after all, the ceremony was tomorrow, and they would leave the day after.

Qiyue sat on one of the bear skins and took out some hemp rope to start weaving sacks. Feng Yu stared silently at her calm face by the light of three bright stones inside the room. “Why are you making so many hemp sacks?”

“A few days ago, Brother Huyue exchanged a lot of grass seeds. I took fifteen bags. These need to be packed in hemp sacks; if I use beast skin bags, they’ll spoil from the heat. Also, if we encounter anything after leaving, I’ll need to gather more supplies—some seasonings, fruits. Hemp sacks have a lot of uses, so I’m making extra just in case,” Qiyue explained without looking up as she wove.

Feng Yu was fascinated by Qiyue, finding herself inexplicably drawn to her.

Until she grew tired, covered the bright stones with beast skin, wrapped herself in the skin, and lay down, his gaze still lingered.

Looking at Qiyue’s serene sleeping face, imagining the happy times the three of them would have together in the future, Feng Yu finally drifted off to sleep.

Early the next morning, Qiyue brought Feng Yu to the chieftain’s house. “Chieftain, are you there?”

Hujia pushed the door open. Seeing Qiyue, her face darkened. “What do you want?”

“I have business with the chieftain,” Qiyue replied calmly.

“Then tell me. What is it?” Hujia said, trying to assert dominance.

This was a literal case of “the fox assuming the tiger’s might.” Hujia was a female of the Fox Tribe, and Tiger Wei was a tiger-form beastman. Their names were quite a coincidence: “Hujia Tiger Wei,” just like the phrase “the fox assuming the tiger’s might.”

“I’d rather speak with the chieftain. Even if I tell you, I’d still have to see the chieftain to solve it,” Qiyue said, no longer interested in cooperating. Since she was leaving soon, there was no need to show weakness.

“You…” Hujia was so angry she lost words.

“Who is it, Hujia? Why don’t you come in?” The chieftain asked as he came out. “It’s Qiyue. What’s the matter?”

“Chieftain, I would like to ask you to perform the pairing ceremony for us,” Qiyue said respectfully.

The chieftain looked at Qiyue, then at Feng Yu. “He is your son’s father beast, right? Have you both thought this through?” The beastman was familiar to him; his beast form was a fire phoenix, apparently the young chieftain of the Feng Yan Tribe.

“Yes, we have thought it through. Because Chier’s transformation requires special conditions, we need to go far away. So we want you to perform the ceremony now; we will leave the tribe tomorrow.” Qiyue nodded and took Chier down, cupping him in her hands.

“So urgent?” Tiger Wei thought this was too rushed. The beastman had just arrived yesterday, and today they wanted to hold the ceremony immediately.

“Chier’s tribe transforms early, and the place we’re going is very far, so it has to be urgent. Please, chieftain, be understanding,” Qiyue pleaded.

“Alright then. I’ll send someone to find the three elders. You two go find the shaman. We’ll meet at the Sacred Fire Cave in half an hour.” Tiger Wei figured he had nothing pressing, so he might as well help.

“Thank you, chieftain. We’ll see you shortly.” Qiyue led Feng Yu off to find Luli.

“Ah, I don’t know if this little female is lucky or unlucky. She just ended the contract with Shide a few days ago and now she’s with the young chieftain of Feng Yan,” Tiger Wei sighed.

“That beastman is the young chieftain of Feng Yan?” Hujia asked with displeasure.

“Isn’t he? He’s been here a few times before. His beast form is a fire phoenix, and he’s very powerful,” Feng Song said before leaving to find someone.

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Half an hour later, the chieftain and three elders arrived at the Sacred Fire. Hujia and Huli’er followed behind with the others.

“Since everyone is here, we will now conduct the pairing ceremony between Feng Yu and Qiyue,” the chieftain announced.

“Wait. Qiyue and I will hold a sacred pairing ceremony. Please, unnecessary people leave!” Feng Yu said, looking at Hujia and Huli’er. As soon as they entered, Chier had alerted him that these two females were the ones who bullied Qiyue the most. There was no way he would let them witness the ceremony—they might cause trouble.

Tiger Wei frowned. This had never happened before. Who would chase guests from a pairing ceremony?

“What right do you have to make us leave?” Huli’er protested.

“Newcomers apparently can’t expel observers!” Hujia said arrogantly.

“The observers you speak of are those invited by the pairing couple to witness and offer blessings. We did not invite you, so please leave,” Feng Yu’s voice rang out in the Sacred Fire Cave, firm and unquestionable.

“Why should we leave? This is our Luyu Tribe territory. You have no right to drive us out!” Huli’er shouted.

Hearing this, Feng Yu chuckled coldly. “I didn’t expect the females of Luyu Tribe to be so ill-mannered and disrespectful to the Beast God. They interrupt and meddle in others’ sacred ceremonies! Truly enlightening.” Feng Yu then cupped his fist toward Tiger Wei, a very rude gesture, as if slapping him in the face in public.

Tiger Wei’s face darkened instantly. Feng Yu was really disrespecting him and his family. Although maybe he didn’t realize they were his family, since he opposed their attendance, they had to leave immediately. He shouted, “You two leave at once!”

Huli’er wanted to say more, but Hujia shook her head and dragged her away.

Outside the Sacred Fire Cave, Huli’er complained, “Mother, why did you stop me? Letting them hold the ceremony so smoothly?”

“Don’t be so impatient,” Hujia whispered a few words to her.

“All right, I’ll handle it now,” Huli’er said as she rushed off.

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