Rebirth with the Beast_4

Chapter 35 continued…

By the time he finished off the tusk-boar, he realized the consequence of his clever little plan: he couldn’t drag the wedged-in beast back out, either.

Xinuo couldn’t help laughing as he watched Su Yi tug the boar by the tail, feet scraping and marching in place. In the end, Xinuo helped pull it free. After they dressed the boar, it was already noon. They ate a little roast meat and some of the meat soup Su Yi had put into his space yesterday.

When they reached the orchard, Su Yi stared, speechless, at the peaches—about the size of a human head. Peaches were great, but with fruit that big, if someone with his short reach tried picking them, he’d be covered in peach fuzz. Su Yi’s favorite fruits were lychee and mango. He’d been in this other world a long time now and had found quite a few things from his old world, but usually the ones he didn’t much care for. At least peaches were among his least favorites. Still, when winter came, never mind peaches—people would be eating tree leaves.

“Do you want to pick them?”

Seeing Su Yi frown at the fruit, Xinuo asked.

Su Yi nodded. When he saw Xinuo getting ready to help, he hurriedly stopped him. “Don’t. You go hunt nearby—leave these to me.”

A big rough-and-ready beastman like Xinuo would get itchy all over from the fuzz in no time. Better to leave the delicate job to Su Yi.

So Su Yi spent the whole afternoon battling peaches. By the time he’d gotten enough, he jumped down from the tree, completely done in.

“I hate peaches the most—dammit, I’m itching to death.” He scratched his neck and headed off to find water. He needed a bath immediately.

Just then Xinuo returned, carrying two dressed red-eye beasts.

Seeing the red scratch-marks all over Su Yi’s neck, Xinuo instantly understood why Su Yi hadn’t let him pick. When Su Yi stored the game away, Xinuo scooped him up and ran toward the nearest water source.

The moment Su Yi plunged in, it felt like being reborn. While he soaked, so comfortable he could have dozed off, a shadow suddenly passed overhead. He instinctively opened his eyes to see a giant lion flying across the sky. He stared, stupefied—no 3D movie could match this. It was stunning. If that big lion suddenly fell out of the sky, he thought, he’d be smashed into a meat patty.

“Are there other tribes around here?”

Su Yi turned to ask.

Xinuo was frowning up at the winged lion, too. “No. It should just be passing through.”

Once Su Yi finished washing, they brought down a few more animals and hurried back.

Near the valley, Su Yi got down and dug several traps around the perimeter. He usually disdained traps, but with his space to store food and keep it from spoiling, he wanted to bring in as much as possible as fast as possible. With enough stockpiled, he could guarantee a better life for his family.

Under Su Yi’s direction, Xinuo dug the pits—simple ones: a hole covered with branches and leaves, and a few chunks of meat on top as bait.

They had chosen this valley because sheer cliffs ringed it—beasts without wings would have a hard time climbing in.

By the time they finished, it was already dark.

When they got home, Mino wasn’t there; Little Eli and Dino were bored in the yard, playing with a giant potato.

Watching Eli circling the potato, Su Yi suddenly thought children here had a very dull childhood. He looked at the potato, then turned and ran out. Eli tilted his head. “Huh? Where’s mother-father going?”

In ancient China people already played football—cuju. Su Yi decided to weave a ball from vine for Eli. He remembered that felines had a mysterious fixation with balls. Maybe Dino would love it, too?

He quickly made a simple ball, and while he was at it, a jump rope, so they could skip for fun later. Before he even got back, Xinuo had brought Eli out to meet him.

Holding up his handiwork, Su Yi grinned at Eli. “Look—something fun!”

Eli was still just a kid. The moment he heard “fun,” he leaned forward, wriggling to dive into Su Yi’s arms. Su Yi caught him, tossed the ball into the air, headed it twice, then caught it on his knee and dribbled nimbly. Back in middle school, he’d loved soccer—often coming home late just to play a little longer. His mom had scolded him plenty for it.

Eli tracked the ball with big swiveling eyes, utterly dazzled by the footwork.

“Waaah! Mother-father, you’re amazing!”

Back at the house, Su Yi taught both kids how to play; once they more or less got it, he went into the kitchen to tinker with new dishes.

Their kitchen was near the river—handy for water. The stove was built in the traditional rural style. Since it connected to the bedroom kang (heated bed), the flue to the kang would be blocked during warm weather. Two stone pots and a stone griddle sat on the stove—stones Su Yi had chosen during construction for their heat resistance. The thin griddle was perfect for stir-fries and pancakes.

Chapter 36

There were counters all around the kitchen, two tiers each, enough for food and dishes. Su Yi planned to build a kiln soon and try firing some pottery. Shells were handy, but proper bowls were better if they could manage it. Outside the kitchen, a small shed held the firewood and branches he’d gathered.

Since they’d found burnable stones today, Su Yi wanted to try cooking with them. He lit kindling with a fire striker, then added the stones. Sure enough, like coal, they caught quickly. He put the burning stones into several shells—two for the kitchen and one for each bedroom. As a temporary “lamp,” they were so-so. Lighting them was a hassle and nowhere near as convenient as candles. Once they reached “moderate prosperity,” he thought, he’d render beast fat and make simple oil lamps.

With lighting sorted, he took out a few potatoes to make a cold potato salad. In summers past he never had much appetite, and his mom would sometimes make that dish.

First peel and slice, then blanch the slices in boiling water—just five or six tenths done. The seasoning could be adjusted to taste. Su Yi browned a lot of minced meat in hot oil, minced a few red chiles, then cracked some Sichuan peppercorns and toasted them, too. Knowing some folks couldn’t handle spice, he split all the toppings and planned to make two versions. Finally, toss the seasonings with the potato slices. He plated the two salads into two big shells.

He also made a big pot of mushroom-and-shredded-meat soup, cutting the mushrooms into fine slivers and—knowing beastmen loved meat—adding extra. Mino had gathered a lot of wild greens recently, so Su Yi tossed in a bit of veg as well.

Remembering the strange fruit he’d picked today, he took one out and cracked it open to study. Xinuo had said it wasn’t poisonous, so he touched his tongue to it. The powder inside the hard shell was pale; the taste was like flour, with a faint sweetness. Could it be used like flour? Maybe like mixed grains? He tried adding water—and it really formed a dough. On a whim, he beat in two eggs, added some water, and whisked it smooth, then tested a few egg pancakes on the stone griddle. The first two failed—he was still learning the heat and how the stone warmed—but after persistent tweaks, they looked better and better. By the seventh, he’d made a perfect circle.

When Xinuo noticed Su Yi hadn’t come out for ages, he peeked in to find him sweating buckets, and immediately grabbed a big leaf to fan him. Su Yi turned and smiled. “Why is Little Eli so good today? He hasn’t come hanging around for snacks.”

Xinuo told him Eli was wrapped up with the ball, rolling around the yard. Su Yi kept flipping pancakes and also stir-fried a big wok of shredded meat. By the time his back and waist ached, he finally had a stack.

He counted—over fifty pancakes. No wonder it felt like he’d been standing at the stove forever. Each was generously sized, so he’d clearly made too much. He put twenty into his space, along with half a pot of meat and half a pot of soup. Then he and Xinuo carried the rest out.

There was a stone table in the yard. Su Yi planned to plant a tree next to it later, so they could sit in the shade.

After setting out the food, he asked, “Dino, where’s your Uncle Mino?”

Dino clambered onto a stone bench, trying to sound grown-up. “He went out this afternoon and hasn’t come back yet.”

Su Yi scooped up Eli, who was still rolling with the ball. “He can’t leave the valley—he’s probably with Dilson. If he’s still not back after a while, we’ll go look.”

Because Eli couldn’t take human form yet, he had one special privilege: eating on the table. Su Yi set him in front of his spot and used a shallow shell to serve him.

He demonstrated for the two capable beastmen: spread shredded meat on a pancake, sprinkle on raw chile threads and slivered scallion, then roll it up neatly. Dino was fascinated and tried to roll one himself; when his came out loose and floppy, Su Yi helplessly handed over his own. Dino took a small bite, a shy smile blooming. “Mother-father, it’s delicious.”

As Su Yi whipped up one for Xinuo, he smiled sideways at Dino. “If you like it, have more.”

Xinuo didn’t eat the one Su Yi handed him right away; instead he held it to Su Yi’s mouth for a bite first. Su Yi took a bite. “You eat—look, I’ve already made another.”

Since Eli was still in snake form, wraps were inconvenient, so Su Yi tore a pancake into pieces and mixed it with meat for him. He hadn’t expected the powder from that strange fruit to make such good pancakes—he polished off three wraps himself.

Eli especially loved the cold potato salad—each slice was crisp, dotted with minced meat.

After so much food, a little soup to finish—perfect.

Once they were full and tidied up, Su Yi sent the kids to bed. He and Xinuo planned to look for Mino and, while at it, walk off dinner.

Their house was stone. From the start, Su Yi had been generous with materials for warmth and strength; an ordinary beast could never break in. Once the courtyard wall was finished, he planned to set sharp beast teeth into the top—useless against huge beasts, perhaps, but effective against ill-intentioned people and smaller animals.

With a valley this defensible, he doubted they’d be the only ones here forever. Unlucky beastmen tended to help each other out of shared hardship. As the valley improved, more people would come. Not that he was being petty—this world was big; all kinds of people existed. If anyone vile showed up, a few extra safeguards wouldn’t hurt.

Author’s note:

Feels like I’m a total sub—you ask, I change. (p_q) When little angels said the cub’s name sounded bad, I went back and changed them all—the cub is “Dino” now. I’ll try to fix bugs you point out, but the style and main plot won’t change. I’ve already written a lot; can’t redo it.

These two days’ chapters are a bit chill, but Dragon Bro’s little female is about to make his entrance—then it won’t be boring!

Chapter 37

“Tomorrow let’s check the traps first, then work on the courtyard wall. I’ll feel better once it’s done,” Su Yi said as they walked.

Xinuo rarely contradicted Su Yi on such things. He nodded. After a bit, they spotted two figures in the distance, one tall, one short—the taller supporting the shorter as they walked.

“It’s Mino and Dilson,” Xinuo said.

When Mino saw them, he looked a little embarrassed. “Sorry, Su Yi. I went to find herbs this afternoon and hurt my foot. I didn’t make it back to cook dinner for the kids.”

“It’s fine. How did you hurt it?” Su Yi peered down, but it was too dark to see.

“I saw a herb growing on a rock face. I climbed up for it and slipped.”

Su Yi glanced at Dilson. “It’s too dark outside to see. Let’s talk at home.”

He turned to lead the way back, but after a few steps he frowned. “You were inching along like this the whole way? If it’s bad, that could cripple your foot.”

Dilson stammered, “I—I could… carry him?”

Mino immediately shook his head, face flaming. “It’s okay, I can walk.”

Su Yi rolled his eyes skyward. These two were so wishy-washy. Wasn’t their relationship settled? Hadn’t Mino said Dilson was building his own house—weren’t they decided yet?

Just as Su Yi was silently grumbling, Dilson seemed to make up his mind and scooped Mino up. Su Yi couldn’t see Mino’s face, but the shy little yelp told him enough—he rolled his eyes again.

Back home, by the light of the makeshift lamps, Su Yi saw Mino’s ankle: no surface wound, just swollen and red.

“Don’t move. It’ll stop hurting in a bit.” He prodded the joint—no dislocation. “It’s fine. Rest and it’ll heal.” He asked Dilson to carry Mino to bed.

They’d worked all day and Su Yi was exhausted. He fell asleep quickly, curled against Xinuo.

The next day they checked the traps—two had caught game. They hauled the animals out, reset the traps, and headed back to the valley.

“This method is easier than hunting,” Xinuo remarked.

Su Yi chuckled. They chatted as they walked.

Back home, Xinuo went to dress the game. Su Yi wove a grass hat to shade himself and went back to trimming the courtyard wall. Midway he visited Dilson’s build to take a look and offer the odd suggestion. Dilson’s house wasn’t far; the others’ houses were nearer the valley center. Seeing they were farther from the river, Su Yi recommended they dig a well for daily water.

Over the next few days, Su Yi added several rope traps around the valley.

Since Mino couldn’t go out for herbs and greens, he stayed in and worked on leather boots. Once he finished the first pair, Su Yi trailed after him to learn. He’d planned to have Mino help make more, but remembered Mino would marry out; once he had his own household, he couldn’t keep making shoes for them.

They sewed with bone needles and silk from gulu beasts. Su Yi had never imagined he’d one day take up needle and thread like this—and produce something decent. Human potential really was limitless.

On the third day after the others’ houses were finished, the first rains of the rainy season arrived. Their courtyard wall was complete as well.

Listening to the soft hiss of rain, Su Yi opened the window, squinting in the cool air. He planned to transplant a few trees in the coming days, then plant herbs and vegetables in the yard. He was just about to curl up for a nap when a chorus of beastly roars split the air. He jolted upright, grabbed a big leaf, and rushed out.

Their valley was always quiet—he’d never heard roars like this. Following the sound to its source, he found several strange beastmen in the valley center.

Dilson, in beast form, was snarling furiously at them. Timid Mino, of all people, held up a bone knife, looking ready to fight the strangers to the death.

All the newcomers were “unlucky” beastmen—and their leering, mocking eyes made Su Yi frown. He slid a short blade from his space behind his back: a half-meter long, slender and sleek.

“What’s going on?” he asked coldly.

At the sight of Su Yi, Mino looked like he’d found his backbone. He scampered over. “Su Yi, they want to seize our houses!”

The other beastmen and Xinuo had gone out hunting beyond the valley in spite of the rain—they needed to stock up before the season set in. Dilson was the only one left to protect the “females.”

There were four intruders in all. When they saw Su Yi, they were incredulous. They’d already been shocked to find the valley, the strange houses, and “females.” Now, seeing such a beautiful female, they immediately had wicked thoughts. These unlucky beastmen had banded together to plunder nearby tribes; spotting two females here, they exchanged looks—grab them.

Sensing their malice, Su Yi shoved Mino back toward Dilson. At that instant one of the beasts charged him. Beastmen were fast and powerful; in a blink the attacker was on him. As the man reached to grab him, Su Yi dropped low and slashed the blade across his forearm.

Su Yi always rose to strength and pressed weakness. If someone approached with ill intent, he never showed mercy. If they were friendly, he would be as well. These thugs were lifelong raiders—no greetings, just a snatch-and-grab.

Chapter 38

Su Yi snorted. After all this physical labor, his body was no longer the frail Mirel’s.

The beastman hadn’t expected a female to fight back. Pain flared—blood split his arm.

Dilson shielded Mino and watched the other three closely. He’d wanted to help, but remembered what Su Yi had told him: in danger, protect Mino first. Mino was not only his intended mate but also the valley’s future healer. Su Yi didn’t need protecting—Xinuo had said Su Yi was strong. So when one charged Su Yi, Dilson held position and studied their foes.

Su Yi moved like a nimble monkey—dodging, eyes sharp and feral, striking only when sure of a hit.

“Hah! S, can you even handle this? If not, I’ll go,” one companion jeered.

S glared at him, eyes bloodshot. “This bastard’s no female—tch—hurts like hell!” The moment he was distracted, Su Yi drove a kick into his solar plexus, putting seven or eight tenths of his strength behind it. S stumbled back several steps.

To the others, the scene was shocking: a seemingly slender female unleashing such force; muscle rippling in his leg as he kicked—no pampered female had lines like that. His movements were crisp and efficient, every motion the real thing. He clearly fought beastmen or beasts often; otherwise, how could a female fight like this?

“That whore is just like a beastman! If he’s that tough, stop holding back,” S’s partner barked.

Annoyed by Su Yi’s strikes, S lost his temper and transformed— a giant winged lion appeared before Su Yi, flexing in a fury.

Mino snapped, “Calling yourself a beastman—can’t beat a female, so you transform?”

The other unlucky beastmen glared coldly at Mino. He squeaked and ducked behind Dilson, who coiled his tail around him to soothe him.

Just then, Ian and Jels—back early—dropped from the sky. Ian went chalk white at the sight of those beastmen. Jels sensed the tension instantly. As a primordial winged dragon, his mere presence radiated a terrifying pressure. The moment he appeared, the raiders started to edge away.

Even S retreated several steps before Jels’s aura. Then he spotted Ian at Jels’s side and cackled to his companions, “Heh, isn’t that our little cutie?”

Su Yi had braced for a hard fight, but the moment he saw Jels he knew the brawl was off. These were the classic bully-the-weak, fear-the-strong types; with Jels here, they’d tuck tail and run.

But when S spewed that filth, Su Yi immediately thought of Ian’s past. In the years as a SWAT officer, he’d never seen himself as a righteous crusader—except on two points: abuse of children, and abuse of the vulnerable. And right now, a few perpetrators were standing in front of him.

He glanced at Ian, whose face was nearly translucent with fear. “Take Ian and Mino home first. Jels and I will handle this,” he told Dilson. Dilson had also caught the meaning in S’s words. He looped Mino onto his back to carry him away. When he moved to take Ian too, Ian slowly shook his head.

Dilson looked to Su Yi, torn. Seeing that, though afraid, Ian wanted to stay, Su Yi said, “Fine. Take Mino.”

Dilson turned and left. He didn’t want Mino seeing the ugly side of unlucky beastmen—he was one of them, after all.

“You know, I almost didn’t recognize our little Ian-baby,” one raider sneered. “After what we did to you, you still have the face to live?”

The others laughed. They feared the dragon, but with a female and a delicate, “non-combatant” beastman present, they figured Jels would have to hold back—who knew where the advantage lay?

“We’re all unlucky beastmen—same kind. Instead of helping your own, you hurt them. No wonder your tribes threw you out,” Su Yi shot back, disdain in every line.

Exile was a thorn in any unlucky beastman’s heart. At his words, the raiders’ faces went murderous. If not for Jels, they’d already have pounced.

“So what?” S sneered. “Aren’t you mixed up with a bunch of unlucky beastmen yourself? You don’t have a tribe either.”

“Tribe?” Su Yi snorted. “This is our tribe. Our beastmen aren’t like you. Comparing you to us is an insult to us.” He moved closer to Ian and handed him his knife.

Ian froze, puzzled.

“If you hate them—kill them and get your revenge,” Su Yi said, as casually as if he were talking about butchering game. It startled Ian; it was like discussing dinner. Jels, though, looked over in surprise. He’d known this Su Yi was different—but hadn’t expected this sharp edge.

S barked a laugh, pointing at Ian. “Hear that? He wants our little baby to kill us? Little Ian probably isn’t even as capable as that female—kill us? Ha!”

Su Yi was ready to retort when Jels, who had been silent, said, “Maybe he can’t. I can.”

Author’s note:

Thanks for the landmines (tips)! If you like it, please bookmark; if you don’t, a couple complaints are fine.

Little angels, should Jels be paired with a bristly young master uke?

Chapter 39

Jels was the kind who rarely spoke—but when he did, it could kill.

The raiders were furious, but cowed by him.

He had long, slightly wavy black hair and black eyes. Maybe that color made Su Yi feel familiar? To Su Yi, Jels looked a bit like a Eurasian mix: bold features, exquisite brows and eyes, and a lazy expression that drew the gaze.

One raider shot the others a look, suggesting they retreat for now.

Catching on, Ian said, “If they flee, they’ll bring back more. If they come take our territory together, it’ll be a headache.”

“Then we kill them,” Jels said lazily.

Four words. Brutal and efficient from his mouth.

Ian faltered. He hated them—deeply. But could he actually kill? He stared at the short blade, lost.

Jels didn’t need an answer. To him, Ian was like a younger brother—born weak, often bullied. He wouldn’t force Ian to say “kill.” But as for these men, he wouldn’t let them live.

Su Yi had heard Dilson brag about Jels’s terrifying combat power. Once, too lazy to move during a beast tide, Jels got caught in it. Any ordinary beastman would have died; he slaughtered over a hundred beasts. He was truly lazy—he’d rather take down a pile at once than go out daily.

As Jels sprinted and transformed mid-run, Su Yi watched, eyes wide, as he flipped S in an instant. S, still in beast form, was effortlessly pinned underfoot. The others transformed and bolted.

Su Yi took the chance—while all eyes were on Jels—to pull a crossbow from his space and sight on a fleeing wing. With a sharp thrip, a raider went down. Jels pounced, claws grabbing two more and smashing them into the ground. The impact sent a tremor through the earth.

“Ian, go!” Su Yi shouted.

He wanted Ian to vent—bottled-up people warped easily. Hearing him, Ian saw Su Yi already vault onto S’s back, yank a fistful of mane, and drive a punch into S’s eye. S, winded from Jels’s stomp, hadn’t recovered when Su Yi struck. A spark lit in Ian’s eyes; he scrambled onto another beastman. He actually wasn’t bad—just untrained. With guidance, he could hunt alone one day. With Su Yi’s crossbow “cheat” and Jels’s explosive force, the fight devolved into a one-sided beating.

Ian threw the knife aside and hammered with his fists. Gentle by nature, even at the edge of rage he didn’t show much on his face. His cheeks flushed; his knuckles split. He didn’t stop. All his hate and humiliation surged up: the tribe’s expulsion, family’s indifference, a life as low as an ant, and finally becoming others’ plaything to save a female. Hate, hate, hate—he ripped at the beastman’s hide and let out a raw scream.

Su Yi and Jels watched silently. They hadn’t suffered Ian’s pain; they could only stand aside and let him vent. That was what they could do—help this quiet man discharge the poison in his heart. The screaming figure was nothing like the unobtrusive Ian of everyday life.

The raiders, bloodied, now found this hysterical Ian frightening, and began begging for mercy, pleading with Ian to spare them. In their minds, he was likely “with” the dragon; only he might save them.

When Ian finally spent his fury, he collapsed off the beastman. Su Yi rushed to lift him up.

“Ian, we were wrong—we shouldn’t have done that. But we’re all unlucky beastmen. Treated unfairly, we get… extreme. Please, for the sake of our being the same kind…”

“Same kind?” Ian interrupted, dazed. “When I begged you then, did you consider me your kind? I remember you said I didn’t even count as an unlucky beastman. Am I still your kind?” His voice was hoarse, numbed by exhaustion.

When Xinuo and the others returned, they found several half-dead raiders sprawled in the valley.

After Su Yi saw Ian home, he explained to the others. Jero, hearing it, exploded—ready to finish them off. Ian’s past had always been a sore spot; these fools had walked right to their door.

“Not in the valley,” Xinuo stopped him. “There are females and cubs here.”

In the end, Dilson, Jels, Jero, and Tiger hauled the raiders away. Su Yi didn’t know what happened next. When Dilson came back and Su Yi nosed around, Dilson shooed him with, “Beastmen’s business. You little female, don’t meddle.”

Mino didn’t come back that night. Dilson figured he’d been frightened and planned to “comfort” him well. Su Yi’s eyes gleamed with mischief—was this “comfort” really just talking under the covers?

Once they were home, they stripped their wet clothes and Su Yi cooked ginger tea. Little Eli and Dino were still playing ball—Eli smacking it with his tail, Dino kicking it back. Su Yi ducked into the kitchen to test new dishes. Lately, Xinuo had brought him lots of honey and new ingredients—tomatoes, corn, lychees, and the flour-like fruit he’d found before, which he’d named the “face-fruit” (flour-fruit). He simmered corn-and-rib soup, made honey-braised pork, and a simple tomato-and-egg stir-fry.

Chapter 40

The moment Eli smelled the good food, he stopped playing and started circling Su Yi. Su Yi hardly dared move for fear of stepping on him. Every time Eli gnawed a bone, he panted with effort—so adorably dopey that Su Yi glanced from Xinuo to himself and still couldn’t see how the kid looked like either of them.