Ziqian was worried that Xue might have already returned and had not eaten yet. A full day of hunting was exhausting, and Xue only brought one dish for lunch.
Ziqian had planned to at least reheat the food he set aside for Xue, but it had been so long since he spent time alone with Huo that he lost track of time. He was unknowingly wrapped in the warmth of the beast's sunny personality and cheerful chatter.
From a distance, Ziqian saw that their tent was still dark. Surprise flickered through him at first, then a sudden unease crept into his chest. Torches already lit the paths, and most of the tribe was settling in for the night, but Xue still hadn't returned.
Why haven't they come back yet? He wondered anxiously.
"Maybe they decided to keep hunting and return tomorrow?" Ero answered, uncertainty lacing his childish voice.
No, Xue said they would only hunt for the day.
The image of Huo, gravely injured as he fought the monster, suddenly flashed in Ziqian's mind, and his hand began to tremble.
No. He didn't want to see Xue hurt like that. He didn't want either of the twins to suffer like that again.
Sensing the sudden shift in Ziqian's emotions, Gae spoke quickly, trying to soothe him. "Don't worry, Ah-Zi. Maybe Xue was only in the Patriarch's tent to report."
Ziqian hurried inside, planning to set his things down first, light the torch, and then head to Lia's tent to ask if there was any news about Xue and his group.
He was about to reach for the torch when a strong arm suddenly wrapped around his waist, pulling him into a firm embrace.
Ziqian instinctively tensed—he was about to struggle until the familiar, cold scent of pheromones filled his senses.
"…Xue."
Without a word, the man turned him around, pressed their bodies together, and claimed his lips, swallowing every question Ziqian had wanted to ask.
If Ziqian had not already been so familiar with Xue's pheromones, he might have thought it was someone else. This kiss was nothing like the ones they had shared before—it was urgent, consuming, and edged with a desperation that caught Ziqian completely off guard.
Then he felt a sharp sting on his lips.
Tch… that hurts.
He even tasted something metallic, yet Ziqian didn't push Xue away. Instead, he wrapped his arms around the man's neck and returned the kiss with equal intensity.
Xue was a fast learner. His technique had improved enough to leave Ziqian soft all over and breathless despite the lingering sting on his lips.
Ziqian panted softly as he leaned against the man's chest after their lips finally parted. Xue didn't speak, but his pheromones continued to grow heavy in the air, wrapping Ziqian's senses, making him lightheaded and his body heating up.
"Xue…" Ziqian murmured, voice unsteady. "I want…"
Xue lifted him with ease and carried him to the grass bed layered with monster furs of various colors.
"Tell me what you want, Ziqian," Xue said as he gently laid him down, his voice rough and hoarse.
"You might be eaten whole tonight, Ah-Zi. Xue's desire is terrifyingly strong," Ziqian heard Ero comment just before the red fluffball completely vanished.
The four guardians must have already withdrawn the moment Xue kissed him, but as usual, the mischievous Ero had lingered a little longer, unable to resist making one last remark.
What Ero didn't say was that, beneath the desire, Xue was also exuding intense possessiveness, anger, and jealousy. The moment Gae sensed it, he immediately fled to hide and cry, while Nia, despite his weakness, began bouncing happily.
The four guardians still couldn't understand the stark contrast in Xue's innate personality. It was as though two completely opposite natures coexisted within him—something commonly seen in those with multiple personalities—but they were certain Xue did not suffer from such a condition.
"Then what is it?" Ero murmured, but he didn't dwell on the question. There would be plenty of time to observe and figure it out later. For now, he decided to let Ah-Zi enjoy himself.
This time, Ziqian didn't have the energy to reprimand Ero. He had wanted Xue for a long time, but the man was usually reserved, his restraint almost unshakable.
Even over the past few days, when they slept beside each other, it had never gone beyond lingering kisses and light touches before Xue inevitably regained his rationality, patted him gently, and urged him to sleep.
Ziqian didn't know what had finally snapped that restraint tonight. The air around Xue felt heavy and dangerous, saturated with desire that made his head spin and was hard to resist.
"You…" Ziqian said softly. His fingers traced down from Xue's chest toward his firm abdomen. "I want you, Xue."
It felt bold and reckless. And once spoken aloud, there was no pulling the words back.
But Ziqian had never been the type to turn away from a meal, especially when it was offered so openly, so fiercely, right in front of him.
"Then I'll give it to you," Xue said hoarsely. His voice is full of possession and desire. "You're mine."
He captured Ziqian's lips again before the sub-beast could respond. His mouth trailed down from Ziqian's lips to his throat, sucking lightly, leaving faint marks.
Xue was driven purely by instinct. He focused solely on bringing pleasure to the sub-beast—the memories of their previous nights guided him unerringly to every sensitive place on Ziqian's body.
He slowly took Ziqian out of his clothes, his hands lingering as they traced over the smooth, delicate skin. No place was ignored beneath his touch—even the two pink beans on the sub-beast's chest were not spared. They were pinched and twisted, and each slow caress drew a restrained, breathy sound from Ziqian.
Impatience twisted sharply inside Ziqian as the man's slow, deliberate touches continued. The intoxication was unbearable—it was like sparks igniting extreme hunger he had never felt before, spreading through his body until it felt like he was burning from the inside out.
Every second stretched painfully long, every lingering caress leaving him aching and desperate for more.
"Mmm… Xue…" Ziqian stammered, breath uneven as impatience finally spilled over. "Touch me… here… too."
He caught Xue's hand and guided it lower, pressing it where his body was trembling most, where the need had built until it was impossible to ignore—his already dripping chrysanthemum.
The moment Xue's hand met the soft and wet opening, his breath caught sharply. Under normal circumstances, the last threads of his restraint would have forced him to pull back.
But tonight was different.
The knowledge that Ziqian had spent the entire day with Huo burned relentlessly in his mind, drowning out reason until only a single thought remained.
Mark him. Claim him.
Possessiveness surged through Xue like waves, fierce and consuming. All he wanted now was to claim the sub-beast beneath him completely. And now, seeing Ziqian show no resistance and instead respond enthusiastically, the restraints that had been holding Xue back collapsed in an instant.
"Hnng…" Ziqian moaned as the man's calloused finger slowly traced his hole while licking and sucking on his nipple.
The air inside the tent thickened with heat as their bodies pressed close.
Ziqian's pheromones spiraled out of control. The sweet scent of vanilla flooded the tent, entwining with the sharp, raging note of mint. Anyone passing by in front of their tent would easily know what they were doing inside.
Ziqian had never felt so overwhelmed before. He had always preferred to take control during sex, believing that at least in this area, he could keep a firm grip on the reins. Unlike the rest of his life, this was where he found comfort—an escape from his reality.
Now, even that was slipping away.
His body felt like it was a puddle in Xue's attention, every deliberate touch melting him further until he could barely think. Xue's pheromones, once refreshing and calming, had turned intoxicating, like a strong aphrodisiac blurring his reason.
Ziqian had never wanted anything so badly.
He needed more—needed closeness, needed release, but Xue's fingers drew everything out, unhurried and merciless, leaving Ziqian restless and breathless with frustration.
"Xue…" Ziqian breathed. "Kiss me."
Xue didn't hesitate. He leaned down and captured Ziqian's lips. The kiss was deep and consuming, stealing the rest of his breath away. Ziqian clung to him instinctively, arms wrapping tight around his shoulders as the kiss grew more heated, more urgent, until it felt like he might drown in it.
Feeling the heat of the man pressed against him, Ziqian arched upward, desperate for more contact. His fingers slid into Xue's long silver hair, gripping tightly as if afraid the man might pull away, while his other hand drifted lower, intent on removing the last barrier between them.
Ziqian's body burned with need the moment their lower bodies touched. His pale legs instinctively wrapped around Xue's waist, drawing the man closer.
Ziqian then reached and held Xue's hard and hot rod. He then pressed and rubbed it together with his own erection. The difference between their sizes hit him all at once, dizzying and intoxicating. Both of their penises were erect and already oozing with precum, but his was not even half of the man's.
"Mmm..." A low groan slipped from Xue's throat as he felt Ziqian's warm hand against him.
"Xue feels me inside... It's soft and warm~," Ziqian whispered teasingly, but before he could say more lewd words, a finger was suddenly inserted into his hole.
Fuck! He just inserted a finger, and I almost cum.
"Yes," Xue answered hoarsely. "It's really warm and soft." His blue eyes filled with turbulent desire, dark and unsteady, as if something feral was clawing its way to the surface.