Chapter 187: Chapter 186: There’s Still a Chance to Back Out

“This is negotiable?” A glint flashed in Wei Ce’s eyes as he spoke, displeased. “For all we know, you two are in this together, deliberately trying to scam us out of our Crystal Stones.

If you actually pull this off, wouldn’t we end up paying twice for something that should have only cost us a hundred Level 6 Crystal Stones in the first place?

How can you be so crooked? I’ll have to go back to the Beast Soldier Camp and tell everyone not to come to your Martial Arts Hall for duels!”

A thin layer of sweat broke out on the attendant’s forehead. He said hurriedly, “My good sir, you can’t just pin any old blame on us.

We have nothing to do with this Gray Parrot Clan. They’re clearly the ones who’ve set their sights on you. What Female Saint *wouldn’t* want to marry into your Iron-eating Beast Clan?

How about this,” he said, lowering his voice. “Sixty Crystal Stones. No customer in our establishment has ever gotten a price this low.”

“Thirty, and not a stone more.” There were fighting rings in the Beast Soldier Camp, where for a duel, each Beast Soldier only paid ten Crystal Stones, and the camp subsidized another ten.

As someone with a bit of status in the Beast Soldier Camp, Wei Ce recalled hearing a rumor that there was no subsidy. In fact, of the twenty Crystal Stones the Beast Soldiers paid, seven or eight would be secretly pocketed.

He also lowered his voice and continued, “Even at thirty Crystal Stones, you’ll still make a profit of about ten. I know the market. So, you can choose to make that profit, or you can choose to make nothing.”

As he said this, he took Si Shuo’s hand and started to stride past the attendant, ready to leave.

The attendant gritted his teeth in frustration. He really couldn’t be bothered with a measly ten or so Crystal Stones, nor did he want to put up with this attitude. But, if he let these four males leave today, the reputation of the Ao Family Martial Arts Hall would plummet tomorrow, and he had no idea how his clan would treat him!

“Fine, thirty it is. But don’t go spreading this around,” the attendant agreed, exasperated.

Wei Ce walked over to Yin Jiang with a smile and whispered, “It was originally a hundred Crystal Stones, fifty from each of us. I’ve managed to save my entire share, and yours is twenty stones cheaper, so hurry up and pay up, brother.”

Yin Jiang shot him an annoyed glare, then took out thirty Level 6 Crystal Stones and handed them over. Si Shuo and Ji Liang exchanged a glance, both pressing their lips together to hide their amusement.

The group of four turned back into the Martial Arts Hall, walking straight past Ma Zhi and her companions without so much as a sideways glance.

However, just as they were about to turn a corner, Wei Ce paused and said coolly, “Even if I have to follow my Female Saint and gnaw on dry, hard bamboo by the roadside, I’d still be happy and content.

So don’t trouble yourselves by keeping me in your thoughts. But if you still insist on marrying into the Iron-eating Beast Clan…

…then it’s hard to say whether any Gray Parrot Clan Members will be seen in the North City District’s market anymore!”

A threat. A naked threat. But Ma Zhi knew that while the Iron-eating Beast Clan Members were usually aloof and proud, not one to quibble with others, once they made up their minds, not even a team of eighteen fighting bulls could change it.

With her hopes of marrying into the Iron-eating Beast Clan dashed, Ma Zhi was both furious and humiliated. Her voice grew shrill. “Fine! So the Iron-eating Beast Clan is too noble for us! You look down on the Crystal Stones our Gray Parrot Clan works so hard to earn. We’ll just choose another family, then. You’re not the only option in Guangshou City!”

With that, she huffed, “Let’s go. We’re going to the Golden Python Ni Family. They’re the family that produced Guangshou City’s only Fifteenth-level Warrior.”

Wei Ce looked at Si Shuo, a little nervously. “White Fox Cub, our Iron-eating Beast Clan is plenty strong. I guarantee you’ll be able to strut through Guangshou City without a care in the world. Even the Golden Python Ni Family wouldn’t dare to clash with us head-on.

Besides, we have our own industries and a lot of land. As for Crystal Stones… having enough to spend is what matters. Any more is just a waste, don’t you think?”

Si Shuo felt his palm grow sweaty and couldn’t help but ask with a soft laugh, “Wei Ce, are you afraid we’ll choose to form a union with the Golden Python Beast Clan and give up on your Iron-eating Beast Clan?”

Wei Ce nodded emphatically. “Yes. The Ni Family is domineering and arrogant. Your family already has one Snake Beast. If you form a union with them too, I’m afraid Ji Liang will be oppressed.”

Ji Liang’s golden eyes constricted. ’It’s more than just oppression,’ he thought. ’My life would be in danger!’

“Don’t worry. Ji Liang is the only Snake Beast in our family. To be precise,” Si Shuo said seriously, her lips pressed together, “if you can defeat Yin Jiang, you will be the last Beast Husband the female of the house accepts.”

Wei Ce’s gaze swept over Si Shuo and her two companions in astonishment. “Then… how many males are in our family right now?”

’What he didn’t dare to ask,’ he thought, ’was how old the family’s female was, how many Beast Husbands she already had, and why he’d be fortunate enough to be the last.’

“Sixteen!” Si Shuo answered without a moment’s hesitation. Ji Liang and Yin Jiang both froze. One choked on his own spit and broke into a coughing fit, while the other’s lip twitched.

Wei Ce shot them a sympathetic glance. ’The Female Saint must be getting on in years,’ he mused. ’She’s probably getting tired of handling so many males, which is why she’s decided to stop accepting more.’

’Actually, that’s perfect. With so many members in the family, the Female Saint won’t pay too much attention to me. There’ll be plenty of other males fighting to take care of her. As for supporting the family, one more person won’t matter, and one less won’t be missed.’

’Basically, there wouldn’t be much difference whether I’m part of a couple or not. I’ll have done my duty to the clan, they’ll stop nagging me to find a partner, and I can spend all day messing around with my brothers.’

’It’s perfect!’

“So, how many cubs are in the family?” he couldn’t resist asking. ’The number of cubs doesn’t really have anything to do with me,’ he thought. ’Whoever fathered them is responsible for them. I’m just curious.’

Since one of her hands was held by him, Si Shuo raised her other and began counting on her fingers. “One, two, three… nine… and two more cubs were just born recently… Oh, I can’t keep track!”

Having said this, she looked at the surprisingly calm Wei Ce. “Wei Ce, are you still set on becoming Couple Brothers with me? You still have a chance to back out, you know.”

Wei Ce gave their joined hands a little swing, nodding with a smile. “Of course. We Iron-eating Beasts have strong teeth, and our words are just as strong. When we say something, we mean it. Forming a union is a serious matter, not a joke.

I said I’d have your back, and I definitely won’t go back on my word. I’m really looking forward to becoming Couple Brothers with you, White Fox Cub.”

Looking at this big, earnest lug, Si Shuo’s heart filled with guilt. All she could do was say seriously, “Wei Ce, I’ll be very good to you!”

Wei Ce pinched her cheek. His teeth began to itch, and his throat felt dry.

He let out a low cough. The warm, soft texture of her skin lingered on his fingertips, and a strange heat stirred within him. “Naturally. From now on, you’re stuck with me. White Fox Cub, you wait right here. I’m definitely going to beat this Eagle Clan member.”

He suddenly pulled Si Shuo into his arms and hugged her tight. “Once I become your Couple Brother, I’ll take you to live in a big house—the kind with a yard big enough for us to run wild in our Beast Forms!”

’Awoo, she really is just a cub,’ he thought. ’Her body is so soft and smells so good… What do I do? I don’t want to let go!’

He couldn’t resist nuzzling her neck, unable to get enough of her scent. Even her chest felt as soft as cotton against him…

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