Chapter 360: Chapter 359: Like a Severed Tail

Kunzi, who had just been scared into a panicked flutter on the spot, was now all dusty and disheveled, with feathers scattered across the ground. It was only then that he realized the Beauty Snake was actually his Mother?

“Mother! You’ll scare someone to death!” Kunzi’s little heart was still pounding.

Si Shuo rubbed the tip of her nose. “Who knew a little male pup like you would be such a scaredy-cat. Your Father Ji Liang is a Snake Beastman too, and I’ve never seen you afraid of him.”

Kunzi grumbled, “I haven’t seen Father Ji Liang’s Beast Form. Besides, Hunting Falcons and snakes are natural enemies. I’m just a Hunting Falcon Pup, so it’s perfectly normal for me to be scared of a grown Snake Beast.”

’Besides, I’ve inherited my Mother’s human side. Fear of snakes is a human instinct. And Mother looks just like the White Lady! Even Xu Xian was scared to death by her. The fact that I’m still standing here talking is already pretty impressive.’

Yuanyuan, unable to slither properly yet, was just squirming on the ground, contorting like a piece of rope. Truly, like mother, like pup.

But as Si Shuo watched Yuanyuan, goosebumps broke out all over her skin. ’Good grief, the little Beauty Snake is terrifying too!’ she thought, spinning around and burying herself in Ji Liang’s arms.

Seeing her like this, the males’ gazes grew so intense they could almost burn her skin.

Most of the pups were quite brave. They had been envious of Yuanyuan’s ability to undergo Transformation, but now they realized their mother had Transformation Talismans. They didn’t need to be jealous—they could soar into the heavens and burrow into the earth themselves!

They swarmed her, tugging at her clothes and holding out their little hands, begging for Transformation Talismans.

Si Shuo didn’t want to give them any. ’The mere thought of a courtyard full of writhing, half-snake beastmen is enough to make my skin crawl!’

“Mother,” Xuyou began, speaking with the utmost seriousness as the eldest sister representing her siblings. “Our younger sisters can all change into their Beast Forms. They need to train hard with our Fathers in the future so they don’t waste this talent and can protect themselves.

Mother, our family has the resources. Let us use the Transformation Talismans to change into all sorts of Beast Forms. All the younger siblings can train together and master the strengths of each form. We need to start being competitive from a young age.

Every single skill we master could be another chance at survival…

We can’t wait until we’re all grown up to use a Transformation Talisman, only to end up squirming on the ground like a pretzel, can we?”

Si Shuo shoved a stack of Transformation Talismans at Zhi Le. “Zhi Le, the pups are your responsibility now! You set the rules for them. They can only use the Transformation Talismans for learning skills that require Transformation or in life-or-death situations.”

Zhi Le accepted them with a smile, smoothly taking Si Shuo’s hand in the process. “Just for the pups? What about us?”

Si Shuo had only ever treated the Transformation Talismans as fun little trinkets. She’d draw them and then hide them away, using them to playfully tease her Beast Husbands instead of sharing them.

With a soft sigh, she took out her entire stock and shoved it into Zhi Le’s arms. “You all can divide these among yourselves. One talisman can sustain a Transformation for a full day.”

As she said this, her gaze suddenly shifted to Xu Chi. She smiled and said, “Xu Chi, most Beastmen change into their Beast Forms when they hunt.

You’re always so secretive about your Beast Form, which can easily make others suspicious. The spring hunt is the perfect opportunity. You can use a Transformation Talisman and occasionally pretend a crisis forces you into your Beast Form to fight or flee.

When everyone sees you’re just an ordinary, horned Deer, they won’t overthink it.”

“That’s actually a great idea,” Gong You said, raising an eyebrow and nodding with a light chuckle. “So, should I turn into a regular Fish Beast? Or maybe… a mermaid?”

As he spoke, he gave Si Shuo a meaningful smile.

’A mermaid…’ Si Shuo bit her lip. ’Ah, Gong You really gets me!’ She had rationally rejected the idea of a mermaid back then, but it would be a lie to say she didn’t have any regrets.

’Who wouldn’t want to have such a beautiful and mysterious Beastman for themselves?’

She gave a little cough and nodded, feigning nonchalance. “I think that’ll work!”

Ji Liang let out a low chuckle and pinched her waist. “Then do you want to see what I look like covered in fur?”

’With a Transformation Talisman, he could finally grow fur and become the fluffy type his little female adores! To think he could achieve such a wish in his lifetime.’

Si Shuo went completely stiff and looked up to glare at him. ’A long, black… serpent… with fur? What kind of monstrosity is that? Is this really something a man as shrewd and intelligent as Lord Ji Liang would come up with?’

She forced a laugh. “I don’t want to see it. I don’t mean to crush your spirits, but if you grew fur, you’d look like… a severed, furry tail…”

Ji Liang pictured it, and… ’Right. I can no longer look at my own Beast Form in the eye.’

Wei Ce burst out laughing. ’Hilarious! That’s our little female, all right. Quick-witted as hell. She takes after me!’

Xiao Cheng was also gloating. ’Haha, who knew Brother Ji Liang was that kind of male? Willing to ruin his own image by growing fur just to please the little female. He’s no better than me! Seems the bar can always be lowered for her.’

Laughter aside, Si Shuo understood Ji Liang’s insecurity. She wrapped her arms around his neck, stood on her tiptoes, and said with a light laugh, “Lord Ji Liang, we have plenty of fluffy ones in our family already. You and Gong You are the special ones. You don’t have to be so fixated on having a furry Beast Form.

However, I would like to see you as an apple-head Siamese cat. A golden snub-nosed monkey would be great, too…”

Meanwhile, the pups were swarming Zhi Le, each one calling out to him more sweetly than the last. Overwhelmed by their chorus of “Father, Father,” Zhi Le couldn’t hold out and ended up giving each pup a talisman to start with.

And just like that, Si Shuo watched her home transform into a veritable menagerie of cute creatures. The fashion-conscious Xuyou became a male peacock, constantly showing off her tail feathers. Xu Ye turned into a sloth, extending his long arms to crawl slowly across the floor…

A flapping harp seal, a frantic poodle tearing about, a flying squirrel gliding up and down, a hedgehog rolled into a ball, a groundhog digging holes only to pop out and shriek strangely, a squinty-eyed fennec fox—all of those were one thing. But a bizarre long-eared jerboa, an elephant shrew with its long, pointy snout, and a star-nosed mole with its flowering nose—what on earth were those?!

The males watched in stunned silence. ’These surely aren’t our pups!’

Si Shuo’s face flushed red with a mixture of shame and indignation. ’This flock of pups must have read my mind! After all, I can name every single one of these animals.’

“Ahem. This is why we shouldn’t let the pups touch the Transformation Talismans so freely until their temperaments have settled down. Zhi Le, just pick a few Beast Forms that are particularly good for attack and escape, and have them train with those.”

Zhi Le glanced at his own daughter, who was now a gracefully fluttering butterfly, and nodded grimly. “We definitely need to establish some firm rules.” ’What if the pups turn into insects and we accidentally squish them?’

The pups were in the middle of having a blast when their talismans were confiscated. Their little faces were all flushed, and they still hadn’t quite snapped out of their daze.

The males, however, exchanged silent glances, each one’s mind now buzzing with ideas.

And so, that night, when Si Shuo was with Yin Jiang, she was still in her half-snake form… while Yin Jiang had transformed into a white Peacock Beastman!!?

“Shuo’er, I noticed back then that you seemed a little regretful about not taking a Peacock Beast Husband,” Yin Jiang murmured, wrapping an arm around Si Shuo’s waist and chuckling by her ear. “How about I put on a little tail-fanning display for you?”

As he spoke, a large, white tail fan materialized behind him. It shot upward and quivered, its immaculate white feathers unfurling with a soft rustle. The sight was so stunningly beautiful that Si Shuo forgot to breathe, her very soul seeming to tremble with it…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep