Su Qinglan did not expect the little raccoon beastman to actually lead them anywhere. After making sure the cubs stayed behind under Rong Ye’s watchful eye, she set off into the forest accompanied by Hu Yan, Han Jue, and Shi Feng.
The cubs had all desperately wanted to join the expedition.
"Mother, we want to go too!"
"We’ll be good, we promise!"
"Take us with you!"
But Su Qinglan had firmly put her foot down. "No. Stay here with Father Rong Ye. We don’t know where we’re going, and I don’t want you wandering off into unknown woods."
The cubs had pouted in disappointment, but seeing the serious look on their mother’s face, they dutifully obeyed.
So, after repeatedly reminding Rong Ye to keep a close eye on the little ones, Su Qinglan finally followed the little raccoon.
They walked for quite some time, trekking deep into the quiet outskirts of the city’s territory. The further they went, the denser the foliage grew and the quieter their surroundings became.
Eventually, they arrived at a secluded, shadowed area surrounded by ancient, looming trees.
Su Qinglan stopped in her tracks.
In front of them was a tiny, abandoned-looking cave dug into the side of a mossy embankment. It was so small and low to the ground that even she had to bend down slightly just to peek inside.
Su Qinglan blinked, thoroughly bewildered. "This... is your home?"
The raccoon beastman scratched his cheek awkwardly, his ears drooping. "Yes."
Su Qinglan stared at him. She had imagined many things after hearing him boast so proudly about having three wives...a hidden camp, a grand den, or perhaps a secret stash. She had certainly not imagined a cramped hole in the dirt.
Before approaching the entrance, Su Qinglan suddenly remembered something and paused. "What is your name?"
The little raccoon looked up at her. "Rao."
Su Qinglan waited, expecting a clan title or family name, but nothing else came. She blinked. "That’s it?"
He nodded quietly.
"You don’t have a surname?"
"No." He lowered his dark eyes to the grass. "We don’t have one. We’re just lowly beastmen."
Su Qinglan’s eyebrows immediately furrowed. lowly beastmen? She didn’t quite understand what he meant by that phrasing, but before she could ask for clarification, Rao suddenly grew nervous.
He turned toward the cave entrance and called out softly, "Wait here."
Then, he quickly ducked inside the tight opening.
Su Qinglan and the others remained standing outside. None of them made a move to follow. For one thing, it was Rao’s personal home. For another... the cave was simply too tiny. Even if they had wanted to squeeze inside, there was barely enough room for Rao himself to stand upright.
A few moments later, Rao’s muffled voice echoed from within. "Come out, it’s okay."
Su Qinglan waited attentively.
Then, three small figures slowly emerged from the dark cave one by one.
Su Qinglan’s eyes widened in sheer astonishment.
Three females. And all three of them possessed visibly round, swollen bellies...they were all heavily pregnant!
But that wasn’t even what shocked her the most. Their physical appearances were remarkably unusual.


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