Chapter 27: The Mysterious Beastman Husband, Mei Qingchen
He stood in a black brocade robe, the hem embroidered with dark patterns and a white jade pendant at his waist.
His ink-black hair was unbound, cascading down his back with the wild, breathtaking beauty of a splash-ink painting.
His aura was impossibly noble and elegant, yet his long, narrow phoenix eyes were as deep and dark as an ancient pool, hiding a cryptic and unsettling mystery.
He was a paradoxâboth coldly beautiful and magnificently lethal. A strange black-and-red pendant, carved with intricate lines, rested on his forehead.
He seemed to be emitting a strange energy, and the air around him warped with a black mist, creating a feeling of suffocating oppression.
The moment Su Muyao saw him, her face fell.
From her predecessorâs memories, she knew this was one of her five current beastman husbands: Mei Qingchen.
His true form was a Nether Black Panther, and he was the designated heir to the aristocratic Mei familyâan ancient and extraordinarily mysterious clan.
The original Su Muyao had only seen Mei Qingchen once, at a palace birthday banquet. She had been so smitten that she declared she had to have him.
She even went on a hunger strike to get her way.
She had no idea what methods her father had used, but he had somehow compelled the Mei family to agree, marrying Mei Qingchen to her as a beastman husband.
But Mei Qingchen possessed a strange, almost eerie power.
Every time the original Su Muyao had tried to get near him, she would be overcome with a feeling of physical illness.
To this day, her predecessor had never so much as touched the sleeve of his robe.
While Hua Linye, Wen Nanxi, and Xiao Jihan all wore animal hides, Mei Qingchen was dressed in an exquisitely noble brocade robe. The fabric had a faint luster, and the hem was embroidered with a unique pattern.
It was a family totem.
Only ancient, powerful, aristocratic clans had such a distinct mark.
âMei⌠Mei Qingchen?â
Su Muyaoâs gaze trembled.
This man felt immensely powerful. The oppressive weight of his aura was staggering.
Worse, when his phoenix eyes landed on her, they held an absolute, chilling disgust, which was quickly replaced by an even colder indifference.
âHost, you have to be careful!â
âHost, the original owner wanted to sleep with this beastman husband, but she never succeeded. She couldn’t even touch his clothes! She was so furious she wanted revenge. She… she threw Mei Qingchenâs incredibly important natal sword off the Cliff of Death on the road to exile.â
âOh, and on that road to exile, Mei Qingchen was heavily injured protecting the original owner from countless mutated beasts. She did it while he was unconscious from his wounds.â
âHeâs definitely here to kill you this time.â
Su Muyao knew that a natal sword was a spiritual weapon bonded to its master since childhood.
Hearing the Systemâs story, her face turned pale.
She bit back a groan. The original owner was really trying to get herself killed.
She frantically tried to absorb the wood energy from the surrounding plants to boost her strength.
âWait, Host, this area is so lush with plants, the natural energy is so thick. Why hasn’t my wood ability grown at all? Itâs not even at the first tier.â
The Space System said, âHost, itâs possible the natural laws of this beastman world are different.â
âFemales here usually donât have abilities, only spiritual power, and thatâs just for soothing a beastman husbandâs berserk spiritual sea.â
âYour ability is unique, so it might be much harder to level up.â
âOr maybe… maybe this wood-healing ability also needs you to be intimate with your beastmen husbands to upgrade.â
Hearing this, Su Muyao wanted to faint.
Mei Qingchenâs lips, as beautiful as a rose, curled slightly. The smile was cold and splendid, but utterly dangerous.
He seemed to have materialized from the darkness, and he radiated pure killing intent. His voice was a mocking sneer. âSo, Wife Master does remember me!â
As he spoke, Mei Qingchen gestured with his fingers, and a sword appeared in his hand.
But this sword was shrouded in a black, corrupting energy. The blade itself looked decayed and rotten.
The bright, ringing sword-qi of a spiritual weapon was gone.
âIâm sure Wife Master is very familiar with this sword!â
Su Muyaoâs pupils contracted as she stared at the blade.
She knew from her memories just how magnificent this sword had once been.
Now, it looked as if it, too, had been gravely wounded and infected by that black energy.
By all rights, this sword was now useless.
Su Muyao felt a genuine pang of regret. What a waste!
The Space System shrieked, âOh heavens, Host! Such a good sword, corrupted like this!â
âA natal sword is spiritually linked to its master. Mei Qingchen must be absolutely furious.â
âHost, you have to hide! Quickly!â
Watching Su Muyaoâs expression, the blood-red darkness in Mei Qingchenâs phoenix eyes deepened.
âIt seems Wife Master remembers everything. In that case, letâs settle our old debts.â
Mei Qingchen looked poised to strike.
Su Muyao desperately tried to hide, to enter her pocket dimension.
âHuh? Why can’t I get into my dimension?â
The Space Systemâs voice was full of helplessness. âHost, Mei Qingchen is too strong! He has sealed this area, so you can’t hide.â
âBut don’t worry, Host! The contract between a beastman and his Wife Master binds him. He canât kill you.â
Su Muyao shot back, âHeâs Mei Qingchen! Didnât the sharp-beaked bird assassin say they have a secret art to override the contract?!â
Just as she said it, Xiao Jihan moved, planting himself in front of Su Muyao.
âMei Qingchen, calm down!â
âShe is our Wife Master!â
Su Muyaoâs expression flickered, staring at the back of the man shielding her.
She had almost forgotten Xiao Jihan was there.
Or rather, deep down, she never believed Xiao Jihan would be the one to protect her.
But he had still stepped in front of her.
He must be afraid that if I die, heâll die with me, Su Muyao quickly rationalized.
Mei Qingchenâs hand paused, and he gave Xiao Jihan a strange look. âIn name only.â
âI do not acknowledge her as my Wife Master.â
âXiao Jihan, are you really going to stop me?â
Xiao Jihan didnât budge. His ice-based ability surged, and blades of ice materialized in front of him, all aimed at Mei Qingchen.
âMei Qingchen, if you want to hurt her, youâll have to kill me first.â
Mei Qingchen and Xiao Jihan had no conflict between them.
In fact, on the road to exile, they had fought side-by-side.
The dark vortex in Mei Qingchenâs eyes swirled more intensely.
âXiao Jihan, don’t forget what she did to all of us.â
âOn the road to exile, we protected her with our lives. And what did she do while we were injured? Have you forgotten?â
âKeeping her alive is a menace.â
Watching the two men face off, Su Muyao finally found her voice.
âMei Qingchen, just calm down.â
âAs long as you donât attack me or kill me, I can release you from our contract. That way, you won’t be my beastman husband anymore.â
Hearing this, Mei Qingchenâs gaze turned as sharp as a sword. âHah. Youâve said that before. You think Iâd believe you again?â
Su Muyao froze, stunned by his words and his murderous, unyielding stare.
In that instant, a new memory flooded her mind.
To trick the five beastmen husbands into protecting her during the brutal exileâŚ
The original Su Muyao had promised that she would release them from their contracts as soon as they reached the tribe.
She dangled that promise, acting kind and fooling them into trusting her.
But the moment they let their guard down, she had done⌠so many unforgivable things.
Aargh!
Su Muyao wanted to cover her face and find a hole to crawl into.
Recommended Reads
![[ABO] After Accidental Marking, I Became Everyone’s Darling](https://beereads.space/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ABO-225x300.jpeg)
