The little rabbit gave birth to six snake pups and then vanished without a trace.
The snake pups were all left in the care of the Snake Clan.
The only exception was the white snake, Yu Meng. The Duke saw him more often than all the other snake pups combined.
This was partly because of the little rabbit’s special instructions, and partly because...
Only Yu Meng was pure white from head to tail, just like his mother.
The Duke Mansion had used every Spiritual Medicine available, but they could only watch as Little Amon grew thinner by the day. He had barely grown at all since hatching from his egg.
Although the Snake Clan had always lived by the principle of survival of the fittest...
...the Duke couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity every time he saw the Little White Snake on the verge of death.
The Valoran Empire’s most talented Healer, Noel of the Rabbit Clan, had long since been summoned to the Duke Mansion. However, the Little White Snake’s ailment wasn’t of the body, but of his "Beast Bone."
Even the most powerful Healer was helpless.
Hearing the little female’s words, a warmth gradually seeped into the Duke’s eyes. He quietly held the little rabbit in his arms, his fingertips lightly brushing against her soft, delicate wrist.
He hoped Little Amon could hold on until his mother came home.
To see his mother one last time.
The caravan left the small seaside town and headed inland. They would take a wilderness path; one of the caravan members, who had lived in the Chelsea East Territory for years, chose the fastest, most direct, and safest route, allowing them to reach the next town before dawn.
This was also the town closest to Chelsea.
From here, a few more days of travel east along the desolate roads would lead them to the border of the Valoran Empire.
The caravan pulled into the wilderness town. It was a transit hub, mostly frequented by traveling merchants. The original residents had either moved to the coastal towns of Chelsea or found a way to the Valoran border.
The caravan made a brief stop, found a small inn, and restocked their provisions for the journey.
They would stay here for one night.
Geoffrey was beaming. He was naturally delighted, as this meant he could take a wonderful bath and change into a set of magnificent clothes.
An attendant lifted the carriage curtain. After stepping out, the Duke gathered the still-sleeping little female into his arms and carried her all the way to the inn’s only suite.
Yu Zhizhi had been lulled to sleep by the rocking of the carriage.
She was curled up, her breathing even as she inhaled the Duke’s familiar scent.
The Duke filled the bathtub with water.
After stripping off the little rabbit’s clothes, he placed her inside and began to wash her with a towel. Her head rested on the edge of the tub, her cheeks flushed red from the hot steam.
In her sleep, Yu Zhizhi felt a slight tickle on her wrist and thought it was the Spider’s "Dream Entry." She murmured, "So sleepy, Lord Leader... let me sleep a little longer..."
Through the steam, the Duke’s golden, slitted pupils lifted. Before he could react, he heard her say, "Sensen, I’ll call you..."
He was so exasperated with this little rabbit he could have laughed.
’In her dreams, just how many other men could there be?’
’They had only just left the Deep Sea Empire, and she was already thinking about contacting that Mermaid?’
As for the "leader" she mentioned first, the Duke’s expression turned grim as he wiped her shoulders. ’That must be the Lord of Paradise.’
’Didn’t she only invite Louis?’
’To her territory?’
’It seems she’s quite fond of the other personalities as well.’
The Duke didn’t wake her. After washing her clean, he used a scented bath foam, filling the entire bathroom with a delicate fragrance.
He worked the white lather into her hair, massaging each strand. He paid special attention to her rabbit ears, washing the dusty gray fur until it turned snow-white. The tips of her ears were rubbed to a faint, rosy red.
He lifted the clean little rabbit from the water, wrapped her in a large bath towel, and carried her to the bed.
The Duke took a bath himself as well.
After drying the little rabbit’s damp hair, that small poof of Cloud Mist dissipated. He lay down on the bed, holding her tightly, their skin touching.
Finally... The Duke suppressed the sound rising in his throat. He nuzzled her neck, kissed the little female’s eyelids, and held her even tighter.
So many times, he had held her just like this as they slept in his dreams.
Just like in the Duke Mansion, for countless days and nights, he had held her as they fell asleep and as they awoke.
His body trembled with overwhelming comfort. The Duke realized his Beast Form was emerging. He didn’t suppress it; instead, he slowly coiled his snake tail around the young woman’s delicate body.
He craved hugs, craved touch, and had kept many pets for this very reason.
But this little female from the Rabbit Clan was his favorite, the one who satisfied him most. She was different from all his other pets.
She could talk, she had a human form, her body was soft, and her eyes were so bright. Whether she was laughing or crying, she always tugged at his heartstrings. And what’s more, she could even give birth to little snake pups.
From the moment he embraced her, the Duke’s heart began to pound violently.
It was as if his blood was boiling.
Slowly, an indescribable comfort and tranquility enveloped him. He closed his eyes, his embrace tightening like a python coiling around its prey, until the little female in his arms let out a soft whimper of pain.
Mmph—
Yu Zhizhi, in her sleep, found it hard to breathe. She tried to struggle, and gradually, it seemed she could draw a breath again.
She was so soft, so fragrant. Especially after her bath, the milky jasmine scent on her skin was impossible to ignore. The Duke’s golden, slitted pupils twitched, and the muscles in his abdomen slowly tightened.
Yu Zhizhi was gradually roused. She tried to pull back, but he held her fast.
"Awake?"
The Duke’s voice was hoarse with desire. "Dreaming of quite a few other men, were you?"
"Do they satisfy you?"
"Tell me, how many times have you mated in total?"
Oof... how was she supposed to answer that...?
Yu Zhizhi’s cheeks were scalding, her rabbit ears bright red. She trembled slightly as she felt his snake tail wrap even tighter. "Too many to count, is that it?"
"Turn over." The Duke’s tone left no room for refusal. "I’m going to punish you properly."
...
The original plan was to stay in the town for one night, but they ended up staying for an extra day, something that rarely happened.
No one disturbed them.
When Yu Zhizhi woke up, she found a set of clean clothes and her laundered white, wind-proof robe placed by the bed.
Thinking about the Duke’s "punishment"... Yu Zhizhi buried her face in the pillow, as if he had been trying to make up for all those other times...
The blush on her face had yet to fade when she heard light footsteps in the hallway.
It sounded like Geoffrey.
And the Duke was returning with him.
They paused at the door for a moment, and soon, the Duke pushed it open and came inside.
Yu Zhizhi quickly hid under the covers.
Seeing the little rabbit pretending to be asleep, the Duke was in no hurry to wake her. He sat on the edge of the bed and set down some food.
He stared at the blanket for a long while before slowly pulling back a corner. The little rabbit’s ears popped out with a POP. He let out a low chuckle and gently rubbed the little female’s rabbit ears. "Time to get up. We’re leaving after you eat."
’That shark is certainly persistent.’
’Even from so far away, he’s almost at the Chelsea East Territory.’
Yu Zhizhi gave a soft "oh."
She peeked out from under the covers, then suddenly realized she wasn’t wearing anything and quickly ducked back in.
"Y-You go out first..."
Seeing the little rabbit’s bashful expression, the Duke, for once, turned his back.
Yu Zhizhi fumbled to put on her clothes.
Just then, a system notification suddenly sounded—
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for unlocking the sixth main quest!]
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