Chapter 115: I Really Want to Kick Him Off the Kang (￣^￣)

Chapter 115: I Really Want to Kick Him Off the Kang (￣^￣)

In the elders' cave, Mao De's forehead was beaded with cold sweat. His right leg, hidden beneath the fur blanket, had atrophied—gaunt and emaciated, like a skeleton wrapped in skin. The pain made him tremble uncontrollably, his entire body convulsing with each spasm of excruciating agony.

Mao Shuang paced anxiously around him. "Chief, let me take you to the Clan Leader! You can't keep enduring this!"

Mao De gritted his teeth, his knuckles turning white. He took a shaky breath and replied hoarsely, "This is a chronic injury. It can't be cured. Why bother the Clan Leader?"

Ever since his leg was injured and left him lame, every rainy and snowy season, the old wound felt as if countless insects were gnawing at his bones and flesh. Even though he was a Male Orc known for his high pain tolerance, the agony was so intense that he couldn't stop his body from convulsing.

"But the Clan Leader is so capable! Maybe he has a solution!"

"No, I know my limits. I'll just endure it."

"Ah, you—!" Mao Shuang was so frustrated his hair bristled. Seeing Mao De drenched in sweat, the fur blanket soaked through, he ignored Mao De's protests and jumped off the kang, rushing off to find the female Hu Ying.

Mao De, as his Chief, was admirable in every way—except for his stubbornness. He was an old mule, set in his ways and unwilling to change. But as his brother, Mao Shuang couldn't just stand by and watch him suffer!

Sighing, he decided to let Hu Ying talk some sense into him. Mao De listened to no one else, but he would always heed her words.

......

Wen Ran realized he had put on a few pounds. Indeed, cooped up all winter, eating and sleeping without much activity, it was hard not to gain some weight. Previously, his figure had been on the thinner side, and his complexion fair. But after over half a year, his skin had tanned a few shades, though it still couldn't compare to Lang Zhi's bronze tone. He now looked much healthier.

His hair had also grown quite long. He bought a mirror and, holding a small knife, carefully trimmed his hair strand by strand. Lang Zhi watched nervously, afraid he might accidentally cut himself. Wen Ran couldn't help but laugh at the Big Black Wolf's expression, as if the sky were about to fall.

After cutting his long, thick hair short, his entire head felt as if it could breathe again—though it was a bit chilly. Lang Zhi handed him a fur hat made from deerskin. It was incredibly soft and warm, with a pleasing color. When Wen Ran wore it, he looked even more adorable.

Wen Ran thought about giving Lang Zhi and the three little ones haircuts too. But the three little ones, still unable to take human form, scattered like rabbits at the suggestion. Who knew if cutting their hair now would leave them bald when they eventually transformed? Lang Zhi, however, cooperated fully, leaning his head into Wen Ran's hands. "Go ahead," he said.

Wen Ran smiled and began trimming Lang Zhi's hair. As the last strands of overly long black hair fell to the ground, Lang Zhi brushed away the remaining bits from his forehead and stared at his reflection in the mirror, stunned. Was that really him?

His previously eye-covering long hair was now cut into a clean buzz cut, revealing a full forehead and well-defined brow bones. Below them were sharp, deep-set eyes, complemented by a tall, straight nose and a sharply defined jawline. He now exuded an even more ruggedly handsome and dignified aura.

Wen Ran nodded in satisfaction. Indeed, cutting his hair short had been a wise decision. Without the long hair obscuring his features, his facial structure was fully displayed, giving him a sharp and striking presence.

The three little ones exclaimed in admiration, "Wow, Lang Zhi, you look so handsome now!"

"Yeah, Lang Zhi, it's like you've become a different person!"

"Wen Ran, when I can turn human, I want a haircut too! So cool, so handsome!"

Wen Ran patted their fuzzy heads and smiled. "Sure."

Lang Zhi couldn't help but run his hand through his short, clean hair, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Wen Ran, you're really skilled at cutting hair. I almost don't recognize myself."

Wen Ran looked at their reflections in the mirror and thought, *You don't recognize yourself? I hardly recognize you either.*

This Big Black Wolf, with his new haircut, looked no less dashing than a movie star from his previous life. And standing next to him, Wen Ran seemed petite and delicate by comparison, creating a striking height and size difference. It felt as if Lang Zhi could easily lift him with one arm and then heh heh... Wen Ran's face grew increasingly red. He slapped his cheeks and shook his head, trying to dispel the dirty thoughts flooding his mind. *Too much comfort leads to lust—how sinful!*

Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

Wen Ran glanced at Lang Zhi, who nodded reassuringly. "Don't worry, I'll see who it is."

"I'll go with you," Wen Ran said. On a snowy day like this, anyone who came to their door was either a starving wild beast or one of their tribespeople. It likely wasn't a beast—beasts wouldn't knock; they'd charge the door. The sound was too gentle for that.

So it must be a tribesmember. For someone to seek them out in such weather, it had to be an urgent matter.

When they opened the heavy iron door, they saw a kind-faced woman standing in the blowing snow. Though marked by the passage of time, she carried none of the arrogance or sharpness often seen in females. Dressed in furs, her eyes filled with anxiety, she hurried forward as soon as she saw Wen Ran. "Clan Leader, please save Mao De! He's in terrible pain—he's dying!"

Wen Ran remembered the female before him—she was Mao De's female companion, Hu Ying. After Mao De became lame, he had voluntarily left her cave dwelling to avoid being a burden, but she had been waiting for him to return all along, keeping the Alpha Male position reserved for him.

Such a loyal and devoted female was rare in the Beast World. Wen Ran had a good impression of her. Hearing this, he quickly invited Hu Ying inside while asking, "What happened to Uncle De? Come in first, it's windy and snowy outside; don't catch a cold."

Hu Ying sat on a chair, holding the fruit tea Wen Ran prepared for her. She took a sip, feeling warmth spread through her body, but had no thought to appreciate how delicious the tea was. Instead, she looked at Wen Ran with tearful eyes and said anxiously, "Mao De's injured right leg hurts terribly during cloudy or snowy weather. He can't sleep all night and keeps twitching. This time the pain is especially severe—he's been breaking out in cold sweats continuously. Mao Shuang suggested asking you for help, but he refused, afraid of troubling you. Eventually, Mao Shuang couldn't bear it and secretly came to find me..."

"Chief, could you please come take a look and see if you can ease his pain? I'm really worried he might not make it this time. If he goes to meet the Beast God, I don't want to live either..."

Hearing this, Wen Ran knit his brows, quickly put on his fur coat, and put on his hat and gloves. "Don't worry too much, I'll get dressed and come with you right away. If it's treatable, I'll definitely help Uncle De."

"I'll go with you," Lang Zhi stood up and said. Wen Ran nodded and continued asking Hu Ying, "Have you visited Hu Xiu Shaman?"

"We went to see Hu Xiu Shaman when the first snow fell. She only gave him some herbal medicine to brew and drink, but she had no real solution to cure him..."

"Alright, I understand."

Once dressed, the group hurried toward the elder cave.

The snowstorm was fierce, and the ground was covered in thick snow. Each step sank deep, reaching their thighs. It took them half an hour to reach the elder cave through the blizzard.

The cave dwelling was filled with the smell of herbs and a heavy, oppressive atmosphere.

Seeing Wen Ran and Lang Zhi arrive, Mao Shuang jumped off the bed excitedly. "Chief, you're finally here!"

"Chief, Deputy Chief, what brings you here..." Mao De's voice was hoarse, his eyes filled with pain and surprise. He tried to shift his legs to make room on the heated bed platform for them but couldn't move at all. Despair instantly filled his gaze.

Hu Ying, her eyes red, stepped forward and held his legs, shifting him further onto the heated bed platform.

Wen Ran lifted the fur blanket and saw that the muscles in Mao De's right leg had completely atrophied. The bone at the knee had healed crookedly, likely because it hadn't been properly set after the injury. No wonder he was lame.

Wen Ran pressed his leg—it was ice-cold, almost like a block of ice. Though the muscles had atrophied, they still had sensation, which relieved Wen Ran. The worst-case scenario would be if there was no feeling at all, which would mean it was beyond saving.

Though not a professional doctor, Wen Ran knew that a misaligned bone needed to be rebroken and reset to heal properly. "A hundred days to heal a broken bone"—and since it was the snow season with no need to hunt, it was the perfect time for recovery.

But first, he had to alleviate the pain.

Wen Ran searched and found an herbal compress that could relieve pain through heat therapy. He bought the herbal pack and made a show of taking it from his clothes. Since it was cold, the heated bed platform was kept warm, and there was hot water in the stone pot. Wen Ran put the herbs into a wooden bucket, poured in the hot water, let it steep for a while, then added some cold water. He crouched by the bucket, tested the temperature with his hand, and once it was suitable, asked Mao De to soak his feet.

Mao De stared at the steaming brown liquid. "Chief, will this herbal decoction really ease the pain in my leg..."

"Try soaking for a while. This herbal pack can only provide relief. To cure it completely, you'll have to go through some suffering."

Mao De looked up in surprise. "A complete cure? My leg can be cured?"

"There's hope," Wen Ran didn't dare guarantee 100% success, but he thought it over and said, "Your bone healed crookedly. It needs to be rebroken and reset. The process will be painful, but once it heals properly and with recovery training to restore muscle elasticity, there's a high chance of recovery. You won't limp anymore after that."

"Put this piece of fur in too. Soak it in the herbal water and apply it to the atrophied, stiff muscles to help them relax."

Just as Mao Shuang was about to step forward, Hu Ying took the fur from him. "Let me do it."

When Hu Ying's fingers, holding the fur, touched Mao De's skin, his whole body tensed up, his expression uneasy. Wen Ran said, "Uncle De, relax. The heat will work better if you're relaxed."

Mao De nodded, gradually loosening his tense muscles. Hu Ying said nothing, diligently applying the compress, reheating the fur whenever it cooled.

Mao De placed his feet in the hot water. At first, a sharp pain shot through him, and he frowned, enduring it. After the sharp pain subsided, a long-lost soreness set in. Wen Ran massaged his legs, similar to therapeutic massage, to stimulate blood circulation. Only by improving blood flow could the cold and pain be reduced.

Wen Ran also wanted to help bring Hu Ying and Mao De back together, so he instructed her, "Uncle De's leg needs daily massaging and patting to restore muscle function. He also needs to soak his feet with this herbal pack boiled in water every day and have his legs lifted for simple stretching exercises."

Hu Ying watched Wen Ran's technique carefully, memorizing his every word.

It was clear she cared deeply for Mao De.

When Hu Ying went out to fetch water and was digging for clean snow outside the cave den to boil later, Wen Ran glanced at Mao De and felt sorry for him. They were such good individuals, yet kept apart by various practical issues. What was even more heartbreaking was how much they cared for each other. Their affection moved Wen Ran, and he decided to give him a push.

"Uncle De, what are your thoughts? Do you want to reconcile with her? She's a good female."

Mao De's voice was strained, his curled fingertips turning white. He lowered his eyes and said hoarsely, "I know, but I don't want to bring her harm or make her suffer with me."

"She’d have meat to eat with you, enough food and warm shelter—how would that be suffering?"

"But I’m a disabled beast-man. If the tribe is attacked by ferocious beasts, I can’t guarantee her safety or protect her!"

Wen Ran paused, then said gently, "I think you should believe in her, in yourself, and in the tribe’s strength. As the chief of Beast City, I have the confidence and ability to protect my people. You don’t need to worry so much. Just ask your heart—do you want to be with her?"

"Besides, Hu Ying isn’t like the other delicate females in the tribe. She can support herself. Her cooking skills are excellent—many beast-men love the meat she prepares. Mao Zhi even plans to open a tribal canteen with her. Once your legs are better, you can help out in your spare time."

"Uncle De, it’s not easy to meet someone you love in this lifetime. If you’ve found her, don’t let her go. You’re both at an age where life is uncertain. Do you really want to leave this world with regrets and return to the embrace of the Beast God?"

Hearing this, Mao De clenched his fists tightly. After a long silence, he said, "If my right leg can truly heal, I’ll go to her."

Wen Ran smiled with relief.

Sure enough, Mao De still had feelings for Hu Ying. Otherwise, a few words wouldn’t have swayed him.

......

After applying hot herbal packs for a while, Mao De’s leg no longer hurt intensely through the night, and he could even briefly walk with a rough wooden stick.

Wen Ran felt it was time to set the broken leg.

His own strength wasn’t enough to set Mao De’s leg in one go, so he sought Hu Xiu Shaman’s help to avoid causing unnecessary pain.

Despite her age, Hu Xiu Shaman was precise in healing. With one swift strike of her bone knife, Mao De let out a muffled groan, cold sweat dripping down his forehead. His body was drenched as if he’d been pulled from water. Fortunately, they had stuffed animal hide into his mouth beforehand, or he might have bitten through his tongue.

Even so, he bit the inside of his mouth in several places, blood trickling out. Hu Ying’s face turned pale, tears welling in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

The fire crackled, casting flickering light on Mao De’s pale, sweaty face. His right leg was twisted at an unnatural angle, and the animal hide beneath him was soaked with blood.

Every breath Mao De took felt like it tugged at his ribs and chest, pain wracking his body with spasms. But seeing Hu Ying’s tear-streaked face, he gritted his teeth and endured. He couldn’t die now—if there was hope for his leg to heal, he refused to let his female be taken by another male!

Hu Ying tightly gripped Mao De’s hand, noticing his clenched fists digging into his palms until they bled. She sobbed, urging him to relax.

Wen Ran worked steadily, saying, "Uncle De, hold on—it’s almost over!"

He pressed down on Mao De’s thigh while firmly supporting the misaligned bone. With a sudden twist, a *crack* echoed as the bone snapped back into place. Wen Ran quickly secured the leg with prepared wooden splints, wrapping them tightly with animal hide strips to prevent the bone from healing crooked again.

Once done, Wen Ran administered pain-relief and anti-inflammatory medicine before collapsing to the ground, wiping sweat from his forehead.

Mao De felt waves of excruciating pain wash over him, his vision blurring. But as the medicine took effect, the sharp pain subsided, replaced by a dull ache from the reset bones. His vision cleared, and seeing his securely splinted leg, he relaxed slightly. He glanced at Hu Ying, a faint smile touching his lips.

The recovery period began. Wen Ran said it would take at least three months for Mao De to fully heal. But having endured pain for so long, Mao De was willing to wait.

During this time, Hu Ying dedicated herself to his care. She even approached Wen Ran, expressing her desire to leave her current den and start a separate cave den with Mao De. Her children initially objected, but she insisted that at her age, she wanted to live by her heart. Mao De was the male she loved most, and she wanted to be with him.

Eventually, her children and other male beast-men agreed. Everyone knew she had been waiting for Mao De all along.

Wen Ran observed Hu Ying. Since the tribe introduced the concept of divorce, aside from Hu Jiao’s Lesser Female, Hu Ying was the first female to approach him seeking independence and a monogamous life.

Wen Ran fully supported her—after all, he was a strong supporter of monogamy!

He even selected an unoccupied cave den for them. Fortunately, during the autumn, the tribe had built over a dozen spare dens with heated kang beds and walls to prevent collapse. These now came in handy.

With the help of other tribe members, Hu Ying and Mao De soon moved into their new den, living harmoniously. Though Mao De couldn’t walk yet, his hands were functional. He sat on the kang, sharpening arrows and crafting weapons, while Hu Ying busied herself nearby. Both were content.

......

Time flew. Half a month later, Mao De took a deep breath and, with Hu Ying’s support, slowly stood. There was no expected pain, only slight soreness. Step by step, he released Hu Ying’s hand, testing his legs’ strength.

Seeing himself standing straight and walking without limping, Mao De’s eyes welled up. He looked at Hu Ying, who smiled back. They embraced tightly, both knowing that each step Mao De took symbolized courage and a new beginning. From then on, they would walk hand in hand.

Wen Ran watched them embrace, smiling, then glanced at Lang Zhi, who returned the smile. The two held hands and walked back to their den through the snow.

Back in his den, with nothing else to do, Wen Ran followed a book’s instructions and built a wheelchair for Mao Shuang. Trekking through heavy snow on his hands was arduous, leaving his palms calloused and frostbitten, with deep cracks that looked painful.

The wheelchair lifted his lower body off the ground, sparing him from discrimination and scornful looks.

When Mao Shuang received the wheelchair, he tried it out and couldn’t put it down. He cried, never imagining he could move freely without relying on his hands. He vowed to protect Wen Ran with his life, grateful for this new hope.

......

That evening, Mao Fei visited Wen Ran, walking with mincing steps like a noble lady from ancient times, swaying awkwardly.

Wen Ran twitched his lips. "Why are you walking like that?"

White cat was usually bold and agile, leaping three meters high—since when had he become so delicate?

Mao Fei smiled shyly, winking. "I just mated with my Mao Shi. He ate some Tiger Beast's [part]. It was intense—we went at it several times tonight. I have to keep it in, hoping that I get pregnant before spring mating season. Then I won’t suffer through heat, meow~ haha!"

Wen Ran: "............" His ears felt dirty. Why had he asked?

Mao Fei mysteriously handed him something. "Give this to Lang Zhi. It’ll make him... impressive. Guaranteed to make your nights unforgettable!"

Wen Ran: "..."

He looked down—it was a tiger penis?!

Wen Ran pushed away the leering cat face, expressionless. "I don’t need it."

Mao Fei tsked, accusing him of lying.

"……"

Unable to stand it, Wen Ran shooed him out, telling him to go home to his... male.

After dinner, Round Cat and the two other cubs chose to stay in the young beastmen's den instead of returning home. They’d grown close to the young ones there, often sleeping piled together on the kang.

At first, Wen Ran worried, but after checking on them at night, he found that aside from adult male orcs taking shifts, Cat King, the den’s leader, also kept watch, alert at the slightest sound.

Every time Wen Ran visited, Cat King noticed immediately. His vigilance matched the adults’, so Wen Ran gradually relaxed.

Besides, as the cubs of the chief and deputy chief, bonding with the other young ones in the tribe fostered unity. Wen Ran let them be.

Since adjusting to winter life, Wen Ran had taken to drinking. Each night, he’d have a little wine to help him sleep.

Tonight, he drank comfortably by the window, lifting the animal hide curtain to watch the heavy snow outside. The Beast World’s snowscapes were dreamlike and surreal in their beauty.

Wen Ran’s eyes were light amber-brown, clear and warm, glowing in the firelight. Lang Zhi stared at them, forgetting what he meant to say. Instead, he murmured, "Your eyes are beautiful."

Wen Ran: "..." He’d spoiled Big Black Wolf too much—now he dared to flirt with him openly.

Lang Zhi’s bright eyes fixed on him. "Mao Shi and Mao Fei are trying for a cub, hoping to conceive before spring."

Wen Ran lowered his gaze, licking his lips. "Oh."

"I want that too."

...

Wen Ran endured the shame and said, "Open your damn eyes wide, pull up that animal-skin skirt, and take a look—I’m a damn man!"

Lang Zhi nodded affectionately, "That's right, it’s you."

"I don’t want cubs, but I want to get with you."

Wen Ran: "......QAQ"

"Don’t tell me you don’t want to?"

Lang Zhi closed in on him step by step, his voice and tone carrying pressure. Having lived with Wen Ran for so long, he understood clearly: to turn a straight man, one must take the initiative forcefully. Waiting for him to come around on his own would never happen in this lifetime.

Wen Ran said in a low voice, "...I’m not a Lesser Female, I can’t bear cubs. Are you sure you want to do this with me?"

His answer was Lang Zhi’s loving kiss, followed by several nibbles on his fair neck, leaving it covered in drool.

Wen Ran was speechless, gazing at the flickering shadows on the cave ceiling, thinking this wolf was a bit like a dog—always leaving marks, definitely has some issues.

Wen Ran tried to hold back his sobs and avoid moaning. Lang Zhi’s eyes darkened, "Feels good?"

Wen Ran: "......//▽//"

Help, what kind of shameless talk is this?! Isn’t this shameful?!

When embarrassed, Wen Ran couldn’t help biting his nails. His nails were so short that biting them made them bleed. Lang Zhi grabbed his hands and held them above his head, preventing him from biting, and repeated, "Does it feel good?" As if he wouldn’t let go until Wen Ran answered, asking over and over.

Wen Ran had no choice, utterly mortified, and could only give the bare minimum response—nodding for yes, shaking his head for no.

Lang Zhi: "......"

Wen Ran pouted, "If you want to get on with it, then just do it. Must you say such embarrassing things to a straight man?"

Lang Zhi already understood what he meant by "straight man." Raising an eyebrow, he said, "You’re shaking all over from pleasure from being with a male, and you still call yourself straight?"

Wen Ran: "............" Felt like kicking him off the kang (￣^￣)

......

By dawn, they had moved from the heated kang to beside the window. Wen Ran was panting, his breath trembling. After eight times, he had no strength left to speak. Mom, help! If this continued, it might be the death of me...

But when he opened his eyes again, Big Black Wolf still showed no signs of stopping...

It was too embarrassing to watch. His fair, slender arm draped over his eyes, Wen Ran thought resentfully—this Big Black Wolf was too much, always pushing his limits...

Lang Zhi moved his arm away, kissed his eyes, and held him contentedly as he began another round, his voice hoarse as he murmured, "The night is still young. If you’re tired, sleep first..."

Wen Ran: "............" How could he sleep like this? The rocking was like being on a boat, making him dizzy...

Truly, a man shouldn’t suppress his desires for too long—otherwise, he turns into a complete pervert QAQ......