Noble Academy's Mob Character: Reborn as the Campus Heartthrob - Chapter 57

Chapter 57: The Beast World, Part 2

Qi Yuan was set down, his eyes darting nervously around at the figures clad in animal hides—men who had transformed from beasts, just like He Zhou. He clutched He Zhou’s arm, half-hiding behind him.

Nervous as he was, he didn’t notice that the skin beneath his hand felt cool and smooth—virtually identical to the touch of He Zhou’s Giant Python form, save for the absence of scales.

A tall, imposing man noticed the commotion and approached, evidently familiar with He Zhou.

“He Zhou, where did you find these two females?” He bent down to scrutinize Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan glanced up at him—a familiar face, yet one he couldn’t place. He vaguely recalled seeing the man somewhere in the real world, but the memory remained elusive.

The man’s features were regular and dignified, his physique muscular and robust, making his original beast form impossible to discern.

He Zhou didn’t like anyone getting so close to his female. His eyes shifted into the vertical pupils of his predatory form, warning, “Back off.”

The man immediately retreated several steps, raising his hands to show he meant no harm. He knew that if he didn’t comply, He Zhou would sink his fangs into him in an instant.

Though the bite wasn’t venomous, it would still hurt like hell.

Moreover, since he had initiated the approach to the female first, tribal law stipulated that whoever brought a female from the wild claimed her as their own. Thus, any retribution He Zhou exacted would be justified; no one would seek redress on his behalf.

His gaze fell upon the female sitting at the back of the group.

His eyes lit up—it was the female he liked. Cute-looking and seemingly mild-tempered.

“He Zhou, what do you plan to do with the female behind you?”

He Zhou’s eyes flashed with impatience. “He followed me here on his own.”

This meant the female’s fate would be decided by the Chieftain; He Zhou would not interfere.

Tribal law forbade members from assuming their true forms within the village except during arena matches or enemy attacks. This was because some members’ true forms were too large, easily damaging communal property and residential structures. To avoid the larger members feeling unfairly targeted, even those with smaller forms were prohibited from shifting. While many grumbled, they obediently adhered to the rules.

He Zhou slowly led Qi Yuan back to his dwelling. He had no ulterior motives—he simply wanted everyone to know that Qi Yuan was his female, not to be trifled with. It was a declaration of ownership.

Qi Yuan, however, remained oblivious to He Zhou’s intricate schemes. He only felt the oppressive heat of the surrounding gazes, making him deeply uncomfortable.

They reached a mountain cave with a wide entrance, large enough to accommodate He Zhou’s true form.

Stepping inside, the cave proved spacious, featuring a stone bed draped with animal pelts. Qi Yuan sat at the edge, stroking the soft fur. The cave carried no foul odors; instead, a faint fragrance lingered—the same scent that clung to He Zhou when he held Qi Yuan close.

He Zhou stood before Qi Yuan, his towering frame casting a shadow that completely enveloped the smaller male. He gazed at Qi Yuan’s slightly weary face with tender concern.

“Are you hungry?” he asked softly.

Only then did he realize he hadn’t even learned the female’s name or introduced himself.

Qi Yuan shook his head. He wasn’t hungry at all, just tired.

People feel exhausted after the adrenaline of intense fear subsides and relaxation sets in.

He Zhou crouched down, took Qi Yuan’s hand, and pressed it against his own cheek, savoring the warmth.

“My name is He Zhou. I’m a warrior from the Tribe. Will you come with me? I promise you’ll have meat to eat at every meal if you do.”

Qi Yuan looked at He Zhou, considering his words carefully before replying.

It seems like my only option is to go with He Zhou for now. I might as well play along.

After a moment’s thought, he nodded.

“My name is Qi Yuan.”

He Zhou visibly brightened at Qi Yuan’s consent.

“Qi Yuan,” he murmured softly.

“Mm-hmm,” Qi Yuan replied.

Bored, he idly squeezed He Zhou’s cheek with his hand. The skin was firm and resilient, with a surprisingly pleasant texture.

Before long, Qi Yuan pulled a piece of clothing from his backpack, lay down on He Zhou’s bed, and fell asleep with the garment draped over him.

He Zhou gently touched Qi Yuan’s soft face, barely daring to apply any pressure, as if handling something incredibly fragile.

He walked outside the cave, glanced at the sky, and estimated that the hunting party would be returning soon. He had never been one to hoard food, typically consuming his share of the hunt immediately. While other Beastmen prepared for winter, he hibernated through the cold months.

But now things were different. He had a Female to care for, and he needed to make preparations for her. Starting today, he would begin stockpiling food and gathering warm animal hides in advance.

Every winter, Beastmen who hadn’t prepared properly froze to death. He couldn’t bear the thought of his Female meeting such a fate.

Hearing the shouts from nearby, he hurried over. The hunting party must have brought down a good haul this time. He needed to get a tender cut for Qi Yuan, something easy to chew.

The female he’d found was unlike the other females in the tribe—far too fragile, requiring meticulous care.

The hunting party leader, Cyril, strode ahead, his golden hair and handsome features radiating like the sun. His formidable strength made him the object of affection for many unmarried females in the tribe. Yet he remained as unattainable as the sun itself, treating all the tribe’s females with cold indifference.

He Zhou approached and scanned the captured game on the ground, quickly selecting what he wanted.

He still had plenty of his meat allowance remaining, a fact Cyril kept meticulously tracked in his memory. All he had to do was ask Cyril, take the meat he wanted, and Cyril would deduct the amount from his allowance in his memory.

“Cyril.”

He Zhou briefly stated his desired cut of meat, watched Cyril nod, then turned to instruct his team members to cut the meat.

After receiving the meat, He Zhou left immediately, leaving Cyril staring after him with an inscrutable expression.

Why does He Zhou smell of a female?

And why does it smell so… excessively pleasant?

Cyril turned to one of the team members who had stayed behind at the tribe during the hunt.

“Have any new females arrived at the tribe?” he asked.

The man blinked, scratching his head before answering, “He Zhou brought back a female in his arms, followed by another one.”

“He took the female he carried home, but he rejected the one who followed them back. She was sent to the Shaman, with instructions to wait for the Chieftain’s return for further action.”

Cyril lowered his gaze, lost in thought. Then, he looked toward He Zhou’s dwelling, a thoughtful expression on his face.

The male who answered Cyril’s question was perplexed, unsure why Cyril would be curious about females. After all, Cyril was notorious within the tribe for being “unflowered”—uninterested in courtship or romantic pursuits.

By now, nearly all the tribe’s females had given up on Cyril, the cold, unblooming sun. If anyone were to see Cyril with a female one day, it would be considered highly unusual, and some females might even ask the Shaman if Cyril had fallen ill.

The man shook his head with a chuckle, banishing such absurd thoughts. A male like Cyril, who knew nothing of females, would never have one.

He picked out some meat and left.

When Qi Yuan woke up, it was already dark, and a fire was burning in the cave.

The rich aroma of meat filled the air, making his stomach rumble.

As soon as he sat up, He Zhou handed him a ceramic bowl filled with meat broth.

Qi Yuan took it. The broth was fresh from the pot and still scalding hot, so he held the bowl, planning to let it cool before drinking.

While he waited, He Zhou didn’t let him idle. He tore off strips of fried meat from the slab and stuffed them into Qi Yuan’s mouth. Qi Yuan chewed, savoring the rich, chewy texture. The meat tasted simple—just salt and the natural flavor of the meat itself, with no other seasonings.

After about five or six strips, Qi Yuan clamped his mouth shut, refusing any more. His cheeks ached from chewing so much meat.

By then, the broth had cooled enough for him to sip.

He drank it in small mouthfuls.

One bowl was enough to fill him.

He Zhou finished the rest himself.

A stickler for cleanliness, He Zhou typically washed with cold water according to his own habits. But now things were different; he had a Female to care for. So he boiled water, mixed it with cold water, and prepared a warm wash for his Female.

Qi Yuan basked in He Zhou’s attentive care, marveling at how thoughtful he was—so thoughtful it made him feel almost unaccustomed to such treatment.