After Giving Birth, All My Beast Ex-Husbands Suddenly Want Me Back-Chapter 78: Bad fathers

Ghost Wolf and the others looked extremely awkward.

"Yes... we were Chief Tali’s hired help before."

Sal shot them a helpless look. He wasn’t sure whether they had come to help him—or to pile more accusations onto his head.

Well, sooner or later, he would have to say it all anyway.

"We took the job without knowing he meant to target you," Ghost Wolf explained quickly. "We were just trying to earn some beast crystals. Maybe we didn’t distinguish right from wrong clearly, but this is how we survive."

He had heard there was a female involved and assumed some male had abducted a tribe’s female.

They were wandering beasts. They had fewer moral constraints than tribe members. As long as a task didn’t violate their own principles, they rarely asked too many questions.

Nina considered their words carefully.

Perhaps wandering beasts were not all as vicious as rumor claimed. If Sal were truly cruel, would he have treated her so well?

And perhaps becoming a wandering beast was not always a choice. If they had been abandoned as children, what options did they have?

Nina herself was an orphan. The thought stirred a trace of sympathy in her heart.

Seeing her silence, Sal grew anxious.

"Do any of you have something sharp? With thorns?" he suddenly asked Ghost Wolf and the others.

They shook their heads.

Ghost Wolf thought for a moment, then rummaged through his storage space and pulled out a large, spiky object, placing it before Sal.

Nina blinked.

A durian?

Sal stared at the massive thorn-covered fruit.

How exactly was one supposed to kneel on that?

Well... kneeling was the point.

He adjusted the durian and knelt down on it.

So this is what kneeling on durians looks like in real life. Nina sighed to herself.

Ghost Wolf and the others stared in shock and alarm. So that was what it was for? It looked agonizing.

Ghost Wolf gulped. If only he’d brought something flatter. Would the Boss beat him to death later for this?

At that moment, rain began falling again.

They found shelter in a cave. Sal remained outside in the rain, kneeling on the durian. Naturally, Ghost Wolf and the others didn’t dare let their leader kneel alone—they joined him.

Nina felt a twinge of reluctance and stepped toward him.

"You can come inside."

Sal shook his head.

"When you make a mistake, you should accept punishment. I only hope you’ll forgive me and let me stay by your side. Even if my knees are ruined, I’m willing."

Nina could understand him more than she admitted. After all, she too had hidden truths she hadn’t dared to reveal.

After spending so much time together, she was willing to believe him once.

Still, a little punishment might help him remember.

Didi watched the kneeling figures in confusion.

"Ying ying?" he asked Yinny softly. Brother, what are they doing? It looks painful.

Yinny thought seriously before answering in a little tiger growl, "Waa wu. They must have done something bad. Mama is punishing them."

Didi nodded solemnly. Then all bad fathers should be punished like this, too.

Yinny agreed wholeheartedly.

The rain lasted a long time before finally easing.

Nina stepped outside and handed Sal a piece of animal hide to dry his hair.

Suddenly—crack.

The durian split open beneath him, releasing a strong, unmistakable aroma.

Some of the beasts sniffed curiously. Others clamped their noses shut.

Nina’s eyes lit up. Oh! It’s ready to eat.

She pointed at the cracked fruit. "Give me that."

Sal obediently handed it over.

Ghost Wolf and the others exhaled in relief, thinking they could finally stand—until Nina turned to Ghost Wolf.

"Do you have more of these?"

Ghost Wolf hesitated, then pulled out a whole pile of durians.

Nina gestured to them and said calmly to Sal, "Switch to another one. Kneel until you’ve finished them all."

Sal: ...

Ghost Wolf: We’re doomed.

Sal picked up another durian and knelt again, shooting Ghost Wolf a glare. Why did you bring so many?

The wandering beasts silently grabbed durians for themselves and knelt too. Brothers shared burdens together.

Sal glanced at them but said nothing, focusing instead on the sharp thorns under his knees.

It really did hurt.

At least he wasn’t alone.

And there were so many... he doubted he could finish kneeling on them all.

Nina watched, suppressing a smile.

Perhaps rogue beasts weren’t as terrifying as legends claimed.

She carried the durians inside. Mino hurried to help her. She had him split them open, and the scent intensified.

Yinny sniffed eagerly. "Waa wu!" Mama, I want to eat the fragrant thing!

Didi was less enthusiastic but curious.

Nina decided a small taste wouldn’t hurt and scooped out a little for them.

Yinny devoured his portion happily. So delicious! If he ever met his bad father, he would make him kneel on many of these.

Didi licked thoughtfully. Not bad.

Mino and Yanai both held their breath slightly.

"Nina... this is food?" Yanai asked, watching her eat the pungent fruit with relish.

"Yes. It’s a kind of fruit. Quite tasty. Try some." She handed them a few pieces.

Mino wasn’t particularly fond of it.

Yanai’s eyes brightened. "It smells strange, but it tastes good."

And somehow it didn’t smell so bad anymore.

He eyed the remaining durians. "Can I have another piece?"

"Take it yourself. There’s plenty outside."

Yanai happily ate more, glancing at Sal outside.

Kneel more. I like this.

He did not yet know he would kneel far more in the future.

***

This time, Nina didn’t make Sal kneel for days. Once the durians were all cracked and eaten, she let him stand.

"I forgive you this time," she said. "Is there anything else you’re hiding from me? Tell me now."

"Nothing! Absolutely nothing!" Sal waved his hands quickly.

Her forgiveness and acceptance filled him with wild relief. Even his aching knees didn’t seem to matter anymore.

"Good. Remember what you said. Come inside and rest."

Sal stood slowly, limping slightly as he followed her in.

The wandering beasts rose too, supporting each other as they took positions outside to stand guard.

From then on, they followed Nina’s group openly.

***

On the road, Mino once again sensed his tribe drawing near.

This time, he resolved to lead them away permanently. If this continued, Nina would inevitably be exposed.

"Nina," he said softly, "I’d like to speak with you alone."

She nodded. They stepped beneath a large tree.

"I may have to leave for a while," he began.

Perhaps longer this time.

Nina felt a pang of reluctance, but she knew this day would come. "Alright."

She retrieved a blue bead from her system storage. "Mino, this is for you. It’s called the Ice Soul Pearl. It can enhance your ice ability."

Her VIP level had finally risen enough to purchase better items.

Mino accepted it carefully.

A gift from Nina. While they were apart, he could look at it and think of her.

She then took out several beast crystals. "These are for taking care of me and for the food."

Mino’s heart sank. "Nina, what are you doing? I don’t want your beast crystals."

Why was she drawing a line between them? He could accept a gift—but why payment?

"Nina..." she began softly.

He seemed to understand. He stepped forward and pulled her into his arms.

"I’ll be back soon. When I return, I’ll give you an answer. Please don’t abandon me."

He had sensed her quiet refusal.

Nina lowered her gaze, silent.

Mino released her slowly and kissed her forehead. He memorized her face, then turned and left.

Nina watched him go, guilt weighing heavily in her chest.

She sighed deeply.

***

Soon after, Mino was intercepted by members of the Spirit Cat tribe.

"Silinx, go back and tell the old man," Mino said coldly, "I will not enter a political marriage. If he insists, he can carry back my corpse."

"Young Master," Silinx sighed, "Princess Nina isn’t as terrible as rumors claim."

"I don’t care what she’s like. I will not marry her. Don’t force me into doing something extreme."

At that moment, another beast stepped out from the forest shadows.

Mino’s expression changed instantly.