I Abandoned My Beast Cubs for the Protagonist... Oops?-Chapter 97: Storm Dragon Stamina

"So let me understand this correctly."

Cāng Jì sat on a hastily assembled stool near Bai Yue’s bed, his golden robes carefully arranged to avoid touching anything "primitive" (by which he meant everything).

The cubs had finally been pried off him, mostly, though Yòu Lín had claimed his left knee as a permanent perch, and Ruì Xuě was leaning against his right leg like a tiny, furry guardian.

"The bear king showed up."

"Mmhmm," Bai Yue nodded, feeding Zhēn.

"He tried to fight everyone."

"Yep."

"He got hit by two grandmothers."

"Three, actually. Wēn Jìng hit him with a spoon first, but no one saw it because she’s ’the calm one.’"

Cāng Jì’s eyebrow arched. "The woman with the snacks?"

"That’s the one."

"Remarkable." He shook his head slowly. "And then your snow leopard mother showed up and hit him again."

"With ice. It was very dramatic."

"The grandmothers formed an alliance."

"They’re terrifying together."

"The dragons left."

"And came back." Bai Yue smiled. "Obviously."

Cāng Jì huffed, but there was no real annoyance in it. "And now there’s a tiny kit who has everyone wrapped around her tiny fingers. Remarkable."

"She is three days old and has three fathers, four grandmothers (counting the dragons), approximately seventeen honorary aunts and uncles, and an entire tribe that brings her gifts daily." Cāng Jì looked down at Zhēn with awe. "She hasn’t even opened her eyes properly and she already rules this realm."

"She gets it from me."

"You were a cursed female who everyone wanted dead."

"Now they bring me fruit baskets. It’s called character growth."

Cāng Jì snorted, but his eyes never left the baby.

After a moment, he spoke again, his voice quieter. "My sister found someone."

Bai Yue looked up. "Cāng Yáo?"

"Some northern dragon. Massive. Scales like storm clouds. Very brooding." Cāng Jì’s expression twisted into something between disgust and mild trauma. "They’ve been.....mating. For weeks."

"Weeks?"

"Apparently, storm dragons have exceptional stamina. And my sister has exceptional enthusiasm." He shuddered. "I can hear them. Through the mountain. The entire peak shakes."

Zhāo Yàn, who had been pretending not to listen from across the room, let out a strangled sound that might have been a laugh.

"I don’t miss her," he said quickly. "Not at all. The golden pavilion was an eyesore."

"You absolutely miss her," Bai Yue corrected.

"I do NOT miss being called ’pet’ by a giant lizard."

"She called you exquisite."

"She called me a pet."

"Same thing in dragon culture."

"It is NOT the same thing!"

Cāng Jì watched the exchange with mild amusement. "She would find this entertaining. The fox lord, flustered. The snow leopard, actually smiling." He paused. "I’ll have to tell her. She’ll be insufferably smug about missing it."

"She can visit," Bai Yue offered. "When she’s done.....you know."

"Shaking the mountain?"

"That."

Cāng Jì considered this. "Perhaps. If she promises not to build another pavilion."

"No promises."

"Then she’s not coming."

~

The afternoon brought a steady stream of visitors.

Mo Xiao appeared first, carrying a massive woven basket filled with dried meat, fresh berries, and what appeared to be an entire roasted bird.

"For the mother," he said gruffly, setting it down. "And the baby. To build strength."

"Mo Xiao, this is enough to feed an army."

"You have an army." He gestured vaguely at the chaos of the village. "The cubs alone eat more than most adults. And the dragon looks like he could use a meal—he’s too thin."

"I am NOT thin," Cāng Jì protested. "I am elegantly proportioned."

"You’re a walking skeleton with scales."

"I will incinerate you."

"You’ll try."

Bai Yue hid her smile behind her hand as the two men glared at each other. Mo Xiao, to his credit, didn’t back down an inch.

"The snake twins sent this," Mo Xiao continued, pulling a small, carefully wrapped bundle from his pouch. "They said it’s for the baby. A protective charm."

Bai Yue unwrapped it carefully. Inside was a tiny carved snake, coiled in a circle, made from what looked like polished obsidian.

"It’s beautiful," she breathed.

"They made it themselves. Spent three days on it." Mo Xiao’s lips twitched. "Shé Yì almost cried when he finished it. Shé Èr did cry."

"Of course he did."

"The panther triplets wanted to come, but I told them the baby needs rest." He paused. "They’re planning a ’welcome ceremony’ for when she’s older. Miao Miao is designing the outfits."

"Oh no."

"Oh yes. There will be feathers."

Cāng Jì looked genuinely alarmed. "Feathers?"

"Many feathers. Bright ones."

The Dragon Prince went slightly pale.

~

The snake twins themselves appeared later, slithering past the grandmothers’ defenses with the stealth of seasoned infiltrators.

"We brought more gifts!" Shé Yì announced, holding up a small pouch.

"Herbs for the mother," Shé Èr added, presenting a woven mat. "For sitting. Very soft. We gathered the grass ourselves."

"Thank you," Bai Yue said warmly. "That’s very thoughtful."

"We also brought this." Shé Yì produced a tiny, carved wooden rattle. "For the baby. To make noise. Babies like noise."

"Sometimes," Shé Èr amended. "A-Li said babies also hate noise. So maybe don’t use it when she’s sleeping."

"Very helpful advice."

The twins beamed and slithered away, promising to return tomorrow with more gifts and "important baby information" they had gathered from the other mothers.

~

The panther triplets arrived despite Mo Xiao’s best efforts.

They appeared in the doorway like a furry, determined wave, each carrying something precious.

"For the baby!" Miao Miao announced, holding up a tiny fur blanket. "I made it! Papa helped with the sewing, but I picked the fur! It’s the softest!"

"It’s beautiful, Miao Miao."

"For the baby!" A-Li declared, presenting a small carved toy. "It’s a hunting cat! I made it myself! It doesn’t look like a cat, but it’s SUPPOSED to be a cat!"

"It’s a very artistic cat."

"It’s a masterpiece."

"For the baby!" Xiao Hei whispered, holding up a single perfect feather. "From a bird. A pretty bird. I chased it for an hour."

"You chased a bird for an hour to get a feather?"

"The bird didn’t want to give it up. But I’m fast."

Bai Yue accepted each gift with the solemnity they deserved, placing them carefully beside her bed.

"The baby loves them," she assured the triplets.

"She hasn’t even seen them," A-Li pointed out.

"She knows. In her soul."

The triplets nodded sagely, accepting this explanation completely.