Chapter 121
“Nina… how can you accept a rogue beast?” Finch said, visibly shaken.
He looked deeply hurt. Nina was willing to accept even a wandering rogue—yet she had never accepted him.
Kith frowned as well. “Nina, rogue beasts are known for their bad conduct. And he truly did steal the fox clan’s sacred relic p>
Odian also looked surprised. He hadn’t expected Nina’s guardian beast to be a rogue.
Why would she accept someone like that?
Nina looked at them calmly.
“I know all of you think rogue beasts are bad,” she said gently. “But things aren’t always absolute. Sal and the others aren’t the kind of rogues who commit evil everywhere they go p>
Her gaze softened.
“They were abandoned when they were young. Becoming rogue beasts wasn’t something they chose p>
She reached out and took Sal’s hand.
“When I needed help the most, they were the ones who stayed by my side. They took care of me and protected me. So I don’t care whether they’re rogue beasts or not p>
Kith and Finch lowered their heads slightly.
So… it had been those rogue beasts who had cared for Nina before.
A wave of guilt washed over them, and their hostility toward Sal eased considerably.
Odian and Aviel felt a stab of pain in their hearts.
Nina had once fallen so low that she had to rely on rogue beasts for protection.
If only they had found her earlier p>
They could have taken care of her—and perhaps there would be fewer rivals now.
“As for the fox clan’s sacred relic Nina turned toward Sal. “Since you stole it, shouldn’t you return it p>
Sal looked embarrassed.
How could he return it?
The spirit pearl had already recognized Nina as its master.
Apparently, the damn fox still didn’t know the pearl was with Nina. Should he tell them?
Sal cleared his throat and gently pulled Nina aside. Lowering his voice, he whispered in her ear,
“Nina… the fox clan’s sacred relic is the pearl I gave you p>
It was better to tell her now. Sooner or later, that fox would find out anyway.
“What?” Nina’s beautiful eyes widened in shock. “Didn’t you say you didn’t steal it p>
She had thought he’d simply found it somewhere!
No wonder the pearl had always seemed so spiritual and mysterious—it turned out to be their sacred relic.
Sal’s eyes darted away awkwardly.
He had only said he didn’t steal it from that particular broken tribe p>
But he definitely didn’t dare argue with Nina now. He had intentionally misled her, after all.
Nina called Finch and Kith over. Then she removed the pearl hanging around her neck and held it out to Finch.
“Is this your sacred relic?” she asked apologetically.
Finch and Kith’s pupils widened.
They were stunned.
The spirit pearl they had searched for so desperately… had been with Nina this whole time?
Finch glanced at the now-smaller pearl and asked cautiously, “Nina… did the spirit pearl recognize you as its master p>
“I think so,” Nina replied uncertainly. “I’m not entirely sure. Before, Sal dripped a drop of my blood onto it. After that, I could communicate with the little pearl p>
Finch’s expression grew complicated.
So the spirit pearl had already chosen its master.
No wonder every time he tried to use their clan’s secret techniques to locate it, he sensed nothing at all.
Before, the connection had always been faint—but there had at least been something.
But somehow that damned leopard had hidden it so well that they could never pinpoint its location.
And later, the connection vanished completely.
He had thought it was simply because they were too far away.
Now he realized the truth.
The spirit pearl itself had refused to let them sense it.
“Is it… still possible to return it to you?” Nina asked sincerely. “I didn’t know before that it was your clan’s sacred relic p>
She had no intention of keeping something that belonged to someone else.
“Nina, since the Spirit Pearl has already recognized you as its master, that means it belongs to you,” Finch said gently. “Our fox clan has never truly owned it. We were only its guardians. The one it acknowledges is its real master p>
He pushed the pearl back toward her.
“Nina, keep the Spirit Pearl safe. And try not to let other beastfolk know about it. If you ever meet members of the fox clan… don’t tell them either p>
As for the fox clan, he would think of a way to explain things himself. Perhaps he would claim the pearl had been accidentally destroyed. It would be best if those old fox elders never discovered the truth—otherwise they might set their sights on Nina.
“Are you sure that’s really alright?” Nina asked, a little worried.
“It’s fine,” Finch assured her. “Since it chose you, it’s yours. I’ll return to the clan and handle the explanation p>
He added calmly, “Besides, once the Spirit Pearl has chosen its master, it will only obey that person. Even if we took it back, it would be useless to us. It was never truly the fox clan’s possession anyway—we were merely its keepers. Now that it has found its rightful owner, we should actually be happy p>
“In that case… alright,” Nina said.
His words eased her concerns considerably.
With the matter of the Spirit Pearl settled, the tension between Sal and Kith’s group also eased. They were no longer on the verge of fighting—but neither had they suddenly become friends. There was still a faint hostility between them.
Nina sighed quietly to herself.
Forget it. They’ll have to work things out slowly.
When they returned to the stone houses, Sal still held Nina’s hand.
As he looked around, he noticed that all the houses beside hers were already occupied. His expression immediately darkened.
He did not want to live too far away.
If he lived on the outskirts, he would always be a step behind the other males when it came to competing for Nina’s attention.
With so many rivals around, he couldn’t afford to fall behind.
“Are there really no houses left next to Nina?” Sal asked, frowning.
“The houses next to Nina are all taken,” Finch replied with a hint of satisfaction. “Just pick one farther out. It’s only a few extra steps p>
Seeing that Sal might have to stay far away from Nina secretly pleased him.
That leopard deserved to keep his distance.
The other males felt the same. That leopard clearly wasn’t someone who would behave himself. The farther he stayed from Nina, the better.
“Nina, I want to live near you,” Sal said, his voice tinged with grievance. “I don’t want to stay so far away p>
Nina felt a little awkward.
She couldn’t exactly force the other males to move out of their rooms.
After thinking for a moment, she said cautiously, “Then… how about you stay with me for now p>
Since Sal had returned, she would also have to think about whether they would soon continue their journey. They might not stay in the Half-Mountain Tribe for much longer anyway.
And considering their relationship… living together should be acceptable, right?
“Nina… what did you just say p>
Sal felt as if he had been struck by a bolt of pure joy.
He had only hoped Nina would arrange a room closer to hers. He had never imagined such a wonderful possibility.
“Yes. I want to live with you,” Sal said quickly, not even giving her a chance to reconsider.
He wasn’t about to let Nina change her mind.
Just imagining living under the same roof as her made his heart race wildly.
If they lived together… then maybe he could—
The mere thought made him so excited he almost lost control.
But the other males immediately erupted.
“Absolutely not p>
They protested in unison.
“Nina, Viann said he actually prefers living farther away,” Aviel said quickly. “Let that leopard move into his room instead. It’s not too far from you p>
“Right,” Odian added at once. “And Ridan likes the outer houses too. He can give his room to Sal p>
Viann and Ridan stared blankly.
Since when did we say we liked the outer houses?
Those houses were older and more run-down!
“Nina, I don’t want to live in a room that those other males have already used,” Sal said stubbornly. “And making people move would be troublesome. I’ll just stay with you p>
There was no way he would give up such a perfect opportunity.
Aviel and Odian exchanged a meaningful glance with Viann and Ridan.
Taking the hint, the two hurried forward.
“Nina, we’re willing to give this male our rooms,” they said quickly.
For their king—and for their priestess—they were willing to make a sacrifice.
Nina also sensed the dissatisfaction and jealousy among the males.
To keep the big household harmonious, she decided it would be better if Sal had his own room after all.
“You can choose one of Viann or Ridan’s rooms,” she told Sal.
Inside, he was grinding his teeth.
Those annoying males had ruined his chance to live with Nina.
In the end, he chose Ridan’s room.
Yanai took the opportunity to move into Viann’s room as well.
And just like that, Sal officially settled in.
Sal’s arrival instantly raised everyone’s sense of urgency.
Aviel, Finch, and Yanai all began secretly planning their own strategies to win Nina’s favor.