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

Ghost Wolf and the others looked extrely awkward.

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

Sal shot them a helpless look. He wasn’t sure whether they had co 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 ant to target you," Ghost Wolf explained quickly. "We were just trying to earn so 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 assud so male had abducted a tribe’s female.

They were wandering beasts. They had fewer moral constraints than tribe mbers. 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 claid. 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 sothing sharp? With thorns?" he suddenly asked Ghost Wolf and the others.

They shook their heads.

Ghost Wolf thought for a mont, 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 sothing flatter. Would the Boss beat him to death later for this?

At that mont, 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 co inside."

Sal shook his head.

"When you make a mistake, you should accept punishnt. I only hope you’ll forgive and let 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 ti together, she was willing to believe him once.

Still, a little punishnt might help him rember.

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 sothing 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 ti 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.

So 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 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 dood.

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 claid.

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 t 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 so." She handed them a few pieces.

Mino wasn’t particularly fond of it.

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

And sohow it didn’t sll 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 ti, Nina didn’t make Sal kneel for days. Once the durians were all cracked and eaten, she let him stand.

"I forgive you this ti," she said. "Is there anything else you’re hiding from ? Tell 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. Rember what you said. Co 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 ti, 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 ti.

Nina felt a pang of reluctance, but she knew this day would co. "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 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 paynt?

"Nina..." she began softly.

He seed 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 ."

He had sensed her quiet refusal.

Nina lowered her gaze, silent.

Mino released her slowly and kissed her forehead. He morized 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 mbers 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 into doing sothing extre."

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

Mino’s expression changed instantly.