Clumsy Beast, Keep Your Paws Off - Chapter 173

173: Chapter 173: The Curse of the Teng Clan 173: Chapter 173: The Curse of the Teng Clan Xuan Long’s eyes deepened, and an almost painful emotion swelled in his chest when she whispered that she trusted him.

His heart tightened, not just with desire, but with a deep, consuming happiness.

He gripped her waist harder; it was an immediate protective instinct, and he shifted her position slightly, making her face him.

The movement was swift, and Su Qinglan gasped as she almost slipped into the water, but his strong arms immediately secured her, letting her settle fully on top of him.

Instinctively, Su Qinglan wrapped her arms around his neck, holding on tightly so she wouldn’t fall.

Her hot cheeks were inches from his face.

Xuan Long looked at her.

His gaze was dark, intense, and filled with a visible, aching longing that took her breath away.

Then, he lowered his head and took her lips in his own.

At first, he was only gently nibbling on her lips, but soon he deepened the kiss as she parted her lips to breathe, but he didn’t wait before pushing his hot tongue inside her lips and devouring her completely.

Su Qinglan was stunned, her mind reeling from the intensity of the contact.

But through the shock, she suddenly realized something was definitely wrong with him.

This kiss wasn’t teasing or playful; it was emotional, filled with a desperate, heartbreaking longing.

It felt like he was afraid to lose her, like he needed her presence and her love more than he needed to breathe.

In response to his hidden pain, Su Qinglan tightened her hands around his neck, trying to comfort his restless heart.

She stopped thinking and simply reacted, kissing him back just as fiercely.

His mouth devoured hers-demanding and possessive-and his hands tightened around her waist, pulling her protectively against his body.

She responded back with equal fervor, lost in the overwhelming rush of water, heat, and emotion.

When Xuan Long finally pulled back, Su Qinglan could still feel her heartbeat racing.

Her breath came out uneven, but even through the daze in her mind, she didn’t forget to question him… what had happened suddenly… wasn’t everything just fine moments ago?

“Xuan Long,” she whispered softly, “what happened to you?” He looked at her for a long moment silently.

Then, without warning, he lowered his head and rested it gently on her shoulder.

The warmth of his breath brushed against her skin, but the tremor that ran through his body made her freeze.

“I… wasn’t able to mark you last night,” he said quietly in a low voice that was filled with sadness.

Su Qinglan blinked, confused.

But before she could say anything, she felt something warm fall onto her shoulder.

It was not water.

It was… a tear.

Her body stiffened.

“You’re crying?” she whispered.

He didn’t answer, only held her tighter, as if afraid she would slip away if he let go.

She didn’t understand.

Couldn’t mark her?

In the beast world, a mark appeared naturally between mates, a sacred bond that tied two souls together.

She herself carried Hu Yan’s mark.

Why couldn’t Xuan Long’s appear?

“Why?” she finally asked, her voice trembling.

“Shouldn’t it just appear on its own?” Xuan Long gave a faint, bitter smile.

“If only it were that simple.” He lifted his head then, and Su Qinglan’s heart clenched at the sight of his eyes-they were red-rimmed, glistening with pain.

Without thinking, she cupped his face in her hands, her thumbs brushing away the tears.

“It doesn’t matter,” she whispered.

“To me, you’re already…” But he interrupted softly, his voice cracking, “Lan Lan, I’m sorry.” Her hands stilled.

He drew in a shaky breath before continuing, “I’m from the Teng Clan… and do you know why there is no one left aside from me?” She shook her head slowly.

“No… I only know you were an ancient clan, and that you went extinct.

But why…?” Xuan Long’s gaze darkened.

“Because we were cursed.

The Teng Clan cannot easily mark their mates.

Our bond fails more often than it forms.

And without a true mark… no offspring can be born.

No complete union can exist.” His voice trembled again, filled with regret.

“Only a few among us… those favored by fate… could ever form that bond.

The rest… could only watch as the ones they loved grew old, while they remained alone.” Su Qinglan stared at him with wide eyes.

She had never imagined such a thing could exist.

He smiled faintly, but it was the saddest smile she had ever seen.

“It seems I’m one of the unlucky ones.” Her throat tightened.

“Xuan Long…” she whispered.

Before she could say more, he caught her hands, pressing them to his cheeks.

“Lan Lan,” he said softly, “I want to be your mate.

Your beast husband in every way.

I want to feel you always… to sense you… to know you’re mine.

I want my mark on you.” The quiet desperation in his eyes made her heart ache.

Then his gaze dropped, and his voice lowered even more.

“So today… I gave you a herb in the soup.

It’s meant to strengthen your body.

I wanted to try again… to see if I could mark you.” Su Qinglan froze.

“You…?” He nodded slowly, eyes full of both hope and sorrow.

“Yes.

Just once more.” She wanted to tell him it didn’t matter, that she already accepted him completely… but something in his expression stopped her.

The mark meant everything to his kind.

If she denied him that hope, it would only wound him more deeply.

So she nodded quietly.

“If it makes you happy,” she said in a gentle voice, “then… we can try.” Xuan Long smiled softly, but there was something hidden behind that smile… something heavy.

He didn’t tell her the truth.

That it wasn’t just any herb.

That he had broken off a part of his own beast core-the very essence of his life-and mixed it into her soup.

That doing so would weaken him, shorten his lifespan, and dim the power that once made him feared among all beastmen.

But none of that mattered to him anymore.

He thought he heard a whisper deep in his mind… maybe it was his father’s voice, faint and distant… urging him that this would help him.

That this might be his only chance.

So he didn’t know whether it would work or not, but he was willing to try… even if he had to go to any length… he couldn’t think about leaving without her.

And as the remnants of his beast core’s energy began to flow within Su Qinglan’s body, he only closed his eyes and held her closer.

He knew soon his beast core would start resisting in her body… and he had to calm it down… and after that, he didn’t know whether he would become her mate or not, but she would definitely become strong.

If he really failed to mark her, then he would slowly feed her all parts of his beast core… in this way… she could become powerful.

Then maybe if he was not with her, she would be able to protect herself… this would be enough to bring him peace of mind.

And most importantly, he would become a part of her… if the beast god couldn’t make him hers, then he would find another way… to always live with her.

He didn’t care what happened to him.

He had lived long enough in loneliness.

All he wanted now… was to stay by her side.