Chapter 45
The cubs seemed to know that Lang Yan was going to take them away. From the moment Lang Yan and the others approached, they became extremely uneasy, desperately squeezing toward Lang Shuo. Now, they practically wished they could hide directly on Lang Shuo’s body. The few closest to the edge tightly hugged his arm.
The cubs actually did not have much strength. If Lang Yu used even a little force, he could easily separate the cubs from his younger brother. But the cubs’ current state was clearly not right. Lang Yu knew how much his younger brother loved cubs, so at a time like this, it was impossible for him to forcefully separate them.
Ultimately, the cubs had been outside for who knew how long. Even though they had been brought back by them, the helplessness they had felt without adult beastmen protecting them could not be erased.
If they had been older young wolves, Lang Yu would not have been polite. But cubs under three already had a high chance of dying young to begin with, and they had just been frightened yesterday. Although Lang Yu was angry, he would not vent his temper on the most innocent cubs.
Lang Yu gave up the idea of immediately separating the cubs from Lang Shuo and asked, “Chief Lang Yan, explain then. How did the cubs get lost?”
Lang Yong had said quite a lot just now, but Lang Yu had been inside the cave and had only vaguely heard a few words. He had originally planned to hand the cubs over to Lang Yan and let them leave. Now that the cubs did not want to go, Lang Yu had to find something to do, lest the other party’s eyes wander around. Looking at the cubs was one thing, but what was he looking at his younger brother for?
Lang Shuo raised his head and looked at his brother. Was it an illusion? He kept feeling that there was a bit of passive aggression in his tone.
Lang Yan withdrew his gaze from the cubs and Lang Shuo and began explaining.
He had hunted during the day and searched for cubs at night. He had not even had a drop of water in between, so Lang Yan’s voice was somewhat hoarse.
Lang Shuo remembered what Lang Yong had said just now and took the initiative to say, “Brother, why don’t we let them eat something first and then slowly talk?”
The two tribes had cooperated before, after all. The food before snow season had helped them quite a lot. Many of the crops planted outside were also seeds sent by the Black Wolf Tribe. According to the sub-adults, their tribe had many varieties of plants. In the future, there might still be opportunities to cooperate. Knowing that they had been hungry for a whole day, Lang Shuo could not make them continue starving.
Lang Yu: “…”
Lang Yu was dissatisfied with Lang Yan’s behavior of looking around randomly, but since his younger brother had spoken, what else could he do? He nodded somewhat unwillingly. “Mm, eat first.”
Because the weather was warm and they did not need to eat piping-hot food, breakfast was cooked pot after pot. All the cubs together had eaten two pots of sliced meat soup, and the third pot had just finished cooking.
Hearing the brothers’ conversation, Lang Yun helped serve the food.
Lang Yong, who had just finished a bowl, hurried over to help. “I’ll do it, I’ll do it.” As he spoke, he called out to the few black wolf members who were still standing there blankly. “Why are you still standing around? Hurry and help!”
Honestly, they had no work in their eyes at all! They were not even as diligent as their sub-adults.
The black wolf members being looked down on: “???”
If they did not know the inside story, they might have thought they were the ones in the wrong.
Your behavior of treating someone else’s tribe like your own home is the abnormal thing here!
Even after transforming into human form, beastmen had many traits similar to primitive beasts. For example, food protection was one point that had never changed over many years.
It was not that the Black Wolf Tribe members had no sense of propriety. They were simply unfamiliar with the Snow Wolf Tribe’s members. If this were placed on themselves and someone suddenly approached their food, there would at least be a fight.
Lang Yong was the minority.
Lang Yan was already used to it. The sub-adults had even wanted to bring prey and move into the Snow Wolf Tribe long-term. Nothing they did was surprising anymore.
He even felt now that the number twenty-eight was unlucky.
The tribe’s cubs under three years old were raised together. After last year’s breeding season, the number of cubs in the tribe under three happened to be twenty-eight, causing the group of sub-adults to become extremely excited.
Not too many, not too few. The number was exactly the same as theirs. Just right. One cub per person. No need to fight over them because there were not enough, and no need to worry about being flustered because one person had to take care of two.
The sub-adults secretly transported the cubs out in the morning, took them out for a round, then brought them back in the afternoon. Only after several times were they discovered. After that, the number of members responsible for taking care of cubs changed from one to three.
Looking at it now, even if they had only been taken out a few times, this group of cubs’ personalities had followed the sub-adults.
Especially the point of not wanting to return to the tribe. It was almost exactly the same as the sub-adults after eating at the Snow Wolf Tribe.
The only difference was that this matter was more troublesome. The cubs could not understand speech.
Lang Yan thought about it and only felt that no matter how fragrant the food in his bowl was, it had lost its flavor.
While the others ate, Lang Shuo coaxed the cubs.
Even if he could not bear to part with them, they could not possibly keep the cubs. The cubs had their own tribe and their own families.
However, after half a day passed, the cubs’ attitude had not changed at all.
At the root, the cubs’ resistance toward Lang Yan and the others came from unease. They had been abandoned in an unfamiliar place for who knew how long, with no food and no adult beastmen to protect them. In comparison, Lang Shuo, who brought them food and a warm nest, was now the beastman they trusted the most.
Lang Shuo tried to coax the cubs into approaching the Black Wolf Tribe members. But whether he handed over a few at a time or even passed them over together with the basket, the cubs all reacted the same way. Their four paws retracted, they turned their heads to look at Lang Shuo, and whined pitifully.
As if they were about to be abandoned.
The hand Lang Shuo extended moved slower and slower.
The cubs who had learned became clever. Before even getting close to the Black Wolf Tribe members, they tucked in their heads and shrank back. The ones who had not been picked up also whined at Lang Shuo. For a moment, Lang Shuo could only hear the cubs’ pitiful little voices.
Seeing this scene, whether it was the members of the Black Wolf Tribe or the members of the Snow Wolf Tribe, all of them fell silent.
They had never seen cubs who were unwilling to go home with their own clansmen after leaving the tribe for only one day.
Lang Yan looked at the cubs who refused to give up and at Lang Shuo, whose heart was gradually softening.
At this moment, he felt that he was not a chief who had come out to search for cubs, but an invader forcing the cubs to separate from their sub-beast father.
Lang Yu felt this scene was somewhat unpleasant to look at, but he did not plan to forcibly separate the cubs from his younger brother. If his younger brother recalled this matter one day, he would probably feel that Lang Yu was unfeeling.
Lang Yu absolutely would not allow his image in his younger brother’s heart to have anything to do with words like cold and heartless.
As for the role of the villain, let Lang Yan take it.
Lang Yan rubbed his temples. He would rather lead the hunting party out hunting for an entire month straight than face these cubs who could not be beaten, could not understand scolding, and would cry randomly if touched.
He did want to directly pick them up and leave, but seeing how gently Lang Shuo treated the cubs, Lang Yan hesitated for a moment and still gave up.
It was not good to frighten the cubs.
His gaze paused on the cubs for a while. Before Lang Yu could lose his temper, Lang Yan said, “Chief Lang Yu, tonight I will send five curved-horned beasts over to thank you for helping find the cubs. I would also like to trouble you to help take care of them for one month.”
After one month, eight cubs would turn three. Cubs who could transform into human form could communicate. With a few more sensible cubs taking the lead, it would be easier than now.
Lang Yu: “…”
“Our tribe has few members, and there are too many cubs. We have no way to supervise them. You should bring the cubs back,” Lang Yu refused. Right now, taking care of cubs was basically Lang Shuo’s work. Every day, aside from caring for cubs, Lang Shuo occasionally needed to teach other members to cook. On top of that, Lang Shuo loved cubs very much. If the black wolf cubs stayed here, even if members were arranged to watch them, Lang Shuo would not be able to resist taking care of them. At that time, he would become even more tired.
Lang Yan said, “There may be people in the tribe who trust Hu Yun. If we forcefully take the cubs back, I worry someone will harm them.”
Hearing this, Lang Shuo gathered the cubs closer to himself.
Seeing that things had already been said to this point and that Lang Shuo’s heart had softened, Lang Yu’s refusal was blocked in his throat. After all, this concerned the cubs’ safety. If something happened to the cubs after they returned, with the group of big-mouthed sub-adult black wolves around, even a sesame-sized matter could be described as the sky collapsing, and the news would quickly come over. With Lang Shuo’s personality, he would probably feel very guilty. Lang Yu did not dare gamble.
It was just that Lang Yu kept feeling this was an excuse. The goal was to leave the cubs in their tribe.
In the end, the result of the two sides’ discussion was that Lang Yan would bring his members back and temporarily not take the cubs. Tonight, they would first send over two prey animals and bring the cubs’ parents along. If the cubs’ parents also could not coax the cubs away, then the Snow Wolf Tribe would help take care of them. After that, every ten days, they would send one prey animal and test whether the cubs were willing to return.
After settling the method of handling it, Lang Yan left with Lang Yong and the others. Before leaving, Lang Yong looked enviously at the cubs. Being young was truly good. They could ignore the chief’s fierce gaze, and even if the chief got angry, they did not have to be afraid.
“Shuo, I’ll come again tonight.” Lang Yong reluctantly said goodbye to Lang Shuo.
Lang Yan reached out and grabbed the back of his neck. “You are not coming tonight.”
The little ones were unwilling to leave, and the big ones had not even left before thinking about coming over again. Lang Yan felt he did not even need to look at the Snow Wolf Tribe’s wolves to know what they were thinking.
Before leaving, Lang Yan’s gaze paused on the medicinal herbs hanging nearby.
Lang Yong was violently taken away. In front of the cave, only the group of cubs and the Snow Wolf Tribe members beside them remained.
The Snow Wolf Tribe did not have much affection for another tribe’s cubs. Yesterday’s rescue was because the cubs would be in great danger if they continued staying outside. Now that the cubs were not in any danger, they merely discussed why the cubs were unwilling to return. For the sake of the cubs, they did not approach.
Only Lang Yu remained beside Lang Shuo.
The cubs hugged Lang Shuo’s hand, their eyes staring straight at Lang Yu. Although they did not puff up their fur, their expressions revealed wariness.
They still remembered. Just now, it was this person who wanted to pick them up and give them to someone else.
Lang Yu was too lazy to bother with cubs and went to remind the members in charge of patrols to be careful recently. Hu Yun had thrown the cubs into their tribe and disappeared. Logically, he should not return to make trouble for himself, but what if his brain was strange? After all, ordinary people would not do something like throw away cubs just to take revenge on the tribe.
Originally, he had wanted to let the sub-adults go out for some fresh air, but they should not go out recently either. Even if their tribe’s sub-adults were usually fairly easy to discipline, they were still sub-adults and not as steady as adult beastmen. They were easily caught at weak points. However, what Lang Yu had not expected was that when he raised the matter of having the sub-adults stay in the residence, Lang Nuo and the others were unexpectedly agreeable and directly agreed.
Seeing that the chief did not understand, Lang Nuo said righteously, “We have to stay by Shuo’s side to help! We have to let Shuo know we’re more reliable than Lang Yong.”
They had just heard about what happened in the morning and knew that Lang Yong had actively performed in front of Lang Shuo. As members of the same race, how could they let wolves from outside compare them down?
Lang Yu was silent for a moment. In the end, he decided to forget it. No matter what the sub-adults’ purpose was, the final result was what he wanted. Not letting them come into contact with that poisonous-minded priest was already enough.
…
When the black wolf cubs saw Lang Yu leave, they immediately cried angrily at Lang Shuo. Judging by their tone, it sounded like they were complaining. But they were too young, and their language system was different from adult beastmen’s. They could still express hunger and thirst, but they could not speak complex language. Lang Shuo could not understand and only felt they were especially cute.
However, not understanding did not affect him coaxing the cubs. Picking them up one by one, kissing them, and putting them back already coaxed more than half of them. Lightly rocking the cubs and humming a few lullabies soon coaxed a whole large group to sleep. He had used this move on the snow wolf cubs before, and it worked every time.
Lang Shuo placed the basket of black wolf cubs beside the snow wolf cubs and asked Lang Hui to help watch them. Then he took several half-grown young wolves to look at the crops planted outside.
Potatoes were the most numerous of all the crops and had also been planted earliest. Looking at them, potato plants were everywhere. The other crops had been planted in smaller amounts, but added together, their numbers were still considerable.
Many crops could be eaten before they matured. Lang Shuo did not touch the seedlings and plants that would bear fruit later. Instead, he taught several young wolves to pick the male flowers of the pumpkins.
Melon and gourd plants had separate male and female flowers on the same plant. Picking male flowers would not affect fruiting, as long as not all of them were picked clean and some were left for pollination. The method of distinguishing male and female flowers was also very simple. The stem of the male flower went straight up and down, while the stem of the female flower had a small little pumpkin.
While the young wolves picked flowers, Lang Shuo peeled open several male flowers and used the stamens to pollinate the female flowers. With a little manual intervention, the fruiting rate would be higher.
Pumpkins were durable, high-yielding, and carried a faint sweetness, so everyone liked them very much. When raising seedlings, Lang Shuo had planted quite a few. The picked flowers together filled more than half a back basket.
Seeing that the young wolves were still eager for more, Lang Shuo said, “Next time we pick flowers, I’ll call you again.”
The young wolves cheered and agreed.
After returning, Lang Shuo handed the pumpkin flowers to the sub-adults and had them take them to the river to wash clean, while he cracked cluck-cluck bird eggs into a stone pot.
The washed pumpkin flowers were chopped, placed into the egg mixture, salt was added, and it was stirred evenly. The method was similar to the Chinese toon scrambled eggs from before.
The scrambled eggs with pumpkin flowers tasted more tender and carried the fresh fragrance of pumpkin flowers. As soon as they came out of the pot, they received countless praises.
At this moment, Lang Nuo thought of the Black Wolf Tribe again. “The Black Wolf Tribe has so many pumpkins. They should have pumpkin flowers too, right?” Such a delicious thing would be wasted if not eaten.
Hearing this, Lang Shuo immediately warned, “You cannot tell Lang Yong and the others that pumpkin flowers can be eaten!”
Given the personalities of the sub-adult black wolves, if they learned now that pumpkin flowers could be eaten, the Black Wolf Tribe could forget about harvesting a single pumpkin this harvest season.
His plan fell through, and Lang Nuo was disappointed. “All right.”
Although he said that, Lang Shuo also felt it was a pity for the flowers to be thrown away. He thought that if any gathering team members came among the Black Wolf members tonight, he could mention it to them.
Sub-adults did not know their own strength or limits, so Lang Shuo did not dare let them pick flowers. Gathering team members were more reliable.
What Lang Shuo could not guess was that while he was wondering whether he could get to know the Black Wolf Tribe’s gathering team members, Lang Yan had already called over two gathering team leaders.
For the time being, he did not know where Hu Yun had gone. Lang Yan was not in a hurry to find him. That guy had a stomach full of bad water and would definitely be unable to resist jumping out on his own. Even if he did not come out, as long as he had not walked out of the Beast God Continent, there would always be an opportunity to find him later.
Right now, the most important thing was how to thank the Snow Wolf Tribe.
A few prey animals were far from enough. Lang Yan called the gathering team leaders over to ask them to ask Lang Shuo whether there were any supplies he needed and help pick them. Based on the information the sub-adults had previously revealed, as well as his observations of the Snow Wolf Tribe, they seemed to like collecting various fruits and medicinal herbs very much.
Hu Yun disliked the Black Wolf Tribe’s gathering team and always felt the gathering team members were coveting his position. But he also could not endure hardship himself, so some medicinal herbs still had to be gathered by the gathering team. At this moment, there were still some in the tribe.
Lang Yan thought for a moment and said, “Bring the dried medicinal herbs over as well.”
Only this would prove their tribe’s sincerity.
The other members of the tribe naturally had no objections.
Saving the cubs, on a smaller scale, had saved more than ten pairs of partners from falling into grief over losing their cubs. On a larger scale, it had a great influence on the Black Wolf Tribe’s future.
The Black Wolf Tribe had more than five hundred people, but beastmen’s reproductive ability was not as strong as primitive beasts. The number of cubs born each year was at most a dozen or so. After subtracting those who died after birth and those who did not survive the first snow season, roughly ten survived. It took three or four years of cubs combined to form one hunting party.
Losing these cubs meant that more than ten years later, the tribe would have one fewer hunting party. One hunting party could support over a hundred members. How could that be compared to a little bit of supplies?
Therefore, that evening, Lang Yan led members of the hunting party and gathering team straight toward the Snow Wolf Tribe.
…
Gray Wolf Tribe.
“They went, they went!” Hui Shan excitedly reported the news to the chief. “Lang Yan brought people to the Snow Wolf Tribe!” Although the chief had said they did not plan to occupy the Black Wolf Tribe, that did not prevent them from watching the excitement.
Hearing the news, Hui Xing had an expression of wanting to watch a good show. “Tell me carefully. How many people went? Which road did they take?” As he spoke, he felt somewhat regretful. Their tribe was separated from the Snow Wolf Tribe by the Black Wolf Tribe. If they were near the Snow Wolf Tribe, they could directly go watch the excitement now.
Hui Shan said excitedly, “Several teams went. They brought two curved-horned beasts and carried a pile of back baskets too, the kind Hu Yun brought yesterday.” The first time they saw an unfamiliar container, they had studied it for a long time. Now half the tribe knew that thing was called a back basket.
Hui Xing’s expression of watching a show stiffened. “Carrying prey? Bringing supplies?”
Who attacked another tribe while bringing so many things? What? Stop halfway through the fight, eat, and then continue fighting?
The Black Wolf Tribe was not going to fight at all!
Although he did not know what exactly Hu Yun had done, Hui Xing could be certain that once the Black Wolf Tribe finished delivering the supplies and freed up their hands, they would deal with that fellow Hu Yun.
And not only was Hu Yun currently staying in their tribe, but in the eyes of some tribe members, they were also waiting for the Black Wolf Tribe and Snow Wolf Tribe to finish fighting so they could take advantage of their weakness.
It was clearly warm breeding season, but Hui Xing forcibly broke out in a cold sweat.
That bastard had ruined things!
“Chief? Chief? Boss?” Hui Shan saw that Hui Xing’s expression was off and called several times in a row. Seeing no response, he reached out and waved in front of him.
Hui Xing slapped his paw away. “Call someone to bring Hu Yun over.” Hui Xing spoke through gritted teeth.
So close. He had almost been fooled by that guy.
Hui Shan hurriedly agreed. “Oh, okay.” As he spoke, he ran out and called Hu Yun over.
Hu Yun had just woken up. His eyes had not even fully opened, and he narrowed them into slits as he looked at Hui Xing. “Chief Hui Xing, what is it?”
Hu Yun had been living very comfortably these two days. Yesterday, he had arrived late and made do with one meal. Today, several members of the Gray Wolf Tribe had brought him food, all to build a good relationship with him. Hu Yun did not say that he would go to the Beast God Temple in the future. He accepted everything and promised that he would take care of them later.
He had eaten most of the food he received. After eating his fill, he became sleepy and had slept until now. He did not understand why Hui Xing suddenly called him.
Hui Xing looked at Hu Yun in front of him and pulled out a smile. “The Black Wolf Tribe went to the Snow Wolf Tribe.”
Hearing this, Hu Yun was delighted. “They started fighting?”
It seemed that group of cubs had not lasted a day, and the sub-adult black wolves had discovered the cubs’ corpses earlier than he had expected.
Hui Xing gave a laugh of unclear meaning. “That’s right, Priest. Let’s go watch the excitement.”
Hu Yun did not notice anything wrong. He was immersed in the excitement of his scheme coming true. Hearing that they were going to watch the excitement, he nodded. “Good, good. Let’s go watch.”
The Snow Wolf Tribe did not have many people, but facing the Black Wolf Tribe, whose numbers were several times larger than theirs, they could only struggle on their deathbed. He had also heard that the Snow Wolf Tribe’s members were all very clever. With those two points combined, it was impossible for the Black Wolf Tribe to escape unscathed.
Hu Yun looked forward very much to the outcome of this battle.
Being able to personally see Black Wolf Tribe members injured or dead made Hu Yun extremely excited.
Hui Xing said, “Then let’s go.” As he spoke, he gave Hui Shan a look.
Hui Shan said, “Ah?” Why was he looking at him?
Hui Xing felt a little blocked in his chest. “Support the priest. Remember, you must not leave his side even one step.”
“Oh, oh, okay.” Hui Shan agreed and went over to grab Hu Yun’s arm.
Hui Xing was satisfied. He was a little stupid, but at least he was obedient.
Walking outside the cave, Hui Xing called the hunting party members who were resting today. “Follow me to the Black Wolf Tribe.”
Inside the cave, Hu Yun froze for a moment. The Black Wolf Tribe? Shouldn’t it be the Snow Wolf Tribe?
…
At the Snow Wolf Tribe, the black and white groups of cubs had finished eating the pumpkin flower egg pancakes Lang Shuo divided for them and were obediently licking their paws.
Suddenly hearing a burst of noise, the cubs all stopped moving and looked toward the source of the sound.
In an instant, all the black fluffy bundles began anxiously calling for Lang Shuo, squeezing toward him. Their cries were full of fear and unease.
Cubs had an independent language system among themselves. The white bundles, who understood their cries, did not know what had happened outside, but instinctively looked for Lang Shuo, seeking protection.
Only the cubs’ cries remained in the tribe. If beastmen who did not know the inside story saw this scene, they would probably think both litters belonged to the Snow Wolf Tribe.
Lang Shuo had not expected the cubs’ reaction to be this intense either. With quick eyes and hands, he took two lids, covered the baskets, picked up the baskets, and returned to the cave.
Once they reached an environment that made them feel safe, the cubs gradually quieted down.
Lang Shuo frowned. If the cubs merely did not want to leave, he could attribute it to the same reason as the sub-adults: being attracted by food.
But these cubs’ resistance toward Lang Yan and the others was extremely intense, far beyond the normal range of interaction.
This was not very normal.
With this kind of behavior, Lang Shuo could only think of one reason.
Stress response.
Animals and young children were both prone to stress reactions after being frightened or suddenly moved to an unfamiliar environment. These cubs had been too terrified when Hu Yun abandoned them, so even though the matter had already passed, they were still afraid. It was just that they did not show it while playing, sleeping, or eating during the day. Seeing Lang Yan and the others again, fear, resistance, and multiple negative emotions overlapped, causing the cubs to react excessively.
Thinking of this, Lang Shuo explained it to Lang Yun, who had followed him over, and asked Lang Yun to explain it to the Black Wolf Tribe.
Outside the cave, after hearing the explanation, Lang Yan said nothing. He waved for the members behind him to set down the supplies, left more than ten non-threatening gathering team members behind, nodded once at Lang Yu, and turned to leave with the other members.
He was going to kill Hu Yun first.
Hi, sorry to bother, but chapter 44 seems to be missing.