Chapter 117
The main reason for their slower running speed was that they hadn’t hunted all winter. This wasn’t the first time it had happened, either. In the past, however, they would emerge from winter starving, skin and bones, too weak to run properly—so it was completely normal. But now, even after eating well, they were still slow. Seeing that only a thin layer of snow remained outside, everyone immediately started training. After all, no one wanted to get so fat that they could barely move.
At first, the joke about being “too fat to run” was just something the tribe laughed about among themselves. Somehow, though, the rumor spread all the way to the Yellow Lion Tribe. When Shi Su came over with his people to collect the cubs’ last month of food rations, he even expressed some envy.
If it had been anyone else, Shi Su wouldn’t have mentioned it. But Bai Tu was always so approachable that people naturally felt at ease around him. Shi Su had been worrying about his tribe’s food situation for a while. Seeing that the Snow Rabbit Tribe not only had enough food but was actually troubled by having too much, how could he not be envious?
“I wish our tribe could be like this one day,” Shi Su sighed. But he knew it was just wishful thinking. Even if they started learning all of the Snow Rabbit Tribe’s strategies right now, it would take years to reach this level.
Not only did they lack the necessary skills, but even if they learned them, they wouldn’t necessarily be able to gather the required materials. Shi Su had visited the Snow Rabbit Tribe many times and knew they had access to resources that the Yellow Lion Tribe had never even heard of. It was these materials that allowed the rabbit beastmen to live so comfortably—other tribes could only look on with envy, unable to do anything about it.
Bai Tu was a little surprised that the rumor had spread so quickly. After all, those jokes had only been going around for a few days. But upon hearing Shi Su’s comments, he realized this winter had been particularly harsh and asked about the Yellow Lion Tribe’s situation.
The truth was, if it hadn’t been for the food provided for the rescued lion cubs, they would have been in an even worse state. Shi Su had initially insisted that they only needed enough food to sustain the rescued cubs, but of course, Bai Tu wasn’t going to give just that.
The Yellow Lion Tribe had also provided significant labor assistance, so Bai Tu had given them enough food to support sixty to seventy people. Shi Su distributed the meat among the pregnant lionesses and those who had recently given birth, while the corn and other grains were shared with the rest of the tribe. Without that extra support, they would have already started going hungry.
Corn couldn’t compare to meat in flavor, but its biggest advantage was its sheer quantity. The Snow Rabbit Tribe had harvested two seasons’ worth of corn and had been generous when distributing it. Both the Yellow Lion Tribe and the Deer Tribe, who had borrowed food, had received a substantial share. Even after that, there was still more than enough left for the Snow Rabbit Tribe to last a long time.
Lions had large appetites, and they had been rationing their food since the second month of winter. But no matter how carefully they conserved, the number of mouths to feed was still a problem. Even with the corn and other food from Bai Tu, their supplies were now nearly depleted.
Bai Tu mentally calculated the food reserves and discussed it with Bai An before deciding to lend Shi Su a little more.
The decision wasn’t just about being generous—it was also practical. Winter was nearly over, and on the Beast God Continent, seasonal changes happened fast. As soon as spring arrived, food would become more abundant. The Snow Rabbit Tribe only needed to keep enough supplies to last until summer and ensure they had enough seeds for planting. Any excess corn would just sit there, going to waste.
Bai Tu wasn’t the kind of person who could hoard food while watching others starve. Besides, Shi Su had specifically stated that apart from the food for the cubs and their mothers, the rest of what they borrowed would be repaid once they could hunt again in the summer. Whether they would actually be able to repay it didn’t matter—the attitude alone was enough to make the agreement satisfactory.
Since they were already familiar with Shi Su, the members of the Snow Rabbit Tribe who had overheard him repeating the joke about “getting too fat to run” didn’t think much of it. However, just a few days after Shi Su left, the White Lion Tribe came to visit.
If the Yellow Lion Tribe was struggling for food, then the White Lion Tribe, which was even weaker, had been suffering for even longer. But unlike the Yellow Lions, they weren’t as close to the Snow Rabbit Tribe. Before coming to retrieve their cubs, they hadn’t had much contact at all.
Rather than asking for food outright, they had come with the intention of placing their cubs in the care of the Rabbit Tribe.
The White Lion Tribe had a little over a hundred members. They had also participated in the attack on the Wild Lion Tribe along with the other lion clans. However, unlike the Yellow Lion Tribe, they had not taken in any beastmen who had defected from the Wild Lion Tribe. Their leader, Shi Lin, was cautious—since their numbers were already small, he feared that if they became a target of revenge, they wouldn’t be able to defend themselves.
Shi Lin had previously come to the Snow Rabbit Tribe to reclaim their cubs, but this time, he came to send more. His expression was careful and reserved. In truth, it would have made more sense for them to seek help from the Yellow Lion Tribe since they were both lion clans. However, it was precisely because of their familiarity with the other lion tribes that Shi Lin knew none of them were doing much better than his own. The other lion tribes might be in slightly better condition, but not by much.
While worrying about his tribe’s survival, Shi Lin suddenly heard that the Snow Rabbit Tribe had more than enough food. After weighing his options, he realized that sending their cubs to the Snow Rabbit Tribe was the best choice. He had seen firsthand the conditions in which the rabbit tribe’s cubs lived, which reassured him.
The plan was good, but it still depended on the Snow Rabbit Tribe’s agreement. Shi Lin had met Bai Tu before and knew he had a soft spot for cubs. Taking a gamble, he made sure the cubs were cleaned up and sent them straight to Bai Tu’s doorstep.
Even with all the unusual situations Bai Tu had encountered recently, this was a first. Truth be told, the tribe already had plenty of lion cubs. Aside from the ones brought over from the Red Eagle Tribe, the Wild Lion Tribe alone had produced over twenty.
However, as the name suggested, the White Lion Tribe’s members were almost entirely white-furred lions—so naturally, their cubs were too.
Now, over a dozen fluffy white lion cubs lay in front of him, looking soft and delicate. They didn’t resist being handled, the most they did was let out a few quiet whimpers. Whether or not others could hold back, Bai Tu certainly couldn’t.
Shi Lin’s approach was undeniably effective. Not only was Bai Tu immediately moved, but even the beastmen in the tribe who usually had little interest in cubs didn’t raise any objections. After discussing with Bai An, Bai Tu agreed to take care of them, but he made sure to clarify some conditions beforehand.
The survival rate of cubs was naturally low. While the Snow Rabbit Tribe’s cubs had remained safe recently, there was no guarantee that the White Lion Tribe’s cubs would always be fine.
In reality, after taking care of cubs for most of the winter, the tribe had gained a lot of experience. The White Lion cubs were thin, but only two of them were slightly sick, so their chances of survival weren’t too bad. Still, it was best to set expectations upfront—if anything happened, they didn’t want to be blamed for not being careful enough. Even when parents cared for their own cubs, illnesses could happen. Since two of the cubs already looked weak, it was important to make things clear.
Shi Lin, of course, wasn’t going to demand that the Snow Rabbit Tribe keep every cub perfectly healthy. Upon hearing Bai Tu’s words, he quickly nodded in understanding and expressed his stance: “As long as our cubs are raised alongside the other cubs, that’s enough. We have no other requirements.”
They simply wanted their cubs to avoid the harsh conditions that the adults had to endure—eating nothing but scraps of hide and bones. As long as the cubs had a warm place to sleep and enough food to eat, the White Lion Tribe would be satisfied. They weren’t in a position to ask for anything more.
Even so, Shi Lin was still worried that Bai Tu might refuse.
Fortunately, Bai Tu didn’t make them wait too long. After checking the cubs and confirming that the two sick ones only had mild colds due to the weather, he agreed to take them in.
Hearing Bai Tu’s confirmation, Shi Lin was visibly relieved. Without wasting any time, he left immediately, not wanting to linger and risk Bai Tu changing his mind.
After discussing with Lang Qi, Bai Tu decided to give the White Lion Tribe a few large baskets of corn from the Blood Wolf Tribe’s supplies.
At this point, even plain boiled vegetables would be a luxury, let alone grain.
Shi Lin was so happy when he left that he practically had a spring in his step—he probably would have roared with excitement if he weren’t trying to maintain some composure.
Taking care of one cub was the same as taking care of ten. The tribe already had many cubs, and there were plenty of beastmen assigned to care for them. With the additional cubs evenly distributed among the caretakers, no one had more than one extra cub to look after. In the end, the workload barely changed at all.
By now, everyone had become much more adept at taking care of the cubs. They were no longer as cautious as they had been in the beginning, afraid to move or even pick them up. Not only had they grown more skilled, but their efficiency in feeding, bathing, and handling the cubs had also improved significantly. What had once been a chaotic struggle to manage just a few cubs had now become an effortless task—even taking care of ten at once was no longer an issue.
The two sick cubs were treated just like any other sick cubs in the tribe—they were placed in isolation, housed in a separate cave, and cared for by a dedicated beastman.
Bai Tu understood that illnesses like colds and fevers were highly contagious, especially colds, which could spread rapidly if not handled properly. He gave special instructions to the caregiver, ensuring that they wouldn’t enter any other caves until the cubs had fully recovered, preventing any chance of an outbreak.
Colds could be minor or serious—some people recovered after a single night’s rest, while others needed medication and still struggled for a week. While the cubs wouldn’t recover overnight, their overall condition was decent. After three days in isolation, they had mostly recovered, looking much livelier and eating with a noticeably improved appetite. Their food intake had nearly doubled.
Bai Tu waited another two days, making sure they were completely healthy before allowing them to join the rest of the cubs in the communal cave.
Just as he finished settling them in and was about to step out, Bai Qi, who was on patrol, suddenly ran over with a serious expression.
“What’s wrong?” Bai Tu asked, surprised. Bai Qi was still in charge of patrolling the area. Had another tribe come to ask for food? After lending grain to the Deer Tribe, Yellow Lion Tribe, and White Lion Tribe, Bai Tu had considered the possibility. But they couldn’t let fear of others asking for food stop them from helping those in need.
If the Snow Rabbit Tribe were still the small tribe it had been before, even if Bai An agreed to lend food, Bai Tu would have had to carefully consider the safety risks. But now, the tribe was completely different from a year ago. They had more tools, more people, and the tribes they had lent food to were trustworthy and discreet. Both Bai Tu and Bai An felt reassured.
Bai Tu began thinking about which nearby tribes had a good relationship with them.
However, Bai Qi’s next words interrupted his thoughts.
“It’s the Black Lion Tribe. They’re here looking for their cubs. Before last year, their tribe had some cubs taken away by the Red Eagle Tribe,” Bai Qi said, panting slightly from running all the way over. He wasn’t exhausted, but the cold wind had left his throat sore.
“What?” Bai Tu thought he must have misheard.
Bai Qi repeated his words, feeling utterly speechless.
The Black Lion Tribe had willingly sent their own cubs away, then, at the start of winter, tried to use them as an excuse to attack the Snow Rabbit Tribe—only to get beaten back. Now, before winter had even ended, their injuries had healed, and they had already forgotten the pain of their defeat. Instead, they came up with a new excuse to demand their cubs back.
Bai Tu fell silent. He had been on the Beast God Continent for almost a year now, but this was the first time he had encountered such shamelessness. It was as if they had collectively forgotten their previous humiliation, acting as if their past defeat had never happened, once again using the cubs as a convenient excuse.
There was no way Bai Tu was going to hand the cubs over. To Shi Wu and his people, the cubs were nothing more than tools to be exploited—useful when needed, discarded when not.
If they had truly cared about their cubs, they wouldn’t have waited until the cubs had spent an entire winter in the Snow Rabbit Tribe before suddenly deciding to take them back. When they attacked the Snow Rabbit Tribe before, they hadn’t even considered what would happen to the cubs if a real battle broke out.
The Yellow Lion Tribe and White Lion Tribe, on the other hand, had acted entirely differently. The moment they learned their cubs had been taken, they immediately came to reclaim them, bringing along every parent who had lost a child. To show their sincerity, they didn’t even bring their hunting teams. That was the attitude of someone truly trying to reclaim their young.
Even without considering everything else, the Snow Rabbit Tribe knew that the Black Lion Tribe had willingly given up their cubs in the past. They weren’t fooling anyone by suddenly pretending to be victims. Did they really think everyone else was stupid? Did they assume no one remembered their previous actions?
In reality, Shi Wu wasn’t arrogant enough to think everyone was a fool. The real reason he had come was that he had heard about the Snow Rabbit Tribe’s abundance of food.
Among the surrounding tribes, only the rabbits and the wolves had adequately prepared for winter. The others were struggling. In the early months of winter, most tribes could still manage, since even the weakest groups had stockpiled some food. But as time passed, their supplies dwindled. No matter how much they rationed, the final stretch of winter was always the hardest.
Beastmen had strong regenerative abilities, so the Black Lion Tribe had mostly recovered from their injuries over the course of the season. They also had a supply of medicines, so their actual casualties had been minimal. Of course, if they hadn’t been captured that one time, their losses would have been even lower.
But now, they were running out of food.
When Shi Wu heard the rumor that many people in the Snow Rabbit Tribe had eaten so much they had gotten fat, he immediately set his sights on them.
The previous defeat had been due to his lack of preparation. This time, he carefully investigated for days, ensuring that the reports were true: the Snow Rabbit Tribe did have an abundance of food, and their people had grown sluggish from overeating. Either of these alone would have been reason enough to act—but with both confirmed, it was an opportunity too good to pass up.
Having ample food meant the tribe was worth robbing. The fact that the rabbits had gotten fat and slow meant their combat ability had weakened. Either one was excellent news, but together? It was the perfect chance.
Shi Wu desperately needed this victory. Many in his tribe had begun questioning his leadership after the last failure. Seizing this opportunity would allow him to reestablish his dominance. Once he had double-checked his intelligence and confirmed the rumors, he didn’t hesitate to gather his warriors and prepare for action.
The beastmen of the Black Lion Tribe had spent most of the winter half-starved, rarely getting enough food to feel full. Normally, they wouldn’t have thought much of it—after all, everyone in the surrounding tribes faced similar struggles. But this year, they had heard that the weaker Snow Rabbit Tribe had been eating freely, even feasting on meat whenever they wanted.
That realization filled them with jealousy and resentment.
So when Shi Wu presented his plan, nearly the entire tribe rallied behind him. Aside from a few dissenters who opposed raiding other tribes, the rest of the Black Lion warriors were eager to take the Snow Rabbit Tribe’s food for themselves.
Now, as they sharpened their weapons and made preparations, they gnawed on barely edible roasted meat—just enough to keep their stomachs from growling.
Because they had been too focused on fighting for control over the Wild Lion Tribe’s territory before winter, much of their own food supply had been poorly managed. Back then, the temperatures hadn’t been as frigid, so meat left out for a few days had already started to spoil. Even after roasting, a faint stench still lingered.
Yet, while they were struggling to stomach their meager rations, the Snow Rabbit Tribe was gorging themselves.
The sheer unfairness of it all only fueled their desire for revenge.
Lions disliked eating spoiled meat. Even though prey had become scarce, they had stockpiled a considerable amount of food, so at first, they had only eaten the freshest portions. Now, however, all that remained were the unpalatable scraps.
They had no choice but to eat it—this was all they had left. Otherwise, they would have to resort to eating animal hides. While hides technically came from prey, if they were edible, they wouldn’t just be used for warmth. Boiling them resulted in a tough, scratchy texture that was nearly impossible to chew—worse than even the slightly spoiled meat.
Their options were grim: either eat the foul-tasting meat or chew on tough hides and gnaw on bones with little meat left. With no better choices, the miserable meal only reinforced their belief that they had to raid the Snow Rabbit Tribe for food.
Shi Wu, having received overwhelming support from the majority of his tribe, felt even more certain that his decision was the right one. Though ice and snow had started melting, the roads were still difficult to traverse. To him, this was a good thing—poor road conditions meant the Wolf Tribe and Leopard Tribe wouldn’t be able to intervene as they had last time. Without their interference, defeating the Rabbit Tribe would be easy.
However, last time’s defeat had taught Shi Wu a painful lesson, making him far more cautious this time. Even if the Wolf and Leopard Tribes didn’t intervene, the Snow Rabbit Tribe had grown significantly. After all, most of the Frenzied Lion Tribe’s survivors had joined them. One humiliating loss was enough—he wasn’t going to let it happen again.
To ensure victory, he brought along nearly the entire tribe. Aside from those who adamantly refused to participate, everyone had come.
Before setting out, Shi Wu ordered all the remaining food in the tribe to be cooked and eaten. After all, once they raided the Rabbit Tribe, they would have more than enough food. There was no point in saving what little they had left—it was better to eat their fill now so they’d have the energy for battle.
After starving for so long, even the previously unpalatable food didn’t seem so bad. Beastmen who had only been eating a small portion of meat each day now stuffed themselves without restraint. Since the food came from the communal supply, eating more wouldn’t affect their personal rations. Even those with smaller appetites couldn’t resist eating a bit extra—some ate so much that they could barely move.
Now fully fed, the lion beastmen marched toward the Snow Rabbit Tribe’s territory.
As they approached, they spotted Bai Qi patrolling the area and called out to him, claiming they were here to retrieve their cubs.
Just as Bai Tu had predicted, the cubs were nothing more than an excuse. Shi Wu’s real plan was to send a few lion beastmen into the Rabbit Tribe under the guise of reclaiming their young. Their job was to memorize the layout—mapping the routes and identifying the food storage locations.
Once they led the cubs out, the rest of the group would follow, slipping inside to seize the food. The cold weather made it impossible to navigate unfamiliar territory without a guide, and Shi Wu was counting on this to ensure his plan’s success.
He had also come up with this strategy to lower the Snow Rabbit Tribe’s guard.
After all, they had promised that as long as they got their cubs back, they wouldn’t start a fight.
The Snow Rabbit Tribe would surely believe them, Shi Wu thought smugly. Last time, his mistake had been acting too aggressively, which had put the rabbits on high alert. His approach had been wrong. This time, he should follow the example of the Yellow Lion and White Lion Tribes—gaining entry first, then striking when the time was right.
As long as his people got inside and learned the layout, the Snow Rabbit Tribe’s food would be his.
The more Shi Wu thought about it, the more pleased he became—he was so delighted that he almost laughed out loud.
But that smug grin quickly disappeared.
A lion beastman beside him suddenly clutched his stomach, groaning in pain.
“My stomach hurts… I need to rest for a moment,” he muttered.
Shi Wu was relatively considerate toward his trusted followers. When he heard that one of them wasn’t feeling well, he simply waved his hand, dismissing him to rest. For now, he was still waiting for Bai Qi to return with an answer and lead a few beastmen into the Snow Rabbit Tribe to “identify” their cubs. The actual attack was still at least half a day away. Moreover, with so many people in his group, losing one or two to rest wouldn’t make a difference. The Snow Rabbit Tribe wouldn’t be counting whether they were facing exactly four hundred attackers or just shy of four hundred.
The more Shi Wu looked at his gathered warriors, the more satisfied he felt. Last time, they had lost against the Wolf Tribe and Leopard Tribe because their numbers were too small. But this time, he had brought an overwhelming force—there was no way they could lose.
Just as he was basking in his confidence, another beastman approached, complaining of stomach pain.
This one wasn’t as close to him as the first, but they weren’t on bad terms either. Since Shi Wu was still in a good mood, he didn’t get angry. He simply waved the beastman away to rest.
Then another one came.
And another.
One after another, his warriors kept interrupting his daydreams of victory and feasting on the Snow Rabbit Tribe’s food. Shi Wu’s smile gradually faded.
By the time the third warrior complained, his expression had already darkened. However, he still sent the man to the back without making a fuss.
But when yet another beastman came forward, Shi Wu’s patience snapped.
He suddenly felt like he was being deceived by his own people. They all swore they weren’t afraid of attacking the Snow Rabbit Tribe. They all said they would fight together. And now, before we’ve even set foot inside, they’re already backing out?
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He was convinced that these beastmen had lost faith in him after their last defeat. His fury erupted.
“Stop trying to slack off!” he bellowed. “You stuffed yourselves full with all our food, and now you’re pretending to be sick? Dream on! Either you wait here, or you go out and catch a hunt. If you don’t do either, don’t even think about returning to the Black Lion Tribe!”
His words carried severe consequences. Normally, after winter ended and food became more abundant, tribes would only exile members under extreme circumstances. But there was still a full month left of winter—hunting was impossible. Being cast out of the tribe meant certain death.
The beastmen who had complained about stomach pain shuddered in fear. Afraid that Shi Wu might truly expel them, they had no choice but to endure the discomfort and remain in place.
Seeing this, the other warriors who had also been feeling unwell kept silent, forcing themselves to stand firm to avoid provoking Shi Wu’s wrath.
*
Meanwhile, in the Snow Rabbit Tribe, Bai Tu reacted immediately after hearing Bai Qi’s report. He quickly made preparations, instructing people to move the cubs to a safer underground location.
In reality, even if a battle broke out, the fight would never reach that area. However, beastmen—especially lion beastmen—had a habit of roaring loudly during combat. The heavier the blows, the louder the roars. This was not just instinct—it was a tactic meant to intimidate their opponents.
For the cubs, such loud, aggressive noises could be terrifying. Rather than risk scaring them, Bai Tu decided to move them somewhere more secure.
These intimidation tactics were no longer as effective against the Rabbit, Wolf, and Leopard Tribes, who had faced the Lion Tribe multiple times before. However, they would frighten the cubs.
The voices of adult beastmen carried far, and it wouldn’t just be the Lions roaring—if the Wolves got involved, they would definitely add their own howls to the chaos. For the cubs’ well-being, moving them underground was the best choice.
After instructing the caretakers to secure the cubs, Bai Tu found Lang Qi and gathered a few of the fastest wolves and rabbits. He sent them to inform Shi Su and Shi Lin while also notifying Lang Ze. The Wolf Tribe was farther away—it would take them at least half a day to reach the Black Lion Tribe, even at top speed. The two Lion Tribes, being closer, would be able to respond more quickly.
While waiting for reinforcements, the Snow Rabbit Tribe didn’t just sit idly by. They couldn’t always rely on other tribes to solve their problems, and after an entire winter of good food, they weren’t about to let others look down on them.
Bai Tu knew that, physically, the Rabbit Tribe still had some disadvantages compared to other beastmen. But that didn’t mean they were destined to lose—especially with the right weapons.
Over the winter, the tribe’s mining, brick-making, and iron-forging operations had never slowed down. They had nearly used up all the iron ore Hei Xiao had delivered in previous shipments, but the finished products they had produced were plentiful.
Agricultural tools alone wouldn’t require such a large supply, so Bai Tu had modified several weapons to make them more combat-efficient.
For example, the sharpened wooden spears they had previously used for hunting—he reinforced their tips with iron, making them not only sharper but also much more durable, greatly increasing their lethality.
He also extended the length of daggers, which, while sharp, had previously been limited in range. With the modification, they became far deadlier weapons.
Other similar adjustments were made to various tools. Even iron shovels, originally intended for farming, could now double as effective weapons.
As for more advanced weapons, Bai Tu hadn’t had time to research them yet. But even with what they had, taking down the Black Lion Tribe would be more than manageable.
Calling for reinforcements wasn’t because they lacked the strength—it was simply to minimize casualties. A one-on-one fight meant a higher chance of injury. But outnumbering the enemy? That ensured victory with little to no injuries.
The Black Lion Tribe had already reached the Snow Rabbit Tribe’s territorial boundary. Wasting no time, Bai An and the others gathered their warriors, armed themselves, and set out immediately.
They could not allow the enemy to cross into their land.
This wasn’t just about a single battle—it was about proving their tribe’s strength. If the Black Lion Tribe were allowed to enter too easily, it would be seen as the Snow Rabbit Tribe surrendering without a fight. Even if they later drove the intruders out, it would leave a lasting impression that their defenses were weak.
Once word spread, countless other tribes would begin testing their limits.
And it wasn’t just the familiar tribes nearby—there were others within traveling distance. If any of them decided to invade, everything the Snow Rabbit Tribe had been working on could be exposed.
They had to make an example out of the Black Lion Tribe.
Other opportunistic tribes needed to see that the Snow Rabbit Tribe was no longer the weak little tribe it once was. They had an abundance of food, and they could defend it. Anyone thinking of scheming against them would have to think twice.
In the past, Bai An would always insist that Bai Tu remain in the tribe for safety. This time was no different.
However, Bai Tu had no intention of staying behind.
For so long, the Black Lion Tribe had provoked them time and time again, yet he had never once seen their leader in person. He was curious—what kind of person kept picking fights with the Snow Rabbit Tribe?
There was another reason, too.
Lang Qi was going to the battlefield this time. Though he had recovered for a while now, he hadn’t actually fought any beastmen since his injury. Bai Tu didn’t feel at ease unless he was there to see it himself.
Since they were leaving, the cubs would have to be entrusted to Tu Bing for the time being. Originally, Tu Cai was responsible for caring for the cubs, but with over 200 of them now under her arrangement, relocating them was no small task. Even though they had been cared for in the tribe for a long time, abruptly moving them to a new location could still cause fear and anxiety.
Tu Bing was the perfect choice to help. Her own cubs were still very young and spent most of their time sleeping. Watching over a few more wouldn’t be a problem for her. In fact, the three little wolf cubs were just like the two baby rabbits—sleeping for about twenty hours a day. The remaining four hours were split between eating and searching for their parents.
The ones that needed more attention were the older cubs. Human-formed and beast-formed cubs moved at different speeds and had different ways of escaping. To prevent any mishaps, Bai Tu instructed Lang Qi to bring down the reinforced enclosure. After several modifications, the enclosure was now sturdy enough to ensure that no cub—whether in human or beast form—could escape.
With everything settled in the tribe, Bai Tu set out for the territorial border with a group of warriors. Their expressions were serious, and their grips on their weapons were tight.
However, upon arriving at the boundary, the atmosphere felt… strange.
Bai Tu turned to Bai Qi with a questioning look.
Were those Black Stool Tribe beastmen rolling on the ground?
Bai Qi was just as confused. When he had patrolled this area earlier, the lion beastmen had been aggressive, looking like they were ready to storm the Snow Rabbit Tribe at any moment. That was why he had rushed to inform Bai Tu.
But now?
The Black Stool warriors looked like wilted chicks after a frost—weak and miserable, clutching their stomachs and groaning.
Beastmen had many different kinds of cries. Generally, beastmen from different tribes could only recognize the basic emotions behind them, but those from the same tribe could understand more specific meanings.
Human-formed beastmen rarely vocalized their distress, as they could just speak instead. Only when their emotions reached an extreme level and they didn’t have time to shift into their beast form would they resort to making sounds.
Yet now, more than half of the Black Lion beastmen were howling in pain, while the other half, though silent, were also clutching their stomachs.
Bai Qi glanced between the lions and Bai Tu, hurriedly explaining, “I wasn’t lying!”
Of course, Bai Tu hadn’t thought Bai Qi was spreading false information. He nodded in acknowledgment.
However, the sight before him was undeniably puzzling.
If this was some kind of act to lower their guard before launching an attack, then these beastmen deserved awards for their performances. Some of them were sweating profusely—far too convincing for a mere trick.
A gust of wind blew past, carrying with it a putrid, indescribable stench. Bai Tu instinctively covered his nose, listening to the groans of the lion beastmen in the distance. A realization dawned upon him.
He had no desire to get any closer. Instead, he patted Bai Qi on the shoulder and cut two small pieces from his beast-hide clothing, handing them to Bai Qi.
“Block your nose with this and go ask them what they ate today.”
Bai Qi was the perfect choice for this task. He was the fastest beastman in the tribe, even faster than Lang Ze at full sprint. If the lion beastmen were only pretending to be sick, he could quickly retreat before they had a chance to attack.
Bai Qi cautiously approached, stopping a few steps away from the Black Lion Tribe warriors. After scanning the nearby grass for any hidden ambushes, he spoke.
“What did you eat today?”
Shi Wu, clutching his stomach, immediately assumed he was being mocked. The rumor that the Snow Rabbit Tribe had abundant food had already reached his ears, while his own tribe had been struggling with food shortages. Now, the youngest son of the Snow Rabbit Tribe’s leader had come to ask about their meals—if that wasn’t ridicule, what was?
Shi Wu glared at Bai Qi with undisguised malice, his expression filled with hatred. If he had the strength, he would have leaped up and torn Bai Qi apart with his teeth.
“What we eat in our tribe has nothing to do with you!” he spat.
Shi Wu was a storm of emotions—anger, humiliation, and pain. Earlier, when his warriors had complained of stomach pain one after another, he had assumed they were just trying to slack off. Furious, he had lashed out, and after his outburst, no one else had dared to mention feeling unwell.
However, their symptoms hadn’t actually disappeared. The severity of his threats had simply forced them into silence. Given the choice between enduring the pain or being exiled, every beastman had chosen to endure.
At this time of year, being cast out of the tribe meant certain death. Staying in the tribe at least guaranteed survival—there was warmth, shelter, and the occasional hot drink. Outside the tribe, even starting a fire would be a challenge. Surviving a single night would be a struggle.
But pain isn’t something that disappears just because you endure it. Soon, the beastmen realized their stomachs were hurting more and more. Still, they didn’t dare speak up—until one of them couldn’t hold it in any longer and vomited.
Food was a precious resource, and seeing someone waste it enraged Shi Wu. Already irritated from waiting for Bai Qi to return, he acted without thinking, kicking the vomiting beastman hard.
But that single kick proved disastrous. The already weakened beastman, struggling to endure the pain, immediately lost consciousness and collapsed.
Seeing this, the other suffering warriors decided they couldn’t hold out any longer. One after another, they admitted that they were also in severe pain and in no condition to fight today.
If only a few had fallen sick, they might have thought it was just an unfortunate coincidence. But with so many of them suffering at the same time, they started to suspect something bigger was at play.
Near the unconscious warrior, one of the lion beastmen whispered hesitantly, “Could it be that the Beast God doesn’t want us to attack the Snow Rabbit Tribe?”
They had fought other tribes before—just last year, they had joined the siege on the Wild Lion Tribe. But nothing like this had ever happened. An entire war party suddenly falling ill? This was a first. Naturally, their minds turned to higher powers. Had they angered the Beast God by planning this attack? Was this their divine punishment?
Shi Wu refused to accept such an idea.
I led this raid. I was the one who gathered our warriors and gave the order to march. If he admitted that the Beast God disapproved of their actions, wouldn’t that mean his judgment was wrong?
If his warriors believed that, his authority in the tribe would plummet.
Shi Wu had no intention of giving up his position as leader. He had seen firsthand what happened to former leaders—the moment his predecessor stepped down, his influence faded. Beastmen only respected the current leader. They had no reason to please an ex-leader.
Shi Wu wasn’t about to let that happen to him.
Shi Wu had no intention of relinquishing his position so soon, stubbornly insisting that he had done nothing wrong. However, his defiance didn’t last long—he soon felt a dull pain in his stomach. At first, it was manageable, but then the pain began coming in waves. He struggled to endure it, trying to hide his discomfort, but as the pain became constant, it was impossible to conceal any longer.
By that point, no one was paying attention to him anymore. Most of his warriors were already writhing on the ground, either lying down or curled up in agony. No one had the energy to worry about anyone else.
It was at this moment that Bai An, Bai Tu, and their warriors arrived.
Shi Wu refused to admit that he had made a mistake, and upon hearing Bai Qi’s questioning, his anger flared even more. He began cursing his warriors for being useless.
But no matter how much he yelled, none of them moved. Under normal circumstances, they might have attacked the rabbit beastmen just to please their leader, but now, they could barely clutch their stomachs, let alone fight. Worse still, many of them feared that attacking now would only invoke an even harsher punishment from the Beast God.
A few beastmen who didn’t believe in such superstitions wanted to attack, but they simply didn’t have the strength. One tried to stand, but before he could even finish a sentence, another wave of pain hit him, leaving him doubled over, unable to shift into his beast form, let alone fight.
Since Shi Wu refused to cooperate, Bai Qi didn’t bother wasting time questioning him further. Instead, he turned his gaze to the other lion beastmen. If Shi Wu won’t talk, someone else will.
Before he even had to ask, a scrawnier lion beastman, not far from Shi Wu, hesitantly spoke up.
“We… we ate all of our tribe’s stored food…”
“Lies! We didn’t eat all of it!” Shi Wu snapped, furious. He was convinced that Bai Qi had coaxed them into saying that, trying to force them to admit that the Black Stool Tribe was out of food. Those damned rabbits! We haven’t even attacked them, yet they’re already mocking us!
“How much did you eat?” Bai Qi asked. He had seen Bai Tu diagnose sick beastmen before and knew that asking just one question wasn’t enough.
“This big—three pieces.” The thin lion beastman gestured, indicating three large portions of meat—far more than he usually ate.
At first, he hadn’t planned on coming here at all, but Shi Wu had promised that anyone joining the raid could eat as much meat as they wanted. Tempted by the offer, he indulged, stuffing himself with three massive portions before setting out. He had been among the first to feel stomach pain, but when it was finally his turn to rest, Shi Wu had denied him the chance, so he had endured it until now.
“When did you eat… never mind, I’ll take you to Bai Tu.” Bai Qi had been about to ask for more details but stopped halfway. He realized his questions might not be the ones Bai Tu needed answered. Instead, he grabbed the beastman by the arm and dragged him toward the rabbit beastmen.
The lion beastman stiffened in fear when Bai Qi grabbed him. However, upon realizing that Bai Qi was only leading him over and not attacking him, he sighed in relief.
Once they reached Bai Tu, Bai Qi relayed the answers he had gathered.
Bai Tu nodded, then looked down at the lions who were crouched in pain, unable to stand.
“You ate this in the morning? How long had that food been stored? Did it taste different—spoiled, sour, or rotten?”
At first, the lion beastmen just listened, but as Bai Tu finished his question, a look of shock spread across their faces. How did he know?
Bai Tu didn’t need to hear their answer to know what had happened.
Food poisoning.
This was going to be troublesome.
Right now, their only available medicine was herbal remedies, and they didn’t have much left. Even if he made an antidote, there likely wouldn’t be enough for everyone.
More importantly, Bai Tu wasn’t keen on wasting precious herbs to save the same people who had come here intending to attack his tribe just hours ago.
He had always believed in settling grudges as they came—an eye for an eye. And just half a day ago, Shi Wu had been planning to slaughter the Snow Rabbit Tribe.
There was no need to make excuses about retrieving the cubs. Even if every remaining lion in the Black Lion Tribe was among those taken, it still wouldn’t require hundreds of warriors to bring them back.
Moreover, Bai Tu already knew that the cubs’ mothers—just like Shi Ning—had been among the beastmen imprisoned by the Black Lion Tribe. They hadn’t shown any concern when they were sent away, and now they wanted to act like they cared? Even Lang Ze wouldn’t believe such nonsense.
Bai Tu instructed Bai Qi and a few patrol members to count their numbers, while he stepped forward to confront Shi Wu directly.
“I can save you,” he said, “but in exchange, I want all of your tribe’s salt. And from now on, your people will work for the Snow Rabbit Tribe.”
“You’re dreaming!” Shi Wu snarled.
He was barely holding on, refusing to admit his mistake for the sake of maintaining his position as leader. And now Bai Tu wanted his tribe to become subordinates to the Snow Rabbit Tribe? That was worse than death.
He had come here today to conquer the Snow Rabbit Tribe, and now he had completely humiliated himself. The rabbits remained untouched while his warriors lay groaning on the ground. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
Then, his gaze locked onto Bai Tu. He noticed that Bai Tu only had Lang Qi by his side.
Summoning the last of his strength, he shifted into his beast form, lunging forward in a desperate attempt to tear Bai Tu apart with his fangs.
But the moment Shi Wu moved, Lang Qi was faster.
In an instant, he transformed into his wolf form and launched himself at Shi Wu, claws slashing across his throat.
A deep, bone-deep wound appeared.
“ROAR—!”
Shi Wu couldn’t tell which hurt more—his stomach or his neck. More than anything, he was shocked.
Among beastmen, the two primary forms of attack were biting and clawing. It was common knowledge that bites were fatal—claw wounds were usually just superficial unless the difference in strength was immense.
Wolves, in particular, preferred to finish fights with devastating bites, using their claws mainly to pin down their prey.
But now, Shi Wu was dying from a single strike of Lang Qi’s claws.
Fear flickered in his eyes for the first time. He had never realized just how wide the gap between their strengths was.
Even Bai Tu was caught off guard—he hadn’t expected Lang Qi’s attack to almost kill Shi Wu in one strike.
When Lang Qi had fought Shi Hong before, his claw wounds had never been this deep.
A thought crossed Bai Tu’s mind.
Perhaps beast transformation isn’t entirely a bad thing.
Thanks 4 the chapter!