Chapter 123
Cubs from different species vary in appearance and size. Even though Bai Tu couldn’t clearly see what Tu Bing was holding, he could quickly rule out possibilities—it was definitely not a rabbit or wolf cub.
The tribe had strict rules regarding cubs. If a beastman didn’t want to raise their cub, they could hand it over to the tribe. Abandoning or intentionally harming a cub was punishable. Beastmen might be simple, but they weren’t foolish—no one would risk punishment just to discard a cub unless they were completely out of their mind.
Besides, this cub was even smaller than a typical cub. It was about the same size as a rabbit cub, but any beastman who had seen both could tell the difference instantly. The most obvious distinction was that newborn rabbit and wolf cubs had a thin layer of fur, whereas this cub was completely hairless—at a glance, it looked more like a tiny mouse.
Other species were even less likely. Lion cubs were the largest among the known tribes. Cat cubs were small, but the cat tribe was tiny in number, and Bai Tu was certain that no cat beastman had recently given birth. As for the vulture tribe, there was no need to even consider them—despite their bad reputation, they all had wings, unlike this cub.
Having eliminated the possible species in the tribe, the answer became obvious. Combined with the Flower Bear Tribe’s usual habits, Bai Tu sighed.
There had been no new cubs born in years—was it really because there were none, or were they simply ignored at birth?
The low numbers weren’t without reason. The panda who abandoned this cub likely didn’t even realize they had given birth.
Regardless of which species it belonged to, carrying the cub around like this wasn’t an option. Bai Tu went to a nearby room and found a small piece of cotton cloth. A new couple had recently settled in, and some leftover fabric from their clothing was just the right size—not much bigger than a handkerchief, but more than enough to wrap a tiny panda-cub.
The evolutionary rules of the Beast God Continent were puzzling. Some species were born relatively strong despite their small size, while the Flower Bear Tribe’s cubs were still this fragile at birth.
Carefully wrapping the cub, Bai Tu held it in his arms and returned to the room to ask, “Who here has given birth recently?”
The group of beastmen munching on bamboo and bamboo shoots collectively paused, turning to look at him.
“I did! I did!” A female beastman, whose fur was relatively clean, stepped forward. “Can we go see the cubs now? Hic—” She hiccuped mid-sentence, then smiled awkwardly at Bai Tu. The group had been starving for days, and now that they could eat freely, each person had already consumed dozens of pounds of bamboo.
Bai Tu rubbed his forehead. “Not the ones you left behind before. I mean just now—who gave birth?”
Looking around, Bai Tu figured only the Flower Bear Tribe could be this careless, casually discarding a newborn cub. Seeing that no one was stepping forward, Bai Tu changed his approach. “Who transformed into their beast form just now?”
Regardless of whether beastmen gave birth in human or beast form, most would instinctively shift into their beast form before delivering a cub. Bai Tu had done the same, and Hei Xiao had also transformed when laying eggs. Many beastmen gave birth directly in their beast form, and some didn’t immediately revert to their human form afterward. Even those who birthed in human form often stayed in their beast form for a while afterward. In short, there was always some transformation involved in the process.
A young female beastman hesitantly raised her hand. “I… I did. I didn’t mean to, it just happened because my stomach hurt.”
She hadn’t wanted to shift in another tribe’s territory, but the pain was unbearable, and she lost control. After shifting, she had apparently made a bit of a mess, but she couldn’t find anything afterward. Now, she was feeling anxious—what if the Snow Rabbit Tribe refused to return their cub because of her mistake? The thought made her lose her appetite, and suddenly, the bamboo shoot in her hand didn’t seem as tasty.
“Do you have a mate? A temporary one counts too,” Bai Tu asked for confirmation.
Sure enough, she did. Before she could even shake her head, her mate had already stood up.
“I’m Yi’s mate,” Xiong He said firmly. “If you need to punish someone, punish me.”
Bai Tu: “…”
What was with these pandas? Why did they always assume violence was the answer? Did they think he wouldn’t dare just because they were pandas?
Shaking his head at the thought, Bai Tu lifted the cloth slightly, revealing the tiny cub inside. “Here, this is your cub.”
Since all the panda beastmen who had come were here, and Xiong Yi was the only one who admitted to shifting into beast form, the chances of this cub being theirs were extremely high.
Neng He, who thought Bai Tu was about to punish them, was stunned.
Xiong Yi, who thought the Snow Rabbit Tribe was refusing to return their cub, was dumbfounded.
The entire Flower Bear Tribe was in shock—not because they didn’t know what was happening, but because they knew this wolf cub was definitely not the one they had lost. Was the Snow Rabbit Tribe really this kind? Not only did they help rescue their cub, but they even gave them a new one?
A young beastman from the Neng Tribe hesitantly asked, “This one looks hard to raise… Can we have a bigger one instead?”
This cub was just too small. The beastman compared it to his hand—it wasn’t even as big as a few of his fingers. Raising such a tiny cub was risky; one careless move could crush it. If the Snow Rabbit Tribe could exchange it for a larger one, that would be much better.
Bai Tu fell silent.
Bai Chen was silent.
Tu Bing was silent.
Hei Xiao, who had just arrived after hearing Bai Tu was at the foot of the mountain, also fell into silence upon hearing this.
“Unbelievable,” Hei Xiao sighed. “Someone dumber than Yan and Ze actually exists.”
The word “dumb” was something Bai Tu had taught him—it described a certain kind of cluelessness. Hei Xiao took one look at this panda beastman and agreed. In fact, he seemed even worse than Hei Yan and Lang Ze.
Bai Tu: “…” Honestly, he thought the same thing.
Smack! The Flower Bear Tribe’s chief slapped the young beastman on the head.
Bai Tu and the others let out a small sigh of relief—finally, someone who seemed at least somewhat reasonable. But the next moment, they realized they had been too optimistic.
The Flower Bear Tribe’s chief turned to Bai Tu with a kind expression and said, “Chief Bai An, right? Don’t worry. No matter what kind of cub you send us, we will raise it well.” His tone was both sincere and grateful.
Bai Tu, Bai Chen, Tu Bing, and Hei Xiao: “…”
There was nothing wrong with the chief’s attitude, but what he said left them speechless.
Bai Tu sighed. “I really underestimated their tribe’s… consistency.”
He should have known. A chief who had led his entire tribe on a journey without enough food, forcing everyone to starve for days, couldn’t possibly be that reliable.
Hei Xiao: “Me too.”
Bai Chen and Tu Bing nodded in agreement.
Hei Xiao glanced down at the cub in Bai Tu’s arms and suggested seriously, “Maybe… you should just raise it yourself.”
He had a strong suspicion that if they left this cub in the hands of the Flower Bear Tribe, it would somehow end up missing again.
Bai Tu seriously considered the idea. He had assumed that the modern giant pandas he had seen were unreliable due to human breeding practices, but it turned out that even wild pandas were just as careless. Maybe some were more responsible, but their luck was just too “good”—they had run into a group with particularly… unique personalities.
Either way, he couldn’t entrust them with this cub.
Still, he needed to clarify something. “We’re not giving you a cub. This one was found outside. Most likely, she gave birth to it. Come over and check the scent. Regardless of whether it’s yours or not, we’ll raise it in our tribe for now. Once it’s bigger, we’ll return it to you.”
Xiong Yi looked utterly confused. She glanced at Bai Tu, then at her fellow tribesmen. “I don’t have a cub! It’s not mine.”
The chief nodded. “It’s definitely not hers. We can vouch for that.”
The entire group of Flower Bear beastmen nodded in unison.
Bai Tu: “Come and smell it!”
By now, he fully understood just how unreliable these pandas were. This only strengthened his decision not to let them raise the cub.
Xiong Yi hesitated, afraid Bai Tu might get angry. Eventually, with Xiong He’s encouragement, she walked over. The moment she got close, she suddenly let out a surprised noise.
It seemed… possibly… maybe… this was her cub.
The Flower Bear beastmen had an exceptionally strong sense of smell. Even though Bai Tu had wrapped the cub tightly, leaving only a small gap, Xiong Yi caught the scent.
Bai Tu sighed. “Right?”
This was the first time he had ever encountered such clueless parents. “This time, we’re just letting you see it. We’ll return it to you when it’s bigger. If we give it back now, it might get lost again.”
It wasn’t that he was specifically targeting the Flower Bear Tribe, but come on—the last time they lost a cub had only been a few days ago. This cub was extremely fragile. Luckily, it was summer, and Tu Bing had been observant. If this had happened two months earlier, or if Tu Bing hadn’t noticed the cub in the corner, no one might have ever realized it had been born at all.
Xiong Yi and Xiong He glanced at Bai Tu’s serious expression and didn’t dare argue. Instead, they turned to their chief for help.
The Flower Bear chief was stunned as well. They had thought the Snow Rabbit Tribe was simply being generous, offering them a cub since their numbers were low. But now, it turned out that their own beastman had given birth?
It had been so long since that had last happened. The chief stepped closer, confirming that the cub indeed belonged to their tribe. Deeply grateful, he said, “Thank goodness for Chief Bai An’s help—”
“I’m Bai Tu,” Bai Tu interrupted with a sigh. “Chief Bai An is in another territory. He’ll be back tomorrow.”
Bai Tu exhaled again and turned to Hei Xiao, his gaze full of confusion. Didn’t they tell the Flower Bear Tribe who was in charge? Had they seriously traveled all this way without even asking? Did they really trust complete strangers that much?
Hei Xiao, understanding Bai Tu’s unspoken question, nodded.
Yes.
The moment the Flower Bear Tribe heard that the cub had been rescued by the Snow Rabbit Tribe, they got excited. The second time the Hawk Tribe went to inform them, they only asked for the location before immediately setting off.
That’s why they were the first to arrive—because they had acted without hesitation, completely focused on getting there as fast as possible.
Bai Tu opened his mouth but, in the end, said nothing.
“…Forget it. It is what it is.”
Bai Tu wanted to advise the Flower Bear Tribe not to trust others so easily. After all, it hadn’t been long since they were deceived. Saying that the lack of prey was due to their territory was reasonable, but claiming that the low birthrate of cubs was also due to the land was simply nonsense. The Flower Bear Tribe hadn’t just moved there yesterday—they had lived in that region for a long time. The decline in cub births was more likely due to their already small population, the high number of unreliable beastmen in the tribe, and the naturally low reproductive rate of pandas.
However, at the moment, all their attention was on the cub in his hands. Whatever he said now would probably go in one ear and out the other. It would be better to remind them before they left, or else they would surely forget.
Hearing Bai Tu introduce himself, the Flower Bear Tribe’s chief immediately responded, “Chief Bai Tu, I’m Xiong Chi.”
Bai Tu nodded. “I’ll take the cub for now. I’ll bring the other one to you later.”
Compared to this tiny cub, the other wolf cub was already quite strong—plump and sturdy, almost the same size as the wolf cubs that could shift into human form. That one was safe enough for the Flower Bear Tribe to care for. As for the fragile one in his hands, Bai Tu would personally select a suitable beastman to take care of it.
If he had fewer cubs at home, Bai Tu might have considered raising it himself. But with two large cubs and three small ones—five in total—Lang Sui and Lang Ying could tolerate the other three, but they wouldn’t accept this cub from a different litter and species. For the cub’s safety, Bai Tu decided to entrust it to someone else.
The task ultimately fell to Tu Bing. She had previously taken care of newborn rabbit cubs, raising them from tiny, fragile babies to nearly the same size as the Snow Rabbit Tribe’s wolf cubs. Given her success, she was well-suited to raising a cub.
With Tu Bing in charge, Bai Tu felt at ease. Plus, if she ever needed help, she could call for reinforcements. After a winter of practice, Bai Chen was also capable of taking care of cubs.
While Bai Tu was discussing matters with the others, the Flower Bear Tribe beastmen finally realized something—they had originally come here to retrieve their lost cub, yet they had eaten all the food they brought as a token of gratitude along the way. Not only had they gone hungry for days, but now they were even eating the Snow Rabbit Tribe’s food.
Upon realizing this, they became nervous. Bai Tu had said he would return their cub, but Bai Chen had witnessed them devouring food. What if Bai Chen told Bai Tu about how much they ate, and Bai Tu decided they had eaten too much without offering anything in return? What if he refused to return the cub because of it?
As they anxiously looked between Bai Tu and the cub, they wanted to hold the little one, but Bai Tu only allowed Xiong Yi a brief touch—not even the cub’s father was allowed to hold it, let alone the others.
Bai Tu was wary of this group. Cubs were more fragile than other tribes’ young, and these beastmen were massive and heavy-handed. The cub wasn’t even as big as their palms—how could anyone not worry? One careless squeeze, and the cub could be in danger. The safest approach was to refuse everyone outright. Only Xiong Yi was allowed to briefly sense the cub’s presence before Bai Tu wrapped it up again.
After handing the tiny cub to Tu Bing, Bai Tu went to the cave to fetch the sturdier panda-cub. The only tribe with such a distinct appearance was the Flower Bear Tribe. When Hei Xiao had questioned them about the missing cub, the timing, location, and physical description had all matched up. Even the vulture from the Red Eagle Tribe who had stolen the cub admitted to taking it from the Flower Bear Tribe. There was almost no chance of a mix-up.
Sure enough, the moment Bai Tu brought the cub out, the female beastman who had previously stood up had tears in her eyes. The moment she held the cub, she visibly relaxed, as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
The rest of the Flower Bear Tribe members were equally emotional. They had been waiting for this cub for so long. When it was lost, the entire tribe had panicked for days.
Two surprises in one day—they didn’t even know which one to celebrate first.
The cub, now reunited with its mother, seemed to realize it was about to leave and clung tightly to Bai Tu’s hand. Bai Tu had to coax it for a long time before it finally let go.
Returning the cub was the obvious choice. Unlike the fragile one, this cub was strong and healthy. They had no right to separate a cub from its family against their wishes—otherwise, they wouldn’t be any different from the Red Eagle Tribe.
Since finding the tiny cub’s parents had already taken some time, and coaxing the larger cub took even longer, Bai Tu decided to send the Flower Bear Tribe members to the dining hall to try other foods.
“Eating only one type of food can lead to malnutrition. You should try some of the meals from our tribe,” Bai Tu suggested, pointing at the bamboo shoots. “There are many ways to cook bamboo shoots.”
While eating them raw was possible, it was a bit too sad to eat them plain all the time. Even if they couldn’t increase their variety of ingredients, they could at least change their cooking methods. After all, these were giant pandas—rare and precious creatures. Bai Tu had a soft spot for them.
The Flower Bear beastmen, who had just stopped eating not long ago, touched their stomachs and nodded. They were indeed still hungry. Bamboo and bamboo shoots had many benefits, but they weren’t very filling. They digested quickly, and even though they had only paused for a short time, their hunger was already returning.
And so, the group enthusiastically marched toward the dining hall.
It wasn’t yet dinnertime, but the dining hall had already prepared a batch of food in advance. Many young beastmen in the tribe would start complaining of hunger before mealtime, so to prevent them from arriving only to find nothing ready, there was always food set aside before official mealtimes. Given the beastmen’s appetites, none of this food would go to waste.
The beastmen of the Snow Rabbit Tribe were already very familiar with the aroma of their meals and could even guess what was being prepared just by the scent. Today, it was steamed meat, stir-fried meat with chili, and corn dumplings.
The Flower Bear Tribe beastmen hadn’t smelled cooked meat in a long time, and they started salivating before even stepping inside.
Xiong Chi, as the tribe leader, hesitated. “Should we eat somewhere else?” He was grateful that the Snow Rabbit Tribe was offering them food, but with such a mouthwatering aroma, how could they eat bamboo and bamboo shoots? No matter how varied the preparation methods, it would be impossible to have any appetite for them now.
“There’s no other place big enough to fit this many tables. Let’s just eat here,” Bai Tu said as he led them into the dining hall.
To make cleaning easier, beastmen usually ate either in their homes, caves, or the communal dining hall. Since visiting tribes were already familiar with the place, Bai Tu hadn’t set up a separate guest area.
As soon as they stepped inside, the rich aroma of freshly cooked food hit them full force. The Flower Bear Tribe beastmen instinctively wiped at their mouths, worried they might start drooling. They glanced around, filled with admiration. No wonder these beastmen had defeated the Red Eagle Tribe—they had so much food to eat!
The freshly cooked meat had an overwhelming fragrance that seemed to drill straight into their noses. The older beastmen could barely hold themselves back, but the younger cubs lacked self-control. However, knowing they were in someone else’s tribe, they didn’t dare ask for food. Instead, they pitifully transformed into their beast forms and curled up in their parents’ arms.
There were more than forty members in the Flower Bear Tribe, the majority of whom were adults or close to adulthood. Only five were young cubs, including the one they had just retrieved. The remaining four were between five and ten years old.
When transformed, the younger cubs were all about the same size. Unlike the cubs of the Rabbit and Wolf Tribes, panda-cubs generally grew until they reached about ten kilograms before stabilizing in size. Looking at these large panda-cubs, Bai Tu momentarily paused.
Turning into giant pandas at the drop of a hat—this is just unfair.
But when they were responsible, the Flower Bear Tribe did take good care of their cubs. These little ones were clean, their black and white fur distinct and well-groomed. They were just a little on the thin side. This hadn’t been obvious at first because of their thick fur, which hid their actual body shape. However, compared to the one that had been raised in the Snow Rabbit Tribe for a few months, the difference became apparent.
That cub had spent about five months in the Snow Rabbit Tribe. Wolf cubs had no limit to their appetite, and the tribe never restricted their food intake. This one, in particular, had been eating like it was making up for all the hunger it suffered in the Red Eagle Tribe. Over the months, it had grown significantly—now it was three times as plump as when it had first arrived.
Lined up next to the other cubs, the difference was striking—one was round and chubby, while the others were only slightly plump. If their fur were removed, the latter would appear noticeably underfed.
Bai Tu immediately went to find Tu Mu and asked him to prepare more food specifically for the cubs. It was important to help them catch up in nutrition as soon as possible.
“Come in and eat,” Bai Tu urged when he noticed the Flower Bear beastmen still hesitating. “All of this food was made fresh today—take whatever you want.”
Because of the hot weather and the large appetites of the beastmen, the dining hall never had leftover food. Each meal was freshly prepared, ensuring both good taste and safety. Ever since the Black Vulture Tribe’s mistake had served as a lesson, everyone had become more mindful about finishing their meals to avoid spoilage.
Now, instead of having pre-portioned meals served to them, each beastman received a tray and could choose what they wanted to eat. Those who arrived earlier had more options, while latecomers had fewer choices. But overall, this system was far better than before, when everyone received a fixed portion regardless of preference.
Xiong Chi was in disbelief. “We… we can eat all of this???”
They had been envying the Snow Rabbit Tribe’s meals, thinking that all this food was only for them. But now, they realized they were also invited to eat. A wave of excitement swept through the group—they were so overwhelmed with joy they didn’t even know what to do.
“Of course, eat as much as you want,” Bai Tu assured them. He had already spoken to Tu Mu about preparing extra food for the evening meal. Feeding a few dozen beastmen for one meal was hardly an issue.
The Flower Bear beastmen had never seen so much food laid out at once before, nor had they ever encountered a semi-buffet-style meal. They followed closely behind Bai Tu, copying his every move—when Bai Tu picked up chopsticks, they did too; when Bai Tu took porridge, they followed suit; when Bai Tu took a piece of meat, they grabbed one as well; and when Bai Tu carried his tray to find a table, they did the same.
“Hm? Do you all eat such small portions?” Bai Tu noticed how little they were taking and assumed they were being polite or thought the food was meant for the entire tribe. After all, judging by their appetites earlier, they definitely ate a lot. “Take more, eat as much as you want. If it runs out, there’s always more.”
“We… can take more?” A young beastman asked in shock. They had been watching Bai Tu and assumed they could only take as much as he did. Earlier, Bai Chen had told them that while Bai Tu wasn’t the tribe’s chief, his status was nearly the same. Since Bai Tu had only taken a certain amount, they didn’t dare take more. But now he was saying they could?
Before Bai Tu could respond, a group of young wolf beastmen burst into the dining hall, heading straight for the food trays. They moved quickly but orderly, each grabbing a tray and rushing toward the meat section. They filled their plates with meat, scooped up large bowls of porridge, and then went to find empty seats. Upon spotting Bai Tu, they still managed to greet him in between their eager movements.
The Flower Bear beastmen were initially surprised to see so many young beastmen in the tribe, but their shock deepened as they watched the wolves devour the food. Within seconds, the large serving trays of meat were nearly empty. Their eyes widened further, shifting from surprise to outright disbelief.
Just when they thought the beastmen in the back of the line would be left with nothing, another group of beastmen on the other side of the serving area effortlessly carried out identical large trays filled with freshly cooked food.
Seeing this from start to finish, the Flower Bear beastmen’s eyes grew even wider. There’s even more?!
A young beastman hesitantly asked, “Can we take that much too?”
Bai Tu nodded. “Of course, go ahead. There’s also goat milk over there—you can take a bowl of that as well.”
Goat and cow milk were in slightly limited supply. They couldn’t take too much, as some had to be reserved for the young calves and lambs. Typically, such foods were prioritized for the youngest cubs, with the remaining portions going to the adult beastmen. However, this was just a temporary situation. Once the number of prey animals increased, everyone would be able to have some.
Worried that the young beastman might not know how to carry the bowls properly, Bai Tu called for a young wolf to help. “Zuo, bring over a few bowls of goat milk for them.”
“Got it!” Lang Zuo quickly swallowed the meat in his mouth and sprinted over, returning with five or six bowls of goat milk. He handed them to the Flower Bear cubs and, noticing he had one left, sneakily took it back to his table. This immediately caused a bit of a stir. A few moments later, several young wolves huddled together, whispering and giggling mischievously.
Bai Tu: “…”
He decided to let them think he hadn’t noticed.
The young beastman who had asked Bai Tu earlier smelled the fragrant goat milk in front of him. He wanted to drink it but hesitated because the two adults beside him didn’t have any. He looked at Bai Tu with anticipation and nervousness.
“Drink it, this is for cubs,” Bai Tu reassured him, pointing to the young panda cub who had been staying with the Snow Rabbit Tribe. That cub was already happily drinking from his bowl. Since the beginning of winter, all the cubs had been given small portions of goat milk daily, so he had grown accustomed to it.
Seeing his fellow cub drinking so happily, the young panda hesitated for a moment before finally giving in to the temptation of the milky fragrance. He lifted the bowl and took a careful sip. The moment he tasted it, his round ears perked up in excitement.
The other young cubs followed suit. Like the first one, they couldn’t contain their excitement—some flicked their tails, others twitched their ears, and one, who showed no external changes, suddenly had his legs shift into panda paws. His short limbs dangled off the bench, unable to reach the floor, swinging back and forth.
Bai Tu barely resisted the urge to reach out and touch their fuzzy ears. Instead, he turned to Xiong Chi and explained the process of preparing goat milk. “You can capture a few mother goats with their kids and milk them daily to provide fresh milk for your cubs. If possible, capturing a few cows would also work.”
Most cubs couldn’t resist milk.
Xiong Chi listened carefully, though his expression grew conflicted at the mention of capturing goats or cows—especially ones with offspring. While this might only be a minor challenge for other tribes, for the Flower Bear Tribe, it was an incredibly difficult task. Their territory didn’t have large prey, only small ones that were incredibly fast and difficult to catch.
Still, for the sake of the cubs, Xiong Chi decided to try looking for some when they returned home. Who knows? Maybe a lost prey animal would wander into their territory.
The Flower Bear beastmen weren’t skilled with chopsticks, especially the cubs. After finishing their milk, they stared at the utensils in their hands, then at Bai Tu and the others. No matter how they tried to hold them, they couldn’t get the chopsticks to work properly. It was as if the utensils had a mind of their own, completely refusing to cooperate.
Seeing their struggle, Bai Tu suddenly remembered that he had completely overlooked this issue. The tribes that frequently visited the Snow Rabbit Tribe had already learned how to use chopsticks over time. Those who ate here were close allies who had been using them for a while. But the Flower Bear Tribe clearly hadn’t learned yet.
Bai Tu demonstrated how to hold the chopsticks, but seeing that they were still struggling, he decided to switch tactics and handed them spoons instead.
Spoons were much easier to use. The moment they held one, they instinctively knew how to use it.
Finally, with everything settled, Bai Tu lowered his head and started eating. It had been a long time since he last ate in the dining hall, and the lively atmosphere felt surprisingly enjoyable.
Halfway through his meal, Bai Tu noticed that the surroundings had suddenly gone quiet. Feeling a bit strange, he slowly lifted his head.
On the other side, Lang Qi was standing there, holding a few wolf cubs in his arms, silently watching him.
For some reason, Bai Tu felt guilty—even though he hadn’t done anything wrong.
Clearing his throat, Bai Tu stood up and asked, “Is the food for the cubs ready? I’ll head back now.”
Since it wasn’t officially mealtime yet, he had only taken a small portion of food, just to try the flavors. Normally, the cubs wouldn’t even be awake at this hour, but today, they were already full of energy.
“It’s all ready,” Lang Qi replied, glancing at Bai Tu’s plate.
Bai Tu: “…”
It was just a meal in the dining hall, yet he couldn’t shake the feeling of being caught sneaking a snack. Shaking his head to rid himself of the ridiculous thought, he reached out and caught two cubs who were already trying to jump from Lang Qi’s arms into his.
The remaining three cubs still clung to Lang Qi’s arm, reaching toward Bai Tu, but the short distance between them felt like an insurmountable gap for the little ones.
Tucking the two cubs securely into his arms, Bai Tu took the other three from Lang Qi. Right now, taking care of the cubs was more important than hosting the guests. Before leaving, he turned to Bai Chen and instructed, “They’ve just arrived after starving for several days. Let them stay in the tribe for two days before heading back.”
Regardless of which tribe they came from, beastmen were always weaker when hungry. The Flower Bear Tribe would have to pass through multiple territories on their way back, and if they were mistaken for intruders, they wouldn’t even have the strength to run. It was safer for them to rest and regain their strength before setting off.
Bai Chen agreed and took the initiative to introduce Xiong Chi to the different types of food. The tribe’s growth had happened right before everyone’s eyes, so the older beastmen always spoke about its history with great pride.
In just one year, they had transformed from a struggling tribe that could barely survive into one of the most prosperous in the Beast Continent. They were undeniably the fastest-growing tribe.
Bai Tu sighed at Bai Chen’s enthusiasm and gestured for him to be a little more modest. Then, carrying the cubs, he left with Lang Qi.
As they walked, the cubs wriggled in Bai Tu’s arms, sniffing at different scents and occasionally letting out small yips. Bai Tu tapped the most restless one on the head and tucked them all securely into his embrace, wrapping them in his clothing.
“Was dinner good?” Lang Qi suddenly asked as they left the dining hall, now alone.
Bai Tu, who had been playing with the cubs, momentarily froze. He knew instinctively that this wasn’t a question he could answer carelessly.
After a brief hesitation, an answer naturally came to him. “It was good, but not as good as your cooking.”
“Oh?” Lang Qi raised an eyebrow.
“It’s true! You cook better,” Bai Tu nodded seriously. “Only you know my tastes.”
Some foods might look the same, but the ones Lang Qi prepared always tasted better. It wasn’t that Tu Mu and the others lacked skill—everyone who cooked in the tribe had some experience—but food cooked in large batches simply couldn’t compare to meals prepared in smaller pots.
A large pot meant uneven heat distribution, no matter how well the ingredients were stirred. In contrast, a smaller pot allowed for more precise cooking. Of course, Bai Tu didn’t bother explaining all this to Lang Qi. The simplest truth was that Lang Qi’s cooking was the best.
Lang Qi studied him for a moment, making sure he wasn’t lying. Only then did he seem satisfied.
That was close, Bai Tu thought, exhaling in relief. He glanced down at the cubs, who were watching him curiously, and sighed before rubbing each of their little heads in turn.
Little troublemakers… You always wake up late, but today, of all days, you decide to get up early and nearly got me in trouble.
Back at the cave, their routine remained the same—feeding the cubs together. The only difference today was that Lang Qi fed the two bigger cubs and one of the smaller ones, while Bai Tu took care of the middle two.
As Bai Tu quietly observed Lang Qi, he noticed nothing unusual. Realizing that the situation had passed without further issue, he finally relaxed completely.
In the middle of the night, half-asleep, Bai Tu vaguely heard Lang Qi’s voice.
“Do you think the beastmen from the Flower Bear Tribe are good-looking?”
“…What?” Bai Tu tugged the blanket up, too exhausted to fully process what Lang Qi had just asked.
Lang Qi tucked him in properly, then wrapped both the blanket and Bai Tu in his arms, holding him close. In a soft voice, he asked, “Do you like the beastmen from the Flower Bear Tribe?”
Bai Tu: “…”
He should have expected this. Of course, today’s events wouldn’t be let go so easily.
Even though he could barely keep his eyes open, Bai Tu forced himself to stay alert and answer properly. “I just felt bad for them and helped out a little. Why are you randomly getting jealous? They’ll be leaving in a couple of days.”
“Oh? And you’re really okay with that?” Lang Qi hadn’t forgotten the way Bai Tu looked at the panda cubs from the Flower Bear Tribe—it was almost like he wanted to take them all home. It was completely different from how he looked at other cubs.
“I’m fine with it. Of course I am.” Bai Tu, despite his exhaustion, had strong survival instincts. He reached out, pulled Lang Qi closer, and gave him a quick kiss. “As long as I have you all, that’s enough. Now, let’s go to sleep. I’m so tired.”
Lang Qi stared at Bai Tu, who had already closed his eyes. A moment later, he carefully adjusted the blanket again, making sure Bai Tu was comfortable before pulling him into his arms and drifting off to sleep as well.
The next day, when Bai Tu went down the mountain, Bai Chen was showing the Flower Bear Tribe beastmen around the livestock area. Bai Tu had always been willing to teach non-threatening survival techniques to other tribes, and Bai Chen, knowing his philosophy, was introducing useful skills to the Flower Bear Tribe.
Both Bai Tu and Bai Chen, as well as Bai Qi, who had brought them here, hoped that the next time they visited, they wouldn’t arrive after starving for several days.
Bamboo and bamboo shoots provided limited energy. Since hunting in their territory was difficult, raising livestock was even more crucial for them. While few animals survived solely on bamboo, there were still some species that could be used to improve their diet. If managed well, they could escape their current situation of living off nothing but bamboo.
As Bai Chen explained livestock farming, the Flower Bear Tribe beastmen stared wide-eyed at the animals inside the enclosures.
So many animals… they could last a long time!
The Snow Rabbit Tribe was unbelievably fortunate!
After admiring the livestock, they turned their envious gazes toward the beastmen working in the area. These were the people they truly envied—beastmen who got to eat meat every day until they were full.
As they were watching, a vulture beastman who had been cleaning the ground suddenly went berserk and charged at them, screaming:
“I’M GOING TO KILL YOU ALL—”
Mid-charge, his voice abruptly cut off.
Bai Tu looked over—it was that young beastman from yesterday, the one who thought Bai Tu was giving away a cub. His name… was something like Neng Li.
Xiong Li had reacted instantly, shifting into his beast form and biting down hard on the vulture’s wing. Given how much he ate daily, his bite force was formidable. Even as the vulture struggled, one of his wings was nearly torn in half, leaving him unable to escape.
And just like that, an assassination plan that had been in the works for days ended in Neng Li’s jaws.
Bai Tu called over two beastmen to restrain the attacker. He recognized him—Hong Ku, one of the more troublesome members of the Red Eagle Tribe. It was surprising that even after all this time, he was still causing trouble and had even found a way to unlock his restraints.
“What was he trying to do?” one of the Flower Bear beastmen asked, still shaken by what had just happened.
“He doesn’t want to do heavy labor,” Bai Tu explained. Hong Ku had never been happy about the tribe’s work assignments.
Upon hearing this, Xiong Chi suddenly got excited. “If he doesn’t want to work, can we do it instead?”
Xiong Li, who had just finished fighting, had shifted back into his human form. Wearing a torn and tattered hide due to his transformation, he nodded eagerly. “We can do whatever he was doing!”
Cleaning the ground? No problem—they could definitely do a better job than that vulture beastman.
The other Flower Bear beastmen also looked at Bai Tu with eager expressions, hoping he would let them stay.
Thinking about the food they had eaten last night and this morning, they became even more determined to stay. Hard work? That didn’t matter. As long as they had food, they could handle anything.
What was supposed to be a simple visit to the livestock area had unexpectedly turned into a group of Flower Bear beastmen begging to stay in the Snow Rabbit Tribe.
This wasn’t a decision Bai Tu could make alone, so he said, “I’ll have to discuss this with the chief.”
In reality, it wasn’t just the chief who would be involved in the decision—several others would have to be consulted. After all, the Flower Bear Tribe wasn’t just a handful of people—it was more than forty.
When Lang Qi heard that Bai Tu was considering letting the Flower Bear Tribe stay, he looked at Bai Tu like he was some kind of smooth-talking heartbreaker.
