Chapter 152
Lang Qian wasn’t incapable of accepting failure, but in the past, he would never have imagined that the reason for his defeat would be… a mouthful of food.
The same trick had worked flawlessly on others, yet with Lang Ze, it had backfired. Being defeated unintentionally was far more frustrating than losing to someone who had meticulously planned against him.
After Lang Ze’s figure disappeared through the doorway, Lang Qian followed Bai Tu to find Lang Ya, Mao Lin, and Mao Lan. Once they met up, Bai Tu quietly instructed them on a few matters.
All three were intelligent, and it only took Bai Tu a few words for them to understand his intent. After their conversation, the three of them casually wandered around the territory as if nothing had happened, while Bai Tu and Lang Qian made their way to the residential area’s entrance to “welcome” Hu Nian.
Hu Nian and his group received an unprecedented level of hospitality. They had barely stopped at the entrance when someone approached them with great respect, leading them inside.
“My sincerest apologies, Lord Hu Nian, but our chief is currently away. Lord Bai Tu will be here shortly.”
Hu Nian was immensely pleased with the treatment he was receiving. He had always believed that even without revealing his true identity, just being a member of the Tiger Clan was enough to intimidate people. Judging by how cautious these people were around him, he was clearly right.
Hu Nian thoroughly enjoyed seeing others fear him and basking in their reverence. Getting carried away, he completely forgot his father and uncle’s instructions before he left. He also ignored the warnings from the beastman behind him.
A lean young beastman following Hu Nian lowered his voice and reminded him again, “Something’s off about this tribe.”
“What could possibly be off?” Hu Nian replied impatiently.
He was the son of a tribal chief—why did this guy always act like he was in charge whenever they went out? And when they returned, he would even go tattling to his father and uncle, causing Hu Nian to get scolded multiple times.
Hu Nian figured this guy was just jealous of his strength. After all, he was a tiger, while the other was just a leopard.
Recalling that the young man had come from the Black Forest Tribe, Hu Nian smugly assumed he had figured out the truth. “Pan, don’t go thinking that just because they conquered your tribe, they must be bad people. Your tribe caused too many problems!”
He was convinced that Bao Pan bore a grudge against the Snow Rabbit Tribe and was using this excuse to pressure him into ordering an attack. Did Pan really think he couldn’t see through such a scheme? Hu Nian sneered.
The Snow Rabbit Tribe had defeated the Black Forest Tribe, which only benefited the West River Tribe, making them stronger. His father had merely sent him here to observe the Snow Rabbit Tribe’s development, but Pan wanted to use him to seek revenge.
Bao Pan was so enraged he nearly coughed up blood. He wasn’t trying to avenge his tribe—he just didn’t believe that any tribe capable of destroying the Black Forest Tribe could be as simple as they appeared on the surface.
But as expected, Hu Nian refused to listen. His attention was entirely focused on this new tribe. There were so many things here he had never seen before, and he found it all incredibly fascinating.
Especially after entering the settlement, where young female beastmen frequently passed by. Each of them lingered their gazes on him, their eyes filled with subtle implications. Hu Nian was mesmerized.
When Bai Tu and Lang Qian arrived, Hu Nian was staring at Mao Lan as she walked past.
“Are you Chief Hu Nian?” Bai Tu asked, despite already knowing the answer.
Seeing Bai Tu and Lang Qian standing behind him, Hu Nian finally withdrew his gaze slightly. “I am.”
“Could you describe the missing tiger cubs? Their size, fur color, and gender?” Bai Tu asked, firing off a series of questions.
Hu Nian was immediately stumped. The people at the tribe had only told him to pose as someone searching for lost cubs and use that as an excuse to gather information. No one had actually told him what the missing cubs looked like.
Even knowing Wolf Gan’s usual methods, Bai Tu was still slightly surprised. This was truly an unexpected bonus.
Hu Nian hesitated, but Bao Pan responded swiftly, “There were four tiger cubs in total—three black ones and one with patterned fur.”
Bai Tu nodded, appearing to recall something. “Our tribe did bring back two tiger cubs. Please rest and wait for a while. Once they wake up, I’ll bring them over.”
It was common knowledge among all tribes that cubs needed long hours of sleep. Since they had arrived suddenly, it was only natural that they would need to wait. No one found Bai Tu’s explanation suspicious. Even Bao Pan merely glanced at Lang Qian, seeking confirmation.
As fellow tribe members, Bao Pan knew Lang Qian’s identity and understood that someone in his position should have a counterpart similar to himself.
But where was that fox beastman?
Of course, Bao Pan’s question was doomed to go unanswered. Meanwhile, Bai Tu was busy giving Hu Nian a tour of the settlement, pausing slightly when he mentioned that there were many young, unmated beastmen in the tribe. He glanced at Hu Nian meaningfully.
Hu Nian immediately caught the hint—he was being invited to stay.
Looking around, he had to admit that this tribe was far better than his own. Back home, the ground was always cluttered with filth and even cubs’ waste, but here, the paths were clean and smooth—even better than where he lived.
Still, he couldn’t just agree to stay so easily.
Unless… they let him choose a few mates from the tribe. The ones who had passed by earlier were quite appealing.
If they made him the new chief of this tribe, provided him with mates, and willingly shared their food with him, then maybe—just maybe—he would consider staying.
The West River Tribe might be bigger, but it reeked everywhere. Compared to that, Hu Nian found this place far more satisfactory.
As for his original home, the West River Tribe, they could also relocate here. With so many of these unfamiliar houses, there was certainly enough space for everyone.
He had heard that while this tribe was small, they had an abundant food supply. Once he became chief, he could eat whatever he wanted. As for the young beastmen in the tribe, he could take any of them as his mate.
From the corner of his eye, Bai Tu observed the smug expression on Hu Nian’s face and couldn’t help but internally scoff. No wonder Lang Qian had called him “both stupid and greedy”—he had only just entered the tribe and was already plotting his next move.
To feed Hu Nian’s growing arrogance, Bai Tu took the initiative to introduce the beastmen they had passed earlier. It sounded like he was listing off everyone they had encountered, but in reality, he specifically highlighted a few young female beastmen of suitable age.
“Lin and Lan are from the Cat Clan, and Ya is from the Wolf Clan. They all recently came of age,” Bai Tu said slowly.
Lang Qian had been entrusted with so much responsibility precisely because of his keen observation skills. Based on his knowledge, Hu Nian was only interested in female beastmen—especially beautiful ones.
The sight of them alone was enough to stop him in his tracks. Even though he already had multiple mates back in the West River Tribe, he still used every opportunity to approach young female beastmen under the pretense of handling tribal affairs.
Hearing Bai Tu’s introduction, Hu Nian became even more excited. The Cat Clan was a good choice—after all, tigers and cats were somewhat related.
The female wolf beastman wasn’t bad either—she was very appealing.
Hu Nian was confident he could make them all agree to be his mates.
While Hu Nian was reveling in his fantasies, Bai Tu had already led them to their designated lodging. The room was far more spacious than the ones most beastmen lived in. At the center stood a massive dining table, adorned with a dozen different meat dishes, each prepared with a unique flavor. Beside them were fresh fruits—apples that had just been washed, still glistening with droplets of water, and summer melons that had been chilled in a cave, emitting a faint cool mist.
“Please take a rest here for now,” Bai Tu said. Then, after glancing at Hu Nian and Bao Pan, he added, “I’ll have people stand guard outside. If you need anything, just let them know.”
Hu Nian’s eyes remained locked onto the feast before him, unable to look away.
Back in the West River Tribe, as the chief’s son, he naturally had access to the best food and clothing. But even then, their meat was merely roasted over a fire before being served—nothing like this. He couldn’t even tell what ingredients had been used, yet the rich aroma alone was enough to imagine how delicious the food must be.
Internally, Hu Nian felt lucky. Good thing he had told his father and uncle that he wanted to come here—otherwise, he would’ve missed out on all these delicacies, and Bao Pan would’ve gotten to enjoy them instead. He was also fortunate that he hadn’t listened to Bao Pan earlier. If he had started off on bad terms with the Snow Rabbit Tribe, he definitely wouldn’t be able to eat such good food now.
“Chief Hu Nian, go ahead and eat,” Bai Tu urged, seeing that none of them had made a move yet. He then added, “Time is tight, and the food we’ve prepared isn’t abundant. Chief Hu Nian can eat here, while the rest of you will follow me to another room.”
“We need to stay with the chief,” Bao Pan immediately objected.
But before he could say anything further, Hu Nian cut him off.
“Didn’t you hear Lord Bai Tu? This is mine. You all can eat in the next room!”
Hu Nian was highly displeased. With so much delicious food before him, of course, he wanted to enjoy it alone. It was obvious that not all the food in the other room would be of this quality. Since Bai Tu was treating him with such reverence, his meal was surely the best of the best.
Bao Pan had always been a nuisance in the tribe, constantly tattling on him and getting him scolded. That was bad enough. But now, he was trying to snatch his food?
Hu Nian’s resentment toward Bao Pan grew. All along the way, Bao Pan had kept talking about how the beastmen of the Snow Rabbit Tribe were cunning, warning that they would capture them as soon as they entered the settlement, insisting that they couldn’t trust a word they said…
Hu Nian had actually believed him at first. But in reality, Bao Pan had been lying! Since they arrived, the Snow Rabbit Tribe’s attitude had been nothing but welcoming.
Hu Nian was now convinced that Bao Pan had intentionally tried to mislead him, hoping he would offend the Snow Rabbit Tribe so that, upon returning home, Bao Pan could once again tattle on him.
Smugly, Hu Nian thought, This time, I won’t fall for it! Bao Pan had tricked him countless times before, but now that he refused to listen, Bao Pan must be seething with frustration.
Sure enough, Bao Pan was fuming. No matter what he said, Hu Nian refused to believe him—and now, he even wanted to stay here alone.
No matter how friendly the Snow Rabbit Tribe seemed, Bao Pan was certain this was all part of their scheme. And what about Lang Qian? He was supposed to be dead—why was he still alive? And where were the beastmen who had been with him?
This realization made Bao Pan even more anxious, but Hu Nian was completely deaf to his warnings, his eyes glued to the food in front of him.
“These dishes are specially prepared for Chief Hu Nian. The rest of you will dine in the other room. The food is mostly the same—except there’s no honey, the sweet stuff from the trees,” Bai Tu said with a sigh. “It’s not that our tribe is unwilling to share, but we have very little honey. Normally, only the chief is allowed to have it.”
Lang Qian, listening to Bai Tu blatantly lie, nearly rolled his eyes. He had only been here for a few days and had already eaten honey-glazed roast meat once.
But he had to admit—Bai Tu’s words were exactly what someone like Hu Nian would want to hear.
Lang Qian put himself in Hu Nian’s shoes. If he were being treated with such high regard, he might also be tempted to stay.
Hu Nian might not know what honey was, but from Bai Tu’s description, he immediately understood—it was something incredibly delicious, but difficult to obtain, requiring one to climb to the treetops and fend off those annoying insects to retrieve it.
Back in the West River Tribe, some people had eaten honey before. However, during an attempt to drive away the insects, a few tribe members got injured. It was just a small wound, yet one of them suddenly died—his shaman uncle couldn’t save him.
Since then, no one in the tribe had dared to eat honey again. If it weren’t for all the people around him right now, Hu Nian would have already started eating.
The longer he stayed in the room, the stronger the aroma of the food became. Unable to resist, Hu Nian swallowed his saliva. But when he noticed that Bao Pan still wasn’t leaving, he became even angrier.
With Bao Pan here, he couldn’t eat in peace. He could only stare at the food without touching it. Hu Nian decided that once they returned to the tribe, he had to convince his father to drive Bao Pan out. That way, he wouldn’t have to deal with him following along every time.
Bao Pan, unaware that Hu Nian was already plotting to get rid of him, was still trying to figure out a way to stay in the same room. The Rabbit Tribe was cunning—an idiot like Hu Nian was bound to fall for their tricks.
Bao Pan regretted bringing Hu Nian here. The fool was incredibly stupid yet always thought he was clever. Because of him, Bao Pan had to clean up after his messes all the time. It wouldn’t be so bad if Hu Nian were merely incompetent, but he even acted like Bao Pan was deliberately targeting him.
Target him? What a joke. Someone this stupid—if he didn’t have a father as the chief and an uncle as a shaman, he wouldn’t even know how he ended up dead.
As Bao Pan mulled over how to persuade Hu Nian to let him stay in the room, he also considered how to use this opportunity to eliminate Hu Nian altogether—preferably in a way that would pin the blame on the Snow Rabbit Tribe. If that happened, the West River Tribe would undoubtedly send warriors to attack them.
Thinking of the messenger who had escaped from the Black Forest Tribe to warn him, Bao Pan burned with hatred.
His tribe! His people! All destroyed by these wretched beasts!
The two were at a standstill, arguing heatedly, when Bai Tu suddenly interjected with a suggestion.
“How about this—Lord Bao Pan, you take half the people to the other room, while the rest stay here?”
He then turned to Hu Nian. “It seems like there’s been some misunderstanding between you two. Why not eat first and discuss things calmly afterward?”
“Fine! You, you, and you—stay behind!” Hu Nian immediately pointed to a few beastmen who had followed him since childhood.
Bao Pan didn’t want to agree, but Hu Nian was already furious. With so many people around, if they argued too much and Hu Nian ended up dead, suspicion might fall on him.
It was better to go along with it. Even if he wasn’t in the same room, Hu Nian was surrounded by others. If the Snow Rabbit Tribe was planning something, they wouldn’t be able to act so easily. He could just ask those left behind about what happened during the meal.
With that in mind, Bao Pan nodded in agreement.
Bai Tu exchanged a subtle glance with Bai Qi, who immediately stepped forward and led Bao Pan and his group to the other room.
The two dining areas were separated by just a single room. If someone spoke loudly enough, the people in the next room could still hear. Seeing how close the rooms were, Bao Pan finally felt a little more at ease.
It’s just a meal—surely nothing major can happen.
In the first room, Bai Tu was introducing the dishes to Hu Nian.
“This is summer melon—it’s even sweeter than honey. It’s best eaten in the summer. Chief Hu Nian, you should try it. And this—this is honey-roasted meat. Just this small piece requires an entire spoonful of honey…”
Hu Nian listened with great satisfaction. The other Tiger Clan members stood obediently behind him. Among his entourage, only Bao Pan ever dared to go against him. The others all had lower status than Hu Nian, and although they had been invited to stay for the meal, in reality, they wouldn’t dare to actually eat.
Hu Nian had so easily agreed to let them stay because he knew they wouldn’t compete with him for food—unlike the unruly Bao Pan.
Following Bai Tu’s introductions, Hu Nian eagerly sampled the dishes one by one. The summer melon was refreshingly cold, while the honey-roasted meat was warm, likely just freshly cooked. There was also an assortment of fruits and meats, each more delicious than the last.
As Hu Nian was happily enjoying his feast, Bai Qi suddenly burst into the room, his face filled with panic.
“Tu! Something’s wrong!”
Bai Tu, who had been introducing the food, immediately paused and turned to him. “What happened?!”
Hu Nian also looked over in curiosity.
Bai Qi, still panting, blurted out, “Bao Pan—he’s trying to forcibly take Lan away!”
Bai Tu was shocked. “What?!”
Hu Nian’s face twisted in fury. “He dares?!”
Mao Lan was his chosen mate. Of course, she wasn’t the only one—he had his eyes on several others as well. But no matter how many he liked, Bao Pan had no right to touch any of them!
He hadn’t even told Bai Tu yet, and Bao Pan already had the audacity to take someone away?! Rage surged through Hu Nian—Bao Pan was doing this on purpose! He was deliberately trying to steal from him!
Behind Bai Tu, Lang Qian muttered in a low voice, “Lan was chosen by Lord Bai Tu as a mate for Chief Hu Nian. No wonder everyone says Lord Bao Pan has always been jealous of Chief Hu Nian…”
Hu Nian’s ears were sharp, and he caught every word.
So it was true! Even the tribe members could see it! Yet his father and uncle still blindly trusted Bao Pan!
Wait—could Bao Pan want his position? The thought struck Hu Nian suddenly. Bao Pan had held a high status in the Leopard Clan, yet he had suddenly joined the West River Tribe. Wasn’t that because he wanted to become the chief?
After all, he was merely the chief’s son—there was no guarantee that he would inherit the position. But now, his father and uncle placed so much trust in Bao Pan…
The more Hu Nian thought about it, the more alarmed he became. Bao Pan must die! If I don’t get rid of him, I won’t become chief!
*
Meanwhile, in the other room, Bao Pan hadn’t touched any of the food. Having drugged others so many times before, he was always on guard against being drugged himself.
As for whether Hu Nian lived or died in the other room, he couldn’t care less. As long as the fool didn’t agree to anything that would jeopardize him, his life—or death—was none of Bao Pan’s concern.
It’d be best if he just died here in the Snow Rabbit Tribe, Bao Pan thought. That way, I won’t even have to lift a finger.
However, before he could think much further, a group of beastmen suddenly stormed into the room, surrounding him and his men.
A sneer flickered across Bao Pan’s face. How ridiculous. Even after capturing the Black Forest Tribe’s warriors, these people are still so naive. They actually think they can just seize us like this?
He nearly laughed out loud. The beastmen waiting outside their territory had already received orders—if they didn’t hear from him within three days, they would attack immediately.
Bao Pan was eager to see this tribe get destroyed. And as a member of the West River Tribe, these people definitely wouldn’t dare to kill him.
He put on an expression of shock, but deep inside, he was ecstatic. Very soon, he would be able to free the captured beastmen from this tribe.
The captors quickly tied up their hands and feet, stuffing something unknown into their mouths so they could only make muffled noises.
Bao Pan wasn’t worried at all. If he was just going to be locked up for a few days, it didn’t matter. Once his reinforcements arrived and wiped out the Snow Rabbit Tribe, they would be set free.
Even if he had to go without food or water for a few days, he could endure it.
His good mood lasted until Bai Tu walked in—with Hu Nian.
Seeing Hu Nian completely unbound and free, Bao Pan’s heart sank. A terrible premonition washed over him.
That feeling hit its peak the moment Hu Nian’s palm smacked across his face.
For a brief second, countless emotions flashed through Bao Pan’s mind—shock, fury, confusion…
But no matter how many emotions surged through him, none of them could explain what was happening.
Why was Hu Nian still free?
Why weren’t they targeting him?
Why was he the only one tied up?!
Then Bao Pan noticed—Hu Nian’s men were also fine. Only he and his people had been captured.
Realization struck, followed by blinding rage. That absolute idiot! He’s been completely manipulated!
Seeing Bao Pan’s angry expression, Hu Nian was even more convinced of his own suspicions—Bao Pan had always been after his position as the chief’s son!
Lang Qian had been right! Bao Pan was jealous of him!
“Lord Bai Tu, Bao Pan violated your tribe’s rules. You should be the one to punish him.”
Hu Nian recalled what Bai Tu had said earlier—forcing other beastmen into submission was absolutely forbidden in the Snow Rabbit Tribe. Anyone who broke that rule would either be assigned the heaviest, hardest labor or be banished altogether.
Bao Pan was from the Black Tiger Tribe, yet he had dared to steal someone from their tribe. Such behavior had to be punished. Bai Tu was probably just waiting for his opinion out of respect.
Thinking back on all the things Bao Pan had done in the tribe, Hu Nian decided he wouldn’t show mercy. If he did, Bao Pan would just return and compete with him for power again.
“Make him do the hardest, most exhausting work!” Hu Nian declared loudly.
Honestly, he wanted to tell Bai Tu to just kill him. But he had heard that the Snow Rabbit Tribe and the Blood Wolf Tribe rarely executed anyone. If he said that outright, it might make people think he was too cruel.
Recalling the beastmen they had met on their way here, Hu Nian decided to restrain himself and not push too far.
Bao Pan struggled fiercely, cursing both Hu Nian for being an idiot and Bai Tu for setting him up.
But when they had tied him up earlier, they had left no gaps or slack—his hands, feet, and even the gag in his mouth were all secure. No matter how much he struggled, he couldn’t move an inch.
His frantic resistance only further confirmed Hu Nian’s suspicions.
With a look of disgust, Hu Nian kicked him. “Our tribe doesn’t tolerate scum who force themselves on others!”
The beastmen who had followed Hu Nian were utterly confused.
They had only been in the other room for a short while—what had Bao Pan done? Why had he tried to forcibly take a beastwoman from the Snow Rabbit Tribe?
Was he dissatisfied with the mate their chief had chosen for him?
Seeing that not a single one of them could see through the Snow Rabbit Tribe’s scheme, Bao Pan deeply regretted his decision to come.
He should have known!
Hu Nian was so stupid that all it took was a few words to convince him of anything—except for his words.
Bai Tu ignored Bao Pan’s furious glare. “Alright, then we’ll take him away.”
He gestured for Bai Qi to hurry and remove Bao Pan. As for where he would end up, no one cared—except for Bao Pan himself.
“Every tribe has people like this, Chief Hu Nian. Don’t let it upset you. The food is getting cold—let’s eat,” Bai Tu said gently.
The mention of food immediately snapped Hu Nian out of his thoughts.
His mind flashed to the table in the next room, piled high with delicious meat and fruits.
Noticing that no one had touched the food in this room yet, he turned to his men and ordered, “You guys stay here and eat. I’m going over there.”
Sure enough, there was less food on this table than the one in the other room.
Bao Pan must have refused to come earlier because he wasn’t satisfied with the smaller portions.
He didn’t eat anything this whole time—he was too busy trying to steal people away, Hu Nian thought in annoyance.
But then, something occurred to him. One person was missing.
“Wait—where’s Mao Lan? Where did she go?”
Bai Tu sighed. “Lan is still young, and this was her first time encountering something like this. She was so frightened that she ran back to her quarters. Who would’ve thought that just delivering some fruit would lead to such an incident?”
He gestured to the floor, where a few apples had rolled across the ground. “It was my fault. I thought there wasn’t enough fruit in this room, so I asked Lan to bring some more.”
“It’s not your fault!” Hu Nian immediately declared, mimicking the authoritative tone his father often used. “It’s Bao Pan—his ambition is too great.”
He remembered that a few years ago, there had been a beastman in the tribe who refused to obey his father’s rule. His father had said something similar back then, and the very next day, that beastman mysteriously disappeared. The official explanation? The Beast God had punished him. After that, no one in the tribe ever dared to defy his father again.
Disobedient people should be killed. That was a lesson Hu Nian had learned from his chief father.
Now that his greatest opposition had been taken care of, Hu Nian’s appetite returned in full force. Thinking of the feast he had yet to finish, he couldn’t wait to get back to eating.
“Alright, enough of this unpleasant talk. Let’s eat,” Bai Tu said, leading Hu Nian back to the table.
By the time Hu Nian had devoured a third of the meal, Bai Tu casually asked, “Chief Hu Nian, we have a special drink here with a wonderful taste. Would you like to try it?”
Hu Nian didn’t even look up. “Yes, yes, I want to try it.”
“This is a sacred water made by our shaman. We discovered by chance that it can be consumed, and drinking it feels incredibly refreshing.”
The West River Tribe also had sacred water, but their shaman guarded it carefully. Even though Hu Nian was close to him, he wasn’t allowed to drink it freely. Yet this small tribe was treating it as a beverage?
“Chief Hu Nian may not know this, but in large tribes, sacred water is reserved for injured warriors. Shamans must conserve it, as there are too many wounded. However, the Snow Rabbit Tribe is small, and we have fewer injured beastmen. Even when someone gets hurt, we rarely need to use the sacred water, so we’ve accumulated quite a bit. Would you like to try some?”
Hu Nian glanced at Lang Qian, who was furiously signaling at him. He instantly understood—this “large tribe” Bai Tu was talking about was his own West River Tribe.
Thinking about it now, it was true—only a select few injured warriors were ever given sacred water. No wonder they never let me touch it. They must have used it all on those people!
Hu Nian decided that as soon as he returned, he would tell his shaman uncle to start conserving the sacred water. Those warriors wouldn’t be getting it anymore.
“Sacred water can even let a person dream of the Beast God,” Bai Tu continued. “But you have to drink a large amount at once. Chief Hu Nian, would you like to give it a try?”
“Yes, yes!” Hu Nian nodded enthusiastically. Of course, he wanted to dream of the Beast God!
Even better—if the Beast God could send a vision to his father, telling him to make him the chief, that would be perfect!
His father was already over fifty. Most beastmen his age were either dead or had stepped down from leadership roles. Yet his father still refused to relinquish his position.
Hu Nian felt a surge of resentment. His younger brothers were growing up fast. If his father didn’t pass the chief’s position to him now, would he give it to one of them instead?
Bai Tu motioned to Bai Qi, who quickly fetched a large bowl of the so-called sacred water. He filled it to the brim and placed it before Hu Nian.
“Not everyone is worthy of seeing the Beast God,” Bai Tu cautioned. “If you can’t finish it, don’t force yourself.”
“Who says I can’t? I can drink it!”
Hu Nian scoffed, looking down at the water. It looked just like the sacred water in his own tribe.
It’s just a bowl of water. What’s so hard about drinking it?
Without hesitation, he picked it up and chugged the entire bowl in one gulp. The moment he finished, his throat burned.
Bai Tu immediately handed him a fresh slice of chilled summer melon.
Hu Nian still remembered how refreshing it had felt earlier. He snatched it up without hesitation.
As soon as he finished the melon, Bai Tu poured him a second bowl of sacred water.
Feeling completely at ease, Hu Nian grabbed the second bowl and gulped it down as well.
This time, though, something felt off.
His head grew heavy, his vision blurred, and the room around him seemed to sway.
Feeling dizzy, Hu Nian slammed his palm onto the table. “Stop moving!”
Bai Tu, seeing that the effects had fully set in, calmly took a seat beside him and spoke in a slow, measured tone.
“Chief Hu Nian?”
Hu Nian squinted at him, his eyes unfocused. “Who… who are you?”
Bai Tu glanced at Lang Qian, who smoothly took over. “I am an envoy sent by Lord Hu Que to assist you. When shall we depart to attack the Snow Rabbit Tribe?”
Hu Nian struggled to process the words. “Didn’t I… didn’t I say… Without my order… you’re not allowed to act…”
“But Lord Bao Pan…” Lang Qian hesitated, trailing off meaningfully.
Hu Nian’s foggy mind instantly snapped to attention. His fist slammed against the table.
“Him?! He’s nothing!”
“Lord Bao Pan has already ordered two other squads to attack. Should we stop them?”
“Stop them… stop them…” Hu Nian mumbled, slurring his words. “No fighting… my mate… my mate is there…“
“But we don’t know how to stop them,” Lang Qian continued.
Hu Nian fumbled inside his robes and pulled out a red stone, slamming it into his empty food bowl. “This!“
Bai Tu glanced at the stone, quickly deducing that without a written language, their tribe likely used different-colored objects to convey orders. He asked, “What color is used for an attack?”
Smack!
Hu Nian lazily tossed out another stone, roughly the same size as the first, but this one was white.
Behind Bai Tu, Bai Qi was about to grab the red stone and rush out when Bai Tu stopped him with a hand.
Bai Tu gestured for him to wait a moment, then shook the half-asleep Hu Nian. “Which color means attack, and which means retreat?”
“Red means attack… hit them… make them bleed… White… white means stop… don’t fight…*”
Bai Tu exchanged a glance with Bai Qi, signaling him to take the white stone.
“Lord Bao Pan is currently speaking with the smaller tribe leaders. Should we invite the other chiefs over?”
Hu Nian’s mind was hazy, but at the mention of Bao Pan, he immediately became hostile. The only thought left in his head was that he couldn’t let Bao Pan have his way. So when he heard the question, he nodded. “Invite them…“
Bai Tu sighed. “But without your direct order, they won’t be willing to come inside.”
“Bamboo… where’s the bamboo…” Hu Nian slurred.
Lang Qian reached to Hu Nian’s waist and retrieved a bamboo tube. It was about the length of a person’s forearm, with small sections carved out at regular intervals. The entire tube was dotted with precisely cut holes.
“This is only for chiefs,” Lang Qian explained. “Every small tribe under the West River Tribe’s rule has a matching bamboo token, which fits into a designated slot on this tube. Each tribe’s slot is unique. If a token doesn’t fit, it means the bamboo tube is fake or the small chief is problematic.”
Bai Tu nodded in understanding. He handed the bamboo tube and the two stones to Bai Qi, instructing him to find Lang Qi and have him trick the Tiger Clan’s messengers into inviting the other chiefs.
As for Hu Nian, who was now a drunken, incoherent mess—no one paid him any attention.
Bai Tu glanced at the remaining sacred water and muttered to Lang Qian, “We’ll get more information from the small chiefs when they arrive.”
Lang Qian, confirming that Hu Nian was completely unconscious, finally let out a sigh of frustration. “What a waste of sacred water.“
Having spent a long time in the West River Tribe, Lang Qian knew Hu Nian all too well—stupid, greedy, lustful… Even though he had learned that the Snow Rabbit Tribe didn’t use sacred water on their wounded, he still felt that giving it to Hu Nian was an absolute waste.
“If we hadn’t given it to him, how would we have gotten all this information?” Bai Tu said, glancing at Lang Qian.
He had to admit, Lang Qian never ceased to surprise him. It had taken only a few days for someone who had once worked for the West River Tribe to develop a sense of belonging to this tribe.
Sensing Bai Tu’s gaze, Lang Qian instinctively took a step back. “Why are you looking at me like that?“
“Nothing,” Bai Tu shook his head. “I’m just surprised. I thought it would take you a few more days to settle in.”
To be honest, if it weren’t for Lang Qian, today’s operation wouldn’t have gone nearly as smoothly.
“If I don’t cooperate, how am I supposed to regain my freedom sooner?” Lang Qian muttered under his breath.
Right now, he seemed unrestrained, but in reality, his movements were limited—he had to stay close to Bai Tu at all times. When Bai Tu rested, he avoided wandering around too much to prevent suspicion.
As a beastman with a record, even though he was also a sub-beastman like Bai Tu, Lang Qian knew better than to act recklessly. Before, when he had freely tricked Lang Ze and the others, it was because he had never planned to stay in this tribe for long.
But now, things were different.
Lang Qian liked this tribe. He wanted to stay.
That was why he had been so proactive in making up for his past actions—so that Bai Tu would eventually recognize him as an official member.
“Once this matter is settled, I’ll speak with them,” Bai Tu said.
Of course, he wouldn’t let Lang Qian’s efforts go unrewarded. When everything was over, it would be time to settle accounts—rewards for those who deserved them, punishments for those who didn’t.
As for Lang Qian’s wish to stay?
Bai Tu would grant it.
That was exactly the answer Lang Qian had been waiting for.
*
As evening fell, a group of over ten beastmen—each varying in age and appearance—was led into the residential area by two members of the Tiger Clan.
One of the beastmen looked puzzled. “Didn’t you say that Lord Hu Nian would be waiting for us here? Where is he?”
One of the tiger beastmen replied, “The lord is eating.”
Recalling the meal they had enjoyed before leaving the residential area at noon, the tiger beastman couldn’t help but rub his stomach. It felt like he could still taste those delicious dishes.
The thought of being able to eat another feast that night made the two Tiger Clan members eager to move things along. “Hurry up! Lord Hu Nian is waiting. If we take too long, he’ll get angry.”
The small tribe chiefs they were leading exchanged glances. Seeing that the tiger beastmen’s tone didn’t sound like they were lying, they remained silent and continued following them deeper inside.
These chiefs all belonged to small tribes under the control of the West River Tribe. If the West River Tribe ordered them to attack, they had to attack. If the West River Tribe commanded them to retreat, they had to retreat. Now that the chief’s son had summoned them, they had no choice but to come.
Their tribes were located closer to the Eastern Continent, with fewer other tribes in between. Even so, the journey here had not been without its difficulties.
As they walked, the chiefs couldn’t help but grumble internally about the West River Tribe. This was supposed to be the prime season for hunting, yet now they had to waste over half a month traveling back and forth. Their people would struggle to get through the winter because of this.
But refusing to obey wasn’t an option. Some of them had once attempted to resist the West River Tribe’s rule, and every single one of them had suffered the Beast God’s wrath. The lucky ones had only seen their warriors fall ill. The unlucky ones had watched their beastmen and cubs die without warning.
To avoid further punishment from the Beast God, even if Hu Nian’s summons seemed strange, they had to comply.
This particular order from Hu Nian was especially confusing. Their original plan had only involved two conditions:
- Hu Nian and Bao Pan would enter the Snow Rabbit Tribe.
- If they received word within three days, they would follow the given instructions. If no message came, they would attack immediately.
Yet now, Hu Nian had barely entered the tribe, and they were already being invited inside?
Though the chiefs were perplexed, they followed obediently until the two tiger beastmen finally stopped beside a house.
Bai Tu stood waiting in the courtyard, while in the shadows, Lang Qi had positioned a group of wolf beastmen, carefully watching the newcomers.
Even though these small tribes were not as powerful as the West River Tribe—some were barely the size of the Snow Rabbit Tribe in its early days—they still had to be cautious. After all, one of the key requirements for being a chief was strength.
“Qian is inside speaking with Chief Hu Nian. You two should go eat.” Bai Tu gestured for two wolf beastmen to step forward and escort the two tigers away.
The two tiger beastmen didn’t suspect anything. After all, Hu Nian had personally handed the message tokens to Bai Tu and Lang Qian. They hadn’t seen it happen with their own eyes, but Hu Nian was awake—if Bai Tu and Lang Qian hadn’t received them from him, then how else would they have gotten them?
Because of this, they had no reason to doubt Lang Qi’s earlier claim that “Lord Hu Nian wants to strengthen relations with the Snow Rabbit Tribe.”
Now that they had delivered the small tribe chiefs, they were free to rest and eat. The rest was Bai Tu’s responsibility, and they were more than happy to leave it to him.
Once the tiger beastmen left, Bai Tu turned to the gathered small tribe chiefs and gestured toward the corridor. “Please wait here for a moment.”
The chiefs exchanged confused looks, but since they could see Hu Nian inside the room, they simply assumed he was up to one of his usual odd antics. They had witnessed his strange behavior before, so they simply stood where Bai Tu had instructed without protest.
The spot Bai Tu had chosen was deliberately close to the room, ensuring that even the softest voices inside would still be audible outside.
Inside, Lang Qian poured another bowl of liquor for Hu Nian. “I heard the shaman sent out another team of sub-beastmen.”
“Tch, not just one—three!” Hu Nian spread out his fingers, attempting to show three but mistakenly holding up four. “They refused to obey, so we killed all their cubs!”
“What?” Lang Qian gasped in apparent shock. “Wasn’t the punishment just making the adult warriors sick?”
Hu Nian spat in disdain. “The first time they disobeyed, we only made the adults sick. The second time they disobeyed, we killed their cubs!”
Outside, the expressions of the small tribe chiefs grew darker and darker.
Two of them were already seething with rage.
The first time, the adult warriors had fallen ill. The second time, the cubs had died.
He was talking about their tribes.
