Chapter 37
Both Bai Tu and Lang Qi fell silent for a moment after hearing Lang Ze’s complaint.
It was a rare sight—who would have thought there would come a day when Lang Ze considered someone else to be “incompetent”? If not for Lang Ze’s confused expression earlier when they were discussing Shi Peng, Bai Tu might have suspected he was doing it on purpose.
But regardless, Lang Ze’s complaint turned out to be a convenient excuse—one that Bai Tu didn’t even need to bring up himself.
After ranting about Shi Peng being useless, Lang Ze eagerly took on the task of tending the fire.
When it came to food, no one could surpass Lang Ze’s enthusiasm—except Bai Tu, of course.
Lang Ze had an extraordinary ability to learn anything food-related, and in no time, he had the fire lit, the pot set up, and was asking Bai Tu how much oil to add. Though the tribe had been eating fish frequently lately, Lang Ze still felt that none of it tasted as good as the fish Bai Tu prepared.
Determined to prove himself superior to Shi Peng, Lang Ze decided to showcase his skills.
But no matter how well he performed, Lang Qi refused to allow him to stay in Shi Peng’s place with the Snow Rabbit Tribe. In the end, Lang Ze could only leave with his brother, feeling wronged and occasionally throwing glares at Shi Peng.
Shi Peng, for his part, had been distracted ever since Lang Ze’s earlier remarks, nervously trying to find an opportunity to plead with Bai Tu to let him stay. However, it was futile—Lang Ze was set on taking him away, and Lang Qi had also agreed.
“You’re so useless; staying here will only drag Tu down,” Lang Ze grumbled impatiently. “If you don’t want to come to the wolf tribe, then go find some other tribe to join! Just stop dragging Tu down!”
In Lang Ze’s mind, Bai Tu’s work was far busier and more important than even his brother’s.
Bai Tu had to manage planting all kinds of crops, invent new recipes, and take care of the tribe’s younglings—this last point was something Lang Ze had heard from the rabbits.
They also mentioned that Bai Tu had made a whole bunch of toys for the younglings, which Lang Ze was extremely envious of.
In Lang Ze’s eyes, Bai Tu was practically omnipotent.
The least they could do was handle the simpler tasks on their own. Shi Peng, however, seemed to only add to Bai Tu’s workload.
“So useless,” Lang Ze muttered to himself, “just let my brother teach him some discipline!”
Before Lang Qi and Lang Ze departed, Shi Peng seemed to want to say something to Bai Tu, but Bai Tu cut him off: “You’re a predator—spend a few days with the wolves to get familiar with their ways. They have more you can learn from than here.”
“Let’s go already! Back to planting trees with you!” Lang Ze urged, growing impatient.
There was still so much to do—they couldn’t afford to waste even a day if they wanted to keep up with Bai Tu.
This lion was so slow and hesitant, completely unlike him! When Bai Tu asked Lang Ze to do something, he did it. Bai Tu said to plant corn, so he planted corn. Bai Tu said to plant trees, so he planted trees.
It was only a pity Bai Tu didn’t let him build the waterwheel. Lang Ze was still eyeing the Snow Rabbit Tribe’s massive, round waterwheel enviously, convinced it must be so much fun to climb on.
Despite his reluctance, Shi Peng ultimately had no choice but to follow the two wolves.
Before leaving, he tried to console himself: The wolves have learned so much from the rabbits. If I stick with them, I can learn too. Once I’ve learned enough, I’ll find a way to return to the rabbit tribe. I can pass along their secrets later. And if the tribe really can’t prepare enough food in time, then we’ll just steal from the rabbits. After all, they have plenty stored!
Lowering his head to conceal his thoughts, Shi Peng made up his mind. He would do whatever it took to ensure his tribe survived the winter. What happened to the rabbit tribe afterward wasn’t his concern. If the rabbits were the weakest, they should accept their fate.
Out of sight of the others, Shi Peng glanced at Bai Tu with disdain. A fake healer who relies on his looks to fool beastmen. One day, his lies will be exposed. When that day comes, it’ll mean his death.
On the Beast God Continent, the punishment for pretending to be a healer was extremely severe.
The rabbit tribe would never forgive Bai Tu once the truth came out. Just imagining the rabbits and wolves turning on Bai Tu and working together to destroy him filled Shi Peng with satisfaction.
Only someone like Hu Bu is worthy of being called a true healer, Shi Peng thought bitterly. What right does someone like Bai Tu—who knows nothing—have to call himself one?
Walking ahead of the group, Lang Qi seemed to sense something.
He turned back to glance at Shi Peng, pondering Bai Tu’s earlier warning.
Bai Tu had said that Shi Peng was untrustworthy and advised Lang Qi to keep a close eye on him. He had specifically emphasized not letting Shi Peng make any further contact with the lion tribe.
Not long after the three of them left the Snow Rabbit Tribe’s territory, they shifted into their beast forms and headed toward the wolf tribe.
Traveling in their animal forms was much faster than walking upright, though it did consume more energy.
Bai Tu had selected short, sturdy mulberry branches ideal for transplanting, which were easy to bundle together and carry on their backs in beast form—more convenient than carrying them in human form.
As he eyed the two wolves’ massive forms ahead of him, Shi Peng was filled with jealousy. Why are their beast forms even bigger than those of the lion tribe?
Shi Peng held disdain for other species, especially those he deemed weaker than lions.
Most of the tribes near the lion tribe fell into this category in his mind.
Even though his status in the Wild Lion Tribe had been at rock bottom, he still believed no other species could measure up to lions. But now, seeing the stronger and larger wolf tribe, his frustration and resentment only grew. Wolves are supposed to be weaker than lions! How can they go against the natural order like this?
In beast form, they couldn’t speak. Seeing Shi Peng lagging behind, Lang Ze swung both back paws at him, kicking him forward. How much longer is this guy going to dawdle? At this rate, we’ll never make it back to the tribe! We still have to hunt tonight!
Lang Qi didn’t stop Lang Ze’s actions. Once the two caught up, he quickened his pace. The group ran at full speed, reaching the Blood Wolf Tribe just before nightfall.
At the base of the mountain, dozens of wolves were waiting for them.
Though Lang Qi and Lang Ze had only gone to the neighboring tribe, the members of the Blood Wolf Tribe were deeply reliant on and loyal to their leaders.
Without their small chief or the Wolf King present, they felt insecure. So no matter where the leaders went, their return was always met with enthusiastic welcomes from their fellow wolves.
Lang Ze, spotting his companions, quickened his pace. He darted into the crowd, dropped the bundle of mulberry branches from his back onto the ground, and began greeting his teammates in beast form with playful nudges and rubs.
What started as friendly greetings soon turned into playful chasing and roughhousing.
Lang Qi’s demeanor was much calmer. He returned to his cave, shifted back into human form, and reemerged with the composed and steady air of the Wolf King. A simple nod to his pack sufficed as a greeting. Gesturing toward Shi Peng, he turned to a nearby wolf beastman and said, “Yang, take him to the lower caves.”
Lang Yang nodded and led Shi Peng toward the back of the mountain.
Shi Peng assumed that his accommodations in the wolf tribe would be similar to those in the rabbit tribe—a private cave, perhaps. But when he followed Lang Yang, he was shocked to discover that he was being sent to a cave that housed over a dozen beastmen!
Despite the rain just ending, the summer heat lingered.
Although the beastmen’s fur was thinner in the summer than in the winter, it was still thick enough to retain heat.
A crowded cave in such weather, no matter how clean its inhabitants tried to be, carried an unavoidable musky odor. To make matters worse, the beastmen in this cave had matted and unkempt fur, indicating they hadn’t groomed themselves in a long time.
Shi Peng’s living conditions in the Wild Lion Tribe had been even worse—a cave crammed with dozens of people, located in the most remote, poorly ventilated part of the territory.
The stench there had been far worse than here. But after experiencing the clean, spacious, and private cave he had been given in the Snow Rabbit Tribe, complete with someone to help keep it tidy, the disparity in treatment hit him hard. The drop in his living standards was unbearable.
From the appearance of the beastmen in this cave, it was clear they were here because they had committed some kind of mistake and were being punished. There’s no way I’m staying here, Shi Peng thought to himself.
“This must be a mistake. I’m here to learn, not to stay in a place like this!” Shi Peng protested.
He was physically larger than the average wolf beastman. Even if he couldn’t expect a large, private cave like in the rabbit tribe, he should at least have his own small cave or share one with just one other person. How could he be sent to such a crowded, dirty space?
“No mistake. This is your cave—go on in,” Lang Yang said, giving Shi Peng a firm shove toward the cave entrance.
Then, turning to the guards stationed nearby, he added, “His name is Shi Peng. The King brought him here. Starting tomorrow, he’ll join the others on their outings.”
At the cave entrance stood a thin, frail-looking young wolf beastman. He nodded in response to Lang Yang’s instructions, but when he turned to Shi Peng, his tone was far less polite. He curtly said just a few words: “You’re number thirty-two.”
Inside the cave, the beastmen lounging or sitting around barely reacted.
With blank expressions, they shifted slightly to make room—a space just wide enough for one person.
Shi Peng didn’t want to stay in such a crowded and unpleasant place, but under the disapproving gazes of Lang Yang and the guard beastman, he swallowed his objections and reluctantly stepped inside.
It’s fine, he consoled himself. I’ll endure it for a few days. Once I’ve learned what I need from the wolves, I can return to the rabbit tribe. Sure, I won’t see Hu Bu there, but the living conditions are much better than this. He resolved to tough it out for now.
However, by the next day, as he was led out with the other beastmen from the cave, Shi Peng quickly realized something was wrong.
His assigned tasks had nothing to do with learning skills. Instead, he was made to dig pits and cut grass—the same kind of work the rabbit tribe was doing. Worse, the only other people around him were the same group of beastmen who shared the cave with him.
Shi Peng already held a deep dislike for these beastmen.
Their unkempt appearances and foul body odor had been bad enough, but at night, their constant teeth grinding and sleep-talking had kept him awake. Now, they were also his only companions during the day, sharing the hardest and most tedious tasks.
Frustrated, Shi Peng finally snapped. He threw down the bucket he was carrying and yelled, “I’m not going to fetch water!”
The riverbank was still dangerous after the rainy season, and the water bucket was even larger than the ones the rabbit tribe used. When full, it was unbearably heavy. Shi Peng couldn’t understand why, out of all the beastmen, he was the one being forced to carry water.
The moment he spoke, several beastmen who had been digging nearby stopped what they were doing. They turned to glare at him, their expressions full of hostility.
Shi Peng wasn’t intimidated in the slightest.
If it had been Lang Qi or Lang Ze overseeing him, he might have been afraid. But this group of beastmen? Their beast forms were smaller than his, and some of them were even visibly scrawnier. To him, they posed no real threat. In fact, he hoped they’d make a move against him. He could use the opportunity to establish his dominance over them.
The wolf beastman who was supposed to be keeping watch was dozing under a tree nearby, seemingly oblivious to what was happening.
Surveying the scene, Shi Peng decided to strike first. Before anyone else could act, he shifted into his lion form.
The other beastmen, who had been standing their ground until now, exchanged sly grins. Then, one by one, they shifted into their own beast forms.
Shi Peng had guessed one thing correctly: the other beastmen were smaller than him. Two of them weren’t even wolves; they were jackals, with even smaller frames. Seeing such weak opponents, Shi Peng felt a surge of confidence. Once I defeat them, I won’t have to lift a finger for the rest of my time here.
But Shi Peng’s arrogance didn’t last long.
He had overlooked the most critical factor in this confrontation: the sheer difference in numbers. While his form was larger, the opposing beastmen were a well-coordinated group with plenty of experience working together. They quickly identified his weak spots and relentlessly targeted them.
Shi Peng roared in the direction of the guard beastman, hoping for intervention. But the guard continued to nap peacefully in the shade, as if completely unconcerned about the chaos unfolding nearby.
By the time the group of wolves and jackals finally dispersed, Shi Peng’s golden fur was streaked with blood, and his body was covered in dozens of wounds, both large and small.
The lead wolf shifted back into his human form and walked over without a trace of fear.
Picking up the wooden bucket Shi Peng had thrown earlier, he slammed it onto Shi Peng’s back and snarled, “Go fetch the water. Stop thinking about slacking off, and don’t even think about running away! Or next time, we’ll beat you to death!”
The beastmen who made mistakes were confined together in a single cave, and they could only be released when the Wolf King decided their punishment was sufficient.
Another rule of the wolf tribe was that if one beastman in a shared cave attempted to escape or shirk work, the rest of the group would also be punished.
Unlike Shi Peng, who was new and unfamiliar with these rules, the others in the cave knew the Wolf King’s personality very well.
They understood that unless he personally allowed it, there was no way to escape. Thus, even though the beastman tasked with watching over them was one of the smallest wolves, no one dared to try escaping.
Life in the cave, while exhausting, at least ensured they had food. If they fled, they’d face not only the wrath of the wolf tribe but also hunger and attacks from other beastmen. Between the two options, the choice was obvious.
The other beastmen didn’t care what Shi Peng’s beast form was or why he had been sent there. They just wanted to work hard, perform well, and get out of the cave as quickly as possible. Naturally, the newest arrival—Shi Peng—was given the heaviest workload.
This was an unspoken rule of the group. If he couldn’t complete the work, others would step in, but Shi Peng resisted from the start.
To make matters worse, he had shifted into his beast form to confront the group, which they saw as a direct challenge to their authority. As a result, they had to teach him who was in charge.
Now covered in wounds and limping, Shi Peng carried the bucket to the river to fetch water.
Along the way, the beastmen he passed showed no reaction to his injuries, as though they were entirely accustomed to this kind of scene. The only exception was a group of curious pups not far from the cave entrance, who stared at him with wide eyes.
Before Shi Peng could take a closer look at the pups, a beastman with a branch in hand herded them back into the cave. “Back inside, now. The King is coming back soon,” he said sternly.
The pups, who had been running and playing just moments earlier, paused for a moment before obediently forming a single file and trotting back into the cave.
Shi Peng scanned the surrounding area, observing the other beastmen, but even by the time he reached the river, he couldn’t find an opportunity to act.
The wolf tribe was larger than the rabbit tribe, and most of its members were strong fighters. Even during the day, when the hunting teams were resting, escaping was nearly impossible.
The wounds on his body throbbed with increasing pain, fueling Shi Peng’s resentment. He blamed everything on Bai Tu. If Bai Tu hadn’t agreed to Lang Ze’s suggestion, he’d still be in the rabbit tribe right now, enjoying better food than this.
The cave where he now lived was overcrowded, and food was scarce.
The portion he was given was so small that he couldn’t even snatch it up before someone else ate it. On top of that, he was being forced to do such grueling tasks. Worst of all, he had no way to contact his own tribe to report back.
“Brother, what’s that lion doing?” Lang Ze stood not far from the riverbank, watching Shi Peng.
He had come to the river to see if he could catch some fish—he’d had fish yesterday and was already craving more. But soon after he arrived, Shi Peng showed up, lugging a bucket of water and wincing every few steps. Lang Ze was baffled by the display.
“Probably daydreaming,” Lang Qi replied offhandedly, tossing a baited fish trap into the river. Bai Tu’s idea for catching fish was truly ingenious—this method was simple and didn’t even require getting into the water.
“Oh.” Lang Ze didn’t get the explanation he wanted, but he didn’t press further. He simply replied with a casual acknowledgement and refocused his attention on the fish trap in the water. Growing more excited, he asked, “Brother, can I get in the water?”
“No!” Lang Qi said firmly, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. “If you get in the water, don’t even think about going to the Snow Rabbit Tribe next time.”
“Fine,” Lang Ze sighed, disappointed.
His brother was getting stricter by the day. In the past, if Lang Qi caught him trying to get in the water, the worst punishment was withholding a meal. But now, he was threatening to cut off his visits to Bai Tu.
Skipping a meal was one thing—he could always sneak food from someone else. But not being able to see Bai Tu? That was unacceptable.
Thinking of all the delicious foods Bai Tu had made, Lang Ze began counting on his fingers. “Brother, how much longer until the next market gathering?” he asked.
He was already looking forward to spending half a month following Bai Tu around at the market, eating all kinds of tasty treats.
Lang Qi glanced at his younger brother, who cared about nothing but eating, and said nothing as he tossed the next fish trap into the water.
A single fish trap could only catch so many fish, so they needed to place multiple traps.
Lang Qi thought for a moment—maybe they should learn from the Snow Rabbit Tribe and dig a small fish pond in one of the empty caves to raise fish. The rabbits seemed to be doing a good job of it. Their fish were even plumper than the ones caught fresh from the river and could be eaten at any time without needing to venture out.
Next time, he’d ask Bai Tu how they managed it. He’d also look into the small waterwheel by the fish pond, which supposedly had its uses too.
Hmm… he should pay another visit to learn more. The little healer seemed to have a fondness for animal cubs.
Last time, when they brought him the calves and piglets, Bai Tu had been delighted for the better part of the day.
Too bad they hadn’t managed to catch any more since the rainy season ended. Otherwise, they could’ve brought some again. Next time, they’d definitely catch more to bring over.
Bai Tu had no idea the two brothers were already making plans for their next visit. As soon as Shi Peng left, Bai Tu threw himself into his work without a moment’s rest.
While Shi Peng had been in the tribe, the hunting team had to leave a few members behind to guard the settlement.
That delayed several tasks for Bai Tu, such as checking on the height of the corn. He could only sneak off to inspect it when Shi Peng was busy. Bai Tu never shared details about the cornfields or the young livestock with Shi Peng.
Bai Tu maintained an unwavering vigilance toward anyone from the Mad Lion Tribe. No matter how convincingly Shi Peng spoke, Bai Tu never fully trusted him.
Everything Shi Peng had been allowed to see were tasks that wouldn’t make much difference even if he learned them—for instance, weaving steam baskets.
Shi Peng only knew how to weave but didn’t know that the baskets were for steaming jerky. The same applied to tasks like butchering meat, cutting grass, or picking mulberry leaves. These were relatively labor-intensive jobs, but anything involving food storage or more intricate skills had been kept far from Shi Peng’s sight.
Even after nearly ten days in the tribe, Shi Peng never discovered the hidden cornfield. Any information he managed to pass on to the Mad Lion Tribe would’ve been of no use.
If the Mad Lion Tribe attempted to prepare for winter based on his inaccurate reports, it would be as futile as drawing water with a bamboo basket.
The cornfield, meanwhile, was thriving. At just over forty days old, some of the plants had already begun to grow tassels. At this rate, the corn would likely mature in another thirty days or so.
Bai Tu was incredibly excited about the upcoming harvest.
He had been meticulous in caring for the corn, and while it was a bit troublesome not having chemical fertilizers or pesticides, he hadn’t encountered any pests so far. Handpicking any insects was a small price to pay for keeping the crop healthy.
After his routine inspection of the cornfield, Bai Tu went to check on the silkworm eggs he’d taken out after the rainy season.
Previously stored in the cool mountain caves, the eggs had shown no signs of change for weeks.
However, since being brought out into the warmer air, tiny black dots had started appearing on the eggs—a sign that they were about to hatch.
It took about twenty to thirty days to raise a batch of silkworms to maturity. However, Bai Tu suspected this batch would take even less time.
Everything on the Beast God Continent seemed to grow faster than what he remembered from his previous life, whether it was the speed at which cocoons formed or the hatching rate of the eggs.
Silkworms, corn, the brooding hens, and the growing chicks—everything was progressing as planned, and even better than Bai Tu had initially hoped.
There was just one unresolved issue: the Black Hawk Tribe had not yet arrived. Their agreed-upon time had already passed, but there was still no sign of the Black Hawk beastmen.
Bai Tu was starting to worry. Ever since waking up in this world, his instincts about people hadn’t failed him. He trusted Hei Jian’s character. Could something have happened to the Black Hawk Tribe that prevented them from delivering the iron ore after the rainy season?
At that same moment, not far from the Snow Rabbit Tribe’s territory, several enormous hawks were circling in the sky.
