Building a Civilization and Raising Cubs in the Beast World – CH70

Chapter 70

After repeated adjustments, Bai Hui finally crafted a finished product that received Bai Tu’s approval. 

It was exactly what Bai Tu had envisioned—a bite stopper that, when worn on the head, wouldn’t interfere with work but would completely prevent attacks. For both feline and canine species, teeth were their sharpest weapons, and without them, their combat effectiveness would be cut in half.

The metal portion of the bite stopper was completed, but the leather portions still required testing. 

Bai Tu took the prototype back to his cave to experiment further. While the frame was functional, it lacked the padding necessary to reduce discomfort. 

To minimize irritation, the parts of the device that would come into contact with the skin needed to be lined with animal hide to prevent chafing.

How the victorious side treated their prisoners after tribal conflicts often depended on their customs. 

Some tribes were utterly ruthless, leaving no survivors. 

Others might kill all the men and keep only the women. A few tribes, however, only executed the opposing leaders, taking the rest of the defeated tribe back as the lowest-ranking laborers—overworked and underprivileged compared to the original members of the tribe.

The wolves leaned toward the last approach. 

They rarely practiced extermination, and the Blood Wolf Tribe still had members from other tribes that had once tried to provoke them, only to be subdued in retaliation. Those conflicts, however, were long ago, back when the Blood Wolf Tribe wasn’t nearly as strong as it was now.

If the wolves were victorious in this conflict, they would likely adopt a similar method—sparing lives but taking captives. Yet even the wolves couldn’t deny that the lions were incredibly strong fighters. 

If no precautions were taken to restrain the prisoners, it would be dangerous for the beastmen assigned to guard them.

Given the lions’ size, the bite stoppers needed to be made in multiple sizes. The first finished product was an oversized version specifically designed for the most powerful male lions. It was crafted using the hardest material available to ensure it could fully restrain the wearer.

Cutting, sewing, adjusting the tightness—there were endless details to consider. Bai Tu worked late into the night, finally completing one fully functional bite stopper. From time to time, distant howls from lions or wolves would drift in, faint and unclear due to the increased distance.

Bai Tu decided not to dismantle the finished product but to keep it as a model. 

Using it as a guide, he cut additional materials for another identical set. These were to be sent to Tu Cai’s group, who would oversee the crafting process. 

Tu Cai and her team would handle cutting and stitching, following a process similar to the one used for the collars. Bai Hui and Tu Cai would lead two teams of beastmen working together to produce the bite stoppers.

Many of the tribe’s finished goods were created in this collaborative manner. 

Division of labor ensured greater efficiency. By allowing the beastmen to focus on the tasks they excelled at—whether blacksmithing or sewing—the final products were of higher quality and finished faster.

Originally, Bai Tu had planned to deliver the materials to Tu Cai earlier, but the two wolf cubs on his bed refused to let him leave. 

Even in their sleep, their little paws clung to him, and the slightest movement would wake them. 

Cutting leather or stitching didn’t bother them, but as soon as Bai Tu made any move to get up, they would wake up instantly. 

Groggily watching him to make sure he wasn’t about to leave, they wouldn’t relax until they saw him return. It wasn’t until Bai Tu finally lay down again that they closed their eyes and went back to sleep.

Perhaps sensing that their uncles were out fighting, the wolf pups were unusually clingy today. 

Bai Tu felt a pang of sympathy for the little ones, who had hardly rested since dusk. He placed his tools and the finished prototype out of their reach, then settled down to hold the pups and rest.

He hoped that when he woke, there would be good news. 

Gently patting the pups, Bai Tu gazed at the moonlight streaming through the cave entrance. He knew that war was unavoidable, but no matter how strong one side might be, battles inevitably led to injuries—whether minor or severe. None of it was something he wanted to see.

The lie that Bai Qi told Tu Cheng—that the tribe had no medicine—was exactly that, a lie. 

The Snow Rabbit Tribe wasn’t out of medicine; they simply refused to waste it on Tu Cheng. No matter how severe his injuries were, they were the consequences of his own actions.

The wolf pups didn’t understand the complexities of the adults’ world. Feeling the comforting presence of Bai Tu, sleepiness gradually overcame them. They found a cozy spot in his arms and closed their eyes, drifting into peaceful slumber.

*

Meanwhile, at the distant Fierce Lion Tribe, nearly half a day’s journey away, the battle had already begun. 

From murdering the former wolf king and queen to sending Tu Cheng to lure Lang Ze into danger, the lions had committed unforgivable acts. And their repeated incursions into Snow Rabbit Tribe territory were viewed as provocations by both the rabbit and wolf tribes.

The wolves split into three groups: one circled around to attack from the rear, another launched a frontal assault, and the third teamed up with the leopards and rabbits to target isolated individuals.

The wolves’ formation left Shi Hong, the lion chief, with no option but to fight. Even if he wanted to escape with Hu Bu, there was nowhere to go.

There was no need for words between tribes with existing animosity. Beastmen from both sides silently observed their enemies, sizing them up to select their targets.

The Wild Lion Tribe, which had been in turmoil since before the rainy season, was a shadow of its former self. 

Only the chief and his lieutenants remained strong, while the rest of the lions were weaker than they had been months ago. Some of the lower-ranking beastmen didn’t even have animal hides to wear, resorting to clothing themselves in leaves.

The region shared by the lion, wolf, rabbit, sheep, and deer tribes was one of the richest areas in the Eastern Continent. 

Even a weaker tribe like the rabbits could exchange their tools for salt or animal hides for warmth. 

Though living conditions were tough a few years ago, they hadn’t been so dire as to force beastmen to wear leaves. 

Inferior animal hides were affordable, and while they couldn’t always trade tools for salt, they could at least obtain basic hides or soft bark for warmth.

After being driven north, however, the Wild Lion Tribe had barely enough food to survive, let alone trade for supplies. 

Arrogantly convinced of their own strength, the lions had never bothered to make tools or seek proper bark for clothing. Those without hides had no choice but to resort to leaves.

A group of young wolves nearby observed the lions’ plight and whispered among themselves.

“Did their hides get torn too?” one asked, noting the lions’ tattered state. 

In Lang Ze’s pack, the wolves only resorted to wearing leaves if they tore their hides after a hunt. It was surprising to see lions this thin, yet still managing to destroy their clothing.

Lang You, standing to Lang Ze’s left, studied the lions for a moment before shaking his head. “I think they don’t have any hides to wear.”

“How do you know?” another wolf asked, squinting at Lang You.

“I’m You, not Zuo,” Lang You replied, rolling his eyes before pointing to the lion chief at the front. “Look at their leader—his hide is so worn it’s shiny.”

“Whoa, that’s amazing,” said the wolf who had mixed up the names. “I’ve never worn hides so shiny before.”

Hearing their chatter, Lang Yang couldn’t help but sigh. Why did I even bother guarding this group? No matter how serious the situation was, the young wolves always managed to focus on the most random details.

As Lang Yang mulled over his decision, he noticed a lion attempting to sneak away. 

In an instant, the young wolves shifted to beast form. Testing the fit of their new collars with a quick stretch of their necks, they dashed toward the lion. In the blink of an eye, they surrounded him.

The sneaky lion froze, his face contorted in fear. Forgetting to shift into his beast form, he crouched on the ground, trembling.

The lion, who had a habit of hiding whenever battles broke out, thought he could quietly slip away before the fighting began. 

He had always found a safe spot to wait until the dust settled and had never been caught—until now. 

Misjudging the young wolves as inattentive and assuming their human forms meant they weren’t alert, he chose their direction to flee. To his shock, he was surrounded within seconds.

As soon as someone made a move, the battle began. Without sparing a glance at anyone else, Lang Qi lunged directly at Shi Hong.

Shi Hong had no desire to face Lang Qi, the strongest combatant of the wolves. 

He attempted to shake him off and attack other wolves instead, preferably the less experienced Lang Ze, to re-establish the pride of his tribe. However, each time he tried, Lang Qi blocked him, as if he could see through Shi Hong’s every intention, shielding the other wolves with precision.

“Roar!” Shi Hong bellowed, dodging Lang Qi’s claws. 

While wolf claws weren’t as sharp as those of lions, Lang Qi’s attacks were fiercer than any other lion’s. 

Shi Hong attempted to bite Lang Qi’s throat, but before he could do any damage, his mouth was met with sharp quills. What should have been an advantage for the lion turned into a struggle; Lang Qi was overpowering him. The pain and fury built up in Shi Hong as he continuously called for reinforcements.

The other wolves intercepted the lions trying to surround Lang Qi. Though this was the Wild Lion Tribe’s territory and they had the numbers, wolves were infamous for their fearlessness in battle.

On another part of the battlefield, a red-haired youth handed a blade to the person beside him. “Stab him in the neck when he bites down on Shi Hong. The closer to the throat, the better. Use all your strength. With Shi Hong in his jaws, he won’t dare to release him to attack you.” A beastman who has latched onto a vital spot would almost never release it unless they were dead.

The person hesitated. “But… the chief…” A beast in pain would bite down harder on their prey. If they stabbed Lang Qi, it could lead to Shi Hong’s death.

“Who cares if he dies? Weaklings have no one to blame but themselves!” The red-haired youth’s eyes burned with madness. “He wasn’t strong enough and offended so many lion tribes—now look at us! This is all his fault!”

Hearing this, the other person gritted his teeth, took the blade, and began creeping toward Lang Qi and Shi Hong.

Not far away, Lang Ze had just tossed a lion aside with his teeth and was about to let out a victorious howl when he caught sight of the creeping lion. To his horror, the other wolves were all preoccupied fighting lions and didn’t notice.

Lang Qi had Shi Hong’s neck locked firmly in his jaws, biting down on the lion’s most vulnerable spot. However, the stronger the beast, the longer they could hold out. 

Shi Hong wasn’t going to suffocate immediately, and Lang Qi couldn’t afford to relax for even a moment. If he loosened his bite, Shi Hong would escape.

Lang Ze roared and sprinted toward Lang Qi as fast as his legs could carry him. He pushed himself to his limits, but the distance was too great. He could only watch helplessly as the lion plunged the blade into Lang Qi’s body.

The sound of Lang Ze’s warning roar reached Lang Qi’s ears just in time for him to shift his body, dragging Shi Hong with him to avoid a fatal blow. The sharp blade still managed to slice through his shoulder, sending a searing, unfamiliar pain radiating throughout his body.

Ignoring the pain, Lang Qi swung Shi Hong’s struggling body toward the attacker, throwing him with all his might. Then, without hesitation, he pounced on Shi Hong again, clamping his jaws onto the lion’s vulnerable throat.

The second attack proved decisive. Shi Hong’s struggles grew weaker and weaker until they finally stopped altogether.

Lang Qi released his grip and stepped back, but his vision suddenly blurred. 

Shaking his head, he blinked a few times and tried to refocus. When his vision cleared, the battlefield seemed to have changed. Everywhere he looked, there were lions—some fighting, others approaching him.

Kill them.

The thought echoed in his mind as Lang Qi began to move forward. He focused on a pair of lions locked in combat, his hind legs crouching slightly as he prepared to strike.

Suddenly, a lion moved close to him. Lang Qi stared at him for a long moment, then unexpectedly shoved him aside and turned, bolting in the opposite direction.

He didn’t know why, but something deep within him told him to go. Somewhere ahead, something he longed for was waiting.