Building a Civilization and Raising Cubs in the Beast World – CH89

Chapter 89

Just as Bai Tu and Hei Xiao were about to leave, Lang Ze arrived, bringing the now-human-shaped Lang Shun with him. Accompanying them was Bai Qi. Lang Shun, who had reverted to his human form, could understand simple instructions but was still responding more slowly than usual.

Bai Qi had just returned from patrol and was planning to ask Bai Tu about the evening’s arrangements. By chance, he ran into Lang Ze on the way and decided to join them.

While Bai Tu was asking Lang Shun about his condition, Bai Qi stood to the side, clearly struggling to say something. His hesitation was so obvious that even the often-clueless Lang Ze noticed and turned to him. “What’s wrong with you?”

Bai Qi hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. “Shun seems… kind of like how Tu used to be.”

Lang Ze didn’t understand, but Lang Qi appeared deep in thought. 

Bai Tu and Hei Xiao, however, immediately understood the underlying meaning of Bai Qi’s words. 

The “like” Bai Qi referred to wasn’t physical resemblance but rather behavior—specifically, how Bai Tu had been when Bai An first brought him back to the Snow Rabbit Tribe.

Bai Tu exchanged a look with Hei Xiao. Their suspicions were confirmed.

Bai Tu began asking Lang Shun a series of questions. Lang Shun gave a few halting responses, though he repeated certain phrases more often than others.

“Looking at the eyes,” “Running away,” “Being caught.”

Every time these words came up, Lang Shun’s gaze grew more vacant. When Bai Tu changed the subject to food or drinks, however, the emptiness in his eyes gradually lessened.

Watching Lang Shun’s reactions, Bai Tu’s mind flashed with fragmented memories. Yet whenever he tried to piece them together, they slipped away like scattered grains of sand. He put the bamboo tube in his hand away and turned to Lang Ze. “Take Shun back and let him rest.”

Lang Ze nodded, and Bai Qi, seeing how busy Bai Tu was, decided to leave with Lang Ze. It seemed Lang Ze had figured out what was going on, and Bai Qi figured he could just ask him about it later.

Bai Tu then went to where Shi Zhen, Shi Jia, and the other captured Lion Tribe members were staying to inquire about Hu Bu’s movements during his absences from the Lion Tribe, particularly after the snow season.

This was not the sort of thing that could be easily concealed—after all, as the mate of the tribe’s leader, Hu Bu’s absence would have been glaringly obvious to everyone.

Shi Zhen had the clearest memory of these events and listed the time periods when Hu Bu had been absent. Because the most recent instance was after the snow season, Shi Zhen even remembered the approximate dates.

“He left before the snow had melted completely and didn’t return until the snow was almost gone,” Shi Zhen said.

Bai Tu noted this information down and then led Hei Xiao to the place where Hu Bu was being held. Lang Qi and Hei Yan tried to follow them, but both were stopped.

“We’re just going to ask a few questions,” Bai Tu said reassuringly. “We’ll be back soon.”

Lang Qi gave Hei Xiao a long look before giving a barely perceptible nod. Hei Yan, on the other hand, opened his mouth as if to argue, only to have Hei Xiao cover it firmly.

“You need to rest. Tomorrow, you’ll need to lead the tribe back home,” Hei Xiao said.

Hearing this, Hei Yan’s mood immediately took a downturn. He hated the idea of having to leave, especially when it meant returning on his own. Yet Hei Xiao’s word was final, and there was no way around it. Hei Yan slumped, looking as dejected as a wilting leaf that hadn’t seen water in months.

Lang Qi glanced at Hei Yan and then at Bai Tu before lowering his gaze without a word.

*

Hu Bu was still confined in the cave, but this time four beastmen stood guard at the entrance, ensuring that at least two were always on duty. Upon entering the cave, Bai Tu didn’t immediately remove the gag from Hu Bu’s mouth. Instead, he began a thorough inspection.

There were no hidden items. Bai Tu had already guessed as much—this was the third time they had searched both the cave and Hu Bu himself. At this point, if there was still anything they missed, it would defy logic. Hu Bu, gagged and unable to speak, glared at them with defiance and disdain in his eyes.

Hei Xiao stood nearby, quietly observing Bai Tu’s every move, his attention focused solely on him.

Ignoring the fury in Hu Bu’s gaze, Bai Tu meticulously checked every corner of the cave and Hu Bu’s bindings. Once satisfied, he washed his hands with water brought in by the young wolves and asked, “Did he do anything unusual just now?”

“Nothing,” the young wolves replied in unison. Hu Bu’s entire body was tightly bound; only his eyes could move. Aside from breathing, he was incapable of doing anything. 

After what had happened with Lang Shun, the wolves had been keeping their eyes on him, not daring to look away for even a second.

One of the young wolves blinked rapidly, his eyes starting to sting from staring too long.

Bai Tu nodded and shook the water droplets from his hands. “You can all go eat now. Tonight, there’s beef soup—your favorite.”

With the expanded variety of tools, cooking methods had also diversified. The beef soup, made by simmering beef shank bones, had become a popular dish. 

In the past, the tribe didn’t have enough pots to make enough soup for everyone to enjoy freely. But now, with plenty of pottery items available, they could serve it regularly. 

Even though some pots inevitably cracked during the firing process, they had produced more than enough to meet their needs. Soup dishes had become increasingly common, especially on cooler evenings like this.

The sliced beef, topped with a ladle of steaming hot broth, was particularly comforting on nights when the temperature dropped. Earlier, Lang Shun had eaten quite a bit of it.

The young wolves, already starving, cheered and bolted out of the cave one after another. One wolf, slower to react, hesitated at the entrance, worried about leaving Bai Tu unprotected.

“You can go too,” Bai Tu assured him. He could swear that Lang Qi was just around the corner, waiting.

Sure enough, as soon as the young wolves left, Lang Qi appeared with a cold expression. “Too dangerous,” he said, disapproving of Bai Tu’s actions. Even though Hu Bu was tied up and gagged, Lang Qi still considered Bai Tu’s behavior reckless.

“I knew you were nearby,” Bai Tu explained. 

He wouldn’t have dismissed the young wolves otherwise—he wasn’t careless with his safety.

Hearing this, the tension on Lang Qi’s face eased slightly. He turned his head to look elsewhere, feigning indifference.

Knowing that Lang Qi had understood him, Bai Tu felt at ease. With Lang Qi around, his safety was assured. Bai Tu started a casual conversation with Hei Xiao, discussing bits and pieces of the past. Most of the time, Bai Tu asked questions, and Hei Xiao answered.

Hei Xiao cooperated fully, especially when it came to talking about the Red Eagle Tribe. He shared everything he knew in detail.

As the conversation went on, Hu Bu’s face gradually turned pale. He realized that the two knew about his ongoing connection with the Red Eagle Tribe and were even aware of the last time he had visited.

Then, when Hei Xiao mentioned the captured cubs in the Red Eagle Tribe, a flicker of barely detectable smugness crossed Hu Bu’s face.

Bai Tu acted as if he hadn’t noticed and smoothly shifted the conversation to another topic. The two continued their intermittent chatting, occasionally stepping out to check whether the wolf guards had returned.

Meanwhile, Hu Bu alternated between unease and a growing sense of triumph. When Bai Tu mentioned the locations of other members of the Lion Tribe, Hu Bu couldn’t help but begin scheming how to escape.

He had acted impulsively before, unsure of where the other lions were being held. That was why he had resorted to using Lang Shun to escape. But now that he knew where the lions were imprisoned… His mind began calculating. 

If he could dangle just enough information in front of Bai Tu to make him think it was worth loosening his restraints, then he might have a chance.

Having formulated a plan, Hu Bu started to struggle deliberately, trying to attract their attention.

Lang Qi shot a glance at Hu Bu but remained still. Hearing the sound, Bai Tu paused his conversation and approached Hu Bu. 

“Do you need something?” he asked. 

Hu Bu shifted his gaze downward and made a few muffled noises, hinting that the gag in his mouth prevented him from speaking.

Bai Tu frowned in thought for a moment before turning to Lang Qi. “Qi, take it off for him.”

At Bai Tu’s words, Lang Qi reluctantly removed the bite stopper and the beast-hide gag covering Hu Bu’s mouth.

The moment the gag was removed, Hu Bu, worried he wouldn’t get another chance to speak, blurted out, “I know everything about the Red Eagle Tribe!”

“Oh?” Bai Tu’s eyes flicked toward him. The first thing Hu Bu did after being able to talk was to sell out his allies—exactly the type of behavior Bai Tu expected from him.

“I can tell you anything you want to know. Even about the Red Fox Tribe! I know all about their leader. I can tell you how to conquer them! Just don’t kill me, okay?” Hu Bu’s desperation was palpable. At the mention of “conquer,” Lang Qi’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Bai Tu said nothing at first, seemingly weighing the offer. 

After a moment, he responded, “You can only give me information about the leader’s traits, while I’ll have to put in the manpower and resources to take over. There’s no guarantee of success. This deal doesn’t sound fair to me.”

Hu Bu quickly added, “I know what to do! But I can only tell you. Just you, no one else.”

Bai Tu appeared to consider this seriously before glancing at Lang Qi and Hei Xiao. “You two, step outside.”

Lang Qi frowned, clearly unhappy, but seeing Bai Tu’s determination, he nodded and moved to the cave’s entrance. Hei Xiao patted Bai Tu on the back and followed Lang Qi out.

Once the two had left, Hu Bu leaned as close to Bai Tu as his restraints would allow and said, “I guarantee success! I know the Red Eagle Tribe’s leader well. If I speak to him, he’ll definitely comply! The Red Fox Tribe has so few people. If the wolves and rabbits join forces, you’ll definitely be able to conquer them. Then, the Snow Rabbit Tribe will become the largest tribe in the area.”

Bai Tu listened to Hu Bu’s grandiose vision, his expression one of thoughtful consideration, as if seriously tempted by the idea.

Hu Bu saw the light of victory within reach. A flash of smugness crossed his face before he quickly hid it, lowering his voice. “Take me with you, and I guarantee you’ll conquer the Red Fox and Red Eagle Tribes…”

Bai Tu’s expression grew increasingly hazy, as if on the verge of agreeing, though with a hint of hesitation. 

Hu Bu locked his focus on Bai Tu’s eyes, leaning forward as much as possible. He repeated his words, his voice dripping with persuasion: “Just take me with you, and you’ll conquer the Red Fox and Red Eagle Tribes…”

Bai Tu gave a slight nod. “Conquer the Red Fox and Red Eagle Tribes… and then?”

Hu Bu’s voice turned even softer, almost a whisper, as he enticed Bai Tu further. “And then you’ll become the most revered beastman on the Beast God Continent. You’ll have the right to take countless mates…”

In his previous life, a swarm of beastmen had surrounded Bai Tu. 

Lang Qi had clearly been displeased with them, but they must have been tied to Bai Tu. 

Hu Bu lowered his gaze to hide the jealousy that surged in his eyes. Bai Tu had had so many companions, and no one had ever criticized him for it. Yet, when Hu Bu had tried to take even one mate, he was nearly beaten to death by Wu Lai. Why was it that they were both beastmen, yet Bai Tu’s life was so much better than his?

Outside the cave, Lang Qi’s expression darkened.

Bai Tu appeared to be swayed, but before Hu Bu could celebrate, Bai Tu frowned again. “But I can’t obtain the Beast God’s power.”

The smugness in Hu Bu’s eyes almost overflowed as he continued his persuasion. “You can obtain it. The Red Eagle Tribe has many young cubs. As long as you use their blood, you can gain the Beast God’s power.”

Hu Bu thought to himself, So much for loving cubs. Now that you hear their blood can awaken the Beast God’s power, aren’t you tempted after all? Hu Bu’s heart swelled with satisfaction. If I had known earlier that this would work, I would’ve used it. No wonder my previous attempts at persuasion failed.

Bai Tu still seemed hesitant. “Would the Red Eagle Tribe really hand over their cubs to me?”

Hu Bu quickly nodded. “If I tell them to, they will comply.”

“Fine,” Bai Tu said slowly. “I can spare your life, but you must have the Red Eagle Tribe’s leader deliver the cubs.”

Hu Bu couldn’t hide his excitement. “Alright, I’ll make sure they send the cubs over.” He smirked inwardly. And it won’t just be the cubs. I’ll ensure they send enough forces to wipe out the Rabbit and Wolf Tribes too. The Red Eagle Tribe has the numbers, and they’re not like the other winged tribes that fear long journeys. They’ll have no trouble reaching here.

“How will you contact the Red Eagle Tribe?” Bai Tu asked.

“You have eagles in your tribe, don’t you?” Hu Bu replied eagerly. “Just trick one of them into taking me to the Red Eagle Tribe.”

Bai Tu shook his head. “No. What if you escape once you’re there?”

Hu Bu hadn’t expected such caution even after he agreed to the demands. He quickly offered a compromise. “Then take me to the marketplace. I can meet with the Red Eagle Tribe’s people there and arrange for the cubs to be delivered.”

“Alright,” Bai Tu agreed with a nod. “We’ll leave tomorrow. But I have one more question…”

Just as Hu Bu was basking in victory, Bai Tu’s words made him freeze, afraid that the agreement might be revoked. “Ask away!” he said hastily.

“I seem to have an extra set of memories,” Bai Tu said slowly. “Was that your doing?”

Hu Bu’s eyes flickered briefly, but he quickly masked it with a sorrowful expression. “It was Wu Lai,” he replied, feigning anguish. “He made me use his method to trick you, to tell you certain things so that you’d listen to me.”

Hu Bu put on a pitiful act, doing his best to appear as a helpless victim. In my past life, Bai Tu would always show leniency toward beastmen with tragic experiences. I’ll make sure this works again.

“Is that so…” Bai Tu mulled over Hu Bu’s words.

Afraid Bai Tu wouldn’t believe him, Hu Bu nodded emphatically. “Yes! He even said that if I told you I was the protagonist and that defying me would lead to a terrible fate, you wouldn’t dare hurt me. I was wrong… I was just afraid you’d fall for Shi Hong, so I made up those nonexistent things to scare you.”

Bai Tu didn’t want to dwell on those fabricated plotlines, so he shifted to another topic. “When will the wolf you bewitched today recover?”

Eager to show sincerity, Hu Bu answered truthfully. “Two days, at most. He didn’t ingest the medicine, so he’ll recover in two days.” 

He wasn’t lying this time. The last of his medicine had already been used on Bai Tu during their journey. 

He hadn’t had the chance to make more before the Wild Lion Tribe was besieged by other lion tribes. Hu Bu regretted not poisoning the other tribal leaders back then. He had thought keeping them alive as potential allies would be useful. He hadn’t expected them to band together and destroy the Wild Lion Tribe.

“What about the drug that Lang Qi was exposed to that day?”

Hu Bu hesitated, clearly unwilling. “What drug on Lang Qi?”

“If you don’t want to tell the truth, then forget it,” Bai Tu said with a frown. “As partners, there’s no trust between us at all.”

Furious but helpless, Hu Bu was forced to answer. “He was affected by another secret medicine. It temporarily strengthens a person but, if overused, turns them into a Fallen Beast. Even if they do turn, they can recover within a few months.”

“Alright.” Bai Tu committed these answers to memory and stood to leave. Just as he reached the cave entrance, he paused. “Oh, by the way, do the cubs the Red Eagle Tribe captured meet the required number?”

Having spilled so much already, Hu Bu didn’t hesitate to add, “Enough for you to use. Six months ago, there were 150. At least 130 are still there now.”

Bai Tu got the answer he wanted and walked out of the cave.

Watching Bai Tu’s figure disappear from the cave entrance, Hu Bu’s face lit up with unprecedented glee. No matter how high you climbed in your past life, Bai Tu, he thought, you’re still dancing in the palm of my hand now.

But the next moment, Hu Bu’s smug grin froze as he saw Lang Qi walk in holding a knife.

“What are you doing?! Bai Tu and I have an agreement! Bai Tu said—” The rest of his words were cut off by Lang Qi’s actions.

Outside the cave, Bai Tu washed his hands again. 

Whenever he was near Hu Bu, he felt as if the man reeked of blood. 

Too many lives had been lost because of him. Keeping Hu Bu alive was nothing short of inviting disaster. 

Bai Tu had already extracted enough information from him today. Anything else could be uncovered through other means. After all, there was no way Hu Bu had obtained those secret medicines on his own.

Bai Tu knew Hu Bu was still hiding things, but it didn’t matter anymore. 

Keeping him alive in the tribe was like leaving a ticking time bomb in their midst. Hu Bu had bewitched Lang Shun and even tried to bewitch Bai Tu. Who knew what he might do next?

With the market trip approaching, taking Hu Bu along or leaving him behind in the tribe were both dangerous options. 

Hu Bu’s ruthlessness was so shocking that even Bai An, a seasoned hunter, had been stunned when he heard about his actions. 

For Bai Tu and the others, who had many cubs in the tribe, including the wolf cubs, cooperating with Hu Bu would be tantamount to courting disaster.

The Red Eagle Tribe had over 2,000 members. 

Bai Tu would have to be insane to believe Hu Bu could persuade their leader. If Hu Bu truly had that influence, he wouldn’t have traveled so far to entrench himself in the Wild Lion Tribe in the first place.

Inside the cave, Lang Qi, knowing Bai Tu disliked the sight of blood, chose the quietest method possible.

Hu Bu’s mouth and nose were covered with the same piece of beast hide that was normally used to gag him. He began to struggle desperately, but with his entire body tied up, even using all his strength, he couldn’t move an inch.

The process from resistance to helplessness was slow. Hu Bu’s eyes widened, as if he were reliving the moment when he killed Shi Hong.

Shi Hong wasn’t the first beastman Hu Bu had killed, nor was he the first mate he had ended, but he was the one with the highest status.

As Hu Bu’s life slipped away, countless memories flashed through his mind. 

In his previous life, he had never been liked by his parents. 

From childhood to adulthood, he could only eat the leftovers that others didn’t want. Anything his younger siblings—two brothers and a sister—didn’t want would eventually land on his plate. His fortune seemed to turn when Wu Lai, a witch doctor/healer, came to the tribe and picked him to leave.

Hu Bu thought that was the beginning of his happiness. 

Among beastmen, those taken away by shamans to become apprentices were guaranteed good lives. 

Smart apprentices could become shamans themselves one day, achieving a status even higher than the tribal leaders. 

Even less talented apprentices who only learned a few herbs could still return to their tribes and live comfortably. And for those who were deemed slow-witted or clumsy, their association with a shaman ensured that they were respected and left unbothered by others.

Hu Bu believed his good days had finally arrived. 

He had always been smarter than other cubs; even if his parents didn’t favor him, other beastmen liked him. Confident in his potential to become a shaman, he was shattered when he discovered the true reason Wu Lai had taken him away—it was because of his youthful appearance.

Unlike other beastmen, Hu Bu looked unusually small and delicate. 

Wu Lai had over ten apprentices like him. To outsiders, they were presented as assistants, but their lives were far worse than even those of a mate. 

Wu Lai, having a low status among shamans, would offer them as playthings to other shamans, thus earning favor and preferential treatment from the powerful ones who wouldn’t dirty their hands keeping assistants themselves.

After enduring a few years of this miserable life, Hu Bu seized an opportunity to leave with a younger shaman. 

This younger shaman possessed two secret medicines inherited from shamans who had long been executed. Hu Bu used every trick in the book to obtain the medicines. Yet just as he was beginning to feel victorious, the shamans associated with the Wu Jiu lineage became public enemies across the Beast God Continent.

The young shaman who had taken him in was among those targeted. While the shamans were captured, those like Hu Bu, who held little value, were sent elsewhere. That was when Hu Bu first saw Bai Tu—and experienced the feeling of jealousy for the first time in his life.

Like him, Bai Tu was young and not physically strong, yet he was revered by all beastmen. Every beastman around Bai Tu followed his orders without question.

As a supposed victim of the shamans, Hu Bu was treated well. People tended to his wounds, and there was always plenty of food. But as he ate his meals, all he could think about were the rare fruits and unfamiliar dishes laid out before Bai Tu.

Hu Bu couldn’t understand. Why was there such a vast gap in fate between him and Bai Tu when they were both beastmen? After recovering from his injuries, he was assigned to work, but he refused to do menial tasks. He wanted Bai Tu’s life.

Replacing Bai Tu seemed simple enough. Hu Bu set his sights on Bai Tu’s strongest protector—Lang Qi.

Hu Bu thought the secret medicine he used on Lang Qi would make him obedient. 

To his dismay, the moment Lang Qi was affected, he shifted into his beast form and fled before Hu Bu even had a chance to bewitch him. Later, Hei Xiao discovered Hu Bu’s actions and banished him from the tribe.

It was the dead of winter, and surviving outside was impossible. Hu Bu was unwilling to accept his fate. Why was Bai Tu surrounded by so much protection while he had to endure such cruel hardships?

Fortunately, he was given another chance. However, he quickly realized that even with the chance to start over, making significant changes was nearly impossible. He turned to Wu Lai, feeding him information about events that would occur in the future under Wu Jiu’s plans.

As expected, the blood-based medicine made from cubs became highly favored by Wu Jiu, and Wu Lai’s status rose rapidly. Yet despite all his efforts, Hu Bu found himself unable to escape the same fate as in his previous life.

Hu Bu had tricked Wu Lai by claiming he was leaving the Red Hawk Tribe to search for new cubs, but he could never truly escape Wu Lai’s grasp. Each time Wu Lai caught up with him, Hu Bu’s resentment toward Bai Tu grew deeper. 

The most extreme incident occurred when Hu Bu nearly drained Bai Tu’s blood completely, yet Bai Tu still survived. Because of this near-fatal act, Wu Lai beat him severely—after all, Bai Tu was the last beastman with a small beast form, and he was meant to be offered to Wu Jiu.

Fearing that Bai Tu would retaliate once sent to Wu Jiu, Hu Bu seized an opportunity to bring Bai Tu back to the Mad Lion Tribe. 

He planned to use a combination of secret medicines and hypnosis to make Bai Tu completely obedient to him. However, the plan failed—Bai Tu’s first instinct upon waking was to escape. 

While in the Snow Rabbit Tribe’s territory, Hu Bu had no choice but to injure Bai Tu to buy himself time to flee. He initially thought he could return later to recapture Bai Tu, but upon seeing him again, Bai Tu immediately struggled to resist. Frustrated, Hu Bu decided to kill him once and for all but was interrupted by Tu Bing’s sudden arrival.

Afterward, a series of events unfolded, each ending in failure for Hu Bu. He began to regret his decisions—if he had known things would come to this, he should have killed Bai Tu when he was a child. That would have spared him from all the trouble that followed.

As Hu Bu’s struggles grew weaker, his thoughts drifted to the Eagle Tribe member who had taken him back to the Red Fox Tribe. 

That eagle was the only one who had shown him kindness, but because the eagle’s status was low, Hu Bu had fed him medicine to ensure loyalty. With that, Hu Bu believed he could openly seek a mate with a higher status.

In his final moments, the faces of those he had killed began to surface in his mind, one after another: the cubs from the Eagle Tribe, the cubs from the Lion Tribe, his own younger siblings, the beastmen he had once been involved with… Terror filled Hu Bu’s eyes as his fear grew heavier with each passing second.

*

When Lang Qi emerged from the cave, Bai Tu gestured toward the basin of water nearby. After Lang Qi washed his hands, Bai Tu handed him a towel.

Hei Xiao stood to the side, watching the interaction between the two. Deep down, a new thought began to form. Bai Tu’s treatment of Lang Qi… didn’t seem entirely without feelings.

Hei Xiao lowered his gaze. If Bai Tu truly didn’t care for Lang Qi and was only maintaining a relationship with him out of necessity, Hei Xiao could take Bai Tu back to the Black Hawk Tribe. But if there really was something genuine between them…

Hei Xiao glanced at Bai Tu, who seemed entirely unaware of how different his attitude toward Lang Qi was. He shook his head internally. Forget it—one step at a time. With the Mad Lion Tribe gone, the Snow Rabbit Tribe was much safer than before. If Bai Tu truly wished to stay, so be it.

Bai Tu, unaware of Hei Xiao’s internal deliberations, handed the towel to Lang Qi before turning to speak. “Brother, let’s go rest.”

He yawned as he spoke. The sky had been dark for some time now, and Bai Tu felt as though it must be nearing midnight. On a normal day, he would have been fast asleep by now.

“Alright, let’s go rest,” Hei Xiao replied. 

He wanted to spend more time with Bai Tu, but he could see how tired Bai Tu was and didn’t have the heart to keep him up any longer. He decided to postpone their discussions until the next day.

The cave that housed Hei Xiao and Hei Yan had never been assigned to anyone else and was located close to Bai Tu’s cave. As such, the two headed back together. Lang Qi followed silently behind, his gaze fixed on Bai Tu’s back as he walked, replaying Hu Bu’s words in his mind.

When they returned to the cave, the first thing Bai Tu did was urge Lang Qi to take a proper bath. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the earlier rinse hadn’t been thorough enough.

Lang Qi nodded without a word, then scooped Bai Tu up and carried him directly into the bathroom.

Bai Tu: “…”

Bai Tu gave Lang Qi a light pat on the back. “Don’t mess around—we’re leaving tomorrow.” 

He wasn’t lying; tomorrow really was the day they were heading to the market. 

The weather had been getting colder by the day, and any delay would only make the return trip chillier. 

Although beastmen were generally hardy, they weren’t immune to illness, especially in freezing conditions. Even though they had plenty of medicine, preventing illness was always preferable to treating it, so there could be no delays.

After Lang Qi finished his bath, he rubbed himself dry on Bai Tu. He didn’t say a word.

Bai Tu gave him another light slap. “Go to bed.” 

They needed a good rest tonight. It was already late, and any further delays might make it hard to get up in the morning. He couldn’t afford to hold up the entire group—especially now that the Leopard Tribe had joined them.

That evening, Bai An didn’t stop by. 

He had been busy preparing supplies for the trip. Although he had started gathering items days ago, he still felt that something was missing. 

Recently, as soon as Bai An opened his eyes each morning, he would rush straight to the storage cave, as if he wished he could bring the entire stockpile with them.

Of course, taking everything wasn’t feasible. However, the carrying baskets on everyone’s backs were quite large. By the time Bai Tu finished tidying up and stepped outside the next morning, most of the group had already prepared themselves.

For the majority of the beastmen, this wasn’t their first trip to the market, and they all understood the basic rules. Lang Qi, lacking his previous memories, had Bai An step in to explain the key points to the wolf tribe on his behalf.

Even though these were things everyone already knew, going to the market was the most important task for the entire tribe, and Bai An wouldn’t skip a single step. Mistakes made within their own tribe could be brushed off, but errors at the market could spark conflicts between tribes—no small matter.

As Bai An went over the guidelines, Bai Tu did a headcount. 

All of the Snow Rabbit Tribe members were present, and half of the Blood Wolf Tribe had joined them, with the other half expected to rendezvous with them at the market around noon.

This time, Lang Ze had completely taken the lead, guiding one of the wolf tribe’s hunting squads at the front of the group, while another squad took up the rear.

Due to their lower combat strength, the rabbit and cat tribes were positioned in the middle for protection. Lang Qi stayed by Bai Tu’s side, constantly surveying the surroundings.

At moments like this, Bai Tu felt that Lang Qi hadn’t changed much from before. But when he caught the distant, unfamiliar look in Lang Qi’s eyes as he glanced at others, it was clear that he still hadn’t recovered his memories. 

One noticeable difference this time was that they had brought two cubs along, and Bai Tu saw Lang Qi’s attitude toward them as evidence that his memories had yet to return.

Lang Qi’s demeanor toward the cubs was contradictory. 

He wasn’t exactly affectionate, but he wasn’t hostile either. Though he was the one who bathed and fed them, there was always a sharpness in his gaze when he looked at them.

He also refused to let the cubs leave their shared cave. 

Bai Tu had once suggested that Lang Ze take the cubs back to care for them, but Lang Qi rejected the idea outright. Lang Qi wouldn’t let Bai Tu get too close to the cubs, nor would he allow anyone else to take them. He was a walking contradiction.

Still, bringing the cubs along didn’t cause much trouble. With Lang Qi around, there was no need for others to worry about their safety.

The wolf tribe’s feelings toward the two cubs were complicated. 

As the children of the former wolf king and queen, they ought to be well cared for. However, the cubs had been frail since birth and had become even weaker after their parents’ deaths.

In Beast God Continent, frail cubs were often seen as unlikely to survive. 

Some tribes would abandon their weakest cubs to conserve limited resources for raising the stronger ones. While the wolf tribe had never abandoned a cub, they had enough experience to know which cubs were likely to grow up healthy—and which might not make it.

These two cubs fell into the latter category. 

For many beastmen, there was an unspoken hesitation to get too attached to weak cubs, as it was widely understood that their deaths were only a matter of time. 

What made it worse was that these two cubs were even smaller than other cubs a year younger than them. Beastmen who had experience raising cubs couldn’t help but shake their heads at the sight.

Even the wolf tribe’s hunting squads weren’t allowed near the cubs. Their knowledge of the cubs came entirely from secondhand accounts, and over time, it became common knowledge among the wolf tribe that the late wolf king’s two cubs were extremely frail and unlikely to survive.

When Lang Qi handed the cubs over to Bai Tu for care, there was little opposition. 

If the cubs had been strong and healthy, they never would have been entrusted to another tribe. But these two were so weak that it seemed inevitable they wouldn’t survive, so it hardly mattered who looked after them.

From the time the cubs were given to Bai Tu, they were rarely seen again. 

For the beastmen who had never been to the Snow Rabbit Tribe, the news that Lang Qi was bringing the cubs along to the market raised some concerns. These frail little ones—would they even make it back without incident? Even if they weren’t particularly attached, the wolf tribe still hoped their tribe’s cubs could survive.

When the wolf tribe beastmen finally saw the two cubs in person, they were stunned.

An older member of the wolf tribe asked in surprise, “Chief, whose cubs are these?” 

He didn’t think they were the late wolf king and queen’s children because the cubs were now twice as big as they had been when they were sent away. But since Lang Qi had brought them, who else could they be?

Lang Qi shot him a sharp look, one filled with hostility. Was this wolf here just to mock him? Implying his mate had borne someone else’s cubs?

The questioning wolf flinched at the fierce gaze, feeling a hint of killing intent. He replayed his words in his mind but couldn’t figure out what he’d said wrong.

“They’re the same two cubs Lang Qi sent to us before,” Bai Tu interjected, answering the question. 

At the same time, he gave Lang Qi a light pat, silently telling him to tone down the intensity of his glare. “Stop scaring people with your eyes all the time—it’s too much.”

Lang Qi withdrew his gaze and tugged at the fur covering the cubs, wrapping them up tightly.

The questioning wolf nodded, his concerns easing. Lang Qi’s attitude toward the cubs confirmed his guess: this protective behavior could only come from a genuine uncle.

The group followed the same route as their previous trip to the market, though this time the path was slightly better. However, since everyone was carrying more supplies than before, their speed didn’t increase by much.

Bai Tu watched the beastmen ahead of him with their loaded backpacks and started pondering when he could introduce carts. 

The most challenging part of making a cart would be crafting smooth, functional wheels. Moreover, carts weren’t suited for mountain trails, so they’d have to take longer detours. This increased distance would cause significant wear and tear on the wooden wheels, making them impractical without a more durable material—like rubber.

Quietly, Bai Tu added “rubber” to his mental list of essential materials. He wondered if he might encounter it at this market.

With that thought in mind, Bai Tu suddenly remembered that Hei Xiao had traveled to many places. He decided to ask, describing a tree that produced white sap when its bark was cut and listing a few characteristics of rubber trees.

Hei Xiao frowned in thought before replying, “I think the Iron Elephant Tribe’s territory has such trees, but the fruit they bear isn’t edible.” He knew Bai Tu liked to experiment with unusual foods, but those fruits were definitely not something anyone could eat.

“I’m not after the fruit. I need the sap,” Bai Tu explained, briefly describing how the sap from rubber trees could be used to make other items.

Hearing that it wasn’t for consumption, Hei Xiao immediately said, “After the snow season, I’ll bring some back for you.” Whether it was for a practical purpose or just for fun, he would get it for Bai Tu—as long as it wasn’t for eating, since the sap was toxic.

Bai Tu had always trusted Hei Xiao to handle matters efficiently, so he had no concerns about delegating this task to him. As they continued walking, the two discussed plans for rescuing the captured cubs.

If it were up to them, the sooner they acted, the better. However, there was one major issue to consider: back then, even with so many tribes joining forces, they had only managed to drive out the beastmen of the Red Eagle Tribe rather than exterminating them entirely. 

The reason was simple—their numbers were overwhelming. A tribe of over 2,000 people, even after accounting for the elderly and cubs, still left more than 1,000 capable beastmen.

A tribe this large would rank among the top across any continent. Moreover, the Red Eagle Tribe’s beastmen could eat practically anything, so they never had to worry about food shortages affecting their supplies during battle. They were like an unkillable cockroach of a tribe.

Dealing with a tribe like that was easier said than done. 

Even if several tribes joined forces, it would take time to prepare before making a move. On top of that, the Wolf Tribe, Rabbit Tribe, and Leopard Tribe were all based on this side, while the Black Eagle Tribe was located farther away, with a significant distance between them.

Hei Xiao considered for a moment and said, “At the very least, we’ll have to wait until after the snow season.”

The snow season was a challenging time for every tribe, including the Red Eagle Tribe. 

Winter brought more than just freezing temperatures; heavy snow would cover the ground and bury everything in sight. At that time, even corpses would be impossible to find. While the beastmen of the Red Eagle Tribe could eat all sorts of things, if they couldn’t find anything at all, even they would be powerless.

After the snow season, every tribe would have thinned down considerably from the harsh winter, making it the best time to attack. However, on their side, they had already stored enough food to last two winters, thanks to Bai Tu’s meticulous preparations, which Hei Xiao was well aware of. 

This meant that the beastmen in their tribe wouldn’t grow weaker during winter; on the contrary, they might even emerge stronger. Attacking right after the snow season would give them the highest chance of success.

Bai Tu, however, raised another possibility: “What if we didn’t have to fight?” 

He didn’t want to risk unnecessary casualties.

“Not fight?” Hei Xiao sounded surprised.

Bai Tu glanced around to ensure no one else was nearby, then leaned closer to whisper in his ear, “What if we pretended to cooperate, then found a way to… handle them from the inside?”

He had plenty of medicine at his disposal.

Hei Xiao’s eyes lit up as he nodded. “That could work.” 

He had experienced Bai Tu’s medicines firsthand and knew just how effective they were. Even with the sheer number of beastmen in the Red Eagle Tribe, they wouldn’t stand a chance if they were drugged. “The only issue is finding the right opportunity…”

Bai Tu began to ponder. If they could create a reason for cooperation, it would be ideal. But it was unlikely that the Hongying Tribe would fall for a simple ruse.

Suddenly, Lang Qi spoke up. “The shamans.”

“Huh?” Bai Tu looked at him, puzzled.

“Use their reverence for shamans as a pretext,” Lang Qi explained. “Wu Lai is an arrogant fool.”

Bai Tu was surprised that Lang Qi seemed to know about Wu Lai. If that was true, they could exploit Wu Lai’s arrogance to approach the Red Eagle Tribe. After all, shamans still held significant sway in tribal affairs.

Hei Xiao glanced at Lang Qi, curious. It was true that Wu Lai was known for being self-important and reckless, but very few people knew about this. 

After all, he hadn’t gained much of a reputation in the beginning, and by the time he did, he had stopped interacting with outsiders. 

Most of the information about Wu Lai was limited to the tribes near the Red Eagle Tribe, especially the Eagle Tribe. How did Lang Qi know about it?

Bai Tu shared Hei Xiao’s curiosity. Lang Qi didn’t seem like the type to know this sort of thing. If he had known earlier, he wouldn’t have waited until now to mention it. So, when did he update his “knowledge base”?

Lang Qi seemed to pick up on their doubts and calmly explained, “I asked Hei Yan.”

Bai Tu blinked, surprised by this new side of Lang Qi. He had assumed that after his illness, Lang Qi was disinterested in the outside world. But now it seemed he was actively absorbing new knowledge. 

Bai Tu realized that it wouldn’t be long before Lang Qi returned to being just like his old self.

Hei Xiao, meanwhile, adjusted his view of Lang Qi slightly. Despite being a domineering and possessive tribal leader, Lang Qi did have some redeeming qualities.

Hei Xiao found himself reconsidering the situation. If Bai Tu really did have feelings for Lang Qi…

But this newfound acceptance barely lasted a day. The next morning, a single scene nearly made Hei Xiao explode.

His younger brother—his still-not-even-palm-sized little brother—was huddled pitifully in the embrace of a giant wolf. With just a slight movement from the wolf, the miniature rabbit in its arms would be in mortal danger.

Lang Ze, who had accidentally lifted the tent flap, was equally stunned. His expression quickly shifted to disbelief as he blurted out, “Since when did Tu have cubs?!”

Lang Ze felt his entire world shatter. Tu had secretly had cubs behind his back!

It was official—he was no longer Bai Tu’s favorite cub.