Chapter 109: Come With Me, I

Rongdi saw the look of full vigilance on her face, a flash of loss crossing his eyes—so she was afraid of him? He dared not take another step, only a self‑deprecating smile curled at his mouth, "What, am I even scarier than those wolves, Nan Qinghuan?"

Since she had refused him a few days earlier in the Cannibal Tribe, he had led his people back to Na Shan, but after hearing that Ying had driven her here for punishment, he didn't believe it at first, so he chased after her. He never expected to find her surrounded by a pack of wolves, and Ying really didn't come to rescue her.

That was a golden opportunity for him.

Nan Qinghuan pursed her lips awkwardly, embarrassed—why would this man come? She coughed, feigning ease, "Who's afraid of you? I was just startled by your sudden appearance. Why are you here?"

Didn't he go back with his tribe that day? Could he still have people left to keep attacking the Cannibal Tribe? Rongdi remained still, his sharp eyes scanning her, then, with a hint of regret, said, "How could Ying send you here for punishment?"

His words provoked her; she lowered her bundle‑laden head and said, "Thanks for saving me, I'm leaving now."

"Nan Qinghuan, is this how you repay your lifesaver?"

Nan Qinghuan was a little puzzled; she naturally knew what this man wanted, and even if she didn't want Ying, she would never want this man.

She halted and stared at him deeply. In truth, Rongdi wasn't ugly; this time his face bore no painted Totem, and his features looked much more normal.

"I have nothing now. What do you expect me to repay?"

Rongdi stepped toward her, then stood beside her. He observed her calm expression, noted she wasn't crying or shouting, and showed interest, "You truly differ from those females, Heaven's Daughter."

"Thanks for the compliment."

Dropping that line, she turned to continue walking. This time Rongdi did not block her, only watched her departing silhouette coldly, "This is where Ying's tribe punishes its members. Without my protection you won't last days; you'll die, Nan Qinghuan."

Nan Qinghuan stopped but did not look back; her back was straight as a pine, seemingly unafraid of any danger, "Is that so? Then let's see if I can leave this alive."

Rongdi felt a bit humbled; this female was truly stubborn. Usually a female would have fled into his arms by now, but this one only wanted to escape from him.

Finally, he compromised.

"Nan Qinghuan, come back with me to Na Shan Tribe."

Sure enough, Rongdi wanted her to go back with him.

Seeing her stay silent, Rongdi hurried to her side, "You are Heaven's Daughter; my tribe needs your help. Didn't you say our people cannot eat human flesh? Then tell me what we should eat—those sweet sweet potatoes or those fragrant potatoes? Nan Qinghuan, I hope you'll bring all that food to my people. That's my repayment for saving you, okay?"

He wanted Nan Qinghuan to follow him back, to aid his tribe's development. He knew everything she had done in Ying Tribe, so he sought her out—an exquisite chance he didn't want to miss.

When Rongdi tried to take her back, she gave a bitter smile, "I won't go back to Na Shan Tribe with you. I don't want to go anywhere now, even if I had to return…"

She twitched the corner of her mouth, a flower‑like smile blooming, "I'll also return to the Cannibal Tribe; that's my territory. I'm leaving."

This time she walked away gracefully; Rongdi did not stop her, only watched her silhouette fade into the white mist.

With a splash, two figures swooped down behind her. A Beast‑Skin‑clad Ji Nü, seeing Nan Qinghuan reject the chief, immediately added fuel to the fire, "Chief, why waste words on this female? Let me seize her, make her plant sweet potatoes and weave Hemp Robes for us. If she refuses, kill her. Ying isn't caring about her life anyway; crushing her is easier than crushing an ant."

Ji Nü couldn't stand Nan Qinghuan because this female made her feel threatened; she could do things they couldn't, and the chief seemed especially attentive to her.

Last time he was even willing to spend so much to obtain her, but Ying refused.

"What do you know?"

Rongdi turned and glared at Ji Nü, "Don't move a single hair on her. All of you retreat, spread the word, and say…"

He paused, "Say that Nan Qinghuan is already my female, and she agreed to go with me to Na Shan Tribe and settle there."

The remark made Ji Nü confused, "Chief, why is that?"

"Why say that?" Rongdi sneered, a calculating glint in his dark eyes, "I heard Ying dislikes unclean females. This time, I'll make him completely abandon Nan Qinghuan."

Ji Nü saw ambition and plunder in his eyes, yet she didn't understand, "Chief, what kind of female do you want? Why must it be a used female from Ying? That's so filthy!"

That made Rongdi angry; he turned and scolded Ji Nü, "What do you know? She's not filthy at all."

"Chief…"

"Go do it."

Dusk hung low, the Forest was a black mass, Nan Qinghuan walked cautiously, though her stomach rumbled with hunger.

She didn't know what the wild man's mind was like—sending people here for punishment, was it to starve them to death, to feed the beasts, or to make them feel despair? She was beginning to sense it: a Primeval Forest full of danger, endless punishments for the tribe.

She sought other tribe members who had been punished, and after walking she reached a flat clearing with ancient sky trees and the trace of a Bonfire.

Her intuition told her someone had lived here.

Just as she was about to swing her flashlight around, suddenly… her flashlight almost fell to the ground in fright.

High up in a massive tree, three or five wild men perched, staring straight at her with terrifying eyes.

Her heart thumped; it was truly a terrifying sight!

"Are you people from Ying Tribe?"

She recognized them; the flashlight's beam made the wild men wary. Suddenly, one threw a stone at her, followed by a group hurling stones.

"Hey, you're insane, stop it, stop!"

Hearing her speak, the wild men finally jumped down, approaching cautiously, "You can speak?"

Good heavens, they treated her like a monster.

She was speechless; the gaunt wild men before her wore Beast Skin, marking them as members of Ying Tribe, their arms bearing the tribe's unique Totem.

An older wild man suddenly recognized the Totem on her arm, terrified, then knelt, "Ou Mu, you're the tribe's Ou Mu?"

Nan Qinghuan was stunned—just moments ago they were throwing stones at her, now they were kneeling. "Old man, get up, how do you know I'm…"

The old wild man pointed to a vivid scarlet Totem on her shoulder, "That's Ying's one‑of‑a‑kind seal; the old man won't mistake it."

"Why is Ou Mu also punished here?"

The wild men exchanged doubtful glances; how could Ying let Ou Mu be punished here? Nan Qinghuan awkwardly touched her nose, these wild men were truly nosy. She scanned the area and asked, "Is it just you three here, or are there other tribe members?"