Chapter 143: The Wolf Tribe Returns to Take the Corn Seeds

Nan Qinghuan sold Ying a secret, and under the astonished gazes of the crowd she walked toward Jingang; Jingang lay on the ground, no longer rolling, only lifting its head, baring its teeth at the woman trying to approach it.

"Nan Qinghuan, you're crazy, come back quickly!"

Rongdi didn't know what she intended; was she courting death? That beast had been trained daily by his father and fought lions for food; it was no longer the creature they first met in the cannibal tribe.

She arrogantly believed she could tame it again? Dream on!

Rongdi's remark angered Rong Guang, "Could it be that you also have your eyes on that female?"

Hearing his father's question, Rongdi stayed silent, his worried gaze turning toward Nan Qinghuan; his heart rose to his throat, as if he would follow her.

Seeing Rongdi so concerned for Nan Qinghuan, Duo Luo pulled a Bamboo Flute from his side and played a faint, eerie tune that sounded harsh; in an instant, Jingang, which had just calmed, snapped its mouth open and lunged at Nan Qinghuan.

"Qinghuan!"

"Nan Qinghuan!"

Amid the two men's shocked cries, Nan Qinghuan twisted her body to dodge Jingang's attack, then she reached out and yanked hard on its ear.

In an instant, Jingang froze, then seemed to recognize her; it suddenly reached out, embraced Nan Qinghuan, and under the crowd's astonished gazes, it gradually became as docile as a sheep.

"Whine…"

Jingang, recognizing its master, kept whimpering; Nan Qinghuan kept pulling its ear, trying to soothe its irritable mood.

Duo Luo kept playing, realizing it was useless; in a fury she tossed the Bamboo Flute and shouted at Jingang, "Beast, eat her, eat her!"

Jingang suddenly lifted its head and let out a roar at her, then nestled back beside Nan Qinghuan. Only then did Nan Qinghuan notice medicine powder on Jingang's mouth corners; she dabbed a bit and sniffed lightly.

Damn, it's Anesthetic Herb.

These people dared to drug Jingang!

After calming Jingang, she gently freed herself from its restraint and walked to Ying's side, "Ying, let's go."

"Great, Ou Mu has tamed Jingang again; we're saved."

Youchao Xuan, seeing Jingang return, climbed up to take a look. Jingang was fully awake and recognized Youchao Xuan, the one who had always fed it; when it saw Youchao Xuan injured, it hurried to carry him on its back—how heart‑warming.

Youchao Xuan, feeling safe, lay on its back and gently patted its neck, a gesture they used to enjoy, "I thought you were really going to kill me. Where have you been these past few days?"

Jingang let out a ferocious snarl toward the spot where Rongdi and the others stood; Rong Guang was half dead with anger, never having imagined the beast he had just tamed could be tamed by Nan Qinghuan.

"Nan Qinghuan, don't think that because you tamed the beast I have no way to deal with you. Men, fire arrows!"

"Stop, you may not!"

"Rongdi, what are you doing? Have you forgotten how Ying burned the granary? Don't you want to kill him for revenge?"

Rong Guang, furious, hadn't expected his son to disobey. Rongdi was about to intervene when Rong Guang shouted behind him, "Fire arrows!"

In an instant, countless Long Arrows surged toward them. Jingang, seeing its master under attack, let out a frenzied roar, and suddenly another ape burst out of the Forest.

The ape lunged at anyone, causing the Rongdi Tribe members to flee in panic.

"Useless ones, wait for me."

Rong Guang, frightened by another ape, kept retreating; Rongdi hurried, "Father, they have beasts; we are no match, let's go."

Rongdi ordered someone to send father away; Rong Guang, still disgruntled, kept cursing, while Ying, seeing his chance, shouted, "Go!"

With Jingang and the other ape protecting them, they left quickly; though Rongdi's party tried to pursue, they dared not approach Jingang.

Soon after they departed, the Forest returned to silence.

High Priest Duo Luo, seeing the wounded scattered around, stamped his foot in anger and glared at Rongdi, "Leader, you have selfish motives today; you intend to let Ying and the others go?"

Rongdi shrugged helplessly, "The monsters you and father raised betrayed you; Ying's escape is your responsibility."

"My responsibility?"

Duo Luo gave a wry smile, "My eyes aren't blind yet; you're clearly afraid that female will be shot dead, aren't you?"

"Audacious! As High Priest, your own monsters have rebelled, yet you still have the nerve to blame me. Men, take Duo Luo down for three days of no food, and the rest of you come with me to chase; we must kill Ying."

Twilight deepened, a bright moon hung high among the clouds.

When Ying and the others arrived at Misty Forest, the place was pitch black and terrifying; Jingang, with its mate, protected them, making the journey relatively smooth.

"Ying, Rongdi didn't follow."

Ji Lei and Dashan ran, drenched in sweat; only then did Ying gently lower Nan Qinghuan from his back. Though he set her down, he was reluctant to let her go, his long arms still hugging her slender waist, as if fearing she might run away.

He looked at Jingang and its mate and laughed, "Qinghuan, today you fought a splendid comeback battle; I bet Rong Guang will be furious to death."

Nan Qinghuan hadn't expected to meet Jingang here; she reached out to stroke its paw, "This guy thought I abandoned him, so he followed Rong Guang. Fortunately I touched his ear and reminded him of me; otherwise today would have been troublesome."

"Jingang is truly loyal and affectionate; see how he constantly carries Youchao Xuan on his back. Hey, is that other beast his friend?"

Ying was speechless; Dashan, having lived in the Forest so long, still hadn't noticed such things.

"I think this must be the female Jingang found."

"Female?"

Sure enough, the other female ape stayed inches from Jingang, occasionally reaching out to brush leaves off his head, looking just like a loving couple.

If animals can be so affectionate, humans even more so; this moved Ying, and he tightened his hold around Nan Qinghuan's waist.

Dashan thought Ying made a good point, "Indeed, it seems our Ying Tribe will no longer fear anyone; with Jingang and his female, who dares to harass us?"

"When I'm around, no one dares to attack the tribe."

Ying's words carried a hint of arrogance, but of course he wasn't bragging; he spoke the truth. With him leading, no one ever dared to invade his tribe. Even Rongdi only schemed from behind, never daring to face him directly. He became Clan Leader at twelve, spent years turning the tribe from a scattered mess into a strong force. Now the Ying Tribe is growing ever stronger, and he believes that with his and Qinghuan's efforts, the tribe will continue to prosper.

Hearing his words, Dashan and Ji Lei quickly nodded, "Ying is right; with Ying around, no one dares to touch the tribe."

Nan Qinghuan lifted her eyes, seeing the smile at Ying's mouth and the confident look in his eyes; she was about to say "be more low‑key," when suddenly, not far away, the thicket echoed with noisy footsteps.

The sound suggested many people were arriving.

Ying's expression darkened, and almost reflexively he shielded Nan Qinghuan behind him; no matter the danger, she was the first he would protect.

"Someone's coming, prepare to attack."

Everyone instantly grew tense; within the pitch‑black forest came the sound of running footsteps, and then they saw… a group of people charging at them with torches.

After they identified the newcomers, Nan Qinghuan, standing behind him, said happily, "Don't attack; they're not from Rongdi—they're the Wolf Tribe, the Wolf Tribe has come to rescue us."

"The Wolf Clan?"

A streak of Golden Dawn flashed across the horizon.

The Wolf Clan was singing and dancing in celebration of Nan Qinghuan and the others returning safely. Fragrant roasted corn, sweet Fruit Wine—this meal was thoroughly satisfying.

Yao hadn't expected Ying to be so formidable; with just those few people, he had rescued Nan Qinghuan. He now admired his ability more and more.

So, he was also a terrifying opponent.

"Ying, let's finish this bowl of wine."

Ying had originally planned to return to the Tribe last night, but Yao had come to rescue them and insisted on bringing them here for a drinking session, saying he had something very important to announce.

He didn't understand what business he could have. Now that Yao had led his people to repel the Rongdi and the corn was already planted, they didn't need their help at all.

Perhaps because he still harbored some dislike for Yao's A Mu in his heart, Ying didn't show Yao a friendly face either. "Cut the nonsense—what exactly do you want me here for?"