Chapter 154: Axi, Don't Be Afraid

That night, Ying went to A Mu's Cave and comforted her for a long while, while Nan Qinghuan had someone take her to see how Axi was.

Shiva accused Axi of stabbing her, and now Axi is locked in a guarded Cave.

When Dashan brought Nan Qinghuan to the Cave, before getting close he glanced at the Tribe members posted at the entrance, worried, and said, "Om, I also don't believe Axi would stab Shiva; think of a way to save her, I don't know what else I can ask besides pleading with you."

Dashan heard that Axi had been captured and cursed by Shiva so she couldn't speak; he was anxious, so, taking advantage of Ying's visit to A Mu's Cave, he brought Nan Qinghuan to see Axi, hoping she could clear Axi's injustice and get her out of this cursed place.

Otherwise, tomorrow Axi will be sent to the Misty Forest, where danger lurks everywhere; even someone like Om can barely endure the risk, let alone the timid Axi.

Nan Qinghuan saw Dashan's anxiety and knew he had some fondness for Axi, and said, "You kid, be honest with me, do you like Axi?"

Dashan didn't expect her to be so direct; his face instantly flushed bright red, and he looked very shy.

Nan Qinghuan was speechless; she thought this wild man would be brutish, but Dashan gave her a somewhat boyish vibe, and said, "Enough, don't get all flustered, I already know, I'll go check on Axi first, wait for me here."

"Wait, Om, you need to bring this, otherwise they won't let you in."

"What is this?"

It was an iron plaque, resembling an ancient token; Dashan hurriedly explained, "This is Ying's item; without it they won't let you in. The guards this time don't recognize you."

"So strict?"

She had thought that after mixing in the Tribe she was a familiar face, and everywhere people would recognize her and give way, but this time she was wrong; she didn't know the people guarding Axi, and they didn't seem friendly to her either.

"What kind of people?"

Before she could approach, several tall, broad‑shouldered men with torches surrounded her; Nan Qinghuan hurried forward, coughing, "It's me, I want to go in and see Axi."

"Who are you, how bold, you say you can go in just because you say so?"

"Nan Qinghuan."

She stated her name; the few wild men shone their torches on her, their looks at her were unfriendly and unfamiliar.

She realized these men were newcomers; she had seen most Tribe members before, but these were unfamiliar, and they were wearing Beast Skin, not the Hemp Robe she made.

"You need Ying's item to go in; without it you can't."

Sure enough, you need something.

"Of course I have it, here."

The iron plaque took effect then; after the men verified it, they let her in.

When she entered, the leading man gave her no respect, "Speak quickly."

Nan Qinghuan gave the man a cold stare, feeling something was off.

She had no time to think further and hurried into the Cave; it was very damp, and as soon as she entered a wave of foul stench rose.

"Axi, Axi."

After she entered, she discovered other Tribe members inside, whom she hadn't seen much before; she then realized that those slated for the Misty Forest are held here, awaiting Ying's interrogation before being sent.

The Tribe members looked at her with pleading eyes; she turned her face away and continued searching for Axi.

"Axi."

The huge Cave made finding Axi difficult, and with no one to help, she took a torch and walked deeper, only to…

Woo—, woo—.

In a nook of a Cave she heard someone whimpering, hurried with her torch closer, and to her surprise it was… "Axi."

She didn't expect Axi to be trapped in a bamboo cage, curled up inside, looking as if a dog had been locked up.

Her anger flared instantly; "What is this? Axi, who did this, who put her in the cage?"

The nearby Tribe members were cold‑blooded, each bearing their own hardships, and none paid attention, but an older member hurried over, saw the Totem on her arm, and said, "You're Om, aren't you? Stop shouting; it's Tribe Rules—if she kills a Tribe member she must be locked up. Why are you here? Everyone here has erred and will be sent to the forest."

She felt a chill down her spine, never expecting the Tribe to lock up so many, but now she had no time for others; she rushed to Axi, who was already unconscious and appeared beaten.

"Open the cage for me, open it."

The Tribe members just shook their heads; anyone who errs inside the Tribe gets locked up, and no one can help.

Seeing no one help, she went all out, pulling a Fruit Knife from her waist and began to dismantle the cage, refusing to believe she couldn't open it.

In the stunned gazes of several Tribe members, Nan Qinghuan actually managed to open the cage.

"Axi, Axi."

She clutched the unconscious Axi like a madwoman; Axi's hands were covered in lash marks, blood streaming.

She was deeply pained, quickly took her pulse, and discovered… "Axi, Axi?"

"Who dares to trespass this grim prison?"

Outside, Shiva's voice echoed, and then the men followed Shiva in; when Shiva saw Nan Qinghuan, she looked extremely angry.

She really hadn't died; she was back.

"Nan Qinghuan, what are you doing here? Release the murderer Axi."

Nan Qinghuan ignored her; at that moment the Axi in her arms suddenly woke up, and upon seeing Nan Qinghuan, Axi burst into tears, grabbed her arm tightly, and babbled incoherently.

She felt very sorry for the pitiful Axi, grabbed her arm and tried to reassure, "Don't be afraid, I know why you can't speak, I will help you, I'm back, no one dares to bully you."

Axi's gaze looked expectantly at him; after those words she instantly stopped struggling, but crouched in terror watching Shiva, as if Shiva were a flood beast.

Nan Qinghuan knew Shiva caused Axi's condition, she slowly stood, walked step by step to Shiva's side; Shiva still leaned on a cane, looking very imposing.

"Old witch, you say Axi stabbed you, yet you're still alive?"

Shiva, not one to be trifled with, replied, "Which eye of yours saw the old woman well? This female is so bold to stab an old woman. Nan Qinghuan, you don't dare… Tomorrow she'll be sent to the forest to pay for her stupidity."

"Price? Then you, you conspired with Wolf Girl to drive me out, shouldn't you also be locked here and sent to the forest?"

"You're talking nonsense; you were expelled because you broke the Tribe Rules yourself, no wonder others…"

I must say, this old witch is quite scheming, making everything look clean.

"Old witch, you say she stabbed you? How did she stab you, where is the wound, who saw it?"