Chapter 337: Abnormal

Wu Yue's heart tightened suddenly, she looked up at the darkening sky: "Did it come early?"

Qingcao pulled her and ran toward the house behind: "Hurry and pack your things, the chief will soon summon the tribe to the rear mountain cave; we must make haste."

Wu Yue nodded: "Okay."

She didn't have much, and because the cave space was limited, the newly made bed couldn't be brought either, so she could only tidy up the mat and animal skins on it.

While the two were busy packing, footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.

Then two beastman warriors entered: "The shaman sent us to help you move your things."

Wu Yue had often gone to the shaman before, but she had never seen these two beastfolk: "Why haven't I seen you before?"

The two beastman warriors sheepishly said: "We just recently took beast form; because the rainy season came early, we didn't hold the ceremony, and will wait until after entering the cave to do so... hehe..."

Hearing that, Qingcao anxiously waved her hand: "What are you talking about? Come help pack quickly, or we'll be caught by the rain."

Hearing that, the two beastfolk quickly nodded and gathered Wu Yue's items from the ground into their carrying baskets.

With their help, the speed indeed increased considerably.

"All right, let's hurry to the cave."

Qingcao's chubby little hand wiped the fine sweat from her forehead as she spoke.

Wu Yue, however, handed the small bundle of animal skin in her hand to her: "You take this to the cave first; I'll go check on the slaves.

The rainy season has come suddenly; they probably aren't prepared."

Hearing that, Qingcao frowned: "You want them to go into the cave too?"

Wu Yue nodded: "Hmm, if we squeeze in, it's still possible; once the tribe digs out the cave further, the space will become much larger.

Letting those slaves move in would be sufficient."

Qingcao pushed back the small bundle she had handed over: "You go with the beastman warriors to the cave first; I'll go notify them and also help A Mu move things."

Having said that, she didn't wait for Wu Yue to say more, turned and rushed out.

Watching her retreating figure, Wu Yue shook her head helplessly.

She could only say to the two beastman warriors waiting aside: "Then let's go first."

Following the two all the way toward the rear mountain, however gradually Wu Yue noticed something was off.

Having once been led to the rear mountain's great cave by Huashu Ama, she was quite certain that their current direction was gradually drifting off course.

Thinking of this, her heart jumped, and she carefully observed the two tall, sturdy beastman warriors ahead.

From appearance and skin tone there was no difference, and even the hair—most distinguishing for beastfolk—was the same white as the Snow Tiger Tribe's warriors.

But for some reason, looking at the two, she felt something was off.

Just then, she felt a dampness on her face—rain had begun to fall.

The two beastman warriors ahead also stopped, turned to look at Wu Yue and said: "It's already raining; we need to hurry, or we can carry you on our backs."

Wu Yue frowned, glanced ahead: "Is it still far?"

The beastman warrior nodded: "Because this route is relatively flat, it's actually a bit of a detour."

Wu Yue pressed her lips and smiled lightly: "Let's pick up the pace; you two just took beast form, if you carry me like this and the tribe females see it, it won't look good for finding mates."

The two beastfolk were startled by the words, then one beastman laughed: "We'll carry you in our beast form, don't worry."

Having said that, he directly handed the basket behind him to the beastman warrior beside him, stepped in front of Wu Yue: "Let's hurry; the rain will only get heavier soon."

Hearing that, Wu Yue embarrassedly nodded: "That's really troublesome for you."

Having said that, she reached into her own basket and took out two buns wrapped in large leaves, handing them to the two: "These are meat buns I made myself; they're delicious, as a thank-you for helping me move my things."

The two beastfolk were somewhat surprised, not expecting to receive food from a female; seeing the young female's earnest insistence, they accepted it anyway.

But they didn't eat them; instead they passed them hand to hand and stashed them in the basket: "Now that it's raining, getting wet would spoil them; we'll eat them after we return to the cave."

Having said that, he squatted straight down in front of her.

Wu Yue nodded, then climbed onto the beastman's back; the three ran all the way toward the cave the beastfolk spoke of.

Lying on the beastman's back, Wu Yue couldn't help but observe more closely.

Suddenly, her gaze stopped at the head of the beastman beneath her.

Perhaps due to the rain's washing, a hint of different color appeared on the beastman's head.

Black... such a color is not found on any beastfolk of the four major tribes of the Polar Forest.

So...

She couldn't help but lament her misfortune; could these two beastfolk actually be from outside tribes of the Polar Forest?

Some time has passed since the worm incident; during that period, several other tribes sent people over, and it's said the situation in the tribes has stabilized.

Even the Flying Hawk Tribe said those outsider beastfolk of the Polar Forest had already left; why are there still two here?

Moreover, who knows where they got the hair dye that turned their hair the color of the Snow Tiger Tribe's people; dyeing at such a young age is bad for hair quality, you know?

So, is now the time to worry about hair quality or not?

Pulling back her wandering thoughts, Wu Yue decisively closed her eyes and began to feign sleep.

She must not let them know she had discovered their identity, otherwise things like bandits killing hostages, as often shown in old TV dramas, could happen.

Perhaps because Wu Yue's silence had lasted a while, the beastman carrying her gave a subtle glance to the beastman warrior beside him.

The beastman on the side slowed a few steps, quietly went around to the other side, and then discovered that the little female had actually fallen asleep.

Feeling relieved, he said to the beastman carrying Wu Yue: "She's asleep!"

Their footsteps involuntarily grew lighter, and they deliberately chose flat paths to advance.

Because she cultivates shamanic power, Wu Yue naturally knows about their series of small movements just now.

She merely wonders whether these two beastfolk came specifically for her, or just randomly picked a house to snatch someone.

The sky grew ever darker, the wind in the forest howling like a beast just released from a cage, began to rage.

Wu Yue, her hair blown about so she couldn't tell which direction the wind came from, could only feign waking with a slight shiver: "We haven't arrived yet?"

The Beastman Warrior carrying her was absolutely Oscar‑worthy, his voice full of apology: "It's gotten too dark; this is our first time coming to this cave, and we've lost our way."

So we thought we'd first find a cave to wait out the rain, then set out again at dawn.

Wu Yue sighed, patted the shoulder of the Beastman Warrior beneath her: "I never expected Beastman Warriors to get lost too. Quickly find a cave to shelter from the rain, or you'll get sick."

Hearing this, the two Beastfolk couldn't help but relax, exchanged a glance, and the same thought rose in their minds: "This little female is really easy to fool."

But they didn't notice that the so‑called easy‑to‑fool little female's eyes also relaxed a bit.

Although she had pretended to sleep with her eyes closed the whole way, she also knew that quite some time had passed since leaving the tribe.

Given the Beastman Warriors' marching speed, she might now be far from the tribe.

Just moments ago she had been wondering what she could do to make these two Beastfolk stop, otherwise she wouldn't know where they'd take her tomorrow.

After running another stretch, the three finally found a wild beast's den on a high ground.

The two Beastman Warriors weren't polite; they drove out the wild beast family and then took over the place.

For a long time they could still hear the wild beast's howls, and for some reason Wu Yue felt it was cursing them.

Because she was draped in a beast pelt, she hadn't gotten much wet from the rain.

Although the two Beastman Warriors were soaked through, their physique made it no problem at all—far from enough to make them sick.

Looking at the items the Beastfolk had placed in the cave, Wu Yue couldn't help but wryly smile.

It seemed she had been kidnapped while literally bringing all her belongings with her.

The beast's cave reeked, littered with gnawed bones and a strong, foul fishy odor.

Since the two Beastfolk still wanted to keep up the act for now, Wu Yue didn't expose them.

She directed the two kidnappers to clean the cave, then had them gather some sturdy firewood.

After stripping off the wet outer parts, the thick firewood was still usable.

Being ordered around by Wu Yue, the two Beastfolk instantly formed a new impression of the Snow Tiger Tribe's females—such kidnapping missions must never happen again; it was simply terrifying.

But moments later, when the clean meat skewered on sticks was roasted by the little female, sizzling with oil and fragrant, the two Beastfolk instantly discarded their earlier annoying thoughts about the Snow Tiger female and just squatted to one side, drooling.

Seeing their eager looks, Wu Yue handed them the two skewers of roasted meat: "Try it; my roasted meat is the best in the tribe."

The two Beastfolk hehe‑laughed as they took the meat she offered, then impatiently took a big bite.

A huge wild beast was reduced to just a skeleton by the three of them in a short while.

Watching the two big eaters beside her, Wu Yue twitched the corner of her mouth: "What tribe are these beasts from? They eat way too much."

Unaware of Wu Yue's complaint, the two Beastfolk patted their near‑bursting bellies, happily and painfully belching nonstop, because the roasted meat was too delicious, so they had decisively overeaten.

Wu Yue cheerfully took out the dry grass and straw mat from her back basket and made herself a comfortable grass nest.

Thinking of something, she took a bamboo jar from her back basket and scattered some powdery substance at the cave entrance.

Seeing this, the two Beastfolk looked puzzled and asked, "What is that?"

Wu Yue said proudly, "It's a medicinal powder that keeps bugs or small wild beasts out, so we can rest properly."

Hearing that, the two Beastfolk exhaled and said, "As expected, the female is very thoughtful."

Lying down in her own grass nest, Wu Yue looked at them and said, "If you're cold, you can get beast pelts from your back baskets to cover up."

Then she covered herself with her small beast‑pelt blanket and closed her eyes.

The two Beastfolk by the fire exchanged a glance, couldn't help but relax, and thought, "Such a little female is really easy to handle."

"She doesn't cause trouble and even makes such tasty food; I'd like to bring her back."

"But thinking of our shaman's orders, I quickly shrank my head and decided to forget it."

One Beastfolk reached into his pile of beast pelts and pulled out a small insect: "With this heavy rain, can the other Beastfolk receive our signal?"

His companion's mouth twitched as he looked at the spot between his legs: "You've been keeping that insect there?"

Seeing his strange look, the Beastfolk followed his gaze and also felt embarrassed: "We only have one beast‑pelt skirt on our whole body—where else could we put it?"

His companion patted his shoulder with admiration: "I finally understand why the shaman values you—your spirit of self‑sacrifice is truly admirable."

The Beastfolk said, "Although you're praising me, I feel the deeper meaning isn't that."

After glaring at him, he handed over the insect in his hand: "You release the insect."

His companion gave the insect a disgusted look: "You've had it in your crotch that long—I'd rather not touch it."

Upon hearing that, the Beastfolk suddenly felt a chill down there, and thinking of how ferocious the insect usually is, his heart gave a little jolt.

"Who exactly gave him the courage before?"

With a somewhat trembling big hand, he placed the insect on the ground: "Let it leave on its own."

As soon as the insect touched the ground, it sprang to life, heading straight for the cave exit with a clear goal—but when it neared the mouth it let out a painful hiss.

The two Beastfolk startled, quickly turned to look at Wu Yue's direction, saw she was still sound asleep, and then relaxed.

"Are you a wild‑pig Beastfolk? That little female just scattered medicine powder at the cave entrance—the insect can't get out."

After being lectured by his companion, the Beastfolk felt a bit displeased, stood up, pinched the insect's soft body, and placed it outside the cave.

Sure enough, the tiny insect's figure instantly vanished into the night.

Outside the cave the cold wind raged, while inside the fire burned, warm and cozy, and the two Beastfolk also began to feel drowsy.

"You keep watch first; I'll sleep a bit then we'll switch."

As soon as his companion finished speaking, he closed his eyes before the Beastfolk could say anything.

The Beastfolk huffed, swung his fist, but ultimately held back.

But perhaps the firelight was too warm; he felt his eyelids growing heavier, finally unable to resist the pressing sleepiness, his head tilted, and moments later a faint snore sounded.

But at that very moment, Wu Yue, who had been sound asleep earlier, lifted the beast pelt from her body and rose to her feet.

She walked straight to the two Beastfolk, the corners of her lips curling with a meaningful smile.

Suddenly two small bamboo jars appeared in her hand; she took out the bamboo skewers inside, dipped them in the liquid from the jars, and stuck them into the two Beastman Warriors' bodies.

Then she sat down in her grass nest and began to meditate.

Tomorrow, there should be a very exciting show to watch.