Chapter 363: Lady Shamaness

After a punitive expedition filled with righteous indignation, it was time for the beastfolk's gossip.

The uncle who went out to gather information a few days ago said that a very important person would come to this year's trade fair.

You couldn't be talking about the Rock Salt Tribe's shamaness, could you?

As soon as the beastfolk's words fell, the companion beside him immediately continued with a question.

Yes, I heard that this shamaness has already reached Yellow Rank Level Two; she was picked up by the Rock Salt Tribe's shaman while out gathering herbs, when a strong shamanic power fluctuation was detected. After awakening, her cultivation speed directly surpassed all previous shaman disciples, making her the tribe's second shaman.

I heard this shamaness is very good-looking.

Mm-hmm, the uncle said that shamaness has a perky butt and a plump chest.

Hehe...

Upon hearing this, the surrounding beastman warriors all broke into a lewd laugh full of anticipation.

Wu Yue's mouth twitched as she retracted her perked-up ears.

If we're gossiping, let's gossip; you were enjoying it, but you started talking about irrelevant stuff, really killing the mood.

Wu Yue had no interest in the beastfolk's lewd topics; she merely felt some curiosity about the genius shamaness mentioned by the Flying Eagle Tribe.

Don't listen to his nonsense; hurry up and rest.

Yuan Lang amusedly looked at the little female's face showing disdain toward the beastfolk, pointing to the already erected tent beside him and said.

Wu Yue let out a big yawn, holding Lan Pangzi in her arms, and slipped into the tent.

Seeing the little female go in, Yuan Lang's cold, chilly gaze went straight to the beastfolk still gathered discussing long legs.

Just like that, the night in the deep forest was already cold, and you still hit me with a glare...

The beastfolk let out an embarrassed laugh a few times, then dispersed to rest.

At noon the next day, everyone had already entered the central part of the deep forest; at some point, Yuan Lang's wrist had gained a very nice-looking black bracelet.

When Wu Yue was curious, she reached out and touched it; the bracelet felt good, smooth to the touch, and slightly cool.

I had never seen it before; I don't know where Yuan Lang hid it.

Meanwhile, Tongzi inside the satchel watched his host's hand occasionally touching Yuan Lang's bracelet and sighed, 'Host, don't blame me for not telling you; I'm afraid you can't accept this fact.'

Can that thing be touched casually?

You said, 'One touch would be fine,' but you touched it several times!

Everyone, be careful; we've entered the area where the shun yuan are active.

Shun yuan...

Hearing that familiar beast's name again, Wu Yue unconsciously thought of Teng Qian, who was still doing construction in the tribe; that guy is quite favored by the shun yuan.

I had expected to encounter a few fierce beasts, but to the beastfolk's surprise, even after driving the fireball beasts to the ice river, they still hadn't encountered a single powerful fierce beast.

After the last fireball beast crossed the river, the beastman warriors all simultaneously turned and rushed out of the deep forest.

Joking aside, this isn't a good place; the speed of departure was such that they wished their father A Mu had given them eight legs.

No one noticed that a corner of the black bracelet on Yuan Lang's wrist protruded, as if something probed the air and then quickly retracted.

The beastfolk all ran wildly to the edge of the deep forest before stopping to rest.

At night, while Wu Yue was resting, Yuan Lang took off the black bracelet from his wrist and said, 'What about the fierce beasts in the forest?'

The giant python flicked its tongue, then coiled around a small tree and began to rub against it lewdly.

Yuan Lang's face darkened: 'What are you doing? Got spring fever?'

The giant python glared: 'Damn it, can't you understand old man's demonstration?'

Seeing the beastfolk still wearing a look of contempt, wearied, it pointed the tip of its tail at the shun yuan's active area and began to rub against it lewdly again.

Yuan Lang's face slightly changed: 'You mean it's now the shun yuan's mating season?'

Seeing that this guy finally understood, the giant python seemed to sigh in relief, shaking its slightly sore tail tip.

It swayed slowly, climbing back onto the beastfolk's arm again, coiling into a circle to rest.

But upon hearing this news, Yuan Lang could no longer sleep.

Shun yuan in heat...

No wonder there isn't a single powerful fierce beast in the whole deep forest; given the shun yuan's nature, upon seeing a male they'll drag him back to bear offspring.

During the heat period, their temper becomes increasingly violent, and in battle their strength rises by more than one level.

After glancing at the already asleep Wu Yue, he quietly woke the other beastman warriors, using the Xuehu Wu's name to announce the shun yuan's heat.

Upon hearing this, the beastfolk were practically scared to death, and their gazes toward Yuan Lang were full of accusation.

Meow meow mi, how could you forget such an important matter?

With so many of us beastfolk gathered here, given the shun yuan's sensitivity to male scent, there might already be a shun yuan on its way.

As the saying goes, don't lightly curse yourself; the good won't work, the bad will.

Just as Yuan Lang tightly embraced the still-sleeping Wu Yue, excited howls came from the deep forest.

Upon hearing that familiar cry, the beastfolk's faces turned green; they didn't care about hides or not, and bolted outward.

The shun yuan in heat proved indeed formidable, directly chasing the beastfolk far into the forest before angrily howling and retreating.

Only beastman warriors resembling dead dogs remained, panting as they lay on the grass, each feeling they had finally preserved their innocence.

'Our mission is already complete; from here we can each return to our tribes.'

A beastman warrior of the Black Wolf Tribe spoke up.

The place they are currently in is still at the edge of the Black Wolf Tribe and Snow Tiger Tribe territories, so splitting up here is fine; the subsequent journey will pose little danger for these beastman warriors.

The Flying Eagle Tribe and Mad Lion Tribe could still travel together for a stretch, so they decided to go together.

'We have many people now; let's rest here, recharge our spirits, then set out again.'

Yuan Lang wiped the saliva from Wu Yue's lips and spoke.

The beastman warriors all nodded in unison: 'Right, right, rest a bit, then set out again; we're about to die from exhaustion.'

Having said that, they collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath.

Only a few silver‑rank high‑level Beastman Warriors still had any strength left.

"Let's take turns, so they can rest properly."

Lately the Snow Tiger Tribe members have been busy; aside from daily hunting and gathering, when they return they must make tile blanks for their homes and fire bricks.

Teng Qian and Teng Kun, who used to be easygoing, now strictly control brick quality; anyone who produces three unqualified brick blanks is expelled from the work crew and can only miserably gather food to trade for bricks to build houses.

The more diligent tribe members have already stacked enough bricks and tiles beside their chosen homestead to build a courtyard.

Because they are skilled, the slaves receive food from the tribe members each day, which they use to exchange for house‑building brick blanks.

They then transport those exchanged brick blanks to the brick kiln, give some food as payment to the Beastman Warriors in charge of firing, and then simply wait until tomorrow to come move the bricks.

Such days are hard and busy, yet the tribe members' smiles have not faded at all.

Especially each time they pass the shaman's courtyard, seeing that neat and pretty yard makes them stop and stare enviously for a long while.

If it weren't for the esteemed shaman of the tribe living inside, they would all want to rush in and look over and over again.

Wu Yue's taro also grows well; once the taro sprouts, there are always some small animals in the forest that like to come to the taro field to steal leaves.

Changye directly divided the slaves into three groups, guarding them around the clock.

Weeding, catching insects, and driving away small animals—each slave has visibly lost a lot of weight.

But at this time the shaman is not doing well either; after Wu Yue and the others left for a few days, the shaman moved into the newly built house amid the envious gazes of the tribe members.

But what leaves the two Beastman Warriors helpless is that the great shaman actually had them light the kang; lighting a kang in such heat leaves them truly unable to fathom the shaman's thoughts.

But the shaman's orders cannot be defied, so after sleeping on the heated kang for a few days, our Xuehu Wu proudly developed heat blisters—a string of blisters on the mouth.

Each day they secretly hide in the courtyard to brew herbal medicine and drink it, hoping to recover quickly so they can go out and show off.

The adult slaves are busy tending the taro field, so the task of looking after the chickens falls to the slave children.

The little ones took over their father A Mu's work, feeding the chickens fresh food each day, taking them out to the hillside to eat insects, and bringing them back at night.

Perhaps because the children took such good care, several fluffy chicks appeared in the coop; the little ones, each palm‑sized and fluffy, followed the hen behind, emitting soft cheep‑cheep sounds—utterly adorable.

Upon first seeing the chicks, the tribe members' children also gathered around, following the slave children, asking this and that, endlessly curious.

The slave children also didn't withhold anything; whatever they knew, they told the others.

After a few days, the female heads of households raising chickens all received entreaties from their own little chicks, who also wanted to raise chickens.

A Mu and the others, being pestered, had no choice but to teach their household chickens to be cared for by them.

I had thought it would be utter chaos, but what they didn't expect was that, with the slave children's guidance, the little ones actually took care of the chickens very thoroughly.

Since Wu Yue discovered lots of tasty food, the Shui family children went from skinny sticks to round and plump; that day, the children still followed behind the slave children to catch insects and feed their own chicks.

After the chicks ate the insects, they laid eggs more diligently.

The children's enthusiasm increased further.

Another busy day; as Changye wiped sweat from his dark cheeks while weeding the taro field, preparing to straighten his slightly sore waist, he saw a group of Beastfolk appear at the forest edge in the distance.

As the distance closed, the slaves also looked over.

That familiar beastly form and fur color!

"The Beastman Warriors are back!"

"Lady Wu Yue is back!"

The slaves' cries startled the tribe members above who were firing bricks; hearing that the Beastman Warriors had returned, everyone became extremely excited.

Howling, they rushed down from the mountain.

Even the shaman, whose mouth was blistered and who wouldn't go out, ran out wrapped in a piece of hide.

The young ones, hearing that the Beastman Warriors had returned, also howled and ran toward everyone; their owners ran off, and after a moment of bewilderment the flock followed, clucking as they ran.

So when Wu Yue poked her head out after Yuan Lang gave birth, she saw the tribe members and the chicken flock rushing together in a chaotic, frenzied scene.

The big fire a few days ago burned nearly half the forest in the canyon; the Snow Tiger and Black Wolf Tribes, whose territories lie close together, naturally saw it and also felt anxious for those Beastman Warriors.

Only after the return of the four Beastman Warriors did everyone learn that, thanks to Wu Yue's ingenuity, they had managed to escape.

But what shocked everyone was that these four deadbeat brats actually brought back three Fireball Beast cubs, making everyone want to throw them into a latrine.

The four Beastman Warriors naturally knew the tribe's fear of Fireball Beasts, so before anyone could act they said Wu Yue had ordered them to bring the cubs back, and that it was very important.

But when the tribe members questioned them, these brats again started muttering and refused to speak.

This made the tribe members feel an itch in their hands, wanting to beat these damned brats.

But the shaman, with a string of blisters at the corners of the mouth, appeared just in time to save them; the four listless Beastman Warriors followed the shaman behind to the long‑desired new courtyard.

The three Fireball Beasts were obediently carried on the Beastmen's shoulders, and when they saw the shaman they lowed twice.

Chewing tender grass the Beastmen had found, sitting on a Beastman‑made cart, beastly life could not be more leisurely.

The four Beastman Warriors told the shaman and the chieftain what Wu Yue and Yuan Lang had instructed.

Upon hearing that the processing of the Fireball Beasts' dung had such an effect, their stern questioning expressions vanished instantly, and their looks toward the four Beastman Warriors could not be any warmer.

After a concerned inquiry, they also ordered two half‑Beastman Warriors to fetch food for them to eat.

The three Fireball Beast cubs obediently nestled in a pile of fresh grass in the courtyard, while a few special half‑Beastman Warriors stood nearby as dung‑cleaners, taking a bite and lowing.

Such a leisurely life truly makes one want to summon all the tribe members over.

Although the Fireball Beasts cannot speak, they are highly sensitive to the Beastmen's emotions; since the four Beastman Warriors bear them no ill will, the cubs are also very friendly toward them.

The shaman and chieftain's feelings toward them, however, are not as favorable as those of the four Beastman Warriors.

But what baffles their limited intellect is that after the four dung‑beasts merely went into that little house for a while, when those two unfriendly individuals came out again, their gaze toward the beasts became friendly, even somewhat gleaming.

Finally, after waiting for Wu Yue and Yuan Lang to return, the four Beastman Warriors were nearly moved to tears.

The guilt they felt for leaving early instantly turned into a huge hunger, and they howled as they scraped up the food from the stone bowl.

These past days of worry had left them with little appetite, but now they can finally eat properly.

"Howl, Yueyueyue, you've finally come back!"

Yue, we've been waiting for you for a long time!