Chapter 39: We Stay

"Yuan Lang, when are we setting out?" the middle-aged Beastfolk walked over to the three of them.

Seeing Teng Qian and Teng Kun, he couldn't help but roll his eyes: "You two brats, you're the ones who fear Yuan Lang the most on ordinary days, yet this time, after hurting your heads, you still prefer to stick close to him."

As he spoke, he kicked each of them on the butt: "Get lost and go help clean up the game, what laziness are you hiding?"

The two covered their buttocks and jumped up, laughing hehe as they ran toward the tribespeople: "Oh dear, Uncle, we're grown Beastfolk males now; you always kick our buttocks, letting the young females see—how bad is that?"

Hearing that, the middle-aged Beastfolk glared at them displeased, then suddenly laughed out loud and sat down beside Yuan Lang: "Look at these two brats, they've just become adults and already they're thinking about the young females."

A strange expression appeared on Yuan Lang's face: "That's because they don't know how formidable the females are."

His gaze was indifferent, showing none of the males' excited agitation; when speaking of the young females, it was as if he were discussing a prey animal.

The middle-aged Beastfolk was startled by his own thought, immediately shook his head and looked at him: "When are we setting out? The remaining Beastfolk have mostly recovered; let the tribespeople take turns carrying them forward."

Yuan Lang nodded: "The wounded Beastfolk will be in the middle, the strong ones will handle scouting and rearguard; we cannot lose any more of our people."

In this salt-exchange mission, six Beastman Warriors have already lost their lives.

Looking at the coarse yellow salt in the beast-hide parcel before him, Yuan Lang pressed his lips; life here probably can't even compare to that of frontier farmers.

The next day, Yuan Lang, as captain of this salt-exchange squad, organized the Beastfolk to advance toward the tribe again.

Teng Qian and Teng Kun closely followed Yuan Lang's side, responsible for the safety of the rear of the group.

The middle-aged Beastfolk led several strong Beastfolk ahead to clear the path.

Along the way, to minimize noise as much as possible, all the Beastfolk refrained from shifting into beast form, running in human form; this allowed Yuan Lang and the two others to adapt quite well.

On the evening of the third day, the middle-aged Beastfolk, who had been hurrying along, suddenly stopped his steps, his ears twitching as if listening to the sounds in the jungle.

Until a faint, barely-there stench drifted on the forest wind, the middle-aged Beastfolk's face suddenly changed: "It's a ferocious beast!"

That low growl transmitted through the whole group; Yuan Lang came flying from the rear, and the Beastfolk's bodily habit made him unconsciously twitch his nose.

That familiar stench stabbed into his nostrils, making his dark brows knit tightly: "It's a saber-toothed boar squad; I'll bring some of our people to hold them off for a moment, Uncle you take the wounded tribespeople to a safe place and wait for us."

The middle-aged Beastfolk, however, firmly shook his head: "This time let me stay behind."

Seeing Yuan Lang about to refuse, he raised a hand to cut off Yuan Lang's words: "You are all young Beastfolk, the tribe's hope; moreover, we old-timers have more experience than you and are better suited to stay behind."

A saber-toothed boar squad does have adult ferocious beasts present; if Yuan Lang and the few of them stayed behind, they would only be sending themselves to death.

"Yuan Lang, quickly take the wounded tribespeople away, find a safe place to settle them, then come help us—it won't be too late," said several Beastfolk beside the middle-aged Beastfolk.

They all stayed behind with a resolve to die, just as Yuan Lang and company had once insisted on covering the rear; dangerous tasks shouldn't always fall to Yuan Lang.

Today's update!

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(End of chapter)