Chapter 412: Running Into Loneliness

Outside is surely much better than deep in the forest, but here, due to the shelter of towering trees, it is much darker than outside.

Especially now as the sky gradually darkens, there is always a gloomy feeling, as if something dangerous around is watching them.

After the host's dog said that, Tongzi also felt a bit of that creepy vibe.

The excitement from the successful trade vanished instantly; his small body trembled and he shuffled close to Wu Yue's side: "Host, you're right—ferocious beasts only start hunting when it gets dark. We need to find a place to rest quickly; night is too dangerous."

Although he is only a Tongzi, he also treasures this cute little body of his, especially since this body can still be useful to the host.

After their exchange, both pairs of eyes turned toward the Cloud Treader crouched to the side, grooming its fur.

The Cloud Treader's hind paw stiffened, it tilted its head and looked at the person and the Tongzi: "Howl?"

Why look at the beast with that kind of gaze? It's a little scary.

Wu Yue hehe-laughed as she stepped forward and hugged the soft, fluffy Cloud Treader: "Um, Cloud Treader, do you know of any nearby caves or hiding spots?"

The Cloud Treader tilted its small head, as if thinking something, then after a moment let out two howls and instantly transformed into its battle form.

"Howl howl howl!"

Come on up, I'll take you to find a cave.

In here, there's nothing but a cave.

He knows many places; he remembers that a few days ago he drove away a spike-backed bear, because that bear's cave was large and dry, which he liked.

Wu Yue and Tongzi's eyes lit up, and they climbed onto the Cloud Treader's back.

This time the Cloud Treader didn't fly, but instead started running straight through the deep forest, like a sweep of white light.

Until they arrived at a small valley, Wu Yue and Tongzi exchanged a glance.

The scenery in the small valley was exceptionally beautiful, but what surprised Wu Yue was that after scanning the valley, she saw no cave at all.

So, is the Cloud Treader wanting them to just sleep in the valley?

With a twitch of the lips, they looked down at the innocent little furball: "Cloud Treader, where's the cave?"

The little guy is really too unreliable.

The Cloud Treader let out two howls, held its head high and chest out, and walked toward the valley.

I had thought such a valley must surely harbor some fierce beast, but what surprised Wu Yue was that the valley was actually very peaceful.

The Cloud Treader walked ahead, smacking its lips, and when it reached a cliff face it turned around to look at its master behind: "Howl!"

Right here.

Wu Yue suddenly had a bad feeling—this little guy's found cave probably can't accommodate anything bigger than itself, right?

But the next second, Wu Yue saw that on what looked like a flat cliff face there were several sideways openings; if not looked at up close, one would definitely think they were just rock marks on the cliff.

Well, nature is just amazing.

Although the cave entrance is concealed, the cave itself is not small at all—it can easily hold twenty or so people.

Finally arriving at a relatively safe environment, Wu Yue's body instantly relaxed.

A wave of pain and fatigue surged over her whole body.

"Hiss~ It really hurts to death."

It feels like everything hurts.

The inside of the cave is dry, with a faint fishy smell, but not strong.

Wu Yue grabbed the little Cloud Treader, rubbed its small head, and said: "Little guy, from now on you'll be with me, so you need to bathe often—the smell in this cave is really unpleasant."

Suddenly having its personal hygiene doubted, the little Cloud Treader couldn't take it, leapt up with a howl and began jumping about, baring its teeth and waving its claws: "Howl howl howl! Howl!"

I just cleared this cave; I haven't even had a chance to settle in before meeting you, Master—the stench isn't because I'm dirty; I lick my fur and bathe every day.

Previously living here was a big dumb bear; that guy never bathed, so he was filthy.

When mentioning the big dumb bear, it even waved its claws fiercely.

Only after the little guy finished its jumping did Wu Yue lightly pat its head: "Alright, alright, I was wrong to blame you—you're a clean little beast."

The Cloud Treader panted, squatting on the ground, looking incredulously at its master's back.

After all that jumping I did, you're just going to show me this?

Although the little beast complained, when its master came to rest in the cave, it still ran off happily and dragged back a lot of dry grass.

"Howl howl!"

After placing the dragged-back dry grass in a spot inside the cave, the little guy wagged its tail and looked at Wu Yue, eyes shining.

Wu Yue's heart instantly softened; she walked over and rubbed the little guy's head: "My Cloud Treader is truly awesome!"

Being praised and petted by its master, the Cloud Treader instantly felt a bit light-headed.

It gave a smug glance to Lan Pangzi, who was guarding the cave entrance, while rubbing its fluffy, warm head against Wu Yue's hand.

Tongzi's little furry face stiffened completely—this expression is truly shameless.

But thinking of something, Tongzi glanced guiltily at the host sitting cross-legged in meditation.

Its little paw scratched its chin; it seemed it had never fetched dry grass for the host before.

Whenever the host had something to do, it wasn't very proactive either, so... maybe... perhaps...

His position as the host's first favorite pet seems a bit precarious?

Thinking this, Lan Pangzi instantly felt uneasy, its gaze toward the Cloud Treader fraught with danger.

Well, should I take the opportunity to smear feces on it?

Anyway, the Beast Tamer Ring is recyclable; as long as I kill this one, in such a vast forest couldn't I find another awesome beast?

Let's play!

As if sensing his ill intent, the Cloud Treader's round eyes instantly looked over.

Then it cracked open its small mouth in a smile, its two little wings on its back fanning as it looked at him.

Don't get any ideas—be careful, next time danger comes I won't bring you.

Tongzi: "..."

Meow, I'm feeling stifled—having wings is awesome, huh? I can even produce salt; am I proud? Am I pleased?

However, in this dangerous deep forest, considering their own life, Tongzi still suppressed their thoughts of vying for favor, merely silently swearing that in the future, when working for the host, they must be more diligent.

As the host's foremost favorite minister beside them, no one can shake his position.

Hmm, shake paws!

After a night of meditation, the healing witch power flowed through her body; Wu Yue stretched, and yesterday's soreness vanished without a trace.

She couldn't help but marvel, this witch power is truly miraculous, especially this healing witch power—it's practically a household essential witch power.

Outside the cave, a few rays of sunlight streamed in, shining on... the fatty belly of Lan Pangzi at the entrance, rising and falling.

Wu Yue twitched the corner of her mouth as she looked at Tongzi, who was snoring loudly; with such an immovable sleep, if there were any danger, she'd probably have already gone to meet the beast god.

Just as she was about to turn back to look at Step Cloud, she saw a white dumpling turn into the cave; seeing Wu Yue awake, it seemed somewhat surprised: "Wu~"

Step Cloud had a branch clenched in its mouth, bearing many red fruits; upon seeing Wu Yue awake, it could only happily wag its tail and nuzzle over.

Wu Yue took the branch laden with red fruits, gently stroked the little creature's head: "Step Cloud is truly awesome!"

This little one may have unstable combat power, but it's really too cute and thoughtful.

While looking up at Lan Pangzi, who had just sat up with something mysterious hanging from the corner of his eye and was yawning, heh heh...

No comparison, no harm.

Looking at Tongzi's pig-like sleep, yesterday's guard must have been Step Cloud, because Lan Pangzi is utterly unreliable.

Having guarded all night and only sleeping after Step Cloud woke up, if Tongzi knew what the host was thinking, they'd probably explode instantly.

But unfortunately, Lan Pangzi lacks any sense of crisis at all.

"Host, are we still continuing the search today?"

Wu Yue nodded; the area we're searching is the vicinity of the Snow Tiger Tribe, and during this time, Yuan Lang and the others won't go very far.

But even this area is already huge, huge.

Wu Yue turned to look at Tongzi: "When we search, we should also hunt appropriately; if we obtain a ferocious beast's crystal core, it would perfectly provide energy for Step Cloud."

After all, at a critical moment, little Step Cloud is capable of bringing them to escape.

Tongzi also nodded: "It's possible, but host, can we, such combat trash, really hunt?"

Wu Yue: "..."

If we don't speak the truth, we can still be friends.

"At worst, we'll use poison; a living person can't be held to death by holding urine."

Wu Yue picked a red fruit and handed it to the little Step Cloud beside her; the little creature glanced at it, shook its head, then extended its tiny paw to pat its own belly: "Ao ao!"

Master, I was full when I just went out.

Wu Yue rubbed its head, took a salt crystal ore from the system space and threw it to the system: "Can a witch only awaken one attribute of witch power?"

Tongzi took the ore, brought it to its mouth and took a bite: "Mm, generally speaking, that's the case."

Wu Yue tossed the red little fruit into her mouth; the sweet juice instantly filled her mouth, the sweet juice moistening her dry throat.

"That means there are still two types, right?"

Hmm, the fruit is delicious; let's eat a few more.

Tongzi crunch crunch gnawed on the ore, nodded: "There are indeed unexpected existences; you know, host, humans aren't still having twins, right? And some even more awesome ones can give birth to several."

Thus, the existence of multiple attribute witch powers in a witch also occurs, but it's very rare; in the locals' terms, this situation truly is the beast god's blessing.

Wu Yue pondered, naturally knowing such a situation is rare, but her current healing witch power, though powerful, lacks any attack power—it's practically just a rear-support existence.

"If I want to awaken other attributes of witch power, is there a way?"

Wu Yue gazed sharply at Tongzi.

The chunk of ore Tongzi had just swallowed almost got stuck in its throat.

After a few dry coughs, they looked at their host: "Host, isn't your healing attribute witch power fine? It's something many witches envy but cannot obtain."

In an era where battles rely entirely on beastman warriors, what's most needed is precisely a host like you with such healing witch power, right?

Wu Yue glanced at him: "We two are weaklings; just reaching the outskirts of the deep forest, we barely managed to get in; if not for Step Cloud, we'd probably still be out there among those thorny ink marks."

Healing witch power is good, but lacking any combat power is also not good.

Tongzi glanced at their host: "There is a way; it requires the witch-awakening fruit."

"Witch-awakening fruit?"

Wu Yue instantly straightened her back: "Does it need to be redeemed in the system shop?"

Tongzi licked its little paw: "Yes, the witch-awakening fruit is merely a mid‑high grade spirit fruit, but it's currently something you, host, cannot redeem."

The redemption rank requires you, host, to reach Yellow Rank Level Five, with one thousand points, before you can.

Wu Yue remained silent: "..."

She furtively opened her own system panel, looking at the points number in the corner, and instantly felt terrible.

Sorry, it's that she is unworthy.

This topic thus ended in Wu Yue's silence.

Having eaten, the person and two beasts walked out of the cave and once again set out on the journey to find Yuan Lang and the others.

But what Wu Yue didn't know was that, at the edge of the Polar Forest, a team wearing strange soft beast pelts was stepping onto their territory.

"Envoy sir, are we going directly to the Snow Tiger Tribe?"

The Rock Salt Tribe's witch woman sat on the back of her tribe's beastman warrior, gazing at the beastman warrior beside her who rode a huge ferocious beast.

She originally didn't want to come, for if she followed, the Snow Tiger Tribe would surely know that this super tribe was brought by her.

Thinking of this, she frowned with regret, a faint dark light flickering from the depths of her eyes.

The beastman warrior of this super tribe was overbearing, insisting on bringing her along and allowing no refusal.

Although she felt a little uneasy, thinking about being able to personally see the Snow Tiger Tribe's people suffer misfortune, seeing Yuan Lang and that bastard Shaman Yue submit under the overwhelming presence of the super tribe, her heart felt extremely delighted.

Even the last trace of nervousness and unease disappeared, leaving only eager excitement to try.

The Beastfolk, who was somewhat drowsy, heard the sound and glanced at her: "First we won't go look for the Beastfolk tribe here; we'll go to that deep forest you mentioned to check it out."

"But Envoy..."

Before her words even finished, that Beastfolk's deep eyes looked over: "Be good, don't disturb me."

Although the corners of her mouth still held a gentle smile, the Shamaness's whole body was suffused with a chill.

She had also figured out some aspects of this Beastfolk's temperament during their time together.

She respectfully nodded, indicating that the Beastman Warrior beneath her should slow a few steps, and she walked behind the Envoy.

"Shamaness..."

The Beastman Warrior of the Rock Salt Tribe felt stifled seeing their own Shamaness being treated this way by the Envoy of the super tribe.

But the next second, the hair on his back was tightly gripped: "Don't speak."

She still liked the Beastman Warrior beneath her, who had always accompanied her by her side and was satisfying during intimacy, so she didn't want the Beastfolk to lose his life over a misspoken word.

"Rip!"

A loud eagle cry rang out in the sky, and the Beastfolk on the back of the fierce beast stood up.

The eagle beast circling in the sky slowly lowered its form, and upon landing it transformed into a tall and slender Beastman Warrior.

"Captain, the Polar Deep Forest no longer has any tribes."