Chapter 456: with translation of chapter title

Carefully approaching the small cave, the Snow Tiger Clan Chief and the Black Wolf Tribe Chief exchanged a glance, but their faces were dark and grim, because there was no breathing sound inside at all.

Translate: "Carefully approaching the small cave, the Snow Tiger Clan Chief and the Black Wolf Tribe Chief exchanged a glance, but their faces were dark and grim, because there was no breathing sound inside at all."

Carefully approaching the small cave, the Snow Tiger Clan Chief and the Black Wolf Tribe Chief exchanged a glance, but their faces were dark and grim, because there was no breathing sound inside at all.

We'll output: 【1】 Carefully approaching the small cave, the Snow Tiger Clan Chief and the Black Wolf Tribe Chief exchanged a glance, but their faces were dark and grim, because there was no breathing sound inside at all.

Make sure no extra commentary.

The two quickly walked into the cave, and indeed...

Translate: "The two quickly walked into the cave, and indeed..."

and indeed...

In the not-so-large cave, there was a beastman's silhouette; the grass nest also had no trace of warmth; a patch of weeds piled up in the corner was lifted, revealing a dark hole; and there were crawling marks on the ground.

Translate: "In the not-so-large cave, there was a beastman's silhouette; the grass nest had lost all warmth, a pile of weeds in the corner was lifted, revealing a dark hole, and there were crawling marks on the ground."

In the not-so-large cave, there was a beastman's silhouette; the grass nest also had no trace of warmth; a patch of weeds piled up in the corner was lifted, revealing a dark hole; and there were crawling marks on the ground.

We'll output: 【3】 In the not-so-large cave, there was a beastman's silhouette; the grass nest had lost all warmth, a pile of weeds in the corner was lifted, revealing a dark hole, and there were crawling marks on the ground.

That guy got away!

Translate: "\"That guy got away! \""

We need to keep quotes. Chinese uses 「」. We'll use English quotes. So: 【4】 "That guy got away!"

I'll bring people to chase after him; you handle those outside.

Translate: "\"I'll bring people to chase after him, you handle those outsiders. \""

We'll output: 【5】 "I'll bring people to chase after him, you handle those outsiders."

After the Black Wolf Tribe Chief finished speaking, without waiting for the Snow Tiger Clan Chief to respond, they led their beastman warriors into the underground tunnel.

Translate: "The Black Wolf Tribe Chief finished speaking, and without waiting for the Snow Tiger Clan Chief to reply, he led his own beastman warriors into the underground tunnel."

We'll output: 【6】 The Black Wolf Tribe Chief finished speaking, and without waiting for the Snow Tiger Clan Chief to reply, he led his own beastman warriors into the underground tunnel.

But only a moment later, they came back from outside the cave, covered in dirt, with a face darker than the night outside.

Translate: "But after only a moment, he came back from outside the cave with a dirty face, his visage darker than the night outside."

We'll output: 【7】 But after only a moment, he came back from outside the cave with a dirty face, his visage darker than the night outside.

This tunnel isn't long; it just leads to a mountain crevice outside, and there's no trace in the snow.

Translate: "\"This tunnel isn't long; it just leads to a mountain crevice outside, and there are no traces on the snow. \""

We'll output: 【8】 "This tunnel isn't long; it just leads to a mountain crevice outside, and there are no traces on the snow."

Without a trace, we can't pursue them.

Translate: "No traces, no way to pursue."

We'll output: 【9】 No traces, no way to pursue.

Can we find them?

Translate: "\"Can we find him? \""

We'll output: 【10】 "Can we find him?"

Yuan Lang tilted their head to look at Lan Pangzi on their shoulder and asked softly.

Translate: "Yuan Lang tilted his head to look at Lan Pangzi on his shoulder, and asked softly."

Yuan Lang tilted their head to look at Lan Pangzi on their shoulder and asked softly.

Thus: 【11】 Yuan Lang tilted their head to look at Lan Pangzi on their shoulder, and asked softly.

Tongzi stretched out its little paw, patted its own skinny belly, shook its head decisively, and said, "Ao ao."

Translate: "Tongzi stretched out a tiny paw and patted their own skinny belly, then decisively shook their head: 'Ahhh.'"

We need to decide gender for Tongzi? Not given. Use "their". So: 【12】 Tongzi stretched out a tiny paw and patted their own skinny belly, then decisively shook their head: "Ahhh."

That guy somehow neutralized the powder, so we can't track them with it.

Translate: "That guy somehow neutralized the powder, so there's no way to track them using the powder at all."

We'll output: 【13】 That guy somehow neutralized the powder, so there's no way to track them using the powder at all.

The beastman warriors from both tribes captured all the wandering tribe's beastfolk, sending the females and young back to their original tribes.

Translate: "The beastman warriors of the two tribes captured all the wandering tribe's beastfolk, while the females and young were sent back to their respective original tribes."

We'll output: 【14】 The beastman warriors of the two tribes captured all the wandering tribe's beastfolk, while the females and young were sent back to their respective original tribes.

Most of these females had been taken from nearby small tribes, and when they saw their own tribe's females returning with a beastman cub, the small tribes were thrilled.

Translate: "Most of these females had been seized from nearby small and medium tribes; when they saw their own tribe's females returning with a beastman youngling, these small and medium tribes were extremely excited."

We'll output: 【15】 Most of these females had been seized from nearby small and medium tribes; when they saw their own tribe's females returning with a beastman youngling, these small and medium tribes were extremely excited.

The small tribes originally had no beastman or half-beastman warriors, so they welcomed the sudden influx of little cubs, even to the point of excitement.

Translate: "The small and medium tribes originally had no beastmen or half-beast warriors, so they warmly welcomed these suddenly increased younglings, even saying they were excited."

We'll output: 【16】 The small and medium tribes originally had no beastmen or half-beast warriors, so they warmly welcomed these suddenly increased younglings, even saying they were excited.

After winter, aren't we still going to dig the moat for the city wall? Beastman warriors are much stronger than ordinary humans, so bringing them back would provide great labor.

Translate: "\"After winter, don't we still need to dig the moat channels? Beastman warriors are much stronger than pure humans; bringing these beastman warriors back makes them strong labor. \""

We'll output: 【17】 "After winter, don't we still need to dig the moat channels? Beastman warriors are much stronger than pure humans; bringing these beastman warriors back makes them strong labor."

Yuan Lang casually poured a bowl of medicinal soup into the mouth of the nearby wandering beastman warrior.

Translate: "Yuan Lang poured a bowl of medicinal soup into the mouth of the wandering beastman warrior beside them, and said casually."

We need to handle pronoun for Yuan Lang again; use "their". So: 【18】 Yuan Lang poured a bowl of medicinal soup into the mouth of the wandering beastman warrior beside them, and said casually.

The Snow Tiger Clan Chief's eyes suddenly brightened.

Translate: "The Snow Tiger Clan Chief's eyes suddenly brightened."

We'll output: 【19】 The Snow Tiger Clan Chief's eyes suddenly brightened.

Yeah, if we bring these wandering tribe's beastman warriors back and control them with shamanic medicine, they'll become slaves of the Snow Tiger Tribe; we just need to keep them from starving, and we'll save a lot of food for the small tribes.

Translate: "Yes, bring these wandering tribe beastman warriors back to the tribe, control them with shamanic medicine, and they'll become slaves of the Snow Tiger Tribe; as long as we ensure they don't starve, we can save a lot of food for the small and medium tribes."

We'll output: 【20】 Yes, bring these wandering tribe beastman warriors back to the tribe, control them with shamanic medicine, and they'll become slaves of the Snow Tiger Tribe; as long as we ensure they don't starve, we can save a lot of food for the small and medium tribes.

In the wandering tribe's food storage cave, it's easy to tell when the two tribes have been there: the Black Wolf Tribe's food, taken earlier, has mostly been squandered, leaving only some wild grass and dried fruit.

Translate: "In the wandering tribe's food storage cave, it's easy to tell the two tribes apart: the Black Wolf Tribe's food, having been looted earlier, has mostly been squandered, leaving only some wild grass and shriveled fruits."

We'll output: 【21】 In the wandering tribe's food storage cave, it's easy to tell the two tribes apart: the Black Wolf Tribe's food, having been looted earlier, has mostly been squandered, leaving only some wild grass and shriveled fruits.

Meanwhile, the Snow Tiger Tribe's food stores had only decreased slightly, letting everyone breathe a sigh of relief.

Translate: "Meanwhile, the Snow Tiger Tribe's food stockpiled on the other side had only decreased slightly, prompting everyone to let out a sigh of relief."

We'll output: 【22】 Meanwhile, the Snow Tiger Tribe's food stockpiled on the other side had only decreased slightly, prompting everyone to let out a sigh of relief.

The beastfolk rubbed their hands together and grinned widely; with no food sources in winter, the stored food was especially precious.

Translate: "The beastfolk rubbed their hands and grinned widely; with no food source in winter, the previously stored provisions became especially precious."

We'll output: 【23】 The beastfolk rubbed their hands and grinned widely; with no food source in winter, the previously stored provisions became especially precious.

Whoo! We still have this much food left; the females will definitely be happy when we return!

Translate: "\"Oh ho! We still have this much food left; the females will surely be delighted when we return! \""

We'll output: 【24】 "Oh ho! We still have this much food left; the females will surely be delighted when we return!"

The beastfolk hugged and cheered, and even the Black Wolf Tribe's beastfolk showed more smiles.

Translate: "The beastfolk embraced and cheered, and even the faces of the Black Wolf Tribe's beastfolk showed a bit more smile."

We'll output: 【25】 The beastfolk embraced and cheered, and even the faces of the Black Wolf Tribe's beastfolk showed a bit more smile.

After resting overnight in the wandering tribe's mountain cave, the next day everyone escorted the wandering tribe's beastman warriors toward the Snow Tiger Tribe.

Translate: "After resting overnight in the wandering tribe's encampment cave, the next day everyone escorted the wandering tribe's beastman warriors toward the Snow Tiger Tribe."

We'll output: 【26】 After resting overnight in the wandering tribe's encampment cave, the next day everyone escorted the wandering tribe's beastman warriors toward the Snow Tiger Tribe.

At that moment, not far from the wandering tribe's mountain cave in the forest, a person suddenly burst out from a bramble thicket—it was the wandering tribe's leader who had fled the previous night.

Translate: "At that moment, not far from the wandering tribe's cave in the forest, a person suddenly burst out from a thicket of brambles—none other than the wandering tribe's leader who had fled the previous night."

We'll output: 【27】 At that moment, not far from the wandering tribe's cave in the forest, a person suddenly burst out from a thicket of brambles—none other than the wandering tribe's leader who had fled the previous night.

Black Wolf Tribe, Snow Tiger Tribe, just wait—I, Gui, will definitely slaughter all of your people!

Translate: "\"Black Wolf Tribe, Snow Tiger Tribe, you wait; I, Wo Gui, will surely slaughter all of your people. \""

We need to decide punctuation. We'll output: 【28】 "Black Wolf Tribe, Snow Tiger Tribe, you wait; I, Wo Gui, will surely slaughter all of your people."

A sinister whisper echoed in the forest, like a curse.

Translate: "A sinister mutter echoed in the forest, like a curse."

We'll output: 【29】 A sinister mutter echoed in the forest, like a curse.

Because they were escorting the wandering tribe's beastfolk, the return journey was slower, and only after half a month did the beast warriors of the two tribes finally return to the Snow Tiger tribe.

Translate: "Because they were escorting the wandering tribe's beastfolk, the return journey was slower, and only after half a month did the beastman warriors of the two tribes finally reach the Snow Tiger Tribe."

We'll output: 【30】 Because they were escorting the wandering tribe's beastfolk, the return journey was slower, and only after half a month did the beastman warriors of the two tribes finally reach the Snow Tiger Tribe.

Roar!

Translate: "\"Ho ho! \""

We'll output: 【31】 "Ho ho!"

Excited howls of the beastfolk echoed from the city walls, reverberating throughout the Snow Tiger tribe.

Translate: "From the city walls came the excited howls of the beastfolk, echoing throughout the Snow Tiger Tribe."

We'll output: 【32】 From the city walls came the excited howls of the beastfolk, echoing throughout the Snow Tiger Tribe.

"The beast warriors have returned!"

Translate: "\"The beastman warriors are back! \""

We'll output: 【33】 "The beastman warriors are back!"

The busy tribesfolk paused their work, broke into wide grins, dropped what they were holding, and sprinted toward the tribe's gate.

Translate: "The busy tribespeople paused their work, instantly breaking into broad grins, dropping whatever they were holding, and sprinting toward the tribe's gate."

We'll output: 【34】 The busy tribespeople paused their work, instantly breaking into broad grins, dropping whatever they were holding, and sprinting toward the tribe's gate.

Wu Yue, the chief, and the two shamans climbed onto the city wall together, gazing at the distant herd of beasts, and they couldn't help but widen their eyes.

Translate: "Wu Yue, the chief, and the two shamans climbed onto the city wall together, gazing at the distant herd of beasts, and couldn't help but widen their eyes."

Wu Yue, the chief, and the two shamans climbed onto the city wall together, gazing at the distant herd of beasts, and they couldn't help but widen their eyes.

After a moment, Xuehu Wu chuckled and pointed at the dense black dots, saying, "These little rascals, actually letting the wandering tribe's beastfolk take beast form to haul food... really..."

Translate: "After a moment, the Snow Tiger Shaman chuckled and pointed at the dense black dots, saying, 'These little rascals, actually letting the wandering tribe's beastfolk take beast form to haul food...'"

After a moment, Xuehu Wu chuckled and pointed at the dense black dots, saying, "These little rascals, actually letting the wandering tribe's beastfolk take beast form to haul food..."

The Black Wolf shaman nodded in delight, saying, "This way, it seems we should have eradicated the wandering tribe; that would be good, so they won't harass other tribes."

Translate: "The Black Wolf Shaman also nodded happily: 'In that case, it seems we should have exterminated the wandering tribe; that would be good, so they won't harass other tribes.'"

We'll output: 【37】 The Black Wolf Shaman also nodded happily: "In that case, it seems we should have exterminated the wandering tribe; that would be good, so they won't harass other tribes."

Meanwhile, Wu Yue closely observed the wandering tribe's beast warriors, yet their beast forms were all kinds of strange and varied.

Translate: "Wu Yue, meanwhile, carefully observed these wandering tribe beastman warriors, but saw that their beast forms were all sorts of strange varieties."

We need to keep Wu Yue female: "Wu Yue, meanwhile, carefully observed these wandering tribe beastman warriors, but saw that their beast forms were all sorts of strange varieties."

We'll output: 【38】 Wu Yue, meanwhile, carefully observed these wandering tribe beastman warriors, but saw that their beast forms were all sorts of strange varieties.

Their fur was mottled, a big patchwork of colors.

Translate: "Their fur was also mottled, appearing as a big patchwork of colors."

We'll output: 【39】 Their fur was also mottled, appearing as a big patchwork of colors.

"Shaman, why are the beastfolk's fur so... so colorful..."

Translate: "\"Shaman, why are the beastfolk's pelts so... so colorful... \""

We'll output: 【40】 "Shaman, why are the beastfolk's pelts so... so colorful..."

Wu Yue gathered her thoughts and asked doubtfully.

Translate: "Wu Yue organized their thoughts and asked doubtfully."

We need to keep Wu Yue female: "Wu Yue organized her thoughts and asked doubtfully." But we must not guess gender? We have guide: Wu Yue is female. So we can use "her". So: 【41】 Wu Yue organized her thoughts and asked doubtfully.

Xuehu Wu stroked their beard and sighed, "Actually, speaking of it, the fathers or A Mu of these wandering beastfolk are also powerful beastman warriors, and they are all on the verge of breaking through to Golden Rank."

Translate: "Xuehu Wu stroked their beard and sighed: 'Actually, speaking of it, the fathers or A Mu of these wandering beastfolk are also powerful beastman warriors, and they are all on the verge of breaking through to Golden Rank.'"

Xuehu Wu stroked their beard and sighed: "Actually, speaking of it, the fathers or A Mu of these wandering beastfolk are also powerful beastman warriors, and they are all on the verge of breaking through to Golden Rank."

"Break through to Golden Rank?"

Translate: "Break through to Golden Rank?"

We'll output: 【43】 Break through to Golden Rank?

Wu Yue blinked in surprise; hadn't Yuan Lang said that breaking through to the next rank was very difficult?

Translate: "Wu Yue blinked in surprise; hadn't Yuan Lang said that breaking through to advancement was very difficult?"

We need to keep Wu Yue female: "Wu Yue blinked in surprise; hadn't Yuan Lang said that breaking through to advancement was very difficult?" Use "her". So: 【44】 Wu Yue blinked in surprise; hadn't Yuan Lang said that breaking through to advancement was very difficult?

Seeing her dazed, Xuehu Wu continued, "Breaking through to Gold Rank, the Beastfolk's own strength alone is not enough; one needs the assistance of a totem pole or the infusion of a Grand Shaman's shamanic power."

But our Polar Forest has no Grand Shaman at all.

The few Beastman Warriors in our tribe who managed to break through did so because the previous shaman, while traveling, rescued a Grand Shaman of a super tribe, and that Grand Shaman left us a totem pole in gratitude to the former shaman.

The Black Wolf Shaman looked enviously at Xuehu Wu; the few Beastman Warriors of their tribe who reached Gold Rank did so by bringing a year's worth of food gathered by the tribe to exchange with the super tribe.

Only a whole year's worth of food and pelts can be traded for a Beastman Warrior's breakthrough beneath a totem pole.

That amounts to pouring the entire tribe's strength into cultivating a Gold Rank Beastman Warrior.

Thus, in the Polar Forest, Gold Rank Beastman Warriors are so precious.

After several generations of accumulation, the number of Gold Rank Beastman Warriors in each of the four great tribes does not exceed what can be counted on two hands.

Compared to them, the Beastman Warriors of the super tribes that have a Grand Shaman are much happier; although breaking through entails some pain and risk, as long as they survive the danger, they are certain to become Gold Rank Beastman Warriors.

So...

Xuehu Wu drew a deep breath and then spoke with a hint of bitterness: "So, for tribes without a totem pole or a Grand Shaman, Beastman Warriors can only choose to remain at Silver Rank, because the consequences of breaking through without shamanic power infusion…"

He said, gazing at the Beastman Warriors who had arrived at the city wall: "Those are exactly the patchy Beastfolk you see."

Wu Yue's expression shifted slightly, but she still didn't understand: even if their hair is a bit mottled, why would all the tribes regard it as a disaster?

Seeing her bewilderment, the Black Wolf Shaman, thinking of this young female's age, sighed: "Beastman Warriors who fail to advance gradually lose their reason; over time, they no longer easily take beastman form, instead living more as beasts deep in the forest."

Moreover… they will leave offspring with the wild beasts of the forest.

Wu Yue suddenly sucked in a cold breath, and with beasts bearing offspring, so…

She looked at the mottled-haired wanderer beastfolk beneath the city walls—were they all the descendants of failed beastman warriors and wild beasts?

"You probably guessed it too, just as you thought—these wanderer beastfolk are mostly the offspring of them and wild beasts, so compared to normal beastman warriors, their hearts crave blood and their personalities are often cruel and murderous."

"In the past, some tribes brought wanderer beastfolk back into the tribe, but once they went mad they would attack tribespeople everywhere, making them a very dangerous existence."

After learning the origins of the wanderer beastfolk, Wu Yue's feeling of leaving the Polar Forest grew ever more urgent.

Since entering winter, Yuan Lang has broken through again; although not by much, if he continues at this pace, reaching the Golden Rank is inevitable.

Thinking that Yuan Lang would later walk the old path of the beastfolk, Wu Yue drew a big cross in her heart—she absolutely could not let that happen.

For these wanderer tribe beastfolk who would later become the tribe's strong labor, the Snow Tiger Tribe's beastman warriors did not mistreat them, merely bringing them all to a warehouse, which would be their assigned lodging.

The warehouse door shut with a clang, and the limp wanderer beastfolk huddled together, trembling at the unseen future.

Until footsteps approached, the warehouse door opened, and the wanderer beastfolk lifted their heads—only then did they see a squad of sturdy beastman warriors leading a few pure-human males inside, each pair carrying a steaming jar.

"This is your food—hurry up and eat."

Having said that, the guarding beastfolk left with the pure-human males.

The warehouse door was locked again, but for the beastfolk, darkness and day made no difference.

The row of jars before them still steamed; after a long while, realizing no more heat rose from the jars, a wanderer beastfolk trembled forward and reached in to pull out something only the size of his own fist.

The warm food in his palm radiated its remaining heat; the beastfolk gave an 'ah-oh' bite, and the soft, fresh aroma instantly spread through his mouth.

The wanderer beastfolk's eyes lit up, and he began eating one by one, squatting beside the jar.

Gradually, the food's fresh aroma reached the noses of the wanderer beastfolk still watching; they gulped down saliva, eyes fixed on the first beastfolk who had charged forward, already finished with one jar's food and reaching for the second.

The wanderer beastfolk could no longer hold back, charging forward and shoving that beastfolk to the rear; for a moment, the dark warehouse echoed with the sounds of wanderer beastfolk gulping down food.

They had never seen such food before, but they could be certain it was not meat.

Although it wasn't meat, the taste was superb.

After eating the warm food, seated in the legendary stone house, the wanderer beastfolk suddenly thought this wasn't bad, but upon imagining the vast fields in the forest, they immediately buried that thought deep down.

At this moment, Wu Yue had also told Yuan Lang what she had learned today about the wanderer beastfolk's origins; looking at the beastfolk's calm expression, her crescent-like brows furrowed slightly: 'You already knew?'

Yuan Lang reached out to gently stroke her brow, chuckling: 'Didn't I say I have the memories of my original self?'

Although you said you have the memories of your original self, that original self only just came of age—how could you know about the wanderer beastfolk?

But now it seems Yuan Lang's original self in this body knows quite a lot—better than me, who came here knowing nothing.

"After this year's beast tide, we'll start preparing to leave, aiming to set out as early as possible."

Wu Yue spoke with a firm voice.

Looking at her determined little figure, a hint of indulgence appeared in Yuan Lang's deep eyes: 'Naturally.'

The wanderer tribe vanished in the Polar Forest, and after this news spread through the Snow Tiger Tribe, those who were happiest were the members of the midsize and small tribes.

If the Four Great Tribes still had some resistance when facing the wanderer tribe, then these midsize and small tribes, once targeted by the wanderer tribe, could only cower in a corner, waiting for the looters to finish and leave, not daring to even fart, holding their breath with all their might.

Despite having little food, they actually took out their limited provisions to celebrate.

After learning of this, the peoples of the two great tribes felt somewhat laughable and exasperated—it seemed these midsize tribes had not been spared the wanderer tribe's depredations.

Just as Wu Yue thought this winter would pass like this, the Snow Tiger Shaman and the Black Wolf Shaman suddenly summoned all the tribe's members to the square.

The biting cold wind made no difference—the announcement by the two shamans chilled everyone's hearts more than their bodies.

The ferocious beast tide was imminent...

"Winter is almost over, our food is scarce, the wild beasts and ferocious beasts in the deep forest are the same, and to ferocious beasts and savage beasts, we are the best food."

The beastfolk readied their weapons, the females began tallying the tribe's food supplies, preparing for the impending ferocious beast tide.

The two shamans said no more, announced the ferocious beast tide, and left.

The tall, strong male's legs trembled slightly as he led the tribespeople back to the cave; the once joyful cave was now unusually silent.

"The larger the tribe, the more it attracts ferocious beasts; winter is nearly over—would it be better to leave the Snow Tiger Tribe early?"

The tall, strong male's mate patted and soothed the infant in her arms, her brows furrowed as she softly asked her companion beside her.

His mate's words stirred the tall, strong male's heart—indeed, the larger the group, the stronger the scent that attracts the beast tide.

In past beast tides, these midsize tribes would roll huge stones to block the cave mouth, while those savage beasts mostly charged the Four Great Tribes, so their losses were minimal.

But this year is different—they reside in the Snow Tiger Tribe, making them targets of the beast tide as well.

The tall, strong male momentarily lost his train of thought, feeling only great agitation in his heart.

Seeing his mate's foul mood, the female wisely shut her mouth and went to sit aside to comfort the infant.

After a long while, the tall, strong male finally sighed deeply and looked toward the eldest male in the easternmost corner: 'Father, what do you think? Should we leave?'