Chapter 473: and translation of chapter title

Everyone nodded: "Yuan Lang can still receive the Grand Shaman's blessing and directly become a Gold-rank Beastman Warrior; that's the safest and quickest way. If it goes smoothly, we can get the totem pole back to the tribe this year."

Thinking about being able to bring the totem pole back to the tribe, several people instantly felt energized.

But upon arriving at the territory the Half-Beast spoke of, Wu Yue only felt her head go cold, as if someone had splashed a basin of cold water on her.

Looking at the sparse forest before her, she for the first time gave the Half-Beast Warrior a blank stare: "Is this the decent territory you said existed in the small tribe?"

Don't think you can deceive me just because I'm simple...

The Half-Beast Warrior looked at the twisted, gnarled trees before him, rubbed his eyes in disbelief, his face full of incredulity.

Shaman

Teng Qian gave a grim smile: "You're asking us?"

"Yue, the trees here look as if something violently smashed them apart."

Yuan Lang brushed away the surrounding dead leaves, revealing the broken tree stumps buried in the leaf litter.

Teng Qian and the others also walked over, kicking aside the surrounding leaves, and saw that this whole area consisted of remnants of tree roots that had been smashed apart.

Golden Rank Beastman Warrior

Silver Rank Nine Beastman

A-Wang's face turned pale: "... It's... right there in the middle of the forest, near the cliff wall, but... you... had better not go there; some small tribes have experienced this before."

Many powerful savage beasts, due to lack of food, will attack some mid-sized tribes, killing all the tribe members, dragging them into the snow to bury and eat over the winter.

If this tribe was also attacked by a savage beast, that beast must still be in the cave; any savage beast capable of reaching the tribe's settlement is extremely fierce, and even our chieftain dare not provoke it lightly.

Saber-toothed Bear

Wu Yue's heart tightened: "You first scout from a distance; if there really is a savage beast in the tribe's cave, we'll figure out how to kill it later."

Although her shamanic power cannot yet be used, she can still prepare things like medicinal powders and smokes.

Yuan Lang rubbed her head: "I and Ying Ze will go over, Teng Qian and Teng Kun will stay here to protect you."

Wu Yue nodded, watching their departing figures for a moment, then took down the basket behind her, pulled out herb after herb and began to prepare them.

The Half-Beast warrior looked at the not-so-distant little female, feeling a restless urge.

This little female appears to have a high status; if I could control her, wouldn't I be able to return to the tribe?

Once such a thought formed in his mind, it could no longer be suppressed; seeing Teng Qian and Teng Kun, the two Beastfolk warriors, gazing in the direction the two Beastfolk had left earlier.

Bare feet carefully stepped on the leaf-less ground, with a swoosh he leapt to Wu Yue's side, his thin face bearing an excited grin, his dark claws lashing out at her.

Feeling the movement behind her, Wu Yue sidestepped to avoid it.

Seeing his own empty palm, the Half-Beast warrior froze for a second.

The next moment, his body was kicked away like a dead pig.

"Really seeking death; I originally wanted to leave you a way out, but now it seems you're still loyal to your former tribe."

Although Teng Qian's words were terribly vicious, his heart was pounding rapidly; thinking that Wu Yue had almost been captured under their protection, his gaze toward A Wang grew ever colder.

Teng Kun stepped forward: "Older brother, you watch them; I'll send him back to the Wuk tribe."

A Wang's fearful eyes flashed with a hint of wild joy; the next moment, his thin body was seized by Teng Kun in his hand.

"Anyone else wants to go back to the Wuk tribe?"

The usually taciturn Teng Kun suddenly spoke up.

Two human males, faces lit with joy, were about to stand up, but the human male leader beside them grabbed their arms, his face full of fawning smiles: "Our tribe is right here; we're not going anywhere, hehe..."

Teng Kun said nothing more, seized the Half-Beast and left.

Wu Yue continued preparing the medicinal powders; in less than half an hour, the forest echoed with undisguised footsteps as Teng Kun appeared before everyone's view, carrying several wild beasts, while the Half-Beast he had just taken away had already vanished without a trace.

"Sent back?"

Teng Qian spoke, his gaze fixed on the group of human males huddled together nearby.

Teng Kun nodded: "Mm."

The human male leader was nearly in tears, really thinking him stupid; he, having been here before, knows how far this territory is from the Wuk tribe, yet in such a short time he brought back only a few game—Captain A Wang must have been dealt with.

The human males who could be kept close by the Beastfolk leader are naturally not stupid either; just seeing that the Beastfolk warrior returned alone, they knew what fate awaited the Half-Beast warrior.

At that moment, any resentment toward his older brother vanished, leaving only gratitude.

If it weren't for the older brother just now grabbing hold of them, they too would be among those 'sent back to the Wuk tribe'.

Now no one dared to defy; they eagerly stepped forward one by one to take the game from Teng Kun's hands and skillfully processed it.

"Go gather some dry firewood."

The human leader looked up at the bright, sunny sky, secretly wondering: the weather isn't cold at all, why light a fire?

But the words of an acquaintance cannot be defied; in just a moment, two fires were lit.

Watching the two Beastfolk skillfully place the previously cleaned game on the fire to roast, as time passed, waves of rich aroma spread around.

Three human males gnawed at the fresh raw meat, flaring their nostrils as they began to sniff around.

Upon seeing the sizzling, oil-dripping roasted meat, they all swallowed their saliva.

"What a find—originally I thought just roasting meat over fire would make it even more delicious."

Carefully glancing at the two Beastfolk warriors intently roasting meat, they sneaked off to the nearby forest to pick up some firewood and began roasting meat as well.

"It seems we've returned just in time; we can eat the food directly."

Ying Ze's cheerful voice rang out in the forest; several people looked up to see Yuan Lang and Ying Ze walking over this way.

"How was it, was that fierce beast formidable?"

Wu Yue put away the prepared medicinal powders and stepped forward to ask.

Yuan Lang's blood-stained hands had already been washed clean in the river not far from the tribe's camp; he reached out and stroked her head, saying: "About the same as my current strength, but with Ying Ze's help we've already dealt with that fierce beast."

"That saber-toothed bear is extremely formidable; it appears to be an adult male, having taken over this tribe's cave, living quite comfortably."

"After we finish eating, we'll head over; that cave has been inhabited by the fierce beast and still needs to be cleaned up."

Wu Yue had already begun planning how to tidy up her new base's cave.

Yuan Lang's gaze swept around, his deep eyes settling on Teng Qian sitting by the fire: "Where's that half-beast?"

Teng Qian stiffened, shrinking his head as he said: "He wanted to seize Yue, but we discovered him, so..."

Where is he?

The beastfolk's voice suddenly turned cold by several degrees, and the surrounding air seemed to grow a bit chillier.

Wu Yue rubbed her arms, stood up, stepped forward and gripped the beastfolk's clenched fist: "Yuan Lang, that half-beast can't hurt me at all, and Teng Kun has already taken him away to deal with."

Having been covered by the soft palm of the young female, and hearing that the half-beast had already been dealt with, Yuan Lang's anger finally eased somewhat.

Yet his brows and eyes still carried a hint of severity as he said: "There won't be a next time."

Teng Qian and Teng Kun nodded solemnly; nearly letting Wu Yue encounter danger was indeed their oversight.

Several pure human males of the Wuket tribe also shrank their heads and kept nodding; they weren't Awang, but they lacked the courage to jump about in the beastfolk's palm.

This small tribe's base is quite spacious, and because the forest before the tribe was ravaged by that fierce beast, as long as those broken roots are cleared, a large area can be opened up.

Even if the tribe later expands its base, it will be sufficient.

The previous cave, having been occupied by that fierce beast for an entire winter, reeked so strongly of foul odor that the smell could be detected at the entrance.

Yuan Lang then led a few beastman warriors to dig a new cave on the other side of the cliff.

"Big brother, the beastman warriors' claws look far more formidable than those of half-beasts; when the captains dug caves before, they never had..."

He said while waving his arms a few times, making a "swish-swish-swish" sound.

The leading pure human male looked at him with disdain and said: "This can't compare, and besides, Awang said these beastman warriors were even fed that poison."

"What are you babbling about? Get to work!"

Teng Qian let out a shout; several people hurriedly shrank their necks and swiftly stepped forward to move the stones.

Meanwhile, not far from the small tribe's base in the forest, a group of pure human males hid in the woods, gazing toward the base; their leader was actually a half-beast warrior.

"Chief, should we still go over?"

A pure human male with sunken cheeks asked in a low voice.

The half-beast warrior was likewise gaunt, but appeared far better off than the other pure human males.

"Go over? Go over to seek death? Haven't you noticed there are two half-beast warriors?"

The pure human male retreated embarrassedly to the rear; the tall, slender pure human male beside him let out a light scoff, then stepped forward and said: "Chief, those pure human males moving the stones look somewhat familiar."

Upon hearing that, the half-beast warrior shifted his gaze from Yuan Lang's group onto the pure human males grunting as they hauled the stones.

Upon seeing that, his pupils contracted sharply: "It's him!"

His voice carried a hint of gravity, and the tribespeople behind naturally heard it; the tall, slender pure human male couldn't help but ask: "Chief, have you recognized that person?"

The half-beast warrior said solemnly: "The pure human male lifting the stone used to often follow beside the Wuket tribe's captain Awang."

"The Wuket tribe!"

"Hiss~"

The tribespeople behind all gasped; the Wuket tribe has developed rapidly these past years, and its chieftain's methods are ruthless—any disobedient tribe was exterminated, and many half-beasts and beastfolk have been controlled by that chieftain using a certain herb.

"How could the Wuket tribe take a fancy to such a tiny place? Chief, it seems our plan can't continue."

The half-beast's expression was also quite grim.

He had taken a liking to this territory last year, but after several battles between the two tribes, his tribe kept losing; now, having finally awaited this good opportunity, he never expected the Wuket tribe to occupy it, leaving him somewhat unwilling.

"Chief, perhaps... the Wuket tribe is only staying here temporarily due to some matter; they can't finish the food on their own territory, so why would they care about such a small piece of land?"

The half-beast warrior's eyes lit up, and he gave the tall, slender pure human male an approving look.

"Let's go; we'll come back later to check—this territory will ultimately be ours."

Having said that, the half-beast led his tribespeople away.

Yuan Lang's group exchanged glances: "It appears to be a nearby small tribe, not many in number."

"I'll follow and take a look."

Ying Ze looked toward Yuan Lang and said.

Seeing him nod, he walked out of the cave, a few leaps disappearing into the forest.

Meanwhile, in the Laso tribe's encampment, it was a gloomy, dismal scene.

The females' accumulated pelts had all been swept away; the night of this season was still quite chilly, and the young cubs curled in the adults' embraces, still trembling.

The dry grass beneath was damp, and even the adults couldn't help but huddle together for warmth.

"Laman, will those people come back?"

Laman's partner's voice echoed in the dark, silent cave, and after a while there was no reply from his mate.

She couldn't help but push her companion; Laman let out a soft sigh, turned and pulled his partner into his arms: "I don't know either; whether they return or not makes no difference—they aren't our tribe's people."

Leaning into his embrace, Laman's partner lamented: "If they were our tribe's people, that would be great; with four beastman warriors present, the Wuket tribe would no longer dare to arbitrarily seize our food and supplies."

Laman said nothing, merely tightening his hold on the female: "Go to sleep quickly."

Yet his eyes in the darkness did not close.

He knew better than anyone that those people could never become his tribe's; at a glance they came from a great tribe, carrying endless salt, their meat must be roasted before eating, and they could even make so many delicious dishes.

Meanwhile, in the new base cave of Yuan Lang's group, Ying Ze gnawed on a piece of sizzling roasted meat: "The tribe that came today has somewhat more people than the Laso tribe, its territory is larger, and overall its strength should be greater than the Laso tribe's."

Teng Qian flicked his hand: "We don't need to bother with these small fry; right now we need to think about how to secure a slot in this competition—yesterday that half-beast said, besides the Wuket tribe, there are three other powerful tribes in this forest."

They are constantly capturing half-beasts and beastfolk in order to become a major tribe before the competition; we need to speed up.