Chapter 488

He tightly held the little Ayou in his arms, his eyes instantly turning bloodshot, but upon seeing the tribespeople slowly placing the fruit from their arms onto the ground, he drew a deep breath and lowered his gaze.

He threw the remaining fruit from his arms onto the ground; the sourness and unwillingness in his heart surged, but he forcibly suppressed them.

"Let's go."

The chief glanced at the patrolling male, his complexion ashen as he led the tribespeople away from the Snow Moon Tribe's encampment.

"Father, we didn't get any food in exchange for the fruit we gathered; are we going to go hungry today when we return?"

"Little Ayou's childish voice rang out in the crowd, tinged with a hint of sobbing."

"His little head just couldn't understand why, last time he came to the Snow Moon Tribe to work, he could exchange labor for food, but this time they brought fruit and got nothing, and were even driven out by that male."

He bitterly rubbed his child's small head: "On our way back, we'll gather some wild vegetables to bring back; we won't let Little Ayou go hungry today."

"If I had known, we would have left some fruit in the cave; I never expected the Snow Moon Tribe to be no different from other tribes, and the food we painstakingly gathered would just be taken away like this."

The chief glanced at the resentful tribespeople and sighed: "Even as wanderers, we can defy the tribe, even if we are just ordinary tribespeople."

"Tribespeople, being alive is already the best; hurry up and gather some wild vegetables to bring back to the tribe."

Although the footsteps on the way here were heavy and mixed with the males' sweat, everyone's hearts were full of hope—but that hope was shattered even before they entered the Snow Moon Tribe's territory.

The surrounding grass and shrubs had begun to sprout new shoots, and food was gradually becoming abundant.

"Chief Uncle, I see lots and lots of wild vegetables!"

"The young cub's childish voice rang out in the forest; everyone followed his pointing finger to see a small patch of wild vegetables thriving in a clearing not far away."

The males gulped hard, but in the end could only avert their gazes.

"Ayou, this is the Snow Moon Tribe's territory; we are not allowed to gather here."

"The little guy obviously couldn't understand; clearly there was plenty of food right before their eyes, yet they couldn't take any."

"If we gather the wild vegetables inside the Snow Moon Tribe's territory, those vegetables will be reclaimed by the tribe, and they might even kill us; no matter when, never go into any tribe's territory to look for food, understand?"

"The little guy nodded blankly, and suddenly a feeling of envy rose in his heart—envy for those tribe members."

The Snow Moon Tribe's food became increasingly abundant as the forest recovered, especially today when the two gathering teams brought back fruit more than double what they had gathered in the past few days.

"Did you find a large expanse of corn forest?"

Wu Yue's eyes were full of joy; with corn flour, she made many delicious foods, and her fondness for this food grew deeper and deeper.

The young tribe chief proudly glanced at Laman and Fu'er beside him; their gathering team had brought back the most fruit today.

"What the hunting teams brought back today are wild boar beasts, and wild boar beast meat makes the best roasted meat."

The young tribe chief smacked his lips while giving the two half-beast captains beside him an undisguised little look.

Since discovering this kind of corn fruit, the three gathering teams have also gone out several times, but our gathering squad has never gotten first.

Seeing the other two gathering teams' tribespeople get lots and lots of meat every day, to say we aren't envious would be a lie.

Originally today she also didn't hold any hope, but unexpectedly, when returning to the tribe, she was summoned by the former tribespeople to a hidden place.

Thinking of the mountain-like fruit the tribespeople had obtained, the small tribe chief's mouth corners twitched, almost splitting back to behind her ears.

As for those wanderers whose fruit was robbed, who cares about them...

"You all have obtained more food today than those two gathering teams ever have, so today we will separately give you one wild boar beast."

Seeing Wu Yue happy, Yuan Lang also unusually acted generously, waving his hand and tossing an entire wild boar beast to the small tribe chief.

"One... one whole!!!"

Not only the small tribe chief, but even the people behind the chief were stunned; having lived so long, when had they ever received this much food, and for a moment their eyes turned red.

After all, having been a chief before, the small tribe chief respectfully saluted Wu Yue and several Beastman Warriors, then called the males to lift the wild boar beast and go to the riverside to process it.

"Yue, seeing them never having seen a wild boar like this reminds me of something you once said."

Yuan Lang smiled and looked at the petite female beside him.

Wu Yue withdrew her gaze from the mountain-like corn, looking at him doubtfully: "What words?"

A low laugh rumbled from the Beastman's throat, and deep in his eyes a rare smile appeared: "This must be achieving wild boar meat freedom."

Wuyue:...

If you hadn't brought it up, she would have forgotten she ever said that.

But thinking of the appearance of the gathering team just now, she couldn't help laughing out loud: "Isn't that just achieving wild boar meat freedom!"

While the two were speaking, the Half-Beast Warrior and Yingfei from the East Mulberry Tribe walked over.

First saluting Wu Yue, he then said: "Chief Wu Yue, we want to go into the forest to gather some herbs needed by the Super Tribe; would your tribe like to join us?"

"Herbs needed by the Super Tribe!"

Wu Yue immediately sat upright: "Is it far?"

The Half-Beast Warrior shook his head: "It's far from our tribe, but from the Snow Moon Tribe it only takes about three days."

If we go faster, even two days would suffice.

A flicker of doubt appeared in Wu Yue's eyes: "Are you willing to take us along?"

The herbs needed by the Super Tribe are certainly not ordinary; precious herbs are uncommon even in the vast forest, and she didn't think the East Mulberry Tribe would be so kind.

The East Mulberry Tribe chuckled, scratching his head: "The Beastman Warriors and Half-Beast Warriors who came this time are only me and Yingfei, and Yingfei needs to stay behind to lead the remaining tribespeople in hunting and storing food, so..."

The Half-Beast Warrior embarrassedly chuckled twice: "I'll lead the way, but I hope Chief Wu Yue's tribe will be responsible for safety along the way; after we find the herbs, we only need two portions per plant."

"Just two portions?"

The Half-Beast Warrior nodded repeatedly: "Yes, I and Yingfei each take one portion, and the rest belong to the Snow Moon Tribe."

Wu Yue pondered for a moment, then looked up at the Half-Beast Warrior and Yingfei: "If we find three plants, we'll give you only one; if more than three, we'll distribute according to your method."

"As for fewer than three..."

Her crescent-moon eyebrows slightly lifted: "We won't give you any."

The Half-Beast Warrior and Yingfei exchanged a wry smile, and could only nod in agreement.

Having agreed on the departure time, the two then left the cave.

When they returned to the house, the tribespeople were preparing barbecue.

"Yingfei, you used to be eager about gathering herbs—why did you let me take it this time?"

The half-beast warrior blinked, his burly stance making such an expression, giving off a somewhat lewd vibe.

Yingfei irritably twitched his lips: "If you stay behind, can you even get food from the Snow Moon Tribe's hunting party?"

The half-beast warrior's joy vanished instantly, feeling as if someone's big foot had kicked his knees, aching painfully.

"It's led by beastfolk warriors; I, a half-beast, am snatching food from the beasts' mouths..."

Speaking of which, he seemed to have realized the reason, his heart suddenly swelling with pride, he patted Yingfei's shoulder in a pretentious manner: "Ah, putting it this way, there really is nothing to be done; if I stay behind, I'm afraid I won't be able to store enough food for the gathering."

"You're a beastfolk warrior, so bear the hardship; as for the herbs, you can rest assured—I will definitely not forget your share."

Yingfei reached out to take the barbecue the tribesperson handed over, sneering: "If I hadn't seen the smug look in your eyes, I would have believed you."

The half-beast, hearing this, burst into loud laughter, and the atmosphere inside the house instantly became extremely lively.

Meanwhile, in the cave where Wu Yue and the others lived, an uproar broke out, with Teng Qian jumping up and down, shouting.

"Why? Why make me stay behind to guard the tribe? Am I not your companion?"

Wuyue:...

Damn it, where did this lunatic come from? Hurry up and kick him out.

"You and Yingyan are a team; this time when we go out, Yue must go too, the boss naturally needs to follow, and since I'm teamed with the boss, I naturally have to go as well."

Teng Kun's honest, simple face showed an expression of taking it for granted.

Yingyan sat casually by the fire, eating heartily, occasionally glancing up at the two arguing, with the air of someone watching a show.

As a laid-back eagle beast, he felt completely at peace; letting him come along was fine, not letting him was also fine—either way, wherever they were, there was work to do, as long as they didn't abandon him.

"Since you two can't decide..."

The beastfolk's magnetic voice echoed in the cave, and Teng Qian and Teng Kun nervously looked toward their boss.

"O wise and mighty boss, just tell us what it is already, you're killing me with suspense!"

"That boss who hums and haws is really not cute!"

No one knew what the two beasts were thinking inside.

"Then let Yingyan go."

Yuan Lang's large, knuckle-distinct hand took a piece of cooked liver off the wooden skewer and placed it in a stone bowl to cool, his face calm.

As if he had just said, "The weather is really nice today."

"Boss, how could you..." So low!

"Boss!" After all these years of feeling, was it all misplaced?

The two drama queens launched their performance again, but no matter how much they feigned misery and rolled around, Yuan Lang's decision remained unshaken.

Before they could direct their pleading gazes his way, Wu Yue turned and stared at the still-steaming wild boar beast liver, as if it were some great treasure.

Heh heh! Woman!

Meanwhile, Yingying, who had suddenly been hit on the head by a falling corn cake, smugly curled the corner of his mouth.

"Hehe..."

Lecherously, he chuckled a few times, looking at the two as if they were big tigers shaved bare, feeling immensely pleased.

I said, what are you two fighting over? In the end, it's still him who goes.

"Older brother, look at that petty person's smug look!"

"Hmph, that guy surely had his plans laid out early—mantis stalks cicada, oriole behind."

"Little chicken thief!"

"Little chicken thief!"

The two indignant beasts turned their resentment into appetite, directly finishing off half a wild boar beast.

One week later, under the leadership of the East Sang tribe's half-beast warrior, Wu Yue, Yuan Lang, and Yingyan set out on the journey to find herbs.

Teng Qian and Teng Kun waved their arms at the tribe's gate, biting their toe caps... uh, I mean fingertip caps, seeing them off reluctantly.

Standing beside them, Yingfei silently moved his legs away from the two; for some reason, although they were clearly males with longer leg hair than his, at that moment they exuded a strong feminine aura.

Could it be that I've been mistaken all along, and these two are actually females?

Saying that, his restless little gaze unconsciously drifted upward, wanting to find out.

Couldn't tell...

His gaze moved down again, but the animal-skin skirt blocked the view, still couldn't tell.

At this moment, the East Sang tribe's eagle warrior Yingfei began to consider whether to make an appointment with the two Snow Moon tribe beast warriors to go relieve themselves, having prepared his excuses, just to see who could piss farther.

Wu Yue looked at the familiar surroundings, turned her head toward the East Sang tribe's half-beast warrior not far away: "Bulun, this seems to be the direction toward the Wuke tribe?"

The half-beast warrior named Bulun nodded: "Yes, most of the herbs I know of are mostly within the Wuke tribe's territory, so our tribe always comes here to steal them."

"What happens if we're discovered?"

Bulun chuckled: "Then we'd toss the herbs and flee for our lives; the Wuke tribe and our East Sang tribe aren't on good terms, and if we were caught, they'd surely kill us."

Wu Yue gave a light laugh, her gaze as if she understood everything making Bulun's body tremble.

This shaman seemed to know the little scheme she and Yingfei had cooked up.

Actually, every time the East Sang tribe sends its people into the Wuke tribe's territory to steal herbs, they get discovered—it's just a matter of time—so whenever this happens, the Wuke tribe sends out half-beast warriors to guard the herbs.

Some particularly precious herbs are even assigned to beastfolk warriors to guard, so the amount they manage to steal each year isn't much—just two or three stalks is already good.

But this year, with the help of the Snow Moon tribe...

Bulun's lips unconsciously curled up again; the herbs they obtain will surely be far more than in previous years.

A bright future lay ahead; Bulun felt his legs grow stronger, his running speed picking up a bit.

On the night of the second day, the four hid in a large tree at the edge of the Wuke tribe's territory, while ahead in a clearing, many half-beast males were patrolling, a big fire blazed in the middle of the clearing, and a stout half-beast warrior sat there eating heartily.

This year I'm guarding the herbs here; if the East Mulberry Tribe still dares to come steal, I'll send them to meet the beast god!

Hehe, Captain! Those East Mulberry Tribe people, seeing you here, definitely wouldn't dare to come over!