Chapter 232: Undercurrents Stirring

Upon hearing the beastfolk's words, Moluo couldn't help but glance at the beastfolk again.

He had thought it was just a monster beastfolk who liked females dressing as males, but didn't expect it to actually be an outsider beastfolk masquerading as a local beastfolk.

Moluo's brows furrowed slightly, but the beastfolk, noticing his gaze upon it, raised an eyebrow slightly, then tugged at the corner of its mouth and waved at Moluo, saying:

"I want two corpse‑scent stones, a total of forty Crystal Cores, right?"

She laughed flamboyantly, while Moluo withdrew his gaze and gave a light, faint "Hmm."

Seeing this, the beastfolk didn't waste words, set down the forty Crystal Cores, took the two corpse‑scent stones, and left the stall.

"Luosai, I suddenly have something, after you close the stall, just deliver the goods to Yun Li's house yourself."

Hearing this, Luosai replied without asking anything.

Moluo, watching the beastfolk's direction of departure, lifted his foot and followed.

……

"Jia Sha, where did you go? Lord Prison is looking for you."

Moluo followed that oddly‑behaving beastfolk, first strolling around the entire Market, then saw her walk away with someone to an inconspicuous, remote corner where the vegetation was dense; without approaching, one could not notice anyone gathering there.

Several beastfolk dressed similarly to the female were seated around the base of a small hill, apparently chatting merrily.

When the female returned, one male lifted his head and greeted her.

"Went out for a walk, to see what good things this Tribe actually has."

The female called "Jia Sha" replied casually, then headed toward the small woods on the hill.

Moluo hid in the shadows, closed his eyes and strained to lower his presence to the weakest, not staying long, because these beastfolk were very vigilant, and every so often someone would walk away to scan the surroundings.

Nevertheless, Moluo gleaned from their snippets a crucial piece of information: they were not the only beastfolk who came to the Silver Eagle Tribe, meaning there should be more of them outside the Tribe.

It was indeed strange; even though the Silver Eagle Tribe's Market had some fame in Heiyan Shanmai, attracting one or two curiosity‑seeking nomadic Tribes was already astonishing.

So why are there beastfolk from outside Heiyan Shanmai coming to the Silver Eagle Tribe? Could the Tribe be hiding some astonishing secret?

After Moluo left, the few beastfolk who remained, perhaps having sensed something, soon sent someone to the small woods on the hill.

Before long, a dark‑faced male, with the leisurely‑walking Jia Sha, descended.

Even if a group of beastfolk hadn't seen any signs of activity nearby, as soon as they felt something was off, they would immediately relocate.

Thus, when the Patrol Team's beastfolk received Moluo's warning and kept people circling this aerial zone, that eagle beastfolk didn't notice any abnormality at all.

……

In the afternoon, when Yun Li learned from Ji Xuan that another batch of unfamiliar faces had arrived at the Tribe, a hint of surprise appeared on her face.

"Another one from outside?"

If the arrivals were only those beastfolk from Heiyan Shanmai, Ji Xuan wouldn't have brought this matter to her.

"Hmm, this was the matter that Lord Moluo reminded the Patrol Team about."

That male, because of A Li, was very friendly toward the Tribe, so friendly that people wondered if he had ulterior motives.

"Moluo said?"

Yun Li's brows furrowed even tighter as she asked Ji Xuan, "Did you send someone to investigate? Did you see what those beastfolk look like?"

And this was what Ji Xuan needed to tell Yun Li: "No, after hearing Moluo's warning, the Patrol Team's beastfolk immediately sent people to survey that area, but they didn't find the few beastfolk he mentioned."

After listening, Yun Li fell into thought; she didn't know whether Moluo's words were true.

Although based on their recent interactions he shouldn't be the kind of beastfolk who would lie to her, to the Tribe, the time they've known each other is short, and Yun Li doesn't even know his background, making her rashly fully trust that Moluo has no ill intent toward them on a matter concerning the Tribe's safety; Yun Li cannot gamble.

Thus Ji Xuan asked her, "Do you think Moluo's words are trustworthy?"

At that moment Yun Li only replied, "I don't know, but the beastfolk beside Moluo has been following me for the past few days before leaving; I will take him around the Tribe later."

Perhaps she could glean some useful information from Luosai.

Since Luosai can be kept by Moluo, he must have some purpose; some of his attitudes may reflect Moluo's true thoughts.

However, after hearing her, Ji Xuan fell silent for a while, then raised his hand to rub her head, "Don't take everything onto yourself; whether Moluo has a problem is something I, as Young Master, should verify."

Even though he didn't particularly like her getting too close to Moluo, he could still sense that A Li liked talking with Moluo; that male possessed knowledge and experience none of them had, so A Li was always happy after meeting Moluo and returning home.

That was a freedom they could not give her.

Yes, freedom—like an eagle chick with feathered tail finally soaring, like the end of a drought instantly ushering a thrilling rainy season; a part of A Li's restrained heart finally found release.

In a place no one could understand, she found a beastfolk who could converse with her normally, gaining a brief freedom.

Yun Li, being patted on the head like a cub, felt a smile inside yet felt reassured, "I understand, then I'll await your news on this matter."

She won't take Luosai to places he can't go to test his attitude.

Ji Xuan gave a "Hmm" and then naturally shifted to another topic, "A Li is still sleeping alone in the main house today?"

He had heard that she had been strolling with Leng Xiu at the Market this morning and that he had tied her hair, and he was asking whether Leng Xiu would accompany her to sleep tonight.

Yun Li's face showed an embarrassed expression, "Leng Xiu said he'll come accompany me tonight."

"And tomorrow?"

Ji Xuan lowered his head and asked, "A Li hasn't been with me for a long time."

He works on Tribe affairs daily and returns home very late, but that doesn't mean he forgets that when he has free time he should properly accompany his female; otherwise, judging by the attitude of the other Beast Husbands at home, they'd probably want him to spend his life as a solitary widower with his offspring at home.

This matter was certainly on Leng Xiu's mind; Leng Xiao, at least, had a hint of admiration for him, and wouldn't watch him spend the latter half of his life in such bleakness.

But Leng Xiu's face showed no sign of targeting him or Mu Qing; yet when coordinating with Leng Xiao to divert A Li's attention, he never missed.