Chapter 39

For ten straight days, all the beastfolk huddled in the cave without going out, Leng Xiu and Leng Xiao took turns guarding the entrance, listening to the outside.

In the depths of the cave, some beastfolk could not stand the harsh conditions inside and wanted to take a look outside, but Leng Xiu and Leng Xiao stopped them; those who really kicked up a fuss were scolded back by the chieftain.

"If you want to go out, fine, but once you're out don't come back—what time is it now, still causing trouble?"

The usually honest and kind chieftain lost his temper for the first time, and now nobody dared to cause trouble again.

But another five days passed, and even the chieftain could not help growing anxious; Leng Xiu listened to the outside and whispered to Yun Li:

"For now there's no movement outside; I'll go out for a bit. If the situation is good, I'll come back right away. If it's bad, don't worry about me—stay close to Leng Xiao, he'll protect you."

Yun Li had been trapped in this cave for over ten days; her desire to go out was about the same as the other beastfolk's, if not stronger.

But hearing Leng Xiu's words, she still gripped his hand, voice full of anxiety and worry, saying, "Can't someone else go? Why does it have to be you?"

Mu Qing's fate outside was unknown, and now only Leng Xiu and Leng Xiao remained as the beastfolk who treated her well.

Leng Xiu embraced Yun Li, saying, "I need to go out to see how things are outside. A Li, don't worry—I won't come to harm."

They still wanted to be together for a lifetime.

Leng Xiao couldn't help but interject sourly, "Brother, have you hugged enough? If you're scared, why don't I go out instead?"

Hearing that, Yun Li gave Leng Xiao a slight glare—what time was it, and he still had the mind to vie for her affection and be jealous?

Leng Xiu, however, knew Leng Xiao's temperament better than she did; being jealous was genuine, but he also truly did not want to see Yun Li hurt.

After all, long before reaching adulthood they had already endured many life‑and‑death trials; if they died protecting their mates, there would be nothing to regret, and at least they had already received what was due them.

"Take good care of A Li."

Leng Xiu patted his brother on the shoulder, and Leng Xiao reached out, clenched his fist, and punched his brother's chest, saying, "Don't really die—if you do, A Li will be mine alone."

Leng Xiu gave a small smile, then his expression turned serious, and he walked to the cave mouth.

During those fifteen days, guarding the entrance wasn't completely safe; occasionally they could hear something scurrying against the stone slab, and once in the middle of the night the slab loosened, letting a spider leg thrust in.

Fortunately, there were beastfolk on night watch who woke Leng Xiu and Leng Xiao in time, preventing the outside spider from getting in.

"Ugh~"

The stone slab opened slowly, but only enough for a hand to slip through; the outside wind blew in, bringing with it a strong acidic stench.

Yun Li nearly fainted from the stench, but Leng Xiao pressed her into his embrace, allowing her to avoid this biochemical attack.

But as soon as she lifted her head, the stone slab slammed shut quickly, and Leng Xiu's figure vanished from the cave entrance.

Yun Li lowered her head in disappointment into Leng Xiao's embrace, not knowing what was happening outside; just moments ago, when the slab opened, she had seen sunlight.

Although warm sunlight was right beside the wall, she, terrified of death, dared not even poke her head out to take a look.

"Don't be afraid, my brother is smart—he'll be fine."

They had thought Yun Li was worried about her brother; although Leng Xiao felt a twinge of jealousy, he and Yun Li were alike—both a little worried that her brother might encounter danger outside.

If her brother were gone, A Li and he would have only each other.

Time dragged on in the agonizing wait, when suddenly a rhythmic knocking came from outside the stone slab.

Yun Li instantly perked up, "It's A Xiu!"

"Hurry, open the stone slab."

The chieftain also grew excited—Leng Xiu had returned safely; did that mean the beast tide was over and they could leave the cave?

The other beastfolk's eyes lit up instantly—they had truly had enough of this cave; although the cold season was dangerous, cultivating beastfolk could still occasionally go out for a breath of air.

Unlike this time, when even cultivating beastfolk were forbidden to go out—if it weren't for Leng Xiu's strong strength suppressing them, and the chieftain with the old beastfolk staring grimly at them, those with a short temper would have long since slipped open the slab and gone out on their own.

After the stone slab opened, Leng Xiu stood outside with a grim face and said:

"The beast tide hasn't ended; we need to get out of here as soon as possible."

Hearing that, the chieftain glanced outside unwillingly to accept it, saying, "I haven't heard a single wild beast's sound out there—Leng Xiu, did you get it wrong?"

Leng Xiu knew the chieftain and most beastfolk were still reluctant to leave; he suppressed his inner anxiety and said, "You go down the mountain and see for yourselves."

Rather than waste words here with them, it would be better to let them go check the situation down the mountain themselves.

Down below, beast corpses lay everywhere, while the carrion‑eating insects were eating as they walked, swarming thickly toward the east.

Nearby, things that had crawled out of the water were coiled all over; if Leng Xiu hadn't been cautious, they might have just been bitten by a giant crocodile and made into food.

So Leng Xiu would not stay here no matter what; taking advantage before the many‑legged monsters crawled over, he wanted to hurry with Leng Xiao and take his mate away.

"A Xiu"

Yun Li noticed that Leng Xiu, holding her, had left the cave heading southeast, and she couldn't help but ask in surprise, "You're not worrying about the Tribe anymore? There are still so many beastfolk in the Tribe."

But as soon as she said it, Yun Li regretted it, because if the beast tide hadn't ended, Leng Xiu and the others would still have to divide their attention among all those beastfolk, meaning she might end up being neglected.

"Never mind them—let them see if they can catch up on their own."

At this point Leng Xiu only wanted to look after his mate and his brother; if they really waited for the chieftain and the others to dawdle, who knows when they'd organize a retreat, and by the time evening fell they might not be able to run at all.

Those aquatic creatures, even once ashore, are not easy to provoke, especially given their numbers; he would only stay behind after eating his fill, waiting for the Tribe's main force to leave together.

After descending the mountain, Leng Xiao saw the corpse‑eating ants' abnormal behavior and, being sensible, asked nothing; in any case, his brother would not harm him and A Li.

But they left so quickly—what about the Crystal Core their family had hidden?

Yun Li still needs plenty of Crystal Core for her cultivation; now that they've left the Tribe, she must also have the ability to protect herself, otherwise if one day they have to leave her for a while, how could she manage with zero self‑defense?

"Brother, the Crystal Core—did you dig up and bring the Crystal Core we hid when you left?"

They can make beast hides later by hunting themselves, but the purifying spirit grass needed to refine Crystal Core only grows in the rainy season, and the batch they harvested last year has long been used up.

If they leave now without taking Crystal Core, what will A Li do?

Without Mu Qing, can the two of them look after A Li as well as they used to?