Chapter 412: Bullying the Weak with Strength

She clearly understood that the Bear Clan's protection of her was out of goodwill.

But…

She simply did not need such protection.

Cheng Shuili walked slowly along the street, the dim yellow streetlights no different from those in human society; if the shops on either side lit up, she would have a moment of daze, wondering if she had returned to her original world.

Cheng Shuili suddenly stopped, slightly furrowed her brow, confirmed the scent in her breath was correct, then inhaled again.

This familiar scent was……

The smell from inside Bao Chi's bakery?!

This scent was extremely faint, mixed among the strong medicinal smell and the beastmen's own aura, almost imperceptible.

But Cheng Shuili's sense of smell was exceptionally keen, and moreover the scent inside Bao Chi's bakery was truly distinctive—that wheat and milk fragrance, once smelled, would not be easily forgotten.

She immediately became alert, her sharp gaze sweeping toward the direction the scent came from.

That was the entrance to a narrow, dark alley beside the street; Bao Chi's bakery was not in that direction.

After a moment's thought, Cheng Shuili lightened her steps and slipped silently into the shadows at the alley's mouth.

She triggered the Concealer's Ring, and for a moment she seemed to blend into the night.

Deep in the alley, a low conversation could be faintly heard.

「The clan leader got beaten up over this matter. That human's situation is unclear, but the Bear Clan is definitely not someone we can provoke! 」

「Although the Bear Clan is said to rank second among the five major beast clans, do they really accept a human as their king? What scheme is that old bear, Xiong Ji, up to? Does that human know of the token's existence? Could it be that he's been deceived by that old bear? 」

「This isn't something we should worry about! The urgent task is to spread the news that the Bear King is a human. As far as I know, the strong beastmen in the Bear Clan's territory are unaware of this. 」

「By then… they might even start fighting among themselves! We'll take advantage of the chaos to grab the medicine and also avenge the clan leader! 」

「Exactly! 」

After saying that, the alley suddenly fell silent; Cheng Shuili waited patiently, and after a moment, the silence was broken by chewing sounds—as if the food was too delicious—then that leopard beastman sighed and said: 「Bao Chi's baking skills are unbeatable; the king summoning him to provide us free food is truly a great deed! 」

「Exactly, when on duty we've never eaten such good stuff before! But given the current situation in the clan, the king probably won't give Bao Chi his proper compensation, right? 」

「Hah, what else can that kid do besides bake bread? Contributing to our leopard clan ought to be a given! Still wanting payment? How dare he dream of it! If it weren't for the fact that this side of Beastmen Town is under the Rat King's jurisdiction, we wouldn't dare cause trouble on his turf, and the profits from his bakery should also include a share for us! 」

The beastman who had just been speaking toward Bao Chi, upon hearing this, seemed to recall how prosperous Bao Chi's bakery was; jealousy welled up, and his words came out laced with malice:

「If you ask me, we should just go straight to Bao Chi and demand it! With his meek, obedient demeanor, once we speak up, he has no reason not to give! 」

Another beastman seemed to take another bite of bread, chewed a few times, then said: 「We've pretty much done what we needed to do; the Bear Clan beastmen also have other brothers handling things. Or… hehe. 」

He laughed in an extremely lewd manner; just listening made Cheng Shuili feel uncomfortable.

「Going to find Bao Chi now? We're brothers, after all—just asking for some protection money, right? 」

「Protection money? What era is this, still playing that game? You also said… we and he are brothers, so giving brothers some Game Coin to spend isn't appropriate, is it? 」

The voices paused for a moment, then the two leopard beastmen suddenly laughed together. Although it was just laughter, the excitement and greed within it almost overflowed.

Cheng Shuili narrowed her eyes in the shadows.

It turned out these leopard beastmen weren't just planning to snatch the medicine amid the chaos; they also intended to stir up internal strife in the Bear Clan as revenge.

Moreover, they also didn't intend to let their fellow clansman Bao Chi off the hook.

Quite a scheming calculation they've made.

It's just unfortunate that she overheard it.

If it were some other familiar beastman, Cheng Shuili might have just turned and left; inciting internal strife in the Bear Clan is far more serious than a single beastman being bullied.

But unfortunately, it's Bao Chi…

She could righteously say she owed nothing to any beastman—except Bao Chi.

The Game Coin she earned cooperating with Bao Chi during that time did indeed give her a great advantage.

And now Bao Chi is in trouble… If she hadn't run into him, it would be fine, but since she has……

Hearing footsteps approaching from outside the alley, Cheng Shuili silently retreated, blending like a phantom into deeper darkness without making a sound.

She watched two sturdy leopard beastmen emerge from the alley, their faces bearing ill-intentioned smiles, striding quickly in a certain direction.

Cheng Shuili raised her eyebrows slightly and immediately followed.

The two leopard beastmen chatted as they walked, completely unaware they were being tailed.

「What do you think that Bao Chi kid is up to now? The king ordered him to provide meals for all brothers on duty; he should still be at the encampment, right? 」

The encampment they referred to is a temporary gathering place for each clan in Beastmen Town.

Severely ill patients stay in the hospital or on nearby streets, while family members or beastmen who have authority in their clans temporarily reside in the encampment.

「Exactly, the first squad went far out; returning will take a while, so they surely haven't had dinner yet. Bao Chi, even if he had the courage of a bear's heart and a leopard's gall, wouldn't dare return to his territory right now! 」

The two exchanged a grin, as if they could already see Game Coins beckoning to them; their steps quickened, wishing they could fly straight to Bao Chi right then.

The two leopard beastmen clearly knew the layout of Beastmen Town well; they threaded through several alleys, avoided the main roads, and soon arrived at a temporarily constructed encampment area.

Here it was even more chaotic than the streets, with various tents crowded together in disorder.

Cheng Shuili saw that in one area a leopard clan flag fluttered; several larger tents surrounded an open space where a bonfire burned, and some leopard beastmen sat or stood, conversing in low voices.

And beside a simple stove in the corner, a familiar figure stood with his back to them, busily kneading dough.

It was Bao Chi.

He looked much more exhausted than when he was in the bakery, his ears slightly drooping, his tail listlessly hanging behind him.

On the stove lay some freshly baked loaves; the wheat and milk aromas stubbornly penetrated the encampment's mixed smells, outlining a small warm zone.

「Look, over there! 」 one leopard beastman pointed with his chin toward Bao Chi, his face splitting into a greedy grin.

「Let's go. 」 the other beastman licked his lips and led the way over.

Cheng Shuili slipped her hands into her pockets and followed closely behind.

The Concealer's Ring worked far better than she had imagined; despite the many beastmen about and the chaotic glances coming and going,

but even if those gazes occasionally landed on her, they would quickly shift away.

They saw Cheng Shuili as if they were looking at a stone, an ordinary tree, and they wouldn't pay much attention.

This is the effect of the Concealer's Ring!

"Bao Chi!" the leopard beastman raised his voice, his tone deliberately familiar and laced with condescending arrogance.

Bao Chi's body stiffened, he slowly turned around, and upon seeing the newcomer, he showed clear impatience, then put down the dough in his hands and wiped his hands.

Cheng Shuili thought he finally had a future, could face these guys on his own, and he finally spoke.

His voice was low, even a whisper: "Brother Leopard Fang, Brother Leopard Claw… you… why are you here? Is there not enough bread? I, I'm still making it, the next batch will be ready soon."

Cheng Shuili: "..."

Good.

Still so socially anxious, but improving—at least he dared to express his dissatisfaction, even if he didn't say it out loud.

If there were a perceptive beastman, he would have left by now, but Leopard Fang and Leopard Claw came to cause trouble, so they naturally wouldn't leave so easily.

Leopard Fang chuckled, stepped forward, rudely grabbed a freshly baked loaf, tore off a piece and shoved it into his mouth: "Hmm, the taste is not bad. Leopard Chi, your skills are getting better and better."

Leopard Claw also came over, slinging a hand over Leopard Chi's shoulder with considerable force: "Brothers out there have been working hard for the tribe; you're just making bread here, that's easy."

Leopard Chi's shoulders shrank, he forced a smile: "Yes, yes, thank you, elder brothers, for your hard work."

"Hard work… indeed it is," Leopard Fang swallowed the bread, shifted tone: "Especially this running back and forth, it costs a lot. Look, the king only lets you provide food; the travel expenses for these trips, the costs of greasing palms—none of that is covered."

Leopard Chi's face paled; he understood the subtext: "I… I don't have much Game Coin on me…"

"Not much?" Leopard Claw's hand on his shoulder tightened, his nails almost digging into the flesh: "Isn't your bakery doing great? The shop on Rat King's territory must be raking in gold—don't cry poor to us."

"Exactly," Leopard Fang stepped closer, lowered his voice, threatening: "We're all brothers of the same tribe; now the tribe is in trouble, you should contribute and support us brothers—isn't that right? After this passes, we brothers will still remember your kindness."

Leopard Chi's lips moved a few times, his eyes filled with struggle and helplessness; he knew these "brothers'" nature—once this opening is made, there will be no peace from now on.

Must refuse!

Even if I get beaten, I must refuse!

If Cheng Shuili knew what he was thinking now, she would feel immensely relieved! She never fears any trouble on Leopard Chi's side; she only fears that she would stand up for Leopard Chi, while Leopard Chi is a muddlehead who can't be helped.

Leopard Chi's lips trembled, his eyes struggled even more.

He took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, finally squeezing out a few words from between his teeth: "No… I can't…"

The voice was soft, yet it made Leopard Fang and Leopard Claw both freeze.

"What?" Leopard Claw thought he had misheard, the hand gripping Leopard Chi's shoulder jerked upward with force, almost lifting him: "Say it again?"

Leopard Chi winced, his face turned pale, but this time he didn't retreat; he lifted his head, though his eyes still held fear, a rare stubbornness showed: "I say… I can't. My Game Coin… is saved… saved for paying staff, expanding the shop… I can't give it to you…"

"Good kid! You've grown some spine, huh!"

Leopard Fang snorted in anger, grabbed Leopard Chi's collar: "Give face, take no face! Looks like we need to teach you a lesson, or you won't know who's the elder brother!"

He raised his fist, wind whistling as he swung down.

Leopard Chi instinctively shut his eyes, his body trembling slightly from fear, yet he didn't beg for mercy.

But the anticipated pain never came.

A slender yet extraordinarily steady hand, in midair, firmly gripped Leopard Fang's wrist.

Leopard Fang felt his wrist as if clamped in iron vises; no matter how he strained, he couldn't budge an inch.

He stared in shock, meeting a pair of calm, waveless black eyes.

Cheng Shuili had somehow already stepped between them; her figure appeared somewhat thin in the fire's flickering light, but the chill emanating from her made the surrounding air stagnate a bit.

"Who?!" Leopard Claw was both shocked and angry, instinctively trying to push the obstruction away, only to find his hand also blocked by an invisible force.

Cheng Shuili released Leopard Fang's wrist, then gently pulled Leopard Chi back, freeing him from Leopard Claw's control.

She brushed off nonexistent dust from her hands, tone indifferent: "His money is his own; what does it have to do with you? Instead of watching your own pockets, you reach into others'—is that your upbringing?"

Leopard Fang rubbed his aching wrist, eyeing Cheng Shuili with suspicion.

Only then did he notice this suddenly appeared human female, her aura restrained to near perfection; had she not acted, they would have been completely unaware.

"Human? How are you here? Dare to meddle in Leopard Tribe affairs!"

Leopard Claw's attitude instantly hardened, his tone carrying the arrogance of a strong one facing the weak, as if he had forgotten how easily Cheng Shuili had stopped his move earlier.

"Human?" Leopard Fang clearly sharper, he instantly realized the recent rumors were also about a human. Moreover, the Beastfolk Village could be called such because at night only beastfolk could stay; now a human appears here…

Leopard Fang sized up Cheng Shuili, eyes doubtful: "Are you the new king of the Bear Tribe?"

Cheng Shuili neither admitted nor denied.

She merely lifted her chin slightly, her gaze sweeping over Leopard Fang and Leopard Claw's doubtful faces, finally settling on their twitching ears from tension.

The commotion drew many gazes; hearing this, nearly all the beastfolk stood up.

Wherever she appears in the Beastfolk Village, Cheng Shuili is the focus of all eyes.

Most importantly, during the plague, the Beastfolk Village's security had been entirely taken over by the Bear Tribe.

The Bear Tribe guards, originally just watching from afar, upon hearing "new king," instantly acted as if receiving a silent order, swiftly and orderly surrounding them.

The leading Bear Tribe guard captain was exceptionally tall; he walked to half a step beside Cheng Shuili, slightly bowed, voice low: "Your Majesty, what are your orders?"