Chapter 284: Increasingly Severe

Chapter 284: Chapter 284: Increasingly Severe

They’d been busy inside digging potatoes for a while, and now the last rays of sunset had all but faded, yet Zhu Xiu still hadn’t returned.

Xin Feng’s expression turned grave.

For the past few days, Zhu Xiu had been hunting alone. Worried about everyone at home, he always made sure to rush back before sunset.

But today, it was almost completely dark, and he still hadn’t returned.

"I’m going to the tribe entrance to check. Yan Lie, you look after Wanwan."

Xin Feng dropped his basket and was just about to turn and leave.

Shi Hua squeezed her way out of the crowd of beastmen in the plaza and hurried over, her face fraught with anxiety. "I heard there are a lot of Foreign Beastmen outside the tribe attacking the males! Mu Feng isn’t back yet. What about Zhu Xiu? Has he returned?"

’This must be the Bear Clan’s revenge,’ Bai Wanwan guessed. ’I just didn’t expect it to come so quickly.’

Her voice was tight. "He’s not back yet."

Shi Hua was distraught. "Do you think they could be..."

Then, she shook her head vigorously. "No, that’s not it. The Beast God will surely protect Mu Feng and Zhu Xiu. They’ll both come back safe."

Bai Wanwan reached out and took her hand. "That’s right. They’ll both be fine. Let’s not scare ourselves."

Before he left, Xin Feng again signaled to Yan Lie to keep a close eye on Bai Wanwan, then swiftly turned and headed for the tribe entrance.

"Wanwan, it’s not safe outside. Let’s go home for now."

After the last two incidents, Yan Lie was on high alert and refused to leave her side.

Not wanting any trouble to stir up at a time like this, Bai Wanwan nodded. She turned to Shi Hua. "Don’t panic. Nothing is confirmed yet, so we can’t let ourselves get worked up. Come on, let’s go home for now."

Shi Hua looked as if she had found her pillar of support, and her heart settled somewhat.

But no one was in the mood for conversation today. After they got home, they sat together, each lost in worried thoughts.

Only the cubs frolicked cheerfully at their feet.

"Wanwan, Shi Hua, are you hungry? You should eat something."

Shi Hua immediately shook her head. "I’m not hungry."

Bai Wanwan beckoned to him. "I’m not hungry. Don’t worry about it, just come sit with me for a bit."

Yan Lie set down the Fire Stone, walked over to her, and took her outstretched hand, only then realizing her palm was ice-cold.

He rubbed her hands, holding them tightly. "Don’t be afraid. It’s going to be okay."

They all prayed for such an outcome, but dreaded what news might actually arrive.

Just then, a sudden knock sounded on the stone door they had just closed.

Yan Lie’s head snapped toward the door, his expression guarded.

"Wolf cub, snake cub, protect your Mother. If any bad males get close to your Mother, you bite them. Hard."

’Of course, they’d have to get through me first.’

After instructing the cubs, he rose cautiously and walked toward the door.

"Who’s there?"

With one hand on the door’s latch, Yan Lie prepared to shift forms and attack.

But a moment later, a familiar voice came from outside. "Yan Lie, it’s me."

The tension in the air eased, and Yan Lie pulled the door open.

Standing outside was none other than his elder brother, Yan Chi.

"Brother, what are you doing here?"

"I was planning to leave two days ago, but I was worried about you. Now that I see you’ve all returned safely, it’s time for me to go back to my tribe. You have a Wife now, a family of your own. I hope you’ll be happy. Come back for a visit when you have some free time."

"Okay. Tell Father Beast and Mother for me that I’m doing well. Wanwan is wonderful to me, and I’m very happy."

Yan Chi clapped his younger brother on the shoulder. "I can see that. You silly kid, you’ve finally found your happiness. I’m leaving first thing tomorrow morning, so I won’t come by to say goodbye then."

At this, Bai Wanwan also came to the door. "Brother, travel safely. Please give my regards to Father Beast and Mother. We’ll come visit them when we have the time."

"Good, good. Yan Lie told me you’re expecting. Take good care of yourself. Father Beast and Mother will be overjoyed when they find out."

Yan Chi didn’t stay long. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, he turned and left.

He had been away from his own tribe for quite a while looking for Yan Lie.

The rainy season would soon be upon them, and he had to get back to care for his own Wife and young cub.

By the time Yan Chi left, the last vestiges of light had vanished completely.

Torches were lit throughout the tribe, and the plaza was filled with the sound of continuous wailing.

The Witch Doctors worked tirelessly, but more and more injured males were being brought back.

Bai Wanwan and Shi Hua couldn’t sit still, going to the doorway to peer outside every minute or two.

After doing this more than ten times, Shi Hua suddenly ran out.

A moment later, Bai Wanwan heard Shi Hua’s sobs drifting from the dimly lit path outside.

"Mu Feng, are you okay?"

Her voice was thick with tears and trembling uncontrollably.

’It looks like Mu Feng is in bad shape, too.’

Several males slowly approached. When Bai Wanwan saw that Zhu Xiu and Xin Feng were unharmed, the heart that had been lodged in her throat finally dropped back into place.

She hurried to meet them. "What happened? Are you hurt?"

Zhu Xiu’s face was stained with blood. Noticing her worried gaze, he immediately reassured her, "I’m fine. Mu Feng is only lightly injured."

Mu Feng spoke weakly. "It’s a good thing Zhu Xiu showed up when he did. Otherwise, I might not have made it back to see my Huahua."

Tears streamed down Shi Hua’s face, but she remembered to look up and say to Zhu Xiu with immense gratitude, "Thank you for saving Mu Feng."

"Don’t mention it."

’He couldn’t have just stood by and watched something happen to Mu Feng. If Mu Feng was hurt, Shi Hua would be devastated, and that would surely make Wanwan upset.’

Shi Hua wiped the tears from her face. "Mu Feng, go lie down in the room. I’ll go get a Witch Doctor."

Bai Wanwan raised a hand to stop her. "There’s no need to get a Witch Doctor. Just put this medicinal paste on him."

She had given him a quick check and confirmed that Mu Feng’s injuries weren’t life-threatening, so she hadn’t bothered to redeem the Extreme Effect Golden Sore Medicine.

’That stuff is too expensive; it’s best to avoid using it if possible.’

’Besides, males are physically tough. As long as he’s not dying, this paste and a little rest should have him recovering in no time.’

Shi Hua took it, her face filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Wanwan. I’ll put it on him right now."

As Shi Hua moved to take off Mu Feng’s Beast Skin Skirt, Bai Wanwan turned and headed outside.

Zhu Xiu reached out, taking her hand in his.

Bai Wanwan had questions for him anyway, so she squeezed his hand back, asking as they walked, "All these beastmen getting injured today... was it the Bear Clan?"

"Yes. They’re hunting Golden Lions."

’They killed the Bear Clan’s Young Clan Leader. This feud has gotten serious.’

Bai Wanwan said with concern, "They won’t give up this easily. I’m worried about you going out to hunt every day. Starting tomorrow, one of you three will stay home, and the other two will go out together."

Zhu Xiu shook his head. "That’s not necessary. I can handle it."

"Wanwan’s right," Xin Feng said, stepping forward to face him. "I believe you can handle those beastmen, but having to fight them and hunt at the same time... And now with Mu Feng injured, we’re going to face a severe food shortage this winter."

It wasn’t just them. With the Bear Clan causing so much trouble, the entire Golden Lion Tribe would be short on food.

Yan Lie nodded in agreement. "From now on, you two can take turns staying home. I’ll go out hunting every day. Mu Feng might be injured, but he’s a male; he’ll recover in a couple of days. Once he’s back on his feet and can help keep watch, we should be fine."

After some discussion, they all agreed this was the only way to ensure the females and cubs wouldn’t go hungry when winter arrived.

But they never could have imagined just how much more grim the situation was about to become...