Chapter 286: Solving the Problem

Chapter 286: Chapter 286: Solving the Problem

Bai Wanwan fell silent for a moment before speaking. "Zhu Xiu, go wash up. After we have dinner, you’ll accompany me to see Clan Leader Jin Cang."

"Alright."

Xin Feng had already prepared a large meal of meat for Zhu Xiu and Yan Lie, who had been busy all day.

Bai Wanwan also sat down and had dinner with her Beast Husbands.

Only the cubs were still at that carefree age; no matter how chaotic the outside world became, the little siblings remained unaffected.

Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, they piled into a heap and rolled around on the floor.

After patting the cubs’ heads, Bai Wanwan turned to Xin Feng and Yan Lie. "Zhu Xiu and I are going to find the Clan Leader to discuss something. We’ll be back soon."

Xin Feng replied in a gentle voice, "Alright. After I finish up things around the house, I’ll come get you."

After making these arrangements, Bai Wanwan took Zhu Xiu’s hand and left.

She had thought she would have to cross the entire Central Square to find him at his home.

But she had been walking for less than two minutes when she spotted the Clan Leader.

He was surrounded by several females.

"Clan Leader, you have to help us! When the males go out, they either get injured or come back empty-handed. What are we going to do if this keeps up?"

If they hadn’t stockpiled some food a while back, they would be starting to go hungry already.

In just a few short days, Clan Leader Jin Cang seemed to have aged several years.

He raised a hand, gesturing for quiet. "Everyone, don’t worry. These difficulties are only temporary."

"Then when can we drive off those Beastmen from the Bear Clan?"

"That’s right! The rainy season will be here soon..."

"We only have enough food to last a little over ten days."

The clamorous voices rose one after another, and it was starting to give Bai Wanwan a headache.

No wonder Clan Leader Jin Cang looked so much more haggard than when she’d last seen him a few days ago.

Just then, another group of Beastmen returned, crestfallen, carrying their haul.

There were more than a dozen males, several of them injured, but they were only carrying three or four animals.

Jin Cang noticed and frowned, asking, "Is this all you caught?"

One of the males cursed through gritted teeth, "Those Beastmen from the Bear Clan attack us every time we’re hunting, letting our prey escape time and time again."

If this continued, they could only barely avoid going hungry for now; there was no way they could stockpile enough food for the snow season.

"Clan Leader, we’ll all starve if this goes on!"

The male who had spoken ripped off his torn Beast Skin Skirt, threw it on the ground, and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Clan Leader, let’s just take some men and wipe out the Bear Clan’s den! We’re the sacred Golden Lion Tribe! Why should we have to put up with the Bear Clan’s abuse?"

"Yeah! Clan Leader, let’s attack them! Let the Bear Clan get a taste of this for themselves."

’It wasn’t that Jin Cang hadn’t considered it.’

’But all the back and forth would mean missing the window to stockpile food.’

’Besides, if they went all the way to the Bear Clan’s territory to attack, any injured members wouldn’t be able to get timely treatment. The best-case scenario would be that both sides were left battered and broken.’

’That wasn’t a result he wanted to see.’

’The Golden Lion Tribe had been in decline for years without the appearance of a Holy Female.’

’He had to preserve this remaining spark, waiting for the day Bai Wanwan was willing to become Jin Yi’s mate. Then, he could build the Golden Lion Tribe back to its former glory.’

’The current difficulties were temporary; he couldn’t afford to sacrifice any more of his males.’

As the crowd grew more agitated, he raised his hand again, signaling for silence.

The Golden Lions still held a great deal of respect for their old Clan Leader.

Jin Cang’s face was etched with weariness. "Everyone, calm down. I have considered your proposal. But acting rashly will only get us all hurt, and we’ll still end up hungry and injured."

"But Clan Leader, are we supposed to just take this?"

Clan Leader Jin Cang shook his head. "They’ve sent this many males to attack us, which means their own food supply must be just as scarce. We’ll engage in a war of attrition and see who breaks first."

"But the Bear Clan can endure the cold better than we can. They can still go out to find food during the snow season."

"For now, go get your wounds treated. I need more time to think about this..."

Jin Cang called over the nearby Witch Doctors and had them tend to the injured males.

"Clan Leader..."

Bai Wanwan spoke up, stepping forward slowly.

Jin Cang turned around. Seeing Bai Wanwan, he managed a faint smile, his gaze sweeping over her swelling belly.

"It’s chaotic here. Have your Beast Husband take you somewhere else. Be careful not to get jostled."

"Clan Leader, I came here specifically to find you."

"To find me? Is there something you need?" Though his voice was filled with exhaustion, he was still patient with her.

Bai Wanwan didn’t hesitate, getting straight to the point. "Clan Leader, I wanted to discuss the food shortage with you."

"Mm, with the Bear Clan causing all this trouble, it will certainly affect our stockpiles. But don’t you worry. If you don’t have enough food, I’ll have the males bring some to you."

Bai Wanwan had always known that Clan Leader Jin Cang treated her with special favor.

’Thinking about everything that had happened, a suspicion formed in her mind.’

’So, Jin Cang had known she was a Holy Female all along?’

’Ever since she arrived in the Golden Lion Tribe, nothing Clan Leader Jin Cang had done had made her uncomfortable.’

’But she didn’t want her secret exposed, either.’

’She’d deal with that later.’

She shook her head. "We should have enough food. I wanted to discuss the tribe’s food shortage with you, Clan Leader."

’She had her System Space; there was no way she could starve.’

’She felt a little guilty, which was why she wanted to step up and help share the burden in any way she could.’

Hearing this, Jin Cang’s expression immediately turned serious.

"Go on, what did you want to say?" A flicker of hope appeared in his eyes.

"Well, I know of a plant that is very easy to grow and very filling. The females don’t need high-intensity exercise, so they don’t have to eat as much meat. If we can grow this plant, we can at least guarantee that the females and cubs won’t go hungry."

"What kind of plant?"

Jin Cang’s eyes lit up. If what she said was possible, it would solve the problem that worried him most.

"It’s a tuber. You can roast it directly in the fire. Once it’s soft and tender, it tastes great. I think the females and cubs would really like it."

Bai Wanwan finished laying out her request. "However, I’m not yet sure if I can get them to grow. My previous attempts all had problems. I came to find you today, Clan Leader, to ask if you could give me a plot of land. I want to try planting on a larger scale. If it’s successful, we can make it through this snow season."

If any other female had said this to him, Jin Cang might have hesitated.

But Bai Wanwan was a Holy Female, one who had even managed to escape from Wandering Beasts. Perhaps she truly could bring a miracle to the tribe.

With practically no hesitation, Jin Cang agreed at once.

"Alright!"

He even asked proactively, "There isn’t much open land in the tribe. Would the plot next to the forest be big enough?"

That was the exact plot Bai Wanwan wanted. Few people went there, and it was more than large enough.

"That should be enough. Thank you, Clan Leader." A faint smile appeared on Bai Wanwan’s face.

Perhaps influenced by her smile, Jin Cang’s mood finally lightened, and he revealed his first real smile in days.

"You’re the one helping us solve our problems. I should be the one thanking you."

Bai Wanwan was about to speak when she looked up and saw a group of Beastmen striding quickly toward them from the distance, a look of surprise appearing on her face...