Rebirth With the Beast_20

Chapter 104 continued...

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As they were about to set out, Lie called Jers over.

“What’s really going on with that Su Yi?” Lie and Jers were old friends; he voiced his doubts bluntly.

“I thought you didn’t care,” Jers teased.

Jers had always been frosty and never joked before. Lie looked at him in mild surprise.

“Don’t you think he’s too strange?”

Jers shook his head. “I don’t care. I only know he’s good to Tang Yu. That’s enough.”

Lie thought it over—true enough. Whatever Su Yi was, he hadn’t harmed anyone; he’d saved plenty, and he was also the partner of Jers’s friend.

Lie clapped Jers on the shoulder. “Alright. For your sake, whatever he is, I won’t target him.”

The large party trekked on for another half day, and before nightfall they finally saw their familiar valley.

Su Yi was sprawled on Xinoel’s back, leaning sideways to look down. From above, the valley looked like a bowl. A curtain of white mist ringed its rim; through its veils you could make out plants below and the traps Su Yi had set.

The rock walls were smooth. There had once been some plants clinging to them, but later they’d decided to clear those off—so beasts couldn’t use them to climb up, and with nothing blocking the view, the beastmen could spot danger faster.

Everyone was excited, especially the females and children who’d never seen the valley; little gasps kept bursting out of them.

The people in the valley soon spotted them and waved happily up at the sky.

By the time they all landed, one by one, in the central square, Su Yi had barely got his feet under him when something barreled at him.

“Mother-father!” piped a soft, milky voice. Su Yi felt his heart melt as a little snake slithered up his leg and wriggled onto his chest.

“Mother-father, mother-father.” Little Yilai flicked his tiny tongue, his small head swaying back and forth in front of Su Yi.

Su Yi broke into a grin—wasn’t this his most doted-on little treasure? He’d been gone nearly twenty days, and this little one had never been away from his parents so long.

Before Su Yi could say anything, the previously jubilant Little Yilai suddenly burst into tears. In his life, Su Yi bowed to no one—but he conceded defeat to Little Yilai’s crying powers. The kid could switch to “rainstorm” mode in a second; tears poured like they were free.

“What are you crying for? Who bullied you?” Su Yi said, glancing at Mino’s happy face. Mino gave a wry smile. “Who’d dare bully him? While you were away he practically became the valley’s little tyrant.”

Su Yi was about to reply when he felt another presence at his feet. He looked down to see Dino standing obediently at his side.

Dino’s eyes were red-rimmed; he carefully tugged Su Yi’s sleeve. Su Yi pinched his cheek, then set Little Yilai down.

“You two go play for now. I’ll take care of things here and come right back.”

The two kids clearly had a bellyful of things to say, but when they heard that, they backed away obediently.

Everyone would rest in the valley tonight. Even one night would be cold in this weather, so they had to arrange sleeping places properly.

The beastmen were easy—one night in the caves would do. Females and children were frailer, so they were assigned to the houses.

Lie organized everything methodically. In the end the little beastman and the ominous beastman were placed at Su Yi’s home.

Seeing Lie’s arrangements were sound, Su Yi took them back first to rest. Once home, he chatted with his two kids and briefly told them what had happened outside. Of course, he didn’t mention his brush with death.

When he mentioned that Tang Yu was pregnant, the two kids ran off delighted—they wanted to see the baby, even if you couldn’t see any baby yet.

The little beastman looked very ill at ease—he’d never stayed in such a clean house. The courtyard and interior floors were laid with clean flagstones. Their dirty feet left blush-inducing prints wherever they stepped.

Though Su Yi told them to look around freely, both boys sat primly on the stone stools and didn’t touch anything.

Now that it was cold, stone stools weren’t comfortable. Su Yi had made some seat pads from hides; with those, they were quite cozy.

Noticing their awkwardness, Su Yi fetched two pairs of straw slippers. He had them wash their feet first, then patiently taught them how to wear the slippers.

The little beastman found them very comfortable. He usually walked barefoot and often wore his feet bloody. Straw shoes weren’t as good as hide boots, but compared to bare feet they were much better—only downside was they slipped off easily.

“You two will stay here for now. Do you want one room together or separate rooms?” Su Yi asked, leading them to Little Yilai’s door.

Knowing Little Yilai, he’d probably cling to Su Yi and Xinoel these next couple days, so his room would be free.

“T-together,” the little beastman said quietly, eyes roaming the house.

Little Yilai’s “bed” was the entire floor of his room. The room sat slightly raised above the living area; you could sleep anywhere on the floor, which was covered with soft white hides and dotted with brightly colored pillows. A small table sat in the middle with some toys on it, and there was a tiny hammock in the corner.

Su Yi nudged them—he could tell they were curious. “Go on in and play.”

The older youth, though he looked to be in his early teens, was still a kid at heart. At Su Yi’s words he took the little beastman by the hand and led him in. Once inside they curiously touched this and that. Su Yi went to check the kitchen and found some food had spoiled—these two clearly hadn’t even gone into the kitchen while he was gone.

Chapter 104

Tang Yu was just about to sleep when he heard two children’s voices outside the door.

He didn’t want to move, so Jers went to open it. Outside were Little Yilai and Dino, who’d come running at the news; as soon as the door opened they ducked under Jers’s arm into the courtyard.

They scampered to the inner room in a flurry.

“Uncle! Uncle!” Little Yilai scrambled onto the bed to Tang Yu’s side, while the better-behaved Dino stood and stared at Tang Yu’s belly.

“Uncle”—Tang Yu had taught them to say that. It best expressed the closeness between the families.

Tang Yu cocked his head at Little Yilai, then smiled. “Not glued to your mother-father today? You heard I’m pregnant, didn’t you?”

Little Yilai nodded hard, then, like Dino, stared fixedly at Tang Yu’s stomach.

His belly was still covered by clothes, and he wasn’t showing yet—he wouldn’t even if he lifted his shirt.

Tang Yu meant to say you couldn’t see anything yet, but one look at the kids’ faces made him give up.

They looked at his belly as if there were something delicious under there.

He lifted his clothes, exposing his flat stomach.

Little Yilai let out a puzzled “Eh? Why can’t we see it?”

Tang Yu laughed, stroked his belly, and said, “Give it some time—it’ll show later.” That was what he said, but he wasn’t certain. Neither he nor the man before his rebirth had ever been “expectant mothers.” Especially here on the Beastman Continent, with partners of different species, symptoms and timelines could vary.

The dragon clan was so rare that hardly anyone knew how dragon babies were born.

After the two little ones lingered a while, Xinoel took them home.

When they got back, Su Yi already had dinner ready and was waiting. It was a rare clear day, so they ate at the stone table in the courtyard.

Little Yilai crawled into Su Yi’s lap as a matter of course and curiously eyed the two extra guests.

“Mother-father, who are they?”

Pointing, Su Yi introduced them. “The little beastman is Weir, and the older boy is Redra. They’ll stay with us for now. You two are not to bully them.”

Little Yilai snorted, took a sip of soup, then vowed, “I’m Little Yilai. Since you’re living at my house now, I’ll protect you like a big brother.”

Dino, mid-sip, spluttered his soup in a spray.

“You’re the youngest, okay?” He coughed red-faced and pointed at Little Yilai’s small frame.

Little Yilai flicked up his tail, opened his little mouth, and showed off a mouthful of tiny teeth.

“Hmph, my beast form is a mighty giant serpent. My beast-father is the greatest warrior around. If I say I’m the big brother, then I’m the big brother.” Su Yi’s response to such childish bluster was a flick to the head.

Little Yilai’s swagger deflated instantly.

Tear-eyed, he turned and accused, “Mother-father, why’d you hit me?”

“Why are you yelling at the table? If you’ve got the guts, hurry up and transform—can’t even take human form yet and dare to show off in front of me?”

Little Yilai huffed softly, twisted and slipped away into Xinoel’s arms.

Xinoel patted his head and helped pile food into his bowl.

Little Yilai rubbed against his hand, then threw Su Yi a triumphant look—as if to say, “Hit me? Fine, I’ll ignore you.”

Su Yi ignored him right back and focused on his meal. When he finished, he went to the other two and patiently taught them how to use bowls and chopsticks.

Little Yilai wouldn’t have it. Bristling, he crawled across the table and clambered onto Su Yi. Seeing him puffed up, Su Yi gathered him into a soothing hug.

After that he assigned an “arduous” task to Little Yilai and Dino:

Teach Weir and Redra how to use things in the house.

But the task barely began before Redra’s weakness put a stop to it. Weir also had no mood for Little Yilai’s special toys when he had a patient to care for.

Su Yi was tired too, and went to rest with Little Yilai in his arms. Dino immediately slipped into little-adult mode, helping Weir tend to Redra. Watching him, Su Yi couldn’t help glancing at the one in his arms—when would his own treasure finally manage a human form? Dino could already take charge; his Little Yilai was still like a nursling.

Early the next morning, visitors came looking for Su Yi—about Redra, demanding an explanation.

He’d wanted a good sleep and was annoyed to be disturbed.

They were beastmen who’d gone out with them last time, including the female who had fallen from a beastman’s back.

Su Yi stared at that female for a moment, then asked coldly, “I already heard from them about the private grudge between you and that ominous beastman.”

The surrounding beastmen didn’t understand, but the female’s face changed, as if remembering something.

“How about this—everyone gather at the square at noon, and we’ll settle accounts properly,” Su Yi said, giving the female another frosty look.

He actually didn’t know the details of their grudge; he was bluffing to rattle the female. The flicker on the female’s face told him his guess had hit the mark.

Before noon, Su Yi spoke with Weir. From the boy he learned that when Redra first appeared before him, he’d been picking fruit for the rogues—like the other captives.

Redra began bringing him food then. Weir felt that, as a beastman, he shouldn’t accept gifts from another beastman. But he was too hungry. The rogues gave them only a little food so they’d be too weak to run.

That way they stayed hungry and lacked the strength to escape.

The female met Redra around that time too. Seeing Redra was strong, he wanted Redra to take him away.

Redra refused and instead planned to flee with Weir. The female bore a grudge. When they made their escape, he secretly tipped off the rogues. That was how Redra was captured.

Weir was still a child and his account was sparse, but Su Yi could imagine just how perilous it had been.

Before Su Yi had decided how to handle it, the valley suddenly erupted.

He thought it must be that female stirring trouble again.

But when he rushed over, the one shouting and raging turned out to be Ian.

Ian? What kind of person was Ian?

Like Xinoel, Ian was an ominous beastman—but worse off than most. Even those who treated others coldly had been ruthless to him. Yet Ian stayed kind; to protect a female he’d endured humiliation and abuse.

That tragic past had left him withdrawn and taciturn. He rarely raised his voice, hardly even spoke above a murmur.

And that Ian was now screaming hysterically, his face—normally prettier than many females’—twisted and feral.

“Why—why are you here?” he shouted at a female.

That female was none other than Loxy.

Su Yi had already found Loxy suspicious before, but they’d been on the road and he hadn’t dug deeper.

Seeing Ian’s reaction now, an ominous guess struck him—could this female be that person?

The thought dropped him into an ice cellar.

Linking Ian’s past with the rogue beastman who’d followed Loxy when they met—and remembering the way that beastman stared at Loxy as he died—Su Yi recoiled. Loxy looked like a repeat offender—someone who made him both disgusted and afraid.

Yes—afraid.

Right now Loxy was performing like a master actor, body trembling as he stammered, “Who are you? I—I really don’t know you.”

He had a few scrapes and his hair was a mess, as if someone had yanked at him. Set against Loxy’s pitifulness, Ian looked like a hag.

Behind Loxy stood Gil, glowering at Ian. Many people were on Loxy’s side; a beastman beating a female enraged them. If Jers and Jero hadn’t been standing with Ian, Gil might have taken a swing.

Most people were condemning Ian for hitting a female. When they saw Su Yi arrive, they made way for him.

Su Yi looked around and clapped for quiet, then pointed at someone at random and had him recount what had happened.

Roughly: Loxy had come to help make breakfast and ran into Ian, who’d also come to help.

Ian snapped—rushed in and beat him while berating him.

Su Yi nodded, moved to Ian’s side, and tugged his arm.

Ian’s feral face, on seeing someone he trusted, flooded with aggrieved tears.

Su Yi put an arm around him and murmured in his ear, “Is it him?”

Ian’s body stiffened, then he gave the faintest nod. The way his tears sprang the instant he saw Su Yi twisted a knife in Su Yi’s heart.

“Jers, take him home first,” Su Yi said, glancing at Jers.

Before Jers could move, Gil snapped, displeased, “No. He hit someone—you can’t just walk away.”

Su Yi’s gaze swung to Gil, sudden and sharp.

Gil flinched under it, but with his future partner struck, if he didn’t seek redress he’d be a laughingstock.

Su Yi’s thoughts raced. The bias toward females was ingrained over millennia. And the past between Ian and Loxy was known only to them. Even if Su Yi dragged it into the light, so long as Loxy denied everything, there was nothing he could prove.

“Back then, when Loxy was taken by ominous beastmen, someone rescued him—you’ve said as much, right?” Su Yi looked at Loxy. He couldn’t prove anything with old accounts, but he still had to say it.

If Loxy were truly shrewd, he’d try to downplay everything. Even if he denied it, with Su Yi’s standing, just voicing it would plant doubt in people’s minds about Loxy’s character.

Doubts would grow. If Loxy wanted to live here in peace, he’d have to show Su Yi respect.

Loxy was indeed clever. At those words, he shed the frail act and smiled at everyone. “There’s no need to get so worked up. These scrapes look scary, but Ian only shoved me. I’m sure there’s been a misunderstanding—maybe I look like someone he knows and he mistook me.”

Smooth as ever—he made himself seem magnanimous and oh-so-understanding.

Since Loxy had backed down, Su Yi couldn’t press further. He looked at Ian and whispered, “Say you got the wrong person. Apologize.”

Ian, still tearful, stared at Su Yi in disbelief. He opened his mouth to protest, but Su Yi shot him a look.

Face white, Ian turned and walked over, one slow step at a time.

He looked so pitiful that members of the Winged Leopard clan who’d come at the commotion wanted to speak up for him.

Aide stopped them at once—this was an internal valley matter; outsiders shouldn’t interfere.

Ian bit his lip until it nearly bled, and after a long moment squeezed out a few words:

“Sorry. I mistook you.”

Loxy smiled immediately. “It’s fine, it’s fine—I said it had to be a misunderstanding. The Beastman Continent is huge—people are bound to look alike.”

Many felt it was too easy on Ian—that Loxy had gotten the short end. But seeing Jers and the others, they knew that if this blew up, they’d be the ones to suffer—who told the valley to have a mighty dragon?

And so the matter fizzled out. At noon, the female with a grudge against Redra announced he wouldn’t pursue it. After all, if even a beastman hitting a female could be smoothed over by a few of Su Yi’s words, and seeing how well Su Yi treated Redra—if he pushed it, he’d only end up swallowing his own teeth.

Su Yi knew this would tarnish his image, and Ian would be hurt.

That night Jero came to Su Yi’s house and laid out Ian’s story in detail—more than before.

Chapter 105

Back then, because Ian was an ominous beastman, his own tribe drove him out. Unlike other ominous beastmen, he couldn’t transform into his beast form. Surviving in a forest full of dangers without the ability to transform was incredibly hard.

To stay alive, Ian tagged along with a group of other ominous beastmen. He was often mocked and bullied, but they still shared food with him.

Everything changed—like falling into a nightmare—the day a female named Loxy appeared.

Loxy had been abducted. His tribe was very weak; even though they knew ominous beastmen had taken him, they had no way to fight a band of them.

Ian was still young. He had seen all kinds of cruelty, but it was the first time he’d met a female like Loxy who didn’t despise him.

As mentioned before, Ian ended up deceived by Loxy. Loxy told him he liked him and wanted to be with him.

To spare Loxy from humiliation, Ian secretly helped him escape. The ominous beastmen flew into a rage and vented all their anger on Ian.

At the time, no amount of humiliation felt like too much to Ian; he was willing to endure anything for the one he loved. But later he realized how laughably foolish he’d been.

The ominous beastmen dumped him in the forest.

Traumatized in both body and mind, the only thing keeping Ian alive was the thought of finding Loxy, the one he had set free.

After Loxy returned to his tribe, he constantly worried Ian would come looking for him. He was afraid Ian would reveal that he’d professed love and tricked Ian into saving him. There was no way he would ever be with an ominous beastman—especially one like Ian who couldn’t even transform. If his tribe found out, they would surely cast him out.

Knowing he couldn’t lose everything he had, Loxy resolved that if Ian did appear, he would make sure Ian was silenced forever before he could tell the truth.

When Ian finally appeared near Loxy’s tribe, barely clinging to life, he followed their prior arrangement: he left a mark outside the tribe and waited for Loxy to come.

Loxy really had been checking every day, waiting for Ian to show up, so he patrolled the outskirts daily.

At last, he found him.

Jero didn’t spell out what happened next, but with Su Yi’s intelligence it wasn’t hard to piece together. If Dilsen hadn’t shown up and saved him, Ian would probably have died there in the forest.

Su Yi let out a sigh. He’d known in broad strokes that Loxy had done something bad, but he hadn’t expected Loxy to go so far as to try to kill Ian just to hide his own ugly deeds. 

“I know, you all must want to avenge Ian. I want to avenge him too. But what we know, those newly arrived beastmen don’t know. If we act openly against Lox, it will only make those people dissatisfied. The snow season is almost here—once it arrives, the valley will be very dangerous. At this time, we cannot destroy the nearly completed tribe over personal grudges. Of course, revenge must be taken, but it doesn’t have to be done in the open.”

Jerro came this time for exactly this reason: he wanted to know how Suyi planned to take revenge. By now everyone understood Suyi’s temperament—he was extremely protective of his own, and he would never willingly swallow such an insult.

“What do we need to do?” Jerro’s spirits lifted when he heard Suyi say revenge would be taken.

Suyi smiled. “Leave this matter to me. Too many people involved will only raise suspicion.”

With Suyi’s promise, Jerro finally left happily. Originally, Suyi had wanted to comfort Ian, but seeing the direction Jerro went, he knew Jerro would probably tell Ian about it.

What happened today had been a real setback for Suyi, but the circumstances at the time had been far too unfavorable. Ian had been the first to strike, and worse, it had been a beastman striking a female. Even if they had every justification and laid out all the facts, in the end people would still think Ian was in the wrong.

Sinor walked over and patted Suyi’s shoulder. “Don’t think too much. Did you forget you fell ill last time because you overworked yourself?”

Suyi turned and held Sinor’s hand. “Don’t worry, I’m not overthinking it.”

Just before bedtime, Tang Yu came over with Jels. During the day, Tang Yu hadn’t come out because he had been drowsy from pregnancy. But later, when he heard what had happened, he became furious. Jels, worried Tang Yu would get too upset, had brought him out for a walk.

They hadn’t gone far when Tang Yu saw Lox, who still greeted him warmly. Jels thought Tang Yu would ignore him, but unexpectedly Tang Yu smiled and even chatted with Lox for a while. After Lox left, Tang Yu’s expression darkened.

“Let’s go to Suyi’s house.”

“We can’t show hostility toward Lox openly. On the contrary, we must treat him very well.”

The moment he saw Suyi, Tang Yu blurted this out.

“I understand that too,” Suyi nodded. “If Lox can pretend to be magnanimous, then we can pretend to be friendly. As for revenge, that will be done in private.”

The next day, the Winged Leopard clan departed with the females and children willing to follow them back. The ones left behind were only Lox—originally from Gil’s tribe—and Weir and Redra, who were temporarily staying in Suyi’s house.

The young female who had once been close to Suyi had actually wanted to stay too. But after seeing how many children were already in Suyi’s home, he realized that even if he stayed, he couldn’t cling to Suyi as before. So in the end, he also chose to go with the Winged Leopards.

It was undoubtedly the best choice—after all, the Winged Leopards were strong, and they had the powerful Ed to protect them.

Suyi wasn’t surprised watching them leave. The result was exactly as he had expected.

After the Winged Leopards left, Lie suddenly visited Ian’s house. At the time, Ian was dazing in the courtyard. His condition these past two days had been poor.

“...Ian.” Lie called softly, but Ian didn’t respond. So Lie stood quietly to the side, waiting for him to come back to himself.

He waited so long his legs grew numb.

When Ian finally snapped back to awareness, he saw Lie’s handsome face, faintly twisted from the long wait.

“Tribe leader, why are you here?” Ian quickly stood, but because of sitting too long, plus skipping several meals, he grew dizzy the moment he rose. His vision went black.

Fortunately Lie reacted quickly, catching him before he could fall.

After a moment Ian’s sight cleared, and he lowered his head, embarrassed. For a beastman to be this weak was humiliating.

Feeling Lie’s warmth on his arm, Ian instinctively struggled a little. Lie was worried but had heard from others how sensitive Ian was, so he didn’t dare to hold him too firmly.

Ian tilted his head to glance at Lie. Tang Yu had once taught him the phrase “smiling tiger.” Back then, Ian hadn’t understood what it meant. But now, looking at Lie, he suddenly thought of that phrase.

Lie was the opposite of Sinor. Sinor was cold-faced but warm-hearted. Lie always wore a smile, but the smile never reached his eyes.

“What do you want with me?” Ian asked again.

Reminded of his purpose, Lie coughed lightly. “I believe you.”

Ian blinked at him in confusion, then his eyes suddenly grew red and he ducked his head.

The sight made Lie lose focus for a moment. He knew Ian was beautiful, but though Ian always insisted he was a strong beastman, at that instant—with his eyes reddened—he looked breathtaking.

It was wrong to think that way, but Lie couldn’t help himself.

“What good is your belief?” Ian muttered, turning away and walking toward his room, clearly unwilling to continue the conversation.

Lie, instead of leaving, quickly followed. Ian glared back at him, and Lie’s ever-smiling face showed a rare trace of awkwardness.

To cover it, Lie said, “Ian, Suyi handled this matter very well. What happened back then—only we know. If we openly target Lox, those newcomers will think we’re deliberately bullying them.”

Ian lowered his lashes and nodded. Jerro had told him the same. He knew Suyi was acting for his sake. Though unhappy, he still obeyed and refrained from going after Lox again.

“Aren’t you one of them too?” Ian looked sideways at him.

Lie smiled wryly. “I only met them by chance. They were attacked by stray beastmen, and I just happened to save them. That’s all our connection is.”

Looking at Ian’s slightly stiff posture, Lie’s eyes glinted with amusement. This time he truly felt happy—though he didn’t know why.

Seeing Ian staring silently, he continued, “To show my sincerity, I want to avenge you.”

The words startled them both.

Ian immediately frowned, displeased. “Tribe leader, you must be mistaken. I’m a beastman, not some weak female. I also have many friends willing to help me—I don’t need you to worry.”

Lie gave a bitter smile. Before coming, he’d even asked Dilsen and the others for advice, knowing how sensitive Ian was. Yet he had still blurted out something so foolish.

For one beastman to stand up for another wasn’t unusual. But between two not-so-familiar people—especially with Ian’s special status—it could easily be misunderstood.

By the time Lie was tactfully sent out, the last rain of the rainy season suddenly fell without warning. Everyone bustled about gathering their things. Only Lie walked calmly through the valley, unhurried. Many greeted him from afar, and some even ran up to offer him shelter from the rain.

He kept his patient smile, but his thoughts had long flown elsewhere.

Not far ahead, he saw Jels carrying Tang Yu.

Tang Yu had wanted a walk, but the rain came quickly. The valley ground was uneven, and Jels, worried he might stumble, had picked him up.

Since returning to the valley, Tang Yu hadn’t been in good spirits. Minuo had come, heard what had happened, and sternly ordered him not to overexert himself.

Now that the two valleys had merged, many had visited Tang Yu after learning of his pregnancy, bringing him fruit and other treats.

Children were the hope of this wild beastman continent. Reproduction was taken for granted, yet extremely difficult. The environment was harsh, most females were frail, and conceiving was rare. If a newly bonded pair quickly conceived, it meant their tribe was blessed by the Beast God.

With the valley newly united, and Tang Yu and Jels producing a child so soon, it was a joyous omen for these devout people.

That was also why, in the matter of Lox, everyone had ultimately chosen to back down. The newcomers, having lost their tribes and been taken in with kindness, were already grateful. They had finally found stability—none of them were foolish enough to risk it over one female.

At first they had worried that living with ill-omened beastmen would bring misfortune. But time had shown the opposite: life was improving.

And now, with a new life soon to be born, everything looked even more auspicious.

Lie walked up to Jels, glancing at Tang Yu in his beast-hide raincloak. “This rain is cold already. You shouldn’t have him out in it.”

Jels lowered his gaze to Tang Yu, who was drowsily nodding off. “Mm, I’ll take him back now.”

Tang Yu stirred at the sound of their voices, blinking to see Lie’s long, snow-white hair.

“You two look like Black and White Impermanence,” Tang Yu suddenly said with a laugh.

Neither Jels nor Lie understood the reference, but seeing Tang Yu laugh to himself, they both smiled too.

And when Tang Yu saw them smiling as well, he burst into louder laughter.

Chapter 106

"I know you all must want to avenge Ian, and I do too. But the new orcs don’t know what we know. If we insist on doing something to Loxi, it will surely make those people resentful. The snowy season is almost here, and the valley will be dangerous then. At a time like this, we can’t let personal grudges destroy the tribe we’re about to establish. Of course, revenge must be taken, but it doesn’t have to be done openly."

This time, Jero came to find out how Su Yi planned to take revenge. Now everyone understood Su Yi’s character—he was someone who fiercely protected his own and wouldn’t be willing to suffer in silence.

"What do we need to do?" Jero, hearing that Su Yi intended to take revenge, couldn’t help but feel invigorated.

Su Yi smiled. "Leave this matter to me. Too many people would only arouse suspicion."

With Su Yi’s promise, Jero happily left. Su Yi had originally wanted to go comfort Ian, but seeing the direction Jero left in, he understood that Jero would probably tell Ian about this.

Today’s events were a significant setback for Su Yi, but the situation had been very unfavorable at the time. Ian had struck first, and it was an orc hitting an omega. Even if they were in the right, if all the facts were laid out, people would still think Ian was in the wrong.

Xinor walked over and patted Su Yi’s shoulder. "Don’t overthink it. Have you forgotten that your previous illness was due to overexertion?"

Su Yi turned and took Xinor’s hand. "Don’t worry, I’m not overthinking it."

As bedtime approached, Tang Yu came over, accompanied by Jares.

Tang Yu, being pregnant, had been sleepy during the day and hadn’t gone out with Jares. Later, hearing about what had happened, he couldn’t help but fly into a rage. To prevent Tang Yu from getting angry, Jares took him out for a stroll.

But they hadn’t walked far when Tang Yu saw Loxi, who was still enthusiastically greeting him.

Jares had thought Tang Yu would give him the cold shoulder, but unexpectedly, Tang Yu smiled and chatted amiably with Loxi for a while.

Only after Loxi left did Tang Yu’s expression drop.

"Let’s go to Su Yi’s house."

"We can’t openly be unfriendly to Loxi. On the contrary, we should be very kind to him." As soon as Tang Yu saw Su Yi, he blurted out this sentence without context.

"I understand this logic too. Loxi can pretend to be magnanimous, and we can pretend to be friendly. As for revenge, it should be done in private."

The next day, the Winged Leopard Tribe people left with the omegas and children who were willing to go with them.

The only ones left behind were Loxi, who was originally from Gil’s tribe, and Vil and Redra, who were temporarily staying at Su Yi’s house.

The little omega who had been very close to Su Yi had also wanted to stay. But seeing so many children in Su Yi’s house, he knew that even if he stayed, he wouldn’t be able to cling to Su Yi. So in the end, he also chose to go to the Winged Leopard Tribe.

Going to the Winged Leopard Tribe was undoubtedly the best choice. The Winged Leopard Tribe was strong enough, and they had the powerful Aide to protect them.

Su Yi watched them leave without surprise. This outcome was exactly as he had expected.

After the Winged Leopard Tribe people left, Xie suddenly visited Ian’s house. At that time, Ian was spacing out in the yard, his spirits not very good these past few days.

Xie called out softly, but Ian didn’t react. Xie had no choice but to stand aside, waiting for Ian to come back to his senses.

He waited for a long time, so long that Xie felt his legs go numb.

When Ian came to his senses, he saw Xie’s handsome face, which was slightly distorted at the moment.

"Chieftain, why are you here?" Ian hurriedly stood up, but because he had been sitting for a long time and hadn’t eaten properly for several meals, he suddenly felt dizzy when he stood up.

Fortunately, Xie was quick and steadied him, preventing Ian from falling.

Ian took a moment to recover his vision and then lowered his head in embarrassment. What embarrassed Ian was that, as an orc, he was so weak—it was really shameful.

Feeling the warmth of another person’s arm, Ian couldn’t help but struggle slightly. Xie, although worried about Ian, had heard from others that Ian was a very sensitive person, so he didn’t dare to forcefully hold onto Ian.

Ian tilted his head to look at Xie. This Xie was a person who seemed like a smiling tiger. The term "smiling tiger" was something Tang Yu had told Ian. At first, Ian didn’t understand what it meant, but seeing Xie, he inexplicably thought of such a word.

Xie was the opposite of Xinor. Xinor was a cold-faced, warm-hearted person, while Xie always wore a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

"What do you want with me?" Ian asked again.

Reminded by Ian, Xie suddenly remembered and coughed lightly.

"I believe you." Xie suddenly blurted out.

Ian first looked at Xie in confusion, then his eyes suddenly reddened, and he immediately lowered his head. This moment made Xie a bit dazed.

Xie knew Ian was a very good-looking orc. Although Ian always emphasized that he was a strong orc, the moment his eyes slightly reddened, Xie felt an instant of stunning beauty.

Although such thoughts were inappropriate, Xie couldn’t help but associate them with Ian.

"What’s the use of you believing me?" Ian turned and walked into the house, seemingly unwilling to continue the conversation.

But Xie didn’t take the hint and leave; instead, he quickly followed.

Ian turned and glared at Xie, whose usually clear face showed a hint of embarrassment.

To avoid the awkwardness, Xie spoke up: "Ian, Su Yi did the right thing. The people who know about what happened years ago are all on our side. If we openly harm Loxi, it will make the newcomers think we’re deliberately bullying them."

Ian lowered his eyelashes and nodded.

Jero had also told him this. Of course, he knew Su Yi was doing it for his own good. So although he was unhappy, he still followed Su Yi’s arrangement and didn’t target Loxi anymore.

"Aren’t you one of them?" Ian turned his face to look at Xie, whose handsome face showed a hint of helplessness.

"I also met them by chance. They were attacked by rogue orcs, and I happened to pass by and saved them. Well, that’s the nature of my relationship with them."

As Xie spoke, he looked at the somewhat restrained Ian, his eyes flashing with a hint of amusement.

This time, Xie was genuinely happy. Although he didn’t understand what he was happy about.

Seeing Ian silently looking at him, Xie couldn’t help but continue, "To show my sincerity, I want to avenge you."

As soon as these words came out, not only Ian but even Xie himself felt there was something wrong with him. Ian immediately frowned and said displeasedly, "Chieftain, you’re new here. Isn’t there some misunderstanding? I’m an orc, not some weak omega, and I have many friends who are willing to help me. I don’t need the chieftain to worry about me."

Xie inwardly sighed. Before coming, he had specifically done his homework with Dirsen and the others. He also knew Ian’s sensitive personality, but he still blurted out such words like a foolish boy. For one orc to stand up for another wasn’t a big deal. But if it was someone not very familiar, combined with Ian’s special status, the implications would make people can’t help but overthink. When Xie was tactfully driven out, the last rain of the rainy season suddenly started without warning.

People around began to busy themselves going home to gather things. Only Xie, unhurriedly, walked through the valley. Many people greeted Xie from afar, and some even ran over to give him something to shield from the rain. Xie maintained a seemingly patient smile, but his mind had already wandered far away.

Xie hadn’t walked far when he saw Jares carrying Tang Yu coming toward him.

Originally, Tang Yu had gone out for a walk, but after only a few steps, it started raining. The ground in the valley, although mostly rocky, had some uneven areas. Jares was worried that Tang Yu might carelessly fall again, so he picked him up. Since returning to the valley, Tang Yu’s spirits hadn’t been very good. Later, they called Mino, who, after hearing about what had happened, issued a strict order forbidding Tang Yu from being mischievous.

Now, the children who had been cooped up at home were finally let out by Su Yi. After these days of recuperation, Redra’s body had recovered. Because Redra was the oldest, Su Yi specifically instructed him to take good care of the three younger ones when they went out.

Everyone in the valley had seen Redra’s dying condition before. Such injuries were usually fatal, but Redra was now completely fine.

Redra, like Dino, had very obvious ominous orc traits. His furry ears twitched, and several young omegas felt an itch in their hearts when they saw Redra’s ears.

Omegas liked the beast forms of orcs, not only because orc beast forms were fierce but also because some orc beast forms were fluffy and very likable.

Now, ordinary people were no longer afraid of ominous orcs.

A not-yet-adult omega suddenly walked up to Redra. "You, are you called Redra?"

The omega looked a bit shy and, seeing Redra turn to look at him, immediately lowered his head in shyness.

Because of the previous omega, Redra didn’t have a good impression of omegas. When the omega approached, Redra couldn’t help but become vigilant.

With the omega was another not-very-big omega. Seeing the two standing foolishly, the other omega also came over, being a bit bolder than the others.

"Don’t be afraid. We mean no harm."

Vil pulled Redra and was about to turn away. The two omegas, seeing this, immediately rushed over anxiously.

They blocked the two. "We just want to be friends with you. We really mean no harm."

At this time, little Eli and Dino, who were walking ahead, turned their heads and looked at the two omegas in confusion.

"Why aren’t you walking?"

The two omegas also knew little Eli and Dino. They walked up to little Eli and then lowered their heads to chat with him.

After chatting for a while, they went together to Tang Yu’s house. They wanted to go to Tang Yu’s house to make their own pottery. Tang Yu was lying on a rocking chair sunbathing, wrapped in a thick beast hide.

When the children arrived, Tang Yu only lifted his eyelids and then let them play by themselves.

Little Eli, because he hadn’t transformed into human form, could only watch the pottery-making with wide eyes from the side. It was Dino who was the best at making pottery among them.

Although Dino didn’t want to talk, faced with everyone’s questions one after another, Dino had no choice but to open his mouth to explain.

Children easily become friends. After playing like this for a while, they quickly became friends.

By noon, the children had to go back to eat, so they reluctantly parted ways.

After returning, all four were obviously very happy.

Su Yi didn’t ask what they had done but pulled them into the yard to eat.

Su Yi made hot pot because early in the morning, when he came back, he felt the weather was a bit cold and wanted to eat something hot to warm up.

Redra and Vil were eating hot pot for the first time and curiously watched Su Yi busy himself. Su Yi put the sliced meat into the pot and let them prepare to eat.

At this moment, little Eli noticed that Xinor wasn’t there. "Huh? Where’s my beast father?"

"You eat first. Your beast father has some business with the chieftain."

Vil’s chopstick skills weren’t very good. He shakily picked up a piece of meat and put it in his mouth. The hot pot soup was spicy, but not too spicy, so the children could handle it.

"This is very good, just a bit spicy." Vil said, raising his chopsticks to pick up a second piece.

Sitting next to him, Redra tilted his head to look at him, seemingly finding his eating manner interesting.

Vil smiled at Redra. Redra noticed that these past few days, Vil often smiled, always looking very happy.

"The snowy season is almost here. You two should pick a place these next few days and have everyone help you build a house." Su Yi said casually, reaching out to wipe the grease from Dino’s mouth.

Vil widened his eyes and asked uncertainly, "We, will we have our own house?"

Su Yi looked at Vil. "Of course. These next few days, when you have nothing to do, take a look around the valley."

After eating, Vil excitedly pulled Redra out. Although living at Su Yi’s house was comfortable, they still felt it was inconvenient to stay there all the time.

The two of them wandered around nearby. According to Vil’s idea, he actually wanted to be near Su Yi’s house. But Redra said that this would disturb Su Yi’s family life. Although Vil didn’t understand Redra’s meaning, he still obediently followed Redra’s advice.

They finally chose a quieter, more secluded location as their future home.

The house construction began the next afternoon. Dirsen, Xinor, Jero, and old Taylor all worked busily until the afternoon, and then Xie brought a few people to help.

These past few days, Xinor had to help build the house and couldn’t go out with Su Yi. Su Yi discovered a very inconvenient problem: to go out of the valley, he had to have an orc transform and take him out.

Su Yi went to find Xie and explained the problem. Xie immediately followed Su Yi, walking back and forth in the valley several times. They planned to choose a place to chisel out an entrance for everyone to use.

For safety reasons, this entrance couldn’t be too large, to prevent large wild beasts from rushing in. The entrance was chosen at a place where the rock layer was weak, and several strong orcs began to excavate. The entrance was two meters wide and three meters high, neither too large nor too small. It could allow Ian or Su Yi to drag prey in and out of the valley, but larger wild beasts couldn’t enter.

The wild beasts on the orc continent, except for a few small dragon species, were generally quite large.

Of course, even if this entrance was smaller, there would still be wild beasts that could pass through. For safety, Su Yi had them make a stone door, which was placed on the valley side. Grooves were dug into the ground, and the stone door could only be pushed left and right, like train tracks.

The stone door was very heavy and required two orcs to push it together. Su Yi did this to prevent individual orcs from secretly opening the stone door alone.

The stone door could only be opened from the inside, further preventing people outside the valley from secretly opening the stone door from the outside.

There were already sentry posts set up in the valley. For a good view, the sentry posts were placed on the stone walls of the valley. Previously, there were four points, each with an orc guarding.

Now that a new stone door had been made, a sentry post was also set up on the stone wall above the stone door.

Originally, according to everyone’s opinion, it was the young and healthy orcs who would take turns on guard duty. But Su Yi suddenly proposed another method, which surprised everyone.

Many tribes had old, weak, disabled, or sick orcs. These orcs often relied on their relatives to live, and those without relatives needed the tribe’s help.

The feeling of being helped or relying on others made these orcs very uncomfortable.

Su Yi proposed letting these orcs be the sentries. Although these orcs were old, weak, sick, or disabled, most of them could fly. As long as they could fly and had no problems with their ears and eyes, they could take on this responsibility.

"You might ask me why I’m not using so many healthy orcs and instead using them?" Su Yi’s eyes held a smile. Seeing everyone’s puzzled faces, Su Yi didn’t keep them in suspense and continued, "Healthy orcs are used for more important tasks. These orcs, although they can’t do much, can still contribute to the tribe. This way, they won’t feel like a burden and can live more comfortably."