Just as a beastman was lifted by Long Mo’s dragon claws, a torrent of molten lava surged over the spot he had just been standing.

“Run! Run!”

The other beastmen, terrified out of their minds, abandoned the supplies and ran for their lives.

The fastest dashed across the ground, while those slower were rescued by Long Mo and Ying Yuan. But as more orcs clung to them, their flight speed began to drop.

Below them, the ground was now covered in lava; one misstep could mean certain death.

One beastman glanced back toward the camp, his heart sinking.

“It’s over…everything’s gone…”

“How are we supposed to trade for salt now, without supplies?”

“Forget the salt! Let’s focus on staying alive!”

The beastmen muttered complaints, their skin blistering from the scorching heat as they clung tightly to Long Mo and Ying Yuan, barely able to move or speak due to searing pain.

---

Back at the Tribe

In a tidy little courtyard, Hu Jiao Jiao sat on a stone bench, sewing animal-skin clothing.

“Jiao Jiao, I finished my embroidery! Does it look right?” Lu Mian’er asked, holding out her creation with pride.

The vest, made from gray animal hide, featured a small black eagle embroidered on the chest, Lu Mian’er had stitched it herself.

Hu Jiao Jiao had been making clothes for Long Mo when Lu Mian’er and Hu Jing stopped by. Mian’er, intrigued, asked to join, and Jiao Jiao had welcomed them both to work alongside her.

She had crafted bone needles herself, while the thread came from her space. Almost all beastmen have things that they are unwilling to reveal to other beastmen. The two did not doubt the origins of these things and just thought that they were made by Hu Jiaojiao.

Hu Jiao Jiao glanced up to respond but was interrupted by Hu Jing’s enthusiastic voice.

“It’s beautiful, Mian’er! That eagle looks exactly like Ying Yuan’s beast form! You’re so talented!”

Lu Mian’er blushed, shaking her head.

“It’s all thanks to Jiao Jiao teaching me. Jiao Jiao, thank you for teaching me how to do it,” she said warmly, lowering her voice and reddening as she added, “I hope Ying Yuan will like it…”

“He’ll love it, no doubt about it!” Hu Jing assured her with a fierce grin. “If he doesn’t, he’ll have to deal with me!”

Hu Jiao Jiao couldn’t help but laugh, amused by Hu Jing’s usual brashness.

“Hu Jing, what about yours?” Hu Jiao Jiao asked mischievously.

Hu Jing’s smile faltered as she tried to hide her vest, but Lu Mian’er playfully snatched it up.

Unlike Mian’er’s eagle, Hu Jing had embroidered a small yellow tiger onto her black leather vest, representing her own beast form, as she didn’t have a partner.

But her little tiger was stitched crookedly, giving it a goofy, almost clumsy look.

Hu Jiao Jiao stifled her laughter, her face turning red as she bit her lip. She had even sketched an outline for them to follow, yet somehow, Hu Jing had managed to create an adorably lopsided tiger that resembled the handiwork of a young child.

“Hu Jing, this little tiger really looks just like you…”

Lu Mian’er covered her mouth, laughing softly.

Hu Jing’s face turned beet red as she grabbed the vest back, hiding it behind her, protesting:

“It doesn’t look like me! I’m not that ugly!”

“Besides, this is way harder than it looks. I’m done with it!” She slammed her needle down onto the stone table, causing a loud crack as a long fissure appeared across the surface.

Hu Jiao Jiao’s lips twitched. She is worthy of being the best friend of the heroine in the book. She is so strong!

After the two left, Hu Jiao Jiao carefully put away the newly made clothes. Besides the two outfits she had made for Long Mo, she had also crafted a vest for each member of the Fox family, each with a little fox symbol matching their beast form.

Twenty days had flown by, and she still didn’t know if Long Mo’s journey was going smoothly.

During this period, in addition to checking the potato seedlings every day, Hu Jiaojiao also cultivated two small vegetable plots next to her home, and planted some radishes and rapeseed flowers using the seeds in the space.

Radishes can be pickled and stored, and rapeseed can be pressed for oil. If they can be grown, they can be planted on a large scale next year to improve life in the tribe.

When her work was done, it was just past midday.

The children, bursting with energy, had dragged Long Xiu to the river to fish—still craving the taste of the grilled fish she’d made for them once. They had yet to return.

As Hu Jiao Jiao sat alone in the shade to rest, a memory of a dream from ten days ago drifted into her mind.

In the dream, Long Wu had tried to kill Hu Qinglu, but Long Mo had arrived just in time to save him. Yet suddenly, a volcano erupted, releasing a surge of scalding red lava that jolted her awake. Since then, she hadn’t dreamt anything related.

Thankfully, in the dream, she had seen Long Mo escape the volcanic eruption.

But… her dreams always warned of life-or-death situations. Why had she dreamt of it this time if Long Mo was safe?

“Hu Jiao Jiao! Ying Yuan’s team has returned, and the Chief wants to see you!”

Just as she was beginning to worry, a voice called from outside.

Ying Yuan was back!

Could something have gone wrong on the salt journey?

Hu Jiao Jiao looked up to see one of the beastman who frequently assisted the Chief.

“I’m coming.”

As they rushed toward the Chief’s quarters, Hu Jiao Jiao noticed the beastman anxious expression, his face dripping with sweat.

“What happened? The salt trading group wasn’t supposed to return for another three months—why are they back so soon? Did something happen to Long Mo?” she asked without thinking.

“I don’t know. The Chief just told me to come fetch you,” the beastmen replied, shaking his head.

Frowning slightly, Hu Jiao Jiao nodded. “Alright, let’s hurry then.”

To save time, the beastmen transformed into a tiger and carried Hu Jiao Jiao on his back.

It was rare for Hu Jiao Jiao to ride on a beastman in beast form—only once before, when she had returned from the wandering beastmen lair on Hu Qinglu’s back. Hu Qinglu had taken great care, moving slowly to avoid any jolts.

Today, however, the tiger was in a hurry, and Hu Jiao Jiao had nearly fallen off several times. She clung to his fur, eyes closed, as the wind slapped her face like a thousand tiny blades—a ride more thrilling than any rollercoaster.

By the time they arrived, Jiao Jiao staggered off the tiger’s back, her stomach churning.

She never wanted to ride an “beast vehicle” again.

“Hu Jiao Jiao, you’re here.” The Chief approached with a worried expression.

“Chief, where’s Long Mo?” Hu Jiao Jiao asked, rubbing her temples. “Did something happen to him?”

Seeing her distress, the Chief quickly reassured her, “Don’t worry, Long Mo is fine.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, Hu Jiao Jiao glanced around and spotted Long Mo and Ying Yuan standing nearby. Her face lit up, and she raised a hand to wave at him.

“Long Mo…”

But as soon as she spoke, a delicate, unfamiliar female stepped out from behind Long Mo, shyly clutching his animal-skin cloak in an oddly close gesture.