Chapter 5

Of course, Cheng Youyou was among the crowd—there was no helping it. That man’s physique was exactly her type. Under the sunlight, his silver hair gleamed strikingly. His tall, lean frame and the sharply defined muscles along his back radiated explosive power. He stepped onto the platform and turned around, revealing his face to Cheng Youyou.

His features were exceptional—deep-set brows and eyes exuded an oppressive intensity, and his raven-black pupils resembled bottomless abysses, glinting with a chilling edge. His gaze swept across the crowd, pausing briefly on Cheng Youyou crouched beneath the shade of a tree—then quickly moved on. So quickly it felt like a trick of her imagination. But in that fleeting moment of eye contact, her instincts screamed danger. It wasn’t her imagination.

This man was Ji Xuan, the tribe leader adored by females and followed by males.

On either side of the platform stood two of the original host’s beast-husbands, Mu Yu and Ziwu. Neither spared her a glance.

Cheng Youyou’s eyes flicked toward a certain part of Mu Yu’s body. Hopefully, his “functionality” was still intact. But thinking of the absent Mu Feng made her feel oddly guilty. Had the original host really ruined him?

Everyone was here—even she, the so-called “trash”—so why wasn’t he?

Why was she feeling guilty? It wasn’t her who drugged him. But then again, what’s the difference between the original host’s actions and hers now?

Ji Xuan’s lips parted slightly, and his deep, magnetic voice echoed across the plaza: “I’ve gathered everyone here today to make an announcement.”

It snapped Cheng Youyou out of her thoughts. As a sucker for voices, she couldn’t help but look up at his towering figure.

“This year, the sea beast tribe has demanded a thirty percent increase in the usual supplies.”

“What! They’re getting more outrageous by the year—this is daylight robbery!”

“Exactly!”

“Every winter, our food stores run low. If they take even more, how are we supposed to survive?”

“Without coarse salt, the males might manage, but the females and young won’t make it.”

“Hmph! While everyone’s worrying about salt, some shameless trash is using it to wash her face.”

Lu Xi’s shrill voice cut through the chatter, reaching every ear. Instantly, the square fell silent. All eyes turned to Cheng Youyou. Her lips twitched helplessly. The original host’s baggage was endless. She didn’t care about the other beastmen’s stares, but the three gazes from the platform were impossible to ignore.

Yes, the salt distribution was based on the amount of food a male hunted.

The original host’s beast-husbands were the tribe’s top hunters, so they received the most salt. Somehow, the original host had heard that coarse salt could cure her facial pustules. So she claimed all the salt from her four beast-husbands. As a result, the tribe’s elite hunters hadn’t seen a grain of salt in ages.

Salt did have disinfecting properties—but it had zero effect on her face.

“Yeah, how could that trash do something like that?”

“Stupid and selfish…”

Amid the disgusted murmurs, Lu Xi’s smug gaze locked onto Cheng Youyou.

Just as Cheng Youyou was about to speak, a crisp young voice interrupted, “She used her beast-husband’s share of salt. If you want to wash your face with salt, tell your beast-husband to hunt more and trade for it.”

Zi Wu stood on the platform, his expression flat and emotionless. His sudden statement stunned the entire crowd. Even Mu Yu looked dumbfounded, staring at Zi Wu in disbelief. Didn’t he hate Cheng Youyou?

Ji Xuan’s gaze flickered between Zi Wu and Cheng Youyou, sharp and probing.

Cheng Youyou looked up in surprise, meeting Zi Wu’s eyes across the crowd. Golden sunlight reflected in his pupils, which seemed slightly larger than before, glowing like amber.

Zi Wu did dislike Cheng Youyou. But he’d always made sure she had enough to eat—he couldn’t forget the pleading look in his father’s eyes. Even though his father had been missing for a long time, Cheng Youyou hadn’t lost weight. In fact, she’d gotten even rounder. Maybe it was last night’s moonlight—so bright it made her eyes look unusually radiant. But then he remembered her usual behavior and Mu Feng, who was still bedridden.

Zi Wu looked away.

“Hmph. Even if she washed her face with gold, it’d still be disgusting.” With that, he turned and walked off.

Lu Xi burst into mocking laughter, but before she could add more—

“Ahem. From now on, everyone will only receive their own share of coarse salt. No excess distribution,” Ji Xuan’s deep voice rang out from the platform.

With that, the matter was officially closed. No one would bring it up again.

Lu Xi opened her mouth, silently mouthing, “Trash, your face is revolting.” She was jealous of Cheng Youyou—her pig-like body, her hideous face, and her filthy stench. Yet she had a good father and the tribe’s finest beast-husbands, while she had to settle for leftovers. Why?

Cheng Youyou didn’t react at all. Honestly, Lu Xi was right—her face was repulsive. But she didn’t care. She perked up her ears, listening intently to Ji Xuan’s words.

Surviving in this beast-world was priority number one. A pretty face couldn’t feed you.

Of course not.

Ji Xuan continued discussing salt trades and preparations for the coming winter.

Meanwhile, a cold, piercing gaze clung to Cheng Youyou like a parasite. She didn’t need to look to know whose it was.

Let him stare. It’s not like she’d lose a chunk of flesh.

Even after the meeting ended, that gaze didn’t waver. Honestly, with Mu Yu glaring at her like that, could he even eat today?

The beastmen slowly dispersed in small groups.

Cheng Youyou rubbed her stomach, which was now playing a symphony of hunger. Her limbs felt weak—this body couldn’t handle hunger at all. She was just about to plan another fish-and-mushroom roast when the thought alone made her mouth water. Suddenly, a towering figure loomed over her, blocking the harsh sunlight and casting a heavy shadow.

Cheng Youyou was forced to look up—and met a pair of icy, golden eyes brimming with cold hostility.