Chapter 23

The older male was none other than Mu Rui, the shaman Wukai had invited from the Falling Leaf Tribe. As soon as he arrived at the cave, he discovered that the female had already safely delivered two cubs. Both the cubs and the mother were completely unharmed—an unprecedented feat in the beast world. He immediately noticed the herbal broth simmering in the hollowed-out stone. He didn’t even need to taste it; just the faint bitter scent was enough to dispel most of his travel fatigue. He could confidently say that whoever brewed this medicine was deeply knowledgeable in herbal lore and pharmacology.

Mu Rui’s gaze followed the crowd’s and landed on the herbs in Ji Xuan’s hand, his eyes gleaming. One glance was enough—these herbs posed no risk to pregnant females. In fact, they were highly beneficial to the body.

But he said nothing. If Cheng Youyou were expelled from the tribe, he could take her back to Falling Leaf. Such a skilled healer—if they failed to recognize her worth, he wouldn’t feel guilty about claiming her.

Cheng Youyou stepped forward, locking eyes with Zuo Wa, about to speak—when Lu Xi gently tugged her wrist and pulled her behind her.

Just like that, Lu Xi’s strong figure blocked Zuo Wa’s malicious gaze.

For some reason, a warm current surged in Cheng Youyou’s chest—a long-lost sense of safety flickered to life. Maybe, even in this unfamiliar beast world, someone could accept her as a soul from another realm.

Then Lu Xi’s voice rang out across the square, loud and clear: “Zuo Wa, why are you meddling in things that don’t concern you?”

“If you’ve got that much free time, go fix your beast-hide skirt. It’s either full of holes or showing too much skin.”

Watching Lu Xi’s combat power spike, Cheng Youyou was stunned. So Lu Xi hadn’t even been trying during their previous clashes?

Zuo Wa was left speechless, her face burning with humiliation. She lowered her head in fear, her eyes filled with venomous resentment. She hated Lu Xi—but she hated Cheng Youyou even more. Couldn’t they both just disappear and stop getting in her way?

Muttering, she summoned her courage: “Sister Lu Xi… I was only thinking of your well-being. Even if Cheng Youyou saved you, she’s the one who hurt you first…”

Lu Xi snorted but said nothing.

“Sister Lu Xi… you’ve really misunderstood me…” Zuo Wa’s delicate appearance stirred the protective instincts of the male beastfolk. They began criticizing Lu Xi for being ungrateful.

But Lu Xi didn’t care. “Your little tricks? Please. I’ve played that game already. You just want attention from the males? Fine, I’ll help you out.”

She turned to the crowd and declared, “I’m not sure if the herbs Cheng Youyou gave me were poisonous. But I’m certain my sudden labor had nothing to do with her.”

Her voice rang out: “Because—I never ate the herbs Cheng Youyou gave me.”

“But… but I saw you…”

Lu Xi stared directly at Zuo Wa, and under her gaze, Zuo Wa’s voice grew quieter.

Could it be true that Lu Xi hadn’t taken the herbs? But Zuo Wa had seen her leave Cheng Youyou’s cave, with Wukai carrying a beast-hide pouch and those strange herbs. She’d even overheard their conversation—Wukai was worried about Lu Xi taking the herbs.

But Lu Xi had said, “If Cheng Youyou ate them and was fine, I’ll be fine too…”

Lu Xi turned to Cheng Youyou with an apologetic look. “It’s not that I didn’t trust you. The pouch you gave me must’ve leaked. By the time I got back to the cave, it was completely empty.”

“I didn’t want to bother you for a stone pot, so I figured I’d make one myself and brew the herbs later…”

As Lu Xi explained, Zuo Wa’s face turned ghostly pale. Her sharp nails dug deep into her palms. She forced down her venomous expression, her eyes red and brimming with tears as she looked at Cheng Youyou. Her voice trembled—not from performance, but from barely suppressed hatred.

“Cheng Youyou… I’m really sorry. I was just worried about Sister Lu Xi…”

Zuo Wa looked like she was about to cry. The male beastfolk couldn’t help but feel sympathetic, ready to forgive her on Cheng Youyou’s behalf.

Cheng Youyou’s mouth twitched hard.

What a performance. Still, this was the original host’s mess. Zuo Wa’s dislike was understandable. Now that her name was cleared, continuing to argue would make her seem petty.

“It’s fine. Just a misunderstanding…” Though she had to admit—Zuo Wa’s ability to switch faces was impressive.

Mu Rui had been watching from the sidelines, thinking he’d stumbled upon a rare treasure. But as the drama neared its end, he wasn’t about to let this gem slip away. If Cheng Youyou came back with him to Falling Leaf, their tribe would flourish. His eyes gleamed. He’d heard all about Cheng Youyou’s reputation—lazy and greedy.

Her father, Cheng Ming, had even sacrificed his own dignity to forcibly bind her to several beast-husbands. But those husbands didn’t care for her at all. What a coincidence—their tribe’s leader was also a lone male.

Mu Rui’s gaze swept over Cheng Youyou. She wasn’t as hideous as the rumors claimed, but still not exactly stunning. But hey—close your eyes and it’s all the same, right?

He was sure their leader would be willing to make a small sacrifice for the tribe’s future. The more he thought about it, the more confident he became. His eyes sparkled.

Faced with Mu Rui’s increasingly heated gaze, Cheng Youyou swallowed nervously and subtly stepped back. She searched her memory—no trace of this male. She knew her appearance was “safe” now, but that predatory look still triggered instinctive fear.

Mu Rui stepped forward and said, “I’m Mu Rui, shaman of the Falling Leaf Tribe. Interested in coming back with me?”

“If you do, the finest males will line up for you to choose from.”

“I’m not exaggerating—our tribe’s leader, Ling Chuan, is a top-tier beauty. Young, powerful, and already leading the tribe…”

Mu Rui ignored the stunned expressions around him and continued bragging about their leader’s virtues.