Lu Mu’s voice echoed through the area, sounding like a scratchy old rooster stuck with phlegm, her cries both shrill and raspy, filled with exaggerated agony.

Hu Jiao Jiao was stunned by the whole spectacle. Watching Lu Mu wail and roll around on the ground like a child throwing a tantrum, she couldn’t help but twitch the corners of her mouth.

So, this is what it’s like to have a problematic relative in a novel, she thought. Lu Mian’er’s fate must have used up all its good luck just to pair her with Ying Yuan.

Sure enough, Lu Mu’s hysterics quickly drew a crowd of curious beastmen. Seeing that the confrontation involved Hu Jiao Jiao—who was notoriously fierce—and Lu Mu—who was notoriously obnoxious—most just watched from a distance, reluctant to get involved.

Hu Jiao Jiao had no desire to waste time with Lu Mu and tried to walk around her. But Lu Mu, spotting her intent, rolled over and latched onto Hu Jiao Jiao’s leg, refusing to let go.

“You think you can just walk away after hitting me?” Lu Mu shouted, her words oozing malice. “Leave the fish here, or don’t even think about leaving—unless you plan on stepping over my dead body!”

If Hu Jiao Jiao dared to lay another finger on her, Lu Mu was convinced the chief wouldn’t let it slide this time. She was even counting on getting some compensation out of this. After all, that worthless Long Mo had plenty of meat stocked up at home.

These days, Lu Mu only had one mate, father lu. Her other partners had been injured or killed in hunts. She was too stingy to even trade a piece of meat for medicine when needed, which left her with only the sly but lazy father lu. He was all smooth talk but rarely managed to bring back anything of value. When Lu Mian’er had lived with them, Lu Mu had at least had someone to do all the work, but since she’d left, their home life had become rougher.

Perhaps that was why the sight of Hu Jiao Jiao’s fish made her so desperate. Feeling triumphant, she grinned inwardly.

But just as Lu Mu’s confidence peaked, Hu Jiao Jiao looked down with an innocent expression. “I didn’t expect you to have such a request. Don’t blame me if it breaks.”

And with that, Jiao Jiao raised her foot and brought it down hard on Lu Mu’s hand, which was still gripping her ankle.

“Ahhh!” Lu Mu shrieked, her face twisting in pain. How could this little brat have actually done it?

“You’ll regret this!” Lu Mu screeched. “When the chief finds out, he’ll kick you out of the tribe, and then all your things will be mine!”

Beastmen were territorial, rarely visiting each other’s homes unless they were close friends—or had a bone to pick. And Lu Mu’s son, Lu Li, had snuck into Hu Jiao Jiao’s house before. He’d told his mother about all the food supplies Hu Jiao Jiao kept.

All those things would be hers, she thought gleefully.

Hu Jiao Jiao just raised a brow and gave a sardonic smile. “No need to thank me. I’m only doing my best to grant your wish.”

Seizing the moment as Lu Mu winced in pain and loosened her grip, Hu Jiao Jiao shifted her other foot, stepping on Lu Mu’s other hand.

“Y-you…” Lu Mu seethed, unable to contain her rage. Did Hu Jiao Jiao really have to rub salt in the wound?

Before Lu Mu could even scream again, Hu Jiao Jiao had already stepped right over her.

For someone like Lu Mu, who acted shamelessly and relied on being loud and obnoxious, kindness was wasted. Only a firm stance would do.

Watching from the sidelines, the crowd didn’t lift a finger to help Lu Mu, either. Hu Jiao Jiao had anticipated this, which was why she had no qualms about her actions.

However, she hadn’t expected a delicate, gentle voice to chime in from the crowd:

“Poor Aunt Lu—she’s so old… Hu Jiao Jiao, please, return her fish to her. She is so pitiful…”

It was Huang Yue, standing gracefully in the midst of the onlookers. As a female, she naturally had some space around her, the beastmen instinctively giving her room.

Hu Jiao Jiao glanced over and, unsurprisingly, found Huang Yue standing there, looking like a delicate flower. She smirked inwardly; Huang Yue was good at playing the righteous bystander, turning the blame on Hu Jiao Jiao while making herself look sympathetic.

If Hu Jiao Jiao hadn’t known from the novel that Huang Yue was currently in an amnesiac state, she might have thought her to be a scheming, manipulative type.

“Her fish?” Hu Jiao Jiao’s voice turned cool as she narrowed her gaze on Huang Yue. “Could it be that in your eyes, whoever is pitiful is telling the truth? Then what is the use of eyes? Just use your mouth to speak.”

Huang Yue’s face crumpled into a hurt expression as she quickly waved her hands. “I didn’t mean it that way… you’ve misunderstood me…”

She lowered her head, expecting the crowd to jump in and defend her. But when she peeked up, she noticed everyone watching her with strange expressions.

She was taken aback—what was going on?

What she didn’t know was that everyone in the village knew Lu Mu’s character too well. Nearly all of them had been on the receiving end of her tricks at some point and knew better than to trust her. Huang Yue, however, had spoken up in Lu Mu’s defense without knowing the full story, and her quick judgment was starting to look suspicious. The crowd couldn’t help but wonder if she had something against Hu Jiao Jiao.

One of the beastmen spoke up, trying to explain, “Huang Yue, you might not know this yet, but Lu Mu pulls this trick all the time. Don’t let her fool you.”

Another joined in. “Yeah, Lu Mu is not innocent—she’s full of tricks.”

Huang Yue’s face turned pale as she stammered an apology. “I’m so sorry… I didn’t know. I just felt bad for her when I saw Hu Jiao Jiao stepping on her hands…”

With her regretful tone and apologetic demeanor, the beastmen suspicions faded. They dismissed it as an innocent misunderstanding on her part.

Hu Jiao Jiao, however, eyed Huang Yue’s gentle, pitiful expression, feeling there was something more to it. But in the novel, Huang Yue was portrayed as innocent and weak-willed. Unsure, Hu Jiao Jiao just made a mental note to avoid her in the future.

Looking down at Lu Mu, who was still clutching her bruised hands, Hu Jiao Jiao’s expression turned cold. “Enough of the wailing. Keep it up, and you’ll be eating dirt instead of fish.”

Lu Mu clamped her hands over her mouth, eye-wide with terror. Hearing the crowd clearly favoring Hu Jiao Jiao’s side, she realized she was out of options. Mumbling curses under her breath, she scrambled up and slinked away, defeated.

The crowd quickly dispersed once the show was over.

Hu Jiao Jiao was about to leave when Huang Yue walked over.

“Hu Jiao Jiao, I’m truly sorry. I didn’t mean to misunderstand you… please, don’t be angry with me.” Huang Yue twisted her fingers nervously, looking sincerely apologetic.

Hu Jiao Jiao felt exasperated. Was everyone conspiring to delay her today?

“Don’t worry. I don’t waste energy on people I barely know.” Hu Jiao Jiao replied bluntly, lifting her bucket and turning to leave.

But just as she took a step—

“I just knew you were still upset!” Huang Yue suddenly reached out and grabbed the handle of Hu Jiao Jiao’s bucket. “Let me help you carry this. I’ll do anything if it means you’ll forgive me!”

Despite her delicate appearance, Huang Yue’s grip was surprisingly strong, pulling Hu Jiao Jiao slightly off balance.