Under the old tree, Long Mo’s cold gaze was fixed on Hu Jiao Jiao, who was being pushed toward Ying Yuan. His golden eyes flickered with disgust.

So, it was just as he thought. That female was still scheming to get close to Ying Yuan.

Long Mo’s expression remained icy, his face like frost.

Foxes are naturally sly, he thought. Her newfound kindness toward their cubs must be part of her ploy to win over Ying Yuan.

As thoughts of the five cubs waiting at home for Hu Jiao Jiao crossed his mind, Long Mo turned indifferently, leaving the scene behind.

Back at the house, he shoved thoughts of Hu Jiao Jiao aside and began slaughtering the prey he had brought back. Most of the animals were still alive, their hearts barely beating, to keep the meat fresh for longer.

He started with two that were already dead, expertly skinning them with a few swipes of his razor-sharp claws. The dirty, foul-smelling entrails were tossed into the river, where they would float downstream and be consumed by wild animals once they left the tribe’s territory.

In no time, Long Mo had finished preparing the two animals. Their hefty bodies were cut into neat chunks, even the bones cleanly severed.

If Hu Jiao Jiao had been there, she would have marveled, The claws of a beastman are more precise than any knife.

Hearing the noise outside, the five cubs assumed their mother had returned. They rushed out excitedly, only to find that it was just their father.

“Daddy, why didn’t you bring Mommy back?” Long Ling’er asked, pouting as she scanned the area, not finding any sign of Hu Jiao Jiao. Her small lips puffed out, almost ready to hold a teapot.

The other cubs didn’t say anything but fixed their gazes on Long Mo, waiting for his response.

Long Mo’s movements paused. His dark eyes gleamed with a hint of coldness. After a brief hesitation, he responded in a low voice, “I couldn’t find her.”

At this, the cubs’ faces shifted slightly.

Long Yao, wagging his tail, hurried over to Long Mo and bit down on his hide skirt, tugging with urgency while making soft whimpering sounds, “Aw, aw.”

Long Yu, ever the calm one, looked up at the sky and logically reasoned, “She’s usually back by now. The gathering teams don’t return this late. Did you see Grandpa Chief?”

Long Zhong, on the other hand, frowned, his expression far more agitated. “She’s made so many enemies in the tribe; for all we know, she could’ve been left outside the tribe.”

Despite his dislike for Hu Jiao Jiao, the thought of her being abandoned in the wilderness didn’t bring him the satisfaction he expected.

“Mommy isn’t in danger, is she?” Long Ling’er’s delicate face filled with worry.

Long Xiu didn’t speak but kept his ears perked, attentively listening to everything the others said, not missing a word.

Hearing his cubs’ anxious chatter, Long Mo’s eyes darkened further.

It irritated him to realize that the cubs, who had once shown no interest in Hu Jiao Jiao, were now distancing themselves from him and showing more concern for her. They hadn’t even greeted him properly since he returned.

Apparently, he had been away too long, neglecting his children. Trying to soothe them, Long Mo said, “You must be hungry. I’ll roast some meat for you.”

He recalled how much the cubs used to love his roasted meat. Every time he returned from hunting, they would eagerly wait for him to prepare it.

His mind wandered to memories of the cubs in their younger days, and a rare, soft expression crossed his otherwise cold features.

He seemed to forget that those memories were years old.

Just as Long Mo imagined the cubs’ excited faces, they all shook their heads in unison, their expressions betraying a hint of reluctance.

Long Ling’er forced a sheepish smile and spoke sweetly, “Daddy, you should go find Mommy. We’re not hungry; we’re in no rush to eat.”

She vividly remembered what her father’s roasted meat tasted like.

Or rather, it tasted like nothing but bitterness. She would rather eat it raw than endure that again.

I don’t want to eat Daddy’s roasted meat, she thought to herself. I just want mommy’s delicious food.

She then turned to the other cubs, winking and signaling with her eyes, “Right, big brother, second brother, third brother?”

Long Yu instantly understood, nodding solemnly, “Yes, we’re not hungry. Finding her is more important.”

“What? We haven’t eaten all day, and you’re telling me you’re not hungry?” Long Zhong blinked in disbelief.

But as soon as he said that, Long Ling’er shot him a threatening glare.

Quickly, he changed his tone, “Well, uh, what a coincidence. I’m not hungry either.”

“Mm.” Long Xiu gave a small nod in agreement.

Only Long Yao, tilting his head in confusion, looked at his siblings with wide, curious eyes. Why was his stomach growling while the others weren’t hungry? Did they have different bellies or something?

Such a small head, yet such big questions.

Long Mo frowned.

“Are you sure you’re not hungry?” How could his cubs not be hungry?

He could see through their poor excuse instantly.

Just as he was about to call them out on it, he hesitated, thinking that maybe they were just trying to be considerate and not make him work too hard.

So he swallowed his words.

Sensing Long Mo’s questioning gaze, Long Yao started to shake his head but was quickly grabbed by Long Ling’er, who made him nod enthusiastically.

Watching this, Long Mo felt a rush of warmth.

At least his cubs still cared about him.

“If you’re not hungry, then let me know when you are,” Long Mo said, deciding not to expose their fib.

The other cubs collectively breathed a sigh of relief.

At least they didn’t have to eat the bitter roasted meat.

---

In the tribe, Hu Jiao Jiao examined Ying Yuan’s wound closely, her brows furrowing.

Wow, this is bad. The wound is too deep and cannot be treated with just some hemostatic powder.

After thinking it over, she turned to the chief and said seriously, “Chief, I need a private room. Move Ying Yuan inside for treatment, and no one else can enter.”

“Of course.”

The chief didn’t hesitate for a second. At this point, he would have agreed to any of her requests, even if it meant assigning a few beastmen to serve her as slaves.

Ying Yuan was the tribe’s most important warrior, after all.

But Ying Yuan, the one injured, suddenly scowled, clenching his teeth. “I’m not going. I’d rather die than let you treat me.”

Even the healer had given up on him, so how could Hu Jiao Jiao, of all people, have a solution?

“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re trying to do—using this as an excuse to get me alone. Dream on. I’m not falling for it!”

His face darkened as he used all his remaining strength to glare at her.

Hu Jiao Jiao was speechless.

Seriously? Could your imagination be any wilder?

Annoyed, she replied, “If you don’t want to, then forget it. It’s not like I care to look at your dead-fish face anyway. You really don’t know how to appreciate good intentions.”