Long Yu clenched his fist and gave a light cough, saying, “I’m just worried about Xiao Wu and Ling’er.”

Although Long Xiu didn’t speak, his tightly pressed lips and his attentive ears showed he was listening intently to Hu Jiao Jiao’s voice.

Over the past few weeks, they had gradually started to accept Hu Jiao Jiao’s presence. Even though they hadn’t forgotten her past misdeeds, the scales in their hearts had shifted in favor of this new Hu Jiao Jiao.

Though they wouldn’t say it out loud, they cared about her now.

“What are these little ones doing here, causing trouble? Your mother has committed terrible crimes and must be locked away! Move aside, or I’ll lock you up too!” one of the nearby beastmen snarled, baring his teeth as he tried to shoo them away.

“Mom, I don’t want you to go! If you leave, I’ll go with you!” Long Ling’er clung tightly to Hu Jiao Jiao’s leg, refusing to let go. She had just gotten a kind and loving mother, and she couldn’t bear to lose her again.

Hearing her words, Hu Jiao Jiao felt a pang of heartache. She forced a smile and knelt down, gently placing her hands on Ling’er’s shoulders. Her eyes softened as she gazed at her daughter.

“Ling’er, be good. Mother will be fine. I’m just leaving for a few days. Listen to your father and take care of your brothers. When I return, I’ll make you all something delicious to eat,” she said gently, her tone warm and comforting.

Then, she turned to look at the other children, her smile still kind and gentle.

Her words left a heavy feeling in the children’s hearts. Even now, she was thinking of them…

Long Yao howled softly and bit down on Hu Jiao Jiao’s animal skin, trying to drag her away. But his small body wasn’t strong enough. Despite using all his strength, he could only tug at her clothes, unable to move her.

Hu Jiao Jiao felt a mix of sorrow and amusement. She had once seen her relationship with the children as a mere task, something she had to accomplish in order to survive. But now, these cubs, once just characters in a book, felt real—full of emotion, life, and vulnerability.

Though she knew being locked up for a few days wouldn’t be a big deal, she couldn’t help feeling a bit reluctant to leave them.

With a heavy heart, Hu Jiao Jiao gently lifted Long Yao and placed him into Long Ling’er’s arms, then nudged them toward Long Mo. Ling’er and Long Yao tried to run back to her, but Long Mo firmly pressed his hand on their shoulders, preventing them from moving.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Long Mo hadn’t said a single word.

Long Ling’er looked up at her father’s impassive, emotionless face, frustration bubbling up inside her. Clenching her small fists, she pounded on his arm in anger.

“Dad, tell everyone! Tell them that Mom didn’t do anything wrong! Please, say something! I don’t want her to leave us!” she cried, her fists hitting his arm repeatedly. The hardness of his muscles hurt her hands, turning them red.

Tears streamed down her face, big as raindrops, falling one by one as her voice grew more pitiful.

Seeing his sister in tears, Long Yao’s crimson eyes flashed with anxiety. He quickly bit down on Long Mo’s hand, hoping to force him into action.

The other three children remained silent, watching Long Mo intently. When they saw him standing still, his expression cold and unmoved, their hearts sank.

Disappointment washed over the five children, their trust in their father crumbling.

Long Xiu gripped his wooden stick tightly, cursing his own powerlessness. If only he were stronger, he could protect her.

How can I think about protecting that Vicious female? Long Xiu was startled by his own thoughts.

Long Wu, observing the scene, concluded that Long Mo was weak and cowardly, too spineless to even stand up for his own mate.

“Everyone, with me here, you have don’t need fear the wandering beastmen. I promise I’ll keep the tribe safe,” Long Wu declared confidently, stepping into the center of the crowd.

The tribe’s beastmen, who had been on edge, began to calm down as they looked to Long Wu as their savior.

“Thank goodness Long Wu joined our tribe.”

“Long Wu, we’re counting on you to protect us from now on!”

“With a dragon beastman this strong, we’ll be safe for sure!”

Several beastmen praised Long Wu, and he basked in their admiration. Internally, he scoffed at their weakness, thinking they were no better than Long Mo, that useless coward.

After soaking in the compliments, Long Wu turned to Hu Jiao Jiao and spoke in a lowered voice, filled with self-assurance. “Don’t worry. Once I capture those wandering beastmen, I’ll get the truth out of them and clear your name.”

“You don’t need to thank me. It’s nothing—I’d do anything for the woman I love,” he added with a smug grin, fully expecting her to be moved to tears.

In his mind, Hu Jiao Jiao would surely be overwhelmed by his bravery, especially compared to her useless mate. She had probably never encountered a heroic male like him.

Hu Jiao Jiao gave him a glance, her eyes filled with disdain, as though she were looking at a fool.

This male clearly had some issues—and not the mild kind.

Ignoring Long Wu completely, Hu Jiao Jiao’s thoughts returned to her five children and the potato plants in the field. Taking a deep breath, she composed herself before turning to Long Mo with a calm smile.

“Long Mo, take good care of the children. You’ve only just returned; spend more time with them. They’ve missed you,” she said softly.

Then, she addressed the Chief. “Chief, please make sure the soil around the potato seedling is well taken care of. Make sure not to overwater them like last time. We don’t want them to die after all the effort we’ve put in.”

The chief nodded. “I’ll watch over them carefully. Don’t worry…”

His voice trailed off. He knew that if Hu Jiao Jiao stayed, the tribe would grow restless, and the situation could become more dangerous for her. Locking her away might be the safest option until they could deal with the wandering beastmen and uncover the truth.

Long Mo stood there with a cold expression, his eyes dark and unreadable as he watched Hu Jiao Jiao. He searched for any trace of fear or panic on her face—but there was none.

This Hu Jiao Jiao seemed calm, composed, and entirely different from the person he used to know. She didn’t scream, didn’t lash out, didn’t resist.

Long Mo’s gaze deepened, and he looked away.

“Dad!” the children cried out in unison, their voices filled with disbelief. How could he just stand there, doing nothing? Not even trying to defend her?

They knew how the tribe viewed Hu Jiao Jiao. Once she was locked away, it was unlikely she’d ever come back. No one would stand up for her.

Their hearts grew cold, their disappointment in Long Mo reaching its peak.

Hu Jiao Jiao gave the children a small, reassuring shake of her head before turning to the beastmen who were there to escort her away. Her voice was calm, almost indifferent. “Let’s go. Don’t waste any more time.”

The crowd, momentarily surprised by her composure, quickly resumed their sneering. They couldn’t wait to see her locked up.

The chief, frowning, waved his hand. Two burly beastmen stepped forward, ready to take Hu Jiao Jiao to the outskirts of the tribe.

But just as they were about to leave, a loud voice suddenly interrupted them, bursting through the crowd.

“Stop! I dare any of you to lay a hand on Jiao Jiao!”