Long Mo lifted his gaze, his cold and menacing eyes locking onto Long Wu. Feeling the chilling fury in those golden beast eyes, Long Wu stiffened, his expression faltering as a wave of unease washed over him, forcing him into silence.

Ying Yuan stepped forward, his sharp gaze piercing through Long Mo as he questioned, “How do you know?”

Facing Ying Yuan’s intense presence, Long Mo remained unfazed, his face indifferent as he replied, “I’ve been to the foraging grounds.”

After Hu Jiao Jiao and he had gone to speak with the tribe leader, Long Mo had originally planned to search for building materials that Hu Jiao Jiao needed. However, as he passed the foraging grounds, he changed his mind and, instead, followed the tracks left by the wandering beastmen, ultimately finding their lair.

He had initially intended to find an opportunity to take revenge on those beastmen, but now, it seemed that the opportunity had presented itself sooner than expected.

Ying Yuan furrowed his brows, staring at Long Mo for a few moments, as if trying to gauge the truth behind his words.

“Alright, if you know the way, lead us there,” Ying Yuan decided swiftly.

In reality, Ying Yuan didn’t overthink it. He simply trusted the tribe’s beastmen and was eager to act, not wanting to waste any more time. This sense of urgency aligned perfectly with Long Mo’s intent.

After the earlier tension, the other beastmen dared not question Ying Yuan’s orders, quietly agreeing:

“Long Mo lives in the forest and knows this area better than we do. Maybe he really does know where the wandering beastmen are.”

“Long Mo, lead the way.”

Long Wu wanted to object, but he held his tongue. He shot Long Mo a venomous glance and smirked coldly. Just wait—when we reach the wandering beastmen’ lair, that will be your final moment. Once you’re dead, that female will be mine.

Under Long Mo’s guidance, the group ventured deeper into the forest. The thick canopy above cast shadows over the dense underbrush, which grew so tall it nearly reached a person’s height. The beastmen, moving in their animal forms, which were two to three times the size of ordinary animals, found it increasingly difficult to navigate the tangled vegetation.

At the front of the group, Long Mo abruptly halted and, in a low, gravelly voice, warned, “We’re here. The wandering beastmen’ lair is just ahead.”

Ying Yuan raised a hand, signaling the others to stop. Tension filled the air as they all peered forward anxiously.

Ahead, the forest gave way to a clearing, where dry leaves, decaying wood, and stones smeared with filth were piled together, forming a grotesque and unwelcoming sight. At first glance, it hardly looked like a place where beastmen would live—more like a den for wild animals with no intelligence.

Behind the clearing stood a raised mound of earth, likely man-made. A deep cave, its entrance gaping, seemed to lead down into the earth below.

So, this is where the wandering beastmen live, Long Mo thought.

The dark, damp hole concealed in the filthy, muddy ground was fitting for the wandering beastmen.

“Since we’ve found their lair, what are we waiting for? Let’s catch them off guard and wipe them out!” Long Wu urged impatiently.

He had come here to hone his skills, and without stirring up trouble, how could he have the chance to do so? He wanted to show these lowly beastmen his strength and power. And if he could get Hu Jiao Jiao, perhaps becoming their tribe leader and ruling over them wasn’t out of the question.

Ying Yuan had a similar thought.

“You, you, and you—come with me. We’ll scout the area and lure the wandering beastmen out. The rest of you, stay hidden and wait for our signal.”

Ying Yuan spread his wings, selecting ten or so beastmen before preparing to dive into the cave.

“Wait,” Long Mo’s voice suddenly called out, his tone cautious as he scanned their surroundings. “Something’s not right. It’s too quiet.”

Long Wu scowled in irritation. “What now, Long Mo? If you’re scared, go hide at the back and keep quiet. It’s early morning—the wandering beastmen are lazy by nature. They’re probably still asleep.”

Ying Yuan glanced back, his expression dismissive as he spared Long Mo only a brief glance. “Relax. You’ve done your part by leading us here. Leave the rest to us. Stay put, and we’ll handle the wandering beastmen.”

Without waiting for Long Mo’s response, Ying Yuan led the other beastmen into the cave.

Long Mo’s gaze darkened as he watched their retreating figures disappear into the lair.

…

As Ying Yuan led the group toward the cave entrance, a sudden scream pierced the air from the rear.

“Ah!”

Ying Yuan spun around to see a massive black python slithering up from beneath the ground, its thick tail coiling tightly around one of the beastmen’s necks. The beastman’s face turned crimson as he struggled in vain to free himself, his windpipe crushed under the python’s grip.

Ying Yuan’s brow furrowed as a sinking feeling gripped him. “Damn it! They know we’re here!”

Panic rippled through the group, but before anyone could retreat, a dozen grotesque, disfigured wandering beastmen burst from the earth around them, surrounding them entirely.

At the head of the pack stood a massive scorpion-like beast, its body the size of two elephants, its exoskeleton a reddish-brown hue. The creature’s entire body was covered in spiny protrusions, with short brown fur circling its head. Its long, barbed tail hovered above its head, dripping with black venom that oozed from its sharp stinger.

Its compound eyes, a dull brown, locked onto Ying Yuan, and a high-pitched cackle erupted from its maw.

“Heh heh heh… just as Little Hu said, you really came. I’ve been waiting for you all for quite some time.”

Ying Yuan’s expression grew grim. “An ambush!”

Only a fool wouldn’t realize what was happening by now.

“Your tribe killed my little brother. I’m here to settle the score. Don’t worry—once you’re dead, I’ll take good care of your tribe’s females. Heh heh…”

The scorpion beastmen threw back its head and laughed lecherously, its eyes gleaming with malice.

“You dare!” Ying Yuan roared in fury. He had reached his breaking point, especially when it came to threats against Lu Mian’er.

In an instant, he took to the sky, his sharp talons gleaming as he dove toward the scorpion beast.

Seeing Ying Yuan’s attack, the other beastmen rushed forward, giving their all in the fight.

Meanwhile, back in the dense forest, the remaining beastmen had been anxiously waiting to strike. However, when the sounds of battle suddenly broke out, panic set in.

Long Wu’s expression twisted in anger. “Those cunning wandering beastmen! They must have been lying in wait all along.”

But soon, his frustration turned into cold calculation.

With Ying Yuan trapped, this is the perfect opportunity for me to show my strength.

Just as Long Wu moved to take charge, Long Mo had already charged ahead.

Realizing he was falling behind, the other beastmen quickly followed. “Ying Yuan’s been ambushed! We need to help him!”

“Dammit!” Long Wu cursed through gritted teeth as he watched Long Mo take the lead. That useless wretch is stealing my glory!

But before Long Mo could leave the forest, a yellow-furred tiger blocked his path.

“You!”

Recognizing the familiar beast, a spark of fury ignited in Long Mo’s cold eyes.

He hadn’t forgotten—the last time they were at the foraging grounds, this one-eared tiger had nearly hurt Hu Jiao Jiao.

The one-eared tiger stood between the forest and the clearing, its brown eyes gleaming with a sinister smile. “You want to help? First, you’ll have to deal with me.”

No sooner had the tiger spoken than a chorus of howls erupted from the surrounding forest.