CHAPTER 19: CHAPTER 17 DONGCHI SETS FIRE_1

The plump female, Xiong Rou, sat on the backs of four male Beastmen. She sullenly tore at a piece of meat in her hands, tossing it into her mouth bit by bit.

Beside her was Lang Xin, an equally corpulent female from the Wolf Clan.

Lang Xin stared at Si Yan, who was protected by Tai Seng, for a long while, her eyes full of resentment and dissatisfaction. She hummed softly. Upon seeing Xiong Rou, she said with a smile, "Xiong Rou, I heard that Si Yan gave you a good thrashing. How did that feel?"

Xiong Rou chewed on her piece of meat. Lacking salt, she had to eat more meat to supplement her intake.

She snorted lightly. "Who bullied whom? She bullied me? That’s ridiculous. I truly despise you Wolf Clan females the most. You all speak so passive-aggressively; it’s unbearable to listen to."

As Lang Xin spoke, her gaze swept over the group of females. She said cheerfully, "Xiong Rou, you can’t say that. Our tribe was jointly founded by the Wolf Clan and the Bear Clan. Besides Bear Clan females, there are only Wolf Clan females here, you know."

When Xiong Rou saw the unfriendly glances from the Wolf Clan females, she could only look sheepish. She said through gritted teeth, "Si Yan is definitely not a good female. That bitch who can’t get a male is undoubtedly no good."

As she spoke, she viciously bit into her meat and chewed. I will definitely find evidence to prove it. Definitely! The salt I lost, and the baffling change in my slave contract... It was definitely Si Yan’s doing!

Lang Xin chuckled lightly, then said, "Xiong Rou, don’t get it wrong. Si Yan isn’t undesirable. Look, our tribe’s bravest warrior, Tai Seng, is standing right behind her."

Lang Xin continued smiling as she added, "I remember you, Xiong Rou, once offered Tai Seng a mating invitation. Actually, it wasn’t just you. Almost all the females in the tribe have invited him, yet Tai Seng has accepted none."

Who doesn’t like a strong and handsome male?

During that time, the females’ invitations and adoration for Tai Seng were quite a spectacle in the tribe. Each felt she could be the one he would choose, yet all were rejected.

Everyone presumed Tai Seng might be solely focused on power, uninterested in becoming anyone’s male. But then one day, to their shock, Tai Seng was found standing protectively behind a female. Who could cope with such a letdown?

The expressions of a dozen or so females changed unpredictably.

Beyond the females, more males also began to take notice of Si Yan. However, Si Yan remained oblivious.

She remained silent, scanning the surroundings. Unable to find Dongchi, she then shot Xiong Rou a warning glare.

If that damned fat bear dares to bully my cub, I’ll make her pay.

The village chief was discussing the Holy Fire at the village entrance. The Beastmen of the village had heard some news on their way, but hearing more precise details from the chief made them even more pessimistic.

After listening to the gist of it, Si Yan turned to leave.

Just then, Bei Ji ran over, a panicked look on his face. He stopped Si Yan. "Mom..."

"Bei Ji, what happened?"

Little Bei Ji hesitated. Si Yan crouched down. Bei Ji then leaned in and nervously whispered in her ear, "Mom, we found Big Brother! He wants revenge! He’s going to burn down Xiong Rou’s cave!"

Burn down Xiong Rou’s cave?

Dongchi has fire!

Having fire wasn’t strange in itself. Her cave always had a small flame burning, convenient for cooking.

Dongchi must have taken the fire from our home.

Si Yan immediately looked into Bei Ji’s clear eyes.

Bei Ji glanced at the people around them and shook his head in panic.

Si Yan understood. The Holy Fire was extinguished, but Dongchi had fire. If Dongchi were to use this fire now, explaining how the Holy Fire went out would become impossible!

Si Yan’s eyes narrowed. She took Bei Ji’s hand and ran quickly towards Xiong Rou’s cave.

Most of the Beastmen from Yanxiang Tribe were still in the plaza, so there was no one around Xiong Rou’s cave at the moment.

Not far from Xiong Rou’s cave, Xi Qing, though afraid of the torch Dongchi held, still blocked him, pleading, "Big Brother! Don’t! Don’t be rash!"

Dongchi, limping, looked at Xi Qing indifferently and demanded, "Xi Qing, let go!"

"Big Brother!!!"

Dongchi said, "Xiong Rou bullied us and insulted us. Now my hand is broken, my leg is broken. Even if I don’t die, I’m a cripple. Burning her cave is revenge for our brothers. Once I’ve avenged us, I’ll give her my life as compensation!"

"Anyway... I’m just a cold-blooded snake Beastman—disliked, unloved by my mother... sold by my own mother."

Dongchi gave a self-deprecating laugh. "My life isn’t worth much. Consider it revenge for my hand and leg. I won’t be at a loss."

"Big Brother!!" Xi Qing tugged at him.

"Xi Qing, I’m not like you," he said softly. "I’m a cripple now. My existence in this world is meaningless. All I want is to do this one thing—for myself, and for Nan Mo!"

"Don’t stop me."

Dongchi’s voice was calm and resolute. Xi Qing bit his lip, tears welling in his eyes.

He understood; he understood Dongchi all too well. A Beastman who lost his limbs had no ability to work or hunt. They would be abandoned by the tribe and devoured by wild beasts. If he still had one last chance, it would be to take revenge for himself. Xi Qing couldn’t bring himself to rebuke him.

Tears streamed from the corners of Xi Qing’s eyes. He didn’t understand why life had to be so hard for him and his brothers.

Finally, he let go of Dongchi. He didn’t know if his choice was right. His body trembled slightly.

Limping, Dongchi made his way to the entrance of Xiong Rou’s cave, the firelight flickering on his pale young face.

He was weak and his face was ashen, but his expression was resolute.

He stretched out his hand, the torch just inches from Xiong Rou’s cave. But then, a cold laugh echoed from behind him.

"My little cub, you’re really quite something," Si Yan’s voice was cold, yet tinged with a hint of pride. "So young, yet daring to play with fire. Truly befitting a future archvillain."

Dongchi’s eyelids twitched.

When he had taken the torch from the fire in their cave, he had felt torn and conflicted.

He knew he was useless now, and he knew what he wanted to do. But deep down, he also longed for attention. He hoped his actions would be noticed, hoped *that person* would care.

It was an extremely contradictory feeling. He wanted to go through with it, yet he also hoped someone would notice him and, in the end, tell him whether he was right or wrong.

He hoped that person would be the one most important to him—he hoped it would be his mother.

But he also knew that the female who had sold him would never come. Absolutely not.

But she had come. She was standing right behind him.

Dongchi’s heart seemed to jolt back to life, yet his voice was icy as he said, "My setting this fire has nothing to do with you."

Si Yan looked at the boy before her—limping, one hand useless, yet standing there so stubbornly. She felt a mixture of admiration, anger, and heartache.

She slowly approached Dongchi. He grew anxious and took another shuffling step forward, closer to the cave.

"Dongchi, it’s not Xiong Rou’s cave you want to burn. You want to burn me. If you have the guts, wait until I’m closer, then burn *me*—the one who sold you to Xiong Rou!"

Si Yan’s words grew more oppressive with each sentence, crushing Dongchi. His heart suddenly ached, and he screamed at her, "I *do* want to burn you! I really do! Why? Why me? Why did you sell me?!"

"I’m not afraid of having no food! I’m not afraid of hunger and cold! I... I’m not afraid of being beaten either! But... but why did you have to sell me?!"

The boy roared in anger, his wounded expression searing itself into Si Yan’s eyes, his words hammering into her heart.

"I won’t sell you," Si Yan said.

Selling Dongchi was the original owner’s doing. The current Si Yan would never sell her own cub.

"I don’t believe you! You already sold me! You wicked female!!!"

With that, Dongchi turned and lunged towards Xiong Rou’s cave. Si Yan leaped forward swiftly and threw her arms around him.

However, at that moment, the torch slipped from Dongchi’s unsteady hand and fell onto the dry grass.

In an instant, flames erupted and spread rapidly.