CHAPTER 68: CHAPTER 61: SPECIALTY PESTICIDES FOR PEST CONTROL_1

A Da Shi couldn’t stop me; I still managed to crawl out of this hole.

Si Yan, her small face smudged with dirt and grime, lifted her head and gave Ming Yan a proud smile. Her eyes, strikingly black and white, and her bright, dazzling smile momentarily stunned the male. Ming Yan, it had to be said, was quite surprised and astonished.

The small female emerged from behind the large tree, wrapped in her oversized beast skin skirt. She somehow produced a long bottle, seemingly from nowhere. She shook it, pressed down on the top, and sprayed its contents at the insects. This was likely because insecticides had never appeared in this world before. It might also have been because the Dichlorvos Si Yan held was particularly potent.

A single spray killed a locust. The dead insect began to emit a peculiar odor, attracting other locusts to swarm and devour its corpse. The dead locust’s body itself had become poisonous bait. Soon, the locusts feasting on the toxic carcass also died, one after another. A pile of insect corpses quickly accumulated around Si Yan. The effect was truly remarkable.

Seeing this, Ming Yan was even more astonished. Whether it was the strange Special Ability that had surged from the cave, the small head visible beneath the lush tree, or the little one suddenly producing a long bottle and spraying the insects—causing them to drop to the ground and preventing others from approaching the sprayed area—each of these events surprised him.

A giant locust flew towards Ming Yan. As if he had eyes in the back of his head, he smashed the insect’s head with a punch, then deftly retrieved its Insect Bead. Then he continued to watch Si Yan. This female... she seems to have some secrets.

「**」

Insecticides had never appeared in this world before this moment. The leaderless locusts saw a large circle of their dead comrades around Si Yan, with more still consuming the poisoned bait only to perish. They began to feel an intense fear, wishing to be far, far away from that place. Thus, although this locust plague was ferocious, it receded faster than any before it.

Si Yan used the Dichlorvos—only Ming Yan noticed—and she seized a moment when he wasn’t looking to return it to her storage space.

Soon, order began to return to Black Tiger City. Ming Yan leaped to the cave where Si Yan had been, examined the trees, and sniffed the air. The locust swarm had retreated; it had indeed bypassed Black Tiger City.

Finally, he looked at her and said, "Si Yan, let’s talk."

By a river near Black Tiger City, one that hadn’t yet dried up, Si Yan stood with her back to Ming Yan as he washed insect filth from his body. Clear river water sluiced over his strong male body, droplets glistening in the sunlight.

"Your name isn’t Si Yan, is it?" Ming Yan asked, turning slightly. "That doesn’t sound like a female’s name."

Si Yan was silent, contemplating whether to respond.

Ming Yan slowly turned back to her. "Would you consider joining Black Tiger City?"

"You’re inviting me?" Si Yan was incredulous; this was the same male who had previously been baying for her death. She tentatively asked, "Is it because I’m a female? Or because I resemble someone?"

Hearing this, Ming Yan’s eyes turned cold. He had just finished washing. He walked to stand behind her, his voice low and seductive. "Because you’re strong. Because you need us, and we need you."

Her strength didn’t lie in sheer power, but in so much more. Ming Yan knew full well where her strengths lay, which was why he was now so keen to keep her.

Si Yan slowly turned around. Droplets from the stream still clung to Ming Yan’s hair. Under the bright sunlight, the robust male appeared even more strikingly handsome and extraordinary.

At that moment, Si Yan suddenly recalled the Yanxiang Tribe—how she had once wanted to help them, only to be driven away.

Si Yan averted her gaze slightly, her silence a clear refusal.

Ming Yan emerged from the water, the powerful male now standing beside Si Yan. "You can choose to trust me."

He didn’t say to trust Black Tiger City; he said to trust *him*.

Si Yan calmly rose. "If I say I won’t bear cubs for Black Tiger City, nor will I accept any males from Black Tiger City, and my cubs will not mate with the females of Black Tiger City—would you still welcome me then?"

Ming Yan looked at her intently. "Whether or not you wish to mate is your freedom."

Si Yan fell silent.

From her observations, Black Tiger City was formidable, and Ming Yan’s future power was destined to be a pinnacle in this world. Black Tiger City was undoubtedly an excellent choice, especially with Ming Yan himself extending the invitation. However, she wasn’t ready to make a decision yet.

"I will consider it," Si Yan replied. "Also, I can tell you now, my name is not Si Yan. My name is Si Yan."

Ming Yan turned to look at her. With her bright eyes and pearly teeth, even dressed as a male, she still looked playful and cute.

"City Lord, City Lord!" a White Tiger Beastman rushed over. He was about to speak when he noticed the atmosphere between the City Lord and this Teacher Si Yan seemed a bit off.

Some Beastmen in the city said the Lord of the Castle disliked females and might prefer young males. Seeing the situation today, could it really be true?

"What is it?" Ming Yan glared ferociously at the approaching White Tiger.

The White Tiger Beastman, startled, quickly said, "Lord of the Castle, please return quickly! Lord Hu Yong is injured!"

"Hu Yong is injured?" Ming Yan quickly headed back, and Si Yan, seeing this, followed.

The White Tiger Beastman explained, "Lord Hu Yong was bitten by an insect while protecting the supplies."

After they arrived at Hu Yong’s cave, Si Yan paid no mind to his situation. Instead, she began looking for her cubs, needing to discuss the matter of joining Black Tiger City with them. However, after searching for a while, she was shocked to find her cubs tied up together and being humiliated by some White Tiger Beastmen!

She rushed over indignantly. "Stop it!!!"

After rushing over, she quickly used a snake scale to cut the ropes binding her cubs.

Jie Ling said from the side, "Brother Si Yan, you’re here. Your three younger brothers are young and a bit unruly; Brother Hu Que was just helping to discipline them a little."

Hu Que proudly raised his head.

Jie Ling continued, "Brother Si Yan, you should quickly thank Brother Hu Que. If not for his help, those three wouldn’t be able to stay in Black Tiger City."

Hearing Jie Ling’s explanation, Hu Que sniffed and puffed his chest out, looking even more proud.

Si Yan ignored Jie Ling. After untying her three cubs, she asked in a low voice, "What happened? Who made the first move?"

We’ve caused Mother trouble. The three cubs didn’t want to be disliked by her, so they pursed their lips, none of them wanting to speak.

"What exactly happened?" Si Yan asked again.

A small tiger cub, Hu Qing, blurted out candidly, "Sister Jie Ling said bad things about him—called him an ugly freak—then he got angry, and then they started fighting."

Hu Qing’s words, though simple, clearly laid out what had happened.

Si Yan’s eyes suddenly turned icy. She swept a stern gaze over her three cubs.

Sensing their mother’s anger, the three cubs hung their heads even lower.

"So young, yet you pick fights you can’t win. You deserved that beating."

Si Yan’s cool hand tapped each of their heads lightly. "Don’t you use your brains before you fight?"

"..."

Dongchi looked up, his little cheeks flushed and the corners of his eyes slightly red. "Mother," he whispered.

Si Yan helped them up and carefully examined their injuries. This time, there was no hint of reprimand in her voice or manner.

"Your methods were wrong, but there’s nothing wrong with defending your brothers," Si Yan said with a smile.

Fortunately, none of the three cubs were seriously injured.

She then shot a look at the original novel’s female protagonist.

Originally, her character was like an insatiable flirt, but now she seemed to have added a ’black-bellied white lotus’ persona. The more Si Yan observed, however, the more she resembled a manipulative ’green tea bitch’.

Si Yan hadn’t yet had a chance to properly discuss the rights and wrongs of the matter with Hu Que.

A White Tiger dashed over, crying out frantically, "Lord Hu Que! Lord Hu Yong is severely injured! He might not make it!"

Hearing this, Hu Que no longer cared about the current situation. "The Witch Doctor! Where’s the Witch Doctor? What did they say?"

"The Witch Doctors have all seen him... They all said... they all said... there’s no hope."

"No hope?! What do you mean, no hope?!"

Hu Que’s earlier good mood vanished. He quickly ran towards Hu Yong’s cave.

In Black Tiger City, Hu Yong was the most knowledgeable and respected individual. Before Si Yan’s arrival, he had been responsible for teaching the city’s culture and traditions, and thus held a very high reputation. For Hu Que, Hu Yong was practically his mentor.

Seeing them all rush off, Si Yan took her three cubs and followed.

Although the score for Black Tiger City bullying her three cubs hadn’t been settled, that old White Tiger, Hu Yong, had also helped her considerably. She still wanted to go and see if she could be of any assistance.

Thus, when Si Yan arrived, she saw the Black Tiger City Witch Doctors had already dispersed. Ming Yan was staring at the stone bed, his expression grim, while Hu Que was on the verge of collapsing from crying.