CHAPTER 26: CHAPTER 26: JOINING THE HUNTING TEAM (PART 2)

"Go into the dense forest with the Hunting Team and find Nan," Wen Shu briefly explained, but her steps didn’t stop.

The Hunting Team would set out early, and if she delayed any longer, she’d likely miss them.

She hurriedly passed by Mious, but unexpectedly, he followed her.

"Chief Weng asked me to deliver a message to you," said the male in a low voice behind her, "The Rabbit Beast Clan was attacked by Blood Beasts. Some survivors escaped here last night. Chief Weng and the elders need to rush to Beast City overnight, so they don’t have time to visit you..."

He looked at the female’s slightly hobbling left leg, surprised.

He knew the female’s Healing Ability was strong, but didn’t expect her to recover to this extent in just two days and nights.

"I understand, thank you."

Wen Shu felt her heart sink; the Blood Beasts had already begun their assault.

She wasn’t sure how far apart the two clans were, but the speed of the Blood Beasts’ incursion was undoubtedly swift.

Chief Weng’s group had already gone to seek instructions. This year’s migration would certainly be hastened because of the Blood Beast attacks.

But they hadn’t secured their food yet.

The edge of the tribe approached, and Wen Shu could see scattered firelights from afar. Around her, more Beastmen began to appear.

Most of them carried bags and hurried towards the bustling eastern exit. Wen Shu couldn’t help but glance over, stunned by the scene.

Under the archway held up by massive logs, various Beast Clan tribes gathered into a massive group, all transforming into giant beast forms, emitting countless primitive low growls, so loud the ground trembled continuously.

Noticing her gaze, Wu Xuan explained, "The Day of Benediction is over, and all the Beastmen must return to their respective clans."

Wen Shu withdrew her gaze and looked into Wu Xuan’s eyes, "What about you?"

Wu Xuan was a Beastman from the Snow Leopard Tribe; he surely had family there. She felt guilty that he chose to stay instead of leaving with them.

As if reading her mind, Wu Xuan’s eyes softened, "I don’t need to go back..."

Wen Shu looked at him puzzled, hearing him say, "Every male must leave home within two years of adulthood to form a new family with a female."

He laughed freely, "Wherever the beloved female is, that’s the male’s home. Besides, I’ve been at home for five or six years; my parents can’t wait for me to leave!"

After speaking, he gazed deeply at Wen Shu, silently yet candidly expressing his feelings.

Wen Shu was caught off guard, struck by his words; her heartbeat became a little erratic, "Is that so..."

This male was truly testing her at every moment.

She frantically avoided his gaze and saw the Hunting Team at the western exit. Having gathered all their members, they transformed into beast forms, with the leading two fox beasts each carrying a female, leaving the tribe.

Before Wen Shu could speak, she felt herself lifted into the air, her legs bent and securely held, then placed onto a furry beast’s back.

Wu Xuan instructed, "Hold on tight."

Wen Shu glanced down at the five-meter-high ground, heedfully grabbing onto the Black Panther’s fur.

But the Black Panther wasn’t a Long-haired Beast, so she couldn’t hold on steadily. Fearing to pull too hard and hurt Wu Xuan, she thought it over and pounced entirely on the Black Panther’s back, wrapping her arms tightly around its neck.

Her back pressed against a soft patch, and Wu Xuan’s figure stiffened. He wanted to remind the female his fur was thick, she needn’t fear hurting him.

But seeing the team moving far ahead, he had to pick up speed to catch up first.

Wen Shu’s gaze locked ahead, watching the elegant beast forms of the Fox Beast Tribe, their movement speed remarkable.

Yet, Wu Xuan beneath her moved even faster, a dark shadow flashing like lightning, soon darting into the middle of the team.

Seeing new Beastmen in the team, the Hunting Team wasn’t too surprised since it wasn’t the first time this happened.

Until the white-furred female, Tina, sitting on a fox beast’s back, saw Wen Shu’s face, and the atmosphere turned odd.

"Why is it her?"

She stared incredulously, urging the fox beast beneath her to speed up, closing in on the proud female, "Belinda, look quickly, isn’t that Wen Shu on the Black Panther’s back!"

Belinda was leisurely enjoying the scenery, but upon hearing Wen Shu’s name, her face suddenly darkened, "Wen Shu? Impossible, everyone knows her conduct..."

She scoffed, turning back. Seeing the female not far off, her smile froze.

The female indeed looked familiar, but she seemed much cleaner than the unkempt Wen Shu, and their demeanors were worlds apart.

Just as she was about to assert Tina had mistaken, she suddenly recalled the incident at the dueling tournament.

Looking again at the female’s face, anger flared in her eyes, and she gritted her teeth, "That’s right, it’s Wen Shu! What did she take to even come here and be such an eyesore!"

The males, hearing Belinda’s words, pulled long faces, all feeling utterly unlucky!

In fact, Wen Shu’s participation in one hunt left a deep psychological shadow on the accompanying males.

Not only was she timid but also malicious; upon encountering a giant beast in the dense forest, she’d only scream, not just scaring off the prey but alarming the giant beast.

The males tried to protect, yet one suffered a severe injury, and she showed no remorse, even threatening to abandon the male to avoid dragging them down.

Remembering this, the male beneath Belinda immediately stated his stance, "Leave them behind, I don’t want to die because of this malicious female!"

The remaining dozen or so males echoed, "Leave them behind! We’ll meet at the waterfall deep in the forest!"

They exchanged glances, immediately splitting into three teams, dashing deeper into the forest at speeds several times faster than before.

Wu Xuan, of course, heard their plotting, "Female, hold tight to me!"

He flicked his thick tail, leaping forward and accelerating towards the group with Belinda!

With the sudden burst of speed, Wen Shu clung tightly to Wu Xuan’s neck, the fierce wind stinging her face. She buried into the Black Panther’s fur, catching a glimpse of a swift shadow in the corner of her eye.

Looking closely, she locked eyes with a pair of ghostly green snake eyes.

Mious? How did he come too?

Before she could think more, the Black Panther beneath her abruptly halted. The massive inertia causing her to pull out several of Wu Xuan’s hairs, her body still flying forward.

Fortunately, at the critical moment, Mious’s large snake tail tightly coiled around her, preventing her from being flung away.

Once steady, Mious set her on the ground before reverting to human form. Seeing Wen Shu’s grateful eyes, he spoke coldly, "I don’t want to die."

With one sentence, Wen Shu swallowed her thanks, initially wanting to ask why he followed. Now the answer seemed the same.

But in a way, this was good. Stockpiling winter food was certainly a job where more hands made it faster!

Beside them, Wu Xuan noticed the female on his back was gone, and as a beast, he panicked. He returned to human form instantly to search.

Seeing Wen Shu and Mious standing together, he quickly ran over, nervously circling Wen Shu, "Female, are you okay!"

Wen Shu shook her head, "I’m fine, don’t worry, Mious saved me."

While their mood was harmonious, the sprinting Hunting Team, running themselves ragged yet unable to shake them off, was furious to the core.