Lia arrived quickly, and the crowd instinctively parted at the sight of his expression.
Gio and Kea were still shouting toward the gathered families, urging them to complain about Ziqian's behavior, but their voices faltered when they noticed the high priest and patriarch approaching.
"What exactly are you two doing?" Lia's angry voice sounded as he glared at the two sub-beasts at the center of this gathering.
Kea stiffened, the memory of their last punishment still painfully fresh on his skin, but Gio lifted his chin stubbornly.
"We are seeking justice, High Priestess," he declared. "Ziqian caused panic in the tribe. He should be punished."
Gio was proud and stubborn.
He was the grandchild of the previous high priest before Lia. From birth, he had been raised as a treasured sub-beast—pampered, praised, and molded with a single purpose: to become the next high priest and marry Xue, the future patriarch. It was a role he had been told was his destiny, unquestionable and guaranteed.
And then Ziqian arrived.
Not only had Gio been punished over a "small" matter, but now Ziqian dared claim he saw something happen to Huo. What was that supposed to mean? Was Ziqian trying to imply he had an ability like the High Priest?
But what infuriated Gio the most was that Xue, who had always been cold and distant, immediately followed Ziqian, protecting him without the slightest hesitation.
"Justice?" Lia snapped, stepping forward. "Or are you simply trying to cause trouble for Ziqian?"
Gio flinched, his earlier arrogance suddenly wavering.
Lia could see Kea and Gio's scheme as clearly as day. The two had not stopped stirring trouble these past three days.
These sub-beasts had always been reckless and arrogant. For the longest time, Lia had chosen to turn a blind eye to their behavior, so long as they did not cross his bottom line. It was the respect he continued to show for his mentor, who had already passed away.
But this time was different. It wasn't just that the two had almost led Pen to his death, and now they were even daring to target Ziqian.
It was a pity that Gio hadn't inherited even a shred of the old high priest's wisdom or his love for the tribe and its people.
"And you, Kea," Lia said, directing his glare at the other sub-beast. "How dare you criticize Ziqian when you don't even know what's happening out there. Instead of stirring panic here, why don't you pray to the Beast God for their safe return, especially since your husband is part of the hunting group!"
"My husband is strong! I know he will be fine… but Huo—" Kea clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms.
The crowd fell silent.
"How can we know if what Ziqian is saying is even true?!" Kea continued, voice trembling with anger, completely unaware of the slip in his words.
Kea didn't care about his husband. Call him heartless, but the one he truly loved was Huo. And if what Ziqian said was true, if something really had happened to Huo, he knew he wouldn't be able to bear it.
He wanted to follow and be at Huo's side, but he didn't—because he was afraid. Afraid to leave the safety of the tribe, afraid of the monsters outside, and afraid of the hardship and danger that might await him.
That fear twisted into frustration, and in that moment, he allowed himself to be swayed by Gio.
Gio said that Ziqian was simply making a spectacle in front of the whole tribe, deliberately seeking the attention and admiration of everyone. Desperate to find someone to blame, Kea believed Gio and held Ziqian responsible for everything.
Gio's head snapped toward Kea. He hadn't expected Kea to blurt that out so loudly.
Fool!
"What he means is—why did we have to send out the beast warriors and the young patriarch so suddenly?" Gio stepped forward quickly, trying to save the situation. "High Priest, I am not questioning your ability, but it was Ziqian who claimed to see the oracle. How can we be certain it's true? He's only been here for a short time."
Gio's words reignited the suspicions of those who had previously questioned, in silence, the special treatment Ziqian received from the twins, the high priest, and even the patriarch.
Murmurs instantly spread through the crowd, completely forgetting Kea's earlier outburst.
"I heard a rumor before that Ziqian was a spy from another tribe?"
"How can he have an oracle? Is he a high priest from somewhere else?"
"Is he pretending to be one?"
The whispers grew louder, anxiety and suspicion mixing in the air. Several beastmen exchanged wary glances, uncertainty creeping into their expressions as doubt slowly took root.
A small group of females with long-held envy toward Ziqian nodded along eagerly.
"He might be here to harm the tribe!"
"What if he lied about the oracle so the warriors would be attacked outside?"
"What if he brought misfortune to our tribe?"
The gathered families clutched their children closer, worry and fear clearly visible in their eyes.
"That might be the reason why he got close to the young patriarch and Huo."
"He must have planned something!"
Their whispers twisted into something far uglier. Soon, Ziqian was being painted as a villain—
a spy sent to destroy their tribe,
a sub-beast who seduced their warriors,
and a bearer of misfortune.
Gio's lips curled into a small, satisfied smile as he subtly pinched Kea's arm. This was his true goal.
Because of Ziqian's beauty and the kindness he showed to everyone, he had gained many admirers. And after teaching them how to cook and saving Pen, that number only increased. His reputation had grown so much that staining his name had become difficult.
But admiration wasn't the only thing that increased.
There were also those who were doubtful, jealous, and already inclined to resent him. And now, with their whispers feeding the crowd's fear, the tide was turning.
If enough people believed the lies, then even the High Priest and the Patriarch wouldn't be able to shield him.
This was the very gossip Lia and Bei had been trying to suppress these past few days. Lia knew Gio was the one behind it—his intentions were as clear as day. But whatever that arrogant sub-beast planned, Lia thought that it would all become meaningless once Ziqian's true identity was revealed to the tribe.
That was what he had believed.
But now, in front of everyone, Gio was openly inciting doubt and fear, pushing the families toward suspicion and anger directed at Ziqian.
If Lia allowed this to continue, if he stayed silent while Ziqian was being slandered, then he feared that not only he, but the entire tribe, would incur the wrath of the Beast God.
As more and more people gathered around, Lia's voice finally sounded, his gaze sweeping across the crowd, lingering on each face before returning to Gio, who stood with confidence and barely disguised triumph.
"Do you want to know why we favor and protect Ziqian?" he asked.
"Do you want to know why we believed Ziqian's oracle?"
"And why do your accusations hold no weight?"
Gio didn't know what Lia intended to reveal, but he stepped forward, eager to hear what kind of excuse the high priest would come up with.
"Yes, High Priest, please tell us!"
In Gio's mind, the more Lia and Bei spoke in Ziqian's defense, the more suspicious it would look to the people.
The crowd responded as well, voices rising with curiosity. Even those like Qiu, Tei, and Yan, who believed Ziqian would never do the things he was being accused of, found themselves wanting to hear the answers to these questions.
"Very well," Lia said.
Anticipation rippled through everyone as they fell silent, waiting for the high priest's next words.
"I believe everyone here still remembers the last Beast God oracle that shook the entirety of Gaia," Lia started.
Gio and Kea frowned. What did that have to do with Ziqian?
The crowd exchanged confused glances, unsure why the high priest would bring up that event, but they still nodded.
No one could forget it.
Every living being in Gaia had awakened that night to a spectacle that would remain etched in their memories for the rest of their lives—a melodious sound that lifted their hearts and stirred their souls, followed by a blinding light descending from the sky, illuminating the darkness like a second sun, and within that radiance were the four guardians, soaring through the air as if dancing in celebration.
"Then you should also remember," Lia continued, his voice steady, "that the Beast God instructed us to welcome the descent of the God's Messenger… the one being who would help Gaia."
"I don't understand why the High Priest is talking about that," Gio said coldly. "What we want to know is about Ziqian—" He stopped as realization slammed into him.
Lia smiled.
As the meaning of his words settled in, several people paled, realizing exactly what the high priest was implying.
"You're not saying—" someone whispered.
"That can't be…"
"Ziqian is the God's Messenger," Lia declared, his voice ringing with absolute certainty.
Silence fell over everyone present.
And as if the heavens themselves moved to affirm his words, a loud shout tore through the crowd.
"The hunting group is back!"