Facing that cold, icy gaze, Bai Youran couldn't help but shiver all over. She bit down on her teeth, trembling uncontrollably with fear, curling her body as tightly as possible.
At the same time, her mind screamed desperately to the system: "Come on! If you don't save me, you're not going to get off easy either! We're like locusts on the same rope!"
No matter how much Bai Youran pleaded internally, the familiar mechanical voice never came online. A boundless sense of despair swept through her.
Seeing Mu Yuan's footsteps drawing closer, Bai Youran clung to a tiny sliver of hope, trying to use her previously foolproof methods with men—putting on a perfectly timed, delicate expression.
She wanted to act coy and submissive, hoping to calm him down—this was the best plan she could think of in such a short time.
But Mu Yuan, seeing her old, bark-like face attempting to act feminine, felt pure disgust where there had once been obsession.
"Hmph, Bai Youran, put away that pretentious act! I no longer hold the chieftain's position, and this is all your doing. Now, how should I repay your so-called deep affection for me?"
Without waiting for her explanation, he slapped her, shouting as he did:
"You're a disaster. Look at the evil things you've birthed. Don't worry, I've thrown all those disgusting things out to fend for themselves. Hmph… I, Mu Yuan, really only met you out of sheer misfortune…"
Bai Youran's ears rang from the merciless slap, blood trickled from her mouth, and she was too stunned to even react.
When she regained consciousness, she heard Mu Yuan's constant berating. Her temper flared, and she snapped back recklessly:
"Yes, blame me now that something's gone wrong! But don't forget—you treated me as a goddess first! Hmph, you even climbed into my bed willingly back then. Now this only proves your incompetence."
Bai Youran no longer held back. Without her golden finger and having given birth to these "demons," she had nothing left to fear.
Mu Yuan's chest ached with rage at her sharp words. He knew he was partly at fault, yet being so blatantly humiliated and mocked by a female made his eyes turn blood-red with fury.
Other tiger-tribe beastmen in the cave heard the shouting, but none dared to intervene in the matter between the two.
Mu Yuan was already on the edge of madness. If not for the decree of the Beast God—"Do not kill your partner, or divine punishment will descend"—Bai Youran would likely have been dead long ago.
In this ancient beast world, the Beast God's words were their guiding faith; the beastmen instinctively obeyed, fearful of displeasing the deity.
Meanwhile, Qinghua sipped a large cup of bubble tea, with delicate pastries from her previous world's royal kitchen laid out on the table. She crossed her legs and watched the domestic drama unfold through the holographic image.
Indeed, it was a spectacular dog-eat-dog show. Just a slight tweak from her, and these two exposed their utterly unappealing true natures.
Xiao Tian reached out, grabbing two pastries—one in each chubby little hand—and began a new round of devouring, grunting excitedly.
"Big sister, this is so delicious! I've really missed out before, but it's fine—I'll make up for it later."
Watching him eat endlessly, Qinghua twitched. Lately, his belly seemed like a bottomless pit. Were it not for her abundant supplies, there wouldn't be enough to keep up with him.
"Xiao Tian, have you noticed your appetite has been growing recently? It's not that I'm stingy with food, but your consumption worries me a bit."
"Actually, it's because I've been having problems with cultivation. The spiritual energy nourishing me isn't enough, so I have to eat constantly to cope with the discomfort. Big sister, I wasn't trying to hide it. I know you've given your spiritual veins to me and Bi'er to cultivate—it's to prevent you from worrying."
Hearing Xiao Tian's thoughtful words softened Qinghua's usually stern heart. Her care for them had always carried a little hidden intention.
"Next time, tell me first. Stay in the space for now; there's spiritual energy to nourish you. I'll find clues about the Beast God that can help you soon."
Bi'er overheard their conversation and felt guilty, remembering how she had teased Xiao Tian for his small belly.
Well, as a generous supernatural fire, Bi'er decided: she would avoid arguing and make Xiao Tian less upset from now on.
Xiao Tian missed playing outside with them but wasn't reckless. Pouting, he replied:
"I'll behave and listen to you, big sister. But don't forget, I'm still starving in the space!"
"Don't worry, your favorite foods will always be there—wontons, dried fruit, sparkling water, pastries…"
Qiao Hua's detailed list revealed Xiao Tian's indiscriminate taste—he would eat anything. Embarrassed, he flushed and ran back to the space.
Seeing Xiao Tian's childlike innocence, Qinghua's lips curved into a smile, lifting her spirits.
Thinking of Xiao Tian's cultivation problem, Qinghua furrowed her brows. It was serious—if left unresolved, it could lead to disaster.
She quickly retrieved the tiger-head staff from the space. As before, she recited the obscure incantation from memory. Magical multicolored light gradually filled the tent.
This time, Qinghua amplified her mental focus, making the aura blindingly bright.
Suddenly, a message appeared in beast-world script: "Walk eastward; you will find the answer you seek."
Seconds later, the dazzling light disappeared, and the mysterious staff returned to its original simple appearance. Qinghua's face lit up with a hint of joy—she had received the message.
She planned to relax surveillance over Bai Youran and Mu Yuan. After all, they were now completely isolated and despised by all tiger-tribe members.
However, Mu Yuan, the direct executioner of events, still had to be dealt with.
The next morning, the other sleeping beastmen were startled by a piercing scream. Following the sound, they discovered it came from Mu Yuan's location.
Though fearful, some curious warriors peeked, only to stumble back in shock when they saw the scene.
"Blood… it's all blood."
Finally, Qinglan mustered courage, lifted the obstructing curtain, and saw Mu Yuan lying in a pool of blood. Bai Youran had already been terrified into clutching her head, wailing uncontrollably.
Examination revealed that Mu Yuan's hand tendons had been maliciously severed, preventing him from ever hunting again—a devastating blow for a male beastman, effectively ending his life as he knew it.
Hearing the result, Mu Yuan felt utterly despondent. Those visiting him seemed to be mocking him, and the growing malice in his heart continued to feed and expand.