Lin Yao froze the moment she stepped into the area.
The place looked like an abandoned tribe.
Empty dens lined the area, half-collapsed and overgrown. Baskets, broken tools, and scattered belongings lay everywhere. Clear signs that people had once lived here.
And left in a hurry.
A chill crept up her spine as she tightened her hold on Luma.
"What… what happened here?" she asked quietly, hurrying to walk beside the tiger beastwoman.
The woman didn't slow.
"This was a lower tribe settlement. A village dominated by women." she replied flatly.
Lin Yao's stomach twisted.
"The men took them," the woman continued, bitterness seeping into every word. "One by one. Others just ran away."
Disgust flooded Lin Yao's chest along with a heavy, aching pity.
She already knew how beastwomen were treated in this world. They were rare. Coveted. Claimed. Treated like property. The memories of this body had told her enough.
Jin Yi's actions and words had shown her the rest.
They reached a cave not long after.
It was deep, dry, and unmistakably lived in. There was a bedding area, neatly stacked firewood, rough materials for clothing and several large dead rats hanging from the stone wall.
Lin Yao swallowed.
This was… unsettling.
But the system remained silent.
That alone told her it was safe enough. At least, for now.
"Make yourselves at home," the beastwoman said, setting her basket aside.
"Thank you," Lin Yao replied, keeping her voice polite.
She carefully set Luma down. The cub looked around warily, her ears twitching.
"You're safe," Lin Yao whispered, cupping her face gently. "Thank the nice lady for helping us."
The beastwoman stared at her as if she'd lost her mind.
Still, Luma bowed her head shyly. "Th-thank you… for helping us."
The woman scoffed. "It's nothing." Her sharp eyes narrowed slightly. "You're only staying the night, right?"
"Yes," Lin Yao said quickly, forcing a smile.
Luma hid her face against Lin Yao's leg.
"Well then," the woman muttered as she took a seat by the firewood. "They call me Madam Jin."
She picked up two sticks and began striking them together.
"I am Lin Yao," Lin Yao said quietly. "And this is Luma."
She gently guided the cub toward the gathered sticks and sat down, pulling Luma onto her lap without hesitation.
Madam Jin watched them closely.
Her gaze lingered especially on the way Lin Yao held the rabbit cub like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Hm," Madam Jin hummed, as if she was holding back words she chose not to say.
She kept striking the sticks together with practiced ease until sparks flared. Fire bloomed.
Lin Yao stared.
"It's… that easy to start a fire?" she asked, disbelief slipping into her voice.
Madam Jin glanced at her. "You don't know how to start a fire?"
Lin Yao let out a small, humorless laugh. "No. Not really."
Madam Jin shook her head but said nothing more.
Thunder suddenly cracked through the sky.
Luma squeaked, her entire body trembling as fear overtook her.
[Warning: Dependent is in distress.]
Lin Yao immediately cradled her closer. "Shh… it's okay," she whispered softly. "It's just thunder. It can't hurt you."
She glanced toward the cave entrance.
Rain was pouring down in sheets now, the wind howling violently. If they'd been outside…
She didn't want to think about it.
The fire warmed the cave as Madam Jin rose and began taking down the dead rats from the wall.
Lin Yao quickly turned Luma away, shielding her view, and handed her fruit instead. They ate quietly while the storm raged outside.
Thunder boomed again.
Luma whimpered, pressing closer.
Lin Yao rubbed her back in slow circles, murmuring softly, offering gentle smiles until the cub's trembling eased though tension still lingered in her small body.
Lin Yao's thoughts churned.
She needed to find shelter. A real one. Something that could last a month.
Why did the system warn her about Su Rui… but not this woman?
Su Rui had saved them.
Madam Jin was a complete stranger too.
Still, she didn't dare complain much. She was tired of the punishments.
Eventually, exhaustion won.
Luma's breathing evened out as she fell asleep in Lin Yao's arms.
Madam Jin noticed.
She spoke quietly, her eyes sharp in the firelight. "What are you really doing with a rabbit cub, Lin Yao?"
Suspicion edged her voice.
"Are you planning to sell her?"
Lin Yao stiffened.
Madam Jin's gaze hardened. "I can buy her from you."
It took several long seconds for Lin Yao to process those words.
Then she reacted.
She pulled Luma closer to her chest, arms tightening protectively as she glared at Madam Jin.
"What?"
Madam Jin laughed, the sound light and careless. "Come on. She looks healthy, and she's polite too. She could fetch you a fortune. It's really smart, you know."
Lin Yao stared at her in pure disgust. "What the..."
She shot to her feet, carefully adjusting her grip on Luma so she wouldn't wake her.
Madam Jin tilted her head, clearly more curious than offended. "Why are you acting like selling cubs is strange? This is how things are done."
"This is my cub," Lin Yao snapped. "I'm not selling her."
Madam Jin snorted. "You really expect me to believe that? Let me buy the cub from you."
A chill crawled up Lin Yao's spine. This woman was insane. She was far too comfortable talking about buying Luma.
"No."
"How do you think I earn a living, huh?" Madam Jin's sharp eyes narrowed, her tail swaying slowly behind her. "An old lady like me… You're joking about her being your cub, right? You can tell me."
Rain still poured outside, thunder cracking violently. Lin Yao clenched her jaw. They couldn't leave, not like this. They could get sick. And she still hadn't completed the task. The system rewards were too important.
She looked back at Madam Jin, who was watching her with a wide, unsettling grin.
"Like I said," Lin Yao replied firmly, "she's my cub."
Madam Jin nodded slowly. "Very well. Keep saying that." She gestured toward the fire. "Sit down, okay? You wouldn't want to wake your merchandise."
Lin Yao hesitated, then sat, her body tense and ready to bolt at the slightest movement.
"You know," Madam Jin leaned closer, her interest growing rather than fading. "no one really comes to this village. You and I can stay in my cave together. We can boost business. You seem good with cubs. You can lure them, teach them to act properly."
Lin Yao tightened her hold on Luma. "Do you.… have any cubs with you right now?"
"Oh?" Madam Jin's grin widened unnaturally. "Now you're showing your true colors."
She laughed softly. "Of course I do."
Cold dread flooded Lin Yao's veins. She needed to get out of here with Luma fast.
[Warning: Secondary dependent identified. Survival probability rapidly declining.
Host must intervene without exposing the current dependent to harm.]
[Punishment for failure: Unconsciousness.]
[Rewards: Increased physical strength and agility.]