*"The System will expend energy to shroud the Host, masking your scent. This energy is a pre-advance from the System. Host is required to overcome the current crisis, complete tasks, and develop the tribe to repay the energy debt."*
The cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind, and Sam immediately felt an invisible force wrap around his body—restricting his movements slightly, a subtle but uncomfortable sensation.
*"Host is advised not to attempt movement. Any unnecessary motion will consume additional energy."* The system warned again. Sam stilled his body, halting the slight adjustments he'd made to ease the discomfort.
Maintaining his current posture, Sam listened intently to the sounds outside the cave, his heart thudding in his chest. The system's exploration function hummed in the background, and the approaching footsteps grew louder by the second.
*"Target has entered exploration range. Confirming identity—Xuan. Host, do you wish to cancel the scent-shrouding effect?"*
*"Really? Cancel it! Cancel it right now!"* Sam's eyes lit up. He scrambled to his feet and darted toward the cave entrance.
Outside, Xuan's massive panther form loomed in the darkness, his footsteps heavy and labored. Something large and pitch-black hung from his jaws, dragging along the ground, its shape indistinguishable in the dim light. He moved slowly, but when he spotted Sam running out, he paused briefly, then quickened his pace. Within moments, he'd reached a spot five meters away from Sam, dropped his burden with a dull thud that sent up a cloud of dust, and swayed unsteadily on his paws before adjusting his stance and slowly sitting down.
Sam waved a hand to clear the dust, grinning as he called out, "Xuan! You're back! I saved some roasted beast meat—want to taste my cooking skills?"
He pushed through the waist-high grass and hurried forward, but when he reached Xuan's side, his smile froze, and his eyes widened in shock. The panther's sleek black pelt was marred by countless wounds—large and small—most notably two gaping, blood-drenched holes in his shoulder, still oozing crimson. The once satin-smooth fur was now matted and clotted with dried blood. His chest heaved far more violently than usual, each breath a ragged gasp, and every so often, a low whimper escaped his throat.
Sensing Sam's approach, Xuan shifted his forelimbs and slowly lay down on the ground. Sam's heart ached at the sight. He reached out a tentative hand, wanting to comfort him, and Xuan lowered his head obediently, pressing it gently into Sam's palm.
The fur beneath his fingers was warm, softer than he'd imagined. Blood splatters stained Xuan's muzzle, clumping his whiskers together, but there were no wounds there—likely just blood from the hunt.
"Still awake at this hour? Did I wake you?" Xuan mumbled, resting his head on his forepaws, his emerald eyes sliding shut.
"I couldn't sleep," Sam murmured, his throat tight. *"I was worried sick with you gone so long."*
"Now I'm back. Go rest—we've got the shadow beast's corpse to handle tomorrow. I need to take it back to the tribe intact."
"Aren't you going to rest for a few days? What about your wounds?"
"It's nothing. Just flesh wounds. A night's rest will fix it."
*"Who are you kidding?"* Sam frowned, gently patting Xuan's forehead, his tone laced with frustration. *"You stumbled back here gasping for air, barely able to stand upright."*
"I killed it right as the sun was setting," Xuan twitched his ears, not dodging Sam's touch. *"I didn't have time to process it—hauling it back here took more effort than I expected."*
"Why not process it first and rest a bit? Why rush back in such a hurry?" Sam's brows knitted tighter as he ruffled the short fur on Xuan's head.
"I couldn't leave you alone out here overnight," Xuan opened his eyes, gazing at the ground, his tail flicking restlessly, a faint hint of guilt in his voice. *"Even though I cleared the area, I still feared something might happen."*
Sam froze, stunned into silence. It had only been three days since they'd met—hardly enough time to build any deep bond. At first, he'd agreed to follow Xuan purely to survive, relying on the beastman's protection. He hadn't even explicitly agreed to join his tribe; it had just been an option to complete the system's task.
Yet here Xuan was, laying bare his genuine, unguarded concern—concern that had driven him to push through his injuries and rush back instead of resting. Sam opened his mouth, wanting to say *You didn't have to go to such lengths for me*, but the words stuck in his throat, refusing to come out.
"I… wait here a minute. I need to grab something." After a long pause, his voice came out hoarse and dry. He turned and sprinted back into the cave, leaving Xuan sitting there, utterly confused.
*"System, how do I use the hemostatic grass?"* Sam grabbed the small bundle of grass he'd collected earlier, then rushed back toward Xuan, his mind racing.
*"Crush it into a paste and apply directly to the wounds."* The system's reply came instantly.
By the time the mental exchange ended, Sam was already standing in front of Xuan again. He stared at the massive panther, then down at the tiny handful of grass in his palm, which looked woefully inadequate in comparison.
"Xuan… can you shift back to human form? If it's too much trouble, it's okay."
Xuan didn't understand what he was planning, but he obeyed anyway. He sat up, his form blurring and shrinking until the tall, handsome young man with black hair and emerald eyes stood in his place. The wounds looked even more gruesome on his bare skin—especially the shoulder wound, which looked like it had been bitten clean through.
Sam stuffed several stalks of hemostatic grass into his mouth, chewed vigorously, and said, "I found some medicinal herbs. They stop bleeding and reduce inflammation. It might sting a little—bear with me." He leaned forward and carefully pressed the chewed paste onto Xuan's gaping shoulder wound.
Xuan stared at him in surprise, but he didn't pull away. He sat still, letting Sam do as he pleased. The herb worked wonders—within minutes, the steady flow of blood from his shoulder had completely stopped.
Remembering the grass also had anti-inflammatory properties, Sam chewed up the rest of the bundle and spread the paste over every visible wound on Xuan's body.
Xuan watched him silently the entire time, cooperating fully. It wasn't until Sam had used up the last of the grass and tended to most of his injuries that he spoke up, his voice soft with curiosity.
"You know how to use medicinal herbs? Are you a shaman?" He paused, then shook his head, correcting himself. "No… you're too young to be a shaman. Are you a shaman's apprentice?" His expression was earnest, his eyes bright with hope.
"Huh? No! I'm not a shaman, and I'm not an apprentice either!" Sam waved his hands frantically, denying it immediately. He understood the general meaning of the word "shaman," but he had no idea what status or responsibilities the title held in this world. He wasn't about to make any reckless claims.
"But you know about medicinal herbs, right?" Xuan ignored his denials, leaning forward slightly, his tone brimming with excitement.
"Uh… maybe a little," Sam mumbled, being deliberately vague. *With the system's help, I might learn more eventually.*
At his hesitant admission, Xuan could no longer contain his joy. He jumped to his feet and circled Sam several times, grinning from ear to ear, before finally calming down and sitting back down across from him.
"Go get some sleep now. Tomorrow will come soon enough—I can't wait to take you back to the tribe, Sam… I really hope you'll choose to stay with us. But I'll respect whatever decision you make. Please… give our tribe a chance."
Seated on the ground, Xuan issued the invitation again, his tone far more solemn and sincere than before. Sam suddenly realized that Xuan had noticed his evasive response the first time he'd been asked to join the tribe—and yet, he hadn't pressed the issue, instead continuing to protect him wholeheartedly. The realization made Sam squirm slightly, and he fidgeted with his fingers before lifting his head to meet Xuan's gaze, his own expression serious.
"I can't give you an answer right now, but I *will* think about it carefully, Xuan. I know you're a good person, and I'm sure your tribe is a good place too. But I'm sorry—I need to see it for myself, to experience it firsthand, before I can make up my mind."
"I understand. Don't feel pressured," Xuan replied, his expression falling slightly, but he quickly perked up again, smiling warmly. "If you don't think our tribe is the right fit, I know all the other tribes in the surrounding area. I'll take you to visit them, too."
"Xuan… no matter what happens, thank you. Truly." Sam looked at the young man in front of him, his heart swelling with emotion.
"It's getting late—you should rest. We'll get ready at dawn, and I'll take you to see my tribe." Xuan smiled, stood up, and his form blurred once more, shifting back into the massive black panther. He nudged Sam gently with his head, urging him toward the cave.
Sam stood up, unable to resist reaching out to pat Xuan's head again. He sighed silently—he really wished he could touch the uninjured version of Xuan, the one with fur as smooth as silk. He wondered if he'd ever get the chance.
Xuan remained docile, letting him pet him, though his ears twitched slightly in embarrassment. This sub-beast really did love his panther form, didn't he?
Sam returned to the cave and lay down on the grass bed, his gaze drifting toward the cave entrance, where Xuan was already standing guard once again. He thought to himself, *As long as it's not something completely unbearable, staying in Xuan's tribe might not be such a bad thing. After all, a tribe that could raise someone like Xuan must be a pretty great place.*
He yawned, realizing it was already the middle of the night when Xuan had returned. Between tending to his wounds and their heart-to-heart talk, dawn was probably just a few hours away. There was still so much to do tomorrow—he needed to rest. He closed his eyes, letting sleep claim him.