112: He's gone, and he'll never come back.

At the same time, Bai Yao and Xuan Mo finally returned to the Tribe.

As soon as they approached the Tribe entrance, they saw many people gathered there, seemingly waiting for something.

Seeing Bai Yao return, their faces immediately lit up with joyful smiles, and they surrounded her.

"Bai Yao, you're finally back!"

A sturdy Male Beastman spoke first, holding several strings of dark, dried meat in his hand.

"Look, I made this air-dried meat using the method you taught last time. Is this considered done?"

Bai Yao suppressed the chaotic emotions in her heart, forced a smile, took the dried meat, examined it carefully, and then leaned in to smell it.

"It's preliminarily air-dried, but it might still be a little soft inside,"

she explained gently. "You need to sun-dry it for a few more days until it's completely hard and dry, and can be easily broken."

The Beastman suddenly realized, nodding repeatedly: "Good, good! I'll take it back and dry it some more right now."

Immediately after, another Female brought over a piece of smoked meat and asked expectantly:

"Bai Yao, look at this preserved meat. How is the smoking? I just used wood I picked up outside to smoke it."

Bai Yao asked, "What kind of wood did you use?"

"Just... just ordinary dry firewood." The Female looked a little embarrassed.

"Using wood from a fruit tree that bears red fruit will make the flavor better, giving it a fruity aroma."

Bai Yao patiently suggested, "But this is edible; the flavor is just a bit lacking."

"So there's a specific technique for this. Thank you, Bai Yao."

The Female, with an expression of having learned something new, treasured the meat and went back.

Next, several more people came to ask for advice, holding the air-dried meat or preserved meat they had tried to make.

Bai Yao temporarily cast aside her worries, patiently answering each question and telling them how to judge the quality and how to improve their methods.

Watching the Tribe members leave with satisfied and grateful smiles, a hint of warmth seemed to be injected into her frozen heart.

At that moment, a somewhat familiar Female neighbor walked over timidly,

holding a large piece of brightly colored, clearly textured Beast meat.

Bai Yao couldn't recall her name for a moment, only remembering that they usually just nodded to each other when they met.

"Bai... Bai Yao,"

the Female said in a small, shy voice. "This... is for you. Thank you for teaching me how to make steamed buns last time, and for teaching me how to make dried meat this time..."

"This is the tenderest part of a high-grade Gu Gu Beast that my mate hunted... I hope you don't mind it."

She quickly shoved the meat into Bai Yao's hands and, without waiting for Bai Yao to thank her, blushed and ran away.

Bai Yao held the heavy piece of meat, feeling a rush of emotion.

It seemed the previous "Bai Yao" had a terrible reputation, and her current changes had quietly shifted the attitude of those around her?

She shook her head, temporarily suppressing these thoughts, and carried the meat into the house.

As soon as she put the items down, Tana's clear yet slightly complaining voice came from outside:

"Yaoyao, you're finally back. I looked for you for ages at the Fox Clan Market but couldn't find you. I thought something had happened to you."

Tana rushed in energetically, holding two exquisite ornaments woven from colorful feathers and tiny shells.

"Here, I saw these at the market and thought they suited you perfectly! They're for you."

Bai Yao accepted the thoughtful gift. The feathers were light, and the shells shimmered under the light.

"Thank you, Tana, they're very pretty."

She thanked her sincerely, but her heart sank slightly at the mention of the Fox Clan Market, and those unpleasant memories resurfaced.

Tana was simple-minded and didn't notice Bai Yao's momentary slump. She looked around and asked curiously:

"Huh? Where is that Little Cub who always follows you around? You took him to the market this time too, right? I wanted to play with him!"

Xuan Mo immediately noticed Bai Yao's body stiffen. He stepped forward, cleverly blocking Bai Yao.

He picked up a piece of dried meat from the table and handed it to Tana, trying to change the subject: "Have something to eat first."

However, Tana didn't take the hint and continued to press:

"Right, Yaoyao, where did that Little Cub go? Did you find his parents at the market this time? What species is he anyway? He's so cute..."

Bai Yao took a deep breath, forcing herself to answer in a calm tone, "He left. He won't be coming back again."

"Ah? Why?"

Tana widened her eyes, full of confusion. "Did his family come to pick him up? What are his family members like?"

"I don't know."

Bai Yao's voice rose slightly, carrying an irritation she hadn't even noticed herself. "I don't want to talk about him anymore."

Tana belatedly realized that Bai Yao was in a terrible mood. Being straightforward, she couldn't help but ask directly:

"Yaoyao, did you two... have a fight? What happened?"

Bai Yao was physically and mentally exhausted at the moment and truly didn't have the strength to recount the experience of being deceived. She rubbed her forehead. "Tana, I just got back today, and I'm very tired. Why don't you go back first? When I'm rested, I'll come find you to play, okay?"

Tana looked at Bai Yao's genuinely pale face and the exhaustion in her eyes. Although she was full of curiosity and worry, she nodded obediently:

"Alright... Yaoyao, please rest well, and make sure you come find me!" She left, looking back repeatedly.

The room finally fell silent.

Xuan Mo watched the dazed and struggling Bai Yao, feeling a pang in his heart.

He was not good with words and didn't know how to comfort people, but at this moment, he still walked up and awkwardly patted her shoulder.

"In this world... there are all kinds of people,"

he organized his thoughts. "When people scheme intentionally, it's impossible to guard against. The important thing is... to have a clear conscience."

Hearing Xuan Mo's earnest attempt at comfort, Bai Yao froze for a moment, and then a warm current dispersed some of the coldness she felt.

She looked up, meeting Xuan Mo's worried vertical pupils, and then thought of Lin, who always worried about her, and the Tribe members who had just brought sincere gifts of thanks... That's right, she couldn't let one calculating deceiver negate everyone around her who treated her with genuine kindness.

The warmth and trust they offered were real.

She took a deep breath and gave Xuan Mo a smile that was somewhat forced but showed she was genuinely trying to cheer up:

"Mhm, I understand. I'm fine now, don't worry."

She needed to keep busy, filling her mind with concrete tasks so she could move past the shadow faster.

"Let's go check on the ingredients stored in the cellar, and the dried fruit I tried to make earlier..."

Xuan Mo looked at Bai Yao like this, feeling both heartache and relief.

He nodded silently, fiercely burying the thought, "Next time I see that Little Cub, I will make him pay the price," deep in his heart.

At the same time, another more pressing concern surfaced—winter was approaching, and he needed to hibernate.

How should he bring this up to Bai Yao, and how could he find a temporary guardian for her who was strong and trustworthy enough?

This matter had to be put on the agenda quickly.

As for Bai Yao, she secretly clenched her fists on the way to the cellar.

Life had to go on. She still had her mate waiting to return, and Xuan Mo quietly accompanying her by her side.

She needed to live well.