16: Chapter 16 Going Home with Her

Given the agility and speed of the Civet Beastman, Meng Qi quickly dodged the moment the black bear's large paw descended.

Enraged, the black bear let out a loud roar and pounced toward Meng Lai again.

Its bloody mouth was filled with sharp fangs, and the stench made Meng Lai gag; he took the opportunity to leap onto the giant black bear's shoulder, his claws slashing toward its cheek.

"Don't!" Meng Qi cried out in alarm.

That brat, how could he act so recklessly? This would only further provoke the black bear.

Unfortunately, it was too late. Several bloody gashes were torn into the black bear's face, and blood streamed down its eyes and cheeks, greatly triggering its berserk state.

Meng Lai was swatted away by the black bear's paw, but fortunately, his reaction speed was fast. After tumbling a few times in the air, he stabilized his body and landed safely on the ground.

Shaking his dizzy head, Meng Lai watched as the black bear pounced toward him and quickly dodged.

"Roar~"

Sang Qing watched the entangled black bear and quickly ran over, shouting to Meng Qi, "Father, catch!"

What?

Meng Qi's eyes lit up as he saw the thing flying toward him. He quickly transformed into human form and reached out to catch the crossbow.

"Meng Lai, you're responsible for keeping the black bear busy."

He hadn't expected Qing Qing to be carrying a crossbow; this was great.

After loading the arrow, Meng Qi aimed at the black bear's heart, but the bear seemed to sense the danger and turned to attack Meng Qi.

Meng Lai quickly jumped onto the black bear's back and bit its ear, halting its advance.

Swoosh—

Meng Qi took the chance to release the arrow, which pierced accurately into the black bear's heart.

Thud~

The black bear collapsed heavily to the ground, but it didn't die immediately. It gasped for breath, its eyes filled with resentment and anger.

It hated these bad beasts who had stolen its cubs.

"Roar~" The black bear let out a pained cry, struggling to get up. Compared to its overwhelming presence when it first appeared, it was now at its last gasp, its voice no longer powerful and incredibly weak.

Seeing this, Meng Lai swung his fists at the black bear's head, punch after punch, not stopping until he had crushed the black bear's skull.

The black bear's corpse lay stiffly on the grass. Meng Qi pulled the arrow from its heart and looked at the mountain-sized bear, feeling troubled.

Sang Qing leaned against a large tree, her eyes filled with a mix of emotions, but in the end, they all turned into relief—it was enough that Father and brother were safe.

Meng Lai jumped into the stream for a bath, while Meng Qi looked at the black bear's corpse with some worry.

It would be a pity not to take back such a large prey, but with just the strength of the two of them, it would be difficult.

The Half-Beastmen hiding in the woods were shocked to see them defeat such a powerful beast.

"Let's go." Once Nixi confirmed they were fine, he led his companions away.

"Wait, Nixi..." a petite female with a wounded face called out to him.

"What's wrong, Sophia?" Nixi was thinking they needed to head back before sunset; otherwise, the forest at night would be full of predators they couldn't defend against.

"I... I don't want to go back. I want to follow this female to her Tribe." The female called Sophia clenched her fists and spoke to Nixi and her companions with determination.

"Sophia, you're crazy. You'll be tortured to death." Another young female stepped forward and retorted in confusion.

"No, she won't. She won't torture me." Sophia had already made up her mind.

In truth, going home meant death for her as well. If she were caught again in the future, she might not encounter such a kind female to rescue them.

So, why shouldn't she follow this kind female to her Tribe?

She was willing to give everything as long as she would be accepted.

The other female wanted to persuade her further, but Nixi stopped her. "Then go."

Perhaps Sophia's idea was correct.

Nixi cast a deep look at Sang Qing in the distance, a slight curve appearing at the corner of his mouth. "We will pray for you, Sophia. Good luck."

Sophia nodded, and after a difficult farewell to her companions, she turned and ran toward Sang Qing without looking back.

Sang Qing had just put away the crossbow and was trying to figure out with Meng Qi how to bring the black bear's corpse back.

"You want to come back to the Tribe with me?" Sang Qing looked the young female over, an expression of surprise on her face.

"Yes, I can do many things. Please take me with you." Sophia accepted Sang Qing's scrutiny openly, her eyes full of hope.

Sang Qing frowned slightly as she observed the Female Half-Beastman. She appeared to be a Fox Beastman, her most obvious un-transformed features being her ears—a pair of furry, upright red ears. There was also some un-evolved fur on her hands and back. If her face weren't injured, she would look even prettier.

"Are you an adult?"

Sophia shook her head. She probably wasn't an adult, but she didn't know what counted as one. Most of the time, they were only concerned with survival and couldn't remember how many years had passed.

Not an adult yet? No wonder her face still looked somewhat childish.

Seeing Sang Qing's hesitation, Sophia grew nervous and pleaded with her again.

"female, please take me back. I eat very little and can do any kind of work. I promise to listen to you."

"Your companions have all left. Why aren't you going home with them?" Sang Qing had sharp hearing; when this Female Half-Beastman walked toward her, she heard the sound of hurried footsteps fading away.

"I have no home anymore. Although my companions took good care of me, I don't want to burden them further.

Many beastmen want to catch us to trade at the Market. We escaped this time, but next time..." Sophia looked sad, tears welling in her eyes as she lowered her head helplessly.

She was a smart Half-Beastman. Sang Qing thought that since her companions had already left, it would be dangerous to leave her alone in the forest.

"Then come back with me."

Given how much she trusted her.

Sophia immediately nodded in excitement.

While they had finished their discussion, Meng Qi was still struggling.

"Father, if we really can't, let's just leave it. The sun is about to set." Meng Lai stood by his Father with hands on his hips, shaking the water droplets from his hair as he tried to persuade him.

"No, the meat of this beast has high energy. Eating it will be good for you." Meng Qi frowned and shook his head, his large eyes staring stubbornly.

He had rarely eaten the meat of such a beast. If Meng Lai ate it, it would surely be a huge help for him to break through to a Fifth-Rank Warrior.

"But..." Meng Lai looked at the beast; one of its arms was as large as his Beast Form. They couldn't possibly carry it back.

It was still a long distance from the Tribe, and it was impossible to go back and get Tribesmen to help.

Sang Qing walked over upon hearing Meng Qi's words. "Father, I have a way. How could you forget?"

Although her space couldn't fit the black bear's corpse, she could exchange it for points.

Meng Qi suddenly realized that Qing Qing must be talking about her Beast God Space.

He was immediately overjoyed, but Sang Qing gave him a look. Glancing at Sophia standing nearby, Meng Qi understood and quickly led Sophia away.

Sang Qing looked at the massive beast corpse on the ground and clicked the system scan function.

[Scan complete. Wild Black Bear Energy Body, entirely edible. Estimated value: 5 points. List for sale?]

Sang Qing chose to exchange it. Five points was quite a lot; she was rather surprised.

Meng Lai watched the beast corpse suddenly disappear and patted his chest. "Is it taken care of, Qing Qing?"

"Yes, let's go." Sang Qing dusted off her hands and looked around. After confirming there was nothing unusual, she left with Meng Lai.

This was Sophia's first time riding on a male's back, and the novel experience brought a trace of a smile to her face.

Master's brother and Father were so good to her.

Before it got dark, the group of beasts successfully returned to the Tribe.

So tired!

Sang Qing was a bit hungry. She thought about what to make for food to fill their stomachs. She hadn't taken a nap today and had been traveling, so her physical strength was quite depleted, not to mention her Father and brother.

Halfway there, Sang Qing noticed many Tribesmen heading in one direction in a hurry, which confused her.

"Father, what are they doing?"

Meng Qi glanced over and shook his head; he didn't know why either.

"I'll go check in a bit."

Back home, as Sang Qing's feet hit the ground, she felt a strange sense of security.

Sophia stood awkwardly at the Treehouse entrance. She glanced at the sturdy Treehouse and then quickly lowered her head to stare at her toes, not daring to look around.

Were there only three beasts in Master's home? Why was no one coming out to greet them?

Sang Qing lit the oil lamp in the room and found a relatively new piece of animal skin from her unused ones.

"Sophia, come in and change into this animal skin."

It seemed to be spring in the Beast World, and the nights were colder than the days. She didn't want Sophia to get sick and waste her time.

She was a bit taller and heavier than Sophia; it should fit.

She could make do with it for now. Tomorrow, she'd let her make a few pieces for herself; there were plenty of animal skins at home anyway.

"Thank you, Master. Master, you are so kind." Sophia quickly walked into the room, happily took the animal skin Sang Qing handed her, put it on, and looked around the clean and tidy room.

Such a large room? And it smelled nice, just like Master.

"You don't have to call me Master. Just call me Sang Qing." Sang Qing felt awkward hearing the word "Master." She rubbed the back of her neck and turned to walk outside.

Time to cook, time to cook. I'm starving.

"No, Master is Master. Sophia cannot call you by your name; that would be wrong." Sophia shook her head earnestly, following behind Sang Qing like a little tail.

Whatever.

Sang Qing didn't care much about the title. After giving the skin to Sophia, she told her to rest.

Once she finished cooking, she would boil water for her to bathe.

Sophia refused to rest, following closely behind Sang Qing until Sang Qing coldly ordered her to stand still. Only then did she stop following.

Having been scolded, Sophia stood there with teary eyes—not out of feeling wronged, but purely out of being moved.

Master was truly too kind, not only bringing her back to the Tribe but also giving her such soft animal skin to wear.

She had never worn such comfortable animal skin before. It was so warm!

"Qing Qing, then I'll go to the forest and catch a beast." Meng Lai rested for a bit, and seeing his sister about to cook but with no fresh meat at home, he proactively offered to go hunting.

"No need, we still have Long-Haired Beasts at home. Let's eat the Long-Haired Beast first." Sang Qing sat at the door munching on a fruit and shook her head at him.

By the time he caught a beast, her stomach would be flat from hunger.

"Alright then."

Meng Lai obediently gave up the idea, planning to go hunting tomorrow morning instead. "But I can go fetch water!"

There was no water left in the vat at home. He had time today to refill it.

"Oh, okay." Meng Lai agreed immediately; it was no big deal.

He didn't feel any discomfort about having a Half-Beastman Slave suddenly in the house.

As long as she didn't fight him for food, everything was fine.

After Meng Qi helped Sang Qing light the fire in the stove, he thought about what he saw on the way back and felt a bit worried. "Qing Qing, Father is going to see what's happening in the Tribe. I'll be back soon."

He was afraid something had happened to the Tribe, so it was better to go check.

"Okay."

She had almost forgotten about it.

After cutting the Long-Haired Beast into chunks and putting them in the pot to stew, Sang Qing went into the room to check on the Mung Bean sprouts.

Lifting the cloth covering them, the Mung Bean sprouts were already as long as a finger and ready for the pot.

After harvesting a batch of Mung Bean sprouts, Sang Qing watered them again to let them grow a second time.

The aroma of meat wafted from the pot. After washing the Mung Bean sprouts, Sang Qing set them aside for later use.

She felt this bit of meat in the pot definitely wouldn't be enough for her Father and brother, so she took out another Long-Haired Beast to charcoal grill.

Fortunately, with five shell crystals earned today, she didn't need to shop around when buying coal and grilling tools.

After laboriously setting up a whole Long-Haired Beast, Sang Qing quickly brushed on oil and sauce and lit the coal.

Well, it had turned into an open-air barbecue.

Having finished everything, Sang Qing sat at the door munching on a fruit, occasionally flipping the roasting Long-Haired Beast.

Meng Qi returned quickly and froze for a few seconds when he saw the strange large object at the door.

What was this thing the beast god had given now? How unusual; he had never seen it before.

"Father, you're back." Sang Qing spoke while brushing on sauce, not even needing to explain the origin of the grilling tools.

"Did something happen in the Tribe?"

Meng Qi snapped out of it, a look of worry in his eyes as he spoke gloomily, "It's Nina. She's giving birth, but the cub won't come out. It's been one sun already, and Nina's Father is so worried he's about to faint."

He stood outside Nina's house for a while and heard the conversation between the Witch and Nina's Father. It seemed Nina was in grave danger, and there was a high possibility she would go to meet the beast god.

The Witch had exhausted all her Witch Power but still couldn't help Nina deliver the cub. The smell of blood in the Treehouse was very heavy, and Nina's dozen or so mates were on the verge of collapse.

Many Tribesmen were praying for her outside Nina's house, but it clearly wasn't doing much good.

Sang Qing's hand paused, the smile on her face freezing.

So, Nina was having a difficult labor?

Meng Qi suddenly felt that it didn't matter if his own cub couldn't engage in Pair Bonding; at least she wouldn't face such a dangerous situation as Nina.

He wasn't gloating. He just felt heartbroken seeing Nina's Father so anxious he had bitten his own lip raw, wishing he could give birth in Nina's place.

Although Nina was a bit arrogant, she wasn't a bad beast. Coupled with her fertility, which was superior to ordinary females, both the Witch and the Chief were finding it hard to accept the possibility of her meeting the beast god.

Moreover, Nina was very young and exceptionally healthy. In the eyes of the Tribesmen, it should have been impossible for anything to happen to her. Who would have thought that this time, giving birth...