26: He simply didn't believe it.

Is this the Earth-traveling Worm that Gaia and Li mentioned in Sand City the other day?

How could it suddenly appear?

Wasn't it said that the insect tide ended last year?

Tu Nan was filled with doubt.

Two beastmen felt as confused as she did.

"Why would an Earth-traveling Worm come here? This isn't their breeding season."

"Who knows? Maybe it's a single bug that didn't get a cub?" They were still joking, "It's only two or three, they won't amount to anything."

The beastmen weren't too worried, except for Tu Nan, who didn't understand this information.

The cheers from the other side suddenly erupted like waves crashing onto the shore.

Tu Nan was slightly distracted, and Li had already finished off the last bug, wiping his blade with the hem of his clothes.

Looking down from above, all three Earth-traveling Worms lay behind him. People surged toward Li from all around, surrounding him in the center of a circle.

Most of the beastmen here expressed their emotions very directly. The Males patted Li's shoulders or pounded his chest, and some tough, bold Female Beasts also squeezed into the circle, taking the opportunity to grope Li's robust pectoral muscles.

Perhaps, she was overthinking it, Tu Nan thought.

Li arrived directly below the cave, looked up at Tu Nan, flicked his scimitar, and performed a beautiful flourish.

He beckoned to Tu Nan, signaling for her to come down.

The Males grew rowdy, and laughter rose and fell. Li's expression remained indifferent.

Tu Nan jogged all the way, a rare flush of color appearing on her face, and finally arrived at his side, panting.

In front of everyone, Li pulled her into his arms and, unexpectedly, gave her a deep, long kiss.

The heat radiating from his body and the bloody scent of the Earth-traveling Worm from earlier completely enveloped her. Tu Nan was almost completely unprepared as he stole all the air from her mouth.

When he let her go, she was dizzy from a lack of oxygen.

Li smiled, studying Tu Nan with satisfaction.

He looked around at all the Males... especially... Gaia, displaying her to everyone with a gesture that was boastful yet contained a warning.

"Tu Nan, my Female Beast."

The Males winked and nudged each other, while the Females curled their lips in disdain, but everyone accurately understood Li's intention: marking his territory.

Only Gaia quietly retreated from the inner circle; he knew this was Li expressing his dissatisfaction with him being too close to Tu Nan yesterday.

"Li, we'll go clean up the Earth-traveling Worms, we'll count them as yours."

"We fought them together, I only want one."

The Earth-traveling Worms were of no use. Li waved his hand and walked back, holding Tu Nan.

Displaying force, leading the assault, marking territory, conceding benefits. This series of actions by Li made Tu Nan look at him with new eyes. Had he... finally figured things out?

Who knew that Li would just lower his head and say, "I told you not to worry, I can handle these things."

So that was it... there was no need to think of Li as too complex.

They hadn't gone up many levels when panicked shouts came again.

"Earth-traveling Worms! So many! Li, hurry over and help."

"Li... don't."

Tu Nan tugged on his sleeve, not letting go.

She still had a bad premonition in her heart.

Li looked toward the distance, following the man's shout.

Suddenly! Tu Nan realized the source of her anxiety. She said urgently, "I don't think this is right. They've been fighting for so long, and Gray and the others aren't anywhere to be seen!"

"Li, come on! There are a dozen more, they can't hold them off over there!" The man shouted in the River Valley.

But Li did not move.

He looked around and indeed did not see Gray.

"Gray and the others aren't here, the fighting force isn't enough. If I don't go, they won't be able to stop them."

Li thought Tu Nan was worried about him, so he pulled her hand away and smiled with satisfaction. "Don't worry about me."

Tu Nan realized he didn't understand.

"No! I think there's a bigger crisis. Where did Gray and the others go? Stop fighting, let's escape first."

Tu Nan looked at the beastmen by the river channel.

"Go call them, everyone should get out first."

A rare look of confusion appeared in Li's brown eyes as he looked at Tu Nan perplexedly. "Don't be afraid." It seemed Tu Nan was truly terrified, but they had a home now, how could they just run when something happened? Tu Nan clearly liked that cave.

He should just resolve these things as quickly as possible and then come back to coax her. Thinking this, he happened to run into Gaia running past them.

Li grabbed him and assigned a task with an expressionless face: "Gaia, you take Tu Nan and go hide outside first."

He patted Tu Nan's head. "Wait for me to come find you."

Just like that, Li rushed toward the chaotic front.

Gaia was helplessly left behind.

Tu Nan looked up at this Big Dog, expressionless.

"Shall we go?" Gaia looked at the departing Li, then back at her.

Li simply didn't believe what she said, Tu Nan thought.

He ignored her warning and wouldn't listen to her suggestions. That was because, in his eyes, Tu Nan didn't have much brainpower.

That's right, this was the very image she had crafted herself, the one best suited for making people lower their guard.

So, this was her own problem.

There was no time to think about this anymore. She was the weakest one here; it would be good enough if she could just get herself out.

Tu Nan turned around directly and walked toward the cave entrance.

Gaia scratched his head and sighed, not knowing what she was angry about, but he followed her toward the exit.

Tu Nan walked in front, her steps unsteady. After hesitating several times, Gaia finally asked, "Did... Li hit you?"

"No." Tu Nan said coldly and indifferently, "He just used a bit too much strength last night."

"..." Gaia didn't know how to respond.

Tu Nan's exposed forearm and neck were covered in bruises, and there was even a tooth mark.

It looked exceptionally prominent on her thin shoulder.

Sigh... He had said that Li would be unhappy knowing those things.

This Big Dog felt a bit melancholic, not knowing why he always felt that her injuries were partly his responsibility.

This made no sense, so he could only remain silent.

The two entered the passage leading to the exit. Gaia's ears twitched slightly, and he grabbed Tu Nan, his nose twitching.

Tu Nan immediately leaned toward him vigilantly.

Two people came stumbling toward them, trembling all over.

"What's going on! I smell the scent of Earth-traveling Worms over here too!"

Gaia asked loudly.

"Go call the guards... The Earth-traveling Worms have broken in... there are too many to count..."

The man gasped out the information and ran inside.

Gaia and Tu Nan stood frozen in place. They both knew there would be no guards; those guards were dealing with the crisis on the other side with Li.

And, too many to count?

"The insect tide has come early." The shadow that had been floating in her heart landed, Tu Nan murmured.

Gaia looked at her in disbelief.

But Tu Nan felt that everything that happened today had finally come full circle.

"Don't worry about whether it makes sense or not, this is the result." She said to Gaia with a heavy heart.

Gaia gritted his teeth and dragged Tu Nan, sprinting back the way they came.

"We can't break out through this narrow passage on our own. I'll take you to find Li and let him figure out a way."

Screams and rustling sounds were already coming from behind, and even Tu Nan's ears could hear them.

The crisis... was already closing in.

Where was Li?

Could he help?

Tu Nan thought coldly—at this moment, she should be glad that at least she had made preparations yesterday.