From a distance, the young sub-beastman looked dark-skinned, somewhat thin, and slightly undernourished.
He really did resemble a native sub-beastman of this beast world.
Bayar glanced at him.
His gaze lingered a little longer than usual on Si Bai’s dark brown face.
A trace of confusion appeared in his eyes.
He pressed his lips together lightly, but ultimately said nothing.
He was not someone who liked asking unnecessary questions.
After the hunting team returned, Bayar went to fulfill the duties expected of a shaman.
The cleansing ceremony.
After giving Si Bai a few instructions, he left.
From a distance, Si Bai could see Tiye desperately squeezing through the surging crowd.
The basket on top of his head wobbled unsteadily, and two fruits fell out.
He could not even be bothered to pick them up.
His eyes shone brightly as he excitedly rushed toward Si Bai as fast as he could.
The other hunting team members all looked weary and worn out from their journey.
Their faces were gloomy and their bodies were covered in mud and dirt.
The moment they reached the plaza, they seemed to have exhausted the last of their strength and collapsed onto the ground one after another.
They panted heavily, cherishing their limited time to rest.
A few who still had some energy left were busy stuffing food into their mouths, trying to replenish the enormous amount of strength and stamina they had spent.
Even so, their faces remained frighteningly haggard.
Their backs were slightly hunched, and they looked filthy and disheveled.
It was obvious they had suffered greatly.
Every hunting expedition consumed a tremendous amount of energy.
That was also why every tribe established at least three hunting teams, allowing the hunters to rotate and balance their schedules.
Compared to them, Tiye looked as if he had simply gone out on a pleasant trip.
He was full of vitality and spirit.
The moment he saw Si Bai, his eyes lit up so brightly that they almost seemed to glow green.
The corners of his mouth curled upward into a grin, and he looked like an energetic fool overflowing with happiness.
Even his fur appeared sleek and glossy.
He was so clean that not a speck of dust could be found on him.
It was obvious that he had carefully bathed before returning.
“Baibai, I haven’t seen you for two whole days.
I missed you so much!
Baibai, give me a hug!
I washed myself very carefully in the river!
I’m super clean now!”
The instant Tiye desperately tried to throw himself closer, Si Bai’s brows instinctively knitted together.
His nose twitched lightly a few times.
Although Tiye looked very clean on the surface, there was still a faint scent of blood lingering on him.
What had he been doing?
Had something dangerous happened during the hunt?
Without mercy, Si Bai pushed away Tiye’s handsome face that was shamelessly trying to press closer.
He lifted his gaze, concern appearing in his eyes as they landed on Tiye’s face.
Sure enough, he immediately spotted a cut on Tiye’s cheek.
Although it had already scabbed over, the reddish-blue wound was far from healed.
His face was actually in relatively good condition.
There was only that one visible injury.
It was obvious that Tiye paid particular attention to protecting his face.
However, looking lower, beneath his neck, there were countless wounds of varying sizes.
Scratches.
Bite marks.
And several bruises that clearly looked as though someone had punched him.
Si Bai reached out and touched his face.
Without realizing it, his touch carried a mixture of concern and reproach.
Tiye seemed to enjoy the contact immensely.
Unable to resist his feline instincts, he rubbed against Si Bai’s hand several times.
A few comfortable purring sounds escaped him.
His amber eyes widened slightly in contentment.
Awoo~
Baibai’s hands were so soft.
Being touched by him felt so good.
He wanted more.
Maybe even a lick or two.
Before Tiye could continue enjoying the soft touch, Si Bai’s displeased voice suddenly brought him back to reality.
As punishment, Si Bai poked the cracked wound on his cheek with a finger.
The pain made Tiye hiss sharply.
He immediately jumped backward, baring his teeth.
“Baibai, that hurts!”
“If it hurts, then why did you go fight someone?”
“Uh…”
Tiye’s eyes darted away.
His amber pupils shrank noticeably.
He clearly had not expected to be exposed so quickly.
“Who did you fight with?” Si Bai asked.
Those injuries obviously looked like they came from a fight.
“I…
I didn’t fight anyone…”
Seeing that Si Bai’s expression was becoming increasingly suspicious, Tiye swallowed his saliva nervously and quickly changed his words.
“I beat him up!
I wasn’t the one at a disadvantage.
He got hurt much worse than I did!”
He snorted proudly.
There was even a trace of smugness in his tone.
In the end, seeing how carefree and cheerful Tiye looked, as though nothing serious had happened, Si Bai decided not to pursue the matter any further.
For some reason, he suddenly felt the exhaustion of an overworked parent.
As he rubbing his forehead helplessly, he wanted to lecture him a little, but considering that Tiye was a fully grown beastman who was even older than himself, it really seemed unnecessary.
Using his small hand, he grabbed Tiye’s sturdy arm and pushed him back toward the crowd when he tried to linger again.
“Hurry up and go participate in the cleansing ceremony.
Lord Bayar already allowed me to go home.
Tonight, I’ll let you try my cooking!”
“Alright!”
Tiye obediently took two steps away, though it was clearly an act.
He grinned foolishly.
His amber eyes sparkled like brilliant stars as he nodded with remarkable obedience.
“I brought back a lot of good things from outside!
I’ll show them to you tonight.
Baibai, you’ll definitely like them!”
He blinked his eyes mischievously, looking like a child hiding a treasured secret, deliberately keeping it mysterious.
The expression was both silly and adorable, making it difficult not to laugh.