After some thought, Shu Ning decided to go find Mu Xia first.
The parasite issue was a serious matter, after all.
She could find Yiyuan later.
The beggar’s chicken wouldn’t be ready that quickly.
While she waited, she sorted through the medicinal herbs left over from yesterday and ground some peppercorns into a fine powder.
Next, she tidied up the area in front of her cave, cutting the spare branches and tree trunks with a chainsaw.
Then, using the Big Bone Knife, she split the wood and laid it out to dry, preparing it for use as firewood.
Shu Ning was exhausted by the time she finished.
She figured the chicken was probably done by now.
She gently prodded it open with a stick.
An intoxicating aroma immediately wafted out, making her mouth water.
Shu Ning immediately picked up a piece of chicken, complete with skin.
It looked incredibly appetizing.
And it tasted even more divine.
The meat was savory and the texture was succulent—immeasurably better than the factory-farmed chickens she used to eat.
‘Of course, back in the modern world, she would never have dared to eat wild game.’
‘Those were protected species.
Who knew if enjoying a delicious meal one day would land you a pair of shiny silver bracelets the next.’
After breakfast, she took a small sample of each of the leftover medicinal herbs from yesterday and headed for Mu Xia’s residence.
Muxia Cave Mansion—
Mu Xia’s cave mansion was immense.
This wasn’t her personal living quarters, but rather a place for receiving guests and managing the clan’s affairs.
Just as she reached the entrance to Muxia Cave Mansion, she could hear a meeting in progress.
There were old voices and young voices, male and female…
She thought she could even make out Xiao Chong and Xuan Lin.
The voices weren’t loud, but they carried a serious tone.
She decided not to interrupt, planning to go in after they were done.
“Do you know what they’re discussing?”
She asked the attendant standing nearby.
The young male glanced at her.
“I don’t know.”
Even though Shu Ning often took him and other Beastmen out with her, he knew better than to speak out of turn.
“Alright.”
She wandered around outside, bored.
Before long, she saw Xiao Chong come out from inside.
“Xiao Chong!” she called, waving excitedly.
Seeing Shu Ning, a trace of surprise and delight flashed in his eyes.
He had been just about to go look for her.
“Ningning, come here!” He raised his hand, fingers slightly bent, and beckoned in Shu Ning’s direction.
Shu Ning jogged over, holding the herbs.
“Where are you going?”
“The Holy Female is looking for you.”
“Looking for me?
What for?” Shu Ning was confused.
‘So many people are in there…’
She felt a little nervous, the same kind of nervousness as giving a speech on stage.
“You’ll know when you go inside.” Noticing the change in her eyes, Xiao Chong patted her head, took her hand, and spoke gently.
Then he very naturally took the bundle she was holding.
“Okay, I needed to see her about something anyway,” she said, mustering her courage.
“Come in.”
“Okay.”
As she stepped into the cave mansion, the first thing she saw was Xuan Lin’s striking silver hair.
He, however, didn’t look at her.
Inside, besides Mu Xia, were her father, the Clan Leader Shu Yanzhao; the High Priest; the witch doctor; Yinyin; Lei Ke; and other clan elders, along with several of the clan’s most outstanding young males and females.
‘So many people!’
Shu Ning was dumbfounded.
“Mother, you were looking for me?” Shu Ning called out.
‘I can’t lose my nerve.’
Those young females and males were clearly the future leaders of the Wolf Clan.
“Ningning, come here,” Mu Xia said with a welcoming smile upon seeing her.
Xiao Chong led Shu Ning to sit next to Mu Xia, which was across from Xuan Lin.
The two of them sat side-by-side.
Because this spot was previously Xiao Chong’s, although it was relatively large, it was still a bit tight for two people, so they had to sit pressed together.
The main issue was Shu Ning’s considerable size.
The sight of the two holding hands entered Xuan Lin’s line of sight.
A complex emotion flickered in his deep, silver eyes.
‘Sitting so close…
How shameless.
But then he remembered they were already partners, and a wave of inexplicable irritation washed over him.’
“Mother, was there something you needed me for?” Shu Ning asked, looking at Mu Xia.
“Ningning, I heard you saved Ah Tin yesterday?” Mu Xia asked.
“It’s absolutely true, Holy Female!
If it weren’t for Shu Ning, our Ah Tin probably wouldn’t have made it through the day!” Yinyin stood up and said excitedly.
“Yes, we had lost all hope.
Thankfully, Shu Ning’s persistence is what cured Ah Tin,” Lei En added, his voice full of gratitude.
“Miss Shu Ning, how did you know how to treat Ah Tin’s illness?”
The witch doctor at the side could no longer remain calm.
He couldn’t believe that an illness even he was powerless against had been solved by this young girl.
“Ningning, don’t be nervous.
We just want to understand.
This matter is very important to our Wolf Clan,” Clan Leader Shu Yanzhao said reassuringly.
“Father, Mother, I…”
Shu Ning looked at Shu Yanzhao, then at Mu Xia, then at the other Beastmen around them.
The other Beastmen regarded her with varying expressions.
Some were skeptical she was capable of such a feat.
Others figured she had just gotten incredibly lucky, like a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse.
And some believed it was simply the innate talent of the Holy Female’s daughter.
She glanced at Xuan Lin, but he was as icy as ever.
‘Forget it.
Looking at him is useless.’
Feeling Xiao Chong’s grip on her hand, she heard his deep, warm voice murmur, “It’s okay.
Just say what’s on your mind.”
‘She never thought that the man who looked so stern and formidable would be the one to give her the greatest sense of strength.’
A warmth spread through her heart.
‘Oh well, I’ll just have to make something up.’
‘Oh, great god, I’m counting on you!’
“I received guidance from the Beast God in my sleep.
He is the one who taught me.”
After she spoke, Shu Ning herself couldn’t believe the ridiculous story she’d just told.
‘There’s absolutely no scientific basis for it.’
As her words fell, the crowd broke into whispers.
Although no one found it entirely credible, it was the only explanation that made any sense.
How else could she have suddenly acquired this knowledge, considering her past behavior?
She had been arrogant, tyrannical, and utterly vulgar.
She’d often led Wolf Clan Beastmen to bully other tribes, and had even abducted some males, forcing them to become her Beast Husbands.
“How can you prove the Beast God taught you?” one of the female Beastmen asked.
Shu Ning looked at her.
It was Mu Yu, the daughter of Mu Xia and her third Beast Husband.
She was glamorous and alluring, with a stunningly mature figure.
She had countless suitors in the clan and had already taken several powerful male Beastmen as her husbands.
She had also once pursued Xuan Lin.
And yet, Mu Xia hadn’t paired the most suitable Xuan Lin with her.
Instead, she had matched him with Shu Ning, that ugly, fat female.
Seeing the doubtful glances from the other Beastmen, Shu Ning realized Mu Yu was intentionally trying to humiliate her.
‘Does she think a single, casually dropped question can put me in an impossible spot?’
The timidity she’d felt just moments before vanished, and her expression turned grim.
“Isn’t Ah Tin’s recovery the best proof?” she said, her tone firm and leaving no room for doubt.
At these words, many in the crowd nodded in agreement.
Coupled with her status as the Holy Female’s daughter, it made the whole affair seem even more credible.
Seeing the crowd’s reaction, Mu Xia nodded slightly, satisfied.
“Shu Ning, that treatment method… could you, ah, share it?”
The witch doctor looked at Shu Ning sheepishly.
He was a humble and eager learner.
As long as he could cure other clan members in the future, it didn’t matter who he learned from.
“Of course,” Shu Ning said, handing the herbs she’d brought to the witch doctor.
“Witch Doctor, these are the herbs for treating Ah Tin’s condition.
I’ve already measured out the proper ratio for one dose.”
She knew the Wolf Clan had naturally sensitive noses.
As long as they had samples of the herbs, they could use them to find the corresponding plants.
“Wonderful!
Thank you, Shu Ning!
You’ve done the clan a great service.
We won’t have to fear this illness if it appears again.”
Shu Ning suddenly remembered that the medicine needed to be boiled and was wondering how to bring it up, when the High Priest spoke.
“Did the Beast God teach you anything else?”
As he finished speaking, all eyes turned to her.