Three days later, the election for the Tiger Tribe’s chieftain position had the Beastfolk buzzing with excitement, everyone discussing who would take the role.
“Who do you think will become our chieftain?”
“It has to be Bai Yuwei! Don’t you remember what the previous chieftain said? After his death, the position would go to Bai Yuwei.”
“But he still has to earn it through strength. I’d like to be chieftain too.”
“You want to be chieftain? You’re only at the third tier—you’d just get beaten to a pulp by him.” This Beastfolk poured cold water on his ambitions right to his face.
“Bai Yuwei is the strongest in our tribe. We’d better not even think about it.”
The Beastfolk shook their heads and dispersed, but their faces were filled with excitement.
They were still very interested in the chieftain election three days later. Some Beastfolk knew they would lose if they stepped forward, but they could see the gap in strength, improve their own abilities a bit, and the tribe would have a new chieftain to succeed.
Bai Yuwei listened to the Beastfolk outside praising him, grinning from ear to ear.
Shen Qi was roasting meat, watching him smile foolishly like a silly dog, and couldn’t help asking, “What’s wrong with you?”
“I’m going to become chieftain, Qiqi. Will you be my Female now? In the tribe, you can do whatever you want!”
“That’s a good offer.”
Bai Yuwei looked at her with hopeful eyes. Was Qiqi finally going to agree this time?
Shen Qi gave a forced smile and continued, “But I don’t agree.”
Bai Yuwei’s joyful face fell, and he squatted in the corner, drawing circles over and over again.
Shen Qi picked up the roasted meat, watching the fat sizzle and bubble, the outside coated with a layer of marinade—this was the new Orleans-style marinade she had exchanged for, making it even more fragrant when roasted.
She walked over to Bai Yuwei with it.
Bai Yuwei glanced at the large piece of meat dripping with marinade, silently turned his head away, and refused, “No!”
Shen Qi raised an eyebrow, a slight smile curling at the corner of her mouth. “If you don’t eat it, I will. This new seasoning makes it extra delicious. Are you sure you don’t want any?”
Without waiting for his answer, she blew on it a few times to cool it down, took a bite, and chewed. “Mmm, so tasty.”
Bai Yuwei smelled the aroma, especially when she blew on it—the scent grew even stronger. He couldn’t help but swallow his saliva, unable to resist snatching the skewer from her hand.
He eagerly took a bite and found it even more delicious than before.
In just a few bites, he finished the roasted meat.
Shen Qi looked at the empty skewer. This guy—he said no, but his body was honest.
“Bai Yuwei, the Eagle Tribe chieftain is here to visit!”
A voice came from outside, the sound arriving before the person.
As Bai Yuwei and Shen Qi stepped out, they saw Si Jingzhan holding something wrapped in grass leaves.
Seeing Shen Qi there, he was somewhat surprised but quickly returned to normal, turning to Bai Yuwei and saying, “This is fever-reducing medicinal herb. I’ll trade it for prey.”
Bai Yuwei glanced at the neatly bundled medicinal herbs and nodded in agreement. “Fine. I’ll have them deliver some prey to your tribe later.”
“Mission: Obtain Three-Flavor Herb from the Eagle Tribe chieftain. Reward: Alchemy Furnace.”
“Is there anything else?” Bai Yuwei asked, seeing that Si Jingzhan still hadn’t left, unable to resist reminding him.
Si Jingzhan took one last look at Shen Qi. Just as he turned to leave, a clear, captivating voice rang out behind him.
“I still have something to discuss!”
Both of them turned to look at her.
Shen Qi cleared her throat. “I need Three-Flavor Herb. Do you happen to have any?”
“Yes,” Si Jingzhan replied, his eyes filled with curiosity. “But what will you trade for it?”Shen Qi said “wait a moment,” turned back, took something from a beast hide in the room, and opened her palm to show him.
It was a beast core left over from her last training session.
Si Jingzhan saw the beast core in her hand with three marks inside and was slightly surprised. “A Third-tier Beast Core?”
“I can’t accept this.”
Shen Qi frowned slightly. “Is this beast core not enough to exchange for the three-flavor herb?”
“No, the three-flavor herb isn’t hard to obtain. It’s just that since it was acquired from a remote area, if you want it, I’ll give it to you as a thank-you gift for saving me last time.”
Hearing that Shen Qi had saved him, Bai Yuwei cast a suspicious glance back and forth between the two, finally settling on Si Jingzhan with a somewhat displeased tone.
“You! Did you deliberately let Qiqi save you? I could tell something was off about you the moment you arrived!”
Si Jingzhan gave him a sidelong glance without saying a word.
Shen Qi spoke up to mediate. “It was when Ai Chu and I went out to gather medicinal herbs last time—we happened to run into him.”
Bai Yuwei’s expression softened slightly.
Si Jingzhan said calmly, “I can give you the three-flavor herb, but it’s not worth this price. You can exchange it for something else.”
As Shen Qi pondered, Bai Yuwei quickly replied on her behalf, “I’ll prepare more prey and give it all to you!”
Si Jingzhan nodded. “Alright, go get it now.”
The two followed her to the Eagle Tribe, where the Females immediately surrounded them, even wanting to take Bai Yuwei as their mate.
Si Jingzhan coldly glanced at the mates of those Females. “Take them back.”
The mates bowed and nodded, all comforting the Females that they could come again next time.
Si Jingzhan led the two back to his cave.
Shen Qi noticed his dwelling was much more refined, with many furnishings inside, yet it wasn’t cluttered.
There were also bowls and utensils made from polished stone, and tables and stools crafted from wood. Though not as attractive as modern ones, they were very smooth.
In the corner was a wooden cabinet specifically for storing medicinal herbs, with each type neatly categorized.
Si Jingzhan scanned the area, his gaze finally settling on the far corner. He reached over and picked up a few herbs.
Turning to her, he asked, “How many?”
“Just one is enough.”
Shen Qi took the herb from his hand—a three-branched herb, each branch tip a different color.
Shen Qi thanked him and walked out of the cave with Bai Yuwei.
Si Jingzhan took one last deep look at her retreating figure.
Returning to the Tiger Tribe, Shen Qi found an excuse to go to the riverside and took out the Alchemy Furnace she had just obtained from the mission.
The furnace wasn’t very large, only slightly bigger than her palm. Its appearance seemed ordinary, made of wood, yet it was extremely light to hold. Inside, it didn’t look special either, except for an additional layer of stone-like membrane.
“Host, the Alchemy Furnace has been acquired. The alchemy interface has been unlocked. Please check, Host.”
Shen Qi opened the newly added alchemy interface and saw the words “three-flavor herb.” She clicked to view it.
[Three-flavor Herb: Can be refined into medicinal powder. When sprinkled on the body, the original taste of consumed food is nullified, progressing from sour, to bitter, to spicy in sequence, lasting for 10 minutes.]
It didn’t seem very useful, but it would be great for pranking people.
But this Alchemy Furnace… could it really refine anything?
Shen Qi was somewhat doubtful. Whether in appearance or weight, it seemed like a rather shoddy item.
“Host, the refining time varies for each medicinal herb. Placing them in the Alchemy Furnace will automatically refine them for you.”It turns out it can automatically refine, that makes things much easier. Moreover, this Alchemy Furnace is so light that carrying it around won’t be a problem.
Shen Qi’s expression toward the Alchemy Furnace instantly became much more favorable.