In the early morning, a magnificent sunrise painted the eastern sky.
“Chief! My Female is missing!”
Shen Qi and Bai Yuwei heard an anxious voice from outside while still inside their house.
Immediately after, they saw a Male Beast stumbling over, nearly tripping as he ran.
Bai Yuwei recognized him as Ai Chu’s mate and steadied his unsteady body, asking with concern, “What’s wrong?”
“Ai Chu is gone!”
Shen Qi also turned her gaze toward him, frowning slightly.
The Male Beast continued, “This morning, another mate took her out to pick wildflowers, but I never saw her return. She usually comes back early. And just now, my mate mark changed.”
He revealed the mate mark on his arm, which now flickered dimly, as if signaling some danger.
Seeing this, Bai Yuwei’s brow furrowed. This form clearly indicated that something had happened—at the very least, she might have fainted.
Suddenly, a tiger’s roar echoed from nearby. The three of them rushed over to find a Beastfolk covered in blood.
The Male Beast hurried forward to support his collapsing body and asked urgently, “Where’s Ai Chu? Weren’t you picking flowers? Where is she? Why are you back alone, and… covered in so much blood?”
The injured Beastfolk weakly opened his mouth and said, “We were attacked by Evil Beasts just now. Ai Chu… she was taken away by the Evil Beasts.”
“What?!”
Evil Beasts! Ai Chu was taken by Evil Beasts! Falling into the hands of Evil Beasts often meant a grim fate…
At that moment, the Shaman also heard the news and rushed over without even wiping the medicinal herb juice from his hands.
“My granddaughter, captured by Evil Beasts! Those despicable Evil Beasts!” Darui’s voice was filled with sorrow and anger.
He then turned a pleading gaze toward Bai Yuwei. “Yuwei, she’s my only granddaughter. I’ve spent so much time with her—she’s obedient and kind-hearted. Please, help me just this once. Save her from the Evil Beasts.”
After speaking, Darui was about to kneel.
Bai Yuwei sensed his intention and grabbed his hand, stopping him from completing the gesture.
The surrounding Beastfolk watched the scene with furrowed brows, their hearts aching for Darui.
But remembering the cruelty of the Evil Beasts, some advised, “Chief, perhaps it’s better to let it go. Ai Chu’s mate said one of the Evil Beasts seems to have fifth-rank abilities!”
“That’s right. And with other Evil Beasts around, we might not only fail to rescue Ai Chu but also end up severely injured ourselves.”
“The Evil Beasts are so vicious. Who knows if there are more lurking nearby? Chasing after them now might be futile—they’ve likely already fled.”
Some Beastfolk frowned at those who opposed rescuing Ai Chu.
“The Evil Beasts are so brazen, provoking us again and again. Are we just going to be cowards?”
Once one Beastfolk spoke up, more stepped forward, eager to rescue the Female.
“Those Evil Beasts are too hateful. Last time, they conspired with traitors in our tribe. Now they’re targeting us again. We must teach them a lesson.”
“I agree. What’s so special about fifth rank? Our Chief has been at the fifth rank for a long time. What is there to fear?”
“Exactly, exactly.”
Listening to their increasingly impassioned words, Bai Yuwei clenched his fist. “Those who want to go, follow me now. The rest, stay here and guard the place.”Bai Yuwei turned to look at Shen Qi and said to her seriously, “Qiqi, you stay in the tribe for now. This time, it won’t be as easy as fighting magic beasts.”
Shen Qi lowered her long eyelashes, concealing the emotions in her eyes, and nodded gently.
With a grave expression, Bai Yuwei led a group of Beastfolk away from the tribe.
Seeing them leave, Shen Qi checked the System Store and noticed a new product. She exchanged for an upgraded version of a pistol, which looked no different from her current one but felt much better in terms of handling and speed.
She also exchanged for a Concealing Face Mask, which lasted even longer than the Concealing Cream—up to five days.
Placing the mask in her palm, she examined it closely. It was pitch black, resembling a male face, almost like a human skin mask.
After putting it on, she looked at her reflection in the water collected in a leaf container. The reflection showed a face that looked almost like a man’s, with dark, unremarkable skin—not handsome but ordinary. Upon closer inspection, it even had an androgynous quality. Once worn, it couldn’t be pulled off.
She withdrew her gaze, masked her own scent, and hurried in the direction they had gone.
Not long after, she suddenly noticed many figures ahead, their backs turned to her. Among them were even the two strikingly similar Evil Beasts she had encountered last time!
One of the Evil Beasts was carrying the unconscious Ai Chu on his shoulder.
What was going on? Had they not gone far and instead lurked near the Tiger Tribe, waiting for Bai Yuwei and the others to leave?
Before Shen Qi could finish her thoughts, the Evil Beast at the front sensed her presence and abruptly turned to look at her.
“Oh, is this a lone Beastfolk?” the Evil Beast’s teasing tone was unmistakable, carrying a hint of killing intent as he spoke.
Shen Qi narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at the speaking Evil Beast.
He appeared unrestrained and carefree, with a sharply defined and exceptionally handsome face, but the gleam in his eyes was not to be underestimated.
He wore a Beast Robe with orange-red patterns, which seemed extraordinary.
With a leisurely, mocking tone, he walked over. “Are you a Male Beast or a Female? Why is your face so dark? Let me take a look.”
Sen Yan and Sen Zhu saw the familiar, petite figure with the dark, mottled face, overlapping with the figure they had seen last time.
They followed closely behind the leading Evil Beast.
As they approached, they could clearly see that there was nothing black stuck to her face—it was genuinely dark!
Seeing this face, Sen Yan and Sen Zhu dismissed the suspicion that this Beastfolk might be the Female from last time.
This Beastfolk looked more like a weak Male Beast.
Yan Di blinked. “You, such a weak Male Beast, could have run anywhere. Why did you have to stumble upon us? Well, since you’ve seen us, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”
As he spoke the last sentence, a hint of cruelty flashed in his eyes.
Immediately, one of his hands transformed into sharp claws, swinging toward her.
Shen Qi bent down to dodge, retreating several meters away. This Evil Beast was likely the fifth rank beast they had mentioned…
Seemingly surprised that she could evade him, he paused in astonishment before curling his lips into a smile. “Not bad, you managed to dodge my attack.”
He flexed his knuckles, almost provocatively. “Come on, let’s have a one-on-one!”
As he spoke, he lunged at her again.
Shen Qi pulled out several daggers, throwing one directly at him. Seeing the sharp tip, he swiftly tilted his head to avoid it, pinching the blade between two fingers.
“What is this?”This sharpness is almost as keen as his claws. Had he not been extra cautious, he might have been injured just now?
Sen Zhu recognized this familiar weapon and recalled the female from last time. “Isn’t this the same weapon that female had?”
“Hmm?” Yan Di’s scrutinizing gaze shifted between the blade and Shen Qi.
He then asked her in a puzzled tone, “What’s your relationship with that female?”