Narrow, squinting eyes, thick lips, folds of flesh bulging around the neck, and a massive chest barely concealed by the beast hide wrapped around it—though its enormity was still evident.
She looked down on her with contempt, nostrils flaring as if turned toward the sky, brimming with disdain.
“So you’re the Female brought back by Yuwei today?”
“Hmm, and you are?”
“I’m the most beautiful Female in the Tiger Tribe. Did you, this ugly Female, deliberately cling to Yuwei to make him bring you back?”
Xin Lei furrowed her brows, staring at her face. Whether it was naturally like this or not, it was somewhat repulsive to look at. Could it be that Bai Yuwei actually liked ugly Females?
Upon hearing her words, Shen Qi examined her face. Nothing about it matched the “beauty” she claimed, leaving Shen Qi wondering where her confidence came from.
“He brought me back. Do you have a problem with that?”
“You better leave the Tiger Tribe tomorrow. You’re so ugly—don’t even think about seducing Yuwei. None of the other Male Beasts in the tribe will want to form a mating bond with you either.”
Shen Qi curled her lips coldly. “And what if I don’t leave?”
“You… you!” Xin Lei pointed at her, unable to utter another word.
She had always been the one to throw her weight around in the Tiger Tribe. No Female had ever dared to speak to her like this.
“Even if he brought you back, you’re so ugly—Yuwei definitely won’t like you. Give up on that idea!”
“Then will he like you? I don’t think you look all that great either.”
She was considered the most beautiful presence in the tribe, yet this new Female dared to say she wasn’t much to look at? Did she even hear herself?
“I want to see just how disgusting your face is that it could attract Yuwei!”
With that, Xin Lei stepped forward, extending her chubby hand to pinch Shen Qi’s face, wanting to see what that yellowish-black stuff on her skin was.
Shen Qi grabbed her intrusive hand. “If you know it’s disgusting but still come to look, then you’re pretty disgusting yourself.”
“You dare call me disgusting?! Let go of my hand!”
Xin Lei tried to break free but couldn’t budge at all. Who would have thought this seemingly frail Female could be so strong?
“What are you doing here?”
As soon as Bai Yuwei returned, he noticed an extra person in the house—the Female who had been pursuing him—and Shen Qi holding her hand.
Xin Lei’s angry expression instantly shifted upon seeing Bai Yuwei, replaced by a pitiful look.
“Yuwei, the new little Female is so fierce. She grabbed my hand and hurt me. It really hurts!”
Shen Qi released her grip and watched calmly as Xin Lei showed her hand, which was indeed reddened from the pressure.
“I’ve told you before, don’t call me Yuwei.”
“Qiqi just arrived, and you’re already trying to bully her. I’ve overlooked you bullying other Females in the past, but Qiqi is someone I brought back. I won’t allow you to bully her.”
“Leave now. I won’t pursue what just happened, but there won’t be a next time.”
Xin Lei bit her lip tightly, seemingly taken aback by his bluntness, before running off in a huff.
Shen Qi raised an eyebrow. “You saw me grabbing her hand just now. Why didn’t you think I was the one bullying her?”
“She was also brought back by a Beastfolk from the tribe. I’ve heard she loves bullying Females. My cave is so remote, yet she still found her way here—she must have come specifically to give you a hard time.”
“Qiqi, I’ve brought a stone bed. You can sleep well tonight!”Bai Yuwei moved the stone bed over, laid several layers of beast hide on it, and then took the beast hide bag hanging from his shoulder and handed it to her.
“These are all fruits inside. Females love them, so I brought some back along the way.”
Shen Qi took it and looked—it was the same fruit she had eaten before he returned to the tribe, bright red in color, with a sweet and sour taste, and a texture that was both soft and crisp.
“I also brought some meat. Eat up.” Bai Yuwei took out a large piece of meat that was still oozing blood.
“This… eaten raw?” Shen Qi’s expression was somewhat indescribable. Considering this was the Beast World, it seemed normal, but as a human, she definitely couldn’t eat raw meat.
“Wait for me a moment.” Shen Qi walked out of the cave entrance and called out to the System in her mind, “Xiao Yu, the task to enter the Tiger Tribe is completed now, right? Where’s the reward?”
“Host, due to the inconvenience earlier, the reward can now be issued.”
In the next moment, a lighter and a packet of salt appeared out of thin air in Shen Qi’s hand. She clenched them tightly and walked back inside.
Bai Yuwei, seeing the two unfamiliar items suddenly appear in her hand, was puzzled. “Qiqi, what are these?”
Shen Qi replied, “A lighter and salt.”
He had never heard of a lighter, but salt… wasn’t that something only found in the Beast City? He had previously seen that she only carried that dangerous black thing and something as sharp as his claws. Could it be that Qiqi had some special ability?
Shen Qi cut the meat into small pieces and skewered them. Then, she gathered some weeds from the ground, piled them up, pressed the lighter, and the weeds quickly caught fire.
Bai Yuwei watched as the small object produced a tiny flame, feeling somewhat amazed.
Gradually, a fragrant aroma filled the air. Halfway through roasting, she sprinkled some salt and added a few sticks to the grass pile to prolong the burning time.
Before long, the roasted meat was ready. Shen Qi handed several skewers to him. “Eat up.”
Bai Yuwei took them and eagerly took a bite. The next moment, his eyes lit up.
“So delicious!” It had been a long time since he had eaten roasted meat. In recent years, he had been eating raw meat, and now, tasting roasted meat felt like his taste buds were being awakened all over again.
Shen Qi also began eating. The meat was a bit tough but still acceptable.
“What’s that smell? It’s so fragrant!”
“Were you also drawn here by this aroma?”
Not far away, many Beastfolk had followed the scent and arrived, only to see Bai Yuwei and a Female sitting by the fire, holding several skewers of meat. The enticing aroma was coming from here.
These Beastfolk hurried forward, all expressing surprise. “Is this fire? Bai Yuwei, when did you learn to make fire?”
Bai Yuwei explained, “It wasn’t me. It was the little Female who made the fire.”
“Incredible! Was this fragrant roasted meat also made by the little Female?”
Bai Yuwei gave a faint “Mm” in response.
The night was hazy, with only Shen Qi’s area illuminated by the firelight. Her face, swaying in the flickering flames, was still covered in dried, cracked mud.
The Beastfolk looked at her slightly terrifying face, which dampened their thoughts of forming a mating bond.
Only one Beastfolk hesitated before finally stepping forward, his entire face flushed with shyness. “Little Female, I… I want to ask you to be my mate!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Bai Yuwei’s expression darkened.
“Mate?” Shen Qi asked, puzzled.
The Beastfolk’s expression looked exactly like someone confessing to their beloved.Bai Yuwei explained, “When a Male Beast courts a Female or a Female courts a Male Beast, and both agree, they complete the mating bond Ritual to become mates.”
Seeing that she didn’t even know what mates were, these Beastfolk began to doubt whether she was a Female from Beast City.