The Beastfolk’s words were spoken very softly, but Bai Yuwei’s hearing was exceptionally sharp. His cold gaze fell upon him, frightening him into quickly slipping away.
“Qiqi, don’t listen to what he said. That’s not the reason I’m pursuing you,” Bai Yuwei nervously explained to her.
Shen Qi looked at him with a puzzled expression. “What?”
It seemed she hadn’t heard.
Bai Yuwei breathed a sigh of relief.
Back in the cave, Shen Qi looked at Bai Yuwei, who seemed downcast. “What’s wrong with you?”
Bai Yuwei glanced at her. “I’m fine.”
“Your mood is written all over your face, and you still say you’re fine.”
Bai Yuwei touched his handsome face. “Where? No, it’s not.”
Watching his silly movements, Shen Qi couldn’t help but curve her lips into a smile. “If there’s something bothering you, you can tell me. I might be able to help.”
Bai Yuwei’s eyes lit up. “Can you fulfill anything?”
“Aside from forming a mating bond, I’ll do my best to help with everything else.”
“Oh—” Bai Yuwei dragged out his tone.
Shen Qi finally understood why he was unhappy. “It’s not that I have any prejudice against you. I wouldn’t form a mating bond with any other Beastfolk either.”
How could a human and a Beastfolk possibly be together?
“Why? You can’t possibly be human, can you?” Bai Yuwei pouted.
“Hmm? Is being human strange?” This place was just more primitive than where she came from, with Beastfolk who could transform into their Beast Forms and those who couldn’t.
“Humans have long been extinct.”
Shen Qi was somewhat surprised. Bai Yuwei continued, “Females have an estrus period once a year, but humans have twelve. The chance of giving birth to young after an estrus period is very high, so their ability to reproduce is incredibly strong.”
“It’s because of this that humans gradually dwindled in number. Now, they can’t be found anywhere. Qiqi, you’re human too, aren’t you?”
He couldn’t smell her scent. At first, he thought it was because her abilities were extremely low, but now, knowing her outstanding skills and seeing her shocked expression upon hearing about human extinction, he believed she was the last remaining human.
Seeing her remain silent with her lips sealed, Bai Yuwei became even more convinced.
“Qiqi, don’t tell anyone you’re human. Otherwise, many Beastfolk will compete to have you give birth to their young. Human bodies are weaker and can’t endure so many Beastfolk. The last human discovered in the past died from such torment.”
“I understand.” Twelve times a year—that must be menstruation. Here, it only happens once a year, and the chance of giving birth to young is quite high. No wonder everyone is so eager to find a mate.
Bai Yuwei lifted the wild beast from the ground, which was now completely bloodless.
Shen Qi watched him holding the beast’s corpse without putting it down, feeling puzzled. “What are you doing now?”
“I’m exercising. Although this prey is light, it’s a bit late today. I’ll go hunting outside tomorrow to continue exercising!”
Qiqi is so capable—she can start fires and treat illnesses. Who knows what other amazing skills she might have? Even with her face covered, Male Beasts still covet her. If her face were uncovered, it would be absolutely stunning across the entire continent.
Although his abilities are the strongest in this tribe, that might not be the case outside. He needs to exercise more, improve his skills, and protect Qiqi. He can’t let anyone else take her away.
“I want to exercise too.” Shen Qi stretched her body, loosening her muscles and bones.
Bai Yuwei watched her unusual movements, especially when she lifted one leg over her head. He was so shocked he couldn’t speak.He set down the wild beast in his hands and tried to mimic her posture by bending his legs upward, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t quite get it right—his legs would only lift halfway before refusing to go any further.
“Qiqi, how did you manage to do that?”
“With enough practice, it comes naturally.”
After finishing their exercises, Shen Qi tightened the grip on her knife and aimed it at a crack in the wall. The blade struck the gap with perfect precision.
Satisfied, Shen Qi pulled the knife back out.
Bai Yuwei watched her flawless technique with undisguised admiration in his eyes.
The two of them trained for a long time before taking a break and heading to sleep.
The next day, the sky was clear and blue, dotted with a few wisps of white clouds.
Just as Shen Qi was applying a facial treatment, she heard the voices of other Beastfolk, accompanied by coughing.
“Ah, so many people in the tribe have been coughing lately.”
Another Beastfolk chimed in, coughing as they spoke, “Cough, cough, yes. The Shaman is already working on a solution, and some tribesmen have gone to ask the Eagle Tribe’s chief to come and help.”
“Will the Eagle Tribe’s chief really come? Even though our tribe is close to theirs and we have a cooperative relationship, there are so many Beastfolk coughing now.”
“I don’t know. Probably not.”
“Mission: Find Hanging Grass nearby to treat the coughing Beastfolk. Reward: A bottle of barbecue seasoning.”
A cold, mechanical voice echoed in her mind, followed by an image of Daylily Herb—a long, green grass with fine hairs on its roots.
Shen Qi stood up and began searching the nearby area. Before long, she found grass that looked remarkably similar to Daylily Herb.
She plucked a few stalks. “Xiao Yu, is this grass prepared the same way as yesterday? Boiled in a pot?”
“Yes, Host. After boiling, discard the residue and have the coughing Beastfolk drink the liquid.”
Judging from what the two Beastfolk had said earlier, many must have been affected. Shen Qi gathered a few more stalks and went to find the Shaman.
She found the Shaman inside his hut, searching for medicinal herbs. Shen Qi spoke up, “Shaman Darui, I have a way to cure their cough.”
Darui turned around, surprised to see Shen Qi. “Many Beastfolk in the tribe have fallen ill with a cough. Do you really have a way to cure them?”
Shen Qi nodded and glanced at the pot inside his hut. “But I’ll need to use that pot.”
Only then did Darui notice the grass in her hands. “Is this also a medicinal herb? Can it cure their cough?”
“Yes.”
Hearing her confident reply and remembering how she had cured Ai Chu’s child the day before, Darui felt a surge of hope. He carried the pot outside and, following her method from yesterday, placed a stone on each side of it and added some dry grass.
Shen Qi followed the same process as before, cutting the grass into sections, boiling water, and simmering it until the liquid changed color. Soon, a full pot was ready.
Seeing it was done, Darui quickly called over the coughing Beastfolk.
They covered their mouths, coughing as they approached. Darui pointed to the liquid in the pot. “Drink this, and your cough will be cured.”
The Beastfolk who caught a whiff of the smell covered their noses. “Can this really be drunk? It smells awful!”
Others also covered their noses, their faces scrunched up in distaste.
“Listen to this little Female. If she says it can cure you, then it can.”
The Beastfolk looked at the little Female, recalling how she had treated the blisters on Ai Chu’s child’s hands the day before. Even those who hadn’t witnessed it had heard about it.
Still, the Beastfolk hesitated. Yesterday’s medicine had been applied to the child’s body, but this time they were being asked to drink it. The smell alone was off-putting.
The Beastfolk exchanged uncertain glances, each waiting for someone else to step forward and take the first sip.One of the beastfolk was coughing so severely that he stepped forward first, picked up the pot, and took a sip. The bitter taste spread in his mouth, and he nearly twisted his face in disgust as he swallowed it down.
Seeing this, the other beastfolk grew even more resistant to the medicine in the pot.
Yet they still watched him with hopeful anticipation, eager to see the effect after he drank it.
Shen Qi looked up at this beastfolk and asked, “How is it?”