She whipped out a lash and cracked it against a nearby tree.
The trunk, as thick as a fist, instantly snapped in two.
“If I hear you curse my cub again, the next time this whip cracks, it’ll be on your back.”
The females, who had been so arrogant and domineering just moments ago, were now pale with fright at Xi Yao’s sudden action.
The female who had been about to knock over the basket was especially terrified.
Her legs went weak, and she unconsciously stumbled back several steps, her eyes filled with terror.
‘When did this ugly female Xi Yao get so formidable?’
The atmosphere was frozen for several dozen seconds.
Finally, a slightly braver female mustered her courage and spoke up.
“You…
you dare!
Aren’t you afraid the Clan Leader will punish you?”
Xi Yao snorted.
“If the Clan Leader only listens to your one-sided stories and can’t tell right from wrong, then I, Xi Yao, have no reason to fear such a punishment.
But if anyone dares to speak ill of my Zaizai again, I certainly won’t forgive them so easily.”
As she finished speaking, she cracked the whip right at that female’s feet.
The female was so frightened her legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground.
The other females, intimidated by the force Xi Yao had just displayed, all clamped their mouths shut, not daring to make a sound.
No one wanted to get on her bad side, so they went off together in the other direction.
Xi Yao resumed weaving the basket.
A short while later, cries of alarm came from the distance.
Xi Yao paid them little mind.
She finished weaving the basket and looked around at the lush, green forest.
A sharp pain shot through her eyes.
She closed them to soothe the ache, and when she opened them again, the world before her had changed.
What had been ordinary plants now appeared in several different colors in her vision: green, black, purple, and red.
Her gaze rested on a green plant.
Three seconds later, the plant’s name and its characteristics appeared beside it.
She then looked at the other colored plants, and they all displayed different characteristics and uses.
Xi Yao took five minutes to process this earth-shattering information.
Green meant edible, black meant poisonous, red meant it had medicinal value, and purple meant it was unknown.
Suppressing her excitement, she picked the green, edible plants and placed them in her basket.
It was full in no time.
By now, it was getting late.
The other females had already gone back, and, whether intentionally or not, not a single one had called out to her.
She didn’t care.
Carrying the basket and holding Xi Bei, she headed back toward the tribe.
…
As soon as she returned to the tribe, Xi Yao sensed a strange atmosphere.
A crowd was gathered in the center of the tribe.
She walked closer and saw a female lying on the ground, her face deathly pale.
Her lower leg was badly swollen, and the wound had a faint blackish-purple tinge, as if from a venomous snakebite.
The people around her looked anxious and panicked.
“Where’s the witch doctor?
Why isn’t he here yet?”
Xi Yao looked closely and saw that the one who had been bitten was that hot-tempered female.
‘It’s none of my business,’ she thought.
She was about to empty out the wild vegetables and head home.
Just as she turned to leave, Mina suddenly pointed at her and shouted:
“It’s her!
It’s all her fault!
She brought that unlucky cub out with her and brought misfortune upon us!
That’s why the snake bit Ni Duo!”
Xi Yao frowned.
‘Is this never going to end?’
“That’s right!
Ever since those little monsters were born, nothing good has happened in our tribe!”
Another young female jumped out, waving her arms emotionally.
“Before this, tribesmen were getting injured while hunting, and now someone’s been bitten by a snake!
If they didn’t bring this bad luck, what did?”
“The witch doctor was right!
They’re monsters rejected by the Beast God!
They should be driven out of the tribe!”
The female on the ground groaned in pain.
Hearing these words, the crowd felt they made more and more sense and began to chime in.
“Drive them out!
Or the tribe will suffer even more disasters!” someone shouted from the crowd.
“Right, drive them out of the tribe!”
Xi Bei was frightened by the commotion and hugged Xi Yao tightly, burying his small body in her arms, trembling slightly.
Xi Yao’s gaze fell on the unconscious female.
Although she was displeased by the crowd’s accusations, her healer’s instincts made her feel a pang of pity.
“Witch doctor, is there really no other way?” Ni Duo’s Beast Husbands asked anxiously, their faces filled with despair.
If Ni Duo died, they wouldn’t be able to live either.
The witch doctor sighed helplessly.
“This snake venom is too unusual.
Only a Priest might offer a glimmer of hope.
I’m truly powerless.”
“I’ll take Ni Duo to the Heisen Tribe to find a Priest for treatment!”
“Yes, let’s go to the Heisen Tribe.”
“Kai, An, are you two crazy?
The Heisen Tribe is a five-day journey from our tribe!
Not to mention how dangerous the road is, can Ni Duo even survive the trip?”
“Are you telling us to just wait for her to die?”
Xi Yao silently committed the name ‘Heisen Tribe’ to memory.
She looked down at the trembling Xi Bei in her arms.
This was undoubtedly an opportunity to prove themselves.
“Let me try.”
Xi Yao’s voice wasn’t loud, but it reached everyone’s ears clearly.
Everyone’s gazes instantly focused on her, filled with surprise, suspicion, and, more than anything, displeasure.
“You?
What can you do?
Even the witch doctor is helpless.
Don’t make things worse.”
Xi Yao ignored the others’ mockery and walked straight to the injured female’s side.
She crouched down, took the female’s hand, and took the opportunity to send a bit of healing energy into her to stop the poison from spreading.
She could have actually used her Healing Technique to purify the poison, but these people weren’t worth it.
‘Besides, with the way these ingrates are, they wouldn’t be grateful if she recovered too quickly.
It’s better to let them suffer a bit more so the lesson sticks.’
“I know of an herb that might be able to neutralize this poison.”
Ni Duo’s two Beast Husbands, as if clutching at a lifeline, immediately knelt and begged her to save their female.
Having calmed down, they also understood that even if they made it to the Heisen Tribe, there was no guarantee Ni Duo could be saved.
Now that Xi Yao said she had a way, she was their only hope.
“Xi Yao, please, you have to save Ni Duo!
It was our Duoduo who was in the wrong before.
I apologize to you on her behalf.
We’ll do anything you ask from now on!”
Kai’s eyes were red, and his voice was choked with sobs.
An kowtowed repeatedly, his forehead already scraped and bleeding.
“Xi Yao, we’re begging you.
Please save our Duoduo.”
Seeing them like this, most of Xi Yao’s anger dissipated.
If Ni Duo died, these Beast Husbands wouldn’t be able to live either.
Although she disliked Ni Duo, she wouldn’t let so many people die over a simple quarrel.
‘Maybe the reason I got to live a new life is because I accumulated good karma by saving lives in my past one.’
“Get up.
Since I said I’d save her, I won’t go back on my word.
It’s just that it’s getting dark, and I’ll need someone to accompany me to gather the herbs.”
Dair stepped forward.
“I’ll go with you.
I’m quite familiar with the forest, so I can help.”
Several other young, strong Beastmen also volunteered to go.
They all understood that if Ni Duo really died, their tribe would not only lose a precious female but also five strong Beastmen.
Ni Duo’s other three husbands were still out hunting and hadn’t returned.
An wanted to go along too, but Xi Yao stopped him.
“You, go prepare some clean animal hides and boil a pot of hot water.
Remember to wash the pot before you boil the water.”
An nodded hurriedly.
“Do you need anything else?”
“That’s all for now.”
Xi Yao told Xi Bei to go home by himself.
It was getting dark, and if he didn’t go back soon, Xi Nan and Xi Mo would worry.
‘Of course, they wouldn’t be worried about me.
They’d be worried I’d lost Xi Bei.’
“Little Bei, you head home first.
Mother will be back soon.
Go straight home, and don’t wander off.”
Xi Bei hugged Xi Yao’s leg, reluctant to let go.
“Mother, I want to go too.”