Night fell over the Rabbit Tribe like velvet soaked in ink, gently covering everything in its quiet embrace.
The fires in each cave gradually went out, leaving only the soft rustle of the evening wind through the treetops.
Li Cheng carried a glowing grass lantern, leading Feng Mian toward a cave at the edge of the tribe.
“This cave used to store animal hides. In the afternoon, I had the others tidy it up a bit and laid down fresh soft grass. You can stay here for now.”
He pushed aside the animal-hide curtain at the entrance. The cave wasn’t very big, but it was clean and organized. In one corner, stacked animal hides lay neatly, and a wooden bucket sat beside a stone table.
“The water’s in the bucket. If it runs out, go to the creek and fetch more yourself.”
Feng Mian nodded, watching Li Cheng’s figure disappear into the darkness before turning into the cave.
As the animal-hide curtain fell, an eerie silence enveloped him. Only the sound of his own breathing echoed through the empty cave.
He flopped down on the soft grass, staring at the rough stone ceiling, feeling an unexpected emptiness.
Back in the Fox Tribe, he had been constantly nagged by his father, which had become unbearably tiresome.
But now, without his father’s voice around, the silence was almost oppressive, and Feng Mian still felt restless.
His fingers unconsciously brushed at the hem of his clothes, and the faint scent of the evening’s bamboo shoot soup lingered near his nose.
Before he knew it, the image of Li Zhu appeared in his mind. Her eyes curved like crescent moons when she smiled, and when she handed him the animal hide, her fingertips lightly brushed his hand, bringing a cool but gentle warmth.
She was the cutest female he had ever seen.
Always cheerful, always thoughtful toward those around her.
“Tch, what am I thinking about…”
Feng Mian slapped his forehead, cheeks burning.
That was Ze Yu’s female—the mate of a tenth-rank ferocious beast. If Ze Yu found out what he was thinking, he’d probably beat him senseless.
Ze Yu would undoubtedly call him an idiot if he knew.
But… she really was that adorable.
Like a rare moonlight flower in the Dark Forest: gentle, pure, impossible not to glance at twice.
He rolled over, burying his face in the soft grass, the scent of the leaves brushing against his nose, yet sleep refused to come.
The lonely cave was far less lively than Li Cheng’s home, even oppressive in its emptiness.
Meanwhile, the warmth inside Li Zhu’s cave was thick and unbroken.
The soft glow of the grass lamp diffused gently across the stone walls.
Ze Yu’s lips pressed against the top of Li Zhu’s head, tracing down her forehead to the tip of her nose, restrained after two days of holding back.
Li Zhu’s fingertips pressed against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat—like a drum echoing in her own chest.
“Ah Ze…”
Her voice trembled slightly, and when he lightly bit her lip, the rest of her words dissolved into soft gasps.
The pile of animal hides was soft as clouds. His hands traced her back with careful reverence, as if holding something fragile and precious.
Moonlight filtered through the cracks outside, casting dancing patches of silver over their entwined forms.
“I’m here.”
Ze Yu’s voice was low and hoarse, wiping away the moisture at the corners of her eyes with his lips.
“It won’t be long now.”
Night deepened, and the cave was filled only with the sound of their mingled breaths.
Eventually, Li Zhu succumbed and fell into a deep sleep.
The next day, as dawn broke, Feng Mian suddenly opened his eyes.
The cave was still dark, but sleep had abandoned him. Loneliness crept over him like a vine, squeezing his chest.
He rolled out of bed, quickly freshened up, and hurried toward Li Cheng’s home.
He wasn’t sure what he was seeking—perhaps just the smell of breakfast, or maybe to see the Rabbit Tribe in the early light.
At this hour, he expected no other beast to be awake. He even debated whether to wake that annoying rabbit earlier.
But as he neared Li Cheng’s cave, he saw Li Heng directing several young beasts, securing stone-tipped spears and animal-hide sacks on their backs. They were preparing to head out hunting.
“Stay sharp! Today we’re going to the edge of the Dark Forest—let’s bring back as many tusked beasts as we can.”
Li Heng’s voice was loud and commanding. He was about to set off when he suddenly spotted Feng Mian crouching behind a tree. His eyes lit up immediately.
“Hey, Feng Mian! Perfect timing!”
Feng Mian’s heart skipped a beat, and he immediately turned to sneak away.
He had learned by now that whenever this guy called him over, it never ended well.
“Running away?”
Li Heng caught up in a few strides, grabbing Feng Mian’s arm with astonishing strength.
“Just in time. Didn’t you say you wouldn’t freeload? Now that you’re officially part of the tribe, come hunt with us!”
He hadn’t even thought of Feng Mian coming along, but here he was—free labor, why waste it?
And with him around, the tribe’s safety would be better guaranteed.
“I’m not going! I want to sleep!”
Feng Mian struggled, his golden-red hair standing on end.
“Sleep? Sleep for what?”
Li Heng raised an eyebrow, lowering his voice teasingly.
“Want to eat hotpot? Want to learn mahjong? If you don’t come hunting, you’ll be kicked out of the tribe!”
His threat hit Feng Mian’s soft spot again.
Grudgingly, he stopped resisting and glared at Li Heng.
“You promise you’ll teach me mahjong when we get back?”
“Promise!”
Li Heng pounded his chest, inwardly grinning.
So easy to trick.
Besides, teaching him mahjong wouldn’t hurt.
And since each of the three others already had a partner, Feng Mian would be the only one alone.
If he taught Feng Mian, maybe one day he’d have him by his side!
No wonder he always lost—he was missing a brain!
His mother only ever scolded him for being stupid… ugh.
Yet Li Heng never expected that, in the end, he would watch someone else appear by Li Zhu’s side, while by his own side… there would still be no one.
Feng Mian was dragged reluctantly into the hunting party by Li Heng. Watching the other beasts cheerfully preparing, he silently cursed Li Heng several more times.
But thinking of the delicious food—and… Li Zhu’s adorable smile—he straightened his back, unable to resist.
“Hmph! Hunting it is, then! I’m a ninth-rank Crimson Flame Spirit Fox—just wait and see what I can do!”
Li Heng rolled his eyes at him.
“All right, all right, you’re the best. Make sure to catch plenty, okay?”
“Of course.”
The hunting party set off toward the Dark Forest, morning light streaming through the treetops, everything serene and beautiful.
Soon, they reached the forest’s edge.
At Li Heng’s command, the hunters spread out, each moving within a small radius to scout.
They collected small, low-rank wild beasts or edible plants on their own.
If they spotted a large, high-rank beast, they would signal the team to attack together.
By noon, everyone roasted some meat for lunch, but it was no longer the charred mess of before.
With portable seasonings like salt and chili, the meal wasn’t quite home-cooked, but everyone enjoyed it nonetheless.
By the afternoon, each person’s shoulders and hands were full of prey and gathered wild fruits and vegetables, and only then did they start heading back.
This was the daily routine of their hunting party: whenever they went out, they brought back anything edible—be it wild beasts or plants.
Sometimes, if they found strange or unfamiliar plants, they’d bring some back to ask Li Zhu if it was safe to eat. If it was, they would even plant it in the tribe, unless it was impossible to dig up.