The Beast Tribe!
Blue skies, blazing sun overhead.
Yun Jiao wiped the sweat from her brow, clutching a bundle wrapped in animal hide as she walked forward.
When she passing by a cave…
“Shi Yi… ah…”
“Don’t…”
…
A black line slid down Yun Jiao’s forehead. She broke into a run. Yesterday, when she passed this way, it was the same racket. A whole day, and still not over. The males of this world were ferocious, and the females seemed able to endure endlessly. Fortunately, she was a “waste female”—no male would bother with her. Otherwise, Yun Jiao suspected she might die in bed. She had once been a modern apprentice of traditional Chinese medicine, studying diligently for five years under her master. Just as she was about to take her graduation exam, she was struck by a car while crossing the street.
When she opened her eyes again, she had crossed into this world of beastmen, becoming a hamster-type female named Yun Jiao in the Beast Tribe. Though small and weak, her mother had been a snow fox, blessed with good genes and striking beauty. Before adulthood, countless males had hovered around her. But after the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, the sacred light of the Beast God did not fall upon her. Here, females were ranked by fertility: waste, inferior, average, superior, exceptional, and sacred.
During the ceremony, the Beast God’s light revealed a female’s reproductive strength—the brighter the glow, the greater the power.
For Yun Jiao, no light descended. That meant no fertility at all—a waste female. No male would ever choose her as a mate. From then on, she grew despondent, sickly, until half a month ago the original Yun Jiao died—and she arrived.
Now clutching her bundle, Yun Jiao stopped before a dark cave. Swallowing nervously, she called out: “Lei Xiao, are you there? Lei Xiao!”
Moments later, a massive indigo serpent’s head emerged, scales glinting under the sun, eyes like twin golden gems.
The snake lowered its head, gazing at the small female below. A suffocating pressure filled the air.
Yun Jiao’s face turned pale, her legs trembling. She forced a smile uglier than tears: “C-can you… change into human form? I-I’m scared!”
“…” Scared, yet you still came? A flicker of impatience crossed those golden eyes, but the serpent withdrew.
Soon, a man stepped out barefoot, clad in a simple hide skirt. His features were breathtaking—sharp, sculpted like a 3D model, every line perfect. His bare torso revealed eight lean muscles, balanced between strength and elegance, like a flawless Greek statue. Long indigo hair cascaded to his hips, shimmering like silk under the sun, unlike the filthy, matted locks of other males in the tribe.
Yun Jiao swallowed again—this time out of hunger for beauty.
His beast form was terrifying, but his human form was exquisite—a direct assault on her weakness for handsome faces.
Lei Xiao shot her a glare. “Wipe your drool. Thanks.”
“Oh!” Yun Jiao hurriedly wiped her mouth, chuckling awkwardly as she handed him the bundle. “These are fruits I gathered today. See how much meat they’ll trade for—preferably wild boar.”
Lei Xiao took the bundle without looking, disappeared into the cave, and returned with a slab of meat—thirty pounds at least.
“Take it.”
“That’s too much! You’re far too generous—oh, hehe…” Her words were polite, but her hands were quick, snatching the meat instantly.
What else could she do? Orphaned, infertile, unwanted—no male would care for her. And the beasts here were enormous. A single wild boar stretched four meters long.
To survive, Yun Jiao joined the foraging teams daily, gathering fruit. But fruit alone grew tiresome.
Ten days ago, when fallen beastmen attacked, Lei Xiao saved her. Hearing her complain about fruit, he offered, “I have meat. Trade with me.”
Since then, whenever she craved meat, she came to him. He was always generous, giving far more than her fruit was worth.
“Look at you—so ugly!” Lei Xiao muttered.
Yun Jiao bristled. “Hey! Insulting my infertility is one thing, but insulting my face is too much. Go look around—who in the tribe is prettier than me?”
Lei Xiao’s expression stayed flat. “Pretty or not, if you can’t bear cubs, it’s useless.”
Yun Jiao: “…” As if I care.
Seeing her displeasure, Lei Xiao scratched his head, realizing his mistake. “I didn’t mean it like that. So what if you can’t bear cubs? I don’t have a female either, and I’m fine.”
“I’m not upset, thanks—no need to comfort me. But honestly—you’re stronger than Shi Yi, the tribe’s top warrior. Why don’t females want you?”
In fact, females avoided him like the plague. Though his beast form was frightening, his human form was far from ugly.
To Yun Jiao, Lei Xiao was leagues more handsome than Shi Yi. No comparison at all.
Lei Xiao’s face darkened. “I’m from the snake tribe. Cold-blooded. No thick fur to keep females warm in winter. I hibernate. No female would choose me as a mate.”
“That’s it? Then they’re blind. I think you’re great. Shi Yi’s fur stinks—he never bathes. Last time I argued with him, I nearly fainted from the smell even at a distance.”
Lei Xiao blinked, surprised. “You really think I’m better than Shi Yi?”
“Of course! Don’t be discouraged—you’re the best!”
“You…”
*Grrr~*
Before he could finish, Yun Jiao’s stomach growled.
“Uh, I’ll head back. I’ll come play another day.” She waved and ran off.
Lei Xiao’s eyes dimmed, muttering softly: “Says all that, but still doesn’t want me. Hmph. Females…”
…
Yun Jiao dashed away with the meat. Today, she’d found red chili peppers—bright clusters untouched by beastmen. She gathered plenty.
Roast meat, sprinkle salt, add chili flakes… No, she was drooling again!
Focused on her feast, she didn’t notice Shi Yi stepping out of his cave. Too late to stop, she crashed straight into him. “Move, move, move!”
Shi Yi glanced sideways, annoyed, and shoved her. Male strength was overwhelming. Yun Jiao felt as if her stomach had been punched, her body flung three meters away—meat flying too. She hit the ground hard, organs shifting, blood rising in her throat. As she struggled to rise, the slab of meat landed squarely on her belly. Blood spilled from her lips.