Chapter 285: Crisis

Chapter 285: Chapter 285: Crisis

In just a few days, a shadow seemed to have fallen over the entire Golden Lion Tribe.

Nearly every male who went out to hunt returned with injuries.

Bai Wanwan supported her swollen belly, moving slowly.

Peeking out of the cave entrance toward the plaza, she saw that the Witch Cave could no longer hold so many injured Beastmen. They had all been moved to the plaza to be cared for by the Witch Doctors.

"Are you worried about Zhu Xiu and Yan Lie?" A voice as gentle as a spring breeze came from behind her, soothing her anxious heart.

She slowly turned to see Xin Feng approaching with a bowl of steaming fish soup.

"Yeah. The situation isn’t good. Zhu Xiu and Yan Lie are strong, but if the Bear Clan has superior numbers, it’s still very dangerous."

She reached out and took the fish soup as she spoke.

It was a flavor she usually liked, but now it smelled exceptionally fishy. Still, she wasn’t going to be difficult and refuse to drink it.

’After all... we still have something to drink for now. If this keeps up, we’ll probably all starve.’

After watching her finish, Xin Feng took the stone bowl and placed it on the stone table.

Just then, another commotion erupted outside.

"Make way! Clan Witch, please, take a look at my Father Beast!"

The young male’s wails echoed across the plaza, wrenching the hearts of all who heard.

Bai Wanwan saw it too—several injured males carrying an older male were running over.

A trail of blood marked their path.

The Clan Witch immediately rushed over. After trying to stanch the bleeding with herbs, she shook her head at the young male, helpless and sad.

The young male dropped to his knees, tears and snot streaming down his face. "Clan Witch, I’m begging you, please save my Father Beast! He... He was protecting me! If it weren’t for me, he wouldn’t have been so grievously wounded."

Bai Wanwan’s hands, hanging at her sides, clenched into tight fists.

’I’m struggling so much inside. I have the ointment that could save their lives.’

’But with so many people injured, if I save every one of them, my Points probably won’t last long.’

’The path of using Energy Stones to lift the Dark Curse is closed off. I can only hoard Points to exchange for the system’s help in removing the curse.’

On one hand were the lives of so many Beastmen; on the other was Zhu Xiu’s safety.

She forced herself to look away...

’I’m not a savior. I’m just a selfish human. When I can’t save everyone, I will always choose my loved ones first.’

She turned her back to the outside world, reaching out to close the door, trying to shut out the tragic scene.

But just as the door was halfway shut, a force stopped it.

"Bai Wanwan..."

A dry, hoarse voice that sounded somewhat familiar came from outside the door.

Xin Feng, facing the entrance, was the first to see the person outside.

"Young Clan Leader..." Xin Feng gave him a slight nod. "Is there something you need?"

Bai Wanwan turned around slowly. Jin Yi’s slightly haggard face appeared before her.

Jin Yi’s lips were pressed into a tight line. His gaze shifted from Xin Feng to Bai Wanwan. "I do have one matter, and I need to ask for the female Bai Wanwan’s permission."

"Oh?"

Bai Wanwan raised a skeptical eyebrow, not understanding what he could possibly need her permission for.

"Young Clan Leader, what is it? You can just tell me."

Without hesitation, Jin Yi pulled a tube of ointment from his Beast Skin Skirt.

"This ointment is what’s left over from last time. I wanted to ask you, can I use it on the severely injured males?"

In fact, last time when Zhuo Ling was injured, he had hesitated before deciding to ask for her opinion.

It was her property, after all. But before he could even ask, Zhuo Ling couldn’t hold on and was gone.

Bai Wanwan’s gaze fell to the half-used tube of ointment. "Once I gave it to you, it became yours. You can decide for yourself. However..."

Bai Wanwan glanced outside. "Half a tube of ointment can’t save everyone."

Jin Yi clutched the ointment tightly. "I know. From now on, we will travel in groups to reduce casualties."

After asking his question, Jin Yi left.

Xin Feng helped her inside to sit down. Shi Hua was busy taking care of Mu Feng all day and came over less often now.

It was too chaotic outside, so the cubs could only run around inside the cave and in the small, central courtyard.

The weather had shown signs of cooling over the past two days, so Bai Wanwan had Xin Feng bring out the potatoes that were stored in the cool place under the stone platform.

Xin Feng did as she asked, then went through them one by one. "They’ve all sprouted. Should we plant them now?"

"Not today. Let the sprouts grow a little longer. We’ll check again tomorrow."

After saying that, she called up her system panel.

Her gaze swept past the "Items" tab and landed on "Weapons."

’If I had enough Points to exchange for the weapons on here, what would I have to fear from the Bear Clan?’

"Hua Sheng, I want to file a complaint. This Point exchange system is completely unreasonable."

Hua Sheng’s voice soon sounded in her mind. "Host, I’ve told you before: find High Rank Beast Husbands to have cubs with, and you’ll be able to get what you want."

"My Beast Husbands are all Yellow Rank Males. Isn’t that high enough?"

’I’ve traveled between several tribes, and my Beast Husbands are considered top-tier warriors.’

"Your Beast Husbands are indeed very strong, but there are others who are stronger. If you could go directly to a Super Tribe and find a Red Rank male to have cubs with, the Points you’d earn from one birth would be more than all your previous ones combined."

At this point, Hua Sheng’s tone softened. "But I won’t force you. We’re partners. You’re much more clear-headed than the previous host, and the choices you make are beneficial for both of us, so I won’t interfere or force you to have cubs with a male you don’t like."

After a pause, it added, "However... I must still remind you, Host, to choose High Rank Males to have cubs with whenever possible. Also, if you have enough Points, you can first exchange them for a Promotion Potion. Have your Beast Husbands advance in rank before having more cubs."

Bai Wanwan’s eyes lit up when she heard this. "There’s something that good? How do I get one?"

"The Host currently has too few Points for me to perform the next system upgrade. You can only make that exchange after the next update."

Regardless, Hua Sheng had at least brought her some good news.

’So, the plan is: after I give birth to this child, I’ll first lift Zhu Xiu’s Dark Curse. Then I have to find a way to earn enough Points to upgrade Hua Sheng and have my Beast Husbands get promoted.’

Just as she was pondering this, the light from the cave entrance was blocked. Zhu Xiu and Yan Lie walked in, carrying their kill.

Their beast skin clothes were soaked in blood.

Bai Wanwan pushed herself up against the wall, her concerned gaze sweeping over the two of them. "You’re not hurt, are you?"

Zhu Xiu reached out and took her hand. "No, it’s other Beastmen’s blood."

Bai Wanwan felt a little relieved. Yan Lie had already thrown two hunted animals to the ground.

He wiped the bloodstains from his body, panting as he spoke, "The situation is getting worse. The Golden Lions are hunting in groups, but the Bear Clan isn’t attacking our tribe’s Beastmen anymore. Instead, they’re driving away the prey."

As he spoke, he took the cloth Xin Feng handed him and wiped the blood from his face and body. His usually sunny and cheerful face was now etched with a gravity that didn’t suit his age.

After listening, Bai Wanwan looked up at Zhu Xiu beside her. "If this continues, many Beastmen in the Golden Lion Tribe will starve to death, won’t they?"

"Yes."

Zhu Xiu didn’t hide the truth. If things went on like this, at least half of the Beastmen in the Golden Lion Tribe wouldn’t survive the snow season.