Chapter 551 - 548: Severe Penalty

Chapter 551: Chapter 548: Severe Penalty

"Very good."

Bai Wanwan nodded. Then, as if a thought had suddenly struck her, she tilted her head in feigned confusion and asked Xin Feng, who was beside her, "Xin Feng, I recall that different Beastmen leave different teeth marks and claw prints when they hunt and bite their prey. Is that right?"

Her words were like a stone tossed into a calm lake, instantly sending ripples through the crowd of watching Beastmen.

Many of the Beastmen came to a sudden realization. Their expressions changed, and they began to whisper amongst themselves.

"Yes, that’s right. I’ll go take a look..." Xin Feng immediately understood her meaning and took a few steps toward the hanging Deer Beast.

Bai Zhi’s face changed in a flash. She immediately tried to rush forward and stop him, her voice sharp and piercing, "What are you doing? That’s my kill! What right do you have to touch it?"

The last trace of gentleness vanished from Bai Wanwan’s face, replaced by an unquestionable authority. She said coldly, "We don’t have to touch it. But if we don’t inspect it, I can’t prove your ’innocence.’ In that case, based on the current situation and Qian Hong’s accusation, I can only conclude that you stole another’s kill and attempted to deceive us. And according to the tribe’s rules, you will have to be punished."

"On what grounds?" Bai Zhi was so angry her eyes turned red, her voice shrill. "Just because you say so?"

Bai Wanwan let out a soft laugh, a sound laced with condescending nonchalance. "On the grounds that it pleases me, and more importantly, on the grounds that I have the power to do so. Now, you can either let Xin Feng inspect it, or you can leave the Tiger Clan Tribe right now. Your choice."

’She knew that if she wanted an easier life in the future, now was the perfect time to establish order and rules.’

’For these primitive Beastmen who worshiped strength and were accustomed to solving problems with their fists, a gentle heart-to-heart talk would only make them think she was a pushover.’

’To make them truly follow the rules, she first had to establish sufficient authority and inspire awe.’

’Otherwise, Chou Rong would be forever bogged down by these trivial matters, leaving him no time to spend with her. That would seriously affect her quality of life!’

"Even if you are the Clan Leader’s Wife, you can’t bully another female like this! Everyone, judge for yourselves!" Seeing she couldn’t win against Bai Wanwan, Bai Zhi turned to the surrounding Beastmen for help, trying to stir up their emotions.

However, Bai Wanwan just eyed her with a placid smile and spoke slowly, "And what of it? Besides being the Wife of Clan Leader Chou Rong, I am also the shared Wife of four Red Rank Males."

The words "four Red Ranks" landed like a heavy hammer on the heart of every Beastman present.

In an instant, the area fell silent. Even the Tiger Clan Beastmen, who had been restless just moments before, became completely still, their gazes toward Bai Wanwan filled with profound reverence.

A single Red Rank Powerhouse was already the stuff of legends. Four of them... that was a level of power and authority they could not even imagine!

Seeing her chance, Qian Hong cleverly stepped forward to block Bai Zhi, who looked ready to cause a scene. "The Holy Female is handling this fairly! I agree with Holy Female Bai Wanwan’s decision. Why are you so afraid of an inspection? It’s because you’re the one who took it, isn’t it?"

"No, you’re lying."

But Qian Hong took the opportunity to block her, allowing Xin Feng to move in and carefully examine the fatal wound on the Deer Beast’s neck.

One of Bai Zhi’s Beast Husbands, seeing Xin Feng approach the prey, desperately tried to shove Qian Hong aside. But he was stopped by Yan Lie, who had appeared out of nowhere, and Qian Hong’s own Beast Husbands, who had been glaring at him angrily. He was held fast, unable to move.

The delay was all the time Xin Feng needed to get a clear look.

He stood up, faced all the Beastmen, and announced in a clear, steady voice, "The fatal wound on this Deer Beast’s neck was caused by the sharp talons of a raptor. The tear marks are also consistent with those of a bird-type Beastman. I don’t know these two females, nor am I aware if either of them has a bird-type Beastman among their Beast Husbands. But the truth is now clear—whoever has a bird-type Beastman as a husband is the true owner of this Deer Beast."

The truth was out!

Bai Zhi’s face instantly turned as white as a sheet. Her lips trembled, and she couldn’t utter a single word.

’She was a born-and-bred Tiger Beastman, and her Beast Husbands were almost exclusively from the Tiger Clan. Where would she find a bird-type Beastman!’

Qian Hong, on the other hand, let out a sigh of relief, a smile spreading across her face. She announced loudly, "That’s right! This Deer Beast was hunted specially for me by my owl Beast Husband!"

Bai Wanwan’s gaze shifted to the ashen-faced Bai Zhi, her tone calm and steady. "Now, is there anything else you’d like to say?"

Knowing she couldn’t deny it any longer, Bai Zhi stomped her foot in a fit of anger and humiliation, screeching, "It’s just one Deer Beast! What’s the big deal? Take it! You can have it, who cares!"

Feeling utterly disgraced, she turned after speaking and tried to push through the crowd to leave.

"Wait a moment," Bai Wanwan’s cool voice rang out again.

Bai Zhi turned back impatiently, her tone aggressive. "What now?"

"When you make a mistake, you can’t just return the item and pretend nothing happened."

Bai Wanwan looked at her and said, word by word, "You need to formally apologize to the female Qian Hong for your theft, as well as for your slander and deceit just now. Furthermore, in addition to returning the Deer Beast, you must also compensate her with another Deer Beast of equal size as punishment. If this happens again, the penalty will be doubled."

"What?" Bai Zhi shrieked in disbelief. "You want me to apologize? And compensate her with another one? I just took one Deer Beast from her, what’s the big deal?"

"I won’t—"

Before Bai Zhi could finish her sentence, the males standing beside her who had been ready to fight were slammed to the ground by an immense force. They didn’t even see who had struck. Their faces were pressed into the dirt in a pathetic state, unable to even struggle.

Bai Wanwan seized the opportunity. Her gaze was like a torch as she slowly swept it over all the Beastmen present, her voice carrying clearly to every corner:

"You all saw what happened! The Tiger Clan Tribe is growing stronger, and in the future, more Beastmen like Qian Hong will come here to settle down. Do you want our tribe to be like this every day, constantly arguing and even fighting over a single kill or some other trivial matter? Today, she lost a Deer Beast. Tomorrow, it could be your salt block or his animal hides that go missing... Is this the kind of life you want?"

The Beastmen looked at each other. It had been amusing to watch the drama unfold, but when they imagined the same thing happening to them, they all immediately shook their heads.

No one wanted to spend their days on guard, worrying about such things.

"So, I want everyone to remember the rule I am establishing today!"

Bai Wanwan’s voice suddenly rose. "From this day forward, in the Tiger Clan Tribe, anyone who takes another’s property without permission will, upon discovery, be required to return it, apologize, and provide compensation. Those who refuse to repent will be exiled from the tribe! I expect everyone to watch over one another and work together to maintain the peace and order of our tribe!"

Her gaze finally fell on Bai Zhi, who was slumped on the ground. "So, will you offer compensation, or will you leave the Tiger Clan?"

’Leave?’

’No...’

’She had heard that it was chaos outside.’