Chapter 247 - 246: Hearts Are Subject to Change

"Alright!"

The Personal Medicine Garden was only palm-sized and looked like a wooden box. The inside resembled a plot of farmland, but it couldn’t be forced open by hand; one had to use spiritual power to access it.

After binding it with a drop of blood, the Personal Medicine Garden could change its size. Xiong Jiaojiao put hers away, then took her things and ran off to find the others.

"Female Master, where are you headed next?"

Only Chu Liangyu and Hu Qiumu remained. Without a second thought, Chu Liangyu said, "Back to my courtyard."

After speaking, Chu Liangyu glanced at him and asked, "The way you ask... is there something you want to say?"

"Yes. But it’s nothing major. I just see you staying in your courtyard every day and thought you might not be fully aware of the tribe’s current situation. I’d like to show you around."

Chu Liangyu felt he had a point. After all, a leader couldn’t be ignorant of her own tribe’s situation.

"Alright, then I’ll go with you."

Hu Qiumu nodded and put away the dagger she had given him. "Many people have joined the tribe recently, and the Guard Team has grown. You’re probably not aware of how the Guard Team trains, so I’ll take you to see that first."

"Alright."

The Guard Team was previously run by Hu Qiumu, Cang Yu, and Qu Jing.

Although Qu Jing had come along with Chu Liangyu’s Beast Husband, He Yushu, and joined partway through, he was still very dedicated to the tribe’s affairs.

Later, as the tribe’s population gradually increased, the three of them were no longer enough. Seeing this, the other Beast Husbands voluntarily joined in.

However, they work in groups. Each group teaches something different, instructing the Guard Team in a rotation.

For instance, Chi Yizhong and Yu He are both sea-dwelling Beastmen, so when they instruct the Guard Team, they focus on cultivating aquatic skills and underwater combat abilities.

Following this logic, Feng Qiwu and He Yushu formed another group.

One is a Phoenix, and the other is a Red-crowned Crane. These two are responsible for training the winged Beastmen in the Guard Team, while the remaining Beastmen learn how to fight against such flying opponents.

The Beast Husbands had formed five or six small groups like this, organized by racial traits or Talent Skills.

These were all ideas they had conceived through practical application—things Chu Liangyu knew nothing about.

"The Guard Team’s training covers a wide range of subjects. If you have any thoughts of expansion, they can be deployed as the most elite unit at a moment’s notice."

’Expansion?’

’That’s not a bad idea.’ Chu Liangyu had always focused on persuasion, never proactively leading people to recruit others.

Judging by the operational status of the Beast World she had observed from the Land of No Worries, the groups that seemed to be in good condition were all those that had voluntarily joined the Xihe Tribe.

The rest, however, all had problems to some extent.

Especially some of the high-risk regions nearing the color red. His reminder sparked some thoughts in Chu Liangyu’s mind.

’After all, if everything is centered around the Xihe Tribe, then the Xihe Tribe will be the one calling the shots for future administration.’

’With unified management, would she still need to worry about restoring the world’s operational status?’

"What you said has given me an idea. But as for the specific details of this expansion, I will gather you all to discuss it after some time."

"Then I will await the Female Master’s orders."

After showing her the Guard Team’s situation, Hu Qiumu began speaking about the clans that had recently joined. "Many groups have joined in this time, but the tribe can’t accommodate that many people. The others and I discussed it and decided to have them either build new homes near the tribe or return to their original territories."

"For the groups that returned to their original territories, we’ve sent members of the Guard Team over. This is for two reasons: one, to select new Guard Team members from among them, and two, to facilitate administration."

Listening to his explanation, Chu Liangyu couldn’t help but ask, "Has anyone been sent to teach them the Body Technique?"

"Yes. Xiong Jiaojiao and a few of the other females are responsible for that. I’m not entirely clear on the specifics of how they’re doing it."

Chu Liangyu had full confidence in their ability to handle things, so she simply nodded upon hearing this.

Hu Qiumu took her to several other places before finally saying, "I know you trust us, but... people’s hearts can change."

"Even I can’t guarantee that I would remain free of desire with this much power—that I wouldn’t have thoughts of overthrowing you. Do you understand what I mean?"

Chu Liangyu never expected him to say such a thing, but it was the truth.

’Then again, looking at it from another angle, the fact that he could raise this issue so openly was proof that he himself harbored no ill intentions.’

’She had been thinking about how her Beast Husbands’ attitudes toward her had changed, that they were even willing to block a Heavenly Tribulation for her, and she had let down her guard. But, just as Hu Qiumu said, after a long time, who could guarantee that their initial intentions would remain unchanged?’

"Are you saying this because someone has developed ulterior motives?"

Hu Qiumu shook his head, his expression calm. He met her gaze for a moment before replying, "No. It just occurred to me a few days ago when I was chatting with my Beast Father."

"You are a Beast God now. Your lifespan is practically eternal, while we only have two hundred years. After we are gone, I don’t know if there will be others who can assist you with such loyalty."

"It may be a bit early to be thinking about this, but I feel it’s better to be mentally prepared sooner rather than later."

There was no fear of death on Hu Qiumu’s face, only concern for her—a worry that she might not be able to find anyone she could trust in the future.

Chu Liangyu had been through so much; she should have been indifferent to matters of life and death by now. Yet, as Hu Qiumu spoke these words, she still felt her heart grow heavy.

"Birth, aging, sickness, and death are all part of the natural order. You don’t need to be too saddened by it, Female Master."

Hu Qiumu’s tone softened. Sensing her somber mood and imagining her being left all alone after they were gone, his heart ached with a sharp pain.

After a brief pause, he comforted her, "In the past, we didn’t treat you as well as we do now. That was our fault. But at the end of the day, we’re not exactly good people, so we’re not worth your grief."

Chu Liangyu said nothing, merely watching him in silence, the emotion in her eyes exceptionally complex.

For a moment, the atmosphere between them grew so heavy it was hard to breathe.

Chu Liangyu sighed. "Hu Qiumu, do you realize what you were just saying?"

"I do." Hu Qiumu knew what she meant, but he had no reservations, laying their unsightly past bare with complete frankness.

"Then by your logic, should I hate you all and drive you out of the tribe? Especially Xiong Xianhui."

Back then, Xiong Xianhui had fallen for Wen Yan’s plot, believing Chu Liangyu was the one who killed the young cubs. He had even thrown her into the forest for it.

"I would have no objection to kicking Xiong Xianhui out. But I don’t want to leave you."

The corners of Chu Liangyu’s lips curved, and the expression on her face softened. "Then don’t say such things anymore."

"As for the tribe’s affairs, I’ve taken your reminder to heart. I will pay more attention from now on."