Chapter 274: Who's Fooling Whom?

“It’s just one strand of hair. Can you really not give me one?”

Chu Liangyu remained expressionless and refused again. “I can’t.”

‘This girl obviously has an ulterior motive. How could I be foolish enough to actually give her one?’

Perhaps because Chu Liangyu’s refusal was so blunt, the Snake Demon seemed a bit regretful but didn’t bring it up again.

Her objective unachieved, her attentive fervor dissipated. Chu Liangyu raised an eyebrow, not particularly bothered.

“The food is roasted. Come and eat.”

Chu Liangyu didn’t move at her words, simply saying, “You can eat it yourself. I’m not hungry.”

“Then why didn’t you say so sooner?”

“You were the one who insisted on making it, and you never asked me.”

Chu Liangyu’s single sentence left the Snake Demon completely unable to argue. In the end, the Snake Demon ate all the food herself.

Breaks were always fleeting, and the time appointed by Chu Liangyu had come.

The Snake Demon reverted to her bracelet form and hung on Chu Liangyu’s wrist. Its cool touch indirectly helped to lower her temperature.

Spring in the Beast World passed in the blink of an eye, and the summer temperatures were much higher. They had to hasten to complete the unification before the heat reached its absolute peak.

“Female Master, which tribe should we go to first?”

“The nearest one.”

With Chu Liangyu present, they would unconditionally support any decision she made. Her presence brought a sense of ease, a deep-seated confidence that they were destined for success.

Jinling had made a full recovery in just one day; there was no sign he had been seriously injured.

Now, perhaps to make up for his previous failures, he always charged to the front. His ferocious momentum was even greater than when the three of them had been leading.

Basically, wherever Chu Liangyu pointed, Jinling would lead his men to attack.

The past few days had gone smoothly. Although their progress was a bit slower than the other squads, it wasn’t by much.

About three days ago, news came from the Beiyuan Salt Land. They had successfully subjugated all the tribes and were now on their way back to the Xihe Tribe.

When Chu Liangyu had been leading that team, they were already nearing their final destination, so it wasn’t surprising they were the first squad to successfully complete their mission of subjugation.

Time passed bit by bit. Here in the Southern Barbarian Land, fewer than ten tribes remained unconquered.

Their rapid progress wasn’t just due to their own combat strength. The previously subjugated tribes, led by Yaya’s tribe, had rushed over to help on the second day of the campaign.

“Leader, the other two squads also sent word. They’ve completed their missions and are on their way back to the tribe.”

“Wow, they’re all so amazing!”

During a break after a major battle, Zhao Zeming rushed over to report the moment he received the news.

Everyone was resting and eating. Upon hearing this, Yaya praised them sincerely.

“But we’re not bad either. We’ll be done after just two more tribes.”

Chu Liangyu gestured for Zhao Zeming to sit and eat as well, then said, “This time, it’s really thanks to you and your people, Yaya. Otherwise, our progress wouldn’t have been this fast.”

“It’s nothing. We promised Leader Chu back then that we would step in if the tribe faced difficulties. And as it happened, the timing was perfect.”

Chu Liangyu was taken aback for a moment, then she broke into a laugh. It was a heartfelt smile, one that made those around her smile as well just by seeing it.

“Yes, you’re right about that.”

After that, they took care of the remaining unconquered tribes in just half a day.

And so, after two months of effort, the plan to unify the Beast World was finally complete.

During this time, Chu Liangyu had also sent a message to the young ones who were out training. The content was simple: they were to return to the Xihe Tribe.

Now that this matter was resolved, it was time for Chu Liangyu to lead her team back.

“Leader Chu, take care on your journey!”

“You too. We’ll meet again if fate allows.”

Unlike the journey here, when they were burdened with a mission, their spirits were exceptionally light on the way back, and their pace was much faster.

Perhaps having received news of their return, people were already waiting outside the Xihe Tribe.

Before they even got close, voices carried over. “Look, the Leader and the others are back!”

“Let’s go, let’s go! Hurry up and welcome them!”

“Yeah, get out of my way.”

The crowd ran eagerly toward the returning party, their enthusiasm making the one leading them, Chu Liangyu, break into a nervous sweat.

But she was used to them being this way. After a moment of stunned silence, she quickly composed herself.

“Female Master, how are you? Are you hurt?”

Feng Qiwu was the first to rush up. Without waiting for Chu Liangyu’s reply, he began circling her and looking her over.

He didn’t seem inclined to stop, even when Chu Liangyu started to feel dizzy.

Chu Liangyu couldn’t take it anymore. She grabbed his arm and said irritably, “Who inspects someone like this? I was fine, but if you keep spinning me around, I think I’m going to have a problem.”

“Then I’ll stop spinning.”

Feng Qiwu had barely spoken a few words before the other Beast Husbands also walked over.

Without saying a word, they all tacitly squeezed Feng Qiwu out of the circle, and no matter how he tried to scramble back in, he couldn’t.

Hu Qiumu offered her a flower that had appeared in his hand from who-knows-where. “Female Master,” he said, “the young ones have all returned. How about we take this opportunity to hold a victory banquet?”

“A victory banquet? Alright. I’ll leave the arrangements to you.”

Chu Liangyu accepted the flower, wondering why he’d suddenly thought to give her one.

Hu Qiumu’s eyes flickered. In that instant, he read Chu Liangyu’s thoughts, but he didn’t offer an explanation.

“Female Master, Hu Qiumu is just a copycat! Don’t pay him any mind!”

Feng Qiwu’s voice popped up from behind the others. Chu Liangyu looked up just in time to see his head appear for a moment before disappearing again.

‘A copycat?’

Chu Liangyu recalled the day in the cave when Feng Qiwu had given her a flower. ‘Don’t tell me he actually blabbed about that too!’

‘Not just the flower, but also what happened at the hot spring…’

It seemed incredible, but given Feng Qiwu’s personality, it was entirely possible he would spread that around.

At this thought, the smile on Chu Liangyu’s face stiffened.

Subtly glaring at Feng Qiwu, who was still trying to squeeze his way back into the center, Chu Liangyu composed herself and said, “The flower is beautiful. I like it very much.”

The other men were oblivious to the hidden meaning, but Hu Qiumu was an exception.

And since his thoughts were always hard to guess, Chu Liangyu couldn’t be sure how much he knew, so she just pretended he didn’t know anything.

“Female Master, let’s head back to the tribe.”

Chi Yizhong, a man of few words, simply took her hand and started leading her toward the tribe.

The others followed closely behind. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Feng Qiwu finally managed to get close to Chu Liangyu’s side.