Chapter 87 - 86: Heartless? Just an Eye for an Eye

At that time, besides winning people over, the first thing she had to do was clear her name.

When Xiong Xianhui came for her, she had shamefully traded the corpses of dead rabbit cubs for Crystal Cores.

First, it was to give herself some protection against unknown dangers. Second, she had deliberately saved one to heal Wen Yan, who she knew would be injured in the great battle against Xiong Xianhui after the truth was revealed.

That Crystal Core had been obtained in exchange for the body of Wen Yan’s own cub. For someone who cared so deeply for the young, the knowledge would have been agonizing.

Nursing this secret, cruel satisfaction, Chu Liangyu said nothing, because she was still weak.

She still needed to win people’s hearts, still needed to use them.

’When did Wen Yan’s attitude toward me change so completely?’ Chu Liangyu wondered. ’Perhaps it was that day I saved him, casting aside our past grievances.’

But so what? She was only repaying a debt at the time.

Besides, Wen Yan died without ever knowing. She was the only one who carried this secret.

For Wen Yan, wasn’t that a blessing in its own way?

"Female Master, the snow is getting heavier. Stop holding him. We should bury him."

Chu Liangyu snapped out of her memories, a sudden coldness on her face.

She subconsciously reached up to touch it, only to realize she was crying.

’Crying?’

’It seems I’m not as rational and hard-hearted as I thought.’

’But why am I crying? I did nothing wrong.’

’Neither I nor Wen Yan... we did nothing wrong.’

For some reason, the image of Wen Yan holding medicinal herbs appeared before her eyes again.

He was like a man made of blood, his face and hands covered in wounds.

He should have been screaming in pain, yet he forced himself to smile nonchalantly.

But when he looked at her, it was as if he were gazing upon a priceless treasure as he presented what was in his hands.

"Female Master, you... don’t cry. It hurts my heart to see you like this."

She was a far cry from the awe-inspiring figure she’d been just moments before.

Yu Tu couldn’t help but wipe the tears from her face, comforting her softly. "There, there. Don’t cry."

Chu Liangyu cried without a sound, yet her grief felt inexplicably oppressive.

After an unknown amount of time, Chu Liangyu recovered from that state.

Wiping her tears with her sleeve, she said, as if nothing had happened, "It’s getting cold. Let’s lay him to rest. We should go."

Ignoring her hoarse voice, Yu Tu nodded cooperatively. "Okay. I’ll listen to you."

The two chose a spot with an excellent view, cleared away the thick snow, and painstakingly dug a hole of a suitable size before placing Wen Yan inside.

Afterward, they didn’t forget to pile the snow they had removed back on top.

"I found the two cubs. I was in a hurry, so I settled them in a nearby cave."

Chu Liangyu explained as she directed him forward from his back, in his White Tiger form.

"Thank you, Female Master. Without you, I can’t imagine what would have happened to them."

Chu Liangyu was clearly not in high spirits. She just nodded. "It was nothing. You know the way to the tribe, right? You should take the two cubs and go back first."

Yu Tu hesitated before asking, "Then... Female Master, you’re not going back?"

"No. I promised someone something. I have to fulfill that promise."

"If all goes well, I’ll be back at the tribe in a month," Chu Liangyu explained vaguely, without going into detail.

Although Yu Tu was a little disappointed, he couldn’t very well stop Chu Liangyu from doing what she needed to do.

"Alright. You be careful."

The atmosphere grew a little quiet. Not knowing what else to say, he added, "If you run into any danger, send word to the tribe. I’ll definitely come and save you."

Chu Liangyu gave him a surprised look. ’This guy has suddenly become so responsible.’

’Though with my current strength, if I really ran into trouble, Yu Tu wouldn’t be much help.’

"Alright then," she teased. "If I’m really in danger, I’ll be counting on you."

Chu Liangyu couldn’t resist making a joke, but she didn’t expect Yu Tu to take it seriously.

His agreement was so decisive and earnest.

"Female Master, can I follow you from now on instead of going back to the tribe?"

"I am your Female Master. If you wish to follow me, I naturally won’t drive you away." After a pause, she added, "Of course, if you wish to leave, that is your freedom as well. I won’t stop you."

"No, never! I’ll never leave from now on." The white tiger’s head shook frantically, demonstrating its master’s rejection of the idea.

Chu Liangyu ruffled the fur on his tiger head as if stroking a pet and chuckled lightly. "You’re the one who said it."

He didn’t know why, but he felt an indulgent fondness in his Female Master’s laugh, and the upward lilt of her voice made his heart tingle.

Without warning, a wave of heat rushed to his head. If he weren’t in his beast form, Chu Liangyu would have seen a handsome face as red as a boiled shrimp.

"Speaking of which, I do have something I need your help with."

"What is it? Just say the word."

Chu Liangyu remembered her promise to Wen Yan and said directly, "I probably won’t have time this month, and I’m afraid it wouldn’t be right to delay bringing the rabbit cubs back to the tribe for too long."

"Never mind, I’ll find someone else for this."

Yu Tu was currently a familiar face with a price on his head; sending him wouldn’t be a good choice.

Thinking it over, she felt that Hu Qiumu and Jinling, who hadn’t been involved in the matter, were the most suitable candidates.

"After you get back, have Jinling go pick up the rabbit cubs."

Considering the Fox Clan hadn’t migrated yet, Chu Liangyu added, "Have Hu Qiumu go with him, and while he’s at it, persuade the Fox Clan to move."

"Is there nothing you need me to do?"

Chu Liangyu shook her head and patiently explained, "You just escaped danger. Plus, you helped us rescue the Wood Spirit Clan, so your face is now quite recognizable out there. If you were to go, not only would you be of no help, but you would also put yourself in danger again."

"Alright, then."

As they spoke, they arrived at the place where the two cubs were hiding.

Before they could even call out, the little cubs inside had already noticed them and came out.

"Beast Mother, Beast Father!"

"Beast Mother, Beast Father!"

Like two broken records, they circled the pair, shouting for a long time.

Chu Liangyu dismounted from his back and patted the two little cubs on the head. "Alright, go back to the tribe with your Beast Father now."

Despite only having known her for a few days, Yu Chu was still reluctant to see Chu Liangyu leave without them.

The cool, aloof little boy from their first meeting now looked like a well-behaved child. "Beast Mother, come back soon. My brother and I will miss you."

"Will miss you." Yu Jin wasn’t one for many words, but he knew how to seize the key phrase to express his feelings.

Chu Liangyu suddenly found their affection a little overwhelming. She cleared her throat. "Okay, I know."

Black wings materialized, and Chu Liangyu flew away without a backward glance. If one looked closely, they could see a frantic haste in her departure, as if she were fleeing.

She left the father and his two sons staring blankly after her, unable to process what had just happened.

"Beast Father, did we do something wrong just now?"

Yu Tu replied in a daze, "I don’t think so. She probably just has something urgent to do."