The Strongest Beast-Tamer (Transmigration)(GL) - Chapter 11

“Are you alright?”

Lan Tong sounded surprised.

Ugh, no way. Yi Xian blamed the sharp light breaking through the woods at dawn for her sudden lapse. For a brief moment, she actually thought the golden shimmer of Lan Tong’s beast form looked cool. If Lan Tong had arrived last night, she would have seen her at her most miserable. But now? Every trace had been scrubbed clean.

“No.”

Yi Xian held up all ten of her fingers, now swollen like sausages. The days when they were slender like scallion stalks were long gone. There was a saying that went, “Ten fingers are connected to the heart.” Even a light touch last night had pierced her with unbearable pain.

Lan Tong stared at the fingernails she had lost and frowned slightly. Without a word, she turned and ran off until her figure vanished from sight.

“Do you want to go back with this beastman? If you’re willing, I can take you out of Komo Forest.”

As soon as Lan Tong left, that voice in Yi Xian’s head stirred again. It was probably some sort of mental manipulation. She still didn’t know what kind of sorcery the crazy woman used to crawl inside her mind. Normally, anyone discovering such a bizarre intrusion would be driven mad. Yet Yi Xian seemed oddly unfazed.

“Yes, I want to go back.”

The seductive voice immediately fell silent.

And with that, the negotiation reached a standstill.

Yi Xian had always enjoyed fishing. She would identify a target, study it, then move closer. In her past life, all her skills were devoted to hooking the right person. No matter how noble the fish, if the bait was tempting enough, it would take a bite. Yi Xian was the kind who cast the bait and waited for the perfect time to pull the net.

Lan Tong returned swiftly, just as Yi Xian began to daze out. She dragged back a small dead beast with her bare hands. It was palm-sized and looked like a cub.

“Eat.”

Yi Xian stared.

When had she ever shown an appetite for raw meat?

Forced to swallow its bl00d, she gagged at the stench. The raw metallic scent shot straight to her nose. But after a few mouthfuls, she realized the bl00d tasted oddly sweet. What started as forced consumption quickly turned voluntary. She drank until she was full.

On the way back, the two of them walked in silence, one behind the other.

Lan Tong didn’t ask questions, and Yi Xian was too lazy to make up stories. She preferred the quiet. However, even the best-laid plans couldn’t keep up with change. It had only been one day, yet that so-called Lord Lu was likely still in Kus City.

Yi Xian’s sixth sense had always been sharp. When they arrived at Kus City, the expressions of the beastman guards were strange. There was fear in their eyes, yet a trace of relief too, as though they were grateful for something they didn’t understand.

When Lan Tong passed them, the guards all stepped back in unison. It felt like a ceremonial welcome, as though they were honored guests and the guards were there to receive them.

It was far too unusual.

“Lan.”

Yi Xian turned toward the voice that stopped Lan Tong in her tracks. The woman wore a long black cloak and led a small squad of beastmen, all tall, muscular, and unfamiliar. If not for the shoes peeking from beneath the cloak, Yi Xian might not have recognized her as Lord Lu.

Back when they met in the prison, her voice had been cold and crisp. Yi Xian had even mistaken her for a man. But she was, in fact, a female beastman.

“Lan, where did you go? I waited a long time for our meal.”

“Mm.”

Lan Tong turned to look at Yi Xian. “Let’s go home and cook.”

Yi Xian remained silent.

What was I even thinking? She had actually felt touched when that beast had come looking for her. But of course, it had all been for food. With Lord Lu present, the other beastmen in Kus City dared not touch her. They could only stand by helplessly as a group of them followed Lan Tong home.

Back at the house, Yi Xian realized the glutton wasn’t just Lan Tong. There was also a little one waiting to be fed. The moment the little one saw her, its bright blue eyes lit up, as if the stars in the entire universe had burst into life.

At that instant, Yi Xian felt certain her decision to return had been right.

“Ah ah!”

“Little one, did you miss me?”

Yi Xian dodged its paws and scooped it up with her forearms. The purple yuanxiao remained squished in the middle, playing dead. The little one chirped a few times, pointed to the dried fish hanging in the house, then patted her belly. Finally, it reached out a tiny paw and gently touched the thin scratch on Yi Xian’s cheek.

Yi Xian beamed and planted a kiss on her cheek. She hadn’t expected such affection after being away. Truly, a blessing in disguise.

“Just a scratch.”

Lord Lu followed Lan Tong’s gaze and saw the lowly human slave daring to press her filthy lips against the cub’s cheek. Her face darkened.

“Lan, don’t let this filthy human spoil our mealtime.”

Lan Tong shot her a sideways glance and simply told Yi Xian, “Fish soup.”

Yi Xian was beyond annoyed. She wanted nothing more than to slam the stone pot on both their heads. But irritation aside, she still had to fulfill her role as a female slave. With her injured hands, she managed to prepare an exceptionally tasty fish meal.

This time, things were different. In the past, no matter what, the three of them would sit together at the same table. But now that this important figure was here, Yi Xian wasn’t even allowed near the edge. The beastmen behind Lord Lu kept her a full meter away.

“Lan, is this really what you eat every day?”

“Mm.”

Lan Tong barely spoke. As always, she gave the little one most of the food, leaving the rest in the stone pot, which continued to release a rich aroma.

Yi Xian stood awkwardly off to the side, wishing she could dig a hole to crawl into. She had always heard Qin Rong and the other humans call the little one ‘Lan,’ but she had never imagined the name referred to Lan Tong herself. Hearing Lord Lu call her ‘Lan’ so warmly, Yi Xian recalled that time she had shouted the same name while trying to save herself…

“Lord Lu, do not drink it. The fish soup is poisoned.”

“…”

At that moment, a figure rushed in, knocking the bowl from Lord Lu’s hand. The bowls in Lan Tong’s and the little one’s hands were also swatted away.

Yi Xian even saw the little one pout in grievance, looking heart-wrenchingly sad. Ahem. She had no choice but to face the human who had twice slandered her with melodramatic flair, a person named Qin Rong.

Mice weren’t scary. The problem was when a mouse kept jumping out just to mess with you. That made it unbearably annoying.

She searched through both her memories and the original host’s, trying to find any past enmity between them. There was none.

Besides, she was a slave. Qin Rong was a respected ‘physician’ among the beastmen. If anyone had cause to feel resentment, it should have been her.

Except for one thing…

Lan Tong.