The Strongest Beast-Tamer (Transmigration)(GL) - Chapter 21

The cub of Hu Qing’s family was a blue fox named Hu Xiaoqing. His mother was human, who had lived in Kus City even longer than Yi Xian. She was warm and experienced in her dealings with others, clearly already accustomed to the ways of the Beast Tribe.

Only two cubs had come out from Kus City. Hu Qing often pulled Lan Tong aside to talk anxiously about moving into Guata City. Since their cubs were still too young to live independently, the parents had to accompany them. For Hu Qing, who had long settled in Kus City, leaving was a difficult decision. However, their cub passing the talent test brought the family great honor, and compared with their child’s promising future, that attachment could be easily set aside.

Encouraged by his human mother, Hu Xiaoqing tried to play with Yi Xian’s little one. Yet the little one clearly showed no interest and instead happily played with the purple yuanxiao. In an attempt to join in, Hu Xiaoqing came up with an idea. He snatched the purple yuanxiao from the little one’s hand and teasingly dangled it like a cat playing with a fish. The little one became furious, pounced, and scratched wildly. Hu Xiaoqing’s cries echoed as he struggled under a rain of claws and teeth, his neck bitten and his body marked with several red scratches.

Yi Xian still found the memory laughable. Thankfully, fights among cubs were not taken seriously. Beastmen even encouraged their young to join such ‘games.’ Later, Shi Jia personally brought some White Fruit to apologize, leaving Yi Xian both startled and flattered.

“This was our little Hu Xiaoqing’s fault. Please accept these.”

“The White Fruit is too valuable.”

“No, you must take it. After learning what happened, I realized it was our little fox who misbehaved and bullied your Lan.”

Tracing it back, the root of the conflict came from the time before the little one had even transformed into beast form. Back then, she would run away after being mistreated by the original host. Drawn by the laughter of cubs in the training camp, she tried to join them but was bullied for being in human form. The ringleader had been none other than this same little fox. Since Hu Qing was an instructor at the cub training camp, the fox relied on his parent’s authority and tormented the little one even more.

That explained why the little one had attacked him with such fierce vengeance.

After hearing this, Yi Xian was astonished. She learned that the little one held grudges deeply and repaid them without hesitation. Under Lan Tong’s signal, she calmly accepted the White Fruit and, in return, offered some of her homemade fried fish as a gesture of goodwill. The fox family praised her craftsmanship warmly.

The journey from Kus City to Guata City took nearly a month. Fortunately, the route was relatively safe. When they were about one-third of the way there, they met another family whose cubs had also passed their talent tests. Naturally, the two groups merged, making the road livelier.

Shi Jia eagerly took Yi Xian to meet them, and soon the three families became familiar with one another. Most of the time, Yi Xian listened quietly while Shi Jia and You Yu chatted about daily life. The difference was that You Yu was not human. She was a female beastman, surprisingly open-minded and without prejudice toward humans. Yi Xian only then realized that while beastmen respected strength, not all were powerful. Some, like You Yu, were weaker female beastmen whose beast form was, to Yi Xian’s amazement, a rabbit.

Of course, Lan Tong was an exception. Judging by size alone, her beast form was the largest Yi Xian had ever seen. Covered in brilliant golden fur, Lan Tong drew attention even when standing at the end of the line.

One day, when the group stopped to rest and replenish supplies, the three women sat together. Somehow, the conversation turned to private matters of the bed.

You Yu was remarkably bold and proudly revealed that her partner could go three rounds a night. Shi Jia’s situation differed from Yi Xian’s. Yi Xian’s original body had been sold into this land against her will, but Shi Jia had been sold by her own relatives. Hu Qing had bought her by exchanging all their goods for copper coins. Yet she genuinely cared for Hu Qing and was content living and raising cubs together. When the topic of intimacy arose, Shi Jia’s face turned crimson, and she deflected the question toward Yi Xian.

“Judging by Lan Tong’s look, Yi must be quite satisfied. But Yi is so small and thin, can she handle it?”

“Yi Xian was the first among us to give birth, and her cub’s talent is extraordinary. Maybe she’s already pregnant again.”

“So, Yi, how many times a night?”

“…”

Satisfied, my foot.

Yi Xian nearly snapped the twig in her hand. What kind of cruel joke was this? The pain of embarrassment stung more than she could bear.

Fortunately, the break was short. They soon resumed their journey. Yi Xian wore a dark expression throughout the trip, which made Lan Tong glance at her in confusion. Thinking she was in pain, Lan Tong took out a red fruit and coaxed, “Eat.”

Yi Xian glared at her. Eat, eat, eat. This beast only knows eating and doing that. No sense of purpose at all. Out of frustration, she refused. “No.”

Lan Tong said a few words to the group ahead, then pulled Yi Xian behind a tree, turned her around, pressed her against the trunk, and began licking her skin.

Yi Xian’s face turned pitch-black. Damn it! We haven’t bathed in days. This beast really knows nothing about hygiene! Thankfully, Lan Tong did not go further in that open forest, or Yi Xian might have strangled her on the spot. Yet when they emerged, Shi Jia and You Yu exchanged knowing glances, their eyes full of teasing.

Yi Xian froze. “…”

Wait, are you two misunderstanding something?!

As they neared Guata City, more and more families joined the caravan. All were from towns under Guata’s jurisdiction, each bringing their talented cubs. The oldest was ten, and the youngest was Yi Xian’s little one. At first, Shi Jia had tried to befriend everyone, but after being slighted by a seductive fox woman, she gave up the idea.

Yi Xian comforted her. “Once in Guata City, the cubs may become rivals. Your little fox is clever enough. You don’t need to please others.”

Shi Jia blushed at the praise, but her mood brightened. “That fox woman’s beastman is a lion. Your Lan Tong is a lion too, but everyone can tell that your Lan Tong’s beast form is much larger. You should be careful.”

Yi Xian thought little of it and continued crafting her bow. “It’s fine.”

After killing a disgusting half-beast with a bow and arrow, Yi Xian understood how vital weapons were for her. Whenever she had free time, she would carve bows from tree branches. Yet no matter how carefully she made them, Lan Tong could break them with one hand. Even so, Yi Xian never gave up, much to Shi Jia and You Yu’s confusion.

Perhaps inspired by the story of Nezha pulling the dragon’s tendon, Yi Xian wondered whether fish tendons could be used instead. So when the group stopped by a river, she brought the purple yuanxiao along with a fishing net. With the creature’s help, the fish foolishly swam into her trap. Soon, excited cubs surrounded the riverside, howling and cheering.

Yi Xian shared part of the catch with the others and kept some for her experiment. Just as she focused on the fish, Shi Jia ran toward her in a panic. “Yi Xian, Yi Xian, stop! Lan is being bullied!”

Yi Xian dropped everything and sprinted off. From afar, she heard familiar cries of distress. When she arrived, she saw a large lion cub pinning Hu Xiaoqing down while the two bit at each other. Her own little one was being choked by the same fox woman Shi Jia had mentioned earlier, her limbs kicking weakly as her cries grew faint.

A surge of fury shot through Yi Xian’s chest. She had not felt this angry in a long time. She flicked her foot, grabbed several pebbles, and threw them with deadly precision at the woman’s wrists, ankles, and knees.

The fox woman screamed, her grip loosening as she collapsed to the ground. The little one rolled across the dirt, then regained her strength and lunged fiercely at the woman, biting with such ferocity that it even surpassed her earlier fight with Hu Xiaoqing.

Yi Xian quickly pulled her child into her arms, afraid she might get hurt.