The Strongest Beast-Tamer (Transmigration)(GL) - Chapter 24

People had said before that Qin Rong used the antidote to threaten others. Then she was punished severely by Lord Lu and eventually gave up the antidote. In the end, the beastmen heartlessly threw her into Komo Forest.

A day or two later, the beastmen who had entered Komo Forest found a bloodied garment and a few scattered bones at the original site. Rumors quickly spread that Qin Rong had died a terrible death, her body torn apart.

Yi Xian looked at the smiling woman in front of her and suddenly wanted all those gossiping mouths to come see for themselves who this woman, alive and full of life, truly was.

Qin Rong had completely shed the contempt she once held toward her. She leaned her entire body into the arms of a tall, strong beastman, her lips curled in amusement. “I never imagined that the person they were talking about was you.”

Yi Xian pulled herself out of the shock of seeing someone, once rumored dead, alive again. She cursed herself for being too startled. If I could survive in Komo Forest, maybe Qin Rong also had a crazy woman in her head helping her out.

“What do you want to eat? It’s on me,” Yi Xian said with bravado. If it’s a battle of airs and appearances, I can play too.

“Forget eating. I’m just curious what kind of human would do that in Guata City.” Qin Rong rested most of her weight against the beastman, looking boneless and smug.

Yi Xian thought she looked just like a white lotus flower. If the two of them were placed side by side, they could pass as plastic best friends. She smiled sweetly and offered a mock blessing. “Seeing how well you’re doing now, you should really thank our dear—well, since Lan Tong didn’t respond to you, you managed to find such a fine partner. That’s why people should stop staring into others’ bowls. Otherwise, you won’t even know what you’re eating.”

Qin Rong’s smile froze on her face. Huffing in anger, she dragged the beastman beside her and stormed off.

As soon as they left, Yi Xian’s smile also faded. That day, while wandering the city, she had felt like someone was watching her. At the time, she thought she was imagining it. After all, she had only just arrived in Guata City. Anyone she might have offended was either dead or still in Kus City. Those people were no longer a threat.

But now that she had seen Qin Rong, that creeping sensation of being watched finally made sense.

This woman was up to no good.

That night, Yi Xian shared the news of Qin Rong’s survival with Lan Tong. “She seems to have found a powerful beastman to rely on now. Back then, she begged you to let her stay in Kus City. You refused, and I accidentally exposed her tricks. Maybe she hates us both deeply now.”

When a woman is in love, she will do foolish things. But when a woman is full of hatred, her revenge knows no bounds.

Yi Xian wondered whether Qin Rong hated her more, or Lan Tong more. It was hard to tell. “Why don’t you try winning her back?”

Lan Tong tilted her head. “Win who back?”

Yi Xian replied, “She always liked you. If you go try to win her over now, maybe she will—ah?”

That night, Yi Xian was too exhausted to think about threats. She had been thoroughly drained and had even forgotten about that lurking danger. But sometimes, trouble had a way of finding you regardless.

Business was doing well. Yi Xian brought in Shi Jia and You Yu to help. She promised to split the copper coins equally among the three of them. To be fair, suppliers were rotated among three parties instead of relying solely on Lan Tong.

At least, with everything going on, someone would always be around to keep an eye on the cubs.

But leaving a child in someone else’s care was always a risky move. Yi Xian let her guard down too soon. By the time she realized the little one had vanished, her mind went blank.

The cub was still tiny, like a pet. It could not speak or call for help. What if… Yi Xian pushed away those dark thoughts, trying hard to stay calm. Even You Yu, who had been watching the child, was frightened by the terrifying look on her face and apologized repeatedly.

Yi Xian took several deep breaths before she asked for details. Then she rushed to the arena to find Lan Tong. She remembered that beastmen had incredibly sharp senses, especially those with bl00d ties. Perhaps they had a better chance of locating the cub.

While Yi Xian was anxious and worried, Lan Tong was surprisingly calm. Upon hearing that the cub had gone missing, she casually said goodbye to a few other beastmen before leaving. “Don’t worry. Maybe the little one just ran off to play somewhere.”

Yi Xian’s head spun with conspiracy theories. She had just run into Qin Rong days ago. Could this be her doing? Maybe Qin Rong lost her mind and… But she quickly tossed that idea aside. Qin Rong wouldn’t dare provoke a beastman’s fury. And after surviving death once, she should treasure her life more. Unless she’s an utter fool.

“Maybe.”

Looking at Lan Tong’s composed expression, Yi Xian’s panicked heart began to settle. Maybe it really was like Lan Tong said. The little one just got distracted and wandered off. Like that other time, when it suddenly dashed away and almost got lost.

Yi Xian came to a sudden halt. Lan Tong gave her a puzzled look, sniffed the air, and said, “The scent is strong around here. It’s right here.”

With Lan Tong’s dog-like nose, they quickly found the little one nestled inside a hole just big enough for its body. Its tiny tail was still sticking out, wagging gently from side to side.

Lan Tong looked completely unfazed. Yi Xian didn’t know whether to laugh or get angry. She walked forward and silently grabbed the little one by its hind legs, pulling it out.

Along with the cub came a round purple fluff ball.

The little one clutched the orb tightly, letting out affectionate cries. It sounded as though it had just found a long-lost treasure. Yi Xian gave the Purple Yuanxiao a jealous glance.

Lan Tong looked surprised. “Has this orb awakened its spirit?”

Yi Xian didn’t look at her. “We’ll have to tie it up with a leash next time.”

The missing cub incident came to an end. Yi Xian no longer trusted anyone else to watch over the little one. Only Lan Tong would be allowed from now on.

Fortunately, the cub training camp was about to begin.

Hu Xiaoqing, that little fox, had nearly recovered. He often dropped by Yi Xian’s place to play with the cub. The two little ones, who had once been enemies, had now become friends. Sometimes, Hu Xiaoqing would even teach the cub hunting tricks he had learned from his beastman parent.

But Yi Xian noticed that the cub used those tricks entirely on the Purple Yuanxiao. One chased while the other ran. If the orb got caught, it would obediently freeze in place, allowing the cub to pounce and pin it down.

One day, Yi Xian overheard Shi Jia and You Yu whispering about missing grilled meat or dried fish. She started keeping an eye on the small hiding holes around the house.

That day, while pulling up a radish, she saw a flash of silver dart past.

She refused to believe that the missing cub had nothing to do with that silver-furred mouse. As for the strange disappearances and reappearances of the Purple Yuanxiao, she remained suspicious.

They had been sneaking around behind her back all along. They nearly led the cub astray.

Fine then. Just wait until I catch that rotten mouse!