The Strongest Beast-Tamer (Transmigration)(GL) - Chapter 28

The dense forest lay beyond the city. As they passed through the city gates, the beastmen guards gave the two human women a few extra looks.

“You two humans, where are you going?”

Qin Rong had been so thoroughly threatened by Yi Xian that she did not dare lie. Her reddened eyes brimmed with tears as she gazed pleadingly at the beastman, silently begging for sympathy and hoping he would not let her leave the city.

Yi Xian stepped in for her, arrogance seeping from her every movement. She mimicked Qin Rong’s earlier tantrum in her home perfectly, as if channeling her spirit.

“The city lord gave orders before. If she wants to leave, then let her go. Why so much nonsense?”

At the mention of the city lord, the beastman’s scornful attitude shifted completely.

“You two best avoid the remote areas. It’s dangerous out there.”

Yi Xian cast him a sideways glance and pushed Qin Rong to move faster.

Qin Rong’s legs were weak, trembling with every step. She was practically being pushed along. Nearing the forest, she could no longer hold back her sobs and begged through her tears.

“Yi Xian, I’ve told you everything I know. Please, for the sake that we’re both human, let me go.”

Yi Xian looked down at her coldly and gave a mocking laugh.

“When I said we should each go our own way, you didn’t agree. Now you want mercy? Too late.”

She hated cowardly, self-serving women the most. Yi Xian slapped her cheek lightly with the flat of her dagger.

“Don’t try anything clever. Keep walking. You stop when I tell you to. You see this dagger? It can cut through iron like paper. Want to test how accurate I am? Hmm?”

Qin Rong recoiled like she had seen Death’s scythe. She shook her head frantically.

Yi Xian pressed the tip of the blade against her lower back.

“Move. Don’t look back. If you do, I’ll let this dagger fly right past your neck. Don’t dawdle. My blade hates slow people.”

Clutching her head, Qin Rong dared not glance back.

Once Qin Rong had walked a few steps ahead, Yi Xian scanned her surroundings. No one in sight. She sprang in the opposite direction, disappearing into the forest with swift and silent steps.

“Head north. They won’t expect me to go toward the beastman capital.”

You’re insane. It’s too dangerous. Are you sure about this?

“Sometimes the most dangerous place is the safest,” Yi Xian thought. Besides, she hoped to hitch a ride with a caravan and return to human territory. According to her inherited memories, she had been smuggled into this remote, godforsaken mountain via such a caravan. If she could find another human trade convoy, it would save a lot of trouble.

“I’m sure. This is the fastest way back.”

The madwoman seemed smarter now than before. She no longer argued when Yi Xian made up her mind. In fact, she had even begun offering friendly advice. Compared to when she used temptations to lure her, this version was far more tolerable.

Even so, Yi Xian disliked her. Who would ever like someone who constantly tried to manipulate them? If they were not bound together now, she would not waste a single word on her.

Beastmen have sharp noses. If they learn you’ve escaped, they’ll follow your scent.

Yi Xian had experienced that before.

“The city lord dug a pit for me on purpose. She must have gone to great lengths to get Lan Tong out of the way before making her move. I need to run faster.”

“No matter how fast you run on two legs, you’ll never outrun four. Why not practice the chant I gave you? Maybe you really do have talent. You could transform into… a small creature they can’t easily track.”

Yi Xian briefly wondered if the lunatic wanted her dead. But thinking it over, they were in the same boat now. If she died, the three conditions the madwoman wanted could never be fulfilled.

“I’ll try while I run.”

“Good.”

Yi Xian found this world fascinating. Things like the Phantom Beast Art actually existed. If humans could become animals, and animals could become humans… then wouldn’t the whole world be a chaotic mess?

But the existence of beastmen had already expanded her understanding. So one changing into another did not seem that far-fetched.

To calm herself, she began muttering the chant the madwoman had taught her. Her mind, however, was full of doubts. Like that time in Komo Forest when the white fox appeared, was that really the madwoman? Hadn’t she said her power had been scattered by an enemy? How could she have fought so fiercely then?

When practicing, you must focus. Clear your mind.

“…Alright.”

It felt like being caught passing notes in class. With no time to dwell, Yi Xian kept running. Using every bit of strength, she covered twenty or thirty kilometers. But she knew that Lan Tong could probably do that in just a few minutes.

She realized she might have just spent two to three hours doing what others could finish in twenty minutes. Even if she ran nonstop for three days, if they knew her direction, they could catch her in one.

Would they even let her run for three days?

Suddenly, she understood. Human strength was no match for beastkind. Trying to resist was like using an egg to smash a rock. She stopped abruptly.

What animal runs fast in the forest… monkeys? Gorillas?

Taking the opportunity to rest, she sat down and earnestly repeated the chant, turning it over and over in her mind. At this moment, another skill meant another chance to survive.

But the more anxious she became, the worse her focus got.

Reluctantly, she prepared to run again. Yet the moment she stepped forward, she stumbled and fell flat, kissing the ground with her face. Her nose stung and tears welled up.

Just as she was about to get up, she noticed her hands were now furry. Black fur.

Had she imagined a golden monkey while chanting or a gorilla?!

“You truly are gifted.”

“Gifted… as a gorilla?”

It was depressing. Thank goodness there was no mirror around, or she might have developed a complex.

She tried running. Remembering action movies, she grabbed a vine and leapt, hoping to swing across.

Crash.

She landed painfully, bruised and battered. But she didn’t give up. Again and again, she failed, each attempt worse than the last.

Still, she persisted, trying to learn the rhythm. Eventually, she could leap two tree gaps at once. She almost felt like she could fly with the wind.

After several more tries, she improved rapidly. It was as if she had been born a gorilla.

What a terrifying thought!

“They’re here.”

“!!!”

“Keep running. Don’t stop.”

Yi Xian’s scalp prickled. How did they catch up so fast?

“Can they still track my scent?”

The madwoman suddenly became silent. The highest mastery of the Phantom Beast Art would grant the abilities of the transformed creature, but no one had ever reached that level. After losing her spiritual power, the madwoman had not used it again.

“If you don’t escape, you die.”

Yi Xian didn’t care about scent trails anymore. She ran with all her might for dozens more kilometers, never looking back.

Unknowingly, she missed the moment when a group of snake beasts stopped where she had last transformed.

“The scent ends here.”

“How?”

“How can a human slave run this fast?”

“Something’s wrong. Split up and search.”

…

Yi Xian had no idea how far she had run. Eventually, she collapsed face-first into the dirt. Looking down, she saw her human hands again.

She touched her smooth face and neck, relieved that she had not turned into some half-beast horror.

“You’re exhausted. You need to rest.”

Sprawled out, Yi Xian lay like a starfish. She didn’t care about dirt, bugs, or even whether Lan Tong might appear any second. She was too tired. She just wanted to sleep.

But falling asleep now might mean death.

To stay awake, she forced herself to speak.

“Why can you turn into a white fox, while I’m stuck as a black gorilla?”

“That wasn’t the Phantom Beast Art.”

“…Huh?”

Now that she had successfully transformed once, Yi Xian grew curious.

“So there’s more than one kind of Phantom Beast Art? If you don’t want to say, then forget it.”

“You’re the strangest person I’ve met. Most would have forced me to hand over the chant, just like beastmen do. Few can resist its temptation.”

Yi Xian didn’t care.

“If not for survival, I wouldn’t have bothered. Using this chant feels like stepping onto a dark ship from which I can’t escape. All I want is to stay alive.”

The madwoman laughed wildly.

“You fool. In this world, just staying alive is the hardest thing of all.”

Yi Xian had already learned that firsthand.

Then the madwoman explained.

“The phantom beast I mentioned wasn’t the same as the Phantom Beast Art. When I asked if you knew what a phantom beast was, I meant something else. In the human lands, there are people who are greatly admired. They are called Beast Tamers.”

Yi Xian’s inherited memories were broken and fragmented. Sometimes she could recall details. Sometimes nothing at all. When it came to the human realm, her memories were especially lacking.

If what Qin Rong said was true, then someone had deliberately trafficked her into beastman territory, even instructing others to eliminate her along the way. The original host had died without even knowing why.

“So, that white fox was your phantom beast? You were a human Beast Tamer?”

“You could put it that way.”

Yi Xian didn’t press further. She simply asked the madwoman to talk more about the human realm when there was time. The memories in her mind were too cloudy and hopeless. But the occupations the madwoman mentioned sounded mysterious and intriguing.

“Damn it. Get up. They’re here.”

“…”

Yi Xian flipped to her feet like a startled fish. But just as she turned around, a massive snake beast loomed before her.

The creature’s body was thick and powerful. Its upright segment alone was over two meters tall. It lifted its head and looked down at her with disdain.

Yi Xian hated this feeling of being looked down on. The original host had not been short, around 1.78 meters, but among these beastmen, she felt like a delicate little bird.

“You filthy slave. You run fast. I almost thought I’d lost the trail.”

The snake beast shifted into human form. His face was vaguely familiar. Yi Xian had a good memory. She immediately recognized him as one of the twenty guards from the city lord’s mansion.

A terrible thought flashed through her mind.

I’m doomed.

Beastmen had tough skin and absurd defense. Just look at what happened when Lan Tong was injured. Yi Xian had been nearly torn apart by a single claw from a half-beast and needed half a month of rest. Lan Tong, however, had killed two of them and healed fast enough to hunt like nothing had happened.

In other words, what could nearly kill her was just a scratch to Lan Tong.

The one before her was clearly different from ordinary beastmen. He had the aura of someone who danced with death. His defense was one thing, but his attacks were probably even more lethal.

How could she possibly survive?

“You came alone?”

“To catch one runaway slave, you think we need the whole guard unit?”

“Good.”

Beastmen were usually heavy-bodied, but this snake beast did not seem to share that trait. The only tactic Yi Xian could think of was to strike at the snake’s weak point. But this snake was so long that even if she located that spot, getting close to it would be nearly impossible.

“Come back with me.”

“What happens to runaway slaves who return?”

“Their legs are broken. Hands chopped off. Thrown into the backyard.”

There must be other snake beasts waiting in the backyard to tear her apart, a fate worse than death. Yi Xian stepped toward him with a sneer.

“Then why would I go back? To die sooner?”

The snake beast hesitated. His massive hand reached toward Yi Xian’s shoulder. She ducked swiftly, twisted away, and a glint of light flashed from the dagger hidden in her sleeve. A deep gash, over ten centimeters long, split open across the beast’s abdomen.

She had struck first, catching him completely off guard.

“You wretched slave, how dare you injure me!”

“What else did you expect?”

Today’s battle would end with either her killing the snake beast or dying here in the wilderness. Either was better than being mutilated and called a filthy slave again and again.

“You want to die!”

“Not necessarily.”

Relying on her smaller frame and agile movements, Yi Xian switched the dagger between her hands fluidly, landing several cuts on the beast and retreating each time. She never fought him head-on.

Because he had underestimated her, he suffered several blows in frustration.

“You damned slave!”

The madwoman warned her.

“He’s about to transform.”

Yi Xian darted backward several meters. Before her eyes, the beast morphed into a giant snake over three meters long. Its twin lantern-like green eyes stared at her coldly.

The distance between them shrank instantly. Yi Xian darted around the trees. The snake beast slithered behind her at breakneck speed. In this form, it was several times more agile. One sweeping strike of its tail sent Yi Xian flying.

Her dagger nearly flew from her grip. Her chest heaved, bl00d threatening to rise in her throat. She forced it down.

“Quick, help me find his weak spot!”

The madwoman said, “Even if you find it, you may not be able to get close.”

Yi Xian spat out a mouthful of bl00d. The snake’s tail lashed again, bringing a gust of wind. She barely dodged. The tree that had shielded her cracked and collapsed behind her.

The difference in strength between species was painfully obvious. Her desperate slashes left mere scratches. A single hit from the tail nearly took her life. Her limbs slowed.

“Just find it.”

The snake’s weak spot was her only chance.

Lord Yin Bao shouted, “Found it! Look at me! Hurry, look at me!”

Earlier, Yi Xian had sent Lord Yin Bao to protect the cub, worried that the others might harm it. She never expected this tiny mouse to catch up to them.

Yi Xian’s focus wavered for an instant, and the cold snake body quickly coiled around her legs, then her waist, binding her tightly. She stabbed her dagger into its flesh, and a deafening roar burst in her ears.

A crushing force pressed against her abdomen. Her bones creaked, and her neck was squeezed tightly. Pain flared in her chest, as if someone had covered her mouth and nose while striking her wounds at the same time.

She almost lost consciousness.

“You must not sleep.”

“Stab him! Quickly, stab him!”

The voices screamed in her mind. Yi Xian felt a sharp pain in her thumb, and her nerves burned with a tingling ache. It had to be Lord Yin Bao biting her finger.

It landed and hid behind a tree.

Yi Xian forced her eyes open. The snake beast’s fierce eyes stared at her. Its foul tongue flicked across her face, as if judging where to begin its feast.

Fighting back her nausea, Yi Xian scanned its body. The dagger she had embedded earlier had shifted and now lay closer, but she was trapped. Any movement tightened the coils around her.

Then she saw it. The mark made by Lord Yin Bao. A purple fruit stain on the snake’s body, clear as day.

The madwoman urged, “Transform. Now.”

Yi Xian chanted the Phantom Beast Art with desperation, as if praying to a god. Maybe luck was with her. Her body suddenly felt lighter. Her vision warped. The patterns on the snake’s skin enlarged beneath her.

She hovered above it all. It took her a while to realize she had turned into a flying insect the size of a thumb.

Well, at least it was an improvement from turning into a gorilla.

The snake beast panicked. Its prey had vanished midair. The coils loosened and it frantically searched.

Yi Xian spotted the weak point. The dagger was only half a meter away. But in her tiny insect form, there was no way she could lift it, let alone stab it into the target.

Suddenly, the snake’s cold eyes locked onto her.

Had she been seen?

Fear made her forget to flap her wings. She plummeted, then flailed midair, landing right beside the dagger.

A chance!

She chanted the spell and transformed. Before the snake beast could react, she grabbed the dagger, rolled, and drove it into the marked spot.

The blade sank in completely.

In the next instant, a whip-like strike from the snake’s tail hurled her away like a falling leaf in the wind. Thunderous roars filled the air. Her ears rang with the snake’s agonized howls.

She crashed into a tree. Luckily, the branches slowed her fall. Her clothes snagged, leaving her dangling like a puppet.

She watched the snake beast’s frenzied rampage destroy everything nearby.

At last, the fury subsided. The snake lay motionless, as if dead.

Yi Xian drifted in and out of consciousness. After who knew how long, she finally coughed up the bl00d stuck in her throat and whispered weakly,

“Is he dead?”

No one answered.

Lord Yin Bao said, “This stinking snake beast is tough. Still breathing.”

There was nothing worse to hear. Yi Xian only had one breath left herself. Another strike would kill her first. Was she destined to die with this snake?

Just then, a crack sounded above.

Yi Xian’s body dropped slightly. Her scalp tingled.

“What now?”

“The branch is breaking.”

No sooner were the words spoken than she fell straight down.

Lord Yin Bao covered his eyes.

“Ouch. That looked painful.”

Yi Xian had no energy to argue. She rolled over and lay on her back. Bl00d gushed from her nose. She stared at the clouds.

Then she heard a rustling nearby. Something was crawling out of the forest.

Mantises stalk cicadas, but the oriole waits behind…

Despair filled her. If anything showed up now, she would not be able to fight.

“I’d rather die than go back. So… are you ready?”

She asked the madwoman.

But instead, a small cub’s soft howl answered.

She turned her head. A filthy little cub stumbled into view. Its once golden fur was now a patchwork of black and green. Yi Xian nearly failed to recognize it.

The cub sniffed her neck, then nuzzled against her dirt-covered body. Its wet blue eyes stared at her.

Then it heard something and dashed off.

Yi Xian was stunned for barely three seconds. She had not even begun to wonder how the cub, supposedly safe in the city lord’s mansion, had appeared here.

When she saw the direction it ran, her breath caught.

“Little Lan, come back! It’s dangerous!”

The snake beast, which had lain still, stirred at the sight of the cub. It tried to coil again.

Lord Yin Bao jumped back, frightened. He had nearly been swallowed earlier just for making a mark.

Yi Xian clung to a tree and forced herself up. The cub was playfully pawing at the snake’s body, completely unaware of the danger.

She was still several meters away. At this pace, she would never make it in time.

“Give me a bow.”

“Here, here.”

Yi Xian took a deep breath. Pain stabbed her chest.

She aimed.

Just then, the snake beast reared up, its body trembling. Its tail lashed wildly. Then it collapsed.

“Little Lan!”

A muffled howl answered.

The cub squeezed its furry head out from under the massive snake, holding a dagger in its mouth. It was the same blade Yi Xian had used to strike the weak point.

Her heart nearly stopped. She slumped to the ground.

Lord Yin Bao rushed to check the snake beast, then stood proudly on its head.

“This cub is amazing! It knew to stab again!”

Yi Xian’s face darkened. She wanted to scold the clueless thing, but she had no strength.

She took the dagger and flicked the cub’s forehead.

The cub thought she was playing. It chased her fingers, mewling like a kitten.

The madwoman said, “We can’t follow this road. We must change course.”

Yi Xian knew she was right. Once the city lord’s people realized a guard was missing, they would find this place and track her down. She would not be lucky next time.

One snake was hard enough. What about three?

That was why she had not taken the cub. With Lan Tong, the child had food, shelter, and even playmates. Maybe it would grow up to hate humans like the beastmen did, but at least it would live.

With her, death lurked around every corner.

Yi Xian’s eyes narrowed.

“I told you to check if Little Lan was safe, not to bring her to me. Don’t you know how dangerous this is?”

Lord Yin Bao shrank down and perched on the cub’s head.

“She followed on her own. The guards were careless. No one noticed.”

Yi Xian almost spat bl00d. But the only thought in her mind was that Lan Tong would surely chase them down. That beast could sense the cub’s scent and find her exact location. Perhaps it was a beastman trait.

“Trouble.”

The madwoman said, “Send her back. A human traveling with a beastman cub draws too much attention. And if that beast finds out you ran off with her, she’ll explode.”

Lord Yin Bao shouted, “You vile woman! You want her gone so you can pull something while I’m away!”

Yi Xian groaned. On one hand, the madwoman was right. Taking the cub was risky. On the other hand, if she returned it and encountered Lan Tong, escape would be impossible.

The cub did not care and rested its head on the ground, its blue eyes fixed on Yi Xian as if waiting to be fed.

Yi Xian was utterly distressed. Forget food, the only possessions she carried were a dagger and a few copper coins sewn into a pouch inside her inner clothes. There was nothing else.

The little cub stared at her with wide eyes, occasionally licking its lips with a crimson tongue. It looked utterly famished. This was exactly how it behaved whenever it was hungry.

A wave of guilt washed over Yi Xian. She felt the bitter frustration of being too poor to even provide what her own child liked to eat. Without thinking, she yanked Lord Yin Bao over and gripped him tightly.

“You brought this little one here. Until I find a safe place, you are in charge of her food and safety. If she loses a single hair, I will skin you.”

Lord Yin Bao cupped his paws together flatteringly. “You should quickly invite Lord Yin Bao to be your partner. Don’t worry about feeding or caring for this little cub. Even if you want treasure, I can get it for you. I command over ten thousand companions. Look, isn’t this the best deal?”

The madwoman interrupted just in time. “Don’t think it’s safe now. More beastmen could show up anytime, looking for that snake beast. They might already be on the way.”

Lord Yin Bao stomped in frustration and cursed her for ruining his moment. Even so, he still tossed a purple fruit to the cub, clearly growing more experienced at caring for her.

In this bickering atmosphere, Yi Xian resumed her journey. Still filled with doubt, she voiced her concern.

“Would those people in the city lord’s mansion expect me to take this path too?”

While cursing, Lord Yin Bao answered, “Those brainless fools are all brute force and no brains. They’d never expect us to choose this road. Relax.”

The madwoman also added helpfully, “Most beastmen are natural-born warriors. They can fight, but don’t like to think. To put it bluntly, they’re dumb.”

Yi Xian was half-convinced. “They set a trap and used charm magic to trick me. Is that not thinking?”

The madwoman said, “The ambush and charm spell were done by the snake tribe. They aren’t true warriors, more like substitutes. Beastmen used to reject the Snake Tribe’s identity, calling them “underground dwellers.” But things are different now. You still need to be cautious. A snake beast might chase you down this path.”

Yi Xian was speechless and picked up her pace.

The little cub, now content with the purple fruit, followed quietly. Lord Yin Bao sat proudly on her head, ordering her not to wander. The scene was reminiscent of a tyrant abusing borrowed power.

The forest at night was dangerous, yet Yi Xian still chose to press forward. Surprisingly, the cub made no fuss. As long as she had a purple fruit, everything was fine.

“Lord Yin Bao, do you have anything to mask our scent?”

“Wait a moment.”

Lord Yin Bao rummaged through its treasure pouch for a long while before pulling out a black pill that reeked horribly.

“If you swallow this, it should hide your scent for a while.”

Yi Xian stared at the pill in suspicion. “Is this poison?”

Lord Yin Bao’s whiskers trembled with anger. The mouse put its paws on its hips and shouted, “This is a rare treasure! If you don’t want it, give it back.”

Yi Xian chuckled. “You’re quite stingy.”

Still cautious about side effects, she asked again, “I plan to use it on the cub. Will there be any adverse effects?”

In a rare moment of agreement, both the madwoman and Lord Yin Bao stood in her way.

“Once the cub enters Lord Yin Bao’s domain, no beastman nose will find her. That’s why you’re the one who needs the pill the most.”

Yi Xian asked more questions and finally understood. The cub was so filthy because she had followed Lord Yin Bao through shortcuts underground and inside tree hollows.

No wonder Yi Xian had run so far but still lagged behind these two.

She downed the pill in one go, despite its unbearable stench. Listening to the pair bickering under the quiet of night and feeling the cub’s warm, fuzzy body pressed beside her, she surprisingly did not feel alone or afraid. Even though the road ahead was uncertain, she felt oddly at ease.

Since they had helped her during her escape, Yi Xian softened.

“At a time like this, let’s stop playing games. Why don’t you both tell me what you really want from me? As long as it doesn’t violate my principles, I’ll consider it.”

Their arguing fell silent.

Lord Yin Bao looked at her with tearful eyes, pressing its paws to its chest.

“Make me your partner. If you agree, I’ll serve you for life.”

The madwoman scoffed. “Even if a contract is to be signed, it won’t be with some lowly rat from underground.”

Yi Xian hurried to stop them from starting another fight.

“Are your goals the same?”

Both fell silent.

Yi Xian smiled. She had never imagined that crossing into this world would make her such a prized catch.

“When you say partner, do you mean the same as her so-called contract?”

The madwoman asked, “Do you remember what I said today about Beast Tamers?”

Yi Xian blinked. “So your goals are related to Beast Tamers? But I’m just an ordinary human. I doubt I can help you.”

Lord Yin Bao cried out in protest. “How can you be ordinary? You made my lucky charm light up, and you even hit me. See? You have my lucky charm now!”

Lucky charm?

Yi Xian thought bitterly, “Since I arrived in this place, all I’ve had is bad luck.”

The madwoman explained. A Beast Tamer controlled phantom beasts. They formed contracts and could command them in battle. Beast Tamers also had ranks. After hearing the explanation, Yi Xian realized it was like a profession from her previous world. Only certain people could do it, and it had levels like job titles. The clearer she understood it, the more she grasped the ranking system.

“But I’m not a Beast Tamer.”

“You are.”

For once, both voices agreed.

Yi Xian sighed. She herself did not know, yet these two insisted? She compromised.

“Then tell me. What exactly do you want from me?”

The madwoman answered, “Each Beast Tamer can have only one life-bound phantom beast. Once the contract is signed, you live and die together. That’s what we want.”

What the—

What the—

What the—

Yi Xian was stunned. These two little schemers were fighting over one slot. No, wait. It was not just about a slot. It was about life and death.

Would you be willing to live and die with someone you hated?

Would you be willing to tie your fate to a silver mouse?

Yi Xian said nothing for a long time, then calmly asked, “So a Beast Tamer can only have one phantom beast for life? If that beast dies, the tamer dies too?”

The madwoman nodded. “That’s what life-bound means. A Beast Tamer can have many phantom beasts, but only one is life-bound. The rest are like master and servant.”

Yi Xian finally understood. They were both gunning for the best spot. No wonder they kept sabotaging each other.

If it were just a small favor, she might have considered it.

But this whole life-bound thing…

She decided to shelve it for now.

She said nothing more. The other two did not dare push her either. They feared she might pick the other one if they said too much. Neither realized she did not want to pick either of them.

Her mind was consumed by thoughts of this strange profession.

After resting briefly, she woke up and felt disoriented.

“Did I take the wrong path last night? I remember heading east.”

The madwoman replied, “We’ll keep moving. If it’s the wrong way, we’ll figure something out.”

Yi Xian walked for several more days, still unsure where she was. Thankfully, after taking the pill, no beastmen had come after them. She finally got a moment to breathe.

In the distance, she spotted a city that looked far grander than Guata City. Yi Xian hesitated, unsure whether to approach. Since Lord Yin Bao had taken the cub for a bath, she decided to wait. Just then, several beastmen suddenly burst from the forest.

“We actually caught a human slave. Just what we needed. Take her.”

…

Yi Xian glanced at them. One, two, three, four, five. Five beastmen. She followed them quietly.

Then they all took a step back.

“Ugh, she reeks.”

Yi Xian had not bathed in days. Her face was so filthy that her features could barely be seen. Even she disliked her own stench. Remembering how sensitive beastman noses were, she laughed silently and deliberately moved closer to one. That beastman immediately recoiled in disgust.

She was not even escorted into the city. Instead, she was locked in a massive cage outside the city gate. Inside the cage were other humans like her. Their faces were pale, their bodies thin, and their eyes lifeless. Even when she was shoved inside, they only glanced at her before looking away. Some backed away because of her smell, but the cage was too full to give anyone space. The rest just looked numb, as if used to this.

Yi Xian had no idea what these people were being gathered for, but it could not be anything good.

She had never seen this many humans in Guata or Kus City. Shi Jia once told her that slaves were usually divided into two kinds, the useful and the useless. The useful ones were sent from the main city to others, such as Kus, which received only the leftovers. Yi Xian’s original body had been picked up by Lan Tong halfway through a transfer.

As for the useless ones… Shi Jia had hesitated, looking grim, and never finished her sentence.

Yi Xian had not waited long. Just as she was dozing off against another human’s shoulder, a loud voice jolted her awake.

“Put shackles on each one. Tag them. Let’s see which young warriors perform best. The one who collects the most tags will receive Lord Huang’s reward.”

Yi Xian looked toward the voice. A beastman over two meters tall stood there. Beside him lounged another figure in a chair, looking completely at ease. He had golden hair and dark eyes that sparkled with amusement.

Very soon, shackles were placed on Yi Xian as well. They looked more refined than the ones in Kus City. The beastman who put them on her nearly passed out from the smell. After slapping a tag on her, he hurried away.

Once everyone in the cage was tagged, a group of smaller beastmen appeared. They were shorter and looked to be about thirteen or fourteen years old. Each of them was full of energy. These were the “young warriors” the voice had mentioned.

The loud beastman announced the rules. “Next is the hunting session. These kids are the hunters. You are the prey. You have the time of one incense stick to escape. If you survive for a full day and night, you can leave.”

Nonsense!

Yi Xian had been half-asleep. Now she was furious. Humans could never match beastmen in strength or stamina. Even with more time, few would escape. And even if they did, where could they run?

These beastmen were clearly toying with them!