The Strongest Beast-Tamer (Transmigration)(GL) - Chapter 3

Yi Xian had been slept with.

While she was badly injured and unable to resist, that woman had taken advantage of applying medicine to pin her to the bed. She did it once, and then again. Over and over, Yi Xian had been tossed and turned like a piece of meat. The woman was no better than a beast.

When she opened her eyes again, the only one left in the room was the little one, playing silently with the ball.

Even to someone injured like me…

Damn animal.

Yi Xian had always liked graceful, gentle women. Because of her previous profession, she had never even held hands with one of those refined types. In this life, before she even had a chance to choose, she had already been pressed down by a brute.

She was so furious she wanted to stab Lan Tong. When she sat up, the soreness in her waist reminded her of exactly what had happened the night before. Frustrated, she pounded the bed.

Startled, the little one clutched the ball and looked at her fearfully.

Yi Xian rubbed her face and forced herself to put aside all the fantasies of Lan Tong dying a hundred different ways. None were currently possible.

At certain times, Lan Tong would bring the day’s food. It was supposed to last a whole day, but really it was just one meal. Occasionally there was an extra portion, but it was always meat. After days of being forced to eat raw meat, Yi Xian felt her digestive system might soon collapse. She grabbed Lan Tong, who had just finished tidying up and was about to go hunting again.

“Take me with you.”

Lan Tong was surprised. Her expression said clearly, “If you want to die, there’s no need to do it this way.”

Yi Xian ignored her. Originally, she had planned to wait until her wounds healed before figuring out an escape. But now she clung to her identity as a victim of coercion and stood firm. “I won’t cause trouble.”

Lan Tong hesitated but eventually agreed.

They sent the child to the Kus City cub training camp. Among all the children, Little Lan was the prettiest and cleanest. It was probably her first time with other cubs. She clung pitifully to Lan Tong’s clothing with one hand, while holding the ball with the other. She looked on the verge of tears.

Lan Tong lowered her head and said, “No crying.”

Yi Xian stared. What a wild, unreasonable person. Not gentle at all.

She gave Lan Tong a contemptuous glance, then squatted down to fluff the little one’s stray hair with a smile. “Sweetheart, I’ll bring you something tasty and fun. Be good and play with your ball. We’ll be back soon.”

The child flinched but didn’t cry, likely because Lan Tong was standing beside her. That alone was progress.

Yi Xian felt that a good beginning was half the battle. It would not be long before she could hug and lift this little dumpling like a proper parent.

Lan Tong gave Yi Xian a strange look. She had never seen this woman smile so freely. Perhaps… next time she made a request, she could take her out for a walk more often?

Yi Xian followed behind Lan Tong, drawing many stares. People whispered behind their backs and pointed fingers. Yi Xian didn’t need to guess to know what they were saying.

Sure enough, as soon as they reached the gathering spot, someone called out, “Lan Tong, why did you bring her?”

Among the beastmen, Yi Xian spotted Qin Rong surrounded by several people in lively conversation. Yi Xian recognized some of them as Qin Rong’s assistants, often referred to as physician “apprentices.” Others were women who had been sold here with Yi Xian. Most of them had been assigned to beastmen as slaves, but they all seemed to support Qin Rong. As her status rose, so did their treatment and arrogance.

Beastmen gave some respect to physicians or those training to be one. In critical situations where no shaman was present, human physicians were the only option. Because of that, beastmen would often select desirable human women to breed with.

The original host had once considered learning some medical skills. At least then she wouldn’t be reduced to just spreading her legs without dignity or freedom. But she couldn’t handle the hardship and gave up after only a few days. Qin Rong’s sharp tongue didn’t help.

There were others worse off. Those of average looks who weren’t picked would be “shared” among low-ranking beastmen. Yi Xian suspected the only reason she hadn’t been passed around was because that savage female beastman still had plans to make her bear a second or even third child.

If one was shared, there was no telling who the child’s father might be. The importance of bloodlines among beastmen could be seen from the cost of the energy shields used in Kus City. One gray shield took dozens of orange crystals to make. Another possibility was that beastmen had a deeply possessive nature over what they saw as their own.

Yi Xian hoped it was the first reason.

“I’ll keep an eye on her,” Lan Tong said.

“Yes, and I think Yi Xian has been well-behaved lately. She hasn’t bullied Lan again,” Qin Rong added. “Let’s not blame her anymore. After nearly dying, I believe she won’t repeat her past mistakes. Even if you don’t trust Yi Xian, you should trust Lan Tong, right?”

After those words, the looks toward Yi Xian grew even more contemptuous. Many began to feel sorry for Lan Tong.

Lan Tong remained expressionless, as if they weren’t talking about the woman standing beside her. Yi Xian glanced at Qin Rong and noticed how often her gaze drifted toward Lan Tong. Tch, something smells like gossip.

Entering Komo Forest during the day was fine. Birds and animals chirped happily, creating a peaceful atmosphere. But at night, the temperature dropped sharply, and even beastmen avoided the place. Some had gone missing in the forest. Most were runaway slaves who had tried to escape under the cover of darkness, only to be found frozen the next day in eerie poses.

“Stay close to me.”

“Alright.”

Yi Xian looked around, quickly spotting many useful herbs. Back in the day, she had crammed countless medical classics like Compendium of Materia Medica and Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold just to play the role of a doctor while conning her targets. She might only know the basics, but that was enough to save lives in a pinch.

Lan Tong noticed too late that Yi Xian had strayed from the group.

“What are you doing?”

“This plant is useful. Let go.”

Yi Xian had felt firsthand just how wide the gap in their strength was. Maybe this body was too weak, but she refused to believe that even at her peak she would lose to this brute.

Lan Tong didn’t let go. Her grip was tight enough that Yi Xian’s slender wrist could snap with a twist. She applied pressure until Yi Xian gasped, her face turning pale, then released her. Even Lan Tong seemed surprised by her own reaction. “The forest is dangerous.”

Yi Xian rubbed her wrist, too lazy to argue with this brute. She loosened her outer garment and carefully dug out two rooted medicinal plants, wrapping them up like precious treasures.

When they rejoined the group, Yi Xian noticed everyone else had baskets filled with fruit and herbs. She regretted not bringing one.

She reminded herself not to rush things. Then she remembered promising the little one something tasty and fun. She turned to ask Lan Tong if there were any small, tame animals in the forest, but the woman had already walked ahead.

Yi Xian took the chance to continue foraging for wild greens.

“Take this.”

“Huh?”

Lan Tong had brought her a basket from who knows where. Yi Xian glanced at the waiting group and guessed what Lan Tong had gone to fetch earlier. She gratefully placed her wrapped herbs into it. “What does the little one like?”

Honestly, it was laughable. As her mother, the original host didn’t even know what the child liked.

Lan Tong shook her head.

Yi Xian gave her a sidelong glance and held her hands apart to show a rough size. “Is there a small, very gentle animal with little ability to attack?”

Lan Tong thought for a moment, then nodded. After greeting the others, she led Yi Xian down another path. Yi Xian was eager to explore. It was her first real outing.

Back where they had left, Qin Rong twisted her fingers and watched them go. “She’s not taking Lan Tong somewhere dangerous, right?”

Xu Ping said, “That black-hearted woman is probably up to something. She never says much, but she’s two-faced.”

Lin Lan added, “She even accused Lu Nan of stealing last time.”

Lu Nan murmured, “Maybe… maybe Yi Xian didn’t mean it.”

Even though she spoke softly, they were all standing close. Qin Rong and the others quickly surrounded Lu Nan, taking turns scolding her.

Meanwhile, Yi Xian felt like she was on a country trip. Her spirits were so high she almost forgot she was still injured and tried climbing trees.

“These fruits don’t taste good.”

“They are edible. Pick more.”

Yi Xian had no sense of being a slave. Hands on her hips, she directed Lan Tong as she climbed trees and shook down green fruits. Yi Xian stuffed them into the basket until it was full. “This basket is too small.”

Her taste buds desperately needed a change, but the tiny basket could only hold a few greens, a handful of herbs, and a dozen fruits.

“We need to move faster or we won’t make it back before dark.”

“Alright.”

That was easier said than done. Human stamina was nothing compared to beastmen. On top of that, this body had barely recovered. After all the running and jumping, she was quickly exhausted.

Yi Xian kept switching the basket from one hand to the other, then finally crouched on the ground, panting heavily.

Lan Tong had walked several meters ahead. Looking back, she saw Yi Xian crouched like a baby beast, panting with her tongue almost out. She looked up at the sky, then turned and walked back.

Yi Xian knew she was coming to scold her again and waved quickly. “Just let me—ah!”

The world spun.

By the time she came to her senses, she was slung over Lan Tong’s back. Everything around them blurred by. No, Lan Tong was sprinting. The trees whipped past like they were retreating.

This was Yi Xian’s first time witnessing beastman speed.

She gulped. Compared to Lan Tong, who showed no signs of strain while carrying her and the basket, Yi Xian was panting so hard her chest throbbed. This match hadn’t even started and already she had lost completely.

They soon arrived at a lake shaped like a crescent moon.

Lan Tong set her down and Yi Xian gasped in awe. She had seen many wonders before but nothing as breathtaking as this. The lake shimmered with shifting colors, like a rainbow after the rain.

“So beautiful.”

“Shh.”

Lan Tong clamped a hand over her mouth and quickly helped her into a tree. “Don’t make a sound.”

Yi Xian was confused but guessed they were trying to catch a gentle animal. She covered her mouth and watched Lan Tong with wide, blinking eyes.

Lan Tong moved up and down the trees with startling speed. Yi Xian couldn’t help but wonder if the woman’s beast form was a monkey.

But she soon had no time for silly thoughts.

As the sun hit the surface of the lake, it began to boil.

Red, blue, green, purple…

One by one, small, round, colorful heads rose from the water.