Chapter 69
The next morning, someone arrived at Wang Jin's house.
The man stood with his hands behind his back, his expression stern, clad in animal hides yet exuding an air of authority. This man was none other than the leader of the Danmu tribe.
"Rui Grass?" Just as Wang Jin was about to step out of the house, he heard Yuan Heng's surprised voice. Wang Jin paused mid-step and retreated back inside.
[Rui (瑞): auspicious, lucky]
"Yue ger is gravely ill. That Rui Grass can cure all ailments, I want to find it to treat him," the leader said.
"You're his beastman. It's only right for you to seek medicinal herbs for him," Yuan Heng replied softly.
The leader said, "Rui Grass grows deep in the jungle and is extremely rare. Ordinary beastmen can't find it…"
As he spoke, his gaze lingered pointedly on Yuan Heng. Yuan Heng pretended not to notice the obvious hint and responded, "Send more men, and you'll eventually find it."
The leader frowned. "Rui Grass is incredibly precious. Even if you find it, it’s always guarded by fierce, spiritual beasts. Few ordinary beastmen can stand against them."
"Hmm…" Yuan Heng hummed before suggesting, "Then just bring more beastmen to help when the time comes."
"……" The leader stared at Yuan Heng in silence. Yuan Heng averted his eyes, feigning obliviousness.
The leader gritted his teeth so hard his cheeks hollowed.
"Yuan Heng!"
He seemed to squeeze the two words out from between his teeth, his face twisted in anger. "You know exactly what I mean!"
"……" Yuan Heng remained silent. The leader cut straight to the point: "I’m asking for your help."
Though he called it "help," there wasn’t the slightest hint of a plea in his tone.
Yuan Heng’s lips curled in mockery. "I can’t help with this."
The leader’s face darkened instantly, his gaze turning stormy. "Why not? You’re an ancient beastman, this wouldn’t even be difficult for you!"
Yuan Heng shrugged. "No reason. I need to stay with my ger."
"You’re glued to him every single day, isn’t that enough? How much time would finding Rui Grass even take?!" the leader snapped, his tone accusatory, as if Yuan Heng had failed in some duty. But in truth, Yuan Heng had no obligation to help in the first place.
"……" Yuan Heng’s expression soured. "Even if the time were shorter, I could still refuse. But setting that aside, this Rui Grass is a legendary herb, found only in the deepest parts of the jungle. From our tribe, it takes at least two days to get there. Round trip, that’s four days, and that’s not even counting the time spent searching. Does the leader really think that’s a short amount of time?"
The leader’s eyes flickered, but he insisted stubbornly, "It’s just four days. I’d be going with you, and Yue ger and I aren’t as clingy as you two."
Clingy?
If anything, Yuan Heng felt he didn’t have enough time alone with his ger, and now this man was calling it "clingy"?
As if remembering the ger he treasured most, Yuan Heng’s expression softened slightly. He admitted quietly, "I can’t bear to go four days without seeing my ger."
Hidden inside the house, eavesdropping, Wang Jin felt as if someone had lightly stepped on his heart, then proceeded to tap out a rapid drumbeat, sending his pulse into chaos.
"Yuan Heng!" The leader clenched his fists, glaring furiously. "Are you going or not?!"
Yuan Heng waved a hand. "No."
The leader’s glare was so intense it seemed capable of boring holes through Yuan Heng, who found the whole thing amusing. Mockingly, he asked, "Why should I go? Just because you asked for help? Is that really how you ask for favors?"
"I am the leader of the Danmu tribe!" the leader ground out.
Yuan Heng’s smirk deepened. "Leader of the Danmu tribe… Then is what you’re asking me to do related to the entire tribe?"
The leader froze.
Yuan Heng pressed bluntly, "Are you using your position to benefit your personal affairs?"
"You—!" Enraged, the leader grabbed Yuan Heng by the collar. Yuan Heng didn’t back down, his own imposing aura flaring - stronger, even, than the leader’s. His icy expression grew even colder.
Watching the two as if they were about to brawl, Wang Jin blinked in surprise.
Weren’t they supposed to be on better terms now, according to tribe rumors?
This didn’t look like "better terms" at all!
Hastily, Wang Jin pushed the door open and stepped outside.
The noise made both men turn. Seeing Wang Jin, Yuan Heng easily shoved the leader aside and walked over.
"Did we wake you up?" Yuan Heng asked softly.
Wang Jin shook his head, glancing past him at the fuming leader.
He’d heard everything. Of course, he supported Yuan Heng. Four days? He couldn’t stand four days without seeing Yuan Heng either.
Besides, the leader’s attitude was terrible. Still…
Wang Jin stepped forward and addressed the leader. "Rui Grass does cure all illnesses, but it’s a legendary herb. The tribe wouldn’t even think of searching for it unless it was a life-or-death situation. Why would the leader consider it? Did the healer suggest it? Is Yue ger’s illness incurable?"
"You lunatic! What nonsense are you spouting?!" The leader seemed particularly sensitive to this line of questioning, his eyes reddening. "Yue ger isn’t terminally ill! It’s just that the healer is too old to make house calls, and now only Xi ger can treat him. But Yue ger and Xi ger have some unresolved issues, he refuses to see Xi ger, so he thought of Rui Grass. If we can find it, he won’t need a healer at all."
"So… Yue ger was the one who told you to find Rui Grass?" Though phrased as a question, Wang Jin’s tone made it clear he already knew the answer.
Not only that, but his gaze held a trace of pity, as if the leader were some pitiable figure in his eyes.
The leader bristled at the look. "What are you trying to say?!"
Wang Jin’s eyes darted playfully between the man behind him and the leader before he said, "I’m just wondering… Doesn’t the leader find it strange? Isn’t Yue ger your ger?"
"Of course he’s my ger!" The leader’s voice dripped with possessiveness.
Wang Jin gave a faint smirk. "If he’s your ger, then why does he keep sending Brother Heng to find fruits and herbs for him? What does that make Brother Heng?"
"!" The leader stiffened, as if struck by lightning.
Thinking back, it was true... every time, it had been Yuan Heng who located the fruits… the prey…
Even if the leader had been the one to finally pick the fruit or kill the prey, it was always Yuan Heng who found them first.
It was almost as if Yuan Heng was the one serving his ger. But in the world of beastmen, a man was responsible for his own ger.
For Yuan Heng to take on that role, and for the leader to come asking for help, it was almost like tacitly allowing Yuan Heng to pursue his ger… No, worse—it was as if he were acknowledging Yuan Heng as his ger’s beastman.
The leader’s face paled, a cold sweat breaking out. His fingers trembled as he clenched them into fists.
Watching him, a sly glint flashed in Wang Jin’s eyes. He pressed on, "And think carefully, why does Yue ger always send you to find such rare things?"
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