Chapter 95
"You..." Qin Xi glared at Cheng Bai, opening his mouth to speak.
Cheng Bai quickly interrupted him: "Hey, you'd better watch your words. I'm not known for my patience. If you say something that displeases me, I might just walk away and stop treating you all. Then you’ll have to rely entirely on that exhausted Xi ger over there, who looks like he’s about to collapse."
With that, Cheng Bai let out a laugh, his striking features becoming even more dazzling with that smile. A faint trace of mockery flashed in his silver eyes: "If Xi ger collapses, your Danmu tribe will be left without a healer."
At a time when everyone was at a loss, Cheng Bai’s laughter seemed almost gleeful, and the disdain in his eyes provoked everyone present.
"You Celestial Fox tribesman!" Qin Xi clenched his fists in fury, about to lunge at him, but Brother Hua stopped him.
"A-Xi, calm down."
Qin Ya also stepped forward, shielding Cheng Bai.
Though the man’s arrogant attitude was irritating, the fact remained that he had helped the Danmu tribe.
As Qin Xi’s second brother, Qin Ya scolded him: "A-Xi, Cheng Bai isn’t from our tribe. He owes us nothing—instead, he’s treated our injuries without asking for anything in return. He’s our tribe’s benefactor. You can’t treat him like this!"
Qin Xi’s face twisted with resentment, as if he hadn’t taken the words to heart. Cheng Bai, however, nodded in agreement, as if approving of Qin Ya’s words.
Suddenly, Cheng Bai seemed to notice something behind the crowd. He paused slightly and stood up.
The others followed his gaze and turned around, only to see Yuan Heng standing not far away. It was unclear how long he had been there or whether he had heard the earlier argument.
The group stiffened, their expressions awkward.
Qin Xi immediately shrank back, his face paling as he called out guiltily: "Brother... Brother Heng."
Yuan Heng ignored him, his eyes sweeping over the injured and disheveled group in the courtyard.
A faint glimmer passed through his light-colored glass-like pupils—so subtle that one could easily miss it.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for Yuan Heng to speak.
But the man merely glanced around indifferently, silently stepping past the crowd and walking away...
The group was stunned. Qin Xi, snapping out of it, exploded in anger.
"Look at that! What kind of person is he? Forget about those trapped in the beast horde—we’re the ones who stayed behind for his sake! Now that we’re injured, he just pretends not to see it!"
"...Exactly... Brother Heng seems different now..."
Listening to the murmurs of discontent, Xiao Ruo bit his lip and turned to follow the departing man.
"Brother Heng!" Xiao Ruo called out.
The man stopped, waiting for him to catch up.
"Brother Heng, everyone needs you... I..."
"You could have handled this situation. Why did you do nothing?" Before Xiao Ruo could finish, Yuan Heng’s low voice cut in like shards of ice piercing his heart.
Xiao Ruo froze, his entire body turning cold, his lips even losing color: "I..."
Yuan Heng’s calm, light-colored eyes rested on Xiao Ruo, as if waiting for a reasonable explanation. But after stammering for a moment, Xiao Ruo couldn’t get a single word out.
Yuan Heng looked away, his attention instantly shifting from Xiao Ruo...
Xiao Ruo stared at the man, who had turned, offering only a profile—as if someone like him wasn’t even worthy of a proper conversation.
A pang of bitterness struck Xiao Ruo’s heart, and he finally gritted his teeth and spoke: "Brother Heng, they’re elders. I couldn’t—and shouldn’t—go against their wishes..."
"And the result?" Yuan Heng interrupted again, his voice cold.
Though his tone remained steady, there was an undercurrent of disapproval, and his brows furrowed slightly.
Xiao Ruo’s heart sank, a flood of guilt and regret overwhelming him.
Deep down, he had known that following the elders’ lead would end in failure, yet he had stayed silent, clinging to the slim hope of success... Now, everyone was injured, and the mission had been a complete disaster...
He shouldn’t have stayed silent...
Xiao Ruo clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white, his expression full of remorse, as if he wished he could turn back time and fix his mistake. Seeing this, Yuan Heng’s frown eased slightly.
"You’re the leader. A leader’s duty isn’t about deferring to elders—it’s about doing everything in your power to protect every member of the tribe," Yuan Heng said.
His deep voice carried an undeniable strength that resonated through Xiao Ruo’s entire being, filling him with determination.
He lifted his head, but the man had already turned away: "I’m going to gather herbs for the little ger. Handle the tribe’s affairs as you see fit."
Hearing those words again, Xiao Ruo detected a different meaning in Yuan Heng’s tone compared to yesterday.
The man believed in him—more than anyone else—trusting him completely to resolve this matter.
And to ensure that, Yuan Heng had even allowed himself to be misunderstood as cold and heartless...
Xiao Ruo’s grip tightened, his gaze fixed on the man’s retreating figure with unwavering resolve.
He would not let him down!
Xiao Ruo turned and strode back toward the courtyard, his entire demeanor shifting in an instant—no longer the passive, immature young man who had always relied on the tribe’s adult beastmen for protection...
Cheng Bai, watching from the shadows, stared at the departing man with growing hostility.
After witnessing this spectacle, Cheng Bai became increasingly convinced that his little treasure had found himself a formidable rival.
If this man truly took over the Danmu tribe and replaced its leader, his ambitions would be unmistakable—someone as shrewd as Lord Xi Ning of Ning’an City would see right through him...
And with great ambition came instability—certainly not the peaceful life his precious little brother deserved.
If the man had listened to the tribe’s pleas and gone out of his way to save his own enemies, that would have shown he was too soft-hearted, too honest... Such a man would often sacrifice himself and those close to him for others... and still fail to bring happiness to his little treasure.
Yet, this man had neither crossed Cheng Bai’s bottom line by rescuing his foes nor seized power in the Danmu tribe out of ambition. Instead, he had nurtured a new leader, positioning himself as the power behind the scenes.
All the while, he had been tirelessly doting on his little treasure, spoiling him rotten...
Such tactics... Cheng Bai silently clenched his fist.
He turned away, bypassing the Danmu beastmen huddled in discussion, and headed straight for Wang Jin’s room.
____
Inside Wang Jin’s room.
Mu ger handed Qi ger a piece of pastry, while Wang Jin quickly poured him a cup of water.
Qi ger accepted it with a faint smile but seemed to have no appetite, carefully setting the pastry aside.
Mu ger and Wang Jin exchanged a glance. Mu ger said, "Uncle Qi, have a bite. This is a new pastry Brother Heng made—it’s delicious."
"Yeah, Brother Heng’s skills have improved. It’s even better than last night’s," Wang Jin added.
Qi ger shook his head, sipping the water instead. "This is a delicacy made by a beastman for his own ger. How can you offer it to others?"
Wang Jin pouted. "Uncle Qi and A-Mu aren’t outsiders. A-Mu has always been so good to me, and as for Uncle Qi... Brother Heng told me he often ate the late leader’s roasted meat and was cared for by you. Now it’s only right that he looks after you in return."
Qi ger’s expression softened slightly, a hint of vitality returning to his weary face. "If only my son had half of Heng’s cleverness..."
Wang Jin fell silent at that.
Mu ger quickly reassured him: "Uncle Qi, don’t worry. Those are matters for the beastmen to handle."
Qi ger sighed, his aged voice carrying a tone of resignation. "Yes, fortune or misfortune—none can be avoided. My son’s fate is in the heavens’ hands now..."
"More like in the hands of that ancient beastman," Cheng Bai interjected, strolling in as if stirring the pot.
Wang Jin shot him a glare, but Cheng Bai shrugged and said to Qi ger, "I’m not wrong. If that ancient beastman were willing to save your son, he’d live. Better to rely on him than on fate... Except, of course, if the beastman refuses to help. Then you’re left with only the heavens..."
Pausing, Cheng Bai narrowed his fox-like eyes and leaned toward Wang Jin. "Right, little treasure?"
Wang Jin froze, the realization of this man’s intentions from last night flashing in his mind...
Startled, he quickly retreated several steps, putting a safe distance between them, his eyes even avoiding Cheng Bai’s gaze. Cheng Bai blinked, baffled.
Wang Jin glanced at Qi ger, whose face had gone deathly pale. His lips trembled as if he wanted to refute Cheng Bai’s words, but in the end, he said nothing, silently closing his mouth as if he had aged another few years.
"..." Wang Jin’s heart ached at the sight. Though this ger’s family—the leader and Yue ger—had repeatedly tried to harm him, Qi ger himself had done nothing wrong. And now, Wang Jin had even dragged his Yu ger into trouble...
Qi ger shakily rose to his feet, his lips quivering. "Jin ger, since you have guests, I’ll return to my room now."
Mu ger quickly stood to support him. "Let me take you back."
Qi ger nodded, his aged frame radiating exhaustion.
Once robust, his health had deteriorated rapidly in recent times, leaving him so weak he could barely walk steadily.
Wang Jin’s dark eyes filled with deep sympathy. He took a few steps forward but then stopped, watching Qi ger’s retreating figure. After a moment of hesitation, he finally called out:
"Uncle Qi, don’t worry. Brother Heng isn’t a cold-hearted person. He owes the late leader a debt of gratitude—he won’t let his bloodline end like this."
"..." Qi ger’s steps faltered slightly, but he merely waved a hand, as if he didn’t quite believe the words.
Wang Jin opened his mouth to say more but ultimately sighed and sat back down.
His soft, delicate voice carried absolute conviction, as if he had complete faith in the man. Looking closer at the little treasure’s expression, his determined gaze held a trace of protectiveness—as if he couldn’t bear for Qi ger to misunderstand Yuan Heng.
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