The other basket was distributed by Wu Yue to the slaves. Fires were lit in their homes for the first time, but unlike the dwellings of the Pure Human males, it was exceptionally quiet here.

The ones who dared to interact with Wu Yue were all former members of smaller tribes. They lit a fire together and tossed the rain-soaked taro into the flames, waiting until the tubers began to release a tempting aroma.

The warmth in their hands rekindled the slaves’ spirits, which had grown numb from their labor. They sniffed in disbelief. ’How long has it been? This is the first time I’ve smelled any food other than grass balls.’

Unbeknownst to Wu Yue, the way these slaves looked at her began to change. Their gazes now held a genuine warmth.

Meanwhile, in the Black Wolf Tribe’s territory, deep inside a Salt Crystal Stone cavern, Yuan Lang stared at the miserably wailing, deep-blue furball in his arms, feeling utterly exasperated.

’What species is this thing? How can it wail so much?’

’From the moment I picked it up, this thing has been wailing its head off nonstop.’

Seeing his leader’s miserable expression, Teng Qian gloated from the sidelines. "Leader, the little fella obviously doesn’t want to leave this place. Why insist on taking it with you? It’s a living creature, after all."

With that, he looked at the little furball still wailing away in Yuan Lang’s arms. "Am I right?"

"AWOO!"

Teng Qian looked at the small furball in astonishment. "Did you see that, Leader? The little fella just responded to me."

Yuan Lang: "..."

’Do you take me for a complete idiot?’

"This little thing has been doing nothing but wailing. Forget your last question; if you asked it right now if it eats shit, its answer would still be ’AWOO’!"

Teng Qian gave his leader a constipated look, then actually bent down to face the little furball, its paws flailing in all directions. "Do you eat shit?"

But then, something astonishing happened. Although the little furball was still struggling, it didn’t make its affirmative "AWOO" sound.

Yuan Lang: "..."

Teng Qian: "..."

’So what in the world *was* this thing?’

The small, deep-blue furball had a head the size of a Beastman’s fist. Its round, glittering eyes stared at the two Beastman Warriors, but it refused to make a sound.

’Hah. Do you take me for an idiot? You’re the ones who eat shit.’

Licking its soft pink paw pads, the Salt Crystal Beast decided that these foolish Beastman Warriors weren’t worthy of a conversation.

But when it was finally hoisted up by the scruff of its neck and carried, dangling and swaying, far away from its food stash, the little furball finally shed tears of regret.

’Dammit! I shouldn’t have eaten so much! Don’t think for a second I didn’t notice—when that Beastman Warrior was picking and choosing, he was looking for the fattest one!’

Captured and physically manhandled—the little furball was completely crestfallen.

Teng Qian followed behind, carrying a large bag of Salt Crystal Stone. He watched the little creature’s furry head hang low, its fluffy body swaying back and forth with Yuan Lang’s every step. He was practically bursting with laughter on the inside.

’Serves you right for being so smug. Showing off how smart you were just a moment ago... and what happens? The price of being clever is getting caught.’

’It’s much better to be a little dumb, like me. At least you live longer. Come to think of it, that’s actually kind of motivational.’

The little furball up ahead seemed to sense Teng Qian’s smugness from behind. It stretched out its two front paws, fanning them out like a blooming flower.

But Teng Qian, who had excellent eyesight, saw it clearly: the middle claw on the critter’s left paw was extended.