However, the tribespeople who had initially thought this was a punishment for the Iron Claw Worms gradually began to think otherwise.

It wasn’t that they no longer wanted revenge; the aroma wafting from the stone pot was simply too intoxicating.

The Beastmen and Half beastmen had the strongest reaction. They gathered in clusters around the four stone pots, staring at the Iron Claw Worms, which had turned from black to a bright red. They were practically drooling rivers.

Even the Clan Leader and the witch, who were sitting on their grass mats eating roasted meat, couldn’t help but fix their gazes on the scene.

They both swallowed hard and exchanged a look. A bold idea suddenly surfaced in their minds, and a matching flicker of excitement appeared in their eyes.

By now, Wu Yue had the slaves bring over the chickens they had been raising. Thanks to the care of the young slaves, the chickens were much plumper than when they had been free-range. Each one was satisfyingly chubby.

When they walked, the most eye-catching thing was their waddling, plump bottoms.

Wu Yue lifted one of the cooked Iron Claw Worms out by its vine bindings. After placing it on a large leaf to the side, she simply snapped off one of its pincers.

To the tribe’s surprise, the same pincer that could snap a grown male’s finger was now easily broken off with a light twist by a young female.

As Wu Yue snapped the joint, she gave a little tug, and a piece of snow-white meat was revealed to everyone in the cave. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

The moment the white meat was pulled free, the aroma they had smelled earlier grew even richer.

Even the chickens, which had been pecking for food just moments before, were drawn over by the scent. They crowded around Wu Yue’s feet, CLUCKING incessantly.

Wu Yue chuckled and placed the piece of snow-white meat, about the length of her palm, on the ground. The chicken, which had until then retained a shred of composure, instantly went wild, frantically pecking at the meat.

It CLUCKED as it ate, as if thoroughly satisfied with this delicacy.

After quickly finishing it off, the chicken clucked a few more times. When it was ignored, its little black-bean eyes shot its stingy master a resentful look before it took sad little steps to go find grass seeds elsewhere.

Seeing the chicken still hopping about energetically after eating the Iron Claw Worm meat, the eyes of the surrounding tribespeople instantly lit up like the stars in the sky.

’So Wuyue didn’t cook the Iron Claw Worms just to punish them. She was showing us that they’re edible?’

The Angry Beast glanced at the members of the Snow Tiger Tribe, who were still dazed with ecstatic disbelief. He stealthily got up and sidled over to Wu Yue.

Rubbing his hands together with a look of feigned martyrdom, he said, "Why don’t you let me test this... this Iron Claw Worm meat? I’ve already been hit with your poison powder anyway, so it won’t make a difference.

"The Snow Tiger Tribe has given us so much delicious food. It’s about time I contributed something in return."

Faced with the beastman’s clumsy acting, Wu Yue nearly burst out laughing.

’But with a willing test subject presenting himself like this, it would be a waste not to use him.’

Playing along, she handed the rest of the Iron Claw Worm to the Angry Beast, even kindly instructing him on the proper way to eat it.

By the time the Iron Claw Worm in the Angry Beast’s hands had been turned into pieces of tender white meat and devoured, the surrounding tribespeople finally snapped out of their ecstatic daze over discovering a new food source.

The Angry Beast, meanwhile, had already reached his unruly claws toward the last remaining Iron Claw Worm in that first stone pot, snatching it up and making a run for it.

Staring at the empty stone pot, the surrounding Beastman Warriors exchanged glances, bared their teeth in "friendly" smiles, and then swarmed forward in a single mob.

In the blink of an eye, the freshly cooked Iron Claw Worms vanished, leaving only their unique aroma lingering in the large cave.

Perhaps as a comfort for getting his finger pinched earlier, the little cub was now holding a piece of tender white Iron Claw Worm meat, eating it with great relish.

"Om nom, dis meat ish sho good!"

The little cub’s Amu saw him puffing out his cheeks, trying to speak with his mouth full, and couldn’t help but smile and tap his little nose. "Lady Wu Yue was the one who taught us about this delicious food. When you grow up, you have to become a very strong male so you can protect her, okay?"

The little cub tore off a piece of the tender white meat and stuffed it into his Amu’s mouth. "Protect Lady Wu Yue."

With the beastmen leading the charge, the Iron Claw Worms by the pool were no longer terrifying creatures.