Chapter 99
The lizard meat didn’t last long, and the tribe members hadn’t had meat in a long time. The two chiefs and Hua Shi’an came to an agreement: eat, eat their fill, and finish all four green iguanas in one meal.
This was the first time he had eaten meat to his heart’s content since he had transmigrated. Hua Shi’an didn’t hold back at all, devouring three bowls in a row. He had satisfied his cravings and, in a moment of carelessness, had eaten too much. His flat lower abdomen was bulging high, like a round balloon, and he couldn’t even suck it in.
“Burp!”
A loud burp escaped his throat. Hua Shi’an put down the pottery bowl with only a little soup left and licked his lips, not quite satisfied.
He was a little uncomfortable from being so full. He should get up and walk around to digest his food, but Hua Shi’an felt that it was a struggle to even get up. After trying twice and failing to stand up, he gave up and leaned lazily against a large tree, gently rubbing his belly with his palm.
It was late at night, and dinner was almost over. The sub-beasts with small appetites were basically full and went to the river in groups of three or five to wash their bowls. The beastmen with large appetites were still going, feasting with their bowls, not making a sound as they ate.
The big fellow was also conspicuous in the crowd of beastmen. Hua Shi’an scanned the area and easily found Mo Huaishan, who was sitting with Yan Qiuyu and Hong Yong.
He was eating meat in large mouthfuls with his bowl, his expression joyful and satisfied. He would occasionally turn his head to say a few words to Yan Qiuyu, a faint smile in his eyes. But from beginning to end, he didn’t even glance in Hua Shi’an’s direction.
Since he had been deliberately separated by the Great Chief last time, Mo Huaishan had not looked for Hua Shi’an again, and he had not even spoken to Hua Shi’an alone. Although the tribe had been a bit busy recently, it was not so busy that he couldn’t even squeeze in a few words, unless he didn’t want to at all.
Everything had returned to the starting point. Hua Shi’an could vaguely feel that Mo Huaishan was starting again, intentionally distancing himself from him, intentionally keeping a distance, as if he wanted to put an end to this relationship that had not officially begun.
He was not a genius, but Hua Shi’an’s mind was still quite quick. He had guessed the reason.
What Chief Mu knew, the Great Chief must also know.
It was precisely because he knew that Mo Huaishan could not have children that he was trying so hard to stop them from being together. And Mo Huaishan himself might not know about this. Hua Shi’an guessed that the Great Chief had told him the truth, and the self-conscious and sensitive beastman felt that he was not worthy of him and was deliberately distancing himself.
The matter was not complicated, but Hua Shi’an’s feelings were very complicated.
He was very tired. He had been walking forward, his steps firm as he walked towards the other. But what about the beastman? He had made up his mind to take two steps forward, but he would hesitate from time to time, and then take two steps back.
This game of chase seemed to never end. As the one who was chasing, Hua Shi’an couldn’t help but feel disheartened. Why couldn’t he be a little more firm? Even if he stood firmly in place, he would slowly walk over.
He had been the first to fall in love, the first to flirt. Hua Shi’an didn’t mind taking the initiative, but he was now beginning to doubt whether the beastman had ever been in love at all. The reason he didn’t refuse his advances was only because he was a relatively outstanding sub-beastman, a relatively good choice, so he could leave at any time.
Forget it, I can’t go on. If it’s not working, then let’s just end it here…
“Lord Priest, Lord Priest?”
A soft call interrupted his thoughts. Hua Shi’an’s eyes lifted slightly and met Chang Qing’s smiling eyes.
She had already finished eating. She was holding a stack of wet lizard skins in her hand, and a bulging coir bag in the other. It seemed she had something to talk to Hua Shi’an about. Chang Qing pointed to the empty space beside him and asked softly, “Can I sit here?”
Hua Shi’an sat up a little straighter and nodded blankly. “Of course, you can. Sit wherever you like.”
The coir bag was placed on the ground, and the lizard skins were held in her hand. Chang Qing was not in a hurry to get to the point. She sat beside him and looked at Hua Shi’an thoughtfully. After a long silence, she finally spoke softly, “Did something happen? You look a little sad.”
Is it that obvious?
Hua Shi’an shrugged and forced a not-so-good-looking smile. “I’m not sad. I was just thinking about what to do next. I’m a little worried.”
“Oh?”
Chang Qing’s interest was piqued. She got to the bottom of it. “What are you planning to do next? Is it very troublesome? Maybe I can help.”
Hua Shi’an was at a loss for words. He glanced at the camp and forced himself to squeeze out something to worry about. “Didn’t I plan to renovate the camp? I need a lot of bamboo and a lot of wood. The hunting team caught so much prey today, and their momentum is strong. I’m struggling with how to ask the Great Chief for people. I’m a little embarrassed.”
“Is that it?” Chang Qing chuckled softly. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Although I don’t know how you’re going to renovate it, this is also for the good of the tribe. You need a few people to help cut trees and bamboo, right? Are five or six people enough? I’ll go and talk to the Great Chief in a bit.”
A casual mention, and he had even solved a problem.
Hua Shi’an was not polite with her and said with a smile, “That’s enough. Then I’ll have to trouble you.”
A sub-beastman’s smile was very beautiful. His eyebrows curved, and the corners of his mouth lifted at just the right angle. In an instant, he had transformed from a cold moon in the night sky to a bright and brilliant sun in the daytime.
But his smile was very faint, and his clear eyes were dull and lifeless, as if he were being crushed by a heavy heart, and his whole person was listless.
If he were to change back to his beast form at this moment, his furry little ears would definitely be drooping.
It was rare to see him like this. The reason was not hard to guess. Chang Qing’s wrist lifted slightly, and her palm landed on Hua Shi’an’s shoulder and patted it. “Things are actually very simple. There’s always a solution if you talk about it, right? Don’t keep everything to yourself. You have to say it, say it openly.”
From her tone, it seemed she had seen something. Hua Shi’an was taken aback for a moment and started to play dumb. “What? Didn’t I just tell you?”
Chang Qing stared straight into his eyes and said with a half-smile, “That’s right. You told me, so the matter was smoothly resolved. The key is to say it. Am I wrong?”
She really saw through it. She’s encouraging me in a roundabout way.
Hua Shi’an finally understood.
The two of them looked at each other with a tacit understanding and smiled in unison.
After sitting with his back against a large tree for a while, the beastmen who had finished eating in the camp had scattered. Hua Shi’an’s bulging belly had also deflated, and sleepiness slowly came over him.
It was time to go back to sleep, but Chang Qing seemed to have something more to say. Hua Shi’an covered his mouth and let out a long yawn, looking at Chang Qing with teary eyes. “My matter is resolved, and I feel much better. What about yours?”
What had to be faced had to be faced. Chang Qing’s brow furrowed slightly, and she looked at Hua Shi’an with a complicated expression. She then reached out and handed over the wet lizard skins. “This is a complete lizard skin. The Great Chief gave it to the six of us beastmen in consideration of our hard work in smelting iron. To help me find a mate smoothly, the other five beastmen unanimously decided to give this skin to me. Now, I’m giving it to you.”
Before the bewildered Hua Shi’an could figure out the meaning, Chang Qing picked up the small coir bag at her feet and handed it to Hua Shi’an as well. “I heard you like soft things. This is the fur I’ve shed recently. Lord Priest, you… can use it to line your bed.”
She’s giving him animal skin and fur. Is she…
The confusion gradually dissipated. Hua Shi’an’s eyes instantly widened, his face filled with astonishment and shock.
Chang Qing smiled awkwardly. “That’s right. It’s just as you thought. I’m courting you. Lord Priest, please consider me. Be my mate.”
Hearing these words from Chang Qing’s mouth, Hua Shi’an’s vision went black again and again.
Although they hadn’t known each other for long, they had often worked together, and Hua Shi’an and Chang Qing were relatively familiar with each other. They usually got along like siblings. This sudden move was no less than a straight guy friend suddenly confessing.
Especially since she had just seen through Hua Shi’an’s thoughts and had even encouraged him indirectly. How could she… Hua Shi’an’s brow furrowed into a knot. He secretly pinched his thigh to believe that it was not a dream and gave Chang Qing an indescribable look. “Sister Qing, I—”
“Don’t explain. Just tell me yes or no first.”
Chang Qing uncharacteristically interrupted Hua Shi’an’s words, elbowed him lightly, and said in a low voice, “The Great Chief and Chief Mu are still behind the stove. Don’t look that way! When you answer me, be a little louder and react a little more.”
The confusion that had been lingering in his heart was suddenly resolved. Hua Shi’an also reacted quickly. He shot up, staggered back to create some distance from Chang Qing, and said righteously, “Sister Qing, I thought of you as a sister. You actually want to be my mate?”
“No, absolutely not! I don’t have that kind of feeling for you!”
Chang Qing also got into character. A trace of disbelief flashed in her eyes, and she quickly stood up and walked to Hua Shi’an. “Lord Priest, I’m sincere. Can you please reconsider? I’m strong, I can hunt, and I can forge iron. I can definitely give you a good life.”
Hua Shi’an retreated repeatedly, shaking his head like a rattle. “No, Chang Qing. You’re very good, but this kind of thing can’t be forced. We’re not suitable. We can only be friends at most!”
“Is there something I didn’t do well?” Chang Qing pressed on, her tone, which was a complete contrast to her usual gentle and kind attitude, slightly aggressive. “I can change if I didn’t do it well. Can you give me a chance? Lord Priest, I will be good to you—”
“Enough!”
Hua Shi’an’s gaze darkened, and his voice suddenly rose. “I think I’ve made it very clear. I don’t have that kind of feeling for you, not at all! Can you respect my choice? Don’t keep pestering me. If this continues, we can’t even be friends. We can only be strangers in the future!”
He didn’t even want the bowl he had left at the foot of the tree. His former friend had turned into a flood and a fierce beast. Hua Shi’an avoided Chang Qing like the plague and, after speaking, turned and left without looking back.
“Lord Priest!”
The beastman hurried after him.
As their figures disappeared into the night one after another and the sound of their footsteps gradually faded, a helpless sigh came from the half-person-high stove in the pitch-black camp.
“See, see? I told you it wouldn’t work! I don’t even know what you were thinking, to have Chang Qing go to Shi’an… sigh, what is all this!”
The stove that had risen from the ground had become a cover. The two chiefs were squatting in the stove, eavesdropping on Chang Qing and Hua Shi’an’s conversation under the cover of the night.
Chang Qing’s courtship had failed, and Chief Mu was even gloating on the side. The Great Chief was extremely depressed and scratched his head in frustration. “He rejected Hong Yong, and he rejected Chang Qing. He doesn’t even like the two most outstanding beastmen in the tribe. How did he fall for the big oaf?”
The soup had long since gone cold. Chief Mu drank it all in one go, patted the disappointed Great Chief’s shoulder, and said earnestly, “I’m older after all. I’m still good at judging people.”
“Shi’an is different from others. He is a capable and thoughtful sub-beastman himself. In other words, does he have to find an outstanding beastman to live a better life? Of course not. He can live a very good life on his own, without relying on a beastman at all.”
“So he can choose his mate as he pleases. Whether they are outstanding or not is not important. What’s important is that he likes them and is satisfied. You, you should stop meddling. If you force them apart, he won’t just find a mate to make do.”
The Great Chief did not like to hear this and said with a stern face, “What do you mean, I’m meddling? If there was nothing wrong with the big oaf, I wouldn’t bother. But he can’t let a sub-beastman have cubs! For such a smart sub-beastman as the Lord Priest not to have cubs will only be a loss for the tribe!”
“Yes, yes, you’re doing it for the good of the tribe. But what do you take Shi’an for? He’s not a three-year-old cub who doesn’t know anything. Whether or not he has cubs is not for you to decide. It’s up to him!” Chief Mu’s anger also flared up, and he roared at the Great Chief.
The Great Chief did not speak. After venting, Chief Mu also slowly calmed down. He let out a soft sigh and murmured as if to himself, “Anyone with eyes can see Shi’an’s contributions to the tribe. Without him, there would be no tribe as it is now. This is not an exaggeration at all.”
“He has done so much for the tribe, yet he doesn’t even have the right to choose his own mate and how to live his life. How heartbreaking. He’s very smart. He must be able to guess that we’re obstructing him. If this continues, I’m afraid he will come to resent us.”
Some things could not be forced. Offending the priest was definitely not the Great Chief’s intention.
After listening to Chief Mu’s words, the Great Chief also gave up. After a long silence, he finally squeezed out a few words from between his lips, “Then, what do we do now?”
“What can we do? It’s not too late to stop now. Don’t meddle, don’t be nosy. We’re already old. Let the young people deal with their own affairs. If we must do something, we should find some time to apologize to Shi’an.”
