Chu Liangyu’s expression was grim as well. ’If it weren’t for Xiong Jiaojiao...’
After Cheng Miao shoved her, his strength gave out completely, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.
Chu Liangyu watched with cold eyes, having no intention of helping him up.
Feng Qiwu kicked him in the waist, scoffed, and said mockingly, "Is that all you’ve got? What’s with the attitude?"
’Chu Liangyu had wanted to say the same thing. Hearing Feng Qiwu say it was just as satisfying!’
Cheng Miao’s glare was like that of a wolf pup, filled with a savage ferocity.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Did I murder your whole family or something?"
"Heh, you should ask yourself that."
Chu Liangyu took a step forward and squatted down. "Make yourself clear. What do you mean, ’ask myself’?"
"It’s all because of you. My grandfather and several Elders are either dead or captured."
The grief in Cheng Miao’s eyes startled Chu Liangyu. ’But what does this have to do with me?’
"I’ve been here ever since I got back. I haven’t gone back once. What does any of this have to do with me?"
"They sprinkled tracking powder on you and followed you to the Holy Tree."
’Hearing his words, the saying "I did not kill Boren, yet Boren died because of me" suddenly surfaced in Chu Liangyu’s mind.’
’But so what? Even if it hadn’t been me, wouldn’t he have been targeted by someone else eventually?’
’She wasn’t magnanimous enough to take the blame, and no one could force her to.’
"Bullshit! You couldn’t beat them yourself, so now you’re blaming the Female Master."
"If you ask me, you were probably targeted a long time ago. It’s just a coincidence that the Female Master is the one taking the fall."
"I can guess what you’re thinking. Don’t think for a second that we’re going to help you save your clansmen just because of this!"
Feng Qiwu’s rapid-fire tirade made Cheng Miao flush red. His fierce gaze faltered, and he lowered his eyes, falling silent.
Feng Qiwu’s words made Chu Liangyu instantly understand Cheng Miao’s intention.
’I didn’t expect Cheng Miao to be so calculating, trying to exploit my guilt. He... he really is a piece of work.’
"I... I wasn’t!"
"I don’t care whether you were or not. Based on your attitude just now, I won’t help you," Chu Liangyu said, not arguing but simply stating her position.
Suddenly, the sound of light footsteps came from behind the door.
Chu Liangyu turned and met Xiong Jiaojiao’s small, pale face, which looked both guilty and sickly.
She gave Chu Liangyu an ingratiating smile and explained, "I’m sorry, Sister Liangyu. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop."
"Do you think I did this?"
"I’ve been with you the whole time, Sister Liangyu. I know you couldn’t have done it." Xiong Jiaojiao clenched her fists, her tone firm. "If anyone’s to blame, it’s the real culprits who hurt my people."
’Now that Xiong Jiaojiao knows about this, will she ask me for help?’
Chu Liangyu looked at her, waiting quietly.
Swallowing hard, Xiong Jiaojiao glanced at Cheng Miao and pleaded, "Cheng Miao really was too extreme. I’ll make him apologize to you, Sister Liangyu. Sister Liangyu... can you let him stay here to recover?"
Chu Liangyu raised an eyebrow, surprised by her request. She glanced at Xiong Jiaojiao’s still-weak body and asked, "If he stays, who will take care of him?"
"I will. I can do it."
Chu Liangyu was always generous to those she approved of, as long as their requests weren’t outrageous.
"Alright."
"Then you should get some rest. I’ll go find something to help you recover faster."
Glancing at the pitiful sight of the two supporting each other, Chu Liangyu instructed, "The hunting party will be back soon. You two should stay put."
The two of them were like Tang Seng’s flesh right now, broadcasting a signal to everyone to ’come and eat me.’ Lying low was the safest option.
"I know. Don’t worry, Sister Liangyu."
Given Feng Qiwu’s earlier attitude, even if Chu Liangyu wanted him to, there was no way he would agree to stay behind and protect the pair, so Chu Liangyu didn’t waste her breath asking.
Although she had said that a little delay was fine, those were just words.
If they couldn’t find a new tribal settlement soon, winter would arrive. At that point, they would have to put the plan on hold again. Just thinking about it made Chu Liangyu anxious.
She had a feeling that she was running out of time to build her power. ’It looks like my only option for now is to go to the Black Market and see if there’s anything useful.’
In Ten Thousand Beasts City, another kind of trade took place in the shadows. You could find anything there, but there was one rule: you couldn’t ask about an item’s origin.
This meant that while you could acquire things, you also took on a certain amount of risk.
Back when she was bound to the Childbirth System, Chu Liangyu had visited a Black Market once to find one of her Beast Husbands.
The locations were different, but the method of entry was more or less the same.
Chu Liangyu handed the black wooden token she had obtained to a man with a small black snake draped around his neck and said, "Take me inside."
The man examined the wooden token carefully, then without a word, began to lead the way.
"How did you know about this place, Female Master?"
’The Black Market...’ Feng Qiwu thought. ’I’ve only heard of it, but I’ve never actually been inside.’
’You can’t get an entry Token for a place like this without some serious means.’
’Ordinary Beastmen have never even heard of it, let alone been inside.’
"I saw it in a dream," Chu Liangyu blurted out perfunctorily.
Feng Qiwu rolled his eyes, momentarily at a loss for words.
"Alright, we’re here."
After passing through the crowded stalls, the three of them arrived at a corner wall.
The guide simply felt around on the wall, and an opening appeared.
"This is it. After you two."
The passageway led directly underground. It was lit by torches placed every two meters, so while it wasn’t bright, it wasn’t so dark that you couldn’t see anything.
"You can look around on your own, see if you find anything you like," Chu Liangyu said while examining the goods at a stall.
It was Feng Qiwu’s first time here, and his interest was piqued, so he was more than happy to oblige. "Okay. Just remember to get me when you’re leaving."
"Mhm."
Chu Liangyu waved her hand to show she understood, her attention already back on the stalls, unconcerned with where he was going.
’Xiong Jiaojiao is so weak because, to put it bluntly, she’s used up too much of her Primordial Energy. If I can find some nourishing things for her to eat, she should recover quickly.’
"What are the effects of these herbs?" Chu Liangyu picked some up and sniffed them. Realizing they were all unfamiliar, she asked the vendor.
"The one in your hand can make broken bones heal quickly."
"The first one on your left, if you grind it into a powder, can kill someone without a trace. And this one..."
After listening to a long string of descriptions, Chu Liangyu still hadn’t found what she was looking for.
Without much hope, she asked, "Do you have any medicinal herbs that can quickly restore Primordial Energy?"
"Herbs with that effect are quite rare, but..."
"But what?"
The stallholder gave her a look that said, ’You know what I mean,’ making Chu Liangyu fall silent for a moment.
"What do you want for it?"
"I don’t know... do you happen to have a Phoenix Blood Stone?"
A Phoenix Blood Stone was a type of jade that constantly emitted heat. Wearing one could protect a person from the cold.
’I don’t have one, but Feng Qiwu does!’
’As a specialty of the Phoenix Clan, how could he not carry some with him?’
Chu Liangyu’s tightly knitted brow relaxed. "I can get one."
"Then when do you plan to make the trade?"
"I’ll go get the Phoenix Blood Stone for you. I’ll be back soon."
The stallholder seemed even more anxious than she was. "Then hurry up and go. I’ll be right here waiting for you."
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