Leisurely Life in the Beast World - Chapter 109

When Xiu Yan saw Ji Nuan acting like she was facing a formidable foe, his sharp eyebrows furrowed slightly. He stepped before her, shielding her completely, and lifted the hide curtain.

For reasons she couldn’t explain, Ji Nuan felt particularly uneasy around Ya Li, the snake beastman. It wasn’t just his beast form that unnerved her; his cold, piercing gaze also deeply unnerved her.

When Xiu Yan raised the curtain, Ji Nuan’s soft little hands instinctively grabbed onto his hide skirt. Her already small body seemed to shrink further as if trying to curl into a ball. She hid behind Xiu Yan so thoroughly that no finger was visible.

The tall silver wolf stepped outside, his presence as cold and biting as frost and snow. His sudden appearance darkened Ya Li’s smug expression.

A beastman coming out of the little female’s tent? Ya Li’s thoughts grew darker. The possibility that this male was Ji Nuan’s mate deepened the malice in his narrow, snake-like eyes.

Although Ji Nuan was nowhere to be seen, the faint scent of her presence lingered in the air, too subtle for an ordinary being but evident to a beastman’s keen sense of smell.

Ya Li straightened his posture lazily, his snake-like eyes glancing past Xiu Yan. A faintly mischievous smile appeared on his lips. “Little female, I came to trade for the powder that treats worm disease. But how are we supposed to trade if you keep hiding behind this beastman?”

A tiny, timid voice emerged from behind Xiu Yan. “We’re not trading the powder right now. Come back in a few days.”

“No problem, I’m in no hurry,” Ya Li replied, his voice dripping with charm and mockery. “It’s been a long time since we last saw each other. Why don’t we visit the other tribes together? If you like anything, I’ll trade for it on your behalf.” Ya Li extended his pale, slender hand toward Ji Nuan as he spoke.

However, his outstretched hand made contact with a firm, muscular chest instead.

Annoyance flickered across Ya Li’s face as he looked at the silver wolf blocking his path. A wicked grin spread across his lips, but his gaze grew colder and more menacing. “Move aside. I’m talking to the little female.”

Xiu Yan raised an eyebrow slightly, and the frost in his demeanor intensified. His piercing wolf eyes locked onto Ya Li’s, cold and unyielding. He opened his thin lips and said one word, “Scram.”

As the word fell, a suffocating and dangerous aura filled the air, silencing the once-busy camp. Powerful beastmen could project their aura to intimidate enemies or prey, and the stronger the beastman, the more terrifying the effect.

Xiu Yan’s aura was clearly immense and deadly.

Beastmen from nearby tribes froze in shock, their gazes snapping toward the Watson Tribe’s camp. No one had expected such a powerful beastman to be hidden among the Watson Tribe.

Standing closest to Xiu Yan, Ya Li bore the brunt of the oppressive energy. He staggered backward several steps before being caught by three beastmen from Tumang.

Shrugging off their support, Ya Li straightened his posture. He cast a long, hard look at Xiu Yan, whose cold, imposing figure stood tall and unyielding. Without another word, Ya Li turned and left with the beastmen from Tumang. His mocking voice floated back as he disappeared into the distance.

“I’ll come back when you’re ready to trade. Don’t tell me you’ve run out.”

Once the group was out of sight, Ji Nuan cautiously poked her head from behind Xiu Yan. Meeting the beastman, she least wanted to see so early in the morning had left her in a sour mood. Her rosy little lips pouted, her fluffy tail swished irritably, and the small ears atop her head drooped in displeasure.

“So annoying. Starting the day like this ruins my mood!” she muttered.

Xiu Yan turned to pat her fluffy head lightly, his cold gaze still calm. “Don’t mind him. I’m here. Now, eat your roasted meat. Didn’t you need to find the beastmen from the Grizzly Tribe?”

“Oh, right!” Ji Nuan slapped her forehead, realizing that the annoying snake beastman had nearly made her forget her plans.

She ran off toward Fu Yi, who was busy grilling meat nearby. For once, Xiu Yan didn’t follow her.

Instead, his sharp gaze shifted to Ge Xing, whose expression was equally dark. “Chief, it seems Ya Li knows much about what’s happening in our tribe.”

Ge Xing nodded grimly. “We’ll deal with him sooner or later.”

Both beastmen knew precisely who they were referring to.

Meanwhile, still fuming, Ya Li dismissed the beastmen from Tumang following him and headed alone into the forest outside the basin.

After a while, a timid young beastman’s voice called out from behind. “The powder that treats worm disease should be on Ji Nuan. Xiu Yan always guards her belongings so no one else can get close to them.”

“If you can bring me that powder before they trade it, you won’t need to return to the Watson Tribe. You can come back to the Tumang Tribe with us,” Ya Li said, his tone full of temptation.

The young beastman’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Really, brother?”

Hearing the word “brother,” Ya Li spun around sharply, his expression icy. “Don’t call me brother. Bring me what I want, and then we’ll talk.”