Leisurely Life in the Beast World - Chapter 261

Tonight, the Watson Tribe was particularly lively. What started as a small gathering around Ji Nuan’s fire pit turned into a large communal feast for the whole tribe. Close-knit beastman families sat around various fire pits, with pots simmering over the flames, each filled with different foods.

Some families cooked noodles, while others prepared purple fruit porridge made from carefully stored crisp sweet fruits. At Ji Nuan’s fire pit, three large pots were cooking: one held purple fruit rice, another was simmering a rich and aromatic clucking beast soup, and the third was ready to fry spicy clucking beast chunks that smelled utterly tantalizing.

The enticing aromas wafted through the tribe, spreading like a delicate veil over the area. Beneath this veil, the cubs enjoyed a paradise. Chubby little ones waddled around on their short legs, sneaking bites from one household’s meal and sipping soup at another, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

For adult beastmen, life was filled with hunting and battles, much more dangerous compared to the cherished female cubs who were valued from birth. But outside of training, the beast fathers, mothers, and tribespeople doted on the cubs—so long as they weren’t being too mischievous.

As the beastmen finished eating, they sat together, talking in a warm and joyous atmosphere. Ji Nuan gazed up at the sky, where the stars seemed to wink at her. For some reason, a memory from China popped into her mind, of the phrase, “What are you looking at? Looking at you, so what?” It brought a smile to her face.

“Ah Nuan, look at your Xiu Yan, always bullying my Fu Yi!” Qi Mo’s dissatisfied complaint snapped Ji Nuan out of her thoughts. She turned toward the voice.

Qi Mo was holding Fu Yi, who was in his furry cub form. The little ball of fluff clung to Qi Mo’s arm with his tiny front paws, looking pitiful as he rubbed against her arm. His tail, lying off to the side, had a patch where the fur was clearly missing.

And the culprit…

Ji Nuan turned to Xiu Yan. Sure enough, the beastman was sitting there with a dark expression, a tuft of snowy white fur pinched between his fingers. It was impossible to miss.

Ji Nuan’s head hurt. These two! Xiu Yan and Fu Yi were always at it—scratching, grabbing, and never letting each other off the hook.

Standing up, Ji Nuan grabbed Xiu Yan’s arm and smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ll go settle this with him right now!”

She dragged Xiu Yan back toward the tent. Behind her, she could hear Qi Mo softly comforting Fu Yi, “Don’t be sad! Even if you have a bald spot, you’re still the most handsome cub in the tribe!”

Ji Nuan’s mouth twitched.

Inside the tent, the two sat facing each other. Ji Nuan looked at Xiu Yan. “Alright, tell me—why are you always bullying Fu Yi?”

Xiu Yan’s deep eyes glanced at her briefly. He pouted, looking somewhat aggrieved. “It’s not me bullying him. That cunning little beast is shedding. He’s afraid Qi Mo will dislike him, so he used me to act pitiful on purpose—just to hear her say she doesn’t mind.”

Ji Nuan stared at him skeptically. “Then why did you pluck the fur from his tail?”

Xiu Yan replied indignantly, “He put his tail on my lap. I was picking him up to toss him to Qi Mo, but as soon as I lifted him, the fur came off!”

Ji Nuan couldn’t believe that this seemingly gentle and elegant beastman could be so devious. Her image of him crumbled.

She patted Xiu Yan’s shoulder reassuringly. “Alright, alright. Let’s just consider it as helping him out. We don’t need to bicker with a shedding beast.”

Xiu Yan clasped Ji Nuan’s soft little hand tightly in his own and nodded. A glint of sly amusement flickered briefly in his eyes.