Living in the Beast World With a System - Chapter 39

“Yuan Lang, when are we heading out?” A middle-aged beastman walked over to the three of them.

When he saw Teng Qian and Teng Kun, he rolled his eyes and said, “You two brats used to be terrified of Yuan Lang. Now you’ve knocked your heads and can’t stop sticking to him.”

As he spoke, he gave each of them a kick on the rear. “Go over there and help pack up the prey. What are you being lazy for?”

Clutching their backsides, the two of them jumped up with grins and ran toward the tribe members.

“Ouch, Uncle! We’re adult beastman males now. If the little females see you kicking our butts all the time, that would look so bad.”

The middle-aged beastman glared at them but then suddenly burst into laughter. He sat down beside Yuan Lang.

“Look at those two brats. They’ve barely reached adulthood and they’re already thinking about little females.”

A strange expression appeared on Yuan Lang’s face. “They just don’t know how scary females can be.”

His gaze remained calm and indifferent. He showed none of the excitement or eagerness typical of beastmen. When he spoke of little females, it sounded more like he was talking about prey.

The middle-aged beastman was startled by his own thoughts. He quickly shook his head and looked at Yuan Lang.

“When are we setting out? The remaining injured beastmen are doing much better. The others can take turns carrying them.”

Yuan Lang nodded and replied, “Put the wounded in the middle. The stronger beastmen will lead in front and guard the rear. We cannot lose any more of our tribe.”

This salt exchange had already cost the lives of six beastman warriors.

Looking at the coarse yellow salt wrapped in the beast hide in front of him, Yuan Lang pressed his lips together. Life here might not even be as good as that of borderland farmers.

The next day, Yuan Lang, as the leader of the salt exchange team, organized the beastmen to begin their journey back to the tribe.

Teng Qian and Teng Kun stayed close behind him and guarded the rear of the group.

The middle-aged beastman led several strong warriors at the front to clear the path.

Along the way, in order to keep noise to a minimum, none of the beastmen shifted into their beast forms. They all ran in human shape, which helped Yuan Lang and his companions adapt well.

By the evening of the third day, the middle-aged beastman suddenly stopped while they were traveling. His ears twitched as he listened to the sounds of the forest.

Then a faint, fishy stench drifted through the woods with the wind. His expression changed at once.

“Feral beasts!”

That low growl spread through the team. Yuan Lang rushed up from the back. His beastman instincts made him unconsciously twitch his nose.

That familiar foul smell reached his nostrils, and his brows tightened.

“It’s a sabertooth boar squad. I will take a few tribesmen and hold them off for a while. Uncle, take the injured and find a safe place to wait for us.”

But the middle-aged beastman shook his head firmly. “Let me stay this time.”

As Yuan Lang opened his mouth to refuse, the man raised a hand to stop him.

“You young beastmen are the hope of the tribe. Besides, we old guys have more experience. We are better suited to stay behind.”

A sabertooth boar squad meant adult feral beasts were involved. If Yuan Lang and the younger ones stayed, they would be throwing their lives away.

“Yuan Lang, take the injured and go now. Find a safe place for them first. There will still be time to come back and help us,” said the beastmen standing beside the middle-aged man.

They had already prepared to die. They would stay behind, just like Yuan Lang and the others once had when they chose to cover the retreat.

Dangerous tasks should not always fall on Yuan Lang.