Gae: "There's a two-horned monster 52 meters to the left and two one-horned monsters 36 meters to the right."
"Okay, then let's go straight."
The guardians were monitoring the blue screen. Whenever they detected a nearby monster, Gae would inform him so he could choose a different path. They had been following this routine for five hours now.
"I'm so tired!" Ziqian murmured.
The four fluff balls felt heartache, but they couldn't do anything except continue monitoring the detector.
"You can do it! "Ah-Zi," Phi cheered. He used his fur to wipe the sweat from Ziqian's forehead.
Ah-Zi was the nickname the guardians had unanimously decided to call him after being together for some time.
The forest seemed endless. He didn't know how far he had traveled from where he had started, but he knew he had already been walking for more than five hours and still hadn't seen a single human.
Time limit: 9:34:12
Looking at the shortening time limit, Ziqian sighed.
"Earlier, I wanted to find at least one of the five largest tribes to guarantee my safety. But now… I don't care anymore."
Ero: "You can always leave and find another tribe later if you're not satisfied. Sub-beasts are treasured in this world because of their rarity."
Phi: "We won't allow anyone to mistreat you."
"Let's rest for a while," Ziqian said with a faint smile as he approached a giant boulder. He was just about to sit when Gae suddenly gasped.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing! Just walk faster, Ah-Zi. You only have nine hours left," Gae replied with a trembling voice.
Noticing the sudden change in Gae's tone, Ziqian immediately moved forward, ignoring the boulder where he had planned to rest.
Five minutes later, a massive black, snake-like monster with five horns slowly coiled its body around the tree trunk behind the boulder. Its spiked tail lashed out, instantly shattering the rock into pieces.
Gae exhaled in relief when he confirmed the monster wasn't following them.
Ziqian didn't ask why Gae had reacted that way; he trusted there was a good reason. His legs were already sore, and he no longer had the energy to speak, but he continued walking for another hour before nearly collapsing under the shade of a tree.
This was only his second day in this unfamiliar world, and he wasn't sure if he could survive here.
He was neither smart nor talented. There was nothing special about him. Ziqian believed that everything he had achieved on Earth was only the result of hard work and perseverance.
At the age of ten, his parents divorced. His mother left him with his grandmother, who was already sick and unable to care for him. His parents hadn't even left him a penny.
The last ten years of his life felt like a cruel joke. His parents had never been doting or loving from the start, but he still couldn't believe they would abandon him so completely.
At a young age, he began working as a dishwasher in a cafeteria after school so he could buy food and medicine for his grandmother.
When his grandmother's health improved slightly, she started working again to support his studies. Despite her old age, she collected scrap metal, bottles, boxes, and broken appliances from the neighborhood to sell at a junkyard.
She wanted him to focus on studying because she believed education would give him a better future, but Ziqian still secretly took part-time jobs to help with their finances.
He dreamed of graduating from a prestigious university, finding a stable, well-paying job, and buying his grandmother a house. Unfortunately, she passed away before his high school graduation.
After resting for half an hour, Ziqian resumed his journey. Thanks to the fruits he had gathered earlier, he wasn't thirsty or hungry.
After another three hours wandering aimlessly, the dispirited Ziqian suddenly heard Ero's loud exclamation, "Ah-Zi!"
"Yes?"
"A tribe has been detected!"
"Really? Where?" he asked in surprise.
Ziqian's face lit up, and his fatigue eased a little. The four guardians grew energetic, bouncing in the air.
"One hundred and five meters to your right!"
Excitement swelling in his chest, Ziqian hurried toward the tribe's direction. At last, he was going to see what a tribe looked like.
When he caught sight of several tents in the distance, he stopped and hid behind a tree.
"What's wrong, Ah-Zi?" Phi asked.
"I'm a little nervous!" Ziqian pressed a hand against his chest, his heart pounding wildly. He didn't know why, but happiness bubbled inside him at finally finding a tribe. "Is there a way to find out which tribe they are?"
"Let me check," Gae said as he manipulated the interface to scan the area.
While waiting for Gae's response, Ziqian crept closer until the whole tribe came into view.
From a small cliff, he gazed down at a wide valley filled with countless tents. Two mountain ranges flanked the valley, shielding it from wind and rain. Above, a blue sky dotted with cotton-like clouds stretched out like a comforting blanket.
The sight was breathtaking—like something straight out of a movie.
He felt like Simba standing on Pride Rock, overlooking the savanna.
Still lost in awe, he was startled by a sudden rustling nearby. In a panic he quickly ducked behind a tree, crouching low in the bushes as he tried to conceal his presence.
"₹èlæîœ ¶Ωμ b¿"
"£№€±· ü0øã!"
Voices. People were speaking—but he couldn't understand a single word.
"Œïú èä¢№."
"Shhh…"
Moments later, the voices faded away.
What was that?! I can't understand anything!
If I can't even understand their language, how am I supposed to talk to them?
Does every tribe have a different language? he wondered.
Peeking out from the bush, he waited until the people had gone, then stood up and brushed the leaves from his trousers.
Then—
A shadow fell over him. A figure appeared in front of him, blotting out all light.
"AHHHHHHH!!"
_______________.
Huo couldn't stop staring at the sub-beast beside him. He was the most beautiful sub-beast he had ever seen—far more beautiful, even, than his own mother.
His eyes shone as brightly as the stars, his skin was as pale as snow, and his soft black hair swayed in the wind, carrying with it a faint, intoxicating fragrance. Even the clothes he wore were unlike anything Huo had ever seen before.
Just looking at him made Huo's heart race.
Unfortunately, he had accidentally frightened the sub-beast.
Huo had been patrolling the outskirts of the tribe with his subordinates when he caught a sweet, alluring scent. Following the trail brought them near the cliffs, where the beasts' heightened senses picked up faint rustling behind the bushes.
He signaled his men to stay silent as he crept closer, ready to catch whatever was hiding there. To his surprise, it wasn't prey but a sub-beast—a stunningly beautiful one.
Startled, the sub-beast reacted with fear, making their first encounter less than ideal.
Huo tried speaking to him to ease the tension, but the sub-beast only ignored him. Yet when Cai gently asked if he wished to come with them back to the tribe, the sub-beast nodded.
That small gesture left Huo disheartened. Still, he couldn't possibly let this chance slip by. Determined to leave a favorable impression, he shamelessly ordered his men to continue the patrol while he personally escorted the lost sub-beast back.
Under the resentful gazes of his team, Huo led the way with a grin.
He had no idea that the delicate-looking sub-beast beside him, who appeared so timid and innocent, was actually screaming on the inside.
Ahhh! He's so handsome!
Phi: Calm down, Ah-Zi!
How can I calm down?! There's a handsome man walking right next to me! Ahhhh, so handsome! That face… AHHHH!!
Ziqian had thought the guardians were exaggerating when they described the men of this world. But now, with the living proof before his eyes, he realized his vocabulary was far too limited. At this moment, only two words came to mind—hot and handsome.
Look at those arms! Those abs! Those mermaid lines!!! Ahhh, choke me, daddy!!
Nia: …
Gae: …
Phi: …
Ero: Do you want me to choke you instead?
Tsk… such a killjoy!
Normally, Ziqian tried to restrain himself. The guardians seemed young and impressionable, but faced with this real deal, all his restraint shattered, and his unfiltered thoughts slipped out.
He sneaked another glance at the man walking ahead.
So tall—Ziqian had to tilt his head back just to see his face. He must be over 210 centimeters. His long black hair with silver highlights was tied up loosely, the messy style only adding to his rugged charm.
His features were sharp and striking: thick eyebrows, phoenix eyes glowing with golden irises, a straight nose, and thin, tempting lips.
Ahhh, so handsome!
And then there was his body—muscular arms, broad shoulders, a sculpted chest, and even his waist carried an air of strength.
So hot!
The only flaw was the strip of cloth covering his lower body.
Tsk… annoying.
Understanding exactly what Ziqian meant, Ero piped up, "Why don't you just take it off, Ah-Zi?"
Gae: Ero!
That's a brilliant idea.
Gae: Ah-Zi!!
Ero: Just pretend to trip and pull down his skirt.
Gae: Cut it out, Ero! Don't go giving Ah-Zi strange ideas. This is his first time meeting people—at least try to leave a good impression.
Ziqian sighed and tried to calm himself. Gae is right. He doesn't want to scare the handsome beast.
Although this world is primitive, its people are quite conservative when it comes to sub-beasts. It would be a great loss if the man got turned off by his own lustful thoughts.
Anyway, Gae, what happened earlier? After you returned, I instantly understood them.
The man tried talking to him, but since he couldn't understand what he was saying, he could only act scared.
Gae: After scanning the tribe's information, I recorded their language, analyzed it, and sent it to your brain.
Can he understand me if I speak with him now?
"Yes," Gae said, fidgeting.
What's wrong?
Gae: Ahem… Ah-Zi, we're sorry about earlier. It was our negligence not to learn their language beforehand.
Ero: We were also a little flustered when we heard them talk.
Phi: We're sorry, Ah-Zi.
I see… So that's why you were nowhere to be found when they showed up? You just left me behind, huh?
The four guardians spoke in unison, their voices sincere: "We're sorry."
Ziqian laughs inwardly. He was only teasing the four fluff balls and had no intention of blaming them. The four guardians hadn't actually left; they were still there floating aimlessly, flustered at having forgotten to teach Ziqian the natives' language.
Gae, what is their tribe? he asked.
Hearing Ah-Zi's question, knowing that he doesn't mind their mistake, the four fluff balls become lively once again.
"Yes! We were so lucky. The tribe we first found is the Winged Tiger tribe, one of the five largest tribes in Gaia," Gae happily answered.
"And the handsome man in front of you is one of the twin sons of the current patriarch," Ero added, his childish voice full of teasing.
What a coincidence.
Ziqian became more eager to talk to the man. He first cleared his throat and shyly tugged the man's pinky. "Hello, my name is Tang Ziqian. What's yours?"
Hou trembled when he heard the sweet and melodious voice of the sub-beast. The soft touch on his finger makes him freeze in place, afraid that a little force will make the sub-beast let go.
"What's your name?" Ziqian asked once again when the man didn't answer.
Can't he understand me? Why is he not answering?
Ero: He is just smitten with you.
"Hello!" Ziqian waved in front of the man.
"H-Huo... Huo, that's my name," the man answered after a few seconds.
"Nice to meet you, Huo! I'm Ziqian." He clasps the man's big hand without reservation and shakes it happily.
Ahhh... Even his fingers are long!
[...]
"Z-Ziqian..."
"Yes?" he smiled.
The sub-beast's smile was beautiful and contagious. "Nice to meet you too," Huo said in a daze.
When he sees that Huo is still not moving, he slightly pulls the man's hand to walk again in the tribe's direction with a smile on his beautiful face.
Ziqian was now looking forward to staying in this tribe.