"It's the young patriarch!" Ren exclaimed, his voice full of surprise.
Above them, sixteen winged beasts cut across the morning twilight in a tight formation. Cai hadn't expected help to arrive so soon—certainly not before they had even sent word to the tribe.
Around him, the weary beastmen lifted their heads, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten, and relief spread like warmth through the cold air.
Like the other beastmen, Wan's chest flooded with relief at the sight of their young patriarch. Already in his beast form, he crouched and then sprang into the sky as he soared toward the approaching formation.
"There's someone on the young patriarch's back," Ren suddenly said, eyes narrowing as he spotted a small figure peeking out from behind Xue.
"How could that be—" Cai wanted to refute, but the words died in his throat as realization struck him.
He and Ren froze, eyes wide—the same thought hit them both. Slowly, their heads turned toward the tent where Huo still lay unconscious.
No way…
They had only been gone six days—no, this was already the seventh. Still, if the person riding Xue was truly who they suspected, wasn't that development too fast?
How was Huo, who was critically injured and barely clinging to life, supposed to endure that kind of blow?
They knew how deeply Huo liked Ziqian—it became almost an obsession. If he learned that Xue and Ziqian had ended up together, he might choose death over facing that heartbreak.
Cai and Ren didn't have time to dwell on the thought. The group led by Xue was already descending.
The moment the massive white tiger touched the ground, the surrounding beastmen straightened, and even the exhausted ones forced themselves upright.
"Young Patriarch!" they greeted together, voices echoing across the camp.
Xue gave a curt nod, then lowered himself gracefully, folding his wings so the small figure on his back could climb down.
All eyes turned toward Ziqian as he slid to the ground.
Cai, Ren, and even Wan tried their best to remain composed, but the other beastmen couldn't hold back their startled exclamations when they finally saw the beautiful sub-beast who had arrived with the young patriarch.
It wasn't just Ziqian's appearance that shocked them.
Everyone in the hunting group knew Ziqian and how deeply Huo liked him. He had even hunted a two-horned red tod to obtain its rare and striking fur as a gift for the sub-beast.
But now the sub-beast had arrived riding on another man's beast form. The worst part was that the beast was Xue—his twin brother, the one Huo had always felt overshadowed by since childhood.
Ziqian didn't notice their strange reactions. The view of the devastated camp from the sky made his worry worsen. His eyes looked around with urgency, searching for Huo.
The moment Ziqian's feet touched the ground, he hurried straight to Cai. "Where is Huo? How is he? Is his injury too severe?" he asked quickly.
Cai was startled by the barrage of questions, but before he could answer, Xue—now back in his human form—stepped forward and pulled Ziqian into his arms. "Calm down,"
Xue didn't care about the wary glances around them. He liked Ziqian, and he had already decided to stay by his side, no matter what.
Ziqian, who was oblivious to everything, sighed as he tried to steady himself. "I'm sorry."
Xue divided the fifteen beast warriors into two groups—seven were sent to check on the surroundings, while the remaining eight were tasked with gathering and packing everything worth carrying.
He intended to leave as soon as possible. All he needed was to confirm Huo's condition so he could decide their next move.
This place was too dangerous to stay. Huo was too inexperienced to realize that this was a dangerous place to rest, especially while they carried so much prey that could attract other predators.
Monsters from the forest could attack them at any moment. There was also the constant risk that the creatures from the sea might come up.
"Bring us to Huo," Xue said to Cai. His arms were still wrapped around the sub-beast's waist.
Cai, wearing an indescribable expression, led Ziqian and Xue toward the tent where the wounded were put together. As they walked, he gave a quick summary of everything that had happened.
Wan and Ren stayed behind with the group Xue had brought.
When they reached the entrance, Cai stopped. He turned to Ziqian. "The situation inside…" he began, as if bracing Ziqian for something he didn't want to say.
Sub-beasts were known to be fragile and soft-hearted, a result of how they were raised. Even in Gaia's harsh environment, they were treated like treasure—protected, sheltered, and never allowed to face danger directly. They weren't even required to hunt. At most, they helped with light tasks around the tribe.
Sometimes, they would gather together to gather red roots in the forest, but even then, a small team of beastmen would accompany them for protection.
Sub-beasts were few in number, and whether they worked or not had little effect on the tribe's survival. Their main contribution was bearing children. That was also why, even though they could boost their bonded partner's strength, they were never taken along on hunts.
Xue knew Ziqian was different from other sub-beasts. He is braver, steadier, and far more resilient. Even so, he opened his mouth, intending to ask him to wait outside the tent.
But Ziqian didn't give him the chance. "I want to check on Huo," he said firmly. His tone left no room for argument.
"But—" Cai wanted to protest. Many beastmen inside were gravely injured, their conditions unsettling. The sight might frighten Ziqian, and at the same time Cai also knew Huo would never want the sub-beast he loved to see him in such a state.
Before Cai could continue, Xue said softly, "Go in." He reached out and took Ziqian's hand.
Cai exhaled in resignation and moved ahead.
The moment Cai lifted the flap, a heavy wave of metallic scent rushed to them. Ziqian flinched, his nose scrunching instinctively as he stepped inside, and his grip on Xue's hand tightened, but the sight before him still made him freeze.
On Earth, there were still wars, but the country he lived in had been relatively peaceful. He had never seen so many injured people in one place—wounds this deep and people this close to death.
His stomach twisted painfully as the thick iron scent filled his lungs. A wave of nausea rose in his throat, draining the color from his face.
"Are you okay?" Xue asked worriedly.
"Hm." Ziqian nodded, though his voice felt stuck in his throat.
Cai walked deeper into the tent, and the two of them followed closely behind. The groans and cries of pain from the wounded lying on the ground made something in Ziqian's chest tighten.
Is the medicine Lia gave me enough to help all of them? He asked anxiously.
"Some of their wounds aren't severe, but without proper first aid, they might worsen," Ero answered.
That was the harsh reality of this realm. Without proper medication, sanitation, or hygiene, even simple wounds or minor illnesses could easily turn life-threatening.
"Ah-Zi," Phi chimed in, "Why don't you buy Basic Medical Knowledge and Traditional Medicine from the shop? The two only cost seventy points together."
As a finance major, Ziqian had no background in medicine. Basic medical knowledge would at least teach him proper first aid, while traditional medicine would give him insight about herbal remedies and natural treatments.
In a world without modern technology or modern medicines, such knowledge was essential.
He and the two guardians had already discussed all of this during their travel. They had added every possible useful item to the cart, planning to buy only after checking the situation.
Now, seeing the state of the wounded, knowledge became the most urgent priority.
He nodded inwardly. I'll buy them now.
Ziqian opened the shop interface, selected the two items on his cart, and purchased them without hesitation.
[Basic Medical Knowledge – 20 points]
Understanding fundamental science, medical terminology, first aid, and common conditions.
Origin: Earth System
[Traditional Medicine – 50 points]
Accumulated knowledge developed over thousands of years that includes treatments like acupuncture, herbal medicine, diet, meditation, and physical exercise.
Origin: Earth System
After purchasing the two items, they instantly appeared in his inventory. Unlike the brick recipe that had shown up as a simple scroll, the two manifested as actual books—one a modern hardbound, the other an ancient text bound with dark blue cloth. Both titles were embroidered in gold, gleaming faintly.
Ziqian chose to learn the basic medical knowledge first. The moment he confirmed the action, information surged into his mind. His vision blurred and dizziness washed over him, but he clenched his jaw and forced himself to endure it.
Before the discomfort could fade, he selected the second book—Traditional Medicine. Another wave of knowledge surged into his mind, heavier than the first. Ancient theories, herbal properties, treatment methods, poison classifications, and countless more pieces of information causing his mind to buzz.
All of it happened in only a few seconds.
By the time they reached Huo's side, Ziqian had already absorbed both sets of knowledge, but his complexion had worsened alarmingly. His eyes brimmed with tears from the blinding headache, his nose bled, and his lips trembled uncontrollably.
He looked as though he might collapse at any moment.