Over the past couple of days, many Beastmen in the tribe had noticed a small figure running back and forth from Ling Hong's house.
Once or twice might have been overlooked, but it happened so often that it inevitably aroused suspicion.
Then someone happened to realize that this little dark figure running around every day was the same slow-witted, dull female that Ling Hong had saved a few days ago.
Everyone: "??!"
The crowd of onlookers was stunned.
Doesn't Lord Ling Hong hate it when people barge into his room uninvited??! And she's a female, no less??! Sure, she's a bit simple, a bit ugly, and a bit skinny, but... she's definitely a female, right??!
Some people also noticed that not only did An Jin diligently run to Ling Hong's house every day, but she also seemed to stay in his room all night without ever coming out.
Many of the females were heartbroken.
Usually, the only one who can freely enter a male's room is his own mate. So how...
How could this be happening??!
The more everyone thought about it, the stranger it seemed. Someone even secretly reported the matter to the Clan Leader.
Meanwhile, An Jin was completely unaware of the gossip swirling behind her back. For the past few days, she had been wholeheartedly helping Ling Hong recover from his injuries, spending most of her time outdoors gathering medicinal herbs.
The mechanical voice in her head was still present during this time. Whenever she encountered something she didn't understand, the voice would automatically speak up and explain it to her.
An Jin found it strange, but she had to admit, the voice was a huge help. 'I have to figure out where it's coming from!'
And over the past few days, by using a combination of persistent pestering and the excuse that his treatment required it, she had finally won Ling Hong's consent—she could continue to stay in his room until his injuries were healed.
Just then, as she was heading back after gathering the day's herbs, a sharp gust of wind rushed up behind her. A pair of large, thick hands rested flippantly on her thin shoulders, a Beastman's sharp, black claws digging threateningly into her shoulder blades.
A sinister voice that made one's skin crawl came from behind her. "Heading to Ling Hong's place, are we? What's that you're holding? Herbs?"
The tall, strong male took two steps to block her path. He stared contemptuously at the various plants in her hands and burst into a fit of wild laughter, his words dripping with mockery. "Don't tell me you're trying to save Ling Hong? With that pathetic handful of weeds?!"
An Jin frowned and took two steps back. She had a vague feeling that the male in front of her looked familiar.
'Isn't this the Beastman I saw next to the Clan Leader in his room the other day?!'
This male was a Fourth Rank Beastman, the strongest warrior aside from the Clan Leader and Ling Hong. In the original owner's memories, this male Beastman had always despised Ling Hong.
Ling Hong had been better than him at everything, overshadowing him since childhood. He had always been looking for an opportunity to eliminate his rival.
'But why is he here in front of me now?'
Since he was a fellow tribesman, An Jin politely intended to greet him, but before she could speak, the man sneered and threatened her viciously. "I'll give you a piece of advice since you're a female: stay away from him. He's about to die, so don't go looking for trouble. And from now on, stop getting him these useless weeds! You hear me?!"
His face was contorted in a snarl, revealing sharp fangs, as if he would bite her head off if she dared to defy him.
An Jin's expression didn't change, but her mind was racing.
'How does this man know Ling Hong is injured?'
'It seems Ling Hong didn't hide it well enough.'
'This man seems to be on very good terms with the Clan Leader. If he knows, then the Clan Leader most likely knows too, yet he hasn't offered the tribe's number one warrior any support or supplies.'
'Their relationship isn't as harmonious as it appears on the surface.'
A thousand thoughts raced through An Jin's mind, but on the surface, she just lowered her head obediently and stammered in a dull voice, "Sir, Lord Ling Hong saved me. I'm just following his orders to find some herbs. Lord Ling Hong just suffered a minor injury a few days ago, it's not as serious as you say..."
"If there's nothing else, sir, I'll be on my way..."
Before An Jin could take a single step, the man grabbed her by the hair, yanking her back several paces. "Throw all those herbs away!!"
"No... This is a task Lord Ling Hong gave me... Hey! Don't you take my things!"
Panicked, An Jin bit down hard on the arm he extended, her sharp canines instantly tearing through his flesh.
"AHH—!!!"
The man shrieked, his eyes turning red and looking as if they would split with rage.
"How dare you bite me! You unwanted piece of trash! Don't think I won't kill you just because you're a female!"
A terrifying gloom instantly filled his viper-like eyes, and they became shot through with blood in his rage.
Furious, the man grabbed the frail female by the neck. In that deserted place far from the tribe, he shoved her head into the river again and again, frantically forcing water into her.