Lan Cang woke up in the middle of the night. Rubbing his throbbing temples, he looked up and saw Sang Luo, who had rolled off the sofa, blanket and all.
'...She's still not awake?'
He paused for a moment, then carried her back to the bed.
...
...
「The next morning.」
Hot. So hot. Sang Luo was woken by an intense heat, feeling as if she were engulfed in flames. She snapped her eyes open and came face-to-face with a massive wolf's head. She nearly screamed, but thankfully, her senses quickly returned. 'I'm in the Beastman World now... Is this wolf... Lan Cang?'
The smell of alcohol on him had mostly faded. He woke up soon after Sang Luo did, licked her on the cheek, and then, with a series of sharp CRACKS from his bones, the black wolf transformed into a handsome, naked man. He lay facing her, and they stared at each other, wide-eyed.
The soft, fluffy sensation in her hand suddenly gave way to something hard and firm. Sang Luo froze as if she'd been struck by lightning. A quick glance out of the corner of her eye revealed her hand was resting loosely on Lan Cang's lean, powerful waist.
'Just a little closer...'
'Almost to somewhere I shouldn't be touching...'
Her face instantly flushed beet red, and she snatched her wandering hand back.
The sound of a lively commotion from the courtyard broke the awkward tension.
"What's going on outside?"
"Today's the market day in the city. I'd almost forgotten." Lan Cang snapped back to reality and quickly got dressed, ready to leave. "There's a prosperous city a little over a hundred kilometers from the Kordo Tribe. They only hold a market once a year, right before the cold season. You can find a lot of rare things there that aren't common in the tribe, even technology that has come over from the Western Continent. I'll probably be gone a little longer this time."
'Western Continent?'
That was a new term for Sang Luo.
"Are there... many continents here? Which one is the Kordo Tribe on?"
"Yes, the land we're on is divided into four major continental plates. You can simply think of them as the North Continent, the South Continent, the East Continent, and the Western Continent. The four continents have no contact with one another, each forming its own world, and every continent has its own unique customs and people."
"The Kordo Tribe is located between the East Continent and the Western Continent, in a borderland region that hasn't been claimed by any major power yet. It was rebuilt on the ruins of war."
"The North Continent is perpetually frozen and known as the Extreme Cold North Territory; there are almost no signs of life there. The South Continent is the most mysterious. It's said that no Beastman who enters ever comes out alive, so records about it are scarce. I've never been to the East Continent and don't know much about it, but I've heard that the Beastmen there place an extreme value on strength..."
"The Western Continent, on the other hand, is the most developed of the four. It's economically prosperous and technologically advanced, possessing the most cutting-edge technology in this world. It's a completely different world from everything you've seen in the tribe. It's... a very desirable Heaven." Lan Cang knew she hadn't lived with the tribe for long and wasn't clear on the basics, so he explained patiently.
Seeing her hopeful expression, Lan Cang didn't have the heart to shatter her fantasy. In truth, the Western Continent was not a wonderful place. On the contrary, for many people, it was a Hell where survival was hopeless.
Not just for males, but for females as well...
He himself had come from the Western Continent, trying to make a living.
Lan Cang's expression turned cold as he thought about everything that had happened back then.
Sang Luo noticed the change in him.
"What's wrong?"
"Don't worry, I'm fine. I just recalled some unpleasant memories. But life in the cities of the Western Continent really is better than it is here. Luoluo, do you want to go?"
He had no desire to return to that place, but if Sang Luo wanted to go, he would take her without a moment's hesitation.
Sang Luo thought about it seriously, then shook her head.
She wasn't sure if she would end up staying in this Beast World, so she didn't covet its prosperity.
'Prosperity is just a high tower built on the blood and bones of the masses at the bottom.'
She understood that principle, at least.
"Alright, we won't go to the Western Continent. But I promise I will give you a good life; we won't stay in the Kordo Tribe forever." Lan Cang glanced at the growing crowd of figures outside, then turned back to give her a serious warning. "I'll be back as soon as I'm finished over there. Remember, Luoluo, you're not from the Kordo Tribe. You don't have to be bound by their rules. Don't let anyone push you around."
Sang Luo knew he was implicitly referring to Manla and her cronies. After Lan Cang's harsh threats, Manla wouldn't dare to do anything openly, but she might still try to pull some tricks behind his back.
Lan Cang had originally wanted to take her to the city on this trip, but he hadn't finished making arrangements there yet. Plus, the journey was grueling, and her health was poor, so he had to postpone it for the time being.
After Lan Cang left, life didn't change much for Sang Luo, except that her appetite worsened.
She didn't want to stir up trouble, but trouble always seemed to find its way to her.