Shi Si’s Tracking Superpower worked the same way. He could track a target back to its source using an object that carried its scent. Likewise, the scents of different species were also distinct.

The superpower he had stored in his Spirit Storage Talisman was perfect for helping everyone find the Horned Deer Clan’s Bone Tokens.

This was Sweet Ring’s first time exploring the world alone, without the protection of adults or her brothers. ’If I had a child husband,’ she mused, ’I wouldn’t be so lonely!’

Her Beast Form was a white python, but she had faint pink horn buds on her head and delicate pink fins by her temples—the traits of a Half Flood Dragon. She wore a Hidden Beast Form Pearl that conveniently concealed these two anomalies.

The food at home was good, so she grew quickly—to the point of expanding horizontally. At 2.2 meters long and as wide as a bowl, her white scales made her look even plumper. Her dear older brother often teased her, calling her a "wriggling meat worm on the ground!!"

The poor girl was cursed with a jinxing tongue, so she kept a bellyful of retorts to herself, terrified they would come true. The moment her eyes started to well up with tears, Jiao Tang would immediately start coddling her, calling her every fond and exasperated name in the book.

The vegetation here was lush, and she slithered through it cheerfully, searching everywhere for the scent of Horned Deer. When she passed a stream, she loved to leap and splash into the water, chasing the fish and shrimp. She even rode the current down from the top of a waterfall, getting a taste of a thrilling mix of rafting and bungee jumping.

Before she knew it, she had no idea where her frolicking had taken her. All she saw was a crystal-clear lake, which invited her to continue her joyful play.

’I heard Uncle Xu Chi say that the Far East Land is home to many winged Beastmen,’ she remembered. ’And the Beastmen here are supposed to be simple-hearted, have great talent, high Combat Power, and handsome looks. I have to use my wits to snag a child husband!’

The lake was pristine and brimming with Spiritual Energy. The fish and shrimp within were exceptionally delicious—no steaming, stewing, braising, or frying required. She just opened her mouth and started feasting. The meat of the lake-dwellers was firm and sweet!

As she chomped away, she frantically stuffed more into her Storage Ring. ’I should hoard a bunch of these,’ she schemed. ’I’ll have Mother keep them for me, and I can have them as snacks later.’

’Of course, the "storage fee" for leaving things with Mother is high, so I’ll have to catch double the amount. And my siblings will want some too...’

Sweet Ring felt like she was tying herself in knots, she was so busy. Suddenly, she heard an argument on the nearby shore. She quietly poked her head out of the water near the bank, her eyes shining as she watched.

Apparently, a tribe lived nearby. A group of young cubs had come to fetch water, and one of them was clearly disliked by the others.

They shoved him around. "You’re not worthy of taking water from the Divine Lake! Get lost! Go get your water from the stream down below!"

"I... I don’t want to, but my little brother is sick. He needs to drink the Holy Water..."

"Then you definitely can’t! The Holy Water isn’t for jinxes like you. Who knows if you’ll pass your bad luck on to us and make us sick!"

Sweet Ring hid herself behind a large white rock, poking her round head out and tilting it to one side as she watched.

The bullied cub was about five or six years old. His golden hair caught the last rays of the sunset, making it glow like a small sun that drew your eyes right to him. The little one was filthy, his lips pressed into a tight line as he stood his ground, absolutely refusing to leave no matter how much the others pushed him.

The other cubs grew furious, and one of them actually picked up a rock and hit him in the head with it. The stone was sharp and tore a bloody gash on his forehead, from which blood began to gush.

The cubs were terrified. They were still too young to go on hunts with their Fathers, so drawing blood during a squabble among peers was a very big deal to them. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

The clan was very strict about its rules. The Clan Leader and the elders believed the cubs must first learn unity from a young age so they could protect the clan together as adults. Because of this, forming cliques and infighting were strictly forbidden before their formal training began at age five.

While the others were stunned with fright, the little cub ignored the blood on his forehead and scrambled forward to draw water with a bamboo tube tied to a vine rope. He glanced down and his eyes met Sweet Ring’s cool, red ones. The large white python’s scarlet tongue flickered out, nearly touching the tip of his nose.

The little cub’s hair stood on end. If he weren’t so desperate for the water, he would have dropped the bamboo tube and run for his life.

He averted his gaze, pretending not to have seen Sweet Ring, and deftly drew the water. But just as he stood up, one of the other cubs gave him a hard shove, and he fell into the lake.

The autumn lake was already cold, and deep within its waters lived a Water Monster that made people pale just to speak of it. Worse, the shore was nothing but high, smooth stone cliffs. Anyone who fell in could only swim around searching for an exit and hope for rescue—otherwise, they would end up as food for the vicious fish.

He struggled desperately. "Help! Save me... I can’t swim..."

The only answer was the sound of the cubs on the shore scurrying away.

"Please, don’t leave me... Save me! My little brother is waiting for me..." he murmured in despair.

Sweet Ring swam in circles around him. ’Most Beastmen can swim,’ she thought, surprised. ’I can’t believe this little one can’t.’

The little cub’s heart grew as cold as the lake water. He looked up at the deep blue sky, listened to the contented chirps of birds returning to their nests, and smelled the thick fragrance of autumn flowers in the air.

’Everything is so beautiful, and my brother is waiting for me. I can’t just give up!’

But no matter how hard he struggled, he just bobbed up and down in place. He could feel himself sinking, the water rising past his neck, his chin, his mouth.

All he could do was crane his neck back desperately. ’And the "Water Monster" next to me is just waiting to Devour me once I sink to the bottom.’

"Water Monster Lord, c-could you do me a favor? If you help me deliver this water to my brother and find someone to look after him, I’ll willingly return to the lake and become your food."

"Otherwise, I’ll... I’ll just learn how to swim and climb up that tree trunk over there!" The little cub had to laugh at his own words. ’I can’t even count on my own clansmen. What makes me think a Water Monster waiting to eat me would be so kind?’

Sweet Ring was flabbergasted. She looked down at her pale body, shimmering in the sunset glow, then at her dorky but cute reflection on the water’s surface. ’In what way do I look like a monster?’

She gritted her teeth and let out a deliberately ferocious hiss. "HISSSSSS..."

The little cub yelped in fright, losing the precarious balance he had just found. He started flailing wildly and swallowed several mouthfuls of lake water.

Seeing he was taking in more water than air, Sweet Ring finally coiled her tail around the little cub’s waist and flung him onto a grassy patch on the shore. With a powerful slap of her tail on the surface, she propelled herself out of the water and onto the bank beside him.

The little cub landed on his stomach and immediately spat out several mouthfuls of water. It was a long moment before he recovered.

He blinked, watching the "Water Monster" still slithering slowly around him, and couldn’t help but break into a grin. "Thank you, Water Monster Lord! Don’t worry, I keep my promises. As soon as I’ve settled things with my brother, I’ll come back, wash up, and jump in the lake to be your meal!"