This conversation lifted their spirits, which had been dampened by the recent attack on the tribe.

They gathered a large amount of hemostatic grass and detoxifying herbs. Wu Yue even paid the System ten points, hiring the cheap labor to find many other useful herbs for her.

By the time they returned to the tribe, not only were the baskets on their backs overflowing, but Wu Yue’s small system space was also packed with herbs.

Wu Yue moved all the herbs into her small hut. Yuan Lang, however, was called away by Uncle Bai Qi the moment they entered the tribe.

Bai Qi’s expression was grim, likely because Yuan Lang and the others had decided to hunt Fierce Beasts.

What surprised Wu Yue, however, was that the witch hadn’t forbidden the hunt.

’Perhaps it’s because the threat from the tribes outside the forest has grown, and she wants the young Beastman Warriors to mature quickly.’

With the System’s help, making medicinal powders and elixirs didn’t take much of Wu Yue’s time. But looking at the experience bar on her system panel, she couldn’t help but feel dejected.

Even though she meditated daily, the witch power she condensed was clearly insufficient. She still needed another eight experience points to level up.

The next morning, Wu Yue had just finished washing up when the grass curtain on her roof began to shake. She calmly picked up a grass dumpling, sat down in her grass nest, and awaited her friend’s arrival.

Sure enough, a moment later, Qingcao’s plump figure appeared in her hut.

But to Wu Yue’s surprise, Qingcao’s expression was grim.

She stood and walked over to Qingcao. "Is it because Teng Kun is going to the deep forest to hunt Fierce Beasts? I only found out yesterday myself."

Qingcao shook her head. "It’s not that."

She looked up at Wu Yue, her eyes holding a complex emotion. "Yue, Ye Duo is dead..."

Wu Yue’s hand on Qingcao’s shoulder tightened. Her voice was hoarse. "Dead?"

Qingcao nodded. "Yes. The Beastman Warriors on patrol brought back her body. They found it near the border of the Black Wolf Tribe’s territory. The lower half... had been devoured by beasts..."

Qingcao pressed her lips together, unable to say more.

Living in a world like this, she had long grown accustomed to death.

But this time, it was one of her own tribe. Even though she’d never gotten along with Ye Duo, hearing that she had been killed still made Qingcao’s heart ache.

A heavy feeling settled in Wu Yue’s chest. "Where is she?"

"In the tribe’s main clearing."

Wu Yue took her hand. "Let’s go see."

As the two of them made their way there, they saw many other tribe members also heading in the same direction, all with grim expressions.

In the clearing, the witch and the Clan Leader stood at the forefront. A wooden plank lay on the ground, and on it was the half-eaten body of someone Wu Yue knew all too well...

It was Ye Duo—the same Ye Duo who, just days ago, had tricked a Half beastman Warrior into eating poisonous mushrooms for refusing to become her mate. Her eyes were wide open, her death a gruesome sight.

The cause of death was a wound that pierced straight through her abdomen.

Beside the plank bearing the body knelt Ye Duo’s father and mother, trembling with despair and grief.

At this sight, Wu Yue couldn’t stop her own eyes from turning red.

She looked at Ye Duo’s contorted face, but her attention was drawn to her wide-open eyes. They weren’t staring straight ahead, but were looking toward...

Following their gaze, Wu Yue saw that Ye Duo had been looking at her own hand before she died. The hand she was staring at was still clenched into a tight fist.

Wu Yue pursed her lips and circled around behind the crowd to the Clan Leader and the witch’s side.

The Clan Leader felt a tug on his arm and turned with a frown, ready to scold whoever it was. But upon seeing Wu Yue, his tone softened. "What is it, Wu Yue?"

Hearing him, the witch turned around as well.

Wu Yue pointed at Ye Duo’s body. "Ye Duo’s eyes are fixed on her clenched fist. I think she must be holding something."

At her words, the two of them turned their gazes to Ye Duo’s tightly clenched right hand.

The witch frowned. She raised her witch’s wand, her calm voice carrying to every tribe member’s ears. "Everyone, stand back."

The Clan Leader pulled Wu Yue behind him for safety as the witch, wreathed in swirling witch power, slowly approached Ye Duo’s body.

Then, as if commanded, the witch power surrounding her coalesced into a blue, ribbon-like tendril. It drifted over and pried open Ye Duo’s clenched fist.

In that same instant, a flash of black and red light shot out from her hand, slamming into the witch power that enveloped the witch. Before the thing could flee, the blue tendril of witch power wrapped tightly around it.

It was a black and red insect, looking very much like a centipede. It thrashed violently, spraying a toxic fluid as it struggled.

The moment she saw the black and red bug, Wu Yue knew. ’It’s another Poisonous Insect...’

’So, is this related to the Worm Witch who attacked the Feiyu Tribe?’

’Yesterday, the System said a witch with power far greater than mine participated in the battle.’

’Ye Duo was clutching this insect so tightly... Was she trying to warn the tribe?’

At this thought, Wu Yue was overcome with complicated emotions.

No matter what terrible things this female had done in the past, when it came to the tribe, her heart had always been in the right place.

In the end, the witch secured the insect.

Afterward, a funerary rite was held for Ye Duo, and her body was cremated. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Her heart heavy, Wu Yue parted ways with Qingcao. As she reached the gate to her small courtyard, she saw Yuan Lang and his companions sitting inside.

Seeing her return, the men greeted her. Wu Yue returned their greetings one by one before turning to Yuan Lang. "Are you leaving?"

Yuan Lang nodded. "Yes. We leave after dark."

Wu Yue frowned. "Why not leave during the day? Night is when beasts and Fierce Beasts are most active. It’s too dangerous."

Yuan Lang ruffled her hair. "Of course I know that."

’Yeah, right,’ Wu Yue scoffed internally. ’If you know that, why are you still leaving at night?’

"But the situation in the Polar Forest is uncertain right now," he explained. "If we set out during the day, we’ll be too conspicuous. If anyone is watching us, they’ll spot us for sure."

Hearing this, Wu Yue grew indignant. ’Those tribes from outside the forest are too arrogant, spying on us in our own territory.’

She pursed her lips and said, "Come inside with me."

She had packed all the necessary herbs into a large basket.

The basket, which was incredibly heavy for Wu Yue, was hooked casually on one of the beastman’s fingers as if it were a light shirt, weighing nothing at all.

After a moment’s thought, Wu Yue turned, grabbed the System—which was dead to the world in its grass nest—and stuffed it into Yuan Lang’s arms. "Take this with you, too."