As a tempting aroma drifted across the back of the mountain, several Half beastman Warriors stared, eyes shining, at the small, pale-yellow pancakes on the stone slab, swallowing their saliva frantically.

"Yue, a Half beastman Warrior from the witch’s side just came over. He said the witch needs to see you."

Qingcao came running up the mountain, huffing and puffing, and immediately spotted Wu Yue talking with the Half beastman Warriors and slaves.

Upon hearing this, Wu Yue stood up and said to the Half beastman Warriors beside her, "You can have the rest of these little pancakes. We’re heading back now."

The Half beastman Warriors nodded frantically. "Okay, okay! Be careful on your way."

That’s what they said, but...

’Do you think you could maybe lift your heads while you’re gnawing on those pancakes to talk to me? Is that polite?’

After escorting Wu Yue to the entrance of the witch’s cave, Qingcao rushed off. Her grand excuse was that if she didn’t get back soon, her little pancakes would be all gone.

And so, on this day, all because of a little pancake, our ever-popular young female Wu Yue felt a twinge of desolation she had never felt before.

"Wha’r ’ou doin’ shtandin’ there? Com’ in!"

Just as she was lost in thought, a very familiar, muffled voice sounded from behind her.

Wu Yue turned to look.

Sure enough, the Clan Leader was clutching a few pancakes, happily gnawing away.

"How many of those have you eaten?"

The Clan Leader put on a thinking face, then said after a moment, "Cann’ coun’. ’Mainly, ’ese li’l pancakes ’re ’oo shaucy! Not ’nuff ’o ea’!"

The corners of Wu Yue’s mouth twitched uncontrollably. She couldn’t help but cast a sympathetic look at the little pancakes in the Clan Leader’s hands.

’If these pancakes had thoughts,’ she mused, ’they’d probably be jumping up in protest right about now.’

’You’re the saucy one! Your whole family is saucy! Why don’t you try swallowing the pancake in your mouth before you speak!’

The two of them entered the witch’s cave. As the weather had turned a bit chilly, a small fire was lit in the center of the cave.

It cast a warm glow, and in the firelight, the witch’s wrinkled face seemed even more benevolent than usual, and even...

"Look at you, you sorry excuse for a man. As the Clan Leader of a tribe, stuffing your face like that... If anyone saw you, they’d think the Snow Tiger Tribe was so poor that even our Clan Leader couldn’t get enough to eat."

Wu Yue wiped a hand over her face. ’As expected...’

’That song from my past life was right,’ she thought. ’I admit, it’s all the moon’s fault...’

’If even firelight could trick me into thinking the witch was benevolent, what hope did I have against something as romantic as the moon?’

"Yue, sit down."

After scolding the gluttonous Clan Leader, the witch turned to Wu Yue, his gaze as kind as a grandfather looking at his own grandchild.

"I hear you discovered a new food today?"

As he asked, he quite naturally plucked the largest pancake from the Clan Leader’s hand.

He took a shameless bite and declared, "It is indeed a delicious food."

Wu Yue scratched her head sheepishly. "Well, I’ve been raising chickens in my yard, and their eggs are delicious whether roasted or boiled. So I figured, since they’re both eggs, maybe Sharp horned Beast Eggs could be prepared the same way."

The witch nodded, greatly pleased. "It’s wonderful that you had such an idea. It’s been a long time since our tribe has discovered so many new foods."

He shook his head with a sigh, all while stuffing the rest of the pancake into his mouth without a moment’s hesitation.

Wu Yue fought the twitch in her eye. ’So, are all your profound sighs and historical reminiscences this half-hearted?’

"I may not say it often, but I take note of every contribution you make to the tribe."

After chewing and swallowing the last piece of pancake, the witch looked at Wu Yue with a very solemn expression. "What kind of reward would you like?"

Wu Yue was floored. ’Huh?’

’There are rewards for discovering new food?’

She scratched her messy hair. "Um... I’m a member of the Snow Tiger Tribe, too. How could I ask for a reward just for making a small contribution?"

’Besides, if these foods became popular throughout the tribe, it just meant I could eat them more openly myself!’

The witch gave her a deep look, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. He rose and walked to the back of the cave, returning with a tightly wrapped, palm-sized Beast Skin pouch. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"This is your reward from the tribe. There are a few Fierce Beast Crystal Cores inside. You can give them to your future partner to use."

"A witch’s partner is more than just a mate; they will be your Guardian Beastman. The more powerful the Beastman Warrior, the better they can ensure a witch’s safety. You must choose wisely."

Wu Yue clutched the Beast Skin pouch in her hand and nodded solemnly. "I understand."

She knew just how precious Fierce Beast Crystal Cores were here; many, many Beastmen had given their lives for them.