The gate of the cowpen was open.

A few cows and bulls stood there dazed, their large, dark eyes staring beyond the fence.

Outside the fence, it wasn’t messy as one might imagine. Firewood was placed between two stone bricks, the fire was small, and a black pot was clamped on the stone bricks.

Next to the pot were two plates and three pairs of chopsticks. Around the plates, the ground was littered with chicken bones, suggesting that there had been two chickens.

Beside the chicken bones lay a thick carpet.

Three people were lying on the blanket.

They held onto each other’s necks, shoulder to shoulder, as if they were as close as brothers.

When Ah You and Zhi saw these three people, their expressions were puzzled.

Because, the ones guarding the cowpen were clearly two people, so why was there suddenly an extra person?

After clearly seeing the back of this extra person, Ah You and Zhi felt turbulent waves of emotion in their hearts.

How... how could this be?

Why were Lang and Wing actually lying together with this outsider? The way they were talking and laughing together, didn’t it look like they were good friends?

Then, something even more outrageous happened.

In the field, Qin Hao patted his stomach and said, "I’m so thirsty, I’d like some water."

Wing and Lang stood up, rushed into the cowpen eagerly, and began to milk the cows.

In no time, fresh milk was produced; the two returned one after the other, offering the milk bottles.

Qin Hao took one without hesitation and began to drink.

The sound of gurgling arose.

Ah You and Zhi could hear their own heartbeats.

Because at that moment, it was extremely quiet.

Of course, the silence was only on the surface; their hearts were anything but calm.

These two spineless fellows had the nerve to serve an outsider?

Did they still look like the two marauders from before?

Are you kidding me!

Thinking of this, their faces turned red with anger.

Ah You gritted her teeth and shouted, "What are you doing!"

The shout startled Wing and Lang. They looked over instinctively and, upon seeing Ah You and Zhi, their expressions changed slightly.

"Lady Ah You!"

"Zhi, what are you doing here too!"

Zhi’s face twisted a bit; he rolled up his sleeves and walked over. "You still have the nerve to ask us? Speak up, what’s going on here! If there’s no explanation today, I’ll make sure you face punishment!"

Wing and Lang, guilty and nervous, could only lower their heads and remain silent.

Seeing the two remain quiet, Ah You clenched her fists and glared fiercely at Qin Hao.

Even with the appearance of these two, Qin Hao remained unchanged, still lazily lying there, squinting slightly as if enjoying the morning sun.

This pretty boy was living even more comfortably than me? 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Ah You was so mad she almost started smoking. Her glance swept casually over the chicken bones, and she suddenly roared, "So! It was you who stole Old Crow’s chickens!"

"Miss Ah You! We didn’t..."

"Yeah! We didn’t do anything..."

Although Wing and Lang were scared, they weren’t stupid.

They started to defend themselves, but no matter how one looked at it, they seemed hypocritical.

"Even stealing Old Crow’s chickens could be forgiven, but hanging out with the enemy, eating and drinking together! You incorrigible fellows! I shall represent the Elder and punish you!"

Zhi clenched his fists together, the sound of cracking knuckles echoing.

"Stealing chickens would be one thing, but daring to untie the enemy’s ropes? You! Such audacity!" Ah You pulled something from her belt, producing a fiery red whip. Originally intended for tormenting Qin Hao, it now found use on her own people.

Wing and Lang instantly turned pale.

At this moment, they felt incredibly wronged and innocent.

They internally admitted to the chicken-stealing mischief.

But untying Qin Hao’s ropes?

They certainly hadn’t done that.

It was entirely Qin Hao who snapped the ropes himself.

Wing and Lang felt more unjustly accused than Dou E, even jumping into the Yellow River wouldn’t wash them clean.

"Hey! No words left, huh? Fine, let me teach you a lesson on behalf of the Elders!"

Ah You said sharply, raising her hand as the red whip lashed towards Wing’s face.

Wing, in shock, froze completely, not moving at all.

Just as it seemed his face would get marked, a hand swiftly intervened, catching hold of the whip.

Snap!

The sound was crisp, yet the hand remained motionless, seemingly impervious to pain.

"Pretty boy!"

Upon realizing whose hand it was, Ah You’s expression quickly turned wary. She tried pulling with all her might, but the whip stayed firmly grasped in Qin Hao’s hand.

"What’s this ruckus about so early in the morning? Waking me up... are you looking to die?"

Qin Hao’s voice sounded lazy, but to Ah You and Zhi, it came off as a threat.

With fear in her heart, Ah You let go of the whip and retreated a good distance, clenching her fists, her face twisted with frustration.

Zhi, on the other hand, shouted out, "Outsider! This is the tribal headquarters; don’t bring about your own downfall!"

Having witnessed Qin Hao easily dispatch four clansmen, Zhi clearly understood that this outsider before them was not something he could handle.

"What are you so tense about?" Qin Hao’s face showed a hint of helplessness. "I’m merely advising you, unless necessary, don’t make a fuss. And attacking your own kin proves nothing – if you’re so capable, why not vent your anger on me?"

Vent it on you?

I’d have to ensure I survive first!

Zhi and Ah You were both frustrated and helpless.

Meanwhile, Lang and Wing looked at Qin Hao with gratitude.

Hao, an outsider, at this critical juncture, was willing to face danger to help them.

What a noble character!

The atmosphere reached a standoff as a dull groan came from outside the cowpen.

Ah You and Zhi turned to see Mang and a group of people standing there.

"Brother Mang!"

Ah You instantly beamed with joy, running over to hide behind Mang, casting a malicious glance at Qin Hao. "Pretty boy! Now what can you do with me?"

Zhi then briefed the scowling Mang about what had happened.

Hearing this, Mang’s face darkened as he asked, "Lang, Wing, is it true what Zhi said that you shielded the enemy?"

"We..."

Lang and Wing tried to defend themselves, but they weren’t great with words, and upon reflection, it did seem like they might be accused of shielding Qin Hao.

Helplessly, they trailed off mid-sentence.

At this moment, Qin Hao’s soft voice broke in, "The chicken theft and cooking were all my doing. It has nothing to do with them."

Upon hearing this, Lang and Wing were even more touched, looking at Qin Hao with eyes nearly brimming with tears.

Brother Hao, how righteous and loyal!

"You’re still protecting them! As expected, you and these two fools are in cahoots!" Ah You shouted angrily. Her demeanor showed she wished she could draw Qin Hao’s blood.

Mang, however, frowned. He knew Lang and Wing’s personalities; betraying the tribe was certainly not something they would do.