Chapter 227 - 229: Luring the Snake Out of Its Hole

Chapter 227: Chapter 229: Luring the Snake Out of Its Hole

At Su Luoluo’s words, the others suddenly felt like they had nothing to do.

Mo Xuan yawned and asked, "So, where are we going now?"

Su Luoluo gazed at the distant mountain pass. "Let’s head to Sheep Waist Valley and meet up with Father first. We need to tell him what happened and then figure out how to wipe them all out at once."

"Alright."

With that, Mo Xuan deftly transformed into a Black Panther and landed before Su Luoluo.

Su Luoluo said nothing, simply wrapping her arms around his neck and settling onto his back.

Seeing Mo Xuan’s fawning display, Fu Feng silently scorned him. ’That damn panther beat me to it again.’

He spread his wings, about to take off first, when Xi Yi’s pathetic voice drifted over from behind. "Luoluo, are you just going to leave me behind?"

Su Luoluo froze. She had actually forgotten that Xi Yi was still injured.

Her eyes darted around and fell on Fu Feng, who was just approaching. She pointed at him. "Fu Feng, you can carry Xi Yi!"

Fu Feng’s heart instantly soured. Not only had he missed his chance to carry Su Luoluo, but now he had to carry that dead-weight Black Bear.

’What if he breaks my feathers?’

’But this is what Luoluo ordered, and I don’t dare refuse. Fine. I’ll endure it, for the sake of him saving Luoluo.’

Mo Xuan saw Fu Feng’s crestfallen expression and shot him a mocking, raised-brow look.

’Tried to show off and get ahead of me, but you crashed and burned, didn’t you!’

’As a Beastman, you shouldn’t get too cocky. Otherwise, you just end up making trouble for yourself.’

...

「In Sheep Waist Valley」 Su Yang had set up camp with the rest of the tribe. As mealtime approached, they lit fires and began to cook.

When Su Luoluo and her companions arrived, they saw plumes of cooking smoke curling up throughout Sheep Waist Valley, painting a scene of profound tranquility.

Looking into the distance, she saw Cai Xia frying potato cakes, and her mouth instantly began to water.

She hopped off Mo Xuan’s back and made a beeline for Cai Xia.

Seeing her leap down so suddenly, Su Yang’s eyelid twitched. "My dear girl, be careful! You’re carrying a cub, remember?"

Su Luoluo patted her stomach and sniffed the air. "I’m being careful. Cai Xia’s cooking just smells too good! I haven’t eaten all morning, and I’m absolutely starving."

Cai Xia, who was listening nearby, smiled and handed her a freshly fried potato cake. "I never thought I’d see the day our tribe’s own culinary god was craving my cooking."

Su Luoluo accepted the cake and took a large bite. "What can I say? It’s because our Cai Xia is just that good of a cook."

Since Su Luoluo was eating, Su Yang didn’t want to disturb her. His gaze shifted to the beastmen behind her. They all seemed to be in high spirits, with no visible injuries—except for Xi Yi, who was draped over Fu Feng’s back and looking rather pale.

He asked with concern, "Is he injured?"

Luan Ting nodded. "We ran into a bird. It burned him."

Su Yang’s brows furrowed. Xi Yi’s Beast Rank didn’t seem low, yet he’d still gotten injured. It looked like they had run into a powerful foe on their trip.

He was just opening his mouth to ask what had happened when Xi Yi cried out, "Oof!" He turned a pitiful gaze on Su Yang. "Father, please hurry and perform a Divination for Luoluo and me. Find us an auspicious day so we can form our Contract Totem."

Xi Yi’s words broke Su Yang from his thoughts. He looked at Su Luoluo in confusion. "You two haven’t formed a Contract Totem yet?"

’This Black Bear has even stood watch for Luoluo at night,’ he thought. ’I assumed they had already formed a Contract Totem in private.’

"Father, what do you mean by that? Did Luoluo not tell you..." Xi Yi asked, surprised.

Feeling guilty, Su Luoluo pulled Su Yang aside, changing the subject. "Father, let’s talk about that later. There’s something I need to discuss with you regarding the Salt Well Cave."

She had told Xi Yi she’d ask Su Yang to perform the Divination, but she’d never actually mentioned it to her father, hoping to put it off for as long as possible. Who would have thought Xi Yi would bring it up today.

’If I don’t change the subject, am I just supposed to wait for Xi Yi to start pestering me about it?’

Su Yang was successfully distracted by Su Luoluo’s new topic. He nodded. "Come with me."

He hadn’t forgotten Su Luoluo’s earlier warning. Seeing Hong Shuang standing behind Cai Xia, he immediately led her to a different spot to talk privately.

Once they were a good distance away, Su Luoluo told Su Yang her plan. After listening, his expression grew serious, and he nodded. "That’s a good idea. I’ll arrange for people to spread the news right away. You’re still carrying a cub, so don’t go running around. Be careful not to jeopardize the pregnancy."

With that said, he quickly summoned two Gray Wolf Beastmen and whispered instructions to them. "Go and spread the news that Su Nuannuan knows how to purify salt. And remember, find plenty of rats on land and plenty of sparrows in the sky to help."

"I know sparrows are gossips, but Leader, why rats?"

The other Wolf Beastman shot him a look. "You’re so dense. Don’t you know rats love to dig tunnels when they’re bored? They dig all over the place and love to wander around aimlessly. They spread every little bit of news that happens on the continent."

After giving his orders, Su Yang turned back to Su Luoluo. "Letting them fight amongst themselves is a decent plan, but we still need to seize control of the Salt Well Cave itself."

Su Luoluo responded with a mysterious smile and whispered a few words in Su Yang’s ear. He nodded repeatedly. "I’ll send people to get into position. The moment they start fighting, we make our move."

...

「Meanwhile」 Feng Huo, having fled in defeat the day before, had now gathered his entire tribe. He was preparing for a major battle against the members of the Wolf Clan.

But when they arrived at the Salt Well Cave, they found it completely empty. There wasn’t a soul in sight.

He burst out laughing. "The heavens are on my side! It looks like that Fire Bird from yesterday finished them off. This Salt Well is ours!"

’I thought I was in for a bitter fight today,’ he mused, ’but I never expected to take the Salt Well this easily.’

He glanced at the Salt Well, then waved a hand back toward his tribe. "Notify the strong, young Beastmen to come in and start mining the salt," he ordered in a low voice.

At his command, many young Beastmen from the Flower Jackal Tribe crowded into the cave, rubbing their hands together, eager to get to work. But when they saw the seemingly bottomless well before them, they scratched their heads and looked back at Feng Huo. "Leader, how are we supposed to get the salt out of here?"

Feng Huo shot the questioning Flower Jackal Beastman a look. "How do you think? Scoop it out with your hands, obviously. Do I have to teach you how to do that?"

"But... Leader, the well is full of water."

Feng Huo frowned. ’Shouldn’t a Salt Well be full of salt?’

’You should be able to just scoop it right out. Why would there be water?’

Puzzled, he walked to the edge of the well to see for himself. One look, and he too was at a complete loss.

’The Salt Well is full of water. Where’s the salt?’

’Did Su Nuannuan lie to me?’

Before he could figure it out, a Beastman hurried in from outside the cave, panting as he reported, "Leader, word has spread all across the continent! A female named Su Nuannuan knows how to purify salt!"

’Su Nuannuan?’

A cold smile crept across Feng Huo’s face. ’It seems I have no choice but to find her.’

...

「Back in Sheep Waist Valley」 Su Luoluo stretched languidly, just about to pick some berries to eat.

Xi Yi’s handsome face drew close, his eyes full of alluring charm as he gazed at Su Luoluo. "Luoluo, there’s no time like the present. Let’s form our Contract Totem tonight. The leader is so busy, I’m afraid he won’t have time to perform a Divination for us anyway."