Beastlord: Tribal System

Sorting through the flood of new information, Meng Yuqing tried to figure out his next steps. Just then, the sound of rustling leaves came from the entrance of the cave. His body tensed. Was it Xuan returning? Or something else?

Cautiously, he moved deeper into the cave. To his relief, the rustling was followed by the sight of Xuan's massive head parting the foliage.

"I'm back, Meng… Yuqing?"

Xuan's ears twitched as he stumbled over the unfamiliar three-syllable name. In his world, beastmen typically had one-syllable names, while sub-beasts had two. Meng Yuqing's name felt strange and awkward to him.

Seeing it was Xuan, Meng Yuqing let out a sigh of relief. Despite the system distracting him earlier, he had been on edge the entire time. On the way to the cave, he had noticed glimpses of animals scared off by Xuan's presence. Though harmless to Xuan, any one of them could have easily ended Meng Yuqing's life.

He shuddered at the memory of shouting for help while trapped on the tree. If it hadn't been Xuan who heard him, but one of those predators…

"I'm here. Coming out now," Meng Yuqing called, shaking off his thoughts and heading toward the entrance.

At the cave's mouth, Xuan stood beside two enormous leaves. One leaf held neatly processed raw meat, while the other held a variety of fruits, each about the size of a fist, ranging in colors from green to yellow to red.

"The meat is cleaned and ready to cook. If you're hungry, eat some fruit to tide you over. I'll have the meat cooked in no time," Xuan said.

Meng Yuqing raised his head to look at the panther, still trying to process how a giant black panther could cook. His confusion deepened as Xuan took a step back, his form suddenly beginning to blur.

In seconds, the massive panther shrank, its features becoming increasingly indistinct. By the time the transformation stopped, a young man, about two meters tall, stood in Xuan's place.

He had shoulder-length black hair and healthy sun-kissed skin. His physique was lean but muscular, radiating strength and agility. His deep green eyes peeked out from beneath slightly messy bangs, sharp and striking like the predatory gleam of a wild beast.

Meng Yuqing blinked, stunned. The man before him was breathtakingly handsome, exuding a mix of danger and allure. He looked like a perfect embodiment of a panther in human form—wild, elegant, and powerfully alive.

It dawned on Meng Yuqing: He is a panther. The realization grounded him in this strange world, making everything feel suddenly, starkly real.

Sharing a Meal

Xuan picked up the leaves containing the meat and fruit and carried them deeper into the cave. Passing by Meng Yuqing, he paused for a moment, looking at him curiously.

Meng Yuqing quickly touched his nose in embarrassment, realizing he'd been standing there dumbfounded. He followed Xuan inside, the dim cave darkening further as the evening set in.

Once inside, Xuan placed the leaves on the ground before heading deeper into the cave. He soon returned with an armful of dry branches. Using two rocks, he struck a spark, and a small fire gradually grew, casting a warm glow around them.

"Come closer," Xuan said, gesturing at Meng Yuqing. "Eat some fruit first; the meat will be ready soon."

He handed Meng Yuqing two fruits.

"Don't worry about me," Meng Yuqing said, shaking his head. "Let's eat together. You should have something too." He handed one fruit back to Xuan.

"I don't need it," Xuan replied, pushing the fruit back toward Meng Yuqing. "I ate a Little Tusk Beast before I found you. I won't need anything else tonight. But you, on the other hand, are too thin. You need to eat more."

Meng Yuqing looked down at himself in confusion. While he wasn't a bodybuilder, he was still a healthy 180 cm man with lean muscle. He had no trouble carrying his 160-pound roommate. How was that "too thin"?

Xuan seemed to notice Meng Yuqing's displeasure and tilted his head, his confusion plain on his face.

Meng Yuqing decided not to argue. He rubbed the fruit in his hands and changed the subject. "When are we going to your tribe?"

At this, Xuan hesitated, a conflicted expression crossing his face.

Meng Yuqing's heart sank. Had something gone wrong? Was Xuan reconsidering bringing him along?

Finally, Xuan spoke while tending the fire. "I left my tribe to complete my coming-of-age hunt. My target is a Shadow Beast. I injured it, but it escaped. I've been tracking it for days and followed it here. It's nearby, but it's hiding and incredibly cunning."

He glanced at Meng Yuqing and added, "The tribe is a five-day journey from here. If I leave now, I'll lose its trail, and I might never find it again."

Meng Yuqing nodded, understanding the importance of this hunt. He didn't know much about the traditions here, but Xuan's tone made it clear this was a significant event.

"Alright," Meng Yuqing said. "Finish your hunt first. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help."

Xuan's eyes widened slightly. Sub-beasts rarely offered to help with beastman hunts. For a moment, Xuan felt warmth bloom in his chest.

"Thank you," Xuan said, his ears turning faintly red as he focused on the fire.

Soon, the smell of roasting meat filled the air. The golden-brown surface of the meat glistened as fat dripped into the flames, producing a mouthwatering aroma.

Xuan handed a piece of cooked meat to Meng Yuqing.

Meng Yuqing hesitated at first but gave in to his hunger after taking a bite. "This is amazing!" he exclaimed.

Xuan beamed, his sharp green eyes softening. "I'm the best cook in the tribe. Everyone loves my roasted meat. If only I'd brought salt rocks—it could've been even better."

A Night in the Cave

After the meal, they tidied up the cave. Xuan brought in a pile of dried grass and spread it on the ground, creating a makeshift bed for Meng Yuqing. It was surprisingly soft and comfortable.

Meng Yuqing settled in, but noticed Xuan heading toward the cave entrance.

"It's so late—where are you going?" Meng Yuqing asked.

"I'll sleep at the entrance," Xuan replied. "You'll be safer this way."

Xuan transformed back into his panther form, curling up to block most of the cave entrance.

"You'll catch a cold!" Meng Yuqing protested.

"Don't worry," Xuan replied, his deep voice calm. "In beast form, I won't feel the cold. Just rest. I'll keep watch."

Reluctantly, Meng Yuqing lay back down. The day's events had left him utterly exhausted. Despite his worries, sleep claimed him almost immediately.