No one dared to stop Ziqian, but many of them followed, afraid that something might happen to him.
Ziqian's straight black hair was disheveled, his fair face was now flushed, and tears continued flowing down from his swollen eyes. He was running barefoot as if someone were chasing him.
The sub-beast is now disoriented, and his appearance is unkempt, but his beauty has not diminished a bit. Instead, it only makes everyone more worried and have an urge to protect him.
When Ziqian reached the patriarch's tent, his legs nearly gave out, and he grabbed the post to steady himself.
He was about to call Xue's name when the tent flap lifted.
Bei, Lia, and Xue stepped out, still deep in discussion. They had been talking about the incident earlier, the punishment, and how to prevent it from happening again. They were also talking about the possible arrival of the hunting group that went to Mt. Nebo today.
Xue and Bei had heard a small commotion outside and came to see what was happening. Lia followed to visit Pen and check his condition.
They did not expect to find Ziqian there. Behind him, a few tribe members had followed, whispering anxiously.
Xue immediately rushed forward and pulled Ziqian into his embrace. "What happened?" he demanded, his voice low and tense.
"Xue…" Ziqian choked out. His whole body was trembling.
The sight of him like this made something inside Xue snap. He had only left the sub-beast for a while to meet with his father. Now, seeing Ziqian in such a state, panic surged in his chest.
The mere thought that someone might have harmed Ziqian made his expression darken.
"Who is it?" His gaze swept over Ziqian's body, searching for any sign of injury.
Xue's pheromones thickened, and the weight of it pressed down on everyone.
Bei and Lia exchanged uneasy glances. Xue, who was always calm and rational, seemed to be losing control.
Ziqian shook his head rapidly, clutching at Xue's arm. "No one. It's not that… Xue, listen to me," he gasped, voice trembling. "Something's happened to Huo!"
"What do you mean?"
Ziqian's lips quivered as he tried to explain, but all that came out was a strangled whisper. "He's hurt… I saw it… he's bleeding so much…"
Ziqian looked up at Xue, eyes brimming with tears. "Help them, Xue."
The murmurs behind them died instantly.
Bei then noticed the reactions of some people behind Ziqian. His expression hardened immediately. "Let's talk inside," he said.
Bei entered the tent first, his expression grim and unreadable.
Xue followed close behind, carrying Ziqian in his arms. Only then did he notice that the sub-beast was barefoot, his delicate feet streaked with dirt and blood, some small cuts still oozing. Xue's chest tightened painfully.
Lia gestured for the people to disperse before following them inside.
Many had already heard that something had happened to Huo. No one knew how Ziqian knew about it, only that he had come running to the patriarch's tent in tears.
The news that something might have happened to the hunting group that went to Mt. Nebo spread like wildfire through the tribe. It caused panic among the people, especially those who had relatives and partners in the group.
Many people dropped what they were doing and rushed toward the patriarch's tent. Some of the older beastmen stood at the edge of the gathering, their faces grim, listening and waiting.
Inside.
Xue gently set Ziqian down on the furs. He knelt beside the sub-beast and cleaned the wounds on his feet with a wet cloth.
Lia prepared a cup of calming concoction and handed it to Ziqian, letting him drink before Bei finally spoke. "Ziqian, tell us what happened," he said, his tone careful but firm.
Ziqian's lips trembled. He looked down, his voice almost a whisper. "I was sleeping when suddenly… some chaotic scenes flooded my mind. I saw Huo fighting a monster. It was strong—so strong. Many were injured, and Huo… he was bathed in blood…" His eyes filled with tears again.
"Maybe it was just a dream?" Lia asked softly, though his fingers tightened around the hem of his clothes.
Ziqian shook his head rapidly. "No… I'm sure it wasn't a dream."
Lia exchanged a worried glance with Bei. More than anyone, he knew there was a high chance that what Ziqian saw was real. Still, the worry and guilt twisting in his chest made him wish it was only a dream and his son was safe.
"Do you know what kind of monster it was?" Bei asked.
Bei knew how strong Huo was. That was why he hadn't objected when his wife chose Huo to lead the group this time. He had been confident that any of his sons would never be defeated even if a three-horned beast showed up, but now…
Ziqian closed his eyes, trying to recall the monster's appearance.
"No… but it was large. Its snout was long and full of sharp teeth. Its scales were black and thick, and it had a long, spiked tail. It also had four horns… no, five. There was a small one at the center, and it's glowing."
Ziqian's description was rudimentary. He can only describe the most eye-catching features of the monster he had seen within his consciousness. The scenes were chaotic, flashing past like a movie on fast-forward.
He wasn't sure if what he said would help, but he was certain that the monster that attacked Huo had five horns in total, and one of them was smaller and faintly glowing.
Ziqian could name only a handful of monsters, but he knew that the more horns a monster had, the stronger it was.
Bei froze.
Lia's breath hitched, and even Xue was utterly still.
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Bei was the first to speak, his voice grave. "A four-horned rock lizard that was evolving," he said. His brows knitted, the weight of understanding settling over him like stone.
Lia's face went pale, and his eyes widened in horror. "That's impossible. The scouts said there were no territories for that kind of monster near or on the way to Mt. Nebo!"
Lia said this, but he knew scout reports were never completely reliable and not every corner could be searched. Still, how could a four-horned monster's nest have been overlooked?
Bei holds Lia's trembling hand.
Unlike Lia, Bei's voice was calm, but the strain beneath it was unmistakable. "Did you see what happened to Huo at the end?" he asked.
Ziqian's lips quivered. "Huo was badly injured, and the monster was about to attack him then…" His voice broke into a whisper. "Everything turned white, and then I woke up."
Lia covered his mouth, stifling a sob. Bei's jaw tightened, his eyes closing briefly as if to steady himself before speaking.
"If what you saw was real," Bei said at last, voice rough, "then the hunting group may have encountered something far beyond their strength."
He turned to Xue. His tone was firm and commanding. "Form a team. Find them."
Xue nodded and turned to leave, but Ziqian caught his hand. "Take me with you."
Xue froze, staring at him. "Ziqian—"
"I can't just stay here and wait," Ziqian interrupted.
"Ziqian, it's dangerous," Lia said, exchanging a look with Bei.
"I can help. I can find them faster," Ziqian said, tears still glistening in his eyes. His grip on Xue's hand tightened. "Please!"
The guardians can now detect Nia's location, and wherever Nia is, Huo will also surely be there.
Xue looked down at him, his expression softening. He knew there was no stopping Ziqian once he had made up his mind. "Then you stay close to me," he said quietly but firmly. "Don't leave my side, no matter what happens."
Ziqian nodded rapidly. "I won't. I promise."
Xue acted quickly. Within minutes, fifteen strong-looking beastmen were already lined up outside the patriarch's tent. These were the tribe's elite warriors, those personally trained and groomed by the patriarch himself. They were rarely dispatched, usually staying behind to guard the tribe against invaders or sudden monster attacks.
Bei stepped forward, his expression grave as he started. "The hunting group encountered danger near Mount Nebo. Your top priority is to save them. Leave the prey if necessary. Bringing everyone back alive comes first."
The fifteen warriors straightened. "Understood!" They roared in unison, their voices echoing through the crowd.
The beastmen standing in front were much more toned and darker. Their bodies were covered in scars, each mark a testament to countless battles they encountered, making them look both fearsome and intimidating.
When the group gathered, their killing intent was intense. It was so strong that even the females felt chills, and the sub-beasts cowered in fear, hiding behind the people in front of them.
It was one of the reasons why these men rarely appeared and always stayed at the border of the tribe.
But unlike the others, Ziqian looked at these people with awe. It was the first time he had seen these men, and his first impression was that they looked like veteran soldiers.
Damn, they looked cool.
Hot, even.