Chapter 486: The Dragon Beast City
After the awkward silence and Rong Ye’s shameless revelation about their "daily cleaning duties," the men finally took the hint and began to leave one by one.
Han Jue and Hu Yan had already headed off to start the fire for a proper meal.
Rong Ye gave one last playful wink before slipping out, his fox tail swishing with amusement.
Xuan Long followed quietly, though his ears still carried a faint tinge of red.
Shi Feng was the last to move. He returned moments later carrying a large, heavy stone tub filled with steaming hot water. He set it down carefully in the center of the open space inside the hut.
"The water is ready," he said in his calm, deep voice. "Take your time, Lan Lan" With a small nod, he turned and left, letting the hide flap fall shut behind him.
Su Qinglan exhaled in relief once she was finally alone.
The lingering embarrassment from Rong Ye’s words still warmed her cheeks, but the hot water looked far too inviting to dwell on it.
She quickly removed her clothes and stepped into the stone tub.
The heat enveloped her instantly, soothing the stiffness left from days of unconsciousness.
She soaked for a short while, letting the warmth seep into her muscles, before picking up the soft cloth and fragrant paste left nearby to wash herself thoroughly. The water felt luxurious after so long.
Once clean, she stepped out, dried herself with a large, absorbent animal hide, and slipped into one of her comfortable outfits...a soft top paired with a simple skirt made from finely treated beast skins.
Just as she finished adjusting her clothes, Shi Feng returned. He lifted the now-used stone tub with ease andLan." carried it outside to dispose of the water properly.
Now alone and refreshed, Su Qinglan finally took a proper look at her surroundings. The realization came gradually, then all at once.
They had arrived at the Dragon Beast City while she was asleep.
The house she was in was not a cave like those in the smaller tribes. Instead, it was a primitive-style hut built with sturdy wooden poles.
These thick logs had been driven deep into the hard soil and bound tightly together with strong vines and ropes, forming solid walls that enclosed the space. It was simple, functional, and clearly designed for durability in this wild world.
She looked up.
The roof was made of neatly layered straw and thatch, sloped carefully to keep out rain.
Su Qinglan nodded to herself with a small, approving smile.
The Dragon Beast City was noticeably more advanced than the smaller tribes that relied solely on natural caves.
These beastmen had learned how to construct proper houses...sturdy wooden structures that stood independently rather than depending entirely on rock shelters.
Still, it remained very much a product of this primitive world.
The interior was essentially one large, open room with almost no furniture: just the sleeping furs neatly piled in one corner, a few woven baskets, and some basic stone slabs.
Four solid wooden walls and plenty of empty space in between. Simple, yet surprisingly spacious and secure.
Feeling curious and lighter now that she was clean, Su Qinglan pushed aside the heavy hide flap and stepped outside.
Warm sunlight and fresh air greeted her. The sky above was a vast, brilliant blue, stretching endlessly over a wide, open landscape of packed earth and hardy grass.
Not far from the hut, in a slightly open cooking area, Hu Yan and Han Jue were busy at work.
A stone hearth crackled with fire beneath a large stone pot, and the delicious aroma of simmering meat and herbs filled the air.
Nearby, the cubs were playing noisily, tumbling and chasing each other under the supervision of An Mo and Rong Ye. Their laughter and playful snarls rang out cheerfully.
Rong Ye spotted her almost immediately. His fox ears perked up, and he waved with a bright grin. "Lan Lan! Come here~ Let’s play with the cubs!"
Su Qinglan smiled and nodded, walking over at a relaxed pace.
The others noticed her emergence too, their expressions softening with quiet affection, but since Rong Ye had already called her over, they returned to their tasks without interruption.
In the distance, Xuan Long and Shi Feng were focused on processing a fresh prey animal, their strong hands moving with practiced efficiency as they skinned and portioned the meat.
As she approached the group of playing cubs, Su Qinglan’s gaze wandered further across the landscape.
What she saw confirmed her earlier observations.
Scattered across the wide plain stood many similar huts, each built in the exact same style...wooden pole walls embedded firmly into the soil, tightly bound for strength, and topped with thick straw roofs.
They were not crowded together like a dense village.
Instead, they were spaced generously apart, with at least five hundred meters or more between neighboring homes.
It gave the settlement an open, spacious feeling, allowing each family their own territory while still belonging to the larger Dragon Beast City.
This place was indeed slightly more advanced than the smaller tribes.
The beastmen here had clearly mastered basic house-building techniques, creating reliable wooden shelters that offered better protection and comfort than simple caves.
Yet everything still carried the honest, rugged charm of a primitive world...no grand architecture, no stone walls or paved roads, just sturdy wooden huts standing proudly under the open sky.
Su Qinglan felt a quiet sense of wonder and warmth settle in her chest. This was their new home.
After a while of playing with the cubs, Su Qinglan felt her heart warm. Xiao Yi and Xiao Er kept tumbling around her legs, their tiny striped tails swishing excitedly.
Xiao San coiled gently around her wrist like a living bracelet, his little tongue flicking curiously.
They were all her own beautiful children, and seeing them so lively after her long sleep made her smile brighter than ever.
"Lan Lan, come eat!" Hu Yan called out from the open cooking area. "The food is ready."