Chapter 195: Seville’s Inquiry
"Not only did Seville take down the Toad King by himself, he also returned to his original form!"
Lu Ming gestured wildly, exaggerating as if he were introducing an Ancestor Spirit.
"Su An’an isn’t just immune to the toad’s poison, she can also heal wounds!"
"Even their adopted cub, Qiuqiu, can take human form at just two and a half years old."
"Hello!" Qiuqiu waved excitedly at the crowd of Beastmen.
In his human form, the mixed-blood cub was a natural social butterfly.
Hearing this, the Beastmen present all turned to look at Seville and Su An’an, their eyes filled with shock and hope.
"Is it true? He actually managed to kill the Toad King?"
"Even the Cobra Tribe fears the Toad King’s venom!"
"Duh, of course it’s true!"
Xiong Guo pointed at the piles of toad meat, then patted her own chest.
"If it weren’t for their help, how could we have possibly gotten such a huge haul?"
"Lady Su An’an! If you really have Healing Power, then I’m begging you!"
An injured Beastman Warrior struggled to his feet. "Please save our Clan Leader and our warriors!"
Su An’an didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she slowly walked up to the Old Wolf Clan Leader, her gaze calm but firm.
"It’s simple to get my help. On one condition: you get a new Clan Leader."
The Old Wolf Clan Leader gave a bitter smile, coughed weakly a few times, and finally nodded slowly.
"Manda won the hunt. According to tribal tradition, she should be the one to take over as Clan Leader."
Manda’s lion ears twitched slightly, as if she were about to speak, but Su An’an suddenly cut her off.
"No!"
The entire area fell silent in an instant. All the Beastmen were stunned.
"What do you mean by that?!"
The young Leopard Beast shot to his feet, his sharp claws popping out with a SHING, pointing directly at Seville.
"Are you trying to make this Swan the Clan Leader?!"
Seville, who was standing in the shadows, slowly lifted his gaze. His Amber Beast Eyes swept across the crowd like blades, and his voice was bone-chillingly cold.
"Boring."
Manda’s brow furrowed, and she felt a strange sense of unease.
"I have no interest in managing a bunch of trash."
Seville suddenly sneered, his Wings glinting with a cold, metallic light in the fire’s glow.
"Who are you calling trash?!"
The Leopard Beast flew into a rage, his fur standing on end.
The other Beastmen also glared angrily at Seville.
The air suddenly froze.
Seville didn’t even change his posture, merely turning the tips of his Wings slightly toward the Leopard Beast.
In that instant, a chilling killing intent pressed down so tangibly that even the bonfire seemed to dim.
The Leopard Beast suddenly staggered backward, his knees going weak as he fell uncontrollably to the ground.
It was the instinctive fear of being targeted by an apex predator.
"Looking to die?"
Seville’s thin lips parted, and the words that came out were like Ice Cones stabbing into their very marrow.
The entire tribe was so quiet you could hear the crackle and pop of sparks from the fire.
"Not him."
Su An’an shook her head and looked at Manda.
"Manda won the hunt, but she shouldn’t be the Clan Leader."
"Then who in the world do you want to be the leader?!"
The crowd of Beastmen grew restless, and voices of doubt rose one after another.
"Jin Zhu."
Su An’an’s voice was decisive, cutting through the noise like a blade.
She looked directly at Jin Zhu, who had been standing silently to the side all along.
"She’s calmer than any other Beastman and can make the most rational decisions in a crisis."
"She’s smarter than any other Beastman and can see the truth beneath the surface."
"She’s more resourceful than any other Beastman and can ensure the Gray Stone Tribe survives in this cruel forest."
"Unlike the Old Wolf and Manda, who either coldly weed out their own tribe members or are too merciful to protect anyone!"
"But Jin Zhu is too young!"
A Gray Wolf Beastman Warrior shouted, his neck stiff with defiance.
"And she’s a freak!"
"Shut up!"
Manda’s lion tail whipped out like a lash, viciously knocking the Gray Wolf Beastman over.
Xiong Guo took the opportunity to shove a wad of medicinal herbs into his mouth. "You’re the freak, you son of a bitch!"
Amid the commotion, only Jin Zhu remained perfectly still, not even an eyelash twitching.
It was as if this debate that concerned her destiny had nothing to do with her.
Su An’an swept her cold gaze across the Beastmen.
"I’m not asking for your opinion. I will only help a tribe ruled by Jin Zhu."
She paused, the corner of her lips curling into a mocking arc.
"If you’re unwilling, then I’ll just go to the Tumu Tribe. I’m sure they’ll be more sensible than you."
Seville stood by her side, his dark gold Wings spreading slightly.
A cold, tangible pressure enveloped the entire area.
Qiuqiu, perched on Su An’an’s shoulder, clapped his little paws excitedly.
"Yay! Let’s go somewhere else!"
Manda was silent for a moment before finally taking a deep breath and saying with a bitter smile:
"Let Jin Zhu be the Clan Leader."
She looked at Jin Zhu, her lion ears drooping slightly. "I really am old. I always want every member of the tribe to live a good life."
"But I forgot that sometimes, mercy can end up hurting them. Jin Zhu is a better fit than I am."
Jin Zhu stood where she was, her pretty, porcelain-white face showing little emotion.
She simply gave a calm nod. "Okay."
Xiong Guo let out a cheer, jumping up and down as she shouted:
"You bunch of idiots! Having Jin Zhu as Clan Leader is way better than that sour-faced, sharp-tongued Swan!"
Seville shot her a cold glance, and Xiong Guo immediately shrank back.
The Old Wolf Clan Leader sighed weakly. "Then let it be Jin Zhu."
The corners of Su An’an’s lips lifted. "A wise choice."
Jin Zhu walked slowly up to Su An’an, placed her right fist against her chest, and bowed her head slightly.
This was the most solemn gesture of request in the Beastman Clan.
"I, Jin Zhu, on behalf of the Gray Stone Tribe, implore you to heal our Clan Leader and Warriors."
Her voice was calm yet firm.
"The Gray Stone Tribe will forever remember this kindness."
The corners of Su An’an’s lips lifted. "Now that’s how you ask for a favor."
She lifted a fingertip, and an emerald-green healing light poured out like flowing water, instantly enveloping the entire shelter.
The Old Wolf Clan Leader’s wounds healed over, and his twisted right paw made a soft CLICK as it straightened.
The festering stump of the warrior’s severed arm healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The injuries on more than twenty Beastman Warriors vanished completely, not leaving even the faintest scar.
"Th-this... how is this possible?"
The Gray Wolf Warrior tremblingly stroked his now-perfect arm.
The Old Wolf Clan Leader’s cloudy eyes suddenly widened, and he looked at Su An’an with excitement.
"The ancient prophecy is true! The Divine Female has descended, accompanied by the Divine Envoy, to lead us toward hope!"
Xiong Guo’s eyes lit up, and she pointed at Su An’an, shouting, "She is the Divine Female!"
Then, catching a glimpse of Seville’s icy gaze, she immediately corrected herself.
"Qiuqiu is the Divine Envoy!"
"Divine Envoy! Divine Envoy!"
Qiuqiu clapped his little hands excitedly, wriggling around.
In an instant, all the Beastmen dropped to their knees as one, their eyes filled with devotion.
Su An’an quickly took two steps back to hide behind Jin Zhu.
"We have nothing to do with any Divine Female or Divine Envoy."
The corner of Jin Zhu’s mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
Seville watched the farce with cold eyes, then picked Qiuqiu up by the scruff of his neck. "Let’s go."
"I want to watch the green light some more," Qiuqiu said, kicking his short little legs.
"You can watch all you want when we get back."
Seville, holding onto Qiuqiu, left the shelter with Su An’an.
Night fell, and a huge bonfire was lit in the center of the Gray Stone Tribe’s camp.
Several stone pots stewed a thick Crystal Meat soup. As the purple broth bubbled, it released a strange, fragrant aroma.
The Beastmen sang and danced around the fire. Xiong Guo excitedly hugged an earthenware pot and began a ritual dance, making the other Beastmen roar with laughter.
Su An’an and Seville sat on a rock far from the clamor.
The firelight illuminated Su An’an’s profile, gilding her with a soft, golden edge.
Seville suddenly reached out and pinched her chin. A light hotter than the bonfire danced in his Amber Beast Eyes.
"Back then, why did you poison my throat so I couldn’t speak?"