TFBAT – Chapter 34

Over the next two days, aside from going to the stall to exchange for meat, Chi Yuyang hardly left the stone house.

Strangely, Yuan Wu didn’t come to see them either.

Chi Yuyang guessed it was because Hu Jin was by her side.

So she suspected that Yuan Wu’s intentions were related to Hu Jin’s father.

On the fourth day, Yuan Wu’s words confirmed her suspicion.

“You’re saying we must go with you?” Chi Yuyang frowned as she looked at Yuan Wu, who had appeared in the stone house where they were temporarily staying.

Hu Jin bared a mouthful of silver teeth at this.

“You just tell us the direction, and the two of us can go by ourselves,” Chi Yuyang said, stroking the tail that hung behind Hu Jin to calm him.

Yuan Wu’s expression didn’t change, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

“Hu Jin’s father should be a Snow Tiger. And the Snow Tiger tribe’s settlement is behind this mountain.”

Chi Yuyang was slightly taken aback.

The first time she saw the ape tribe’s settlement, she had been curious about the scenery behind the mountain.

Who would have thought that the place behind it was where Hu Jin’s father lived?

No, Yuan Wu had known.

But how did he know?

Moreover, Yuan Wu said Hu Jin was a Snow Tiger.

Judging by the name, Chi Yuyang thought Hu Jin’s cold-resistant physique must have been inherited from his father’s genes.

Thinking this, she asked,

“A Snow Tiger… do they live in the snowy mountains?”

This time, Yuan Wu was slightly taken aback.

“Yes.”

“…”, Chi Yuyang suddenly felt a chill.

“Wife…” Hu Jin began, and Chi Yuyang guessed what he was going to say.

He knew she was sensitive to cold.

“We have to go,” Chi Yuyang said, gritting her teeth.

She had been in the ape tribe for three full days.

To pass the time, she tried mixing chicken with different spices.

At first, most of her creations were culinary disasters, but eventually, she managed to make a few dishes that were somewhat decent.

This made her want to try combining spices with other meats.

In the ape tribe, chicken was the only meat available.

Days were tolerable, but nights were unbearable.

Chi Yuyang had to wait for the cacophony outside to end every night before she could sleep.

Every morning, Hu Jin would tenderly pinch her face and say she had lost weight.

Even if Chi Yuyang didn’t want to admit it, she knew she was getting thinner.

She didn’t want her efforts to be in vain.

Moreover, she didn’t want Hu Jin to give in because of her.

Seeing her determination, Hu Jin nuzzled her head.

“Wife, thank you.”

He understood that she was doing this for him.

Yuan Wu instinctively ignored their interaction and continued, “The entrance to the snowy mountains is hard to find, and the Snow Tiger tribe does not allow outsiders into their territory.”

“But Hu Jin is going to see his father,” Chi Yuyang said, puzzled.

Being half Snow Tiger, Hu Jin should be allowed in.

Chi Yuyang thought that just by appearance, Hu Jin looked very much like a “Snow Tiger.”

His beast form was entirely white with black stripes indicative of the fourth tier, and even his human-like ears and tail looked as if they were made of snow.

And Hu Jin had excellent direction sense; he didn’t need Yuan Wu to guide him.

He must have other intentions.

“But he doesn’t have the Snow Tiger tribe’s token,” Yuan Wu said with a smile, “and I do.”

He then tried to take something out from beneath his thick beast hide.

Hu Jin and Chi Yuyang’s eyes followed, but Yuan Wu suddenly stopped.

“I won’t give this to you,” he said in a low voice, his tone faintly enticing.

Chi Yuyang pressed down on Hu Jin’s restless hand.

She whispered into his ear, “Even if we get the token, it’s useless if he doesn’t tell us the route.”

Besides, even if Yuan Wu revealed the so-called route, they couldn’t verify it until they arrived.

Thinking this through, he really had to go with them.

Chi Yuyang sighed.

Sure enough, Yuan Wu was not someone easy to get rid of.

She just feared he might tamper with things along the way.

“How long to reach the snowy mountains where the Snow Tiger tribe lives?” Chi Yuyang asked.

“Three days as well,” Yuan Wu said, lightly coughing.

He noticed Chi Yuyang’s hesitation.

“Let’s discuss it,” she said, raising her gaze and meeting Hu Jin’s eyes.

“Alright, I’ll wait for you in my stone house,” Yuan Wu said, picking up his cane and slowly walking outside.

Watching his back, Chi Yuyang realized that the three days he mentioned must have been based on his pace.

If Hu Jin led her, it might take only half a day.

But without the correct route, speed wouldn’t matter.

Chi Yuyang shook her head silently.

“Wife, I’ll follow you,” Hu Jin said obediently, looking at her with a gentle expression.

Chi Yuyang couldn’t resist touching his ear again.

Ever since she mentioned finding his father and returning “home” together, Hu Jin had been smiling more and more, especially when he realized “home” meant the stone house.

…Chi Yuyang felt something was off.

She wanted to return to the stone house simply because the area was better for planting.

As for what was on this tiger’s mind—though she could guess—she didn’t want to.

It was probably related to some matter.

“Then let’s go,” Chi Yuyang decided.

“Good,” Hu Jin kissed her on the cheek.

They tidied up the stone house’s belongings.

Since they wouldn’t return to the ape tribe, Chi Yuyang took another look at the things she was leaving behind.

If these items could be found in the ape tribe, they must exist elsewhere on the continent as well.

Her journey in the ape tribe was officially over.

…

When Chi Yuyang and Hu Jin stepped out of the bamboo gate, they saw Yuan Wu waiting not far away.

“You made your decision quickly,” Yuan Wu said casually, smiling, as if he had already predicted it.

Chi Yuyang didn’t respond.

She held Hu Jin’s hand and walked slowly toward Yuan Wu.

Estimating the distance, she stopped about two meters away.

“For the next three days, we’ll keep this distance,” Chi Yuyang said seriously, gesturing at the space in front of them.

“Why should I comply?” Yuan Wu tilted his head and tried to step forward with his cane.

But before his foot touched the ground, Hu Jin casually struck toward him.

The wind from the attack dissipated quickly, leaving a visible crack on the ground in front of Yuan Wu.

He quickly retracted his foot.

A few days ago, Hu Jin’s attack had left a lingering shadow in his mind.

“You can’t beat Hu Jin anyway!” Chi Yuyang mimicked Yuan Wu’s tone, teasing him.

Hu Jin’s gaze toward Yuan Wu was full of warning.

Yuan Wu wasn’t upset at the scene; he even laughed.

“Looks like the next three days with you two around will be interesting,” he said.

Hu Jin said, “Interesting or not, I don’t know. But if you cross the line, I guarantee you’ll die miserably.”