TFBAT -Chapter 77

Although the chieftain had ordered the shaman to take the females to safety, there were still some who volunteered to follow him and face the beast tide.

Many of them were older and experienced females.

They knew very well that if it were merely a regular beast tide, the chieftain would never have decided to have the females take refuge.

After a brief hesitation, the female beastmen realized the situation and turned toward the edge of the tribe, running for safety.

Hu Shu did not follow.

She and Chi Yuyang hid together in the chieftain’s dwelling.

After finding an inconspicuous corner to sit, Hu Shu quickly glanced around at their surroundings.

Hu Wan and the other same-aged tigers had also stayed behind.

The large cavern suddenly became crowded with so many females, and the noise immediately filled Hu Shu’s ears.

Chi Yuyang looked up at the disheveled pile of matches underfoot and sighed.

Fortunately, in this dim cave, Hu Shu was there with her.

Before entering the cave, she had already noticed Hu Wan and the other females, but considering that the shaman and other tribe members were present, she assumed they wouldn’t bother her.

Feeling more relaxed, Chi Yuyang noticed a tickling sensation on her leg.

Looking down, she saw a tiger cub struggling to paw at the cloth bundle she had placed by her feet.

The cub was small, seemingly a female, or perhaps just recently born.

“Is Hu Ya alright?” Chi Yuyang suddenly remembered Hu Shu’s daughter.

Hu Ya had been busy learning to hunt recently, so Hu Shu hadn’t brought her to watch the tiger fight.

“She’s fine,” Hu Shu waved her hand. “She won’t wander too far while hunting with the other cubs.”

Seeing Hu Shu’s relaxed tone, Chi Yuyang didn’t ask further.

Most of the remaining females had brought their cubs, and Hu Yu was checking each cub’s condition.

Chi Yuyang watched as the small tiger cub clinging to her was picked up by the shaman.

It was likely a cub that had been in the chieftain’s cave all along.

Having seen her often, it had remembered her scent.

“No cubs are injured.” Hu Yu said, then turned to leave.

Chi Yuyang quietly asked, “Shaman, are you going somewhere else?”

Hu Yu nodded at her.

There were multiple locations where the tiger fight was happening, and he had to check the others.

After taking a few steps, Hu Yu suddenly looked back at Chi Yuyang.

He remembered that Chi Yuyang also had knowledge of medicine.

…

Apart from some initial noise from the cubs upon entering the cave, most had quieted down after being calmed by their mothers.

Now, most of the female beastmen sat in place, waiting for the chieftain and other tribe members to return with news.

After the shaman left, the cave remained calm.

Just as Chi Yuyang believed the beast tide would not threaten Hu Jin, most of the females in the cave had complete confidence in their mates and tribe members.

Even Hu Shu didn’t feel that the beast tide was particularly terrifying.

In the quiet, Chi Yuyang found herself thinking more.

Hu Shu undoubtedly loved her child deeply; this was evident from the panic and fear she showed when Hu Ya accidentally ingested poison the first time they met.

Yet now, with the beast tide approaching and Hu Ya not by her side, she didn’t seem overly worried.

Does this mean the beast tide isn’t frightening for tiger cubs? Then why did the chieftain order the females to take refuge?

“Hey!” a high-pitched voice rang out.

Chi Yuyang frowned.

She really hated being interrupted while thinking.

Especially by a disliked female.

She didn’t even lift her eyelids, instead teasing the female cub that had come close to her feet again.

Hu Shu saw a faint glint of hatred flash across Hu Wan’s face, but she quickly adjusted her expression and, with her usual domineering tone, pointed at Chi Yuyang: “You foreign female, why do you get to stay here for safety?”

At the edge of the tiger tribe:

A few lone tiger beastmen were facing off against a group of lion beastmen they had unexpectedly encountered.

Hu Jin suddenly turned his head toward the forest’s depths, toward the chieftain’s cave.

The lion beastman closest to Hu Jin interpreted this gesture as contempt.

A look of impatience flashed across his face, but he casually greeted, “Hu Jin, I said I would visit the tiger tribe. Didn’t expect to meet again so soon.”

Hu Jin continued staring in that direction without responding, nor did he indulge the other.

This irritated the newly appointed lion chieftain even more.

Nearby, Huli snorted, “What are you lions doing here?”

His tone and expression were both unfriendly.

He nearly spat the word “get lost” at the lion beastman.

Seeing this, a lion beastman tried to step forward but was restrained by the lead lion, Shi Xiu.

Hu Jin then turned his head, glancing at the leader with the corner of his eye.

“Leave.” His expression was cold, his words indifferent.

Dealing with the beast tide had indeed consumed much of their time and energy, but if the lion beastmen thought they could take advantage and defeat the tiger tribe, they were in for a huge surprise.

Huli hadn’t expected Hu Jin to actually say “leave.” At least outwardly, the tiger and lion tribes maintained a facade of peace.

He recalled the expression on the chieftain’s face before the tribe had scattered—frustration and exhaustion.

Shi Xiu sneered.

Although the encounter with Hu Jin was unexpected, it was a good opportunity.

He slowly raised his hand to signal his tribe to attack, only to be met by a punch striking his shoulder directly.

He had to change the angle of his raised hand to block the strike.

“Hu Jin! Stop!”

Another tiger beastman shouted, alarmed by Hu Jin’s sudden offensive.

“The chieftain said…”

“This beast tide is the lion tribe’s conspiracy,” Hu Jin interrupted.

Looking toward the sound, Hu Jin noticed that this “tiger” beastman had a pair of light gray rounded ears and long hair reaching his shoulders, even down to his chest, resembling a lion’s mane.

He might have lion genes.

Even after seeing him, Hu Jin continued speaking: “The lion tribe has long coveted our territory; conflict was inevitable.”

The male opened his mouth but couldn’t utter a sound for a long moment.

“The chieftain is aware as well,” Hu Jin said.

The chieftain, anticipating the beast tide, guessed that the lion tribe would visit during the tiger fight.

Even with the tiger tribe’s strong regenerative abilities, not every beastman had limitless power like Hu Jin.

All the while, Hu Jin’s attack did not cease.

Shi Xiu barely blocked a few strikes, then had to transform into beast form and retreat into the lion ranks.

The lion tribe excelled at group combat.

Hu Jin quickly changed his form as well.

From afar came a howling sound—it was the chieftain!

Hesitant, Huli immediately responded, reporting the situation.

“Children, as male tiger beastmen, driving off the lions is not just for territory, but for the females and cubs as well.”

The chieftain’s words spurred other silent beastmen into action.

They transformed into their beast forms and leapt at the lions.

The only one who did not move was the earlier speaking beastman.

His mother was a lion, giving him lion traits, but he had grown up in the tiger tribe.

He looked at the tigers mixed among the lions, spotting a conspicuous white tiger.

That white tiger not only scattered the lions’ formation but left clear wounds with every strike.

Yet they were outnumbered.

Aside from the white tiger and the familiar strong Huli, the other tigers were surrounded by lions.

A dangerous moment was unfolding a few steps away—

A lion attempted a sneak attack from behind.

The tiger being ambushed was his peer.

Without hesitation, he transformed and charged.

…

“Foreigners?” Chi Yuyang nearly laughed upon hearing the word.

Hu Wan mistook her expression for embarrassment.

“You look like an ape beastman! You don’t belong to our tiger tribe!” Hu Wan’s sister added.

Chi Yuyang chuckled.

Just because someone looked like an ape, did that make them an ape beastman? She had seen beastmen who looked like apes but had tiger genes.

Hu Wan interpreted her expression as anger turned to amusement, guessing Chi Yuyang must be very upset.

“Ape beastman?”

“Didn’t your tiger go to the ape tribe before?”

“I think our tribes didn’t get along well.”

Hearing this, the other females began discussing among themselves.

Hu Shu tried to explain, but Chi Yuyang squeezed her hand, signaling her to wait.

“Hu Wan, Hu Han, your mother is a lion, right?” Chi Yuyang stood face-to-face with Hu Wan.

Using the faint light, she discerned the expression on Hu Wan’s face.

“Yes… my mother is a lion!” Hu Wan’s eyes widened.

Hu Han quickly added, “So what if our mother is a lion? Tiger and lion tribes have always had a good relationship!”

“Really?” Chi Yuyang countered.

“Our tiger tribe has a good relationship with the lions,” Hu Wan replied.

“There are some lion females in the tribe, right?”

“But their fathers are tiger beastmen.”

Discussion erupted.

Hu Wan seemed emboldened, puffing her chest. “Yes, my mother is a lion, but my father is a tiger!”

Chi Yuyang responded, “My mate is a tiger beastman.”

“Yes, her mate is indeed a tiger, that silver-haired one with snowy ears.”

“She was just sitting beside the chieftain, which means she is a family member attending the tiger fight.”

“Judging by her appearance, she must be a mate.”

Hu Wan immediately retorted, “But you’re not!”

“I never said I was,” Chi Yuyang shrugged. “I just wanted to express that Hu Jin is a tiger beastman.”

Unfortunately, Hu Jin wasn’t here. If he heard the tribe say he was a tiger beastman, who knew how pleased he would be.

Chi Yuyang tried to look outside, but her hidden position prevented her from locating the cave entrance.

Hu Wan, seeing Chi Yuyang evade direct answers, grew furious. “You don’t deserve to sit here!”

More and more tiger beastmen joined the battle against the lions.

Those with lion genes hesitated at first, but soon made their decision.

Most chose to stand with the tiger tribe.

Of the few remaining, aside from those unwilling to join either side, very few actually defected.

“Your lion tribe’s plan has ultimately failed,” the chieftain said to the newly appointed lion chieftain, a triumphant smile on his face.