Arc 3: A city where 4 clans reside in peace.

Using the energy crystal Caden used to trade rice for QingQing in the novel, Caden bought an Ell. It had 2 sections, 4 rooms, a lake flowing through the yard and a sandpit in the back. Sandpits were used as toilets in this world, reminding the human girls of pet litter-boxes. These stone houses were said to be built by the ancestors of the citizens, each one consisting of very high roofs, broad bedrooms, and small living rooms for cooking and eating. The houses were all neatly arranged in a row.

Q: “Jiejie, are the rooms this broad so the females can sleep with multiple males?”

A: “Of course.” 

Q: “I suddenly don’t have the courage to look those females straight in the face." Showing feirce embarrasment, she seemed to be thinking for a moment. "Will you... have multiple males too?” 

A: “I don’t plan to. But if the need arises, I won’t hesitate. After all, an average beast here is 10 times stronger than the most formidable human being. Danger can appear when my mate is away hunting or even merely distracted. Also, there can be an attack, anytime, that’s impossible to be blocked by only 1 male. Males with another mate won’t necessarily help out.” 

Q: “Does that mean I have no choice but to accept both Zayn and Caden?” 

A: “Tbh, no. It’s not limited to them and you shouldn’t feel pressured. Do what you’re ready to do. Bear in mind that they’re both too possessive. You must take your time convincing them and yourself.”

The group dried long grasses to build 2 nests for both females. Ash gave the idea to mark their territory using fences, QingQing provided designs and Zayn built them using oak wood and stone hooks. They also added curtains to the windows and a wooden barrier between both sections. QingQing chose the east section so Ash took the north. She insisted they cook together in QingQing’s living room and bathed in hers because- Q: “Jiejie, save me! They’re occupying one room each staring at me whenever I try to wash up!” 

After 3 days of hard work the Ell became a decent house, peaceful to live in.

The citizens seemed happy to receive 2 females at once. At first they showed hostility to Caden, but seeing he has already chosen his mate they stopped bothering. Instead, they often crowded over because of the delicious smell drifting from their house. Hiding behind a leather mask Ash scammed them as usual.

It was the 5^th day. They were having steamed fish and some wild fruits in the yard, when a tiger’s roar was heard at their gate. 

At the beginning, Ash would get really excited at the sound of tigers. It took a few nudge of disappointment to convince herself that there were many other tigers living in the city. 

Zayn opened the gate. In came a young lady riding the largest tiger in the group. She had brownish-red short hair, big catlike eyes, red lips and flawless olive skin. Bah, so sexy! I thought there were no fair females in this world, guess it was just the countryside- thought QingQing. 

People around were drooling at her beauty.

“Zayn, you’re back.” The lady smiled sweetly, “Have you finally decided on being my mate?” 

Well damn. Both girls gasped in unison, each for their individual reason. 

Q: Zayn is popular enough to be chased by females? 

A: This is the drama princess! Merde, I need popcorn.

Rose, one of the minor villains of the novel who schemes against QingQing out of jealousy, is mostly into Zayn and Kaywin. Falling into the bigger villain's temptation, she tries to kill the FL multiple times.

Z: “Even if I remain bachelor forever, I won’t be your male. Mind you, I have a female now.” 

Noticing his arrogant sneer, Rosa took a glance around. Her gaze followed his, and soon the freckled QingQing was noticed. 

R: “Hur Hur, Zayn. At the end you fell for an ugly freak?” 

Ash felt a smile tug at her lips.

R: “A filthy one at that. Are those lice I see? She can’t even- aah!” 

With a flash of red behind them, 2 of Rose’s mates were sent flying. 

Insulting QingQing in Caden’s presence? Good luck, kitty cat.

R: “They have a feral in the house?! Inform the king!” 

Zayn's arogance only increased at her cliche remark.

Z: “Fleeing? Just you wait. Soon I’ll become 4 stripped and make your tribe lose the power to act as you like.” 

Boo... that ended way too fast. 

While Ash was sighing over lack of drama, Zayn ran back to QingQing, fearing she’s mad. 

Q: “Who’s she? So beautiful.” 

Surprisingly it was Caden who replied: “Not at all. You are.” 

Damn you snake! No one asked for dog food after popcorn, ok? 

To her dismay, Zayn wished to top Caden even in boot licking, adding, “No one's prettier to you, QingQing. Don’t be deceived by beauty, she’s a dirty schemer. She ripped her clothes in public and fell on her own. I thought she had tripped and gave my aid. But she let out screams claiming I... her... She eyes me for power! I swear! The one I like is you!” 

In no time, Zayn too became Caden’s volley ball, flying across the sky.

Q: “Caden! Don’t just hurt him for no reason! And that doesn’t answer who she is.” 

The half snake merely shrugged and went back into the house. 

Shaking her head Ash stepped in. “She’s the treasured daughter of the tiger king. They’re the only clan in the city who have two 4 stripped members. Because Zayn gained 2 stripes right after he came of age, she saw potential in him, she schemed a violation scenery so she can rope him in and strengthen their clan’s power.”

Q: “This world is savage...”

A: “Beware her. And this time, try to actually follow my words.” 

QingQing nodded sheepishly.

***

“You! Yes you, Mister. Come down here.” 

When Ash read in the novel that Muhr always makes a nest close to where the FL settles and is at her service  whenever she needs help, Ash found it sweet. However, watching the giant eagle stalking the poor girl around even when she tries to relieve herself was nothing near charming.

Why’s he here anyway? Didn’t I avert him in the forest? Had he already fallen for her beauty at the spring? Just wait until you stand before me! I’ll beat the living shi...

The huge black eagle flew out of the tree in their backyard. Sensing the snake not at home, he lowered his guard and transformed. 

Ash was ready to confront him, use the stone spear Zayn made the other day to chase him if necessary, but not ready to have her heart skip an inhuman amount of beats.

Freaking gorgeous! 

No. Her heart wasn’t even there. 

Is he an idol? 

The novel describes him as a man with abnormally muscular chest and sharp dark eyes, never said he looks like a damn anglo asian celebrity! 

Her eyes scanned his thick brows, stretched mono-lid eyes, black pupils that glowed a golden hue under the sun. His nose was almost as sharp as a bird’s beak, lips pursed thin yet full. He had a head of black beach waves that reached his nape. If not for his tanned skin, he could be easily sold off as a K-pop idol. 

O mon deiu, how the hell did novel’s Bai ignore this hottie!

“Why... is there a stick in your hand?” 

Both he and Caden had gaze and voice that pierced through souls. Only, Caden’s froze to the core, whereas his lit all paths to it on fire. Even after witnessing so many handsome faces since coming to this world, Ash got starstruck. 

“You. Are you going to talk or not?” -he shreiked.

“Oh-Uh this? I-I carry it around for fun. Not to beat anyone up or anything... hehe.” 

“Get to the point.” 

Aish, Xiao Bai was so right about his rude tone. 

A: “Please wear this skirt first.”

Thank god I brought one. Your thing is glowing like a light stabber! Such a size... Xiao Bai, I admire you for taking ‘that’ in. The way he’s stalking you, seems like you gotta take him in this life too! Best of luck.

“About why I called...” 

Make something up. Anything. Quick! 

Upon fidgeting, Ash felt the rough touch of processed leather on her palm, ”Accompany me to the sheep village?” she suddenly whispered, “I need someone to carry the hides I’ll use for trade...”

 Kya! It sounds so much like a date! Did I really ask someone out? A total hunk at that? ...No-Nope, get your mind out of the gutter. If I remember his description right, he’s too egotistical and clueless about romance. This is me taking advantage of that to get Bai the rice she has long been craving. This is strictly for her sake.

Muhr glanced at the pile of hides standing nearly as tall as the female who wants him to carry them. 

M: “Ask your own males.” 

A: “Haven’t you seen? I don’t have any.” 

M: “So? I like your sister. I can’t-” 

A: “I’ll remember to mention you when she eats it. Rice is her favorite...”

Ash initially wanted to sit on the pile so he can easily carry her with it, but when he laid his wings to the ground, she felt the need to explain some necessities. “Please fly low and be gentle. Females can’t breathe in harsh- Whoa! Aren’t you huge?” 

Her 5 feet height felt like an ant on his 5 meters broad back after spreading wings.

Seeing them fly away from sight, the brunette behind the curtain came out looking dumbfounded. 

Didn’t she go to beat up my stalker? How did it end in a date between them? He’s just a little good looking... or well, he’s very good looking, and- 

Wait.

How does she look so good with anyone?! 

Ash's pov:

“We exchange dry meat for salt thus only trade our rice with meat.” 

I expected something like this to happen when I sent Muhr for the trade. I’m not as strength-rich as Caden to have available crystals at my will and just throw them at their face and declare- ‘I want every grain your village produced this year.’ So I had a countermeasure prepared.

I walked forward. 

“You’re herbivores, right? If it’s hard to hunt, it must be hard to use harsh materials to prepare hides too. I brought so many. Won’t you let me have some rice?” 

Folding my wrists, I blinked, trying to act cute. Although my face was masked, my small form and dark eyes seemed to have done the work. He stared dazedly for a while before jerking awake and clumsily packing a bag of somewhere around 100g rice, “I can o-offer this much.” 

This stingy little- 

I jumped up and purposefully grabbed his hand, “That’s more than enough!” 

The horned man’s eyes gleamed in joy as he brought out another bag, “I t-think, y-you can have this one too.”

A: “Really? Oh, how should I thank you? What’s your name?” 

He blushed, squirming behind the aisle, “B-Bento.” 

Bento? As in Japanese lunch-box? 

“You know what, I can give you 2 more...” He suddenly mumbled.

Now that’s what I’m here for!

“Oh my~ how generous you are.” 

As he scurried inside his hut to pack the extra, Muhr leaned in to whisper, “Are you going to take him as your mate?” 

Eh?

A: “Oh hello, Mister- He's an idiot!” 

M: “But you're smiling at him like... that.” 

A: “I’m scamming him for more rice.”

It was Muhr’s turn to go 'eh?' 

What type of trade is that?

Muhr’s pov:

I had already sworn to offer my lifelong services to my savior when the leopards of my scouting team reported that it was Zayn who left the antidote. I figured that the female Zayn likes should be the one ordering this, that arrogant kid won’t listen to anyone otherwise. So after the ordeal I went through searching for that person, it turned out to be the female I tried to save at the spring. 

So, she’s beautiful, and kind. 

I immediately took an oath, giving up on my job as the Leopard king’s soldier and everything else I dreamt of to be her protector. She was the one who gave me a new life at the verge of death, I felt it was only fair to use the new me- heart, life and body -serving solely her.

It was way later that I found out that feral was a male she approved of and lost the courage to pursue her upfront. She surely hates me for attempting to snatch her away from her favored male. But I had already taken an oath and she was just so lovable, I decided to protect her from a distance.

Then this small female, who seems to be loved by my savior, comes to me offering something so tempting. She sure looked playful, but I didn’t take her for the cunning type. It’s also surprising how she knew that only herbivores farm rice with the purpose of trading and that the sheep clan was the closest village to get some. We were about to fly back with 5 bags in her hold, when loud shrieks suddenly came floating from the east side of the village. I flew up to check, this much distance was nothing for my eagle vision.

“It’s a white tiger.” 

For some reason, she looked visibly shaken. shifting her gaze in an odd manner, she asked, “Does it have a scar across it's face?” 

It didn’t. Was it disappointment that crossed her gaze? Why?

The trader was already rushing to the site, his shop barely closed as he yelled, ”That crazy wild tiger is here again? O deities, please stop it from killing anymore villagers!” 

She looked at me as if something just struck her, “Let’s get rid of it, Mister. We’ll become the hero they’d owe to.”

That’s one way to put it. To me, reason was of course avoid the slander of a 3 stripped eagle being here still beastmen getting killed. 

Being full of spirit was one thing. But what of my reputation if I let this frail female get into danger? She was even my savior’s favored personnel. So I spread my arms, intended to have her to wait here. 

Yet, she jumped on my back with such speed, I only realized when her yelled declaration banged straight into my ears, “Yes! Hurry! I kill a beast today!” 

So soft... I-I mean, who is the one gone crazy? The tiger or her?

I did witness her killing birds but to kill wild beasts, what use can that thin narrow headed stick be of? 

But she seems so happy... Guess what? I can always kill the beast after she has her little stunt. 

We barely reached the east-side when I saw the tiger cornering 2 males and a female. 

“If I saw how scrawny it is I would’ve never compared it to my Kitten-pss.” 

I had to halt deciphering her non sensical words. It’s aim is a female? Deities! I don't have time for any stunts!

Ash set her spear in a throwing pose as Muhr started to come down in a harsh speed, the air stabbing through her eyes. Good, he’s cooperating. The throwing force will be stronger if the speed is high. The resulting sting is only a matter of seconds.

The tiger noticed them and pushed its left hind leg down, so she aimed at its right. Just when Muhr’s beak was about to touch the tiger, it leaped to the right, immediately getting its chest pierced by the stone spear and dying on spot. The spear’s tip landed right in front of the cornered female’s feet, forcing a terrified cry out of her.

The sight invoked a deserving admiration in everyone, including Muhr. 

The villagers came forward to thank the people who saved them from the never ending torture of the crazy beast. The person riding the eagle landed before them, a bearskin covering ‘his’ small frame in a odd style that’d be called shirt tucked in shorts on earth. 

“Phew, that was close.” A fair lean wrist reached out to the trembling female on the ground, consoling, “There-there, you’re safe now.” Only then did they notice.

That wild thing was killed by a female?!