The Primitive Tribe is about to rise (2): 47: Goodbye, the next one will be better.

As soon as everyone saw the scene inside the house, they were all astonished.  

“Good heavens, Elvin, your home is so beautiful!”  

“Is this a fur rug? It’s incredibly soft, and it even has patterns! This hide could probably trade for a whole sheep in the market!”  

“Ah!! I see pottery! Actual pottery! I’ve only ever seen it during the Great Shaman’s rituals before!”  

The rabbit man puffed out his chest proudly and stepped into the obviously luxurious dwelling. Memories of his past life flashed through his mind—the home of Elvin, the Beast God’s Emissary, which had been more lavish than any other beastman’s. As expected of Elvin, he thought. Even before becoming the Beast God’s Emissary, he’s still more outstanding than any other beastman.  

If he could just stay with Elvin and become his sub-beastman, he’d be able to live this life of luxury and comfort, enjoying sweet milk and soft bedding every day.  

But that cold-faced Si Qi, who was so undeserving of the exceptional Elvin’s affectionate attention, was nothing but an eyesore.  

He couldn’t bear Elvin strong and healthy offspring, nor could he properly serve a hero like Elvin. Other tribe leaders had multiple sub-beastmen attending to them, yet Elvin—who was even greater than a leader—had only the cold, rigid beastman Si Qi by his side.  

Worse, Si Qi, taking advantage of his bonded status with Elvin, monopolized him, forbidding Elvin from “socializing” with other beastmen or sub-beastmen outside. This made the noble Elvin repeatedly lose face in public, mocked by others who said, How pathetic—a mighty emissary afraid of a mere beastman. It seemed even becoming an emissary wasn’t all that impressive.  

Just thinking about it made the rabbit man seethe. Especially since, in his past life, when he had tried to approach Elvin, Si Qi had thrown him out of the tribe, publicly scolding him from a position of superiority while the Great Shaman reprimanded him for daring to offend the emissary’s bonded partner. The scornful gazes of the tribe had haunted him ever since…  

The more he thought about it, the more resentful he became. Fortunately, not long ago, he had received the Beast God’s blessing and returned to the past, decades before all this…  

This time, he would seize the opportunity to help Elvin break free from Si Qi, that jealous and possessive beastman, so he could enjoy the happiness befitting a divine emissary—spending his life with him, the rabbit man, as his sub-beastman.  

With these thoughts in mind, he watched as the cold-faced Si Qi pointed at the items in the house and said to the onlookers, “Any one of these things—could they buy your care for me? Would they be enough for you to bring me food when I’m injured?”  

The gathered beastmen were taken aback but answered honestly, “Of course they would.”  

Some sub-beastmen even said outright, “Si Qi, if you’re willing to trade, just give me a small piece of soft hide for a skirt, and I’ll take care of you for a whole year!”

Only a few younger beastmen, who had never been to the market and didn’t understand the value of these things, foolishly said, “What’s so special about these furs? I could hunt and gather piles of them easily!”  

A nearby sub-beastman rolled his eyes. “What do you know? The pelts you bring back from hunting are so rough they’d make terrible foot mats! Soft, fluffy blankets like these—I’ve only ever seen people from the big tribes selling them at the market. A piece of cloth as long as an arm would cost two fist-sized lumps of salt to trade for!”  

“What?! This thing is that expensive?!” The beastman who had spoken was stunned, staring in disbelief at the casually laid-out rug on the floor, looking as if he’d just had his worldview expanded.  

Inside the house, Elvin stood dumbfounded, frozen in place with a blank expression, saying nothing. Meanwhile, the rabbit man’s pride had practically lifted his nose to the sky, as if he were just short of writing on his face: My Elvin is this amazing, and Elvin will soon be mine—I’m so smug.  

Unfortunately for him, Si Qi’s next words caught him completely off guard.  

Si Qi said, “Salt isn’t a big deal. I have plenty.”  

He glanced around, then casually opened a seemingly unremarkable jar nearby. Inside were at least a dozen fist-sized lumps of salt, making every beastman present gasp in shock.  

“How can there be so much salt?!”  

“And you just keep it lying around the house like this?!”  

“If it were mine, I’d carry it with me at all times! Maybe even lick it now and then!”  

Si Qi expressionlessly set the jar down and turned to Elvin, who was avoiding eye contact, his face flushed red. “I ate your food and stayed in your home because I was injured and couldn’t hunt. In exchange, I cooked for you every day, added generous amounts of salt to your meals, let you sleep on expensive fur blankets, drink from the finest pottery, and store your things in finely woven bamboo baskets. And yet now, you claim that I took advantage of you—that I exploited your kindness.”  

The surrounding beastmen listened, and slowly, understanding dawned. “So all these things actually belonged to Si Qi!” one exclaimed. “That makes sense! I was wondering how Elvin, just a beastman, suddenly had so much wealth!”  

The original owner had appeared in the tribe a few months ago, severely injured and unable to leave the house. It was only in the past month that he had recovered enough to start gathering fruit and interacting with others.  

But the original owner had always been aloof, his every movement carrying an unapproachable nobility—more intimidating than even the Great Shaman. The others had been too awed to get close to him, so they never learned just how wealthy he truly was.  

Now, seeing Si Qi reveal so many treasures, they couldn’t help but envy Elvin’s luck. He had taken in a stranger, shared a bit of food with him, and in return got to live every day with such a striking beastman, enjoying seemingly endless precious salt and sleeping on thick, luxurious furs.

The straightforward beastmen didn’t hold back: “Elvin, that wasn’t right of you to say earlier. Clearly, you were the one benefiting.”  

“Yeah! If Si Qi offered me just one lump of salt, I’d gladly bring him the freshest food every day!”  

“You never mentioned how much Si Qi did for you—only that you were supporting him. That’s dishonest.”  

Elvin’s face burned red with humiliation. He wanted to explain, but he didn’t know how.  

Deep down, he knew Si Qi had given far more than he had. He’d only dared to accuse Si Qi earlier because he was counting on Si Qi’s reserved nature—that he wouldn’t bother correcting “trivial matters” in front of others, wouldn’t expose him or argue back.  

And the things Si Qi had mentioned were just the basics. In truth, Elvin had taken far greater advantage—things Si Qi hadn’t even brought up yet…  

The rabbit man, hearing the crowd’s criticism, acted as if he’d been personally insulted. He hopped up in outrage, shouting, “You’re all lying! These things obviously belong to Elvin!”  

“Si Qi is a fraud! Just because he lives in this house, he claims everything is his!”  

“Elvin is extraordinary—of course he deserves endless salt and the softest furs!”  

This time, Si Qi didn’t even need to respond. The surrounding beastmen and sub-beastmen all spoke up at once: “That’s impossible!”  

“Elvin used to be just an ordinary beastman. The meat he caught was barely enough to feed himself—how could he have collected so much salt and pottery?”  

“Si Qi only arrived in the tribe a few months ago. Clearly, he brought these things with him.”  

They’d lived alongside Elvin for years—they knew exactly what his situation had been. In the beastmen tribe, aside from the chief, the Great Shaman, and the strongest hunters, everyone lived at the same basic level: in empty wooden huts or caves, joining group hunts to scrape by for a few days before repeating the cycle.  

The “wealthiest” times were just before winter, when stored food was slightly more plentiful. Otherwise, they ate whatever they caught, never having extras.  

Salt wasn’t some forest prey that could just appear out of nowhere—it couldn’t be gathered or scavenged. It had to be traded for at the market, at the cost of huge amounts of meat.  

A single fist-sized lump of salt was valuable enough to be a family heirloom, passed from father to son upon bonding. How could a young beastman like Elvin suddenly possess such riches?  

The rabbit man stomped his feet furiously, screeching, “It’s Elvin’s! Everything is Elvin’s!” But the more he ranted, the stranger the crowd’s looks became—like he’d lost his mind.

Elvin, who had earlier pointed at Si Qi and accused, “You took advantage of me!” now stood there stammering, too guilty to speak. Si Qi didn’t care whether he spoke or not. With a casual glance around, even though he personally didn’t value these small possessions, he refused to let the original owner’s belongings stay behind to be tainted by that shameless pair.  

So he began moving out himself. Ignoring Elvin’s desperate pleas for him to stay, he methodically gathered every single item that had belonged to the original owner.  

Ten minutes later, the small, dilapidated wooden house stood empty and cold, stripped of all traces of its former occupant—reverted to the barren state of a bachelor’s dwelling from months ago.  

The rabbit man stood frozen in place, staring blankly at the shockingly impoverished hovel, as if his entire worldview had been shattered.  

Carrying bundles of belongings, Si Qi stepped outside—only to spot the tribal chief, Chu Feng, who had rushed over after hearing about the dispute.  

Their eyes met across the distance. Chu Feng’s expression remained calm.  

Si Qi pressed his lips together slightly, his tone carrying a hint of pitiful vulnerability as he said, “Chief… I have no home now.”  

“You—”  

“Is there somewhere I can stay?”  

……  

There were plenty of vacant houses in the tribe—left behind when sub-beastmen and beastmen bonded and moved in together. They were too much trouble to demolish but just took up space otherwise, making them perfect for Si Qi now.  

Chu Feng asked if Si Qi wanted to tour the tribe and pick a place he liked. Si Qi replied, “I’m not picky. Just somewhere close to your home would be fine.”  

Chu Feng paused mid-sentence, then nodded after a moment and led Si Qi to an abandoned hut not far from his own residence.  

“This one’s still in good condition. It just needs a little tidying up.”  

Si Qi agreed and set down the original owner’s belongings. Rolling up his sleeves slightly, he revealed two slender, jade-like wrists—so flawless they might as well have been carved art.  

Watching this, Chu Feng felt an inexplicable reluctance to let the owner of such beautiful hands do rough chores. “…I’ll help you,” he offered.  

Si Qi glanced at him, the corner of his lips curling into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. His voice, cool and clear as a mountain spring, replied softly, “Alright. Thank you.”

Chu Feng didn’t say much, simply lowering his head to help Si Qi sweep away the dust and clear out the clutter.  

Some of the beastmen and sub-beastmen who had been watching the commotion earlier now saw Si Qi moving and couldn’t resist stepping forward to help. The sight of that beautiful beastman with his downcast eyes as he sorted through his belongings made them eager to get closer.  

“Si Qi, let me help too!”  

“I have an extra table at home—I’ll bring it over for you!”  

Si Qi didn’t refuse their kindness, accepting their offers one by one.  

With so many people pitching in, the long-abandoned hut quickly became lively, transforming into a clean and bright space in no time.  

Meanwhile, the rabbit man, who had grown increasingly resentful after seeing Si Qi take away all those precious belongings, finally stormed over. Seeing everyone bustling around to assist Si Qi—while Si Qi himself stood to the side, effortlessly arranging delicate pottery and soft furs without lifting a finger—filled him with burning jealousy. That elegant, untouchable demeanor reminded him of Si Qi’s future lofty status, arousing his envy.  

Unable to hold back, he sneered, “Si Qi, why do you make everyone else do all the work for you?”  

“Can’t you handle anything yourself?”  

“First, you relied on Elvin, and now you’re relying on others. This isn’t how a brave beastman should act!”  

Si Qi spared him a glance before turning back to sorting through the original owner’s belongings. He pulled out a few lumps of salt and casually handed them to the helpful beastmen.  

“Here, for you.”  

Their golden eyes widened in delight. “Si Qi, are you really giving these to us?! You’re too kind!”  

“Wow, salt! And such a big piece!”  

“I only helped clean a window—this is too precious!”  

“A-Tu, what nonsense are you spouting?! We volunteered to help Si Qi! And he even gave us salt in return!”  

The rabbit man, standing outside and making snide remarks, turned pale with anger, biting his lip furiously. He couldn’t help but think—Elvin took care of Si Qi for so many days, yet Si Qi didn’t leave him a single lump of salt. What a heartless ingrate!  

Si Qi’s tone remained indifferent. “It’s just salt. Not a big deal.”  

“Whoa…” His generosity drew awed murmurs from the crowd. Chu Feng couldn’t help but advise, “You’re new here. You shouldn’t be so quick to part with your belongings. It’s better to save them.”  

“Yeah, yeah,” the beastmen who’d received the salt agreed earnestly. “Salt is a gift from the Beast God! It makes us stronger—it’s a treasure!”

Si Qi glanced at Chu Feng. “Then… do you like it?”  

Chu Feng wasn’t sure why Si Qi was specifically looking at him at this moment, but he liked the way those beautiful phoenix eyes lingered on him. He nodded. “I do.”  

A ripple of faint pleasure seemed to pass over Si Qi’s usually cool expression. His eyes softened with amusement as he said, “Oh. As long as you like it, then it’s fine.”  

Chu Feng: “…………”  

So… why did he say that specifically to him? It was enough to make a beastman’s thoughts run wild…  

Almost as if Si Qi had handed out the salt not just to make everyone happy—but to make him happy too.  

Flustered, Chu Feng tightened his grip around the salt lump, murmuring sheepishly, “Then… I’ll accept it.”  

Everyone else had gotten a gift from Si Qi—there was no way he’d be the only one to return it.  

Whether it was salt or something else…  

With their spirits lifted by Si Qi’s generosity, the group worked even harder to tidy up the house. They pooled together spare furniture, patched up broken walls and ceilings with fresh wood, and soon transformed it into a sturdy, livable home.  

Once everything was settled, the beastmen hurried off with their salt, eager to share the joyous news with their families. As Chu Feng turned to leave, Si Qi stopped him. “When is the tribe’s next group hunt?”  

Only then did Chu Feng remember—Si Qi had taken only his own belongings earlier, leaving behind all the food. He immediately said, “Don’t worry about food. You’re still injured—hunting isn’t safe yet. If you need anything, come to me. I have plenty.”  

“But…” Si Qi sighed, his tone wistful. “A beastman only shares meat with the sub-beastman he favors. I’m not your beastman… How could I take your food?”  

He paused, then cast Chu Feng a “curious” glance. “Unless… do you usually take care of other sub-beastmen like this too?”  

A sudden chill ran down Chu Feng’s spine. He denied it instantly: “No! Other than my father, I’ve never given meat to any sub-beastman!”  

“Oh… I see.” Si Qi replied slowly. “That’s good.”  

Chu Feng: “…………”  

What does that even mean?!  

Why did every word out of Si Qi’s mouth sound like it carried some hidden meaning—like it was implying… something?!

Chu Feng cursed his own lack of wisdom for the first time—if only he were as perceptive as the Great Shaman, maybe then he could decipher the meaning behind Si Qi’s words!  

Si Qi: “I can fight. Call me for the next hunt.”  

Chu Feng hesitated, glancing at Si Qi with reluctance.  

But his instincts told him there was no persuading him otherwise.  

After a long internal struggle, he finally relented. “Alright… I’ll call you when it’s time.”  

At worst, he would just keep an eye on him during the hunt.  

With him watching over Si Qi, there was no way he’d let him get hurt.  

—  

After seeing Chu Feng off, Si Qi finally had time to sort through this world’s storyline.  

He was puzzled—what was the purpose of that rabbit-eared guy, supposedly a “reborn” individual, being sent back by the World Consciousness?  

To break up the relationship between the Child of the World (Elvin) and the original owner? To trick the original owner into returning when the Child of the World was injured, only to kill him and save Elvin in his place?  

He’d have to review the full worldline to know for sure.  

In the records Xiu Xiu transmitted to him, Si Qi saw that the Child of the World, Elvin, had once encountered the original owner—a beastman with a trace of the Beast God’s bloodline. Elvin fell in love at first sight (with the original owner’s beauty, which surpassed even that of sub-beastmen), and even after learning the original owner was a beastman rather than a sub-beastman, he still instinctively agreed when confessed to.  

Si Qi analyzed the reasons behind Elvin’s acceptance:  

1. His Child of the World’s “luck” blessed by the World Consciousness—always guiding him to the most advantageous choices through intuition.  

2. The many rare treasures the original owner carried while injured and unconscious.  

From all angles, the original owner was clearly a noble beastman of extraordinary origins. On some level, Elvin knew that being with him would bring endless benefits.  

Then, while nursing the original owner back to health, Elvin accidentally discovered the miraculous properties of his blood—  

– Drops of blood falling to the ground made nearby seeds sprout instantly.  

– Leather wrapped in blood-soaked cloth, when thrown into the forest, caused plants to grow unnaturally lush.  

Out of curiosity, Elvin tasted a drop of the original owner’s blood and found its effects even more potent than salt—instantly filling him with strength, sharpening his vision, brightening his senses.  

He learned this secret and, under the guise of “kindness,” swore to keep it hidden—promising the original owner he’d never tell a soul.

Grateful for Elvin’s life-saving kindness and moved by his words, the original owner’s heart softened even further. When the tribe later held its leadership competition, he secretly mixed his blood into Elvin’s food.  

After consuming it, Elvin grew stronger than ever—not only hunting more prey than before (enough to sustain the bedridden original owner) but also defeating opponent after opponent in the tournament. He only narrowly lost in the final match to the tribe’s strongest warrior, Feng, earning the admiration of many sub-beastmen.  

The rabbit man (not yet reborn at this time) was among Elvin’s admirers. He tried visiting at night to become the future father of Elvin’s children, only to be coldly driven away by the original owner.  

After that, others occasionally approached Elvin, but since he and the original owner were already living together, most sub-beastmen backed off when refused—they had their pride, after all. It wasn’t like there were no other eligible beastmen; Feng, the tribe’s strongest, was still single. They had plenty of options.  

The courtship drama eventually died down. Under normal circumstances, the original owner would have spent his life with Elvin, bonding permanently once they formalized their union.  

But then the rabbit man unexpectedly reborn. Seeing that the original owner and the future Beast God’s Emissary hadn’t yet bonded, he seized the opportunity to reconnect with Elvin “after so many years.”  

Months had passed since Elvin met the original owner, yet their relationship remained unconsummated. Restless and tempted, Elvin couldn’t resist the rabbit man’s advances.  

He began making thoughtless, hurtful remarks around the original owner, provoking his anger. Then, one morning while the original owner was out gathering fruit, Elvin tangled with the rabbit man atop the very fur rug the original owner had painstakingly tanned—only to be caught red-handed.  

What followed matched the memories Si Qi had seen:  

The original owner was a reserved man who rarely gave his heart away. Even witnessing such a vile scene, he only stood trembling, silent tears falling. His pride refused to let him beg or scheme to keep Elvin. But each time he caught the scent of another sub-beastman on the man he’d once loved, his heart shattered further—until finally, numb and broken, he left without a word.  

Si Qi sorted through the logic: [So the World Consciousness arranged for the original owner to meet Elvin solely so he could die, have his beast core harvested, and feed that trace of the Beast God’s bloodline to Elvin—ensuring he’d become the Beast God’s Emissary?]  

[What a waste.]  

The original owner’s blood alone could have revolutionized the tribe’s survival—accelerating crop growth, enhancing strength, even healing injuries. Yet the World Consciousness saw him only as a stepping stone for its favored heir.  

[Well,] Si Qi’s lips curled. [Not on my watch.]  

If the World Consciousness wanted a proper emissary, he’d show them what a real one looked like.

He wasn’t entirely clear about the timeline the reborn rabbit man had experienced, nor did he know that in the original worldline, the Child of the World could have become the Beast God’s Emissary even without the original owner’s death. Based on the information he had, he nodded slightly. [It seems the aura I sensed earlier wasn’t a mistake.]  

Xiu Xiu perked up curiously. [Aura? What aura?]  

Si Qi smiled. [The original owner had a trace of dragon bloodline.]  

Xiu Xiu gasped. [Ah! So he’s actually from the Master’s lineage!]  

From the memories Si Qi had seen, the original owner was originally the young chief of the serpent tribe—innately powerful, with a sliver of dragon heritage. Months ago, his father had been ambushed by another beastman, who usurped the chieftain position. The original owner was exiled, hunted by assassins, and left severely wounded.  

He collapsed near the lion tribe’s territory, where someone rescued him. Half-conscious in their arms, after enduring so much suffering, he was deeply moved by their bravery as they fought off enemies to protect him—like a parched traveler glimpsing an oasis.  

He loved the warmth and strength of that embrace. In his haze, he vowed that if they survived, he would repay them with everything he had.  

When he finally awoke, he had no idea how much time had passed. Slowly sitting up, he saw the man who had been tending to him with such care. The warm smile he received in that moment melted the frozen, lonely heart he’d long kept sealed away…  

Si Qi shook his head, dispelling the original owner’s lingering emotions.  

Redirecting his focus, he mused: [This world’s Beast God is likely a dragon. Choosing an emissary with dragon blood makes sense. But the Child of the World lacks that lineage, so he forcibly took it by consuming the original owner’s beast core… Typical behavior for a Child of the World.]  

Xiu Xiu nodded eagerly. [Then this time, Master will become the Beast God’s Emissary and unite all the tribes!]  

Si Qi paused briefly before replying, [Perhaps.]  

Xiuxiu blinked. [Hm?]  

Si Qi chuckled. [We’ll discuss that later. You chose an excellent world this time.]  

It had been so long since Si Qi had taken his dragon form in a small world. Even though he was currently a serpent, with even a trace of dragon blood, he had more than enough methods to fully transform into a true dragon.  

The thought made his blood stir. Unfolding a soft fur rug, he removed his clothes, shifted into his serpent form, and coiled gracefully on the ground. His gem-like scales gleamed gold under the sunlight as he quietly began cultivating.  

—  

At noon, Chu Feng arrived with freshly prepared food. Pushing open the door, he was met with the sight of the stunning beastman—so beautiful it was as if the Beast God had personally favored him—resting peacefully on the white fur rug. The scene was so serene it resembled a painting, and Chu Feng instinctively held his breath.  

Setting the food on the table, he couldn’t help but steal another glance at the figure whose radiance outshone even gold. His mind drifted back to their first meeting—when the other had lain bloodied and unconscious in his arms.  

After a moment’s hesitation, Chu Feng chose not to wake him. With silent steps, he retreated, leaving the meal behind.