Favorite of the Beast-world: I Got Rich Through Farming-Chapter 163 - 123: Jealousy on Both Sides

She was like a frightened, ferocious rabbit, covered in injuries as she curled up in a corner of the cave. The way she hugged her knees was a heart-wrenching sight.

But her expression was one of ferocious savagery, a look born from abuse. "Get out! Get away! Stay away from me!" she shrieked, her voice hoarse.

Her cry was practically a hoarse scream.

An Jin and Ling Hong exchanged a look, momentarily at a loss for what to do.

’This female is extremely on edge and radiating pure aggression. She must think we’re with those Wandering Beasts from before.’

’If this were a male Beastman, Ling Hong and I wouldn’t have bothered getting involved. We would’ve just dusted ourselves off and left.’

’But this young female has no way to protect herself. If we just leave her to wander this jungle, she’ll probably end up as some beast’s dinner by tonight.’

"We’re not bad people, and we won’t hurt you. Can you tell us which tribe you’re from?"

"If it’s nearby, we can take you back to your people right now."

An Jin noticed the young female’s hostility was directed more at Ling Hong.

Her fierce, crimson eyes looked as if they wanted to eat him alive. An Jin couldn’t help but soften her voice, crouching down to meet the girl’s gaze. "The male behind me is... he’s my mate. You don’t have to be afraid of him. He won’t hurt you like that pack of Wandering Beasts did."

An Jin had only said it to soothe the female’s panicked and fragile state.

A look of pleasant surprise quickly flashed across the usually expressionless Ling Hong’s face.

Although he knew she was only saying it out of necessity, the word "mate" still pleased Ling Hong immensely.

He couldn’t stop the corners of his lips from curling up. He lowered his head and averted his gaze to hide his racing heart. "Yes, I’m her mate. I won’t do anything to you."

After quite some time, the female’s emotions finally began to settle. She timidly glanced at the tall, imposing male Beastman behind An Jin, a flash of resentment quickly crossing her face.

She then shrank back, burying her face in her knees. A few small, hoarse sounds escaped her. "...Hua Ye. I... my name is Hua Ye."

"That’s a very pretty name. Hua Ye, where is your tribe? My mate and I can take you back."

"No, I don’t want to go back!" she shrieked.

Her reaction was even more vehement than when she was being tormented by the Wandering Beasts.

An Jin and Ling Hong’s expressions changed.

Much later, after they had gotten to know each other, An Jin would learn the full story. Hua Ye came from a small, weak tribe of the Rabbit Clan. With fewer than a hundred members, they survived under the semi-charitable protection of a larger, neighboring tribe.

After their tribe was attacked by Wandering Beasts, the Clan Leader, to ensure the safety of the majority, had offered Hua Ye to the carnivorous intruders. She was the youngest, most beautiful, and most fertile unmated female in the tribe.

Hua Ye didn’t want to be taken. Her Beast Father and Beast Mother couldn’t bear to see their only grown daughter be tormented by these Wandering Beasts, so the family planned to flee the tribe.

But they were discovered by the vicious Wandering Beasts, who brutally murdered Hua Ye’s Beast Father and Beast Mother before forcibly dragging her away.

Meanwhile, the rest of the tribe had simply watched with cold indifference. Unable to defeat the carnivorous Beastmen, they looked on as Hua Ye’s family was annihilated, even resenting her and claiming she brought it on herself.

They said she was the one who got her family killed, and that she had nearly destroyed the entire tribe as well.

’All she ever wanted was to live.’

So, Hua Ye would rather die than return to that tribe. She hated the tribe, and she hated her own weakness that left her at the mercy of others.

Seeing the female crying silently, An Jin leaned down and held out a hand to her. "Then come back to our tribe with us. You can’t survive in the jungle alone, and our tribe does its best to protect all its members."

Hua Ye stared blankly at the outstretched hand. Her eyes, already red, welled up even more as large teardrops fell onto her knees. Beneath the grime, her small face held a faint, delicate fairness.

’She knew the female before her genuinely wanted to help.’

She choked back a sob, unable to speak, but she didn’t resist when An Jin pulled her to her feet. Perhaps because she was drained of all strength from her ordeal, the moment she stood, her legs gave out and she started to collapse.

Luckily, An Jin’s quick reflexes allowed her to catch Hua Ye, though she staggered a few steps from the sudden weight.

"She can’t walk," An Jin said. "Ling Hong, you’re fast. Take both of us back to the tribe."

The Silver Wolf glanced hesitantly at the strange female, his expression showing a hint of reluctance.

But considering that females were a precious resource in the Beast World, he lowered his body. "You get on with her," he said, his voice a low rumble. "The snow is starting to come down harder. At my top speed, I should be able to get us back to the tribe in about an hour."