The Worm Witch let out a sinister laugh from behind, the sound like dry old tree bark grating on the hearts of the Black Wolf Beastmen.

"HISS!" "HISS!" "HISS!"

But the scene that followed brought the Worm Witch’s wild, grating laughter to an abrupt halt.

The Poisonous Insects, which had just been surging forward menacingly, seemed to suddenly lose their targets as they reached the Black Wolf Beastmen. They simply spun in place, never attacking.

The Worm Witch shot up from the scorpion’s back. "Kill them! Kill them!"

He roared, once again letting out a series of sharp hisses.

But this time, the Poisonous Insects merely reared up in response to his cries, still not charging the Black Wolf Beastmen who were only a few steps away.

The Worm Witch’s expression darkened as he watched. A moment later, he looked directly at the Black Wolf Witch, who wore a mocking expression. "What did you do?"

The Black Wolf Witch sneered. "What’s the matter? Your Poisonous Insects useless now?"

With that, he leaped right off the Black Wolf Beastman’s back and walked toward the swarm of Poisonous Insects, even strutting cockily back and forth through them a few times.

He then roared with laughter, leaning against that same Black Wolf and shaking his leg smugly. "You really thought I was afraid of you? Now that your Poisonous Insects are useless, what can a Worm Witch like you possibly do?"

The Worm Witch let out a low, soothing hiss, and the agitated Poisonous Insects instantly swarmed back, crawling onto the giant scorpion’s back and disappearing from sight.

The Worm Witch’s expression turned savage. "You dare act cocky with me with just this handful of puppies by your side?"

The "puppies" bared their fangs at the Worm Witch. ’Puppies? Where else would you find such mighty and magnificent Black Wolf Beastman Warriors?’

"And what if we add a few kittens to the mix?"

The Worm Witch had barely finished speaking when a deep, magnetic voice sounded from the side of the forest. Upon hearing it, the Scorpion Beastmen all swished their tails, looking warily in the direction of the sound.

Several tall, powerfully built Beastman Warriors emerged from the previously quiet forest.

When he saw the snow-white Beast Skins at their waists, the Worm Witch instantly had a very bad feeling.

’These shameless beasts, pulling a stunt like this on me?’

He couldn’t help but turn to the Black Wolf Witch. "As a witch, is it really right for you to use your numbers to bully the few?"

The Black Wolf Witch picked his nose. "So what if I’m a witch? Did I say anything when you were using your swarm of insects to bully us?"

While the two witches were having a grand time bickering, the surrounding Beastman Warriors just stared at each other, watching the show.

One Scorpion Beastman’s tail even swayed unconsciously a few times at the spectacle. But when its own Worm Witch glanced over, it instantly adopted a stance as if ready to charge and attack at any moment, its expression dead serious.

Teng Qian watched the two witches slinging insults—and spittle—at each other, then turned to Yuan Lang. "We made a pretty cool entrance, but we’re lacking follow-through. It’s obvious they’re not taking us very seriously."

But Teng Kun replied earnestly, "You’re wrong, brother. If he really didn’t care about us, the Worm Witch would’ve already ordered a charge instead of just standing there running his mouth."

’That’s true!’ Teng Qian thought.

But when he looked at the Black Wolf Witch, he curled his lip. "Will you look at that? Look how cocky that Black Wolf Witch is. His leg’s shaking so hard it’s practically a blur."

Yuan Lang, who was in front, heard this and let out a soft scoff. "He’s doing that because he’s scared."

All the Snow Tiger Beastmen: "Huh?!"

’He’s the revered witch of a Great Tribe. What on earth could scare him that badly?’

"As the witch of a Great Tribe, I won’t stoop to bickering with a witch like you. I’ll let you go for today."

After tossing out a line to save face, the Worm Witch climbed onto the large scorpion’s back, and his group of Beastmen vanished in the blink of an eye.

The Black Wolf Witch didn’t react until a gust of wind rustled the leaves on the ground. Then, his eyes instantly lit up.

’The Worm Witch’s words just now had opened the door to a whole new world for him! Using superior numbers to bully the few... it couldn’t get any more simple or brutally effective.’

’In the future, when the tribe had more Beastman Warriors, if he ever ran into a shameless witch like the Worm Witch again, he could just crush them with sheer numbers. The thought was simply divine.’

At this thought, his feet were no longer weak, his legs no longer trembled. He felt like he could climb five mountains in one breath without breaking a sweat.

Yuan Lang led the Snow Tiger Beastmen forward. "Witch, we should get going."

The Black Wolf Witch nodded, nimbly climbed onto the Black Wolf Beastman’s back, and waved his hand cheerfully. "Alright, my boys, let’s move out!"

The assembled Beastmen nearly stumbled. If it weren’t their witch speaking, they’d have thought the man had lost his mind.

Meanwhile, after running a safe distance away, the Worm Witch and the Scorpion Beastmen sneakily began to tail them again.

Watching the Black Wolf Witch’s cocky demeanor up ahead, the Worm Witch’s fists itched. He desperately wanted to rush forward and land a few blows.

But...

He looked down at the listless Poisonous Insect in his hand, and his blood boiled. ’The little one I worked so damn hard to raise, reduced to this state by that blasted, black-furred wolf!’

He angrily put the Poisonous Insect away, but in the next moment, his gaze froze on his palm, on the spot where the insect had been lying.

There was a small amount of blackish-red powder there. For a witch who handled herbs daily, the scent was all too familiar.

The moment he leaned closer to the powder, he was almost certain it was some kind of medicinal powder.

’A powder specifically created to counter my Poisonous Insects.’

Thinking of this, he raised a hand to signal his Beastman Warriors to move forward. After giving the Black Wolf Witch’s group one last, profound look, the corners of his lips curved into a knowing smile. "The great rainy season is almost here. We’ll return to the tribe for now. Once the clansmen sent to retrieve Beast Crystals have returned, we’ll prepare for what comes next."

Upon hearing this, the eyes of the Scorpion Beastmen lit up in unison, and their tails began to swish excitedly behind them.

They then turned and moved quickly toward the edge of the Polar Forest.

But the Worm Witch, sitting on the scorpion’s back, would occasionally twitch his black Beast Skin, the curve of his lips growing ever more eerie.

「The next morning, in the Snow Tiger Tribe.」

Climbing out of her straw bed, Wu Yue looked at the large patch of tiny red bumps on her skin. An intense itch clawed at her from the inside out, and she felt absolutely miserable.

She turned to look at the straw she used for bedding. Because of the damp rainy season, she had been changing it every three days, but a rash had broken out anyway.

"System, do you have a remedy for eczema? Give me one, I’m about to die right here."

Wu Yue’s hand was poised over the red rash as if she were practicing the Nine Yin White Bone Claw. She wanted to scratch, but she forced herself to endure the torment.

"Ding~ New mission issued: Successfully build a bed. Materials are not restricted.

Mission Reward: One eczema treatment formula.

Points: 10

Please continue your efforts, Host. Strive to complete the mission and win the reward!"