Chapter 57: Chapter 57: The Terrifying Old Man

“Little Lu You…” Chang Xia narrowed her eyes and stared at Lu You.

This little cub had just learned to take human form, and already he was tricking the older cubs into sneaking out of the den with him. When he got a bit older, he’d encouraged Mountain Sparrow and the others to sneak out of the tribe to play by the White River.

Every time they got caught, it was Mountain Sparrow and Wu Liu who got punished. Lu You, being the youngest and able to act cute and sweet, always managed to escape unscathed.

Unfortunately for him, that trick didn’t work on Chang Xia.

In the tribe, aside from the chief and a few elders, the person Lu You feared most was Chang Xia. As her pretty face darkened, Lu You’s cute, delicate face twisted in worry. He covered his face with his chubby hands, surrendering.

“Sister Chang Xia, please don’t hit my face,” Lu You pleaded in a small voice.

Chang Xia gave a cold smile, raised her hand, and pressed her index and middle fingers together. “Lu You, get ready for a loving tap from your sister.”

She didn’t dare use her full strength for a “loving punch,” worried she’d hurt him, but she was well-practiced at the loving tap.

*Thunk thunk—*

Red marks appeared on Lu You’s pale forehead, swelling into little bumps. He yelped in pain, covered his face, and glared at Chang Xia, his chubby cheeks puffed out. “Sister Chang Xia, you’re not supposed to hit people in the face! That’s too much!”

“Heh!” Chang Xia chuckled. “If you encourage Mountain Sparrow and Wu Liu to sneak out of the tribe again, I’ll not only hit your face, I’ll draw on it too.”

Lu You was a clever, vain little chub, nothing like a beastman—he was more like the birdfolk from the Qinghai Plateau next door.

The tribe had discussed it before: both his parents were beastfolk, and there was no birdfolk blood in his ancestry. Where did Lu You get his vain streak from? In the end, they just called it a “mutation.”

“Sister Chang Xia, are you a devil?” Lu You asked in horror.

“If you behave and don’t cause trouble, I won’t hit you, and I’ll even make you tasty food. But if I hear you’re causing trouble again…” Chang Xia trailed off, giving Lu You a gentle smile.

That smile made Lu You shiver.

“Sister Chang Xia, I’ll keep an eye on Lu You,” Wu Liu promised earnestly.

Mountain Sparrow just giggled, clearly not understanding the exchange between Chang Xia and Lu You.

Seeing Mountain Sparrow’s silly smile, Chang Xia rubbed her forehead. She used to think Wu Liu was a bit slow, but compared to Mountain Sparrow, at least Wu Liu had some sense. Mountain Sparrow was just a bold leopard girl, all brawn and no brains.

Maybe next time she saw Gen, she’d suggest they change the elder in charge of teaching the cubs. Elder Pukang really might not be suited for the job—if he kept teaching, Chang Xia worried the tribe would be full of fools in the future.

Just as she was thinking of Elder Pukang, a familiar loud laugh rang in her ears—

“Hee hee hee, hee hee hee.”

Elder Pukang’s distinctive laugh came closer and closer.

Turning around, Chang Xia saw Nan Feng walking over from the tribe, shoulders hunched. Behind her was a burly man nearly three meters tall, muscles rippling with strength, his arms thicker than Chang Xia’s waist, and a face covered in a bushy beard.

As the witch described Elder Pukang, he didn’t look like an elegant leopard, but more like a wild, unruly lion.

“Elder Pukang!” Chang Xia called out, her mouth twitching.

“Hee hee hee!” Elder Pukang grinned, his huge hand landing on Chang Xia’s head and ruffling her hair. “Little Chang Xia, long time no see!”

Chang Xia grimaced in pain—Elder Pukang was as rough as ever. Thankfully, he remembered she was frail and didn’t greet her with a “loving punch.”

Judging by Nan Feng’s expression, she’d probably just received one of Elder Pukang’s “loving punches.”

Nuan Chun clutched her belly and cautiously took two steps back. Seeing Elder Pukang greeting Chang Xia and ignoring her, she quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Not many in the tribe could “enjoy” Elder Pukang’s affection.

“Hello, Elder Pukang!” Shen Rong, seeing Chang Xia being bullied, stepped forward to shield her and extended his right hand to Elder Pukang.

“So you’re the wolf brat who married little Chang Xia…” Pukang squinted at Shen Rong, sizing him up. He looked strong, and from what the tribe boys said, even after being poisoned, his strength hadn’t diminished. Now, Pukang wanted to test this kid’s mettle and see if he could take care of Chang Xia in the future.

One hand was large and rough, the other slender and fine—two palms tightly clasped together.

Crack!

A crisp snapping sound rang out.

Chang Xia’s face changed instantly. She pouted and reached out to grab Elder Pukang’s other arm, acting spoiled as she pleaded, “Elder Pukang, Shen Rong’s body hasn’t fully recovered yet. Don’t hurt him! Granny Su Ye said she’ll help drive out the poison in a few days.”

“Hehehe—” Pukang burst out laughing, letting go of Shen Rong’s hand. Then, he hid his hand behind his back, but it was clear that four deep finger marks were left on the back of it.

Damn—

That stinky wolf brat really has a strong grip!

He nearly crushed my hand.

Good thing I came alone this time. If the others in the tribe found out I got hurt by a hot-headed youngster, they’d laugh at me for years.

Shen Rong met Chang Xia’s worried gaze and smiled slightly.

“Chang Xia, Elder Pukang was just saying hello. I’m fine.”

At the same time, Shen Rong’s right hand, hanging at his side, trembled slightly. Clearly, neither of them had held back just now. Of course, neither had gotten the upper hand, either.

Feeling Elder Pukang’s murderous glare, Shen Rong certainly wasn’t about to mention what had just happened.

“Little Chang Xia, weren’t you always the one who loved Grandpa Pukang the most? You’ve changed. It hasn’t even been that long, and you’ve already changed.”

Chang Xia’s mouth twitched.

A nearly three-meter-tall burly man, almost a hundred years old—

And now, acting all aggrieved and whining to her like a beast cub? Was he serious?

With such a shameless elder in the Heluo tribe, surely the tribe was doomed. It had to be.

Nan Feng, Nuan Chun, and the others all twitched at the corners of their mouths, speechless and at a loss for words.

But none of them dared interrupt Pukang’s performance.

Off to the side, Wu Liu opened his mouth to say something.

Lu You, quick on the uptake, immediately covered Wu Liu’s mouth with his hand.

But while Lu You could stop Wu Liu, he couldn’t stop Leopard Girl, Shan Que.

“Grandpa Pukang, are you acting spoiled with Sister Chang Xia?” Shan Que looked up, curiously glancing between Pukang and Chang Xia.

Suddenly, the whole group fell silent.

Everyone stared at Shan Que in horror.

Kid!

You’re a leopard, not a tiger.

Acting this bold is going to get someone killed!!!

Chang Xia saw Pukang’s face darken, his eyes sweeping over everyone present with a sinister look, as if he were considering how to silence them all...

“Grandpa Pukang, why don’t you stay for lunch? I’ll have Shen Rong make you the best roast meat.”

Chang Xia made a snap decision, hoping to use barbecue to distract Pukang from his embarrassment and keep him from blowing up.

“I heard from Gen that you’ve come up with all kinds of ways to eat fruit powder.” Pukang smiled, his huge hands clenching together, making his knuckles crack loudly.

Chang Xia and the others tensed up. If beastfolk appetites were like bottomless pits, then Pukang was an abyss. Normally, Chang Xia would never dare promise to let him eat his fill—it was just too hard.

But now wasn’t the time to hesitate.

“At lunch, I’ll make sure Grandpa Pukang eats his fill,” Chang Xia gritted her teeth. As for the trip to White Lake—well, that would have to wait for next time!

She’d probably need Shen Rong’s help for a massage again tonight.

“Hehehe—” Pukang laughed heartily, delighted. “That’s why you’re Grandpa’s favorite little Chang Xia! Come on, let’s go eat some barbecue!”