Home?

The word "King" exploded like a thunderclap in the ears of Bao Ya and Bao Zhua.

Their faces turned instantly pale as paper, and their last shred of luck was thoroughly shattered!

"You… you are that human!"

Bao Zhua’s finger trembled as he pointed at Cheng Shuili, and upon realizing what a formidable figure he had provoked, Bao Ya scrambled backward in terror, his voice shaking as he stammered a defense: "A misunderstanding! It’s all a misunderstanding, haha! We are good brothers, this is all just a misunderstanding!"

Bao Zhua quickly followed up: "That’s right! It’s all a misunderstanding, we all know each other, right Bao Chi? We know each other! Bao Chi, say something! Isn’t that how it is?"

The guards didn’t care how the two beastmen explained themselves; they had come for one purpose, and that was to carry out the King’s orders!

They were there to maintain order and prevent any potential disturbances.

Their gazes remained silent and loyal, fixed solely on Cheng Shuili, their King, waiting for the next command.

The surrounding leopard-race beastmen stood in stunned silence, not daring to make a sound.

No one had expected that this seemingly ordinary human female was truly the new King of the bear-race, the very person who had dealt with their own King!

If even their own King could be treated like that… these beastmen could not imagine what cruel tortures awaited them if they provoked such a terrifying existence.

Bao Chi stood behind Cheng Shuili, watching the scene before him with shock and bewilderment.

He never imagined that Cheng Shuili would appear here, let alone become the bear-race King these beastmen spoke of.

And… she had already helped him once, yet here she was, standing up for him again!

Bao Chi lowered his head, his hands slowly clenching at his sides.

Under the gaze of everyone, Cheng Shuili waved her hand gently, looked at the bear-race guard captain with an expression of helplessness, and waved again, saying: "You are not needed here. Go patrol elsewhere."

This unexpected command stunned all the beastmen.

Whispers broke out immediately: "What? They don’t need the guards?"

"She is just a human! Bao Ya and Bao Zhua are among the best of the younger generation of our leopard-race, if they really start fighting…"

"What does this human mean? Does she look down on our leopard-race?"

Upon hearing this, Bao Ya and Bao Zhua froze, a flicker of imperceptible malice flashing in their eyes.

If the bear-race guards withdrew, leaving only this human female… perhaps they still had a chance!

The bear-race guard captain furrowed his brows, clearly disapproving of the decision: "King, your safety…"

"I will take responsibility for my own safety." Cheng Shuili interrupted him, her tone calm yet carrying unquestionable majesty. "Or do you think I lack the strength to handle such a minor matter?"

The bear-race guards scanned back and forth between Cheng Shuili and the two robust leopard-race beastmen, finally lowering their heads before her calm, unquestionable gaze.

The guard captain replied in a deep voice: "Yes, King."

With a wave of his hand, he led the bear-race guards in an orderly retreat, forming a perimeter at a distance, leaving the space to Cheng Shuili, though their eyes remained locked on the scene.

Bao Ya and Bao Zhua exchanged a glance, both seeing suspicion and a budding impulse in the other’s eyes.

The withdrawal of the bear-race guards felt like the heaviest stone had been lifted from their hearts.

Before them stood only this thin, frail human female…

Bao Ya licked his dry lips and forced himself to stay calm, his tone becoming significantly firmer: "Human… oh, King Bear, it really was a misunderstanding just now. We were just joking with Bao Chi."

As he spoke, he took half a step forward without being conspicuous, his muscles slightly tensed.

Bao Zhua chimed in with a dry laugh, though his eyes scraped over Cheng Shuili like blades: "Yeah, yeah, just brothers messing around, why trouble yourself to ask?"

Cheng Shuili seemed not to notice their subtle movements or changes in tone. She even offered a slight smile, one that appeared somewhat unfathomable under the flickering bonfire: "Messing around? Messing around with threats and fists?"

She took a step forward, and despite the lightness of her movement, it made Bao Ya and Bao Zhua instinctively retreat half a step.

"I will give you a chance."

Cheng Shuili’s voice echoed clearly in the night air, so gentle that it immediately captured the attention of all the beastmen. "The two of you, come at me together. If you can touch the corner of my clothes, I will pretend I didn’t see what happened today. As for Bao Chi’s money, I will pay it for him."

At these words, the entire crowd erupted!

"Is she crazy?!"

"A human wants to duel two leopard-race warriors?"

"Even for the King of the bears, this is too arrogant!"

Bao Chi suddenly looked up, anxiously trying to stop her: "King! No! They…"

Cheng Shuili raised a hand, stopping Bao Chi, her gaze fixed on the two leopard-race beastmen whose faces had flushed red from being slighted: "Well? Do you dare?"

"Arrogant!" Bao Ya growled, his primal ferocity ignited by being slighted by a human.

Normally, fighting was forbidden in the beastman town.

But now that order had collapsed, even the police bureau had closed its doors!

The ones in charge of this area were the bear-race guards, and those guards had just been dismissed by this very human!

It was a perfect opportunity; if they didn’t teach this human a lesson now, when else would they get the chance?

Bao Ya sneered: "You asked for this!"

Bao Zhua also grinned hideously: "King Bear, fists have no eyes. If you get hurt, don’t blame us!"

The two leopard-race beastmen did not hesitate; they exchanged a glance and lunged simultaneously!

They were long-time partners, and the moment they burst into action, they were like two black arrows released from a bow, flanking Cheng Shuili with sharp whistling winds!

The speed of the leopard-race was displayed to the fullest at this moment!

In the eyes of most beastmen present, they could only see two blurry afterimages.

But to Cheng Shuili, a player standing at the peak of human attributes, their movements appeared as if in slow motion.

She didn’t even make a significant evasive move. Just before the sharp claws could touch her, she shifted her body slightly with the composure of a master, and Bao Ya’s guaranteed strike missed, brushing against her sleeve.

At the same time, her left hand cut upward in a seemingly casual motion, striking precisely at the wrist of the incoming Bao Zhua.

"Ugh!" Bao Zhua felt a sharp, numbing pain in his wrist, the strength in his entire arm drained instantly, and his attack came to a sudden halt.

Cheng Shuili’s movements were fluid, as if she had predicted everything. As Bao Ya surged forward from momentum, his old strength spent and new strength yet to form, she silently hooked her right foot behind his ankle.

"Bang!"

Bao Ya felt his foundation vanish and tumbled forward uncontrollably, falling face-first into the dirt, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Almost simultaneously, Cheng Shuili sidestepped the follow-up attack from Bao Zhua, who had slowed down due to his injured wrist. Her right hand formed a blade, striking lightning-fast at a spot under his ribs.

Bao Zhua immediately felt half his body go numb, his breath hitched, and his movements stiffened instantly.

Cheng Shuili took the opportunity to push him with the back of her hand.

"Thud!"

Bao Zhua followed his companion, falling embarrassingly to the ground.

The entire process happened in the blink of an eye, so fast that many beastmen hadn’t even seen what happened before the two aggressive leopard-race warriors were already lying on the ground.

Cheng Shuili pulled back her hand, satisfied. This was something Su Rui had specifically taught her. In Su Rui’s words: "It’s not very meaningful in actual combat, but if you’re dealing with a few greenhorns, it’s highly effective for showing off."

Now, it seemed the effect was indeed highly effective.

The camp fell into a deathly silence. Only the crackling of the bonfire and the heavy, painful breathing of Bao Ya and Bao Zhua could be heard.

All the leopard-race beastmen stared blankly at the human female who still stood quietly in place, her clothes barely ruffled, as if they had seen something unbelievable.

She… she really was just a human?

With this effortless skill to put down two leopard-race warriors, even the elite of the bear-race could do no better, right?!

As for the bear-race guards, though they had been ordered to retreat to the distance, their eyes had never left Cheng Shuili.

When they saw the two leopard-race beastmen suddenly attack, the muscles of every guard had tensed, almost instinctively wanting to rush forward!

Even though they had just been strictly ordered by the King not to intervene.

Loyalty and the absolute protection of the King were things carved into the bones of every beastman!

But the scene that followed made every bear-race guard stop in their tracks, eyes wide with shock.

There was no scene of desperate rescue as they had anticipated, no thrilling struggle.

Only that slender figure swaying slightly in the face of two fierce lunges, followed by two clean, dull thuds.

Fast, too fast!

Throughout the process, there wasn’t even a ripple on Cheng Shuili’s face, as if what she had just done wasn’t taking down two fierce leopard-race warriors, but merely brushing a fallen leaf from her shoulder.

In the silence, a young bear-race guard couldn’t help but gasp, the sound exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

This sound seemed to break the stagnation.

The guard captain’s brown eyes, usually as steady as a mountain, were now filled with unprecedented shock and… fanaticism!

He had obeyed Cheng Shuili’s orders before more out of loyalty and duty to the title of "King."

Even though Cheng Shuili had displayed extraordinary wisdom, deep down, like other bear-race members, he might have had hidden worries that their King was a "human" rather than a "powerful beastman!" In this world, individual absolute strength was the right to speak and brought a sense of security to the entire race.

But at this moment, that lingering worry was completely shattered by this effortless yet shocking display of force!

Their King not only possessed exceptional wisdom but also unfathomable strength!

She didn’t need their protection; she was the strongest guarantee herself!

An indescribable excitement and pride swept through all the bear-race guards.

They straightened their already sturdy frames, chests rising slightly, and their gaze toward Cheng Shuili was no longer just simple respect, but a mix of deep awe and devoted worship!

Cheng Shuili clapped her hands as if brushing off some dust.

While the bear-race guards were watching her, she was also watching them.

Seeing the change in expression on these beastmen’s faces, Cheng Shuili knew clearly that she had really pulled off the act!

She needed the loyalty of the bear-race, and this loyalty had to be built upon absolute strength.

Today, she had only gained this squad of guards, but guards were the core power of a race!

Cheng Shuili’s mood improved significantly. She looked down at the two leopard-race beastmen struggling to crawl up from the ground, her tone rising with pleasantry: "Now, can we talk properly about Bao Chi’s situation?"

Bao Ya and Bao Zhua struggled to climb up from the ground, their faces devoid of their previous ferocity, replaced only by fear and pain.

The few seemingly light blows from Cheng Shuili had left them feeling numb all over, barely able to muster any strength.

"Talk… talk about what?" Bao Ya’s voice trembled; he dared not look Cheng Shuili in the eyes.

"Does Bao Chi owe you money?" Cheng Shuili asked, her tone plain but carrying immense pressure.

"No, it’s not owed…" Bao Zhua quickly waved his hands, shrinking back under Cheng Shuili’s gaze, explaining incoherently, "It’s… it’s what we lent him…"

"Lent?" Cheng Shuili raised an eyebrow and looked at Bao Chi, who had been standing silently behind her. "Bao Chi, is that so?"

Bao Chi looked up, his lips moving. Under Cheng Shuili’s calm gaze, Bao Chi took a deep breath, and the humiliation and anger he had been suppressing finally found a vent.

"I didn’t borrow! I don’t owe them anything! They all bully me, all the leopard-race beastmen, they all bully me!"

His voice was a bit hoarse from excitement, yet exceptionally clear, without even a stutter:

"If I don’t satisfy them, they spread rumors in the tribe, saying I stole, saying I betrayed my people, saying I’m doing shameful things outside… making it so I have no place left in the leopard-race!"

Cheng Shuili had thought Bao Chi’s complaints would end there, but he didn’t stop. His hands were clenched into tight fists, his nails almost embedding into his palms. His voice carried a sob, yet he spoke every word firmly:

"My parents died early, and I’ve always been… insignificant in the tribe. I… I had no choice… I endured it time and time again, but they just kept pushing further and further."

"From the very beginning, a few individual beastmen came to my shop to demand food, to the King demanding I provide food for all tribesmen, and now, when there isn’t enough food, they want to rob me openly… rob the game coins I worked so hard to earn. I didn’t want to give them, so they wanted to beat me."

Bao Chi’s voice was choked with sobs. He had held these grievances in his heart for too long. Today, he had to let it out; the more he spoke, the more fluent he became:

"Isn’t a race supposed to be a home? Isn’t a home supposed to be a place that provides warmth? Why does this place make me… so…"

"…heartbroken."

Bao Chi said the last word very softly, yet it struck like a heavy hammer against the heart of every beastman present.

The bonfire crackled, reflecting his slightly trembling shoulders and reddened eyes.