Roasted Meat

Seeing Tian mocking him again, the Chief replied bluntly, "I'm eating at my own place. What does it have to do with you?"

Tian was immediately choked up: "..."

It indeed had nothing to do with him; he just wanted to come over and mock the Chief a bit!

Lin Die watched from the side with amusement. She had heard friends joke that the two phrases "What does it have to do with you?" and "What does it have to do with me?" could solve eighty percent of the world's problems. It seemed that even in this distant era, they were just as useful.

Tian was left speechless but didn't want to leave just like that. He looked at Lin Die, who was standing quietly to the side with her hands behind her back, and narrowed his eyes to size her up from head to toe.

Yang pulled Lin Die behind his back.

"Yang, is this the female you brought back?" Tian asked in a stern voice.

"Yes, is there a problem?" Yang shielded Lin Die behind him.

Tian pointed at Lin Die: "This little female is both short and thin, wears strange clothes, and clearly looks suspicious. How could you just bring an outsider into the tribe?"

Lin Die blinked from behind Yang. How did she suddenly become "suspicious"?

Tian couldn't win against the Chief, so he turned his attention to her—truly unreasonable.

Yang countered, "The tribe has no rule against bringing beastmen back."

In the tribe, most beastmen from other places were brought back as mates. Others could bring them back, so why couldn't he?

He had picked up this little female based on his own ability; on what grounds could they stop him from bringing her back?

"But there's also no rule saying you can!" Seeing Yang dare to argue with him, Tian grew even angrier.

"Shaman, why can't we bring beastmen from other tribes back?" a thin young female standing nearby asked.

She had an agreement with Mu of the Bear Tribe. At the inter-tribal assembly next spring, Mu would choose her as his mate. If the tribe didn't allow bringing back beastmen from other tribes, what would she do?

Every year, the tribes practiced intermarriage. There were many beastmen from other tribes in their own tribe, and other tribes also chose beastmen from the Cat Tribe.

If their tribe truly didn't allow bringing in beastmen from other tribes, then other tribes would surely stop accepting Cat Tribe beastmen as well. Over time, the Cat Tribe would be isolated.

"That... that..." Tian stammered, not knowing what to say.

He had only said that earlier to shut Yang up, but if he were to truly sever relations with other tribes, he couldn't bear that responsibility.

Seeing Tian silenced, the Chief waved his hand and said, "What are you all crowding around for? Go back to your business."

He said to the young female, "Don't worry, I never said we couldn't bring in beastmen from other tribes."

Hearing the Chief's words, the young girl felt relieved. The Chief was the most powerful person in the tribe; the Shaman's words didn't count.

"Hmph!"

Tian felt he had lost face. He glared fiercely at them, then tucked his hands behind his back and left in a huff.

Worried that Lin Die was frightened, Yang comforted her, "Don't be afraid, you'll get used to it over time."

Tian always wanted to provoke his father but never succeeded; he didn't know why the man was so persistent.

Estimating the time, the roasted meat should be done. Lin Die told them to pull the mud bundles out of the fire.

After breaking the outer layer of mud, the slightly charred banana leaves were revealed. As they slowly opened the leaves, a rich aroma wafted directly into their noses.

A light breeze blew, carrying the fragrance throughout the area.

The Cat Tribe beastmen had very keen noses, and they quickly followed the scent to find them.

"Wow! Chief, what is this that smells so good?"

"What else could it be? It's roasted meat."

The Chief took a piece of roasted meat and boastfully took a large bite. The flavor of the spices had soaked into every fiber of the meat; it was both tender and fragrant, the scent of meat spreading everywhere.

Seeing the Chief eating the roasted meat so happily, the surrounding beastmen couldn't help but swallow their saliva.

A beastman who was usually quite clever stepped forward and asked Yun, "Yun, can I have a piece of that roasted meat?"

He knew Yun was straightforward but much easier to talk to than the Chief.

"I knew you were looking for me for food!" Yun laughed and scolded, but she still handed him a piece of roasted meat.

The beastman hurried to put the meat in his mouth, and his eyes immediately widened.

So, so, so, so delicious!

He had never eaten roasted meat this good!

He chewed ravenously, reluctantly swallowing the meat, and finally licked every bit of grease from his lips.

The watching beastmen didn't need to ask to know how good the roasted meat was. They crowded forward, clamoring that they wanted to eat too.

The Chief gave them a few pieces of roasted meat, then possessively kept the rest for himself.