As night fell, Jin Xi finished helping around the tribe and returned to the temporary residence Jin Ling had arranged for him—a stone house quite far from the inner city.

Food delivered by the patrol team was waiting in the house. After eating his fill, he got up, left the stone house, and prepared to head to the nearby stream for a good wash.

In the tribe, beastmen usually returned to their homes to rest as soon as it got dark. Aside from the patrol teams, very few would be out and about.

Jin Xi had just reached the water’s edge when a massive shadow fell over him from the sky.

An instant later, sharp talons seized him and carried him into the sky.

In midair, Jin Xi didn’t dare struggle. He could only cling tightly to his captor’s talons, terrified it would suddenly let go and drop him to his death.

Yun Qi flapped his wings, carrying Jin Xi back to the cave where they were hiding.

Jin Xi was tossed into the cave. Just as he was about to scramble up, Jin Che’s sharp claws pressed against his neck.

"Don’t move, Jin Xi. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee I won’t take your life."

Jin Xi lay on the ground, not daring to move.

Yun Qi shifted back into his humanoid form and strode into the cave, looking down on him.

"Escaping from the training grounds is a capital offense. If you don’t want to die, you’ll do exactly as you’re told."

Jin Xi gritted his teeth. "What do you want!"

Jin Che tapped his face with a sharp claw. "The fact that Big Brother let you stay in the tribe means he trusts you."

Jin Xi frowned and said nothing.

Jin Che sneered and planted his foot on Jin Xi’s chest. "Help us capture Big Brother’s female, get her out of the inner city, and I’ll beg Father Beast to spare your life."

"I can’t..."

"Ah, don’t be so quick to refuse. Do you really think the Divine Leopard Tribe alone can stand against Tiger Beast City? Father Beast has already dispatched several hundred guards, all 5-star or higher. What chance do you think this tribe has of resisting them?"

’Several hundred guards with 5-star beast souls... That’s the kind of force one would deploy for a full-scale war against another Beast City!’

"So, think carefully. Will you die with them, or will you do as we say?"

Jin Xi frowned. "If you already have the strength to overrun the tribe, why do you need to capture the Clan Leader?"

Jin Che sneered. "Sangze, and that Heaven-Swallowing Giant Python... Father Beast wants them alive!"

If they died, it would mean everything they’d done so far was a waste of effort. They’d end up with nothing, and Father Beast would surely fly into a rage.

"And... and what about Big Brother...?"

"I almost forgot. Big Brother needs to be taken alive, too. Capturing that female is the best way to make them all submit willingly."

"Fine, I’ll do it. But you have to tell me exactly what to do and how I’m supposed to cooperate." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Seeing that he had agreed, a triumphant smirk spread across Jin Che’s face.

"Jin Li’s troops will arrive in three days. I’ll tell you what to do then."

"Fine."

Yun Qi dropped Jin Xi back in the tribe’s territory, then silently departed and returned to the cave.

"Will Jin Xi really obey?"

Jin Che said confidently, "Of the six of us brothers, he’s the most useless and the biggest coward. Why else would he have run from the training grounds? He’ll do as we say to save his own skin."

After returning to the tribe, Jin Xi didn’t sleep a wink. He lay with his eyes open until dawn.

Hearing stirring outside his stone house, he got up and started walking toward the inner city.

As soon as Jin Xi reached the entrance to the inner city, he was stopped by guards.

"Who are you? Stay back."

Just as Jin Xi was about to speak, he saw Feiyan emerging, supporting Qiao Xixi.

"Clan Leader."

Qiao Xixi turned at the sound of his voice. Seeing Jin Xi standing outside the gate, she walked over.

"You’re Jin Xi, right?"

Jin Xi nodded. "Yes."

"What brings you here? Are you looking for Jin Ling?"

Jin Xi shook his head. "No, I’m here to see the Clan Leader. There’s something I need to tell you."

Feiyan’s expression hardened. "What business do you have with the Clan Leader?"

Jin Xi looked at Qiao Xixi. "I’d like to discuss this with the Clan Leader in private."

"Xixi, he’s from Tiger Beast City. We can’t trust him so easily."

Qiao Xixi agreed, but she was also curious about Jin Xi’s motives.

"Alright, let’s hear what he has to say."

Feiyan didn’t want Jin Xi getting too close to Qiao Xixi, so she had the guards escort him to a stone house just outside the inner city. She then helped Qiao Xixi inside.

After sitting down, Qiao Xixi looked at Jin Xi. "What is it you wanted to tell me?"

Jin Xi looked at Qiao Xixi and said, "After you captured the Priest, Tiger Beast City dispatched several hundred guards, all with 5-star beast souls or higher. They’re coming to demand you hand over the Priest. It won’t be long before they reach the tribe."

Qiao Xixi was a little surprised. She hadn’t expected Jin Wei to dispatch such a large force. ’He’s planning to make an example of us.’

"I understand."

Seeing her expression remain unchanged, Jin Xi assumed she didn’t realize just how powerful this force was.

"They are more than capable of wiping out the entire tribe, Clan Leader. Aren’t you afraid?"

Qiao Xixi mulled it over for a moment before asking, "Does your Father Beast care about the Priest?"

"Of course he does! A great deal!"

Qiao Xixi nodded. "Then that’s all that matters. Thank you for bringing me this information."

Jin Xi was stunned by her reaction. "Clan Leader, surely you don’t believe that Father Beast will spare you just because you have the Priest?"

Qiao Xixi blinked at him. "Yes. Is that not enough? You just said the Priest is very important to your Father Beast, didn’t you?"

"But with so many powerful beastmen coming, they can simply rescue the Priest after they’ve flattened your tribe!"

Qiao Xixi spread her hands. "Then what do you suggest I do?"

Jin Xi pursed his lips. "Father Beast wants Sunxiao, Sangze, and Big Brother."

"That’s not happening. The most they’ll get back is the Priest. Nothing more."

Jin Xi gave Qiao Xixi a complicated look, then sighed helplessly after a moment. ’What am I thinking, trying to explain this to a delicate female? She has no concept of how serious this situation is!’

"Do you know when their troops will arrive?"

Jin Xi looked at Qiao Xixi, having lost all desire to continue the conversation. "I don’t know."

"Alright. Thank you for telling me this. You may go back for now."

Disappointed, Jin Xi left the inner city. He looked back, his brow furrowed as he watched Feiyan support Qiao Xixi’s retreating figure.

’I originally thought Big Brother and the others were prepared to face Tiger Beast City, but it looks like they have no idea that their doom is approaching!’

’Big Brother has really lost his mind. He’s gotten stupid since he took a mate.’

’I can’t just wait here to die. But Yun Qi has already placed an aura brand on me; I can’t escape.’

Jin Xi stared at the inner city, his fists slowly clenching. ’Since they’re incompetent, they can’t blame me for the choice I’m about to make!’