Beastlord: Tribal System

In the cave, Meng Yuqing sat by the extinguished fire, staring into the pitch-black night with a furrowed brow. Xuan had yet to return, and his absence gnawed at Meng's mind. Was Xuan's hunt successful? Was he injured? Would he even make it back tonight?

Before leaving, Xuan had meticulously cleared the area around the cave and refreshed his markings to keep dangerous beasts away. Meng Yuqing had also used his system's daily exploration function before nightfall to confirm there were no threats nearby. The system's reassurance was the only thing keeping his nerves somewhat steady.

Stretching his legs, stiff from sitting too long, Meng Yuqing estimated it was already midnight. The memory of Xuan's unusually serious tone when discussing the Shadow Beast lingered in his mind, banishing any trace of sleep.

As he glanced toward the cave entrance for the umpteenth time, a noise broke through the silence—something heavy being dragged accompanied by slow, labored footsteps. Meng Yuqing's body tensed instantly.

"System, explore!" he whispered urgently, extinguishing the fire and pressing his back against the cave wall. The system's exploration range was limited to a 50-meter radius, and Meng Yuqing hoped it would provide answers.

"System, can you detect it?" Meng Yuqing asked internally, his thoughts racing. Was it Xuan? The footsteps sounded too heavy—was he injured? Or worse, was it something else entirely?

"Exploration initiated. The target has not yet entered the exploration range. Continuous scanning will proceed for up to 20 minutes. Please wait, host."

"20 minutes?" Meng Yuqing thought, disbelief and anxiety washing over him.

"Based on available data, the approaching entity possesses the power to threaten the host's safety. The system will use energy to conceal the host's presence, hiding their aura. This energy is pre-loaned and must be repaid through future mission completion and tribal development."

The system's cold, emotionless tone was followed by a strange sensation. Meng Yuqing felt an invisible force envelop him, immobilizing his body slightly. The discomfort made him shift instinctively.

"Host, please do not attempt to move. Additional movement will consume more energy."

Meng Yuqing froze, focusing instead on the sounds outside the cave. The heavy footsteps and dragging noise grew closer.

"Target has entered the exploration range. Identified: Xuan. Host, do you wish to cancel the concealment?"

"Really? Cancel it! Cancel it now!" Meng Yuqing's face lit up as he immediately stood and hurried to the entrance.

A Bloodied Return

At the cave entrance, Xuan's massive silhouette loomed in the darkness. His steps were heavy, his mouth gripping something large and indistinct, which dragged behind him on the ground. When Xuan saw Meng Yuqing rushing out, he paused, then quickened his pace. He stopped five meters from the entrance, dropping the object with a dull thud that kicked up a cloud of dust.

"Xuan! You're back! I saved some roasted meat for you—come and try my cooking!" Meng Yuqing called cheerfully, quickly brushing away the dust and hurrying toward Xuan.

As he got closer, his smile faded, replaced by shock. Xuan's body was covered in wounds, some small, others deep and bloody. Most notably, his shoulder bore two gaping punctures, still oozing blood. His once-sleek, satin-like fur was matted and clumped, streaked with dried blood. His chest heaved with labored breaths, and occasional low growls escaped his throat.

Seeing Meng Yuqing approach, Xuan moved his forelimbs and slowly lay down, his exhaustion evident. Meng Yuqing's heart ached at the sight. He reached out to touch Xuan, who lowered his head in compliance.

Meng's hand landed on Xuan's forehead, finding it warm and surprisingly soft despite the blood-matted fur. "Why aren't you asleep yet? Did I wake you?" Xuan asked, eyes closed and voice low.

"I couldn't sleep," Meng replied, his lips pressing into a thin line. "I wasn't at ease until you came back."

"Well, I'm back now. Get some rest. Tomorrow, I'll deal with the Shadow Beast's body and prepare to bring it back to the tribe."

"Shouldn't you rest for a few days? What about your injuries?"

"It's just the fur—nothing serious. A night's rest will be enough," Xuan replied casually.

"Don't lie to me! You're panting heavily and can barely stand." Meng Yuqing lightly tapped Xuan's forehead in annoyance.

"I killed it at dusk and rushed back without processing it first. That took a bit out of me," Xuan admitted, his ears twitching slightly.

"Why not handle it there and rest before coming back?" Meng Yuqing asked, frustrated as he rubbed Xuan's fur absentmindedly.

"I couldn't leave you, a sub-beast, alone in the wild overnight. Even though I cleared the area, I was still worried something might happen," Xuan said, his gaze fixed on the ground. His tail swished lightly, a trace of guilt flickering in his voice.

Meng Yuqing froze at his words. They had only known each other for three days. His decision to follow Xuan was pragmatic—he needed protection. Yet Xuan had gone to such lengths for him, offering sincere and unreserved care. Meng Yuqing felt a lump in his throat.

"I… wait here. I'll grab something," Meng Yuqing said hurriedly, his voice dry. He ran back into the cave, leaving Xuan looking puzzled.

Healing

Meng Yuqing picked up the hemostatic herbs he had collected earlier and asked the system, "How do I use these?"

"Crush them and apply externally," the system responded.

Returning to Xuan, Meng Yuqing glanced at the massive panther before him, then at the small handful of herbs in his palm. The contrast was almost comical.

"Xuan, can you shift to human form? If it's inconvenient, it's okay," he asked cautiously.

Though confused, Xuan complied, sitting upright and transforming into his human form. The wounds on his exposed skin were even more jarring, especially the bite mark on his shoulder, which looked like it had been torn open.

Meng Yuqing placed some herbs in his mouth and began chewing. "These herbs can stop bleeding and prevent infection. It might sting—bear with it," he said, applying the crushed paste to Xuan's wounds.

Xuan watched him in surprise but didn't resist. The herbs worked quickly, stopping the bleeding within minutes. Meng Yuqing chewed the rest of the herbs and continued treating Xuan's injuries.

When he was done, Xuan finally spoke. "You know medicine? Are you a shaman?"

"Uh, no, I'm not a shaman," Meng Yuqing quickly denied. He wasn't sure what a shaman's status entailed here but didn't dare claim the title.

"But you understand herbs," Xuan pressed, his eyes bright with curiosity.

"Maybe… a little," Meng Yuqing admitted reluctantly, thinking, With the system, I might learn more.

Xuan's excitement was palpable. He stood and circled Meng Yuqing a few times before sitting down again.

"Rest now. Tomorrow, I'll take you to my tribe. I hope you'll consider staying with us," Xuan said earnestly.

Meng Yuqing nodded, moved by Xuan's sincerity. "I can't give you an answer yet. I need to see it for myself, but thank you, Xuan. Really."

Xuan smiled warmly. "That's fine. I'll support whatever you decide. If our tribe isn't right for you, I'll help you find another."

As Xuan transformed back into his panther form and settled by the cave entrance, Meng Yuqing lay down on his grass bed, watching the imposing silhouette guarding him. Xuan's tribe must be something special, he thought. If it's anything like him, maybe it's a place I can call home.

With that thought, Meng Yuqing closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.