Chapter 173
The stone house had nearly been cleared out—Odian and the others had already finished packing most of their things.
When Nina arrived, Odian stepped forward to greet her. “Nina, everything’s almost ready. When do we leave p>
She glanced at the sky; it was nearly midday. “Let’s go after lunch p>
“Alright p>
Odian moved quickly to make the arrangements. By then, Silinx and the others had already been called back.
After eating, they worked efficiently, tidying the kitchen and courtyard until not a trace of their stay remained. Then, with their belongings gathered, they prepared to depart once more.
Nina paused for a moment, her gaze lingering on the stone house. Then she lifted the little ones onto Odian’s back and, without looking back again, left the tribe behind.
A new journey was about to begin.
Elsewhere, Peppy escorted Lina back to her stone house.
“Lina, are you leaving the tribe soon?” she asked.
“Probably within the next day or two,” Lina replied.
Though in truth, she wasn’t eager to leave so soon—she still needed time to secure those males for herself.
“Then… when you go, could you take me with you?” Peppy asked hesitantly. “I want to go to the city with you p>
A cold smile flickered through Lina’s heart. So that was her intention—getting close for this. Still, she might prove useful.
Perhaps she could bring her along to Sin City later.
Outwardly, she softened her tone. “It should be possible. But I’ll need to ask my father first p>
Peppy’s face lit up instantly. “Thank you, Lina! I’ll go pack my things right away p>
Lina gave a faint nod. “When we’re leaving, I’ll send someone to fetch you p>
“Okay p>
Peppy left happily, already thinking of the journey ahead.
Watching her retreating figure, Lina’s lips curled into a faint, mocking smile.
She turned and headed to her father’s quarters. Inside, Drago was focused, absorbing the energy of a beast crystal.
“Father, when are we leaving?” Lina asked.
“Tomorrow,” he replied.
He had already recovered most of his strength; after finishing with the crystal tonight, he would nearly be back at his peak.
“Could we leave a little later?” Lina said, her voice soft and fragile, like a willow in the wind. “I don’t feel fully recovered yet p>
“No.” His expression darkened slightly. “This isn’t a pleasure trip. I have important matters to attend to. And from what I see, you’re perfectly fine p>
Seeing his firm stance, Lina had no choice but to back down a step.
“Then… can we bring a few more beastmen with us tomorrow p>
“Lina, bringing you along in the first place was already an exception. I cannot take any more beastmen,” Drago said coldly, his tone sharp as ice.
Anyone traveling with Lina would inevitably be another female—and bringing Lina alone had already proven troublesome. In truth, he was beginning to regret allowing her to come at all. There was no way he would burden himself further.
“Father, can’t we just bring a few more?” Lina coaxed, her voice soft and pleading. “If we run into mutated beasts again, they could help us, couldn’t they p>
“No.” His voice turned even colder. “If you insist on bringing them, then you can travel on your own. We’ll split up p>
From a small tribe like this, he had no expectations of strength or usefulness.
Lina didn’t dare argue further. It was clear now—after everything on this journey, Drago was already growing tired of her.
The wild lands were far too dangerous. She wouldn’t dare travel alone.
Fine. She would abandon that female.
But what about those males?
The thought twisted inside her chest, sharp and bitter. To leave without claiming them—she couldn’t accept it.
Her brows knit together. She would try again this afternoon.
Their mate was an ugly female, wasn’t she? Then she would make herself dazzling—so radiant that, standing side by side, the difference would be undeniable. Those males would surely grow disgusted with their current mate.
A soft, mocking laugh echoed in her mind.
Men were all the same, weren’t they?
She was certain that the so-called mate of those males had used some underhanded method to bind them in the first place. As for the others, there was no way they would willingly choose an ugly female.
With her plan settled, Lina left her father’s quarters and returned to her own room.
She ordered her beastmen to lay out all her clothes and jewelry, then began selecting with meticulous care.
Her intentions were obvious.
“Lina… are you going to see those males again?” her first mate, Ulai, asked, his voice tight.
“Why do you care so much?” Lina replied without looking up, still sorting through fabrics.
“They treated you with such indifference. Why go back to them?” Ulai’s expression darkened.
“Because they’re stronger than you,” Lina said flatly, her tone dripping with disdain.
Her mates clenched their fists, their faces turning stormy as they turned and walked out.
Unbothered, Lina continued her preparations. After a long while, she finally chose the perfect outfit. Then she adorned herself carefully—every detail refined, every angle considered—until, at last, she was satisfied.
Only then did she step outside.
Her mates followed behind her, their expressions grim.
By the time she arrived at Nina’s stone house, dusk had already begun to settle.
Confidence shimmered in her eyes as she stepped inside—only to find it empty.
Not a single beastman remained.
“Where are they? Where did they all go p>
Lina rushed from room to room, but each one stood hollow and abandoned.
Behind her, her mates quietly let out breaths of relief.
They were gone.
Good.
Lina stomped her foot in frustration before storming out of the stone house.
All that time—an entire afternoon spent carefully choosing her clothes, adorning herself to perfection—wasted.
That night, anger coiled tightly in her chest. She lay awake in the darkness, sleepless, her thoughts churning.
At dawn the next morning, Drago finished packing and prepared to leave.
But Lina, after a night of restless brooding, found her unwillingness to let go only growing stronger. In the end, she decided to persuade him to go after Odian and the others.
“Father,” she began, her tone earnest, “yesterday I encountered a group of extremely powerful males. We’ve been running into mutated beasts constantly—it’s too dangerous. Why don’t we seek them out and ask for their help p>
“Lina, stop this nonsense and get ready to depart,” her father said, his displeasure evident.
“I’m telling the truth. Those males are incredibly strong—and there are many of them. Even my mates were no match. They were defeated effortlessly. If you don’t believe me, you can ask them p>
She gestured toward her beastmen.
She knew exactly what would move him.
Drago was a man driven by gain. Only advantage and strength would catch his interest.
Drago’s brows drew together.
Most of Lina’s mates were seventh-tier males—already formidable in their own right. To defeat them so easily… that meant the others were at least eighth-tier.
And lately, something had been off.
They had been encountering wave after wave of mutated beasts along their journey. Each battle drained him, consuming more of his energy than he liked. Without spirit stones, he might not have made it this far through the wilderness.
It didn’t feel like a coincidence.
The beasts weren’t merely crossing their path—they seemed drawn to them.
Could it be… something on them was attracting the hordes?
Ordinary beastmen didn’t interest him.
But eighth-tier fighters?
That was another matter entirely.
If he could bring such individuals into Spirit Stone City, the benefits would be considerable.
“Are you telling the truth?” he asked.
His gaze fell on Ulai and the others. Fresh wounds marked their bodies—evidence enough. He was already more than half convinced.
Anyone capable of injuring them so easily was undeniably powerful.
“Yes,” Ulai admitted, his expression dim, a trace of frustration lingering beneath the surface. “They’re far stronger than us. But p>
He was about to say more—about how those people had already left—but Lina shot him a sharp look, cutting him off instantly.
Ulai clenched his jaw and fell silent.
“But what?” Drago pressed.
“Then take me to them,” Drago said decisively.
Without hesitation, Lina led him toward Nina’s stone house.