Before Bai Wanwan could even react, she was already surrounded by a group of Beastmen.
Each of these male Beastmen, who stood over six feet tall on average, had a ferocious expression, a wild glint of brutality shining in their eyes.
Seeing the intimidating scene, Bai Wanwan quickly called out in her mind.
"Hua Sheng, help me!"
"Host, don't worry. On the Beast World Continent, a female with exceptional fertility is a priceless treasure. Just tell them you're a Holy Female, and they won't hurt you."
'Oh, is that so...'
Bai Wanwan relaxed, even covering her mouth as she yawned.
Seeing the Beastmen draw ever closer, she chuckled and said, "Well now, is this whole grand display to welcome me?"
The Clan Leader's grizzled beard trembled with anger. "Bai Wanwan! You harmed the tribe's precious female, and you still dared to hide!"
Hu Ya stepped forward at the perfect moment, wiping away tears as she made her accusation. "Wanwan, why did you push me into the river? If Uncle Shan hadn't been passing by, I... I would have..."
With every word she spoke, the Clan Leader's expression grew a shade darker.
"Someone! Lock Bai Wanwan in the Female Cave! Don't let her out again!"
Bai Wanwan hurriedly waved her hands. "Hey, wait... wait a minute."
The Clan Leader gave her a cold look. "What else do you have to say for yourself?"
"Well, there is something I'd like to say,"
Bai Wanwan nodded and walked over to Hu Ya. "You said I pushed you into the water, right?"
"Yes..."
The word was barely out of her mouth when Bai Wanwan raised her hands, landing a series of sharp slaps—SMACK! SMACK!—across her face.
'So satisfying!'
'This Hu Ya had plotted to harm the original owner of this body more than once, but that simple-minded girl still treated her like a friend.'
'Since I'm a Holy Female, what better time to be defiant?'
It wasn't just Hu Ya who was left stunned; the male Beastmen standing nearby were also dumbfounded, forgetting to intervene.
When she came to her senses, Hu Ya's eyes widened, and she let out a piercing shriek.
"Insolent!" The Clan Leader trembled with rage. "How dare you attack someone right in front of me! Do you have any respect for me as Clan Leader?!"
Bai Wanwan turned to the furious Clan Leader, shrugged, and spread her hands. "Whether I did it or not, you weren't going to let me off the hook. I figured I might as well do something to actually deserve the crime you're accusing me of, right?"
The Clan Leader pointed at her, bellowing, "Bai Wanwan! If you weren't a female, I'd make you suffer the sun-baking punishment right now!"
He couldn't be bothered to argue with her any longer. With a wave of his hand, he commanded, "Take Bai Wanwan to the Female Cave."
"Hey! Wait, I want to take the fertility test."
The Clan Leader waved his hand impatiently. "Test for what? The result will be the same. Just take her to the Female Cave!"
"If you don't let me take the test, I'll just kill myself by bashing my head against the entrance of the Female Cave!" Bai Wanwan declared, acting like a complete rogue.
The Clan Leader was shocked to find that the female who in the past wouldn't even dare to meet his gaze seemed like a completely different person today.
Though burning with rage, he had no choice but to compromise. Even a female with low fertility was a precious resource for the tribe.
"Fine! But after the test, you will go to the Female Cave without any more trouble!"
The corners of Bai Wanwan's lips curled into a smile. "Deal!"
Since a test was happening, the Clan Leader decided to just summon all the eligible females to be tested at once, saving him the trouble of holding another test in ten-or-so days.
Inside the Witch Cave, Bai Wanwan and Hu Ya waited for the other females to arrive.
Bai Wanwan sidled up to Hu Ya. "Why did you frame me?"
Hu Ya's gaze flickered. "Who framed you? You're obviously the one who's jealous of me."
Bai Wanwan smiled sweetly as she looked Hu Ya up and down. "Be jealous of you? Of what? That your face looks like it's been trampled by beast hooves? Or that your rough skin resembles old tree bark?"
Hu Ya trembled with rage, wishing she could rip that delicate, porcelain-white face to shreds.
"Looks like I guessed right," Bai Wanwan said, noticing the subtle shift in Hu Ya's expression.
"But then again, I've always been prettier than you, so you should be used to that by now. The fertility test is in just over ten days. Even if you'd done nothing, I would've been sent to the Female Cave anyway."
She paused, staring into Hu Ya's eyes. "So what made you so desperate to plot against me and get me sent there ahead of time?"
Hu Ya guiltily averted her gaze, not daring to answer.
'Of course, there was a reason.'
'She had learned from an admirer that a merchant caravan from a Super Tribe would soon be passing through this area.'
'With Bai Wanwan's beauty, she would likely be chosen by the caravan, even if she had no fertility.'
'The thought of that bitch being chosen and sent to a Super Tribe had robbed her of her appetite and her sleep.'
'Only by getting her sent to the Female Cave early could Hu Ya rest easy.'
"What nonsense are you talking about... I didn't."
Hu Ya's lie was so transparent. Bai Wanwan pursed her lips, suddenly bored.
As more and more females crowded into the Witch Cave, Bai Wanwan was jostled to the side.
Just then, the sound of Beastmen offering respectful greetings echoed from outside the cave.
Then, Bai Wanwan saw the crowd part as an elderly female in a white robe slowly entered.
Her expression was benevolent, and her gentle gaze swept over all the young females present.
"Are you ready to receive the Beast God's blessing?"
Excited and fearful, the young females all looked at her and nodded.
As she spoke, the Clan Witch slowly walked to the center of the Witch Cave.
Her withered hands cradled a polished, jet-black stone, and she began to chant under her breath.
As she chanted the Spell, the eerie patterns on the stone's surface flickered between light and dark, seeming to flow as if alive.
Bai Wanwan watched for a moment before her mind drifted. She was still pondering Hu Ya's true motive for framing her.
Suddenly, a chill ran down the back of her neck. The hairs on her body stood on end, as if she were being stared at by a ferocious beast.