Granny Wu Zhi was surprised. "You want to join the gathering team?"
Su Yu nodded, her delicate little face looking a bit sheepish. "I want to help Shi Wei out a little."
Fearing Granny Wu Zhi would refuse, she quickly added, "Don't worry, Granny Wu Zhi. In my old tribe, I went out with the gathering team before. I have experience and won't wander off."
Just then, the tribe's gathering team happened to pass by Granny Wu Zhi's cave.
Overhearing their conversation, Sang Guo couldn't help but mock, "A blind female like you wants to leave the tribe to gather? Are you so bored you want to cause trouble for us?"
After her taunt, Sang Guo caught the strong scent of Shi Wei on her. Her expression changed in an instant, and she pointed a finger, sputtering in fury, "Y-y-you... you and Shi Wei mated?!"
"How could you mate with Shi Wei!!"
Granny Wu Zhi grew angry, her face darkening. "Sang Guo! Watch your attitude! The females of the tribe are not allowed to antagonize each other!"
The other females in the gathering team looked curiously at Su Yu, who was sitting at the cave entrance, their faces showing a hint of amazement.
The males escorting the team couldn't help but blush, their beast ears popping out on their heads.
'This female is just too beautiful.'
So fair and pure, as white as the milk fruit the cubs ate. She also had a fragrant scent that made you want to hold her and cherish her in the palm of your hand.
No wonder Shi Wei had mated with her.
But after the amazement came pity.
They could tell there was something wrong with Su Yu's eyes. She couldn't see.
For such a beautiful female to have a disability meant she would be difficult to support, have trouble bearing cubs, and be likely to die young.
Even if males desired a female, they would keep their distance from one so delicate.
The females' reactions were much more blunt. They felt Su Yu was not good enough for Shi Wei.
Shi Wei was the number one Warrior of the Liaoshui Tribe. How could a disabled female like her possibly be worthy of him?
Su Yu blinked and tugged on Granny Wu Zhi's Beast Skin Skirt to calm her down.
Then, with a look of fragile innocence, she 'looked' toward Sang Guo. "I know I'm not good enough for Shi Wei, but he was the one who insisted on mating with me. There was nothing I could do."
Her voice was sweet and gentle, devoid of any aggression, but it was exceptionally good at infuriating beastmen.
What infuriated Sang Guo the most was that looking at Su Yu's innocent expression, she couldn't bring herself to blame her.
Her mind even started to involuntarily follow Su Yu's line of reasoning.
'That's right!'
'Su Yu is blind and weak. If Shi Wei wanted to mate with her, she couldn't possibly resist!'
Sang Guo said gruffly, "Couldn't you have refused?"
Su Yu retorted, "Shi Wei is so strong. Why would I refuse?"
Sang Guo: "..."
She was speechless! That comeback was enough to choke a beastman!
Su Yu smiled, groped her way to her feet, and said, "I'm very grateful that the tribe took me in. I don't want to just stay in the cave as a female who only eats and drinks. I want to contribute to the tribe, too."
She asked sincerely, "Can you take me with you on your gathering trip? I promise I'll stick close to you and absolutely won't cause any trouble."
Sang Guo refused flatly. "No!"
Su Yu looked crestfallen. "Oh, alright then..."
The older females immediately softened.
They had all been young once and knew how active young females were. But Su Yu couldn't see and could only stay in her cave all day. It was quite pitiful.
A female with some gray in her hair said gently, "Sang Guo, let her come along. We aren't going far from the tribe this time, so it won't be dangerous."
Sang Guo glanced at Su Yu, who was looking at her expectantly, and pursed her lips. "Fine, then."
She added fiercely, "Let's get this straight. You can come with the gathering team, but I'm not taking care of you."
Su Yu's lips curved into a smile. "Okay."
Granny Wu Zhi frowned with worry and instructed her, "Stay close to the males guarding the team, don't wander off, and call for help if you're in danger."
Su Yu agreed, reassured Granny Wu Zhi with a few more words, and then said her goodbyes, slowly following behind the Liaoshui Tribe's gathering team.
Every tribe's gathering team was composed of females, cubs, and some old Beastmen who had retired from the Hunting Team due to injury.
They were responsible for gathering edible fruits, wild vegetables, and roots from the gathering spots around the tribe, enriching the tribe's food supply.
The tribe would arrange for four to six sturdy males to accompany the team, protecting them and preventing them from being attacked and killed by Wild Beasts or Wandering Beastmen lurking near the tribe.
The male Beastmen with them this time were Wolf and Bear Beasts, all very tall and large.
They transformed into their beast forms and walked on either side of the team, keeping the gatherers protected in the middle.
After walking for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, they arrived at the gathering spot.
This time, the gathering spot was to the east of the tribe, right by the stream.
Along the way, the slightly older females took good care of her. Knowing she couldn't see, they found edible fruits for her to smell, telling her to follow the scent to find more.
Female Beastmen also had a keen sense of smell, so even without sight, they could find food by scent.
Su Yu was grateful to these friendly females. She obediently sniffed the sweet, fruity aroma in the air, trying to find her way.
Inwardly, however, she was haggling with System 250. 'Five points to guide me to the location of edible plants nearby.'
Beastmen were very perceptive. Su Yu didn't dare have the system restore her vision directly, so she could only have it guide her to the locations, which she would then find on her own.
250 sneakily raised the price: [Five points is too little. Ten points.]
Su Yu sneered. 'Five points. Take it or leave it. Once I give birth and my vision is restored, you won't even earn a single point from me.'
Hearing this, 250 realized she had a point. While the host couldn't see, it should fleece her for all she was worth. It immediately agreed: [Deal! Five points it is!]
[DING! 5 points deducted. Edible Plant Map for the Beast World activated. Map is now open. Time limit: thirty minutes.]
One by one, arrows slowly materialized before Su Yu's eyes. The locations they pointed to were even thoughtfully labeled with names.
For example, the Cai Ziling to the east, the Vermilion Fruit to the west, the Earth Egg to the north, and the Black Fruit she was currently picking.
Su Yu's eyes lit up. Following the system's guidance, she found some soft vines on the ground and fumbled her way through weaving a crude little basket.
In her past life, she had applied for many jobs to make money. The big factories wouldn't hire her, as she was too young and weak. Only a kind grandmother, taking pity on her, brought her to a small handicrafts workshop run by her son. There, she was able to support herself by making crafts.
Back then, she had no capital and didn't know any crafts, so she started by learning to weave baskets of all shapes and sizes.
Even if she messed up, she would only waste a few bamboo or wooden strips.
It was because of this experience that she could weave a basket with a rough outline even with her eyes closed.
The other females in the gathering team used pre-made Beast Skin Bags, but she didn't have one, so she had to make her own basket.
Although Sang Guo had said she wouldn't care for her, she had actually been secretly watching Su Yu's every move. When she saw her nimble fingers weave the basket, she was momentarily stunned.
'This female... doesn't seem as useless as I thought.'
Sang Guo hesitated for a moment, then couldn't resist walking over. She stared curiously at the basket in Su Yu's hands, which looked quite delicate and small to her, and asked, "What's that?"
Su Yu paused slightly, then handed the basket to her. "It's a basket I just wove. You can use it to hold fruit and vegetables. Do you want it? It's for you."
Sang Guo was taken aback and instinctively refused, "Who wants your thing?"
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them. Seeing the crestfallen look on Su Yu's face, she bit her lip, snatched the basket, and said stubbornly, "You're the one insisting on giving it to me. It's not like I wanted to take it."
"Since you're trying so hard to get on my good side by giving me gifts, I guess I'll do you the favor of taking you to pick some delicious red-red fruit."
Su Yu held back a laugh and nodded. "Yes, I insisted on giving it to you."
Sang Guo was pleased to hear that. She saw that Su Yu had already woven a new basket, but hers was still empty. She glanced at the fruit and vegetables in her own Beast Skin Bag.
Picking up her Beast Skin Bag, she dumped the fruit and vegetables into Su Yu's basket, saying, "I don't like these overly sweet Black Fruits and bitter Cai Ziling. You can have them, it's your lucky day."
A warmth spread through Su Yu's heart. She didn't refuse, just smiled sweetly. "Then thank you, Sang Guo. You're so kind."
Sang Guo's ears instantly turned red. She muttered under her breath, "No, I'm not."
She grew a little worried. She had just cursed this female out over Shi Wei, and now here she was, saying she was kind.
'This female is so simple-minded. Can Shi Wei alone protect her?'
Su Yu, unaware of Sang Guo's thoughts, picked up her basket and outwardly fumbled her way in the direction of the Earth Eggs.
Sang Guo had just put her Beast Skin Bag away when she looked up and saw Su Yu walking toward the stream.
Sang Guo: "!!!"