"The taste isn't—"
Su Bai was just about to answer honestly when he caught sight of the horned girl's red eyes, shimmering with anticipation.
He wasn't completely clueless or lacking in emotional intelligence, so he immediately changed his words.
"It's exceptionally good. Boiled meat has a faint natural sweetness. Of course, it would be even better if some of the gaminess could be removed."
"That's good, then."
Yan Hua straightened up at once, clearly satisfied. It suddenly felt like cooking meat wasn't difficult at all.
"Go ahead and eat," Su Bai said with a wry smile.
Don't be fooled by her usually cold expression and mature appearance—she was actually just a slightly tsundere young girl at heart.
"Then… I'm really eating?"
Yan Hua first glanced around, and after confirming no one was paying attention, quickly crouched by the stone pot and began cutting the meat with a stone knife.
Su Bai finished an entire chicken leg in just a few bites, watching her sneaky behavior with curiosity.
"Are you that afraid of people finding out?"
Yan Hua hurriedly stuffed the meat into her mouth and shot him a glare with her red eyes.
"I'm not afraid! You're the one who told me to eat!"
"Is it because of my status?" Su Bai asked tentatively.
"..."
Yan Hua fell silent. After a long while, she finally said, "This meat was given to you by everyone. I shouldn't be eating it."
"It's fine. I told you to eat," Su Bai waved it off, glancing at the pot. Two chickens and a rabbit—there was no way he could finish all of it alone.
"You said it yourself."
Yan Hua immediately dug in, unwilling to spit the meat out even after burning herself, blowing air through her lips.
"So good… even better than my mother's cooking."
Three minutes passed.
"..."
Su Bai fell silent, staring dumbfounded at the horned girl, then at the pot—only one chicken remained.
"Huh? Why aren't you eating?"
Yan Hua's cheeks were puffed out, a piece of rabbit meat still in her hand, like someone who hadn't eaten in days.
"I—"
Su Bai gave up on all courtesy and politeness. He sprang up, scooped the remaining chicken out of the pot with a wooden stick, and started gnawing on it.
He finally understood—
the restraint, politeness, and modesty he'd brought from Earth were useless in a primitive society.
If you politely declined, people would take it seriously.
It wasn't that he wanted to be savage—
everyone else already was.
Ten minutes later.
"Burp!"
Su Bai let out a satisfied belch, his whole body going slack as strength returned to him.
Yan Hua picked her teeth and said disdainfully, "You eat really slowly."
"..."
Su Bai rolled his eyes, completely unable to refute that.
"You're from a large tribe, aren't you?" Yan Hua suddenly asked.
"Huh?"
Su Bai froze for a moment, then shook his head. "No. I come from a very distant place."
"If you don't want to say it, forget it."
Yan Hua stood up and stretched, her tone unconsciously softening.
"Go get some rest. I'll be going on patrol soon."
"Mm."
Su Bai nodded, glancing at her in puzzlement. She didn't seem as guarded toward him as before.
He picked up a half-burnt stick from the bonfire to use as a torch. Otherwise, the tent would be pitch-black—he probably wouldn't even find the bed.
"I'm heading back. Be careful on patrol."
Tap, tap, tap…
Yan Hua watched his retreating figure, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly.
"He eats meat so slowly—must be from a big tribe. Probably never worries about food."
She was perceptive.
From Su Bai's behavior, speech, and demeanor, she sensed a subtle disconnect—as if he came from a completely different world.
But when she saw him finally start eating meat in big bites, that sense of unfamiliarity lessened.
Crack… sizzle…
The firewood beneath the pot snapped, causing the stone pot to tilt.
"..."
Yan Hua turned abruptly toward it, staring blankly. Then she thought of something and looked down at the large pile of bones at her feet, then at where Su Bai had been sitting—there were only a few bones there.
She swallowed and muttered, "I… I think I ate a bit too much."
"Cough—this was his idea. Not my fault."
She coughed guiltily, glanced around, then swiftly kicked the bones into the fire, destroying the "evidence."
At that moment, a shout came from afar:
"Yan Hua! What are you doing? It's time for patrol!"
"C-coming!"
Yan Hua answered nervously. Only after confirming the bones were completely gone did she finally relax.
...
When Su Bai returned to the tent and lifted the flap, he found a small fire already burning inside, neatly surrounded by stones, with firewood stacked nearby.
He stepped back outside and surveyed the camp. Only a handful of tents were lit.
"Looks like only a few people get this kind of treatment," Su Bai muttered.
Hierarchy existed everywhere—only more obvious here.
In a primitive society, status followed the law of the jungle. Those with lit tents were undoubtedly totem warriors or capable individuals.
He lay down on the hay pile, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. Propped on his side, he stared at the fire as his thoughts drifted.
"Tomorrow, I'll receive the inheritance… and become the tribe's shaman."
"That's basically making me the village chief."
He felt uneasy. It was his first time leading anyone—he hadn't even been a class monitor back in school.
"Whatever. I'll just take it one step at a time."
"Things can't really get worse anyway."
This place was practically a poverty-stricken village.
"Yawn—"
Su Bai let out a heavy yawn. His eyelids drooped, and he soon fell asleep.
About ten minutes later, the tent flap was lifted.
"He's asleep."
Cang Shi peeked inside and stepped in silently, carrying a large chunk of meat—nearly the size of three palms. He was just about to hang it on a wooden support beam when—
"Take it back. Don't disturb the inheritor."
Yan Jiao's voice sounded softly from outside.
"Alright."
As if he already knew Yan Jiao was there, Cang Shi withdrew with the meat.
Yan Jiao's red eyes glimmered faintly.
"Once he becomes shaman, he won't lack meat."
"R-right… that makes sense."
Cang Shi slapped his head in realization, then asked dully, "You're on night watch tonight?"
"Yes."
Yan Jiao turned to look toward the massive tent. In the firelight, a figure could be seen working with its head lowered.
"The shaman is preparing the inheritance ritual?" Cang Shi asked quietly.
"Yes. He wants to leave more behind for the inheritor," Yan Jiao replied in a deep voice.
"..."
Cang Shi fell silent.
The two men stood quietly in the darkness, as though guarding something precious.