Little Pink Starfish

The Mu tribe members, as implied by the character “姆” (Mu), were a matriarchal society where women held the highest authority. Interestingly, the word “姆” could also be phonetically altered to “木” (Mu, meaning wood). This meant that the Mu people were, in essence, descendants of the Wood Tribe, with ancient bloodlines linked to carnivorous plants.

These carnivorous plants from antiquity were not limited to preying on humans; their diet often included ferocious beasts. This created a natural antagonism between the two. Ironically, these plants possessed an essence capable of enhancing the strength of the very beasts they preyed upon, intensifying the natural conflict between them.

Although the carnivorous plants eventually became extinct, their bloodline persisted through interbreeding with humans. Over generations of strict inbreeding within the tribe, the Mu people’s bloodline became increasingly pure, allowing them to retain their unique traits to this day.

The tribe’s leader, who was always female, possessed an even purer nature and more potent instincts. Naturally, her allure—especially to ferocious beasts—was unparalleled, far surpassing that of the men. This attraction grew stronger each year after she came of age, becoming most pronounced during her mating season.

Thus, it was no surprise that Su Suyue, the tribe’s current leader with her heart set on someone, had unwittingly become a beacon for savage beasts during such a time. The sight of an enormous herd of beasts surging towards them could only be expected.

As the horde of beasts darkened the horizon, a flurry of expressions erupted:

• Gu Bai: Indifferent.
• Qiguan Rui: (⊙_⊙)
• Chen Yuanhao: =口=
• Tun Tian Zhong (Swallowing Heaven Group): =口=
• Su Suyue: =口=
• The Menfolk: =皿=!!!

Such a scene truly showcased the diversity of human emotions.

Completely calm, Qiguan Rui stood and walked to the forefront of the group.

Tun Tian Zhong: “Captain! What are you doing?! Do you want to get trampled to death? Please come back! City Lord, save him!”

Gu Bai remained expressionless, muttering, “Save what? That pervert knows exactly what he’s doing.”

After all, Qiguan Rui had the bloodline of the Heaven-Devouring Python. In ancient times, the Heaven-Devouring Python was the ruler of beasts, capable of suppressing them with its bloodline power effortlessly. Right now, the real danger lay not with Qiguan Rui but with everyone else. Even if the rest of them died, the pervert would emerge unscathed and triumphant!

As if to prove this point, Qiguan Rui raised his arms gracefully, as though conducting an ethereal symphony in the air. The herd of ferocious beasts, thundering towards them, abruptly halted just ten metres away, lying down submissively.

Everyone was stunned: =口= “This… defies all logic!”

Gu Bai explained, “It’s his innate ability.”

The crowd collectively froze in disbelief. What kind of innate ability could achieve such a feat? They had braced for an inevitable trampling, only to see the beasts turn as docile as kittens. What a waste of effort!

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Qiguan Rui “tamed” the beasts with a series of gestures, and they obediently dispersed as if the curtain had fallen on a grand performance. This display earned Su Suyue and her men’s respect for Qiguan Rui. In a world where strength was paramount, showing unmatched power commanded deference.

Qiguan Rui, satisfied, returned to Gu Bai’s side, smiling gently.

Gu Bai asked in a low voice, “Is it done?”

Qiguan Rui’s soft gaze lingered. “Yes, gege. Rest assured.”

While everyone else remained awestruck by the beast-taming spectacle, Qiguan Rui discreetly released more snake gu, which mingled with the dispersing beasts. These gu served as his eyes, spreading among the imperial forces and other factions, collecting intelligence and expanding his “network.”

With Gu Bai’s prior warning, Qiguan Rui knew the so-called treasure wasn’t a genuine treasure. Instead of wasting time, he aimed directly for its core to achieve his goals.

Gu Bai supported this decision wholeheartedly. Follow the protagonist, and you can’t go wrong. ╮(╯▽╰)╭

The treasure’s location was riddled with traps, many of which Gu Bai had personally crafted in his original work. These included a beast-infested swamp, a tree canopy shrouded in toxic mist, illusory cliffs where one wrong step meant death, and sudden quicksand.

Although their journey was occasionally interrupted by opportunistic attackers, the weaker ones were swiftly dispatched by the men, while Qiguan Rui handled the stronger opponents with ease. The journey had been so uneventful that Gu Bai felt it resembled a sightseeing tour more than a perilous expedition.

As Qiguan Rui continued gathering information from his gu, their route brought them closer to the treasure’s core. With nightfall, the eerie atmosphere grew thicker, and the surrounding environment became unsettlingly quiet. It was clear to everyone: “It’s dark, the treasure is spooky, and it’s time to stop wandering blindly.”

Thus, they set up camp.

Gu Bai’s tent was, unsurprisingly, the largest and most luxurious, leaving the Mu tribe members dumbfounded. Meanwhile, Qiguan Rui efficiently coordinated the Swallowing Heaven Group, ensuring everything was meticulously prepared.

Once Gu Bai’s tent was ready, they moved on to other tasks. Despite the Mu tribe’s best efforts, their leader Su Suyue’s tent was modest in comparison to Gu Bai’s. The male members of the Mu tribe shared a large communal tent nearby, hoping for the privilege of serving their leader during the night.

However, Su Suyue smiled sweetly at Chen Yuanhao, who immediately embraced her waist and followed her into her tent.

The men gnashed their teeth, cursing the “pretty boy,” but Su Suyue’s authority was absolute.

As for the Swallowing Heaven Group, they exchanged knowing glances, indifferent to Su Suyue’s charms. After all, the world was full of women, and they weren’t in any rush.

Gu Bai and Qiguan Rui, on the other hand, calmly watched Su Suyue and Chen Yuanhao enter the tent before returning to their own.

Later that night, under a moonless sky filled with the howls of wild beasts, a scream erupted from the neighbouring tent.

Gu Bai: “…”

Not again!

Qiguan Rui, resting against Gu Bai, chuckled softly. “Gege, is it Chen Yuanhao?”

Gu Bai nodded grimly. The scream is all too familiar!

Stepping out, they saw a panicked, half-clothed Chen Yuanhao fleeing as a massive flower with razor-sharp teeth snapped at him.

The Mu men cheered, recognising their leader’s awakened bloodline. Su Suyue’s parasitic flower, a defensive and aggressive trait unique to female tribe members, had activated during their intimacy. Poor Chen Yuanhao had once again become the victim of her awakened instincts.

Gu Bai sighed. This time, it’s a literal man-eating flower.

Qiguan Rui silenced the flower with a single strike, its predatory aggression quelled under his bloodline’s overwhelming dominance.

****

Pinky says: I’m renaming this book to “Torturing The Horny Comic Relief”.