Epoch 20: Jealousy is deadly.
After they had their dinner, Tang Tang, Hou, and Xue were sitting face-to-face while separating the seed coat of the soybeans from the beans.
Amidst the harmonious atmosphere, Tang Tang suddenly said, "Tomorrow, let's go where the dua fruit is."
"Okay." Xue and Hou answered in unison.
The females gathered three full baskets of soybeans; he wanted to dry the beans tomorrow. That's why they were now separating it from the seed coat.
"I also want to go back where we found the garlic."
"Why? Is the garlic we picked not enough?" Hou asked.
"It is enough. I just want to get some garlic that still has intact roots. I plan to plant them near the tribe," Tang Tang explained.
"Okay."
"And some onions too." Tang Tang plans to gather several saplings of different plants.
He needs to successfully transplant five saplings, but he only has one week. The more saplings he plants, the higher the success rate of this quest, and there is no disadvantage if he successfully transplants more than five saplings.
"Is it for you not to go to the forest again to pick them?" Hou said, feeling smug that he might correctly guess Tang Tang's plan.
Looking at Hou's proud expression, Tang Tang can't help but laugh. "You're right, Hou."
"You see? I'm getting smarter every time I'm with you," Hou said with a wide grin.
"In my world, planting crops and raising animals we eat is called farming. It is part of the agriculture I mentioned to you before, Xue," Tang Tang added.
"I see. Agriculture is really convenient. It will lessen the danger for the females and sub-beasts once it is implemented in our tribe," Xue replied.
"Soon. Let's take it step by step."
"What are animals, Tang Tang?" Hou asked.
"We don't have monsters; instead, we call them animals, and the docile ones were raised to be livestock." Tang Tang is thankful that he listened to his TLE teacher in high school, or else he doesn't know how he can properly explain it to them.
They continue their discussion about their future plans for the tribe and their possible destination tomorrow when they hear someone calling outside.
"Tang Tang!!"
Tang Tang is about to stand up to check when Xue takes action first. "Let me check."
He let Xue check who it was while he and Hou continued with their work. When Xue returned, he was followed by Yan.
"What's wrong?" Tang Tang asked the female.
Yan looked at Xue and Hou before replying. "I need to tell you something."
Tang Tang cleared the place beside him and let Yan sit there. "What is it?"
Hou and Xue cleaned up all the scattered seed coat, returned all the unfinished gume fruit, and set aside the beans before they returned to their place to listen to what Yan was about to tell.
Yan was slightly surprised by the twins action. A lot of people admire the two beasts because of their strong and dignified demeanor, but now they just look like plain.. husbands?
"Yan?"
"Ah yes, I want to tell you what Pen told me that really happened to him." Yan paused and held Tang Tang's hand. "But before that, promise me that you will not hate my brother."
Tang Tang still promised, even though he is quite confused by Yan's request. In any case, as long as that person doesn't try to betray or hurt him, he will not hate him.
Yan was so furious after she heard the whole story from Pen that she planned to go to Gio's place and pull that bitch to hell with her. If she can't kill that bastard, at least she will try to ruin the face he is proud of.
Yan's little bit of sanity tells her that she at least needs to tell it to Tang Tang. With Yul and Toa protecting Gio, she doesn't know if she will survive. She will need someone to explain to her husband, Ren, what happened and someone who will help his brother when she is gone.
It shows how determined Yan is to kill Gio. She almost lost her brother because of their schemes. If Tang Tang failed to save her brother, she is surely mourning now without knowing the truth.
"Ever since you arrived in the tribe, Pen has already admired you. That is why he started following you secretly around the tribe," Yan started.
Tang Tang is getting more confused while Xue and Hou frown.
"He likes you so much. Pen is always timid and shy, but because of you, he is trying to change and has started to become cheerful and energetic."
"Is this the reason why you asked me not to hate Pen?" Tang Tang asked, still confused as to why Yan was suddenly telling him this.
Yan nodded.
"There is nothing wrong with admiring someone, but why are you telling me this now?"
Xue and Hou looked incredulously at Tang Tang.
'What do you mean nothing is wrong? Pen is a sub-beast too!'
"I think so too, but not everyone will think the same since Pen and you are both sub-beasts and unmarried," Yan explained.
There is nothing wrong with a female-to-female relationship or a beast-to-beast relationship. But sub-beasts were different; they were only allowed to have a beast partner to ensure their offspring.
Tang Tang doesn't mind because he never thought of being together with a sub-beast; from Earth to Gaia, he is 100% bottom.
"What is the connection between Pen admiring Tang Tang and what happened to him earlier?" Hou asked.
Yan heaved a sigh. "Gio and Kea knew about it. They used this reason to blackmail Pen."
When the twins heard this, they showed a knowing expression.
Remembering Pen's story makes Yan's blood boil again in anger, with her hands trembling and her voice becoming hoarse as she narrates. "Kea found the gume fruit while picking potatoes; they were the ones who wanted to gain recognition from the tribe but were scared to check if the fruit was edible or not. So they blackmailed Pen to taste it. As per Pen, Gio said that if he didn't eat the fruit, they will spread to the whole tribe that he likes you. Pen doesn't care about what others say about him, but he is worried that you will be disgusted and hate him for it, so he eats it. At first they were all rejoicing when nothing happened to Pen and walk back to the tribe, but on their way Pen suddenly felt dizzy, then itchy rashes spread to his arms and neck, he also started to vomit."
Yan's story shocked Tang Tang. What Gio and Kea did to Pen was almost an attempted murder.
But what confused Tang Tang was Yan's next words. "If nothing happens to Pen, they will all get the merit, but if Pen is poisoned, they plan to put all the blame on you."
"Me? Why?" Tang Tang knew Gio and Kea; he always saw them around the tribe, but he never interacted with them—actually, most of the sub-beasts—because they were avoiding him like a plague.
In the whole tribe, there are almost 600 beasts, more than 200 females, and only 49 sub-beasts, including him. That's why he at least knows the 48 other sub-beasts.
"They were jealous of you. Before, Gio was known to be the most beautiful sub-beast in the tribe, but when you arrived, almost everyone believed that that title should be yours and.." Yan looked at Xue and Hou before continuing. "Gio should be Xue's wife, and Kea should be Hou's."
Tang Tang looked at the twins in surprise. 'Hey! I don't want to be a third party.'
Hou hurriedly explained in panic. "Tang Tang, listen! That is not true, only Kea believes I will marry him, but NO! you are the only one I want to marry. Please believe me. Okay?"
"I don't plan to marry anyone other than you." Xue said expressionlessly.
Tang Tang wants to laugh. The twins were explaining, like a boyfriend caught cheating.
"I believe in Xue and Hou. That story was known in the whole tribe for a long time, but look, Gio already married Yul and Toa, while Kea married Ruu," Yan helped the twins explain because she also knew that Gio and Kea were only delusional.
"I trust you guys," Tang Tang said with a smile, then he looked at Yan. "What's your plan now?" he asked. He knows that Yan is planning something, and she might need his help. That's why she is here now.
Yan tells them her plan without a second thought. This makes Tang Tang and the twins shocked because Yan didn't come to ask for help to get back to Gio and Kea but to give her last will.
"Yan! What are you talking about?"
"Don't act rashly. Yul and Toa are protecting Gio; you might really die without even injuring his finger. You also know that harming or killing a tribe member without any reason is taboo. You, your husband Ren, and your brother Pen will be expelled from the tribe," Xue said.
Yan paled, and tears streamed down her face. "But Gio and Kea almost killed my brother!"
"But we don't have proof. They can say that Pen only made up that story to blame them," Hou answered.
Tang Tang clasps Yan's hands. "Why don't we gather some witnesses and evidence that will prove Gio and Kea's crime?" Then he explained to them how, on earth, they investigate someone to prove if they are innocent or guilty.
Yan thought that it was from his previous tribe. While Xue and Hou, who knew the truth, thought that it was a good idea and must be implemented in the tribe in the future.
"I will talk to mother and father about this. Even though Gio and Kea have their own followers, most of the sub-beast still follows mother. We can gather some witnesses from them; for now, don't do anything and try to avoid them," Xue said to Yan.
Xue is right, and Tang Tang's plan is better; it makes Yan agree after thinking thoroughly. It will be really hard to control her anger if she sees the two bastards; that's why it is better if she avoids them.
They talked more about their plan, while Tang Tang ask Yan about Pen, which makes Hou and Xue dissatisfied.
After a while, Yan heaved a sigh, and her anger slowly dissipated. She thanks Tang Tang and the twins before returning to Pen's tent carrying a bowl of sunflower seed and bone soup that Tang Tang prepared for Pen.