The shocked expressions of the Orcs made Ji Nuan's heart jolt. Had she done something earth-shattering?
Why did everyone look so strange?
"This Giggle Beast can't be eaten, it'll make you sick!"
A tall and robust Orc looked at the lump of dirt in the basket with lingering fear. His younger brother had fallen ill after eating a Giggle Beast; he'd had to drink bitter medicine for a long time and still couldn't eat much meat.
"Yes, yes, you can't eat the Giggle Beast!"
"Previously, there was a cub who ate it and got sick, almost died!"
"Hmph! I think she's up to no good!"
A tall, robust female Orc pushes past the Orc in front of her, walks in with her chin held high; her glances at Ji Nuan are full of malice. "Everyone knows the Giggle Beast will make you sick if you eat it, yet you brought it for Aunt Ge Rou.
Just because you can't bear cubs, do you detest others who can?"
Manli glanced at Xiu Yan who was still entirely focused on his hunt, not paying her any attention whatsoever, and her eyes darkened.
She then vented all her frustration onto Ji Nuan, whom she already despised. "You vile wench, Brother Xiu Yan gives you his game out of pity, yet you want to kill him."
Manli and Shan Zaizai were both raised in the Cub Cave. Since childhood, Manli's body was sturdier than other female Orcs, and naturally, her appetite was much bigger.
Each time she saw Grandma, who was tasked with taking care of them, giving the already scarce food to Shan Zaizai, who couldn't bear cubs, she resented Shan Zaizai even more.
What use was there for a female who couldn't bear cubs?
Why waste the tribe's food on her? It would be better given to healthy females who could strengthen the tribe's numbers.
Ignoring Manli's ranting, Ji Nuan walked over to the basket, picked up a lump of dirt and asked, "Aunt Ge Rou, could I get a stone knife?"
Ge Rou wasn't sure what the young female was planning, but she turned around to fetch a stone knife from the cave.
However, the next moment, Manli's action made her stop in her tracks.
With a dark look in her eyes, she stomped forcefully onto a lump of dirt that Ji Nuan had placed on the ground.
The soil layer, which was not that hard, shattered against the brutish stomp. Manli's mouth curved up into a mocking smile, her eyes full of provocation.
The fair flesh of the Giggle Beast came mix with the black soil; it was not a good look, to say the least.
Yet, the rich aroma that wafted from it made everyone around them swallow hard.
Following that, the growling of empty stomachs echoed around Ji Nuan, giving her the impression that she'd stepped into the middle of a grand symphony orchestra.
"It smells so good! Sister, can I pinch some?"
As Ji Nuan stood there, slightly dazed, a fluffy cub with a bit of a lisp squeezed past. Ji Nuan could see the cub's fur dampened by his drool at the corner of his mouth.
His round eyes were drooling over the fleshy meat as he looked pitifully at Ji Nuan.
The cub's chubby paw scratched at Ji Nuan's arm. The soft paw pads tickled her arm, overwhelming Ji Nuan with cuteness.
Seeing the cub's sparkling eyes, the old aunt almost couldn't control herself.
"You can't eat that; it'll kill you."
The giant foot ground the broken chicken meat even more into the earth.
Manli then reached out and tried to hug the little cub who was snuggled up to Ji Nuan.
The chicken meat on the ground was covered in a layer of soil now, looking grey and unappetizing.
Ji Nuan quickly picked up the cub, who was clinging onto her without letting go, and stood up to face the female orc who had repeatedly targeted her.
"Sister Manli, I've eaten this Giggle Beast before and nothing happened to me. The reason why our tribespeople got sick before was that they didn't remove the fur. The Giggle Beast is delicious."
"Just because you say there's no problem doesn't make it true. You're not a Shaman.
Are you trying to form a union with Brother Xiu Yan?
Hah, no Orc would form a union with a female who cannot bear cubs like you, no matter how hard you try to win over Uncle Xiu Li and Aunt Ge Rou!"
Manli knew Shan Zaizai's weakness. Every time she was reminded that she couldn't bear cubs, she would cry silently in her cave.
"Moreover~"
Manli lifted her eyebrows triumphantly, "Aunt Ge Rou already told me that before winter comes, she will allow Brother Xiu Yan to become my mate. By next year, I will bear him a healthy cub.
You better stay away from him, or else I won't be easy on you!"
Manli's sharp voice was really unpleasant to the ear; Ji Nuan had to step back a few steps, holding the cub in her arms.
With her dry, skinny hand, she covered the fuzzy ears of the little Silver Wolf to muffle the sound. The cub was still little; she wasn't about to let his ears get hurt.