Chapter 8 : Discovering poisonous insects

Ever since that day when Ye Rongrong discovered scorpions appearing in the cave, she had continued to find scorpions, Centipedes, and other poisonous Chong appearing.

In most cases, she caught these poisonous Chong and threw them into the space, but there were always some poisonous Chong left behind.

Rongrong didn’t catch them every time by herself; she enlisted Damao and Ermao to help.

She practiced the word “Chong” with Damao and Ermao, and the cubs would occasionally point at the bird’s nest and shout “Chong” to get their parents’ attention.

When they went out, they sometimes caught some bugs inside wood and brought them back.

While feeding them, they taught the cubs to say “Chong.”

Ayue and Ashi stood in front of the bird’s nest while Damao, Ermao, and Rongrong all said “Chong.”

Ayue asked worriedly, “Is something wrong? Did you see some Chong somewhere?”

The smell of insect-repelling herbs inside the cave now actually masked the scent of the poisonous Chong, so Ayue and Ashi hadn’t noticed them.

Ye Rongrong looked up with an innocent face and said, “There’s Chong.”

She gently pointed with her small wings to a certain spot.

A poisonous Chong crawled into that spot and disappeared; it was hiding inside the bird’s nest.

Rongrong yawned slightly.

Because of the poisonous Chong, she had not slept well just now, constantly feeling that the poisonous Chong would crawl out and bite them.

While sleeping, she forced herself to stay awake, waiting for the poisonous Chong to come out.

She waited for a long time, but the poisonous Chong did not move.

Realizing that she alone could hardly solve the problem of the poisonous Chong overrunning their home, she immediately sought her parents’ help.

As adults, it would be easier for them to deal with the poisonous Chong.

Ashi carefully inspected the surroundings.

Suddenly, he noticed some tiny marks next to the bird’s nest — tracks left by some small crawling creatures.

Ashi quickly took the cubs out of the nest.

Ayue didn’t understand why but found some fur to make a simple temporary bird’s nest beside them to place the cubs in.

Ashi’s voice trembled as he said, “Ayue, check if the cubs have any wounds. I will see what’s hiding inside the bird’s nest.”

The cubs leaned together, turning their heads to watch their parents’ movements, seemingly not understanding what they were doing.

Ayue picked up Damao and placed him in her palm, holding him still as she carefully checked every part of his body.

The cubs’ bodies were fragile; if bitten by Chong, it would easily show signs — redness, swelling, and itching.

She parted their fur and could clearly see.

Ayue carefully checked all the cubs from head to toe, parting their fur everywhere.

After confirming no problems, she said, “They’re fine. There are no wounds on their bodies.”

“Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?”

The cubs shook their heads together.

Hearing this, Ashi’s tightly wound nerves relaxed slightly.

Thankfully, the cubs were unharmed.

He continued dismantling the bird’s nest.

When he had taken apart about one-third, a glossy black Chong suddenly ran out.

Ashi quickly crushed it under a stone.

He looked at Ayue, mouth dry, and asked in disbelief, “Did you see it just now?”

Ayue held the three cubs protectively and nodded seriously.

“Yes, we saw it. How could this kind of poisonous Chong appear in our cave?”

Recently, Ashi had been watching the cubs grow happily and sticking close to them every day, so he had overlooked many things.

He had forgotten that enemies were lurking nearby, eyeing them fiercely.

He thought the insect-repelling herbs placed in the cave would keep poisonous Chong away, so there would be no danger.

He never expected how unpredictable human (and beast) nature could be.

Ayue found a leaf, caught the poisonous Chong through it, and said in disbelief, “Does that kind of herb have no effect on this poisonous Chong?”

Ashi shook his head and explained softly, “That herb’s juice can repel all wild poisonous Chong, but not those artificially bred.”

Artificially bred poisonous Chong are more venomous and vicious.

They’ve grown used to all sorts of herbal smells, so the herbs scattered inside the cave have no effect on them.

He took the poisonous Chong in hand.

It bore many bite marks left by its fellows, confirming it was artificially bred.

He placed a jar of poisonous Chong together with certain herbs to provoke their ferocity, causing them to fight among themselves.

The survivors were considered successfully bred poisonous Chong.

After confirming the source, Ashi crushed the Chong with a stone and reminded, “You take the cubs first. I need to inspect every corner of the home to see if there are other poisonous Chong hidden.”

He saw many tracks around the ventilation opening; more than one poisonous Chong had entered the cave.

Ayue secretly watched Ashi’s grim and self-reproachful expression and wanted to comfort him but didn’t know what to say.

Ashi finished dismantling the rest of the bird’s nest.

Before long, he found a second Chong.

“Ashi…” Ayue began to speak, but Ashi quickly pushed her and the cubs outside and said softly, “You take the cubs and wait outside for a while.

I’ll handle the poisonous Chong in the cave, then you and the cubs can come back in.”

He quickly moved various items out of the cave, especially food, placing them beside the cave and asking Ayue to watch over the food.

Soon, thick smoke billowed out from inside the cave.

“Damao, Ermao, Rongrong, stay here first.

I’ll go see what’s going on inside the cave,” Ayue instructed the cubs, trapping them temporarily in a corner with heavy objects.

The cubs peeked out curiously, watching the rising white smoke.

The smoke gave off a foul, pungent smell and drifted away on the wind.

Ashi covered his mouth with a wet cloth and coughed repeatedly after coming out.

Ayue hurried to bring him some water to help soothe his throat.

“Are you alright?” Ayue asked with concern.

Ashi weakly waved his hand, “It’s fine.

I accidentally inhaled some smoke and got choked.”

“Next time, let me handle this kind of thing.

Your body isn’t in the best shape,” Ayue said.

Ashi smiled and nodded lightly.

“I’m just fumigating the cave to kill the poisonous Chong.

We’ll go back later once it’s safe.”

“Is this smoke poisonous?” Ayue thought of how Ashi had driven them out before lighting the smoke and immediately understood what was going on.

“It’s a bit toxic but not a big problem,” Ashi explained with a smile.

“Then why didn’t you let me do it? I’m stronger than you.”

Ashi gave a weak smile and said, “You’re stronger but need to catch prey.

My body’s weak, so being weak for a few days won’t matter much.”

Ayue looked at Ashi seriously, knowing he said this only for her sake, not wanting her to take risks, so he took the risk himself.

“What about the cubs?” Ashi noticed the cubs weren’t in Ayue’s arms.

Ayue pulled the cubs out from beside some items.

They were lively, shouting “Father! Mother!” happily.

Seeing them well, Ashi’s mouth curved slightly.

“I’m glad you’re fine.”

“Now the one in trouble is you,” Ayue said disapprovingly.

Ashi glanced toward a spot not far away and said quietly, “The Fox Tribe beastmen are only one group of enemies.

They have allies—beastmen of the avian tribe.”

Those people must be so worried about me surviving that they kept sending wave after wave of beastmen to try to wipe us out!

Nearby, other beastmen resting at home saw white smoke billowing from Ayue and Ashi’s cave.

Seeing their family standing at the entrance, seemingly driven out by smoke, someone asked with concern, “Did your cave catch fire by accident?”

“Just standing here won’t do.

Go fetch water.

Maybe some things in the cave can be saved.”

The smoky cave entrance attracted more and more beastmen coming out, carrying a wooden bucket.

“Are you not going to put out the fire?”

Ayue stepped forward and apologized sincerely.

“Sorry, our home isn’t on fire.

We don’t know where so many poisonous Chong came from inside.

For the cubs’ safety, we’re fumigating the cave to kill the poisonous Chong so we can live here safely.”

Other beastmen were surprised.

“How could poisonous Chong appear in a cave?”

Before moving in, they all fumigated their caves with thick smoke to chase away and kill all kinds of insects and pests.

Usually, poisonous Chong wouldn’t appear.

Beastmen’s presence inside, and the cave’s location on the other side of the mountain where cliffs often have strong winds and no clear paths up or down, make it hard for poisonous Chong to enter naturally.

As for entering through the cave’s entrance, that was also unlikely.

Ashi and his wife were especially careful, clearing plants near the entrance and occasionally sprinkling insect-repelling herb juice nearby.

Everyone had mixed thoughts but showed some concern before carrying their buckets and leaving.

Since it wasn’t a fire, no need to help fetch water.

Everyone hurried back to check their own caves.

Most families had elderly or young beastmen, and if any were bitten by poisonous Chong, it would be a serious problem.

Ashi checked the cubs’ bodies again to confirm no wounds.

He listened to other beastmen inspecting their caves and secretly observed their results.

He didn’t blink as he sat quietly with his family in the sheltered spot by the cave entrance, waiting for the white smoke inside to dissipate completely.

Ayue, full of worry, thought for a moment and said, “Next, let’s find some things to partially block the ventilation opening.

Stuff more thorny branches into the passage.”

They couldn’t block the opening completely — it was too hot and they needed ventilation.

But if they could stuff in thorny branches, it would prevent poisonous Chong from entering while leaving small gaps for air circulation.

No one had ever thought to use this method to harm them before.

No matter how tough the beastmen were, a sudden bite from a poisonous Chong was serious trouble.

Ashi carefully held the cubs, keeping them from falling, and lowered his voice.

“Next, I’ll pay attention to the conversations of the surrounding beastmen.

Those who use poisonous Chong to attack usually leave traces.

If word gets out, many will discuss it.

Someone will know which beastmen have many poisonous Chong.”

Breeding and catching poisonous Chong was terrifying and scandalous.

If beastmen did such things, there would be signs.

Ashi got along well with many.

He was silent and tight-lipped.

Beastmen chatting about gossip didn’t avoid him deliberately.

From this, he learned the tribe’s relationship dynamics and which beastmen were dangerous to provoke and should be avoided…

“Father! Father! Father…”

The cubs curiously looked around, laughing happily, completely unaware of how close they had come to danger.

Ashi responded softly in his heart.

These people don’t want us to live well, but we’ll live well anyway!