After leaving Liu Shan’s cave, Su Qinglan didn’t return to her own.
Her mind was still full of thoughts. The weak and malnourished females, the tribe’s poor living conditions, the coming rain season... all of it pressed heavily on her heart.
She sighed and looked toward the direction of the tribe leader’s cave, her father’s cave.
"I should tell him about the rice," she murmured. "If we don’t prepare now, the tribe might starve when the heavy rain starts."
With that thought, she quickened her steps.
The path was rough, scattered with stones and fallen leaves, but she didn’t stop. Hu Yan walked silently beside her, his tall figure blocking the wind. His tail occasionally brushed against her leg, a quiet sign of reassurance.
When they finally reached the leader’s cave, Su Qinglan froze for a moment.
The place was a mess.
It looked as if a small storm had passed through...broken baskets lay on the ground, scattered bones, a torn animal skin curtain at the entrance, and a few stone bowls shattered in the corner.
Su Qinglan’s brows furrowed. "What happened here?" she whispered.
Hu Yan’s golden eyes swept the cave, but he didn’t say anything.
Just then, a familiar voice called out. "Qinglan? You’re here?"
Her father, Su Mingxuan, hurried out from inside. He looked slightly embarrassed, rubbing the back of his neck as if he’d just been caught doing something awkward.
"Come, come, sit down," he said quickly, picking up a fallen stool made of stone.
Su Qinglan didn’t sit. Her gaze wandered around the cave again before resting on him. Her lips curved slightly. "This must be done by my wonderful mother," she said lightly, her tone full of irony.
Su Mingxuan’s hand froze in the air. His face turned stiff, and guilt flashed in his eyes, but Su Qinglan didn’t care enough to continue. She wasn’t here to talk about that woman.
"I have something important to discuss, Father," she said seriously. "It’s related to the well-being of the tribe."
The change in her tone made Su Mingxuan straighten immediately. His expression became alert. As the tribe leader, he knew that if his daughter brought up the tribe, it must be serious.
"The rainy season is coming," she continued. "We can’t afford to starve this year. I found something that can help...something called rice."
"Rice?" Su Mingxuan blinked with a confused expression. "What’s that?"
Before she could explain more, he held up a hand. "Wait. Let’s go to the priest’s cave first. He should hear this too. And the elders should be present."
Su Qinglan thought for a moment and then nodded. "Alright. The more who understand, the better."
Su Mingxuan called out to a passing beastman, asking him to inform two of the tribe’s elders to come along. Within minutes, the small group was on the move.
Su Qinglan and Hu Yan followed behind quietly. Hu Yan walked close to her, always alert, while the elders trailed beside her father, talking softly about the coming storms and food shortage.
As they walked through the main path of the tribe, several beastmen and females noticed them. Whispers spread quickly.
"Why is the leader going toward the priest’s cave?"
"And with Female Qinglan?"
"Did something happen again?"
But Su Qinglan ignored all the curious looks.
When they passed near the storage area, Hu Yan suddenly stopped. He turned his head slightly. His sharp eyes caught sight of someone standing a little distance away... Mu Lihua.
She was half-hidden behind a tree, her gaze fixed on Su Qinglan’s back with open hostility.
When she realized Hu Yan had noticed her, she quickly forced a smile. But that smile was too stiff and fake.
Hu Yan’s face didn’t even twitch. He simply turned back around, ignoring her completely, his expression as calm as ever.
The moment his attention left her, Mu Lihua’s fake smile fell. Her face twisted with jealousy and anger.
"What is this wench planning now?" she muttered bitterly. "Why are they all going to the priest’s cave together?"
Her eyes darkened. "No, I can’t just sit here."
Without another word, she turned and hurried toward the witch doctor’s cave; she knew this wench was up to something.
***
Meanwhile, Su Qinglan, Hu Yan, and the others finally reached the priest’s cave.
The entrance was wide but quiet. Unlike other caves filled with hides, herbs, or stone, this one looked almost empty.
When they stepped inside, the air felt strangely calm... cool and still.
There was nothing in the cave except a single stone bed, a few folded animal hides, and a stone bowl placed neatly in one corner.
And in the middle of that simplicity sat the priest.
He was tall and thin, with long hair that glowed faintly under the dim light. His expression was calm, noble, and unreadable, the kind of presence that made others instinctively lower their voices.
Even though he lived in such plain surroundings, there was something regal about him.
"Priest," Su Mingxuan greeted respectfully.
The priest slowly opened his eyes. They were clear and sharp but unfocused, like water reflecting sunlight. He nodded faintly. "Tribe Leader. You came personally. What brings you here?"
Su Mingxuan stepped aside slightly, gesturing toward Su Qinglan. "It’s my daughter. She has something important to discuss. I thought you should hear it too."
The priest’s gaze shifted to Su Qinglan. His eyes lingered on her for a few seconds in her direction before his deep voice resonated.
"You may speak," he said softly.
Su Qinglan bowed slightly and stepped forward. "It’s about food," she said directly. "I found a kind of grain that can fill the stomach for a long time. It’s easy to grow and store. If we get it, the tribe won’t go hungry."
"Grain?" One of the elders frowned. "What kind of grain?"
"It’s called rice," Su Qinglan explained. "It grows in wet soil, and it can be cooked easily. It can feed many people. If we get it now, we can prepare before the heavy rain arrives."
Her tone was calm but full of confidence.
The priest listened quietly, his fingers tapping lightly on the stone beside him.
"And where do we get this rice from...is it in the forest?"
Su Qinglan immediately denied, "Now we need so much rice; there can never be so much wild rice. I have found out that there is a Fat Bull tribe who grow rice, and they have plenty of it for trading."
After a while, he asked, "You said this tribe...the Fat Bull Tribe...has plenty of this grain?"
"Yes," Su Qinglan said quickly. "They have fertile lands near the hill, and rice grows there naturally. I heard they store more than they can eat. If we offer them good hides, they’ll trade without hesitation."
The two elders exchanged doubtful glances. "Female Qinglan, are you sure about this? The Fat Bull Tribe is far, and their leader is not easy to deal with."
Su Qinglan met their eyes steadily. "No, I have met him; he is a good one, and I think they value hides very much. If we can provide them with it, they would be willing. It’s safer to exchange with good hides; the rain will come soon."
Su Qinglan immediately defended the tribe leader of the Fat Bull tribe, not knowing that the old man was quite cunning in reality, and he was very well-behaved only because of Xuan Long.