Epoch 34

Epoch 34: The Uninvited Guests.

After Tang Tang and the kids went inside the tent, Wei, who was hiding behind the tree, came out.

He dejectedly sat down, staring at the tent where the sub-beast went in. Wei also wanted to play with Tang Tang, but his mother wouldn't allow him.

The cub is about to stand up and leave when he hears someone call him. "Wei!"

When Wei realized who it was, he was shocked and about to flee, but his steps stopped when he heard that person say. "If you run, I won't talk to you anymore."

Tang Tang didn't want to do this, but he always caught the pitiful expression of the cub every time he talked to other kids, and it broke his heart.

'Why must the kid suffer because of his parents decisions?'

[The children thought by their parents to hate the people who did nothing wrong with them will eventually learn prejudice.]

[(⁠ノ⁠ಠ⁠益⁠ಠ⁠)⁠ノ⁠彡⁠┻⁠━⁠┻]

Wei was conflicted. He is afraid that if he talks to Tang Tang, his mother will scold him when he finds out, but if he runs away now, the sub-beast might really not talk to him again in the future.

Tang Tang felt the dilemma of the child. He sighed and put down the bowl of sunflower seeds and a cup of warm soy milk on the ground.

"I will leave this here. You can take it if you want." When Wei didn't move, Tang Tang added. "No need to worry. You didn't talk to me. I am the only one talking, which means that you didn't disobey your mother."

Wei still didn't say a word and stayed in place.

"I will return now. Don't wander too far in the forest," Tang Tang said before he turned around and returned to the tent.

Wei looked at the food left by the sub-beast for a long time. He hesitated at first, but when he made sure that no one was around, he took the bowl and cup and ran away.

'I also want to be friends with him like the other children,' he thought.

_________________

Even though he is feeling tired, Tang Tang still cooks abundant food for lunch, and the four little dumplings volunteer to help him. He learned from the kids that Pen, Yul, and Toa were already on the hill and helping out.

They also help him carry all the food on the way to the top of the hill, following him from behind. The kids are like little chicks following the mother hen.

The tribesmen they passed by smiled at their entourage, some even praised the kids for being obedient, which makes them very happy. Bel and Rae have a cute smile on their chubby faces, while Dui and Rae look serious, but their tails are happily wagging.

Bel and Rae were both six years old and female, while the seven-year-old Dui and the five-year-old Ras were both young beasts. They still can't fully transform into a human, that's why their ears and tail are visible, which makes them look more adorable.

Once a beast was born, they were in their beast form and could only be able to transform into a human after they turned two years old and needed another several years to control it.

Everyone was so busy with their own work that no one noticed that Tang Tang had already arrived. Cain and Toa are mixing all the raw materials for the bricks. Yul and Hou are molding the mixture, while Pen and Xue are drying it.

Tang Tang was still enjoying watching them when Dui came out behind him and shouted. "Let's eat!"

Followed by Ras and Bel, "Eat! Eat!" While raising their fists up and down, like warriors ready to fight.

Rae also tries to imitate the three with an inaudible voice. Tang Tang heartily laughs at the cute gestures of the kids.

[Tang Tang, do you like children? (⁠灬⁠º⁠‿⁠º⁠灬⁠)]

'Yeah, a little.'

The milky voices caught the attention of the busy men working. When Hou and Xue saw Tang Tang, they left what they were doing and immediately helped the sub-beast.

"Do you rest enough?" Xue asked while taking the things he was carrying.

"Yes," Tang Tang replied. "Take a rest too, so we can eat," he added, beckoning the others to come.

"Why are you here, huh?" Hou snarled at the children.

"Of course, helping my wife!" Dui angrily answered, his chubby cheeks bulging when he pouted.

"Who is your wife, dummy?" Hou said, flicking the child's forehead.

Dui cried and hugged Tang Tang's waist. "T-tang Tang!" His voice is trembling, and his doe eyes are full of grievance.

Tang Tang sighed. The scene is very familiar, children can really imitate the adults.

He was about to scold Hou when Pen came running. "Tang Tang, they said you wouldn't come. I thought I wouldn't see you today," he said, clinging to his arm.

The scene became more chaotic.

Yul and Toa came to the rescue. Yul slightly pulled Pen and just silently stared at him. Pen immediately got scared.

Toa coaxed Dui and brought him to the blanket where Xue and Cain had already set up the foods.

Hou glared at the other kids and carried Tang Tang. He reprimands the beast, but the man only acts coquettish. He couldn't do anything but give an apologetic look to Bel, Rae, and Ras.

When everyone was settled, they all started eating together.

"Yul, Toa, do you have other places where you can stay?" Tang Tang asked while putting meat and vegetables on the kids plates.

Toa thought for a while and answered. "None. I don't think there are still other vacant tents in the tribe." He put down his food and looked at Tang Tang pitifully. "Can you give us a few more days? I still don't want to return to our tent with Gio, and we can't also build our own tent since the whole tribe will know that we are not on good terms," he pleaded.

"Tsk. Do you think the whole tribe didn't know that you are not on good terms with Gio?" Hou commented while picking the meat Tang Tang was putting on the children's plate without the sub-beast's awareness.

Dui and Ras joined together to stop Hou, but they were still powerless against an adult beast.

"But it is still different if we suddenly build our own tent. It will mean that we want to separate," Yul answered.

Tang Tang nodded. "I see, I actually wanted to start the building of our house," he said, looking at Xue and Hou before continuing. "Then let's do this. Toa, Yul, together with Xue and Hou, will be staying at Hou's tent, and I will be staying with Pen for a while."

This is the best solution Tang Tang can think of. Pen thought it was a dream, but for Hou and Xue, it was a nightmare.

Xue was frozen in place, Hou accidentally spilled his food, and Pen was dazed.

"Tang Tang, don't be like that. How can I sleep without you?" Hou said, crawling to Tang Tang's side, ignoring everyone.

"It is only for a few days. This is the best option given everyone's circumstances," Tang Tang explained.

"Let's just make another tent," Xue suggested.

"I don't think making another tent is a good idea. It will consume a lot of materials and take days to do. It is better to focus on building our house instead."

Xue tries to ponder other options, but the sub-beast always has a way to reason. In Tang Tang's view, he is choosing the least time-consuming and efficient method so they can finish their house as soon as possible.

"We're sorry," Toa said. He feels guilty, but they still don't want to go back. Gio also wants them to stay away until all his bruises have healed.

'If you feel sorry, then go home and make out to your wife!'

Hou wanted to vent his anger towards Toa, but he was immediately stopped by Tang Tang's next words.

"There is no need to feel sorry. I am actually very thankful for all the help the two of you have given to us. For now, this is the only thing I can do."

Hou gritted his teeth. It is true that Toa and Yul have helped them a lot these past few days, in exchange for a place where they can stay for a while.

Other than the blowing of the wind and the children's noisy way of eating, the whole place became quiet.

Tang Tang heaved a sigh and gently coaxed the twins. "Xue, Hou, let's just finish our house as soon as possible, okay? After this, we don't need to live separately again."

"W-we will help! Right, Yul?" Toa offered, feeling that he would be beaten to death at any moment if he didn't offer anything.

Yul nodded.

Hou and Xue didn't want to, but they couldn't do anything but agree.

'What our wife wants, our wife gets.'

Tang Tang smile. "Then let's start tomorrow."

__________________

Lia was trying the new recipe Tang Tang taught him. He plans to cook it for Bei to eat this lunch.

While Bei is talking to two elder beasts, they are discussing some minor affairs in the tribe.

"Do you know what Tang Tang will do with those orange stones?" Elder Zen asked after reporting the progress of the newly expanded farm.

"I heard that they would use it to build a house," Bei answered.

"House? What is a house?" Elder Yun asked, one of the respected elders in the winged tiger tribe. He was once known as the strongest warrior, but because of an accident, his left eye was blinded.

"Xue said that it is like a tent, but much bigger and more sturdy."

"Tsk. That kid. Khu, and I already told him that if he has something that will help the tribe, he can ask us for help," Elder Zhen said, feeling a little helpless for Tang Tang's stubbornness.

"Tang Tang just doesn't want to burden us, since they are still looking for materials they can use and will take a lot of time," Lia explained. He placed a bowl of pork stew and a plate of fried meat in front of the three.

"Hohoho. Ever since Tang Tang arrived, we can now enjoy delicious food," Elder Yun said, almost salivating because of the delicious smell of the food.

"Let's eat." Bei invited them and gave Lia a space beside him.

They are about to eat when a beast call reverberates outside the tent. Bei immediately ordered the man to come in.

"Tribe Leader, Clan Witch, Elder Zen, Elder Yun." The beast politely greeted them, even though he was still breathing heavily and sweating profusely.

"What happened?" Elder Yun asked.

"The Winged Python Tribe is on their way to our tribe. They might arrive before the sunset," the beast immediately answered.

The faces of everyone in the tent drastically change.

Lia worriedly called his husband. "Bei."

Bei firmly holds Lia's hand, reassuring the sub-beast that everything will be fine.

"Tsk, what is the sly young man planning this time?" Elder Zen commented.

In a worst-case scenario, they might lose some sub-beasts, like last time, to this uninvited guest.