Crossing to Live in the Wilderness Plains 194
Chapter 194
Everyone ate this meal in unusual silence. When Axiang tasted the first bite of the dishes, aside from the slight brightening of his eyes, he said nothing more. He really did look like someone who had come here simply to freeload a meal.
Ajing hurriedly finished eating and then returned to his room with the little wolf cub. Ake noticed that Axiang seemed to want to talk to Chen Qi, so after finishing his own meal, he took Ka Luo and Ayao home as well.
Aze gathered the bowls and chopsticks—already swept clean of food—and carried them to the washroom to rinse. After brewing a cup of floral tea for Axiang, Chen Qi went in to help him.
Steam curled gently from the reddish-brown ceramic cup, bamboo leaves painted along its side. While sipping the tea, Axiang lazily looked around the room. Although craftsmen from his own tribe had learned some skills from Chen Qi’s people and such items were no longer considered rare in the Lion-Wolf Tribe, he had to admit that the things in this house were far more refined.
After returning the cleaned bowls and chopsticks to their place, Chen Qi shook the water droplets from his hands and walked over, speaking bluntly. “Chief, is there something you wanted to tell me?”
Axiang withdrew his wandering gaze, his expression once again polite and slightly distant. He poured a cup of tea from the pot and pushed it in front of Chen Qi, gesturing for him to sit.
Aze emerged from the washroom at that moment, a dry towel in hand. He sat down between Chen Qi and Axiang, then took Chen Qi’s hand and carefully wiped the moisture from his fingers.
“If you have something to say, go ahead and say it,” Chen Qi said with a smile, letting Aze fuss over his hand.
“Axiang,” the other corrected softly after taking in their intimate movements, “just call me Axiang.”
“If you have something to say, say it directly. No need to beat around the bush.” Aze frowned, his tone firm. He did not believe that the mighty chief of the Lion-Wolf Tribe had come solely for a free meal. And if the man intended to involve Chen Qi in anything unpleasant… Aze wouldn’t hesitate to throw him out of the tribe right this moment.
Crossing to Live in the Wilderness Plains (CLWP) is translated by Betwixted Translations. The site you’re reading this chapter on stole our translation.
Axiang straightened, the expression on his face turning serious. “Then I’ll be direct.” He cleared his throat lightly and finally revealed his purpose.
“I heard that your household is raising a giant wolf-god. For this exchange, I hope you can allow that giant wolf-god to return to the Lion-Wolf Tribe with me.”
Chen Qi stared, stunned. He clearly hadn’t expected such a request. “Why? The giant wolf-god can’t help you with your tribe’s defenses.” And the hyena-drakes only appeared in winter—did he expect them to leave the little wolf cub in the Lion-Wolf Tribe through the entire cold season so it could fight for them?
“It has nothing to do with the Lion-Wolf Tribe,” Axiang said. “This is a personal request.”
“A personal request?”
Axiang nodded. His gaze drifted toward Ajing’s closed room door. After a moment of hesitation, he lowered his voice. “What I’m about to say—I hope you will not tell anyone else. Even the people of your tribe. I hope you can keep this a secret for me.”
“If it’s a secret, why tell us?” Aze folded the towel neatly, clearly unhappy about hearing any “secret” the man was about to reveal.
“Because,” Axiang exhaled softly, “you are the ones who are raising a giant wolf-god.”
What could be told to them, but not to anyone else? Chen Qi had no idea. If it were about defensive tools, that was old news and no longer a secret. Don’t tell him Axiang still hadn’t given up and wanted to persuade him again to go to the Lion-Wolf Tribe?
“We can promise not to tell anyone what you’re about to say, but I’ll make it clear upfront—neither Little Wolf nor I will go to the Lion-Wolf Tribe.”
Axiang clearly wasn’t bothered by Chen Qi’s firmness. After getting their assurance, he clenched his fists, exhaled heavily, and as if finally steeling his resolve, looked at the two of them and said, “In this region, it’s not just you who has a giant wolf-god. I also raised one. But the giant wolf-god I raised has grown weaker and weaker after being separated from his pack for so long. I want your Little Wolf to accompany him.”
“That’s impossible. I’ve never heard of any trace of a giant wolf-god appearing in the Lion-Wolf Tribe.” Aze retorted incredulously. Raising a giant wolf-god wasn’t a small matter. If the chief of the Lion-Wolf Tribe had one, there was no way others wouldn’t know. The news that they were raising Little Wolf had spread to other tribes not long after they brought it home. How could Axiang have hidden such a thing?
A gentle softness flickered across Axiang’s eyes. “You’re right, the Lion-Wolf Tribe has never shown signs of a giant wolf-god—because the one I raised is my mate, a giant wolf-god who can transform.”
Crossing to Live in the Wilderness Plains (CLWP) is translated by Betwixted Translations. The site you’re reading this chapter on stole our translation.
“What?” Chen Qi had just lifted a cup of tea when his hand trembled at the news, spilling a few drops onto the table. Aze also stared at Axiang in shock, clearly unable to believe what he had just said.
“I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s the truth. My mate’s transformation isn’t stable. Half of his legs can’t transform and remain beast-like. That’s why, whenever he appears in front of others, it’s always under the guise of having disabled legs and being unable to walk.”
Axiang gave a bitter smile. “Maybe I kept him cooped up too long… eventually, he genuinely couldn’t walk. And now, his health is deteriorating further. When I heard there was a capable male in your tribe who also raised a giant wolf-god, I originally wanted you to bring your Little Wolf to help check on my mate.”
“A giant wolf-god that can transform? And no one else knows?”
Axiang shook his head. “No one has ever seen a giant wolf-god transform, just like no one has seen a female without pregnancy stripes. These are existences that the Beast God doesn’t acknowledge. Once discovered, they’d be ostracized. My mate was driven out of the forest for that reason. I brought him back to the tribe hoping he could live better, but after all these years, I realized I couldn’t even manage that.”
Chen Qi glanced at the tall beastman whose brows had lowered, his whole figure carrying a heavy gloom. This was something completely outside of his understanding. He didn’t even know how to comfort him.
Aze rubbed his wrist. “So, what you mean is… our Little Wolf might also be capable of transforming someday?”
“I don’t know. My mate is the only one I’ve ever seen who could transform. I’ve checked the forest before and found no other traces of transforming giant wolf-gods. And in recent years, even normal giant wolf-gods have stopped appearing.”
Axiang paused. “Didn’t you encounter a talking hyena-drake when you entered the forest last year? I’m worried that transforming beings may not be limited to giant wolf-gods.”
“Your mate doesn’t know? You never asked him how he transformed? How it happened?” Aze continued.
“He doesn’t know. He has no memories of living in the forest at all. When he appeared on the plains, he was already in a transformed state. If not for his legs still retaining beast form, even I wouldn’t have believed he was originally a giant wolf-god.”
“You mean he has no memories, yet he still knew he was a giant wolf-god?” Chen Qi asked.
Axiang thought for a moment and replied affirmatively, “He did.”
Chen Qi thought for a moment. “You want our Little Wolf to go over just to keep your mate company? Why don’t you bring your mate here instead?”
“His body can’t handle travel. And with your patriarch Azhang present, I wouldn’t dare harm your giant wolf-god.” But the truth was, Axiang simply couldn’t bear letting his mate leave his protection. Only when his mate was by his side could he feel at ease.
Chen Qi didn’t agree immediately. “Whether he goes or not, we need to ask Little Wolf himself.” He turned toward the closed room door and called, “You’ve heard everything—come out.”
The heavy wooden door creaked open. Ajing and the little wolf cub emerged. The little wolf cub glanced at Ajing, then swept his golden eyes across Axiang. The white fur along his body stood bristled—clearly entering a defensive state.
“I’ve always felt our Little wolf was too intelligent, almost like he understands everything we say. And after hearing you, I’m starting to think maybe their species really can transform.”
Chen Qi smiled and beckoned to the little wolf.
Crossing to Live in the Wilderness Plains (CLWP) is translated by Betwixted Translations. The site you’re reading this chapter on stole our translation.
“I’ve always considered him family. Whether he can transform someday or stay in beast form forever, he’s still my family. To be honest, with how crowded your tribe is right now, it’s not suitable for the sick to recuperate, nor for a young giant wolf-god to live long-term. Once the exchange between our tribes begins, you as patriarch will be busy—you won’t have time to care for your mate properly. If you bring your mate to Qi Ze City, I believe Little Wolf wouldn’t mind keeping him company.”
The little wolf cub rubbed against Chen Qi in agreement. Ajing moved in front of him, blocking Axiang’s gaze—he clearly disliked this beastman who wanted to take away his Little Wolf.
Axiang stared at Chen Qi. He had thought that after revealing his secret, this male might show interest in visiting the Lion-Wolf Tribe. Even if not, perhaps he would at least allow the giant wolf-god to go. But from his words, it was obvious that Chen Qi had no intention of letting Little Wolf leave with him.
Did he really have to bring his mate to this unfamiliar tribe? Axiang hesitated.
Ever since he met his mate, the other had stuck closely to him and rejected the approach of other beastmen. To give his mate a better life, Axiang had dedicated himself to developing the Lion-Wolf Tribe. And he had succeeded—the Lion-Wolf Tribe had become the largest and safest tribe in the region. If not for the group of hyena-drakes they encountered last winter, he believed the Lion-Wolf Tribe could have survived on the plains indefinitely.
But after seeing those hyena-drakes, Axiang knew… he could no longer protect the Lion-Wolf Tribe.
If he couldn’t protect it, what would happen to his mate?
His request to Qi Ze City wasn’t only for the sake of the tribe. Most importantly, it was for his increasingly silent mate. He had once seen the shadow of a giant wolf-god among the hyena-drakes. If the hyena-drakes wouldn’t harm giant wolf-gods, then after the Lion-Wolf Tribe fell, even if not as a beastman, then as a giant wolf-god, Axiang hoped that his mate would live on.
Words from the Translation Crew
Miiya: 1 of 3 for the week.
Translator: Miiya
Editor: MushroomKnight73
Proofreader: Yume
Editor stepping into the realm of MTL translating, starting with CLWP. Support this translation with a Ko-fi. Three Ko-fis will add an extra chapter from the stockpile to the next weekly release.
