Chorong smiled slyly and suggested, "Then how about we go tomorrow?"
Hayoon shook her head.
"We've already been away for too many days. My younger brother is home by himself. I can't stay any longer."
At last, Chorong revealed his true intention.
"You could just bring your younger brother here."
Minho's handsome face instantly turned cold.
His icy gaze shot toward Chorong as he said in a frigid voice, "Chorong, I challenge you to a duel in my personal capacity. Do you accept?"
The blood of beasts flowed within werebeast.
As a result, competitiveness, impulsiveness, and quick tempers accompanied many werebeast throughout their lives.
Because tribal society was not highly developed, disputes were often settled in straightforward and forceful ways.
When conflicts arose, people simply found a place to fight.
Whoever had the stronger fists got their way.
However, every tribe had rules.
Th matches had to stop before serious injury. Maiming was forbidden, and killing was absolutely prohibited.
After all, werebeast themselves understood that their birth rates were low.
There was only one exception.
A duel that both parties willingly agreed to.
A formal duel required a written challenge and respected witnesses.
Once it began, life and death were left to fate.
The moment someone proposed a duel, they were staking everything they had on it.
That alone showed tremendous courage and determination.
As soon as Minho finished speaking, the atmosphere became heavy.
Hayoon's expression changed immediately.
Although Chorong was still smiling, the playful look had vanished from his fox-like eyes.
He was a chief who had fought his way to the top himself.
A challenge like this did not intimidate him in the slightest.
Instead, he responded with deliberate provocation.
"If I win, does that mean Hayoon comes to our tribe?"
Minho replied coldly, "This is between you and me. It has nothing to do with anyone else. We'll fight here in your tribe. If I win, you give me your blacksilver knife. If you win, I'll pay you supplies of equal value."
Hayoon stared at him in shock and subtly shaking her head.
If Minho really defeated Chorong in the Voz-Karr Tribe and took his blacksilver knife, it would create a serious grudge.
Not only Chorong, but the entire Voz-Karr Tribe would resent them.
And if Minho lost, even if the mildest consequence was simply losing face, Hayoon did not want to see that either.
With a sigh, she silently complained to herself.
She had already made her feelings perfectly clear.
Why was Chorong still refusing to give up?
Chorong's fighting spirit had also been stirred by Minho's challenge.
He let out a mocking laugh.
"Fine..."
"Stop!"
Hayoon raised her voice and cut him off.
"No dueling."
She first turned to Minho.
His expression was as cold as ice.
With clear reassurance in her voice, she said, "I know why you're doing this, but trust me. I'll handle it."
Minho pressed his lips together and said nothing more.
Then Hayoon looked at Chorong.
A smile appeared on her face, but her tone carried a cool edge.
"Chief Chorong, weren't we discussing a trade? Let's not change the subject."
Chorong looked at her for two seconds, then sighed and finally gave in.
"Hayoon, you've helped us so much that I genuinely feel indebted to you. I truly wanted to host you properly. If you don't want to come here, I won't force you."
"Mm, I believe you." Hayoon softened her tone as well. "Since everything has been said openly now, Minho and I will head back tonight."
Chorong smiled bitterly.
"Alright. I respect your decision. As for the chili peppers, don't worry. We'll carefully search the area that elder sub-werebeast mentioned. If we find them, we'll send them to your tribe."
"Or if you're not comfortable with that, you can come over sometime and we'll look for them together."
His sincerity made Hayoon feel a little guilty instead.
"Chief Chorong, I have complete confidence in you. Then I'll leave the matter in your hands."
"We're good friends. There's no need to be so formal."
Once the discussion was finished, Hayoon stood up.
"Minho and I should get back to work."
Chorong nodded.
"Alright."
Hayoon signaled to Minho with a glance, and the two of them headed back toward the crowd in the distance.
Having successfully prevented a conflict, Hayoon finally let out a breath of relief.
"I was genuinely worried the two of you would start fighting just now. Don't do that again," she said seriously.
Minho gazed deeply at her.
After a moment, he asked quietly, "Were you afraid I would lose?"
Hayoon corrected him.
"I was afraid you would get hurt."
The medical knowledge and resources in this world were so limited.
What if he suffered a serious injury that could not be treated?
Just thinking about it was frightening.
Minho's footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
Hayoon walked several more steps before noticing.
By the time he came back to himself and hurried after her, his gaze had never once left her.
Meanwhile, Hayoon was still muttering softly.
"Besides, I already said I wasn't coming to the Voz-Karr Tribe. You two don't need to be so nervous..."
Just like the previous day, Hayoon spent the entire afternoon rushing around like a spinning top.
Everyone worked together more smoothly than before.
The process had become almost like an assembly line.
By the end, they had successfully assembled twenty two spinning machines.
Adding the nineteen from that morning and the previous day, they now had a total of forty one spinning machines.
Looking at the rows of newly finished machines spread across the ground, Hayoon felt so proud that she unconsciously lifted her chin.
If her beast ears had been visible, they would probably have been swaying happily in the wind.
After a simple meal, the sun had not yet fully set.
If they traveled at full speed, they could return to the Ur-Shet Tribe long before midnight.
Remembering that the Voz-Karr Tribe would still be helping search for chili peppers, Hayoon said to Chorong, "We'll stick to our original agreement and take twenty spinning machines back with us."