By afternoon, the thick, dark clouds began to release drops of rain, and a fierce wind swept the downpour across the land. Ling Hong and the rest of the Beastman hunting party made it back just in time.
After curing the game and stacking it in the storehouse, he lifted his head and sniffed the air. His gaze fell upon the nearby wooden house, and a flicker of confusion crossed his mind.
'Strange, what a strong fishy smell.'
'Has An Jin been craving fish lately?'
The chef's instincts, honed over many months, compelled Ling Hong to uphold his professional integrity as a list of words flashed through his mind.
—Braised fish, steamed fish, fresh mushroom and fish soup, fragrant steamed dried fish...
However, when he finished unloading the game and returned to the house, he found a Merfolk from another tribe. An Jin immediately explained Xi's origins to him.
"Bringing Water Beastmen into the tribe is an excellent idea."
