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Wu Jiong's gaze was utterly calm, unlike the frenzy around him. When he saw Jian Mo, he gave him a slight nod, his eyes serene.

It was especially noisy around them, so Jian Mo had to lean close to Wu Jiong and ask in his ear, a little worried, "Do you really have to fight?"

Wu Jiong nodded. "I'm the chief. I have to fight."

Jian Mo asked, "Is that a rule?"

Wu Jiong took a moment to understand what he meant by "rule," then shook his head. "It's not a rule, but every tribe uses the arena to learn about the other tribes' current fighting strength-how many young adults they have and whether they can fight. That's why I have to go out there."

Jian Mo understood. It was difficult for tribes to go to war openly, so they bared their claws and fangs in the arena instead.

A little annoyed with himself, he said, "If I'd known, I wouldn't have brought so many chunks of fish. I should've brought my medical kit instead."

Wu Jiong said softly, "It's all right. Everyone knows their limits. They won't really go too far."

Wu Jiong explained what was happening in the arena in Jian Mo's ear—who had held back, whose kick hadn't landed solidly, who had struck the wrong spot...

With Wu Jiong guiding him, Jian Mo gradually began to understand some of it and feel the thrill of the arena.

Before long, someone came over to tell them it was the Riverside Tribe's beastmen's turn to fight.

Jian Mo felt as though his heart had been squeezed, and he immediately grew nervous.

Although the beastmen in the arena knew their limits, at least one person left the field bloodied after every match.

Jian Mo couldn't stop them. All he could do was stand where Wu Jiong had just been, his fists clenched, and silently watch the arena from among the crowd.

As chief, Wu Jiong transformed into a huge white wolf and was the first to enter the arena on behalf of the Riverside Tribe.

His opponent was a beastman as large as a small mountain, with thick hide armor and curved tusks. He looked stocky and enormous.

Jian Mo stared fixedly at the arena. The opposing beastman's defenses were so strong that he had no idea how Wu Jiong would defeat him.

"Don't worry," Qing Kuo said beside him. "Wu Jiong is a very strong fighter, one of the best among all the nearby tribes. That Giant Armor Beast beastman is no match for him."

Jian Mo nodded, still staring into the arena without blinking or turning his head.

The two giant beasts in the arena showed no intention of going easy on each other. As soon as they entered, they pounced and began tearing at each other with their teeth.

A cheer instantly erupted from the stands. Even Qing Kuo couldn't help turning to watch the match and shouting.

The two giant beasts were wounded in their tremendous collisions and bites, but while the giant wolf had gained two small wounds, his opponent was already drenched in blood.

The cheers from the Riverside Tribe grew louder, and everyone became excited.

The Giant Armor Beast beastman wasn't afraid. Instead, his wounds fired up his fighting spirit, and he lunged even more fiercely, making the ground tremble with every step.

The giant wolf was more agile, narrowly dodging the Giant Armor Beast's charges each time and seizing every opportunity to tear away its flesh and hide.

Clearly, as a canine beastman, his sharp teeth were his key to victory.

Before long, he had torn the Giant Armor Beast's throat bloody. With one final move, he clamped his jaws directly around its windpipe and pinned it to the ground, looking down at it.

His slightly elongated wolf eyes fixed on the Giant Armor Beast, bringing with them the breath of death.

All he had to do was bite down, and the immense force of his jaws would crush his opponent's throat.

The Giant Armor Beast had no choice but to admit defeat, and the referee declared the match over.

The Giant Armor Beast beastman left the arena unwillingly, while the giant wolf stayed where he was, waiting for the next beastman to enter in beast form.

Jian Mo swallowed, feeling the sweat coating his palms.

Qing Kuo also shifted his attention away from the arena and said to Jian Mo, "For dozens of generations, the Riverside Tribe's chiefs were all feline beastmen, from the same line as He Feng's father, De Jiang."

Jian Mo was a little surprised that he had suddenly brought this up and turned to look at him.

Qing Kuo said, "De Jiang and his kin have beast forms not much smaller than the giant wolf, but their claws are sharper, their bodies are more agile, and their fighting strength is terrifying. Then, when Wu Jiong was a youth, he defeated everyone in the tribe with overwhelming victories and was unanimously chosen as chief."

Qing Kuo summed him up: "He was born a warrior."

Jian Mo turned to look at Wu Jiong in the arena. "He's amazing."

Qing Kuo nodded. "Of course. He's the pride of our tribe."

In his giant wolf form, Wu Jiong challenged eight beastmen in all and didn't lose once.

But by the end, his snow-white fur was stained red with blood, a shocking sight.

As a veterinarian, Jian Mo had treated countless small animals and seen every kind of bloody scene, yet now his hands and feet felt weak.

He didn't really want to keep watching, but he didn't dare leave, either.

He was afraid something might happen to Wu Jiong while he was gone.

At long last, the matches ended, and Wu Jiong, finished with his fights, changed back into human form and returned to the stands.

Jian Mo watched him the whole time.

Wu Jiong turned to show him his body and said quietly, "I'm fine. I'll be all right in a little while."

Jian Mo looked him over. "I'll put some medicine on you later."

They really were all flesh wounds, and the cuts were shallow. Although they were still bleeding, the bleeding would presumably stop on its own before long.

Wu Jiong nodded and sat down beside Jian Mo.

The two continued watching the matches.

With someone other than Wu Jiong fighting in the arena, Jian Mo was a little distracted.

Wu Jiong asked, "Do you still want to watch? If not, shall we go look around outside?"

Jian Mo really wasn't used to such a frenzied atmosphere, but he looked toward the arena. "Let's watch a little longer. Our tribe's beastmen are still fighting. It wouldn't be right not to watch."

Wu Jiong looked at him, then nodded after a long moment.

The matches in the arena really did stop before going too far.

Nothing unexpected happened in the latter half. Although everyone's beast forms were wounded, the injuries probably wouldn't be too serious in human form.

The sky gradually darkened.

The day's matches ended, and Jian Mo and Wu Jiong stood up, ready to head back.

Wu Jiong took the carrying basket off his back. "Did you trade for anything good today?"

"Not bad. I traded for quite a few useful things." Jian Mo showed Wu Jiong what was in the basket. "I also got quite a bit of fabric. When we get back, I'll sew you a couple of outfits too."