Chapter 352- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (18)

Wu He’s physical strength was lacking, and his combat abilities weren’t very strong, so he didn’t play a significant role in the hunting team. However, now that he was focused on farming, it became much easier for him. As long as he worked diligently, his field quickly became one of the best cultivated plots in the Ping Shan tribe.

He no longer went on missions with the hunting team. Instead, he spent his days teaching the other tribe members how to farm and taking care of his own field.

Since he frequently visited the priest to collect herbs, Wu He even tried planting some herbs in his garden. To his surprise, after some patient experimentation, he successfully grew several types of herbs, earning praise from the priest.

Hearing the priest’s praise, Wu He became even more motivated. One day, when Wu Peng returned from a hunting mission and passed by Wu He’s cave, he happened to see Wu He working in the field, sweating profusely. Afterward, Wu He’s grandmother brought him some water, and the two of them shared a warm and happy moment together.

Wu Peng was momentarily taken aback when he saw Wu He’s smiling face. He thought that Wu He seemed to be living a good life. Whether things were going well or not, Wu He always had this vibrant and positive energy.

Moreover, Wu He was very kind to his grandmother. Despite her being sick for many years, Wu He never abandoned her. He always made sure to save the best food for her. His kindness and filial piety gave off a bright and uplifting vibe.

Wu Peng suddenly realized that even though Wu He wasn’t particularly strong, it didn’t matter. Wu He was living happily in his own way, striving to make his life better. At least, after seeing Wu He’s bright smile, the fatigue from his hunting mission seemed to vanish instantly.

Thinking about how he passed by Wu He’s place every time he returned home, Wu Peng realized he could conveniently deliver Wu He’s share of the distributed food to him.

After all, Wu He had been busy with farming lately and was undoubtedly exhausted. With this thought in mind, Wu Peng turned back toward the village entrance to fetch Wu He’s portion of the food for thxe day.

The interactions between Wu He and Wu Peng were just a minor episode in the life of the Pingshan tribe. Meanwhile, Mu Jin and Wu Po were enjoying peaceful and comfortable days. However, no matter how much respect and admiration they earned from the tribe members, it was impossible to please everyone.

Some people were deeply resentful upon learning that Wu Po was considered blessed by the gods. These individuals, led by Wu Yan, were the same ones who had been harassing Wu Po since he was young.

Back when Wu Po was still a child, this group managed to bully him occasionally. But as Wu Po grew stronger, they suffered greatly under his hands, with nearly every one of them receiving a harsh beating from him.

Whenever they tried to steal Wu Po’s prey, he would not only snatch it back but often take even more from them. Even when they ganged up on him, they were no match for Wu Po. Otherwise, Wu Yan wouldn’t have ended up beaten so badly that he was bedridden on an animal-skin mat for weeks.

Despite their lingering resentment, the tribe’s strong belief in the gods made them more worried than others who had merely ignored Wu Po in the past.

After all, not only had they been defeated by Wu Po, but they had also actively sought to trouble him. Now, they prayed daily, hoping that the gods would not punish their families for their past actions.

As a result, they didn’t dare to provoke Wu Po again. At most, they would occasionally glare at him with dissatisfaction, but upon seeing him, they often couldn’t avoid quickly steering clear of his path.

Mu Jin found these primitive people simple and straightforward, which sometimes made them quite amusing. Especially when he saw them looking frustrated and aggrieved at Wu Po every day, yet not daring to make a move against him—it was undeniably satisfying.

Mu Jin didn’t harbor the intention to destroy everyone in the tribe simply because Wu Po had been ostracized in the past. During the years Wu Po spent in the communal cave, there were still people like Wu He and the elderly woman who had shown him kindness. Even Wu Po himself had chosen to stay in the Pingshan tribe because of a certain attachment to it.

From Mu Jin’s perspective, the Pingshan tribe wasn’t the most backward, but it wasn’t particularly advanced either. For now, he couldn’t leave, primarily because the female lead was still there.

Even though the female lead had not yet grown into a significant threat or committed any major wrongs, Mu Jin decided to keep an eye on her, having gained some insight into her character over these days.

The female lead’s rise largely depended on a few specific abilities. Once Mu Jin fully developed and promoted agricultural and livestock practices across this world, Mu Xuan would naturally no longer pose any real threat.

Mu Jin had long suspected that, no matter how attractive Mu Xuan might be, she couldn’t possibly have the allure to capture the hearts of so many strong individuals or cause conflicts among tribes. In truth, the tribes valued her for her abilities. On top of that, her later self-proclamation as a messenger of the gods had made them hesitant to offend her.

What puzzled Mu Jin the most, however, was Wu Chan. Everyone in the tribe knew Wu Chan was Wu Po’s mother, and she had abandoned him back then because of his supposed ill fortune. Yet now that the matter of Wu Po being “cursed” had been clarified, Wu Chan still made no effort to reconcile with him.

Occasionally, Mu Jin noticed Wu Chan watching Wu Po from a distance. While there was a trace of guilt in her eyes, it was overshadowed by more complex and distant emotions. There was none of the warmth or affection a mother should have when looking at her child. This made Mu Jin wonder if Wu Chan was truly Wu Po’s mother at all.

On the other side, the female lead had put in a lot of effort and time to finally craft a bow and arrow. Eagerly, she hurried to find the hunting team leader, Wu Peng, and presented the bow and arrow to him as though offering a treasure.

The female lead was very confident in her creation, especially since her followers had previously seen the bow and showered her with extravagant praise.

However, when Wu Peng saw the bow, he frowned. The vine that the female lead used to make the bow lacked sufficient elasticity, resulting in weak force. Additionally, the stone arrowhead was too cumbersome and difficult to sharpen effectively. Mass production of such arrows would be a challenging endeavor.

Since the stone arrowheads were ineffective, they struggled to penetrate the hides of animals, making them impractical for hunting. Still, Wu Peng didn’t want to dampen Mu Xuan’s enthusiasm and politely said he would bring it to the hunting team to try it out, thanking her courteously for her efforts.

Hearing this, Mu Xuan felt quite smug, believing that her bow and arrow would make her famous. Little did she know, when Wu Peng took the bow to the hunting team, many people tried it, but the results were disappointing. Eventually, it was tossed aside as something useless.

Meanwhile, the traps taught by Wu Po continued to prove exceptionally effective, making the female lead’s small contribution pale in comparison. Naturally, the hunting team soon forgot all about her bow and arrow.

While Mu Xuan was indulging in dreams of admiration and acclaim, Mu Jin’s focus was entirely on the latest batch of planted sweet potatoes.

The newly planted sweet potatoes and herbs in the tribe were thriving. In this world, the sweet potato-like crop had a very short maturation period, and a batch had already ripened in a short time. As for Wu He’s herbal planting project, it also pleasantly surprised Mu Jin.

Learning that the tribe would participate in an inter-tribal gathering soon, Mu Jin instructed Wu He to plant even more herbs. After all, these medicinal herbs, which could heal and save lives, held immense value for any tribe.

Mu Jin initially intended to get involved in animal husbandry¹ by introducing livestock to the tribe. However, with so many tasks at hand and the inter-tribal gathering drawing closer, he hadn’t had the chance to delve deeply into the idea. Instead, he briefly shared his thoughts with the chief of the Pingshan Tribe.

Even with just this mention, the chief was visibly thrilled, which Mu Jin could understand. After all, hunting and gathering were the tribe’s primary sources of food.

Now, with Mu Jin’s improvements to farming and the discovery of sweet potatoes, the tribe’s food supply issues were largely alleviated. If they could successfully raise livestock, they wouldn’t have to fear starvation during the harsh winter months when food was scarce.

In this way, even in the face of unforeseen circumstances, such as the inability to hunt for a time, having domesticated animals would allow the tribe to survive comfortably for short periods. The chief was so eager about the prospect that he immediately began planning with Mu Jin, agreeing to start work on this initiative as soon as the gathering was over.

The inter-tribal gatherings occurred annually, but every five years, a larger, more significant gathering would be held. Tribes from farther regions would attend to trade and exchange resources.

As it happened, Mu Jin’s arrival at the Pingshan Tribe coincided with this five-year grand gathering.

The vast expanse of this continent made it impossible for all tribes to convene in one place. Generally, only neighboring tribes maintained regular contact. However, it was said that this time, many tribes—including some from distant areas—would participate.

The chief of the Pingshan Tribe intended to bring nearly every promising young member of the tribe to broaden their horizons, even though the tribe’s population wasn’t very large. As a result, the group traveling to the gathering would number more than thirty people.

It was also rumored that some tribes from even farther regions, including the Pingyuan Tribe where the original protagonist resided, would also be attending.

---

Note :

1. Animal husbandry is the branch of agriculture concerned with the care, breeding, and management of animals for various purposes ↩︎

---

Chapter 351- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (17)

The more people in the tribe know about this knowledge, the more benefits it will bring to them. With different perspectives, unexpected surprises might even emerge.

The old priest beamed with joy. When he saw Mu Jin turning to leave, he quickly bowed deeply and followed at his side.

At the same time, he remembered Mu Jin’s instructions not to disclose his true identity to others. So, once they reached the entrance of the cave, the priest had to resume his usual demeanor. However, his reverence for Mu Jin was still evident in his attitude.

Mu Jin casually waved his hand, signaling for the priest to return. When he raised his head, he spotted Wu Po standing at a distance. He immediately waved to Wu Po with a bright smile.

Seeing Mu Jin emerge from the priest’s dwelling and approach him as warmly as ever, Wu Po finally let out a sigh of relief. He walked over cautiously, stealing a glance at Mu Jin. He wanted to ask what the priest had said but didn’t dare voice the question.

Mu Jin found Wu Po’s demeanor amusing but didn’t want his beloved to remain anxious.

He gently took Wu Po’s hand, squeezing his palm, and spoke to him tenderly, “I just finished talking with the priest. He’s realized that he was mistaken all along.”

“Wu Po, you are not a bringer of misfortune at all. On the contrary, you are blessed by the gods. You’ve brought prosperity and good fortune to the PingshanTribe. The priest feels so guilty now that he doesn’t even dare face you.”

“Don’t worry. Soon, everyone in the tribe will realize that what they thought before was completely wrong. They should be grateful to you—grateful that you were born into this tribe!”

Hearing Mu Jin’s words, Wu Po stood there, stunned. He had never imagined that one day he would go from being seen as a harbinger of misfortune to someone who brought blessings to the tribe. The drastic shift was beyond anything he could have ever anticipated, and it was all thanks to the person standing before him.

Wu Po could easily imagine how difficult it must have been for Mu Jin to change the priest’s perception, yet he had done it—for him. Overwhelmed with emotion, Wu Po pulled Mu Jin into a tight embrace, thinking that meeting this man was the greatest fortune of his life.

The two held each other for a long time before returning hand in hand to their dwelling. While Mu Jin and Wu Po were basking in their sweet, loving moments, the priest was already rushing to find the tribe leader to admit his error.

The priest confessed his mistake and explained that it was crucial to inform everyone in the tribe that Wu Po was not cursed but rather beloved and blessed by the gods. Otherwise, if they continued to view him wrongly, they risked angering the gods and facing divine punishment.

The tribe leader was initially surprised by the priest’s sudden change in stance, but the seriousness in his expression left no room for doubt. Besides, having someone in the tribe who was favored by the gods was far better than having someone believed to be cursed.

Thus, the news that Wu Po was cherished by the gods spread quickly throughout the tribe.

At first, the tribe members were astonished by this revelation, but they accepted it surprisingly fast. Perhaps this was partly due to the things Mu Jin had told them earlier.

Many people even found the revelation perfectly reasonable. After all, if Wu Po hadn’t been favored by the gods, how could he have survived so well in the communal caves when he was young and too weak to provide for himself?

Now, Wu Po possessed a strong, healthy physique and was the most powerful individual in the Pingshan tribe. Attributing all these achievements to divine favor only made the story seem more logical.

Even Wu Peng, whose status as the tribe’s strongest warrior was threatened by Wu Po, thought this development was a good thing. Although losing the title of the tribe’s top warrior seemed inevitable if Wu Po shed the label of a cursed individual, Wu Peng wasn’t bothered.

Wu Peng had always aimed to become the next tribe leader. For that role, being the strongest warrior wasn’t a requirement. What mattered most was earning the tribe’s respect, the ability to make fair decisions, and leading the tribe and its people effectively.

From this perspective, having another formidable warrior in the tribe—one who was favored by the gods—was undeniably beneficial. After learning the truth, Wu Peng even took the initiative to invite Wu Po to join the hunting team and work together on expeditions.

When Wu Po heard Wu Peng’s invitation, he considered it carefully. He reasoned that hunting alongside others, combined with his own experience, would likely lead to larger hauls of prey. More prey meant he could provide a better life for Mu Jin. With that thought, he accepted the invitation without hesitation.

Over the years, Wu Po had endured the tribe’s ostracism¹. To say he hadn’t felt any bitterness would be a lie. However, with everything taking a turn for the better and Mu Jin offering him a new path, Wu Po wasn’t about to waste his partner’s effort and dedication.

Wu Po resolved to become the strongest person in the Pingshan tribe, proving his strength to everyone. He wanted to make it clear to the tribe that challenging him would be futile. This way, no one would dare to try to take Mu Jin from him.

Thus, after joining the hunting team, Wu Po devoted himself wholeheartedly to hunting alongside everyone. He even taught the team how to make traps.

The hunting methods used by the tribe were still quite primitive. Wu Po, who had started hunting alone at a young age, had figured out some simple trapping techniques on his own. Later, after being with Mu Jin, the two went into the forest a few times together, where Mu Jin helped Wu Po improve the traps, making them even more effective.

Once Wu Po taught the team how to use traps, they quickly realized their incredible utility. This further solidified their belief that Wu Po was blessed by the gods, and they came to admire his intelligence and strength deeply.

They also thought about how even Wu Po’s chosen partner, Mu Jin, had once studied under the priest of his former tribe and was also someone favored by the gods. Moreover, Mu Jin had taught the people of the Pingshan tribe a wealth of knowledge that brought significant improvements to their lives.

With all this, the status of Mu Jin and Wu Po as a couple rose rapidly.

Meanwhile, the female protagonist, Mu Xuan, watched the changes in Wu Po and Mu Jin’s standing within the Pingshan tribe with growing anxiety. She had been trying to win Wu Po’s favor, but he remained entirely unmoved, which left her both frustrated and humiliated.

Her initial intention had been to teach Mu Jin a lesson, but instead, she found herself publicly rejected by Wu Po, causing her great embarrassment.

Mu Xuan, feeling resentful of Wu Po and Mu Jin after seeing their rising status in the Pingshan tribe, couldn’t help but feel indignant. She thought to herself that she couldn’t let them take all the spotlight.

Remembering her expertise from her previous world, the female protagonist approached the tribe leader, offering to teach the villagers how to grow crops. This way, they wouldn’t have to work so hard every day to gather wild vegetables. The tribe leader, upon hearing her suggestion, agreed that it was worth trying.

Mu Jin, upon learning of this, did not interfere. In fact, he thought that if the villagers could learn to grow crops, it might actually be a good thing. So, he allowed Mu Xuan to carry on with her plans.

However, despite Mu Xuan putting in a lot of effort, she only managed to cultivate a few types of vegetables, mostly leafy greens, with no starchy plants. Meanwhile, the vegetation around the forest had become increasingly lush and diverse. The foraging team could gather plenty of food just by going out to the forest, making farming seem somewhat redundant.

Mu Xuan worked hard but had little impact, which made her increasingly anxious.

Meanwhile, while the female protagonist was growing impatient, Mu Jin, who had joined the foraging team, discovered a plant resembling sweet potatoes in the forest. The plant’s roots provided energy and were easy to store, which pleased Mu Jin.

However, despite its similar appearance to sweet potatoes, the plant lacked the sweet taste typical of them. Fortunately, the people in the primitive society didn’t have high expectations, as long as the food was filling, they were happy.

Mu Jin decided to name the plant “sweet potato” and brought it back to the tribe, telling the villagers that it could be cultivated. He explained that by planting more of these easy-to-store crops, they wouldn’t need to worry about food shortages during the cold season when hunting was scarce and plants weren’t thriving.

Upon hearing this news, the villagers of the Pingshan tribe were overjoyed and eagerly threw themselves into planting. However, despite Mu Xuan teaching them how to farm, the villagers felt that Mu Jin, who had discovered the sweet potato, deserved more of their gratitude.

Later on, Mu Jin made some improvements to the female protagonist’s half-baked farming methods and taught them to Wu He, who then passed them on to the others.

Although Mu Xuan had studied agriculture and livestock in the modern world, the primitive society lacked modern tools and ready-made fertilizers. She had the theoretical knowledge but lacked practical experience.

Mu Jin, however, was keen to create farming tools and fertilizers. While the fertilizers were relatively easy to manage, the tools proved to be quite challenging. Moreover, different crops required different planting techniques, and it would take time and experimentation to figure out the best methods. The results couldn’t be seen in the short term.

However, what seemed difficult to the female protagonist was not hard for Mu Jin.

In the current era, most weapons were still made of stone, and it was difficult to shape stone tools thin enough to function as hoes. Luckily, Mu Jin discovered a type of creature with a very hard shell. By modifying the shell and attaching it to a wooden stick, he created a simple, durable hoe.

As for the fertilizer, Mu Jin, who was extremely familiar with plants, created an excellent mixture. He could easily tell how much fertilizer and water each crop needed and how to make them grow better. When it came to plant growth, no one was more professional than Mu Jin.

Seeing that the tribe members were all grateful to Mu Jin, while she received little gratitude for suggesting the idea of farming in the first place, Mu Xuan felt it was very unfair.

However, Mu Xuan still had a few other suitors from the Pingshan tribe, who were constantly around her.

After all, she was beautiful, and while her contributions to farming were not the greatest, she did make some effort. This made some of her followers admire her even more. Complimented daily by these people, Mu Xuan gradually became somewhat smug.

Her confidence grew with all the compliments, and she thought to herself that even if she couldn’t stand out in farming, she could focus on other areas.

The people in this primitive society had very few tools, and Mu Xuan thought that perhaps she could learn to create weapons, which would help the hunting team in their efforts. She believed that once the team benefited from her creations, they would be grateful to her.

With that thought, Mu Xuan lost interest in farming and left it aside. However, this had little effect on the others, as Wu He, who had learned farming from Mu Jin, took over the teaching.

Since learning from Mu Jin, Wu He had taken farming very seriously. He felt honored that Mu Jin had personally taught him and entrusted him with the task of teaching others. He couldn’t let Mu Jin down.

Unaware that Mu Jin was simply too lazy to teach everyone individually, Wu He was deeply grateful to him and put all his passion into farming.

---

Note :

1. “Ostracism” refers to the act of deliberately excluding someone from a group or society. ↩︎

---

Chapter 350- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (16)

But soon after, the priest furrowed his brows. He thought about Mu Jin’s relationship with Wu Po and couldn’t help but feel a strong sense of disapproval.

He said to Mu Jin earnestly, “Mu Jin, your vast knowledge is a blessing from the gods. Someone as favored by the gods as you should not be with someone like Wu Po, who is cursed. To do so would be to disregard the gods’ grace.”

Hearing the old man’s words, Mu Jin’s smile immediately faded. The priest noticed the change in Mu Jin’s expression and recalled what some tribe members had told him before.

They had mentioned that Mu Jin had studied under the priest of his original tribe and had even claimed that Wu Po was not an ill-fated individual.

However, the Pingshan Tribe’s priest did not believe this. He assumed Mu Jin must have been mistaken or perhaps influenced by Wu Po’s manipulations.

Having already regarded Mu Jin as his successor, the priest took out the tribe’s sacred stone tablet, which contained knowledge passed down exclusively to the tribe’s priests, and showed it to Mu Jin.

The tablet bore simple illustrations resembling early writing. Mu Jin found it difficult to decipher since this was content only priests could understand.

However, the old priest patiently explained it to him, pointing out that the tablet recorded a warning: those with unusual eye colors would bring misfortune to the tribe and were cursed. Thus, Wu Po was indeed considered ill-fated.

Mu Jin was utterly surprised to learn that the belief in the misfortune of unusual eye colors was recorded in the priestly teachings of the Pingshan Tribe. Looking at the priest’s devout expression, it became clear that the priest was unwavering in his faith.

Previously, Mu Jin had thought the claim that someone was cursed by the gods was merely a product of the tribe’s superstition. He had assumed that the priest, upon seeing Wu Po’s eye color, had made a subjective judgment and declared him cursed. But now, it seemed Mu Jin had misunderstood the priest.

However, why was such a statement recorded on the stone tablet? This matter seemed tied to the tribe’s history, and investigating it thoroughly would not be a simple task.

It was highly likely that, at some point in the past, someone with an unusual eye color like Wu Po had appeared in the Pingshan Tribe and committed acts that harmed the tribe. Afterward, the priest of that time might have deemed such eye colors a symbol of misfortune and recorded it as such.

After all, much of the knowledge passed down by the priests carried a mythical quality.

At this moment, however, Mu Jin didn’t feel inclined to patiently explain everything to the priest in front of him. This man was a devout believer in the gods and had the stone tablet as evidence. No matter how much Mu Jin explained, it would likely be futile. Unlike the other members of the Pingshan Tribe, this priest was not easily persuaded.

Seeing that it was just the two of them in the room, Mu Jin remembered that in this world, he could unleash far more power than usual. Curling his lips into a subtle smile, he locked eyes with the priest and said firmly, “Wu Po is not an ill-fated person.”

The priest, hearing this, furrowed his brows in frustration and exclaimed, “Didn’t you see the records on the stone tablet? How can you still say such a thing? The tablet clearly states that people with unusual eye colors like Wu Po’s are cursed. This is the will of the gods!”

However, Mu Jin merely sighed softly and replied, “That is not my will. I don’t know how the teachings became so distorted by the time they were passed down to your generation.”

“What are you talking about?” The priest frowned in confusion, staring at Mu Jin’s peculiar response.

Before the priest could process what was happening, Mu Jin casually waved his hand. At that moment, the symbols on the stone tablet in the priest’s hand, which had just proclaimed unusual eye colors as a sign of misfortune, completely disappeared.

Simultaneously, the fresh herbs placed on the stone altar began to grow wildly, their vibrant energy filling the room.

Mu Jin released a faint yet palpable aura of power, his expression inscrutable. The priest was left in utter disbelief, his eyes wide as he took in the miraculous transformation of the stone tablet and the herbs. Clearly, he was thoroughly shaken by what Mu Jin had just done.

Mu Jin, seizing the moment, spoke with authority: “I’ve already told you, this is not my will. Do you still not understand who I truly am?”

As soon as Mu Jin finished speaking, the old priest’s knees buckled, and he fell heavily to the ground in a reverent kneel, his heart filled with awe and devotion.

Witnessing Mu Jin’s divine display, the priest was now utterly convinced that the person before him was indeed a god. Never in his life had he imagined he would have the fortune to encounter a true deity. For any priest, this was an unparalleled honor.

At this moment, the priest was so overwhelmed with emotion that tears streamed down his aged face. He felt an almost irrepressible urge to prostrate himself at Mu Jin’s feet to demonstrate his unwavering loyalty.

Mu Jin, however, was unsurprised by the priest’s reaction. After all, priests in every tribe were the most devout believers in the divine. Having now made this priest firmly believe that he was a god, such a response was only natural.

Still, Mu Jin couldn’t help but feel a hint of irony. ‘Who would’ve thought I’d ever find myself playing the role of a deity?’ Though, upon reflection, it wasn’t entirely pretense—he did, after all, possess a divine rank.

With this thought, Mu Jin let out a soft, helpless sigh. The priest, oblivious to Mu Jin’s inner musings, mistook the sigh as a sign of divine displeasure, feeling that he must have committed some grave offense.

By now, the priest had fully accepted that Wu Po was not a bearer of misfortune. If the god himself had declared it, then it had to be true.

After all, how could a deity possibly be wrong? The mistake had to lie within the teachings passed down through generations.

Considering the countless years of tradition, the priest realized it was impossible to guarantee that no errors had ever crept into the transmission of the divine will. The mere thought that they had been propagating a flawed interpretation of the god’s decree filled him with growing dread.

Mu Jin, noticing the priest’s evident fear, spoke at the right moment to reassure him. “Don’t worry. I won’t punish you. All I ask is that you correct the teachings and ensure the proper message is conveyed from now on.”

The priest quickly nodded, his movements hurried and eager, his heart filled with gratitude for the god’s mercy.

Mu Jin thought to himself that if everyone in the tribe started believing he was a god, it would be quite troublesome. He had only come to this small world to complete a task and spend a sweet lifetime with his beloved—not to become some blindingly radiant existence.

If the people of the Pingshan Tribe were to watch his every move obsessively, Mu Jin couldn’t imagine enduring such a situation.

Quickly, he instructed the priest, “You must not reveal my identity to anyone else. I descended into this body to fulfill a purpose. The reason I came here is actually because of Wu Po. He is the reincarnation of my soulmate, and I will stay by his side until the end of his mortal life.”

“As he is a member of the Pingshan Tribe, I am naturally willing to bless this place. This is why the vegetation around the tribe will flourish abundantly. Moving forward, I will also teach you some additional survival skills.”

“A god cannot interfere directly in human development at will. Thus, unless it is absolutely necessary, I will not perform divine miracles. The display of my power today is because you are the priest of the Pingshan Tribe, and your piety and faith have earned my trust.”

Hearing Mu Jin’s words, the old priest was overcome with emotion. To have his devotion personally acknowledged by a god—what an extraordinary honor this was! A pang of regret struck him as he realized he could not share this divine encounter with others.

But almost immediately, the priest felt ashamed of his greed. The god had already graced him with his presence, allowing him to witness his true form. How could he dare to ask for more?

What shocked him most, however, was the revelation that Wu Po was the god’s chosen partner. The very same Wu Po whom he had unjustly accused of being a harbinger of misfortune. As memories of how Wu Po had been mistreated in the Pingshan Tribe surfaced, the old priest felt a cold sweat break out across his body.

No, he had to inform the people of the Pingshan Tribe as soon as possible that Wu Po was absolutely not a harbinger of misfortune.

However, he couldn’t reveal that Wu Po was the god’s partner. The god had explicitly stated that his identity must remain a secret. In that case, it would be better to declare that Wu Po was someone blessed by the god.

The tribe should be grateful to Wu Po. If not for him, the god wouldn’t have shown special favor to the Pingshan Tribe. But then again, the god did say that Wu Po was the reincarnation of his partner.

So… could it be that Wu Po is also a god?

The thought sent a shiver down the old priest’s spine, his hands trembling. Oh heavens, what had he done? He had actually called a god a bringer of misfortune!

Mu Jin noticed the terror etched across the priest’s face but refrained from saying anything more. After all, the priest had caused his partner to endure years of suffering. Even though it had been based on the stone tablet’s teachings, letting the priest experience some fear didn’t seem excessive.

On the surface, however, Mu Jin maintained an expression of magnanimity. He spoke kindly to the priest, “Recently, I’ve taught the foraging team a lot about medicinal herbs. If you’re willing, you can call them over to ask about what they’ve learned.”

“As for the other knowledge passed down through tradition, you should also encourage the tribespeople to study it more extensively. The more they understand, the stronger the Pingshan Tribe will become.”

The priest nodded emphatically, his heart now convinced that there had been an issue with their ancestral teachings. Their god was so benevolent and loving—how could he ever decree that knowledge should only be held by the priests? Naturally, he would wish for all his people to live blessed and prosperous lives.

---

Chapter 349- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (15)

She believed that if she decided to take action, Wu Po would quickly leave Mu Jin and fall for her charms.

Just the thought of Wu Po being with her and the ugly expression that would appear on Mu Jin’s face greatly improved the heroine’s mood.

However, she also realized that today’s incident served as a wake-up call. The plants in this world differed from those in her original world, and their properties couldn’t be generalized.

It seemed that next time she wanted to share her knowledge with others, it would be best to test it first to avoid giving others an opportunity to embarrass her.

The next day, the action-oriented heroine began her pursuit of Wu Po.

Her so-called pursuit mainly involved feigned coincidental encounters, gestures of goodwill, and offering Wu Po some food she had made herself.

But since the heroine was originally just a university student with no real cooking skills, her abilities were limited. After arriving in this primitive world without modern kitchen tools, the only thing she had learned was how to roast meat.

By now, however, Wu Po’s palate had been spoiled by the delicious food prepared by Mu Jin. The poorly cooked roasted meat the heroine offered him didn’t tempt him in the slightest. In fact, he found her behavior strange.

This woman had recently been circling around him like an annoying fly, always appearing in his vicinity.

Although she acted friendly on the surface, the way she looked at him—like she was evaluating a commodity—made Wu Po uncomfortable.

He couldn’t quite articulate what her gaze implied, but he had a strong sense that this woman had ulterior motives for approaching him. This only made him more unwilling to engage with Mu Xuan.

What Mu Xuan didn’t know was that everything she had been doing had already been noticed by Wu Peng. As Wu Peng approached with a freshly hunted animal intended for Mu Xuan, he happened to see her pestering Wu Po. Wu Po’s face clearly showed impatience.

Looking down at the prey in his hands, Wu Peng eventually turned away, his expression dark and somber.

Wu Peng did genuinely like Mu Xuan. Even when she made a mistake with the herbs last time, he didn’t hold it against her. However, these past few days, perhaps because he had been paying more attention, he started to realize that his impression of Mu Xuan might have been overly idealized.

Mu Xuan wasn’t as gentle and kind as he had imagined. In fact, she seemed fickle and indecisive. She clearly knew that Wu Po and Mu Jin were a couple, yet she repeatedly tried to ingratiate herself with Wu Po. To Wu Peng, this was unacceptable.

Regardless of whether Wu Po was cursed or not, and while it’s fair to openly pursue someone you like, Wu Po and Mu Jin’s relationship was solid. It was well-known that they were committed to one another, and Wu Po was undoubtedly Mu Jin’s future partner.

Given this widely acknowledged fact, Mu Xuan should not have been pestering Wu Po. Moreover, she had always behaved ambiguously toward Wu Peng, leading many in the tribe to assume she would eventually become his partner. Yet now, what exactly was she doing?

Wu Peng had his own sense of pride. If Mu Xuan didn’t like him, she should have rejected him outright from the beginning. He wouldn’t have pursued her any further. But instead, Mu Xuan neither fully accepted him nor clearly pushed him away, all while coveting someone else.

Her fickleness and indecisiveness were traits Wu Peng could not accept.

Taking a deep breath, Wu Peng made up his mind. Since Mu Xuan couldn’t make a clear choice, perhaps he no longer needed to waste his time and energy on her.

At this moment, Mu Xuan’s entire focus was on Wu Po, scheming about how to embarrass Mu Jin. She was so preoccupied that she hadn’t even noticed Wu Peng’s recent lack of attention toward her. After all, Wu Peng wasn’t her only suitor.

As for Mu Jin, he was well aware of the heroine’s actions and looked down on her antics with disdain. He had full confidence in his man’s loyalty, knowing that Wu Po wouldn’t fall for anyone else.

Still, he couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy. To vent his frustrations, Mu Jin playfully threw a few tantrums at Wu Po, which, in turn, earned him plenty of kisses and hugs. The affection left Mu Jin beaming with delight.

Realizing that Mu Jin’s “punishments” were more like rewards, Wu Po was happy to indulge him. However, this didn’t make him any kinder to Mu Xuan. After Mu Jin pointed out her true intentions, Wu Po became even more repulsed by her advances.

Seeing the obvious disgust in Wu Po’s eyes whenever he looked at her lately, Mu Xuan thought he must be crazy. How could he reject the affections of a beauty like her and even respond with harsh words? To her, it was downright ungrateful.

Completely absorbed in pursuing Wu Po, Mu Xuan failed to notice the rising status of Mu Jin within the tribe.

Mu Jin frequently joined the foraging team, and after the last incident, everyone became fully convinced of his background as a student of the priest in his former tribe. His extensive knowledge of herbs and other useful skills only solidified this belief.

Mu Jin was generous with his knowledge. To him, the people in this primitive tribe were relatively simple-hearted. Very few of them had intentionally bullied or harmed Wu Po.

Most of the foraging team members, being among the weaker individuals in the tribe, were more fearful of Wu Po than hostile. They usually avoided him out of fear and certainly wouldn’t go out of their way to cause trouble for him.

Mu Jin shared his valuable knowledge with the foraging team, earning their gratitude. As a result, his reputation within the Pingshan tribe continued to rise, and word of this even reached the ears of the tribe’s priest.

In every tribe, priests were highly revered, considered gifts from the gods. The Pingshan tribe’s priest believed that he was specially favored by the gods, which was why his mentor had chosen to pass down the priestly teachings to him.

However, Mu Jin’s sudden appearance—and the fact that he also possessed extensive knowledge of medicine and willingly shared it with the tribe—left the priest puzzled. This behavior was completely at odds with his mentor’s instructions.

To the priest, such knowledge was divine, meant solely for priests as a sacred gift from the gods, not to be casually disclosed to others. Curious, he specifically asked Wu He, who had come to him for herbs, about Mu Jin.

Wu He, now thoroughly impressed by Mu Jin’s expertise, had immense respect for him. For years, Wu He had sought herbs from the priest to treat his grandmother, but her health had never improved. The priest had even said that her condition was unlikely to get any better in this lifetime.

Yet, after Mu Jin arrived, his treatments brought visible improvement to Wu He’s grandmother’s health. To Wu He, Mu Jin was far more skilled than the priest—though he dared not say this directly. Still, this didn’t stop him from praising Mu Jin enthusiastically in front of the priest.

Hearing about Mu Jin’s extraordinary abilities, the priest instructed Wu He to bring Mu Jin to see him.

When Wu He arrived, Wu Po was initially pleased and offered him some freshly hunted food. However, upon hearing that the priest wanted to meet Mu Jin alone, Wu Po’s expression instantly became tense.

Back then, it was the priest who declared Wu Po to be an ill-fated person within the tribe, making his early years unbearably difficult. Now, after finally finding happiness with Mu Jin and just beginning to enjoy a beautiful life together, Wu Po was deeply worried that the priest might say something to Mu Jin.

To Wu Po, Mu Jin was also someone blessed by the gods. Since both the priest and Mu Jin had strong faith in the gods, he feared that the priest might persuade Mu Jin to believe he was indeed cursed.

The thought of Mu Jin one day looking at him with the same disgusted gaze as the others was something Wu Po couldn’t bear to imagine.

Mu Jin noticed Wu Po’s unease and immediately moved closer, wrapping his arms around Wupo’s arm.

Unbothered by Wu He standing nearby, Mu Jin lifted his head and placed a gentle kiss on Wu Po’s cheek, softly reassuring him, “Don’t worry. No matter what the priest says to me, it won’t affect our relationship.”

Hearing these words, Wu Po finally felt a bit more at ease. However, he still refused to let Mu Jin go alone and personally escorted him to the vicinity of the priest’s dwelling.

As someone considered cursed by the tribe, Wu Po wasn’t allowed to freely enter the priest’s residence. Even so, he stubbornly waited not far away, insisting he would stay until Mu Jin came out.

Seeing Wu Po like this, Mu Jin’s heart ached for him. He leaned in to plant a quick kiss on the corner of Wu Po’s lips before hurrying into the priest’s cave, determined to resolve things quickly.

Once inside, Mu Jin was met with an elderly figure dressed in a long skirt made of animal hides. The priest looked sharp and alert, with long hair tied up using animal bones and adorned with bird feathers. His face was painted with symbols in mud, giving him an air of mystique.

The priest was busy grinding fresh herbs in his hands. When Mu Jin entered, the priest didn’t show any particular emotion. Instead, he piled the herbs in front of Mu Jin and asked, “Do you recognize what these herbs are?”

Mu Jin raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. He hadn’t expected that after being summoned by the priest, the first thing the priest would do was test him with herbs.

The herbs in front of him seemed to vary widely in type, and some were even quite rare in the forest.

However, Mu Jin didn’t try to hide anything. Casually, he named each herb and explained its medicinal properties, earning a surprised exclamation from the priest.

Seeing that Mu Jin was indeed knowledgeable, the priest continued, “I heard from Wu He that you told him to dry the snake gall and grind it into powder for his grandmother to take. You also gave him a root-like herb, and I’ve brought a small piece of it myself.”

“This herb is something I’ve never heard of before, and I never knew certain animal organs could be used in medicine. So, I imagine you must know many other medicinal uses as well.”

Mu Jin nodded in response, not denying the priest’s words.

Upon seeing Mu Jin’s affirmative answer, the priest felt a surge of excitement. The herbs he had asked Mu Jin to identify were all the varieties he was familiar with, yet Mu Jin clearly knew much more than he did.

Although the priest was reluctant to admit it, this young man in front of him was undoubtedly more capable than the priest himself, who had lived for decades.

For years, the priest had been searching for a suitable successor, but despite his efforts, he hadn’t found anyone in the Pingshan Tribe who seemed right. Yet Mu Jin was clearly the most suitable candidate. If Mu Jin became the priest, he would surely bring great benefit to the Pingshan Tribe.

Thinking this, the old priest could hardly contain his excitement and asked Mu Jin, “Would you like to become a priest?”

Mu Jin was momentarily stunned. He hadn’t expected the old priest to ask him such a question so suddenly.

Inwardly, he couldn’t help but think: So, after all this trouble, you’ve come all this way just to see if I’m fit to be your successor?

---

Chapter 348- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (14)

Thinking of this, the female lead immediately put on a pitiful expression and anxiously said to Wu Peng, “Wu Peng, please let me explain! I truly thought these were medicinal herbs for healing wounds. It was an honest mistake—I didn’t mean to do it!”

Hearing this, Wu Peng nodded and gave Mu Xuan a gentle smile. He didn’t think she had any reason to deliberately harm him.

However, the fact that Mu Xuan clearly didn’t understand medicinal herbs yet used her half-baked knowledge to gather questionable plants and give them to him still left Wu Peng feeling a little uneasy.

As Mu Jin had pointed out, medicinal herbs aren’t something to be taken lightly. In the past, people had accidentally eaten poisonous plants and paid with their lives. Thankfully, Mu Jin caught the mistake in time. Otherwise, if Wu Peng had given the herbs to his injured brother, the consequences could have been disastrous.

With this in mind, Wu Peng felt a newfound sense of gratitude toward Mu Jin. Still, he didn’t blame Mu Xuan, knowing it was an unintentional error. He simply advised her to make sure the herbs were safe and suitable before giving them to others to avoid any further mistakes.

Mu Xuan gritted her teeth inwardly but outwardly gave Wu Peng a gentle nod.

Considering Mu Xuan’s feelings and the growing crowd, along with the returning hunting team, Wu Peng decided to shift the topic quickly. He began discussing the distribution of the gathered food with everyone.

After the incident, Mu Xuan faced the schadenfreude-filled gazes of some foraging team members and wished she could disappear. She was used to acting high and mighty in front of the other women in the team and had never endured such humiliation.

Yet she also knew that her mistake could be seen as either minor or severe, depending on how it was interpreted. Not daring to say much more, she could only cast a resentful glance at Mu Jin. What she didn’t realize, however, was that her expression had been noticed by Wu Peng, who had turned around at that moment.

Seeing Mu Xuan’s look, Wu Peng froze for a moment.

Was Mu Xuan holding a grudge against Mu Jin? But it was clearly thanks to Mu Jin that a major disaster had been avoided.

Wu Peng frowned deeply. For the first time, he began to question whether Mu Xuan was truly as gentle and kind as he had thought.

Primitive people tended to have simple ways of thinking, and Wu Peng’s sense of right and wrong was quite straightforward. Naturally, he felt that Mu Xuan was in the wrong.

Still, he didn’t say much about it. After all, Mu Xuan had never accepted his pursuit, and to her, he was just an outsider. However, if her character truly wasn’t as good as he had believed, he might need to reconsider pursuing her as a future partner.

Although Mu Xuan was beautiful, what had drawn Wu Peng to her was her supposed gentleness and kindness. He hoped to find a woman like his mother, someone warm and kind-hearted. But if Mu Xuan wasn’t that kind of person, he wasn’t so sure he wanted her as his mate.

Mu Xuan, unaware that her most loyal admirer was starting to waver, was still plotting in her heart. She vowed to find an opportunity to get rid of Mu Jin and teach him a lesson.

In contrast, Mu Jin didn’t spare Mu Xuan a second thought. He had no intention of causing her trouble, so long as she didn’t create conflicts by building her harem of admirers and stirring discord among the tribe.

If Mu Xuan found a stable partner and settled down quietly, Mu Jin would have no reason to interfere with her.

Unexpectedly, today turned out to be a day where Mu Jin gained significant recognition among the tribe. The people of the Pingshan Tribe now knew that he had studied under the priests in his former tribe.

As a result, many started to warm up to the idea of interacting with Mu Jin. However, before they could talk to him much, Mu Jin suddenly turned his body, stood straight, and looked intently in a certain direction.

Following his gaze, the others saw a tall figure approaching. As soon as Mu Jin clearly recognized who it was, a wide smile broke across his face. Like a small cannonball, he shot forward and threw himself directly into Wu Po’s arms.

Wu Po hadn’t expected such an enthusiastic reaction from Mu Jin upon seeing him.

Just moments ago, he had arrived at the village entrance and seen Mu Jin standing with the others. He had been worried that, being new to the tribe and close to him, Mu Jin might face rejection after joining the foraging team. However, to his surprise, what he saw instead were kind and welcoming expressions from the group, with a seemingly harmonious atmosphere.

The man didn’t approach. Despite the crowd gathered there, Mu Jin stood out to him like a beacon of light, the brightest and most dazzling presence among them.

Seeing Mu Jin become the center of attention, Wu Po felt a pang of nervousness. He worried that his precious treasure might be noticed or even taken away by others. Standing at a distance, he watched silently, lost in a whirlwind of thoughts.

What he hadn’t expected, though, was for Mu Jin to spot him first. Not only that, but Mu Jin’s face lit up with joy as he ran straight into Wu Po’s arms.

Seeing the unrestrained happiness on Mu Jin’s face, Wu Po felt as though he were dreaming, yet at the same time, it all felt natural.

From beginning to end, Mu Jin’s eyes and heart had always been fixed on him alone. What was there to worry about? Mu Jin had known all along about the rumors of his supposed misfortune, yet he didn’t mind them in the slightest.

With this realization, Wu Po’s gaze toward Mu Jin softened considerably.

He had just returned from hunting, a lamb-like creature slung over his shoulder. But as soon as Mu Jin rushed toward him, Wu Po immediately set the lamb down, concerned that the bloodstains on his arm might dirty Mu Jin’s clothes. He prepared to lift Mu Jin with his free arm instead, but to his surprise, Mu Jin didn’t mind the slightest bit.

As for Mu Jin, he didn’t overthink things. Today, he had wandered through the forest, managed to humiliate the heroine a little, but it didn’t mean much to him. What made him happiest was, of course, being with his beloved.

So, when he saw Wu Po coming to pick him up, Mu Jin’s heart was filled with joy. At that moment, no one else existed in his eyes.

Mu Jin clung to his man unabashedly for quite some time before suddenly remembering that the small bundle of vegetables he had picked earlier had been left behind.

Although it was just a small handful, the vegetables were carefully selected by Mu Jin and were exceptionally delicious wild greens. Naturally, he couldn’t bear to leave them behind. So, he said a few words to Wu Po, hurried back to the foraging team’s area, and retrieved his bundle of greens.

Afterward, Mu Jin greeted Wu He and then quickly returned to Wu Po’s side. Holding the hand of the man that wasn’t carrying the prey, the two walked home together, affectionately side by side.

Those who remained behind watched them, their feelings complicated.

Someone who was not only good-looking but also knowledgeable was undoubtedly admired. Moreover, being able to study under a priest indicated divine favor—a sign of being beloved by the gods.

Why would someone blessed by the gods choose to be with someone like Wu Po, who was supposedly forsaken by them? Could it be, as Mu Jin had said yesterday, that Wu Po wasn’t unlucky at all and that they had misunderstood him all these years?

Many of the weaker individuals and women also took note of the prey in Wu Po’s hands. The lamb-like creature was small but renowned for its excellent flavor. However, it was also incredibly agile and difficult to hunt.

This reminded them of Wu Po’s true strength. Even during the harsh, food-scarce winter season, Wu Po never went hungry. Ever since reaching adulthood, Wu Po’s power had gradually become well-known.

But because of his reputation for being cursed, people had always kept their distance from him. Yet, if this so-called curse didn’t exist, everyone had to admit that Wu Po was undoubtedly the strongest person in the Pingshan Tribe.

Wu Po was usually cold and reserved, rarely showing emotion. No one would have guessed that his interactions with Mu Jin were like this. Although Wu Po hadn’t said much just now, the tenderness in his eyes was unmistakable.

Despite carrying prey on his shoulders, Wu Po even took the small bundle of vegetables Mu Jin had been holding, tucking them into his fur skirt, leaving Mu Jin completely empty-handed.

A person who was not only powerful and handsome but also incredibly gentle and caring toward their partner was rare anywhere. Many people now thought that Mu Jin was truly fortunate.

Even Wu Peng couldn’t help but feel a little envious as he watched Wu Po and Mu Jin walk away together. But what Wu Peng envied wasn’t the ease with which Mu Jin could rely on someone else, but the intimate atmosphere between the two.

The way Mu Jin’s eyes lit up when he looked at Wu Po, how his entire world seemed to revolve around Wu Po, and the radiant smile on his face that bloomed only for him—Wu Peng longed to have someone look at him like that.

Unintentionally turning his head, Wu Peng caught sight of Mu Xuan standing nearby, staring at Mu Jin and Wupo’s retreating figures with jealousy written all over her face.

Seeing this, Wu Peng felt even more disheartened. He lowered his gaze, silently finished distributing the day’s catch, and quietly left without waiting for Mu Xuan.

However, Mu Xuan’s thoughts weren’t on Wu Peng at all. She didn’t even notice him leaving.

The heroine, coming from the modern world, didn’t believe in curses. When she first saw Wu Po’s face, she had even considered him as one of her potential targets.

But Wu Po was far too cold and distant, and since arriving in this world, Mu Xuan had grown used to being fawned over. For a time, she didn’t take Wu Po seriously.

Yet now, seeing the interaction between Wupo and Mu Jin, Mu Xuan began to think that Wupo might actually be an excellent choice.

To Mu Xuan, Mu Jin was merely a man and naturally no match for herself. As for Wu Po, his attentiveness to Mu Jin was likely due to years of rejection and isolation from the tribe. Such a person, in her eyes, was easily moved by even a little bit of affection.

---

Chapter 347- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (13)

It seems the heroine lacks the dedication of a Shennong tasting hundreds of herbs¹ and relies solely on her knowledge of plants from her original world. Moreover, her academic background wasn’t in pharmacology. In the original storyline, the heroine’s expertise lay in agriculture and animal husbandry, areas that had little to do with medicinal plants.

What Mu Jin didn’t know was that the reason the female lead was so energized today was because of the few casual words he had said earlier.

Mu Jin wandered aimlessly through the forest with the foraging team, feeling bored. Yesterday, he had already explored most of this part of the woods.

The locals didn’t yet know how to weave baskets, but they used large animal hides and vines to carry their findings. Small fruits were piled onto the hides, while larger plants were tied with vines and slung across their backs—an inconvenient method, to say the least.

Since he still had plenty of wild fruits and vegetables left from yesterday’s collection, Mu Jin didn’t bother hauling large loads like the others. With so many people around, it wasn’t convenient for him to use his ability to accelerate plant growth. Instead, he carefully picked only a few wild vegetables with good flavor.

While others had already gathered large bundles of plants, Mu Jin carried just a small handful.

Seeing his leisurely demeanor, many people couldn’t help but show disapproval on their faces. Although they acknowledged his good looks, they thought he was far too lazy.

Still, no one said anything aloud, knowing that Mu Jin’s share of food contributions had already been covered by Wu Po. Some even felt a twinge of envy—finding a capable partner who could support you in this era was no easy feat.

As the foraging team’s work wrapped up for the day and the sky grew darker, Wu Po led everyone back home.

Most people here ate only once a day, or twice if they were lucky. It was rare to find someone like Mu Jin, who consistently enjoyed three meals a day. However, since he was with the foraging team, he didn’t want to draw attention to himself. He simply ate a few fruits that Wu Po had slipped him before they set out.

Wu Po didn’t bring the half a bamboo rat that Mu Jin had initially wanted to take with him. Instead, he outright said that carrying roasted meat, with its fragrant aroma, could potentially attract carnivores in the forest and pose a certain level of danger.

Hearing Mu Jin’s reasoning, Wu Po felt it made sense. So, he coaxed Mu Jin into eating a hearty breakfast and packed him a good amount of sweet little fruits before allowing him to join the foraging team.

When everyone returned to the Pingshan Tribe, the foraging team collectively pooled all the food they had gathered. Of course, if someone particularly liked a certain item and it was in small quantities, they were allowed to keep it for themselves.

As for the small handful of vegetables in Mu Jin’s hands, he didn’t even put them out. The others didn’t demand anything from him either, since the amount was so pitifully small that handing it over wouldn’t make much of a difference.

The foraging team members were all in high spirits today because their harvest was significantly larger than usual. For some reason, the wild fruits and vegetables they encountered along the way were exceptionally abundant, allowing them to return fully loaded.

Among them, Mu Xuan was the most pleased. She had discovered a variety of medicinal herbs. Although her main area of study wasn’t medicine, she was still knowledgeable about general wild plants.

Holding the herbs, Mu Xuan excitedly ran up to Wu Peng and deliberately said loudly, “Wu Peng, I found so many medicinal herbs! These are great for treating wounds, and these…”

As she spoke, she handed another handful of herbs to Wu Peng, adding, “These don’t need to be carried around with you. After you return, boil them into a broth and drink it. It will help your wounds heal faster.”

Wu Peng felt deeply moved by Mu Xuan’s words but was even more shocked. He hadn’t expected that Mu Xuan would know so much about medicinal plants. After all, in this era, all pharmacological knowledge was exclusively held by the priests.

When Mu Xuan displayed her familiarity with medicinal herbs, the way the others looked at her changed instantly, making her feel quite proud of herself.

At that moment, the hunting team returned. Seeing the lively scene with the foraging team and hearing that Mu Xuan had discovered numerous herbs for treating wounds, they also thought highly of her.

Several people who were on good terms with Wu Peng began praising him, as many of them already considered it a foregone conclusion that Mu Xuan would be his future partner.

Wu Peng felt a bit happy about this but merely waved his hand casually at their compliments. Only he knew that his relationship with Mu Xuan wasn’t as close as others imagined.

Mu Xuan hadn’t been in the Pingshan Tribe for very long, but Wu Peng had already expressed his affection for her. However, Mu Xuan’s responses were minimal.

Wu Peng couldn’t tell if Mu Xuan had accepted his feelings. If she didn’t like him, their relationship seemed unusually close and ambiguous. But if she did like him, she still refused to give him a clear answer.

In this era, when two people were interested in each other, things were often settled quickly—sometimes even to the point of moving in together immediately.

Yet, despite Wu Peng repeatedly making his feelings clear, Mu Xuan neither gave him a definitive response nor rejected the gifts of prey he brought her. She was also willing to spend time with him often, leaving Wu Peng confused about her true feelings. To complicate matters, he noticed that Mu Xuan also accepted favors from others.

Mu Xuan knew that her display of skill today would undoubtedly raise her status in the eyes of the tribe members.

Moreover, Wu Peng believed that the medicinal herbs Mu Xuan had gathered were specifically for him, and he gratefully thanked her for them.

Just as Wu Peng was about to put the herbs away, Mu Jin suddenly leaned over, staring intently at the medicinal plants in Wu Peng’s hands, and asked, “Can I take a look at those herbs you’re holding?”

Mu Jin was referring to the medicinal herbs Mu Xuan had specifically set aside for Wu Peng to take home and boil as a remedy for healing wounds.

Wu Peng was momentarily stunned but handed the herbs over, thinking Mu Jin was just curious.

Unexpectedly, Mu Jin picked out a plant resembling thistle from the bundle, furrowed his brow slightly, and said to Wu Peng, “This isn’t a medicinal herb for healing wounds. Eating it will cause diarrhea, potentially severe if consumed by someone in poor health.”

Wu Peng’s expression immediately darkened upon hearing this. What Mu Jin had pointed out was no trivial matter—he had been planning to share the herbs with a gravely ill friend.

If his friend consumed this herb and not only failed to recover but was indirectly harmed or even killed, Wu Peng would bear the guilt of that tragedy. The thought made him instinctively look up at Mu Xuan, hoping she could provide an explanation.

However, before Mu Xuan could respond, a voice came from the hunting team. Someone scoffed at Mu Jin, saying, “Who are you to decide there’s something wrong with these herbs? Why should we believe you?”

Recently, Mu Xuan had been casting a wide net in her interactions with people, not limiting her attentions to Wu Peng. Although she hadn’t explicitly accepted the advances of others, she kept them as potential backups. As a result, quite a few capable individuals in the tribe had become her admirers and supporters.

The person who rebutted Mu Jin was someone who had always had a deep admiration for Mu Xuan. Although he knew the chances of being with her were slim, he continued to pursue her wholeheartedly.

In his eyes, no matter how good-looking Mu Jin might be, he was still a man and couldn’t compare to a woman. He thought Mu Jin was degrading himself by voluntarily sticking close to Wupo, which made him look down on Mu Jin even more.

What use was a good-looking face? With no real skills to speak of and only capable of relying on an “unlucky” person, Mu Jin was beneath contempt. And to top it off, he was in the prime of his life but was only part of the foraging team. To him, that was the ultimate disgrace for a man.

When Mu Jin heard the rebuttal, he didn’t get angry. Instead, he gave Mu Xuan an apologetic glance before turning to Wu Po and calmly explaining, “Back in my original tribe, I learned medicine by studying under the priests, so I know a bit about pharmacology.”

“I didn’t notice anything earlier when Mu Xuan was gathering these herbs. It wasn’t until she handed them to you that I realized one of them resembled a plant I remember as causing diarrhea. That’s why I asked to take a closer look—medicines can’t be taken lightly.”

Hearing this, Wu He, who had been silently worrying about Mu Jin, quickly chimed in loudly to support him, “That’s right, I know this too! Mu Jin used to study medicine under the priests of his former tribe.”

“Before, he gave me dried and powdered snake gall to give to my grandmother, along with another herb that looked like a tree root. After taking them, her health has significantly improved.”

Wu He’s grandmother had been frail since her youth and had been battling chronic ailments for years with little improvement. Yet recently, her condition had visibly improved—a fact well known among the tribe members.

Initially, when they heard Mu Jin claim he had studied under a priest, many were skeptical. But after hearing Wu He’s testimony, they believed him completely.

Someone in the crowd murmured quietly, “You know, I’ve actually seen that herb before. I once confused it with a similar-looking edible wild vegetable and brought it back to eat. I ended up with terrible diarrhea for two or three days. It was unbearable.”

“Looking back now, it’s a good thing I’m strong. If my elderly father had eaten it instead, it might have killed him.”

After hearing this tribe member’s comment, everyone was convinced that Mu Jin was telling the truth. Even the man who had spoken up for Mu Xuan earlier fell silent. Mu Xuan, on the other hand, began to panic.

She carefully recalled the plants she had found near the tribe. Although they looked like the ones she was familiar with, upon closer inspection, there were subtle differences. Could it be that these plants merely resembled the ones she thought she knew, but their medicinal properties were completely different?

That d*mned Mu Jin! Why didn’t he warn me earlier? Why did he wait until there were so many people around to speak up? He clearly did this on purpose to humiliate me in front of everyone!

---

Note :

1. “Shennong tasting hundreds of herbs” refers to an ancient Chinese legend about Shennong (神农), a mythical figure considered one of the founding fathers of Chinese medicine and agriculture.
   The phrase is often used metaphorically to describe someone who is dedicated to experimenting or exploring unknown substances, especially in the pursuit of knowledge or progress, even at personal risk. Shennong’s efforts are said to have laid the foundation for traditional Chinese medicine and herbal remedies. ↩︎

---

Chapter 346- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (12)

Even though Mu Jin was a man, and there were several women from the gathering team standing nearby, he stood out too much compared to the rough and rugged appearance of most people in this primitive tribe. His fair, refined features made him incredibly striking.

It was clear that many people were developing feelings for Mu Jin, thinking that having a mate as extraordinary as him, even if he was male, seemed like an excellent choice.

What these admirers didn’t know was that Mu Jin’s smooth and radiant skin was inseparably connected to 003. To remove the scar on Mu Jin’s face, 003 had gone the extra mile, giving him a full-body beauty treatment and enhancing his physical condition.

Though it didn’t reach the perfection of porcelain skin, his smooth and delicate complexion was unattainable for the average primitive person. After all, in a time when even basic sustenance was a challenge, few had the luxury to care about their appearance.

Before anyone could dwell too much on Mu Jin, the female protagonist Mu Xuan appeared, walking closely alongside Wu Peng, the two chatting warmly as they approached.

Wu Peng, the leader of the hunting team, was both powerful and fair, earning him great respect in the tribe. Many even believed he was the most likely candidate to succeed as the next chief.

Wu Peng had a favorable impression of Mu Xuan, the woman he had rescued a few days prior. Although her fair skin and attractive looks were appealing and seemed to complement his status as the tribe’s strongest warrior, what he appreciated most was Mu Xuan’s kindness and gentle demeanor. He had always hoped for a considerate mate like her.

However, when they finally arrived and approached the group, they saw Mu Jin standing not far away, smiling at Wu He.

Seeing Mu Jin’s appearance, Wu Peng couldn’t help but pause in astonishment. This was someone he had never seen before.

Although it was clear at a glance that the person was male, with a somewhat slender and frail figure, his face was exceptionally refined and attractive. His radiant complexion was several shades fairer than Mu Xuan’s, who stood beside him.

In terms of looks alone, it seemed no one in the Pingshan Tribe could rival him.

So this was the person who insisted on being with Wu Po? Wu Peng was surprised. With a face like that, finding a strong mate would be all too easy for someone like Mu Jin.

He had heard bits and pieces about Mu Jin and Wu Po over the past couple of days. However, he had assumed Mu Jin was a weak man from a remote tribe, reliant on Wu Po because he had no other options.

But now, seeing Mu Jin in person, Wu Peng realized his assumptions had been entirely wrong.

Coincidentally, Wu Peng was serving as one of the leaders assigned to protect the gathering team that day. As he walked closer, he instinctively turned to Mu Jin and said with certainty, “You must be Mu Jin.”

Mu Jin nodded in response. Through 003, he already knew that the man before him was Wu Peng, the Pingshan Tribe’s top warrior.

Even so, as the two locked eyes, Mu Jin couldn’t miss the look of shock on Mu Xuan’s face when she heard his name.

The female protagonist was all too familiar with the name Mu Jin. The reason she had gone to such lengths to escape the Pingyuan Tribe was precisely because of Mu Jin.

Although Mu Xuan knew that arranged marriages weren’t really a thing in primitive societies, her engagement to Mu Jin had been decided before she crossed over into this world. It was the original Mu Xuan who had agreed to the marriage after Mu Shan, the leader of the Pingyuan Tribe, arranged it. Technically, she could have refused.

However, in the female protagonist’s perception, people from primitive tribes were barbaric. She feared that if she rejected the marriage, she would be forcibly made to marry Mu Jin.

Moreover, when she had seen Mu Jin from a distance, wearing his mask, he appeared so small and arrogant that she couldn’t bring herself to like him. So, she encouraged Mu Xiong, who had always been fond of her, to help her escape.

Who would have thought Mu Xiong would turn out to be useless? He was severely injured in a wild animal attack along the way. Luckily, she managed to escape quickly and, by sheer luck, encountered Wu Peng. Otherwise, who knows what might have happened?

Even though she felt she had safely left the Pingyuan Tribe’s territory, she always worried they might come looking for her.

When she heard Mu Jin’s name just now, she immediately became nervous. Having only recently arrived at the Pingshan Tribe, she didn’t know many people and had limited access to information. Thus, she wasn’t aware that the tribe had welcomed new members in the past couple of days.

However, when she looked up and saw Mu Jin’s face, she quickly convinced herself it was likely just someone with the same name. Surely, she was mistaken. After all, Mu Jin’s face was utterly flawless, and even his radiant skin sparked her envy.

After arriving in this new world, Mu Xuan’s appearance in this world was quite attractive. However, in a primitive society with no skincare or beauty products, it was inevitable that her features would still have a certain roughness. Despite her efforts to maintain her looks, she found herself completely unable to compare to Mu Jin’s radiant appearance.

How could someone like this possibly be the same Mu Jin from her past—the one with a scarred face, rough features, and an unpleasant personality?

Mu Xuan let out a silent sigh of relief but then began sizing Mu Jin up more closely.

Though Mu Jin wasn’t very tall, his delicate features more than made up for it. Compared to the popular young male idols from Mu Xuan’s original world, he was even more striking. He could easily be considered a rare, stunning youth.

While he wasn’t her type, after being surrounded by rugged, muscular men for so long, Mu Xuan found this youthful and tender beauty to be a refreshing change of pace.

What’s more, in her short time here, any man she had even slightly favored had been quick to express interest in her. This had inflated her ego, making her believe that her status as a woman and her looks made her practically invincible.

No matter how good-looking Mu Jin was, he was still just a man. In Mu Xuan’s mind, there wasn’t another woman in the Pingshan Tribe who could compare to her. If Mu Jin were to fawn over her, she thought she might even consider giving him a chance.

With this thought, Mu Xuan smirked smugly and offered Mu Jin a bright, inviting smile.

However, Mu Jin paid no attention to her. Earlier, he had carefully observed Mu Xuan’s appearance and noticed the subtle changes in her expressions. From that, he could guess what was likely going through her mind.

Mu Jin felt a wave of disgust and found his interest in dealing with her had all but vanished.

As time passed, Wu Peng, noticing it was about time to leave, instructed the gathering team to set off toward the forest.

Along the way, many cast curious glances at Mu Jin, but only one person—Mu Xuan—actually approached him. After all, the people of this world held strong faith in the gods and were cautious in their actions.

Mu Jin was now with Wu Po, who was regarded by many as an ominous figure. From their perspective, this association might mean Mu Jin was also tainted with misfortune, making them wary of him.

Even though many in the group thought Mu Jin’s appearance was remarkable, they only observed him from a distance. However, Mu Xuan, who had transmigrated from another world, had no such concerns. She stayed close to Mu Jin, chatting with him casually, which drew quite a few curious glances from others.

In the past, Mu Xuan had rarely engaged with the gathering team members. She typically only spoke with those in the hunting team assigned to protect them and seemed to look down on the gatherers to some extent.

Most of the gathering team consisted of women, and the few men among them were generally weaker. Mu Xuan had no interest in these weaker men. With her well-maintained appearance—much more refined than the unadorned style of the primitive people—she felt a strong sense of superiority.

Though Mu Xuan believed she concealed her feelings well, her aloof attitude was apparent to many in the gathering team. Furthermore, the fact that several strong and capable individuals had shown interest in her had sparked some jealousy among the other women.

Although Mu Jin didn’t pay much attention to Mu Xuan, he also didn’t stop her from lingering near him. He had noticed Wu Peng, leading the team from the front, occasionally glancing back with an unhappy expression whenever he saw Mu Xuan chatting with him.

This realization caused a flicker of mockery to pass through Mu Jin’s eyes.

Suddenly, Mu Xuan let out a surprised exclamation and picked up a plant, turning to Mu Jin with a triumphant smile. “Look what I found!” she exclaimed, holding up the herb.

Mu Jin glanced at the medicinal plant for treating wounds and deliberately shook his head, pretending not to recognize it. In truth, he was very familiar with it.

This plant was the same type Wu Po had used at the beginning, though its effects were not particularly impressive. Even so, individuals like Wu Po, who could recognize even one or two medicinal herbs, were exceedingly rare.

The protagonist, clearly aware of this fact, patiently explained the plant’s uses to Mu Jin, hoping to earn his admiration.

Mu Jin, seeing through her intentions, casually remarked, “That’s good. If more of these herbs can be found and kept on hand by the hunters, it could help them treat wounds quickly in case of emergencies.”

Hearing this, Mu Xuan’s eyes lit up. She immediately thought of Wu Peng, who had encountered a wolf pack while hunting just a few days prior. Although he had managed to escape swiftly, he hadn’t come away unscathed. It was likely why he was now assigned to the gathering team to protect them during this rotation.

In these times, even the shamans had limited knowledge of medicinal plants, and most of their remedies were far from effective. If she could provide some herbs to treat Wu Peng’s injuries, she was certain it would leave a good impression—not just on him but on his hunting team as well.

As they continued their journey, Mu Xuan began to gather various plants that seemed familiar to the medicinal herbs from her original world. However, she was unaware that a plant’s appearance didn’t always correspond to its properties in this entirely different world.

For example, at one point, she picked a plant that closely resembled greater burdock¹ from her original world, known for its hemostatic properties. However, Mu Jin, using Flower God’s unique abilities, could easily identify that in this world, the plant had no hemostatic effect at all. On the contrary, consuming it would likely cause diarrhea.

While it could indeed be used for detoxification in certain cases, excessive consumption by someone with a weaker constitution could lead to serious consequences.

---

Note :

1. ↩︎

---

Chapter 345- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (11)

Of course, if these elderly and weak family members were willing to be supported, their lives would naturally be much better. Mu Jin actually quite liked the simple atmosphere of the primitive society.

However, he soon thought of the bamboo. The presence of bamboo rats meant there must be bamboo groves nearby. Bamboo could be used to make many things. At least, in this Stone Age society, carrying water and food in bamboo tubes would be useful. Bamboo shoots were also edible.

Thinking of this, Mu Jin mentioned it to Wu Po. When Wu Po heard that bamboo shoots were also edible, he was pleased. However, he also told Mu Jin that the bamboo grove was far away. He promised to bring back bamboo for Mu Jin next time, but he wouldn’t allow him to go there himself.

Mu Jin didn’t insist and easily agreed. However, he was still looking forward to bamboo shoots and other things in his heart.

Today, Mu Jin had harvested many spices, and since Wu Po had already exchanged some salt from the tribe leader earlier, the bamboo rats roasted today tasted especially good.

While Mu Jin was walking through the forest, he had been eating plants and fruits that he had cultivated. By the time he returned, he was already full. However, he still ate most of a bamboo rat.

Wu Po finished the bamboo rat that Mu Jin had left and roasted another one. As for the remaining two, he thought he could save them for tomorrow to give to Mu Jin.

The weather was getting increasingly hot, and food wasn’t easy to store. In Wu Po’s opinion, rather than letting it spoil, it was better to eat it sooner. As for the food for the cold season, they could store it later.

Perhaps because he had heard Mu Jin’s intentions today, Wu Po was certain that Mu Jin was willing to be with him. So, that evening, he told Mu Jin that he wanted to wait until the warm season was fully upon them to hold a partner ceremony.

He hoped to become partners with Mu Jin under the witness of the gods.

Mu Jin was naturally happy to hear his lover’s words, immediately leaning over to kiss Wu Po’s face and nodding with joy. The look of anticipation on his face made the man’s mood even better.

After the conversation, the atmosphere between them became somewhat ambiguous. As the night grew late and quiet, the two of them held each other tightly.

Mu Jin had been waiting for Wu Po to do something more, since they were now a couple. They had kissed and embraced, so wasn’t it time for a deeper exchange of feelings?

However, after waiting for a while, the man only calmly held him and gave him a couple of kisses, seemingly preparing to sleep.

Mu Jin turned his head, surprised, looking at his lover’s handsome face under the moonlight. He wondered what was going on with Wu Po. This was a primitive society, and there weren’t so many formalities. Why wasn’t Wu Po making a move on him?

Was it because of his looks, the scent of his body, his sweet talk, or his skin not being smooth enough?

Mu Jin puffed his cheeks, feeling like his self-perception had taken a hit. Had this guy gotten bored after sleeping with so many worlds?

At that thought, Mu Jin felt struck by lightning.

Not wanting to hold it in any longer, he turned around, gave a little hum, and kissed Wu Po on the lips. But as soon as their lips met, Wu Po’s eyes opened, and before he knew it, Mu Jin found himself pinned to the animal skin bed, with the man kissing him back with much more force, leaving his lips swollen.

After being treated as a midnight snack, Mu Jin twitched his lips, only to feel the pain in his swollen lips when he tried to speak. Looking at Wu Po, whose eyes were glowing with desire, Mu Jin felt a mix of helplessness and frustration.

This didn’t look like boredom at all—it was clearly pent-up desire!

Wu Po sighed helplessly as he looked at his delicate and now slightly aggrieved little mate. He pulled Mu Jin tightly into his arms and, with a hoarse voice, said, “Don’t tease me. I don’t want to touch you before the ceremony. If you keep this up, I might really lose control.”

Hearing his lover’s words, Mu Jin suddenly remembered that the tribe did indeed have such a custom. It was said that two people in love should wait until after the mate ceremony to fully consummate their relationship, so the gods would bless their union and ensure they would never be separated.

Still, while the saying existed, few people actually followed it. Many didn’t even care about the mate ceremony and simply chose to live together directly.

But while others might not care, Wu Po clearly did. Hearing the man’s serious tone, Mu Jin didn’t dare to push his luck any further.

Still, inwardly, he grumbled about who had started this annoying tradition in the first place.

He didn’t know if this world truly had gods, but even if they did exist, Mu Jin was certain they couldn’t be more effective than himself. That said, he hadn’t expected his man to insist on this tradition so strongly. The feeling of being taken so seriously wasn’t bad at all.

Mu Jin let out a soft “Mm” in response to Wu Po’s words.

He could understand. Wu Po had spent so many years being labeled as cursed, and it must have been incredibly painful for him. It made sense that he would want their relationship to receive the gods’ blessing.

That night, Wu Po felt exceptionally happy. With Mu Jin’s guidance, he learned a lot and gained new knowledge.

Not only did he expand his understanding, but the two of them also enjoyed a midnight snack together, leaving them both completely satisfied. However, Wu Po felt a little overwhelmed by how demanding Mu Jin’s “teaching” was—it was almost exhausting. Plus, he had eaten way too much.

Wu Po was amazed at how Mu Jin seemed to know so much. When he asked about it, Mu Jin explained that while working closely with the priest in his original tribe, he had to dabble in all sorts of knowledge. Wu Po believed this explanation wholeheartedly.

Feeling affectionate, Wu Po massaged Mu Jin tenderly. Watching his little mate’s adorable sleeping face, he found himself even more excited about their upcoming mate ceremony.

The next morning, both of them woke up feeling refreshed. After breakfast, Wu Po prepared to head into the forest for hunting again. Before leaving, he made sure to remind Mu Jin not to venture into the forest alone.

The previous day had been such an emotional rollercoaster that Wu Po had forgotten to mention it. He had noticed that some of the plants Mu Jin brought back weren’t from the area around the tribe. Clearly, they could only be found deeper in the forest, and it was far too dangerous for Mu Jin to go there alone.

Wu Po reassured Mu Jin that if he ever wanted to explore or gather anything, he could let him know, and Wu Po would go with him.

However, Mu Jin decided not to trouble his lover unnecessarily. Besides, the tribe’s foraging team ventured into the forest almost daily, except in extreme weather conditions. So, Mu Jin told Wu Po that he would simply join the foraging team if he needed to gather anything.

Wu Po hesitated for a moment upon hearing this. Deep down, he didn’t like the idea of Mu Jin interacting too much with the people of the Pingshan tribe.

After all, Mu Jin was so wonderful. Wu Yan’s remarks from yesterday were still fresh in his mind, and he knew very well that Wu Yan coveted his mate. Thankfully, Mu Jin didn’t seem to like Wu Yan at all. But aside from Wu Yan, there were many other capable people in the tribe, and Wu Po worried that Mu Jin might take a liking to someone else.

Still, after last night—Mu Jin’s affectionate confessions and all their intimate moments—Wu Po felt much more confident about their relationship.

When Mu Jin pouted and acted coy, Wu Po’s resolve faltered, and he found himself reluctantly agreeing.

Thinking that he wouldn’t be able to keep an eye on Mu Jin at all times while hunting—since he needed to focus on catching more prey to provide a better life for Mu Jin—Wu Po reluctantly agreed to let Mu Jin join the foraging team.

In the tribe, the hunting and foraging teams regularly gathered at the village entrance at set times. Wu Po wasn’t allowed to join the hunting team and had to hunt alone. The foraging team, however, had fewer restrictions.

Even the elderly and weaker members of the tribe could participate, as long as the day’s activities didn’t involve venturing too deep into the forest. Anyone who showed up was typically allowed to join. Moreover, the hunting team would assign two members each day to oversee and protect the foraging group, ensuring their safety most of the time.

The foraging team mainly consisted of women, children, and elderly members. Although women were relatively rare in this world and were responsible for reproduction, survival in the primitive era wasn’t easy.

Even though women had less physical strength than men, most still had to contribute their labor. Only a handful of powerful warriors could hunt enough to feed two people entirely, and Wu Po happened to be one of them.

When Mu Jin unexpectedly joined the foraging team, many people looked at him with curiosity. While there weren’t many men in the foraging team, it wasn’t unheard of. Besides, Mu Jin’s slim and small frame made him seem unthreatening, so no one objected to him joining.

Soon after arriving, Mu Jin heard someone from the hunting team greeting him. He turned to see that it was Wu He waving at him.

Wu He was unusually enthusiastic upon seeing Mu Jin. Previously, it was Mu Jin who had told Wu Po about the medicinal use of the snake gallbladder, and later, Mu Jin also discovered a ginseng root and shared some of it with Wu He.

After Wu He’s grandmother consumed the snake gallbladder and ginseng, her condition noticeably improved, especially with the quick effects of the ginseng. Wu He was deeply grateful to Mu Jin and regarded him as a highly capable person.

Moreover, in Wu He’s eyes, Mu Jin was now Wu Po’s partner. When Wu Po shared some of his hunted game with Wu He, Mu Jin hadn’t objected. This was unusual, as most people, once they had partners, rarely continued providing for their family or friends.

For years, Wu He had relied on Wu Po’s support and felt guilty about it. However, because of his grandmother’s health, he had accepted it all. He resolved that someday, he would repay Wu Po for his kindness.

However, when Wu Po told him he had found a mate, Wu He no longer expected Wu Po to continue sharing anything with him. Yet, Wu Po treated him just as he always had, even mentioning that the ginseng was specifically set aside for him by Mu Jin. This touched Wu He deeply.

Now, Wu He believed that Mu Jin wasn’t just good-looking but also incredibly kind-hearted.

When Mu Jin saw Wu He, he smiled warmly at him. But as soon as he did, the other hunters in the team who were still without partners found themselves even more captivated by Mu Jin.

---

Chapter 344- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (10)

When they returned to their dwelling, Mu Jin noticed several bamboo rats lying on the ground, already hunted and killed. He realized that Wu Po must have finished hunting early and, upon not finding him at home, went out to look for him specifically.

Before Mu Jin could ask any questions, Wu Po carried him straight to their bed made of animal hides in the cave and held him tightly in his arms.

Wu Po buried his head quietly in the crook of Mu Jin’s neck, saying nothing, only taking deep breaths of Mu Jin’s scent.

Sensing his lover’s emotions, Mu Jin gently ran his fingers through Wu Po’s short hair, as though to comfort him. He didn’t say much but simply stayed in Wu Po’s embrace, holding him tenderly.

As it turned out, Mu Jin’s guess was right. Wu Po had searched everywhere around the tribe after discovering Mu Jin wasn’t home. Thus, he had seen the entire encounter between Mu Jin and Wu Yan.

When Wu Po first spotted Mu Jin, he had been overjoyed and was just about to call out to him. But then Wu Yan had suddenly appeared, spouting nonsense and even brazenly suggesting that Mu Jin should leave him and choose Wu Yan as his partner instead.

When Mu Jin asked Wu Yan whether he was suggesting she choose him, Wu Po felt his entire being consumed with fury. He wanted nothing more than to lunge forward and tear Wu Yan apart.

But in the next moment, Mu Jin openly praised Wu Po in front of everyone. Even when Wu Yan accused him of being cursed, Mu Jin stood firm and defended him, refuting their baseless claims.

When Mu Jin told the crowd that he had met people in his former tribe with different-colored eyes and even hair—some of them being shamans—Wu Po was deeply shocked.

For the first time, Wu Po began to question whether he truly was an “ill-fated” person, as the priest of the Pingshan tribe had claimed.

Over the years, even though Wu Po had never spoken about it and refused to believe the accusations, those words had weighed heavily on his heart like a mountain.

Deep inside, he had always been worried—worried that perhaps he really was cursed, that his father’s death might truly have been his fault. He even wondered if Mu Jin might someday suffer misfortune because of his supposed bad luck. This fear made him both long for Mu Jin and handle their relationship with extreme caution.

No matter how much he didn’t want to admit it, if it were ever proven that he brought harm to Mu Jin, Wu Po knew he would force himself to let go, no matter how painful it might be.

But today, Mu Jin stood before everyone and confidently declared that Wu Po was not cursed, that he was no different from anyone else.

It was the first time someone had openly defended him in front of others, and Wu Po felt an overwhelming urge to do something for Mu Jin. He had wanted to hold Mu Jin tightly in his arms right then and there—or perhaps do something else to release the storm of emotions surging within him.

However, the situation at the time didn’t allow it, so Wu Po had forced himself to suppress his feelings.

It wasn’t until Mu Jin neared their cave, with no one else around, that Wu Po finally rushed out and scooped him up into his arms.

The two of them embraced each other for a long time before Wu Po finally managed to calm the storm of emotions inside him.

He raised his head and gazed directly into Mu Jin’s eyes with an intensity and determination he had never shown before. In a soft voice, he asked, “Xiao Jin, you said you’ve seen people from other tribes with different eye colors, and they weren’t considered cursed. Is that true?”

Hearing this, Mu Jin immediately nodded.

From his partner’s question, Mu Jin quickly understood what had happened. It was clear that Wu Po already knew about the events that had transpired in the tribe earlier.

Mu Jin felt an immense sense of relief, knowing that he had stood up for Wu Po and defended him with reason. He believed that the words he had spoken would leave a lasting impression on the minds of the tribe members, and he was certain that Wu Po’s heart must feel lighter now.

In truth, Mu Jin hadn’t fabricated anything about what he said regarding other tribes. The Pingyuan Tribe, where he originally came from, was quite different from the Pingshan Tribe. The Pingyuan Tribe had once been a nomadic group, settling down only in recent generations.

Because of this history, the Pingyuan Tribe had a broader perspective, having interacted and traded with many other tribes in the past.

As the son of the tribe leader, the original Mu Jin had often accompanied his father, Mu Shan, on visits to various tribes, gaining considerable knowledge and exposure. It wasn’t uncommon for him to encounter individuals with features or appearances that were different from his own tribe’s norm. If Wu Po were part of the Pingyuan Tribe, he wouldn’t have been branded as cursed.

However, Mu Jin couldn’t help but wonder about the unique color of Wu Po’s eyes, which stood out so starkly compared to the rest of the Pingshan Tribe. After all, eye color typically had a strong genetic basis.

In this world, Wu Po’s light-colored eyes were even more striking than the rare shades Mu Jin had seen before. In direct sunlight, they glimmered faintly with hints of gold.

Earlier, while passing through the tribe, Mu Jin had casually glanced at Wu Po’s mother, Wu Chan. She was an attractive yet ordinary woman by Pingshan Tribe standards, with dark brown eyes. This only deepened Mu Jin’s curiosity about Wu Po’s father, whose identity now seemed somewhat mysterious.

After seeing Mu Jin’s affirmative nod, Wu Po tightened his embrace even more. At that moment, he finally felt that he could be completely at ease with Mu Jin.

Although Wu Po and Mu Jin had spent a short time together, in Wu Po’s heart, Mu Jin was incredibly capable. Moreover, Mu Jin had so much knowledge, and he had always been by the side of the priest in his previous tribe.

Someone like him, with such wisdom, spoke in a way that was convincing.

As Wu Po thought about how he was never really a cursed person, but had suffered so many injustices over the years, he couldn’t help but feel a bit of sorrow. However, more than that, he felt happiness.

Without the curse hanging over him, Wu Po felt strong. Stronger than anyone in the Pingshan Tribe. With this strength, he believed he was worthy of Mu Jin, and he could take good care of his little partner.

Mu Jin sensed that Wu Po had finally calmed down, so he patted his shoulder, lifted his head, and kissed his man before standing up. He then walked to the cave entrance and brought in the plants he had collected earlier.

Today, Mu Jin had indeed gathered a lot. He first handed over the small fruits he had carefully cultivated to Wu Po, before turning to check on the vegetables he had picked.

Wu Po smiled as he held the branch laden with yellow fruits. Though the taste of the fruit wasn’t great, Mu Jin had put thought and effort into it, and that made Wu Po very happy.

He picked up a fruit and popped it into his mouth, thinking to himself that since Mu Jin didn’t like the taste of this fruit, he would just eat them all himself. However, after eating one, Wu Po showed a somewhat surprised expression on his face.

Because this fruit had none of the sour and astringent taste he remembered; instead, it was very sweet, something he had never tasted before.

When he looked at Mu Jin, he saw Mu Jin smiling proudly at him, grinning as he said, “So, how does it taste? Not bad, right? I specially found these for you.”

Upon hearing Mu Jin’s words, Wu Po immediately realized that his little partner had known all along that the fruit was sweet. He didn’t know how Mu Jin had figured out the taste, but he was certain that this type of fruit, which was so sweet, must be very rare.

Wu Po felt moved, and he quickly picked another one and put it into Mu Jin’s mouth.

Mu Jin happily chewed on the fruit while organizing the large bundle of plants he had brought back today. Some of the plants could be used as regular vegetables, while others were herbs for seasoning.

After sorting the plants, Mu Jin gathered all the medicinal herbs together and presented them to Wu Po like a treasure. He said, “This is a herb that the priest from my old tribe mentioned to me. It’s great for quickly treating wounds.”

“You can carry some with you in the future. If you get injured while hunting, you can use it right away. It will stop the bleeding immediately, and it’s much more effective than the herbs you’ve been using.”

After giving Wu Po the herbs, Mu Jin went on to ramble about today’s harvest. Wu Po looked at his little partner with soft eyes, watching him proudly boast about his accomplishments. He truly felt that there was no one more adorable than Mu Jin in the world.

How fortunate he was to find such a devoted partner. Wu Po thought that perhaps all the good luck in his life had been used up just by meeting Mu Jin, and he felt it was all worth it.

After showing off the spoils of the day to his man, Mu Jin began helping Wu Po process the bamboo rats. The rats were already killed, skinned, and had their internal organs removed.

Wu Po had good luck today. At first, he hadn’t encountered any suitable prey after circling around the forest. Later, he remembered a bamboo grove on the edge of the forest, so he decided to take a chance there.

He thought the bamboo rats might have a good taste and perhaps Mu Jin would like them, so he rushed over and managed to catch quite a few. In fact, he came back much earlier than usual today.

Wu Po had caught eight bamboo rats in total, but he had given three to the tribe and one to Wu He, so he only brought back four rats. But that was more than enough for him and Mu Jin to have a satisfying meal.

Mu Jin, listening to Wu Po talk about the hunting, also understood that he had given some of the prey to the tribe. It was customary for the strong hunters in the tribe to contribute regularly. Mu Jin didn’t see any problem with that.

After all, the meat and food contributed to the tribe were shared by all. This way, even the elderly, weak, and injured members of the tribe would have food to eat. Even though it was difficult to get enough to eat during lean seasons, the tribe was clearly content with this system.

---

Chapter 343- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (09)

Mu Jin, carrying the bundle of plants on his back, thought to himself that crafting a basket might make future foraging much easier. With this in mind, he used his dagger to cut some soft vines he found along the way, planning to weave a basket later. After gathering what he needed, he made his way quickly toward the Pingshan Tribe.

Using his spiritual sense as a guide, Mu Jin easily determined that the paths within the tribe were smoother than those on the outskirts. He also realized that taking a shortcut through the center of the village would be quicker, so he unhesitatingly changed his route to head directly to Wu Po’s home.

What he didn’t anticipate was the attention he would draw as he passed through the village. His clean and neat appearance, fair complexion, and delicate, attractive features were a rarity in such a rugged environment.

Many of the bachelors in the Pingshan Tribe couldn’t help but stare openly. Those unfamiliar with Mu Jin began asking around about his identity, curious to know who this strikingly beautiful individual was and, more importantly, whether he had a partner.

When they learned that Mu Jin had been rescued by Wu Po and was already considered Wu Po’s future mate, their reactions were mixed.

Some disapproved, believing that someone as cursed and unlucky as Wu Po was unworthy of such a fine partner. Others were genuinely concerned for Mu Jin, worried that his association with Wu Po would bring him misfortune. The rumors about Wu Po being a harbinger of bad luck persisted, and many feared that Mu Jin might meet a tragic end by staying with him.

Even so, most people refrained from acting on their opinions. Wu Po’s reputation for bad luck, coupled with his formidable strength, made them reluctant to provoke him.

However, a small number of people didn’t care about Wu Po’s reputation and instead harbored ulterior motives toward Mu Jin. Wu Yan was one such individual.

From a distance, Wu Yan watched Mu Jin approach. Though Mu Jin was carrying a bundle of plants from foraging, he still looked poised and graceful, with no trace of weariness. The light-colored animal hide Mu Jin wore that day further complemented his fair complexion.

Unlike the usual disheveled hairstyles of the tribe members, Mu Jin’s hair was neatly tied back with a sturdy, flexible vine, adding to his refined appearance.

Previously, Mu Jin had selected a suitable piece of animal hide from Wu Po’s cave and crafted a light-colored hide skirt for himself. The garment he had been wearing before, which originally belonged to the body’s previous owner, was tattered and worn after spending so much time in the forest.

Before heading out that morning, Mu Jin had tied his hair up neatly at the back of his head, giving him a refreshed and energetic appearance. Coupled with his fair and charming features, he naturally attracted a lot of attention.

At least to Wu Yan, Mu Jin seemed even more dazzling today compared to their last encounter. Wu Yan couldn’t help but feel that someone with Mu Jin’s appearance being paired with Wu Po was a complete waste.

In Wu Yan’s opinion, someone like Wu Po should live a lonely life, never dragging anyone else down with him. He convinced himself that Mu Jin had likely agreed to be with Wu Po only because he didn’t know about Wu Po’s reputation as a bringer of misfortune.

Previously, Wu Yan had complained to the tribe leader about this situation, and the leader had suggested that Mu Jin might come from a small, isolated tribe, where people were unaware of the ill omen represented by Wu Po’s eye color.

However, the tribe leader had no intention of stirring up trouble, so he chose not to inform Mu Jin of these beliefs. After all, the leader viewed Mu Jin as an outsider, despite his relationship with Wu Po.

But Wu Yan wasn’t as willing to let things slide. He saw every opportunity to undermine Wu Po as worth pursuing. Moreover, he knew his chances of finding a wife were slim given his circumstances. If he were to settle for a male partner, who wouldn’t want someone as beautiful as Mu Jin?

Mu Jin, with his radiant appearance that surpassed even the women in the tribe, was a rare sight. Resolving not to let the opportunity slip, Wu Yan immediately stepped forward to block Mu Jin’s path, addressing him directly.

“I believe your name is Mu Jin, right?”

Hearing Wu Yan’s words, Mu Jin raised an eyebrow. He clearly remembered this man as someone who harbored malice toward his beloved.

Later, through conversations with Wu He, Mu Jin had a rough understanding of the animosity between Wu Yan and Wu Po. With someone like Wu Yan suddenly approaching him, Mu Jin doubted it was for a friendly chat.

Sure enough, after Mu Jin stopped and faced him, Wu Yan flashed what he probably thought was a charming smile and said, “Being with Wu Po isn’t a good choice.”

“Since the tribe leader has said you’re now part of the Pingshan Tribe, you can choose a partner from among our people instead.”

Hearing Wu Yan’s words, Mu Jin immediately saw through his intentions. A flash of disdain crossed his eyes, and he replied with a light laugh, “Then who should I choose? Should I pick you instead of him?”

Completely missing the sarcasm in Mu Jin’s tone, Wu Yan lit up with excitement. Puffing out his chest, he eagerly declared, “Of course! You have good taste. I, Wu Yan, am a member of the hunting team and very capable—much better than Wu Po. I’ll allow you to leave Wu Po and be with me right now.”

At Wu Yan’s arrogant and ridiculous words, Mu Jin’s smile vanished, replaced by a frosty expression. In a cold tone, he retorted, “And why would I do that? Why would I choose someone who’s inferior to Wu Po in every way?”

“You’re shorter, less handsome, weaker, and lacking in every aspect compared to him. Why would I abandon a tiger for a stray mutt?”

After finishing, Mu Jin swept his gaze over Wu Yan’s face, his expression full of disdain as he added, “And an especially ugly stray mutt at that.”

Wu Yan was utterly unprepared for Mu Jin’s sharp remarks. It was bad enough that he was compared unfavorably to Wu Po, but calling Wu Po a tiger while reducing himself to a stray dog—an ugly one no less—was too much. His face flushed with rage, and he became completely unhinged.

Unable to hold back, Wu Yan shouted furiously, “You dare reject me? You’ll regret this! Do you even know? That Wu Po is a harbinger of misfortune!”

“When he was born, his eyes had light-colored pupils, and the tribe’s priest declared him unlucky. At first, his parents didn’t believe it, but shortly after, Wu Po’s father died during a hunt.”

“People like him bring misfortune to those around them. If you stay with him, you’ll be tainted by his bad luck, and who knows how you’ll end up dying.”

Mu Jin stared at Wu Yan, who was smugly recounting his story. He hadn’t planned to waste more time on him, but noticing the curious gazes of the Pingshan tribespeople gathered around, he decided to pause and address the situation.

With an expressionless face, Mu Jin asked Wu Yan, “And what makes you so sure he’s unlucky?”

“Why wouldn’t I be sure? The priest said it himself—his eyes are a different color from ours!” Wu Yan, clearly displeased by the challenge, shot Mu Jin a dissatisfied look.

Understanding the high status of priests in the tribe, Mu Jin didn’t outright challenge their authority. Instead, he asked, “So, you’re saying he’s unlucky simply because his eyes are a different color?”

Seeing Wu Yan and the others nod, Mu Jin firmly refuted, “That makes no sense. I’ve traveled to many places and encountered people from different tribes.”

“I’ve seen countless people with eye colors different from those in our tribe. In fact, I’ve even come across a tribe where the majority of people had eyes and hair in entirely different shades from ours, and their priest also had light-colored eyes. Yet, they all lived well and prosperously. Does that mean their priest was unlucky too?”

“Impossible!”

Wu Yan froze, momentarily stunned by Mu Jin’s confident rebuttal. He couldn’t believe that Mu Jin would dare to involve priests in his argument, and yet, Mu Jin’s assertion seemed too bold to be a lie. Struggling to defend himself, Wu Yan retorted, “But Wu Po caused his father’s death. That proves he brings bad luck to everyone around him!”

The people around Wu Yan nodded in agreement with his rebuttal, supporting his argument.

Mu Jin, displeased with the scene before him, frowned and thought to himself that while the people in this primitive tribe were simple, their ignorance was exasperating. With a furrowed brow, he asked Wu Yan, “Then let me ask you—how did Wu Po’s father die?”

“Of course, he died from injuries sustained during a hunt,” Wu Yan replied.

“In that case, has there never been anyone in the tribe’s hunting party who got injured or even died while hunting?”

Mu Jin’s question caught Wu Yan off guard, and he couldn’t come up with a response right away. Hunting in the wild was inherently dangerous, so accidents or fatalities among the hunting team were, unfortunately, not uncommon.

Still, Wu Yan wasn’t willing to back down and tried to argue, forcing himself to stay calm. “But if Wu Po wasn’t around, why would his father have died? Why didn’t it happen to someone else’s father instead?”

“So, according to your logic, if someone’s family member has an accident, it means that person is unlucky. Does that mean everyone in the tribe who has lost a family member is also unlucky?”

Mu Jin’s question left Wu Yan speechless, unable to find a retort.

Let alone those who died hunting—even during the cold season, many starved or froze to death. If every person with a misfortune in their family was considered unlucky, there would simply be too many to count.

The others in the Pingshan Tribe also fell silent, momentarily at a loss for words. Even those who had always firmly believed in Wu Po’s supposed misfortune began to waver after hearing Mu Jin’s words.

Seeing the reactions of those around him, Mu Jin felt somewhat satisfied. He didn’t want to waste more time arguing with Wu Yan, so he seized the opportunity to turn and leave while Wu Yan was still processing his thoughts.

However, as Mu Jin approached a secluded area near the cave where he and Wu Po lived, someone suddenly appeared from behind and scooped him up by the waist.

Startled, Mu Jin let out a cry, causing the bundle of plants he had been carrying to fall to the ground. When he turned his head and saw that it was Wu Po, he let out a sigh of relief and instinctively wrapped his arms around the man’s neck.

Wu Po’s expression was exceptionally serious. His lips were pressed into a tight line, and his jaw was set firmly. Without saying a word, he bent slightly to pick up the fallen plants and carried Mu Jin all the way back to their dwelling.

---