The nine beastmen were basically the beast but now they were standing with their humanoid bodies. The deer had iron skin, the coyote had iron teeth and claws, and the lizard had iron spikes, an iron tail, and also an iron horn.
Tang Shaoyang cast [Basic Detection] on the coyote who spoke to him.
—————————
[Beastmen - Coyoman]
Affiliation: Iron Tribe - Orin Forest
Class: Combatant
Evolution: Stage-5
Level: 143
Skill:???
—————————
'Stronger than the beast but still weaker compared to Grand Royal Knight and also Templar Knight,' he concluded after seeing Coyoman status screen.
'Nah, this is a good spot to level up, but…' Tang Shaoyang looked back at the two girls. The fact that Liang Suyin could survive this long against the nine beastmen was a surprise to him.
The nine beastmen could be good prey to level up bi second class, but he could not be careless with two of them injured. For the first time, Tang Shaoyang decided to retreat instead of taking the battle.
He was prioritizing Liang Suyin and Arina's safety. Ignoring the beastmen, he carried the injured Liang Suyin, "Let's leave," Arina nodded while following Tang Shaoyang's lead.
For some reason, the beastmen did not chase after them. They just let Tang Shaoyang and the two girls leave.
"Hahaha… Fortunately, he decided to leave or you guys may lose your lives for sure," from behind the tree, a beastmen with a big frame came out. The beastmen had a lion and also a thick crimson mane that covered his neck to the chest. Its height reached almost three meters, and his arms were almost as thick as a human's frame.
"Lion-head of Crimson Tribe, what are you doing in our territory? You are breaking the rule of the Orin, trespassing into our territory without our consent!" One Coyoman yelled at the lion beastmen.
"Kuhuhu… Are you still thinking about the rule? Do you forget what time it is now?" The lion beastmen stepped forward and approached Coyoman, "Also stop calling me lion-head you lowly Iron Tribe!"
All nine beastmen were on alert as they positioned themselves to fight the lion beastmen. However, the lion beastmen ignored the nine beastmen from the Iron Tribe, his crimson eyes gazing through toward where Tang Shaoyang left.
"Is he the man that old man chose?" The lion beastmen asked. The question was of course not directed toward the nine beastmen from the Iron Tribe.
From the sky, a light green streak landed next to the lion beastmen. It was another beastmen with an eagle head, light green wings which also his hand, and red feather tail.
"Yes! I am tasked to keep watch on him. From your nature, I know you want to test him out, but I advise you not to!" A clear male and cordial voice escaped from the beak.
"Huh!? Why? Are you afraid that I will kill him?" The lion beastmen grinned at the eagle beastmen.
"I don't know," The eagle shook his head.
"What do you mean you don't know? You have been watching him for days, and you also know my power, you should be able to see who's stronger, tell me!" The lion beastmen pestered the eagle to speak.
"I do know your limit, but I don't know his limit. He has been fighting against the human adventurers and knights, but all of them did not manage to force him to his limit, so I don't know who's stronger between you two," the eagle beastmen gave his honest analysis about Tang Shaoyang.
"So, I don't know who is stronger between you two, if you two fight, the result should be either you die or he dies. That is the worst scenario for me who is tasked to watch him, so better you don't fight him unless it is an order from The King!"
After saying that, the eagle beastmen flapped his wings hard and flew to the sky, "Also, the reason he retreated just now is because of you! He should be able to detect you, so he retreated with his injured companion!" That was the last echo of the eagle beastmen.
"Tsk, that only makes me want to fight him even more," the lion beastmen shook his head and turned around.
"If you heard what the bird said, you should escape from your territory, or you will die!" He warned the Iron Tribe, "Also, I come to remind you about the Grand Assembly if you don't come again in five days, the tribes from the core region will hunt your tribe. That's all, I have warned you guys."
The lion beastmen nonchalantly waved his hand as he returned to the core region.
*** ***
Just like the eagle beastmen predicted, Tang Shaoyang spotted the lion beastmen with his [Spirit Eyes] hiding behind the nine beastmen. That was the main reason he did not start the fight.
Liang Suyin had her head buried into Tang Shaoyang's chest. She said no words on their way back to the village.
"You don't need to feel guilty for Delia's death, she has returned and is fine now," he tried to comfort the girl, but his words were too direct. It just opened the wound in Suyin's heart even more, causing the girl to get more self-conscious with her guilt.
"B-but that does not change the fact that she died because of me," Liang Suyin's trembling voice resounded, "A-and… And today I almost caused Arina to die too, I am so useless, so weak…"
"If you say it like that, I am at fault, you know," his voice was gentle, "As a man, it's my job to protect my women, but because of my recklessness, I almost lost one of you, now I almost you and Arina."
"That's not your fault–" Liang Suyin tried to speak but Tang Shaoyang cut her in midway, "No, that was my fault. If I protected Delia well, then she would not die and you would not suffer from guilt like this as well," Tang Shaoyang's words silenced Liang Suyin.
"You have to move forward, I am not asking to forget the guilt. But remember that feeling and move forward, make sure you don't repeat it," he stopped running, walking slowly in the bamboo forest, "You are on the right track, getting stronger is one way so the same thing will not be repeated."
"But your way to get stronger is wrong, you are too reckless. You keep pushing yourself over your limit over and over, it's just a matter of time until you die. If that happens, what do you think will happen to Delia? She will suffer the same guilt just as you now, and the same chain reaction is formed. Delia that you want to protect will die from guilt as well, thinking she is the cause of your death,"
On the side, Arina was wondering if the man was lecturing or comforting Suyin. However, she could not deny his words, that was true. But he was too direct with his words.
"First, you have to take a step by step to get stronger. It is not something like instant ramen that you can get stronger by a few minutes of hunting. Second, cherish your time with her while she's still alive. Making her happy so she won't have a regret in her life. I guess that is more meaningful than being stronger to protect her because you have me to protect both of you two."