Fang Xin detested two kinds of people.
One kind was those who liked to show off.
The other kind was those who wouldn't let Fang Xin show off.
Fang Xin originally just wanted to be a quiet, handsome man.
But Situ Shenshu insisted on elevating Fang Xin so high.
Fang Xin had no choice but to calmly put on a show.
Seeing Hu Jinbao's dumbfounded and petrified expression, Fang Xin smiled simply.
Lord Tiger Mountain also quickly bowed and saluted, "Lord Tiger Mountain greets the Venerable!"
Hu Jinbao, being a clever and quick-witted fox, shivered and quickly said, "Hu Jinbao greets the Venerable!"
Fang Xin grinned, feeling pleased.
Then he steered the conversation back to his main purpose for being here.
"You just said that the Qilin who came in many years ago became your Old Leader?"
Hu Jinbao dared not speak rashly, turning his head to look at Lord Tiger Mountain. After a moment of thought, Lord Tiger Mountain replied, "To answer the Venerable, I cannot say much about the matters of Water Moon Grotto Heaven. However, with your status, I can lead you inside. If you wish to ask anything, you can certainly inquire with the current tribal leader!"
"Lead the way!"
Hu Jinbao quickly sprang up from the ground, bending at the waist and raising his arm in a gesture of invitation, "This way, Venerable!"
Fang Xin kicked Hu Jinbao, scolding him with a laugh, "Your little face has two tricks up its sleeve!"
Hu Jinbao didn't mind at all, patting his backside and fawning shamelessly, "It was I who failed to recognize Mount Tai, unaware of the true god before my eyes. You are a magnanimous person; please just let me off like a fart!"
As he said this, Hu Jinbao couldn't help but feel uneasy. He had put on a show of a fox borrowing a tiger's might for Fang Xin, but he didn't expect Fang Xin to turn around and give him a 'fox borrowing a tiger's might plus' version.
Fang Xin no longer pursued the matter; at this moment, his mind was preoccupied with how to sign a contract with the Qilin.
If such a terrifying existence could be contracted, it would be a great help for his future.
Lord Tiger Mountain and Hu Jinbao led the way.
There were many figures in the tribe.
It had clearly formed a small social system.
All fierce beasts that had awakened their intelligence were here.
Within the tribe, there were markets, concentrated residential areas, and even government offices. What was most surprising was that there was even farming.
At the entrance of the main road into the tribe, an old goat sat, holding a pipe, dressed in a Tang suit, and smoking.
The sight, at first glance, was somewhat like the abstract images generated when AI first appeared hundreds of years ago.
The old goat's front hooves were stroking his beard.
Seeing an outsider had come to the tribe, the old goat immediately straightened up, glaring at Fang Xin with narrowed eyes, his vigilance at its peak.
"Lord Tiger Mountain, surely you know the rules of Water Moon Grotto Heaven?" the old goat inquired.
Lord Tiger Mountain stepped forward and whispered, "Grandpa Goat, that terrifying existence suppressed by the Buddha has emerged and is following this young man!"
Situ Shenshu's aura was also released at just the right moment.
The old goat immediately fumbled with his pipe, clattering it, and quickly stood up, respectfully saying, "Welcome, esteemed sir, to your arrival!"
Lord Tiger Mountain spoke again, "Grandpa Goat, the Venerable wants to know about the Old Leader, so... he wishes to meet our leader. What do you think?"
"Certainly! This way, please!"
The old goat quickly raised his front hooves in a gesture of invitation and led the way.
Passing through the main road of the tribe, many intelligent fierce beasts and spirit beasts on both sides looked over.
These fierce beasts didn't appear so brutal and savage; their eyes seemed quite clear. There were also many fierce beasts in the tribe that Fang Xin had never seen before. A winged unicorn was performing acrobatics, a large lizard with one body and two heads was working as a tailor, a snake with one head and two bodies was hawking fruit, a red deer with very sharp antlers that could turn invisible was teaching students, and a giraffe whose neck could stretch and retract at will was dyeing the hair of a golden lion. A silver crocodile, wearing an apron, was selling handbags. The most surprising thing was seeing a six-horned sheep, smoking a cigarette, grilling lamb skewers.
Don't even mention it, seriously, don't even mention it.
It smelled quite delicious.
Fang Xin walked through the main road, his eyes wide as he looked at the fierce beasts in this tribe. Today was truly an eye-opener. These fierce beasts and spirit beasts were all looking at Fang Xin, each one discussing and asking who this outsider was and why he had come here.
He noticed from the corner of his eye that quite a few people seemed to have great hostility towards Fang Xin, this outsider. It seemed that previous outsiders who had intruded here had not left a good impression on these natives.
Several half-human-height rats, lined up and wearing armor, carrying long spears, ran towards them. Behind them followed a Turtle. The Turtle stepped forward, nodded to the old goat, and then said to Fang Xin, "Venerable! The leader requests your presence!"
Led by the Turtle, Fang Xin walked towards a large tent in the very center of the tribe.
The tent flap was lifted, and the Turtle raised his front paw, "Venerable, please!"
Several rat guards stood on either side of the large tent's entrance, heads held high, looking quite formidable.
Fang Xin looked inside the large tent. Thick fur carpets covered the ground. A deer head hung directly opposite the tent entrance, and a tortoiseshell hung on the side. Many books were piled around, and the bookshelves were filled with various ancient texts.
On the main seat of the large tent, directly facing the entrance, there was also a long table. The table was piled with many ancient texts, as well as paper, quill pens, and ink. The rustling sound of a pen scratching across paper could be heard from within.
"Leader, the Venerable has arrived!" the Turtle announced.
The books on the table shifted a few times.
Immediately after, a plump and adorable Little Hamster stood on a pile of books, wearing a perfectly fitted pair of small glasses and a tailored small suit, his front paws placed diagonally across his chest as he bowed.
"Welcome, Venerable!"
Fang Xin was stunned for several seconds after seeing this scene.
Who would have thought that in this place full of giant fierce beasts, the tribal leader would actually be a very cute Little Hamster?
Fang Xin noticed from the corner of his eye that the Turtle looked at the Little Hamster with great respect. It seemed this Little Hamster really was the leader; indeed, one should not judge a beast by its appearance.
"Venerable, please be seated!" the Little Hamster raised his front paws and gestured.
The Turtle raised his hand, indicating for Fang Xin to sit in the main seat, and then, very courteously, went to brew tea.
The Little Hamster hopped down from the pile of books. A quill pen was still on the tabletop, and there were reading notes written by the Little Hamster on the paper. The ink on the paper was still wet, and the handwriting was strong and vigorous, showing a great master's style.
A book, "The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon," stood upright beside it. The Little Hamster hugged the quill pen and dipped it into the ink bottle.
On the tabletop, there was also a small table and a small chair, perfectly sized for the Little Hamster's body.
The Little Hamster wiggled his plump body and sat down on the small chair.
From Fang Xin's perspective, it was quite adorable, making one want to give him a good squeeze.
The Little Hamster adjusted his glasses and said.