The Survival of the Wild Tribe

Chapter 10

Luo Zhen grinned at the figure in the water, noticing that the fuzzy reflection mimicked his every move.

The figure's wet hair clung to its face, revealing a shallow crescent scar on its smooth forehead, partially hidden by the bangs. The scar, near the hairline, might go unnoticed if not carefully examined.

Though just a reflection, the facial features were discernible. Yet, no matter how long Luo Zhen stared, subtle differences between the familiar features and his memory persisted, like the scar on the forehead or the softer facial features compared to his own. This body wasn't his, at least not the one he had when he crossed over. Luo Zhen was certain.

"Aren't you coming out?" Lu Zhan, having dried off and put his animal skins back on, noticed Luo Zhen still standing in the water, lost in thought.

Lu Zhan hadn't gone hunting that day, only eating fruit in the morning. Now, hungry after spending most of the day soaking in the water, he considered catching fish at the big river. However, worried about Luo Zhen staying alone by the shore, he hesitated. Besides, Lu Zhan didn't fancy the fish much, finding them too bony and fishy.

Returning to reality, Luo Zhen felt a pang of disappointment. Though he confirmed his crossover, he couldn't change the fact that he inhabited this unfamiliar body. At least its appearance was similar to his own, offering some comfort.

The cleaned animal skins, still damp, felt heavy. Lu Zhan took them, leading Luo Zhen back to the tribe.

"Roar."

"Yeah."

A sudden impact from the small pool behind them startled the duo. Lu Zhan swiftly pushed Luo Zhen to the ground as a massive shadow loomed overhead, generating a powerful gust of wind.

"Human-faced bird," Lu Zhan whispered urgently to Luo Zhen.

Luo Zhen didn't understand the reference, but Lu Zhan had no time to explain. His brow furrowed; it wasn't the season for human-faced birds to be active, raising questions about its presence here.

Without delay, Lu Zhan discarded his animal skin jacket, covering Luo Zhen's mouth to prevent him from screaming and attracting the bird's attention. Then, crouching low, they retreated under the cover of the surrounding tall weeds. Lu Zhan didn't want Luo Zhen to become prey for the human-faced bird.

"Roar." The pool wasn't deep, and the giant beast that had fallen into it struggled to get out, lunging at the human-faced bird in the air. The bird flapped its wings, creating a whirlwind that sent the beast crashing back to the ground, landing in front of Luo Zhen and Lu Zhan.

"Hehehehe." The human-faced bird's sinister laughter filled the air. It noticed the duo hiding in the grass but seemed more interested in its fallen prey than pursuing them. Without transforming, they stood little chance against the bird.

Luo Zhen finally caught sight of the fallen beast: a massive golden-brown lion, its fur matted with blood from scratches inflicted by the bird. Though marked by a unique pattern on its forehead, distinguishing it from ordinary lions, Luo Zhen couldn't discern the difference between an orc and an ordinary beast, even after witnessing the Black Panther tribe's transformations.

Lu Zhan, however, recognized the lion's identity immediately. Pointing toward the tribe, he shouted, "Run toward the tribe; it's safer there."

At Lu Zhan's urging, the lion, not eager for a fight, rose and dashed in the direction Lu Zhan indicated. The bird hesitated, torn between pursuing its wounded prey and targeting the duo. Ultimately, it chose the latter.

Lu Zhan shielded Luo Zhen, his gaze fixed on the bird, muscles tense. With the bird's attention on them, Lu Zhan knew they had to keep moving. He transformed, his agility increased by his orc abilities. Urging Luo Zhen to flee to the tribe, he warned him of the bird's reluctance to enter orc territory alone.

"Hehehe." The human-faced bird, sensing Lu Zhan's strength, taunted him from above, confident in its superiority.

Luo Zhen knew he couldn't hinder Lu Zhan. Recognizing his abilities, he quickly rose and ran toward the tribe. As he fled, he heard the clash behind him, the sounds of Lu Zhan and the bird locked in combat.

Despite his efforts, Luo Zhen couldn't match the orcs' speed. Midway, he noticed several black figures approaching from the tribe—a dozen massive black panthers led by the giant lion that had escaped earlier.

Having spotted Luo Zhen earlier, the leader transformed into human form upon reaching him. "Return to the tribe and stay there. We'll rescue Azhan," he instructed before transforming back into a panther and racing ahead.

Gasping for breath, Luo Zhen dared not linger and continued his sprint toward the tribe.

Behind him, the piercing cries of the human-faced bird and the roars of wild beasts reverberated. With the panthers' aid, Lu Zhan should be safe, right?