Chapter 508: Chapter 381: Punishment

In the following days, Luna Sutton selected a few skillful females from the tribe: Saffron Vance, Belle Summers, Maya Miller, and two others called Petra and Flora.

She called these females to the east wing of her yard, preparing to teach them weaving.

When spring comes next year, The Insect Tribe will definitely transport a large amount of silk for trade; it’s impossible for her to weave all that silk alone.

This is considered an early learning opportunity for everyone.

Originally, she didn’t want to call Maya; though Maya was quite skillful, her previous behavior had caused some discomfort for Luna.

But considering Maya had mended her ways and hadn’t caused any trouble recently, Luna decided to give her a chance and called her over.

Five females crowded into the east wing, along with Luna, making the originally spacious area seem a bit cramped.

There was only one loom, standing alone in the center.

Saffron Vance, Belle Summers, Petra, and Flora all curiously observed the strange wooden contraption.

Only Maya glanced at Luna with a complicated expression before quickly lowering her head, her fingers nervously twisting the beast skin skirt.

She hadn’t expected Luna would call her over, let alone be willing to teach her weaving.

“Look, this is it.”

Luna patted the loom, “Next year, The Insect Tribe will send more silk, and I couldn’t finish weaving it all even if I wore myself out. Today, I’ve called you here to teach you how to use this thing to turn silk threads into fabric.”

She briefly introduced the structure of the loom—warp, weft, shuttle, and beater.

The females listened in confusion, only feeling that the intertwining rods and silk threads dazzled their eyes.

“Watch carefully, the key is here.” Luna sat down at the loom, picked up the shuttle, “Your wrist must be light, the force gentle, like this…”

She explained as she demonstrated.

Her slender fingers deftly maneuvered the shuttle through the dense warp threads, her movements fluid and graceful, a pleasure to watch.

Before long, a small length of white, smooth fabric slowly emerged under her hands.

“Wow, Cynthia, you’re amazing, turning these fine and soft silk threads into fabric; is there anything in the world you don’t know?”

Saffron Vance, eyes shining, couldn’t help but praise as she stared at the snow-white silk fabric being woven.

She reached out and touched it, finding it soft, delicate, and smooth to the touch.

It’s easy to imagine how comfortable it would be to wear clothes made of this silk fabric.

“It looks pretty simple, doesn’t it?”

Petra’s expression was bright, eager to try.

Luna smiled and stood up at her words: “It looks simple, but it’s not easy to get started. Come, take turns trying it.”

Saffron Vance went first.

She was steady by nature and the most attentive learner.

Although her movements were clumsy and slow, and the shuttle almost got stuck several times, she managed to weave a few passes, albeit awkwardly.

Next were Petra and Flora; both were a bit flustered, threads often tangling, tying into knots, causing sweat to break out on their foreheads, the urgency only further muddling their hands.

Luna patiently guided them, helping them smooth out the tangled silk threads.

Belle Summers was clever and quick to catch on, her movements becoming increasingly proficient.

Finally, it was Maya’s turn; she seemed nervous, her hands trembling, nearly dropping the shuttle several times.

Noticing Maya’s discomfort, Luna offered a gentle smile, “Don’t be nervous, it’s normal when you first start learning. With practice, you’ll get better.”

Maya looked at her and exhaled lightly.

Known for her skillfulness in the tribe, Maya was once adept at working with hides and sewing beast skin clothing; she realized she was indeed a bit tense, affecting her performance.

In her mind, imagining how Luna moved, Maya’s wrist moved lightly, and the shuttle surprisingly went through steadily.

“I actually did it.”

Maya was delighted, her expression joyful.

Luna wasn’t surprised, nodding, “Not bad, your hands are quite steady. Remember this feeling, use even lighter force.”

No longer as nervous, Maya quickly got the hang of it, her movements becoming increasingly smooth, soon weaving a small piece of silk fabric.

“Cynthia…”

She abruptly stopped, her voice somewhat choked, “Thank you for being willing to teach me.”

Luna waved her hand, “Thank your own skill really.”

With that, she had the five of them take turns practicing.

She stepped out of the east wing and went directly to the upstairs room to find Zeke Veridian.

In her backpack was a blueprint of an ancient loom rewarded by the system, which she intended for Zeke to build a few looms from.

Among the Beast Husbands, Zeke was the most skillful; all the furniture at their home was crafted by him according to her blueprints.

When she reached the second floor, she found that Zeke wasn’t practicing in his room at all, and she was momentarily stunned.

She looked at the rooms next door and found that Soren and Malachi were also absent, all missing without a trace.

“System, where have they all gone? Why haven’t I seen a single one?”

She asked the system in her heart, puzzled.

The system lazily replied, “They’re all practicing spells in the back mountain. The forest there is being blasted into a beehive, causing the tribe’s beastmen to think it’s an enemy attack.”

Upon hearing this, Luna Sutton’s mouth twitched.

She hadn’t expected these men to be so diligent that even practicing spells could cause such a commotion.

Forget it, since they are all training, she decided not to disturb them.

Turning around, she went downstairs, intending to find Lyle Sutton to have him arrange for some carpenters to build a few weaving machines based on the blueprints.

Although The Wolf Tribe did not have specialized carpenters, every household made their own furniture, so finding some beastmen with decent woodworking skills was not difficult.

She directly went to Lyle Sutton and handed him the “Ancient Weaving Machine Blueprint”, “Father, can you find a few beastmen with good skills to make some weaving machines according to these blueprints?”

Lyle Sutton took the blueprint with some confusion, and upon opening it, he was momentarily stunned, “This is…”

“These are the blueprints for a weaving machine.”

Luna Sutton explained, “With this, the females in the tribe can weave cloth. Silk cloth is soft and breathable, much more comfortable than wearing beast skins.”

Though Lyle didn’t fully understand, he knew that a weaving machine was a good thing, “Alright, leave it to me. I’ll go find the manpower now.”

After speaking, he turned and left with big strides, soon gathering a few skilled beastmen to have them construct the weaving machines according to the blueprints.

…

The Winged Tiger Tribe, in the residence of the new clan leader, Levi Corbin.

“It’s been several days now; why haven’t they returned?”

Levi paced back and forth inside the wooden hut, his eyes frequently glancing towards the door.

Harlan had been gone for so long; he should have returned by now. Yet, there was still no sign of him, leaving Levi unsure whether they had succeeded or failed.

The thought of Luna Sutton, who was knowledgeable about many things and growing more beautiful, made Levi’s heart itch.

If they could get such a talented and versatile female, The Winged Tiger Tribe would undoubtedly elevate to a higher level.

Who knows, they might even be able to produce more iron tools and weapons.

By then, their tribe’s strength would increase significantly, and who would dare look down on The Winged Tiger Tribe?

Suddenly, a beastman rushed in, stumbling and falling, “Clan Leader, it’s not good. An envoy from Beast King City, carrying a decree from the Beast King, has arrived at the tribe’s entrance. You should go out and greet them.”

Levi was shocked. Why was an envoy from Beast King City coming to The Winged Tiger Tribe at this time?

Could it be because of Luna Sutton?

That shouldn’t be the case, as they had acted in secret, and it was impossible for the news to have leaked.

Moreover, even if the news had leaked, Beast King City couldn’t have received it so quickly and reacted promptly.

He suddenly thought of the new Beast King of Beast King City, Kian Sterling, who seemed to be one of Luna Sutton’s beast husbands and was said to currently reside with The Wolf Tribe.

Levi’s face turned increasingly grim, and a foreboding feeling crept into his heart, but he had no choice but to steel himself and go out to welcome them.

No matter why Beast King City was visiting so suddenly, he couldn’t show any signs of anything being amiss, or it would indicate a guilty conscience.

Levi took a deep breath and gave a somber order, “Go, gather all the clan members and come with me to greet the envoy from Beast King City.”

With that, he strode out of the wooden hut, quickly calculating various possibilities in his mind.

If Beast King City was indeed here to question them about Luna Sutton, how should they respond?

Deny everything?

Or blame it all on Harlan?

As Levi contemplated his response, he saw from a distance that the envoy from Beast King City had already entered The Winged Tiger Tribe.

The envoy was wearing a dark beast robe embroidered with golden beast patterns, representing the noble status of Beast King City.

A team of beastman guards followed behind him, all with muscular builds and an imposing presence.

“I did not expect the envoy to arrive, and I apologize for not meeting you sooner, I hope the envoy can forgive me.”

Levi quickened his pace to greet him, forcing a smile onto his face.

The envoy from Beast King City cast a cold gaze over Levi’s ingratiating face, pulled out a scroll of beast skin decree from his bosom, and declared in a booming voice, “The Winged Tiger Tribe colluded with The Swine-Dog Tribe with nefarious intent. By order of the Beast King—from now on, The Winged Tiger Tribe shall offer a tribute to Beast King City consisting of a thousand beast skins, ten thousand pounds of prey, twenty pounds of salt, and fifty carts of copper ore annually, for the next ten years.”

Levi’s legs went weak, almost causing him to kneel, “Envoy, please see clearly, The Winged Tiger Tribe has always been compliant and has never had dealings with The Swine-Dog Tribe. Where does this accusation of collusion come from?”

The envoy did not bother to respond or offer any explanation, speaking coldly, “Clan Leader Levi, this is the Beast King’s order. The Beast King must have evidence of your collusion; if you have any questions, you can explain directly to the Beast King.”

With that, the envoy turned and left with the beastman guards.

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