The most enigmatic thing in this world is the human heart. People themselves are not frightening; it's the human heart that holds the true fear."

　　The sunlight outside streamed brilliantly through the window, yet Kong Ting's heart remained shrouded in melancholy, unable to dispel the inner shadows.

　　Kong Ting, the eldest daughter of Chief Kong Xiao Tian from the Tiger Tribe, had been betrothed to Gong Kang since childhood. Their union was a childhood promise, a bond woven by fate.

　　Years ago, Chief Kong Xiao Tian's unfulfilled love for Yu Jiao weighed heavily on his heart. This unresolved longing was no secret to Chief Kong Dian and Lady Yu Jiao.

　　And so, when Kong Xiao Tian's firstborn daughter entered the world, Chief Kong Dian proposed a childhood betrothal. As Kong Ting matured, she would eventually be wed to Gong Kang—the eldest son—as a way to mend her father’s past regrets.

　　From the earliest days of their betrothal, Kong Ting accompanied Kong Xiao Tian to the Windwood Citadel. During those visits, she and Gong Kang were mere children, playing hide-and-seek, chasing dragonflies, and pretending at family life. The other children in the inner city playfully called them "little husband and wife," and they reveled in their innocent games.

　　As adolescence dawned, Kong Ting visited Windwood Citadel twice more. Now, both had matured, and when they met alone, a delicate tension hung in the air—a blend of anticipation and uncertainty.

　　Kong Ting, with bashful glances, stole a look at Gong Kang. Observing his robust build and knowing that he was her future husband, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, yet her heart brimmed with joy.

　　Gong Kang, too, recognized her as his future wife. Seeing her graceful stature, he couldn't help but fidget, nervously tugging at his clothes, and stumbling over his words.

　　In time, the Tiger Tribe began to sing praises of Gong Kang's heroic deeds. The thought that her future husband was a revered hero filled Kong Ting with happiness, and she eagerly anticipated marrying into the Dragon Tribe.

　　However, over the past year or two, rumors circulated within the tribe about Gong Kang and Lian Xiang. As Kong Ting walked through the outer city, an inexplicable unease gnawed at her. It was as if the tribal folk whispered behind her back, discussing something she couldn't quite grasp.

　　From that moment on, Kong Ting found herself reluctant to venture outside. Each day weighed heavily on her heart, the spark of joy dimming within her. Chief Kong Xiao Tian and Lady Xin Qiu Ping observed their daughter's distress with growing concern. They urgently deliberated on hastening Kong Ting's marriage to Gong Kang.

　　One day, as Kong Ting brooded, her mother, Lady Xin Qiu Ping, gently pushed open the door and stepped inside.

　　"Daughter, the weather is delightful today. Why not take a stroll?"

　　"Mother, I'm troubled. I don't wish to go out."

　　"You've hardly eaten in days. Is it because of Gong Kang? What do you truly long for?"

　　"Mother, please, say no more. I don't see the purpose in living." She collapsed onto the bed, tears streaming down her face.

　　Seeing her daughter in such anguish, Lady Xin Qiu Ping felt her own anger ignite. It pained her to witness Kong Ting's suffering, all because of Gong Kang's affections for another woman. Memories of the past surged within her, reigniting both fresh grievances and old resentments.

　　Xin Qiu Ping hailed from the Leopard Tribe, and she was the younger sister of the current Leopard Tribe chieftain, Xin Biao. In their youth, the heroic deeds of Gong Dian had captivated countless young girls within the Gong You clan. Xin Qiu Ping even proposed that her father actively seek a marriage alliance with the Dragon Tribe, intending to marry herself off. However, it was Gong Dian from the Dragon Tribe who ultimately wed Yu Jiao from the Wolf Tribe.

　　Xin Qiu Ping's current husband is Kong Xiao Tian. It was after Kong Xiao Tian's defeat by Gong Dian in the contest for this woman that he proposed a marriage alliance with the Leopard Tribe.

　　On their wedding night, as passion surged, Kong Xiao Tian unexpectedly cried out "Jiao'er" in the throes of ecstasy. This slip of the tongue left Xin Qiu Ping feeling as if she'd swallowed a fly—an indelible wound.

　　Now, her daughter's plight, driven by the affairs of the Dragon Tribe, had escalated to the point of a hunger strike.

　　"It's all the Dragon Tribe's fault—Gong Dian, Yu Jiao, and Gong Kang—mark my words." Xin Qiu Ping silently vowed as she stormed out of her daughter's room, heading straight for the tribal council chamber.At that moment, Kong Xiao Tian was engrossed in discussion with his subordinates when the door swung open abruptly. He glanced up to find his wife storming in, her face flushed with anger. Immediately, he waved off his attendants and greeted her with a forced smile.

　　"Wife, what's the matter? Who has upset you now?" he inquired.

　　"It's about our dear daughter, Kong Ting," she fumed. "She's threatening to go on a hunger strike because of that boy, Gong Kang.""Ah, I truly empathize with our daughter's emotions. While tradition dictates that proposals should come from the man, for the sake of Kong Ting's happiness, I'm willing to put aside my pride. Here's the plan: tomorrow, I'll accompany both you and our daughter to Windwood Citadel. Together, we'll finalize the wedding arrangements between our families and set a date as soon as possible."

　　The city of the Tiger Tribe, known as "Aoshan City," nestles in the southwestern part of the Southern Gorge Forest.

　　Legend holds that in ancient times, a meteorite struck a towering mountain in the forest's southwest. The impact left a concave depression at the mountain's peak, and it was within this sunken area that the ancestors of the Tiger Tribe chose to build their city.

　　The force of the meteorite's impact devastated the surrounding trees and vegetation, once lush, now barren. In contrast, areas further from Aoshan City remained verdant with dense forests, where wild grasses grew unchecked.Perched atop the mountain peak, Aoshan City boasted strategic defensibility in its design. The city's common folk dwelled in two-story wooden houses, where the ground floors doubled as stables or livestock shelters, while the upper floors housed residents. In contrast, the elite and nobility enjoyed opulent living quarters within luxurious four- to five-story wooden mansions.

　　At dawn the following day, Kong Xiao Tian, accompanied by his wife Xin Qiu Ping, daughter Kong Ting, and a guard unit of seventy to eighty soldiers, rode their camel-horses out of the city gates. Descending the mountainside, they set their course toward Windwood Citadel.

　　Their procession advanced northeast through the Southern Gorge Forest. Despite the forest's status as the ancestral territory of the Gong You clan, Kong Xiao Tian remained vigilant, dispatching scouts ahead to assess the situation.

　　As noon approached, Kong Xiao Tian called for a brief respite. After replenishing their energy with rations, just as they were preparing to continue their journey, a scout arrived with news: a Dragon Tribe harvesting team was gathering breadfruit in the monkey breadfruit tree grove ahead.

　　"Excellent. We'll join forces with them. It's wise to have companions on the road as we journey to Windwood Citadel," Kong Xiao Tian declared.

　　The Southern Gorge Forest boasted a temperate climate and abundant water sources, providing an ideal habitat for monkey breadfruit trees. These trees bore fruit year-round, and during lean times, breadfruit served as a staple food for the Gong You clan.Upon arriving at the monkey breadfruit tree grove with the harvesting team, Su Ziqi and her companions were divided into groups. Each group received a long pole from Gong Min. Su Ziqi and her friends observed from the sidelines, watching how the other women harvested the breadfruit.

　　The tribal women worked in pairs. One woman held a long pole with a sharp blade attached to one end, while the other end was fitted with a small bamboo basket. They extended the pole to reach the breadfruit hanging high in the tree, deftly using the basket to catch the fruit. With a swift motion of the blade, they severed the stem, allowing the fruit to fall into the basket.

　　After cutting, the woman with the pole placed it on the ground, while her companion efficiently removed the breadfruit from the basket and stored it in a bag.

　　Su Ziqi couldn't help but marvel. "I've been to South America before, and people there use a similar method to harvest breadfruit. It seems that despite different times and places, human ingenuity remains the same."

　　Inspired, the three of them began to imitate the tribal women's technique for harvesting breadfruit. However, they soon realized it wasn't as easy as it appeared. Cutting the tough stems required more strength than any of them possessed.

　　In the end, Wang Yue and Zheng Ya teamed up to manage the pole, barely able to sever the stems. Su Ziqi took charge of collecting the fallen fruit beneath the tree.

　　As Su Ziqi filled a bag with breadfruit, preparing to switch to a new one, she looked up and saw Gong Kong's figure. He, along with two others, rode camel-horses and hurried deeper into the dense forest.At noon, everyone kindled a fire using flint and roasted the breadfruit over the flames.

　　Su Ziqi and her companions sat beneath a tree, relishing the aroma of the freshly roasted breadfruit.

　　Under normal circumstances, Gong Kong would stick to Su Ziqi like taffy, sharing lunch with everyone. However, today was different. Since arriving in the fruit grove, Gong Kong's presence had vanished. Both Wang Yue and Zheng Ya found it surprising and asked Su Ziqi, "Where's Gong Kong?"

　　Su Ziqi rolled her eyes at them. "His legs are attached to his body. Why are you asking me where he went? Truly peculiar." Despite her casual tone, Su Ziqi couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness in her heart.

　　Meanwhile, under another tree, the sisters Gong Min and Gong Jie rested. Gong Min noticed Gong Kong's absence and turned to Gong Jie. "Where did Gong Kong go?"

　　"Big sister, Gong Kong said he and General Yao Gang went deep into the forest to scout. He assured us they could handle it, so he didn't want the female soldiers to follow."

　　"This Gong Kong promised to bring the scout team to protect us, and now he's nowhere to be found."

　　Just then, Xiao Cheng, the leader of the scout team, approached to report: "My apologies, Miss Su and Second Miss, Young Master Gong and General Yao Gang ventured into the depths of the forest for reconnaissance. He sent me back to inform you that after collecting the fruit, you needn't wait for him. You're free to return to the tribe.""Understood. You've worked hard too. Have some breadfruit." Gong Min handed a freshly roasted breadfruit to Xiao Cheng.

　　"Thank you, Miss!"

　　After finishing their lunch, the harvesting team prepared to return to Windwood Citadel. Just then, a scout dispatched to the southwest reported encountering scouts from the Tiger Tribe. The Tiger Tribe chieftain, along with his wife and daughter, was on their way to the monkey breadfruit tree grove.

　　Gong Min inquired, "Oh, where are they headed?"

　　"The report says they're heading to Windwood Citadel, Miss."

　　"Windwood Citadel?" Gong Min's curiosity was piqued. Her father was away hunting, and there were no plans for a tribal meeting. Why would Kong Xiao Tian visit now?

　　"It's quite strange," her sister chimed in. "While Kong Xiao Tian, the chieftain, often visits our city, it's rare to see him accompanied by his wife and daughter. What could be their purpose?"

　　"I'm not sure. But as you said, it's indeed peculiar. Let's ask them when we meet," Gong Min decided.