A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire

“Anyone can become a leader.”

“Whether it’s you or me.”

Standing atop the high platform, Little Beast calmly spoke those words.

The statement sent shock waves through the crowd.

The beastfolk below gaped, stunned into silence by such an absurd declaration.

Those of weaker bloodlines trembled with excitement in their eyes.

They gazed at the golden-haired little girl standing atop the platform, lost for words. No one had ever told them that they, too, could stand so high.

They had never imagined it.

Nor had they ever dared to.

Those born in the dirt did not dare to reach for the light.

But today, someone had told them not to become slaves to their bloodlines, but to become ancestors whose bloodlines would be passed down.

The older generation of the beastfolk, however, wore grim expressions.

Ao Xue was especially dumbfounded.

She had never expected the other girl to say something like that—and what was more, it actually made… quite a bit of sense?

It had to be that guy!

In a mere hundredth of a second, Ao Xue guessed who had taught Little Beast to say those words. She abruptly raised her head and glared viciously at Ye Shu in the stands.

That detestable bastard!

Ao Xue was nearly furious enough to explode, her heart filled with both anger and anxiety.

If there weren’t so many beasts around, she would have rushed over, grabbed him, and demanded to know what kind of dog-brained thoughts were going through his head.

Did he have to oppose her in everything?

Would her becoming the leader of the beastfolk really affect him in any way?

All she planned to do was capture him and lock him up.

Was that really such a big deal?

Was it?!

The more Ao Xue thought about it, the angrier she became. Her cheeks puffed out like a little pufferfish.

She stared at Ye Shu and secretly swore that if she ever caught him, she would lock him up and torture him day and night, without rest.

“Seriously, bro?”

Feeling a murderous aura once again for no apparent reason, Ye Shu stared blankly at Ao Xue, who was baring her teeth and waving her claws.

“What—what did I do?”

“The person competing with you isn’t me. Why are you looking at me?”

He suddenly realized that coming here in his true form had been a grave mistake.

But there was no turning back now.

Ye Shu could only force himself to remain seated, pretending he hadn’t noticed Ao Xue’s glare.

There shouldn’t be… any problem, right?

It wasn’t as if, once the election ended, she would arrange for eight hundred axemen to seize him, lock him in a dark room, and force him to do… Starfury labor, was it?

How could something like that possibly happen?

As Ye Shu was thinking this, movement finally came from the platform.

The Giant Ape City Lord’s expression remained impassive. After exchanging a few quiet words with several elders from the major clans behind him, he cleared his throat. His voice once again echoed across the plaza.

“Since both candidates have stated their positions…”

“According to the rules of the beastfolk, we will now proceed to the voting phase.”

He extended his right paw and made a grasping motion in the air.

A square box immediately appeared in his hand. Holding the ballot box, the Giant Ape City Lord swept his gaze across the beasts and said calmly, “Everyone, please cast your votes.”

This tiny box carried the future of the beastfolk.

Every beast had the right to vote.

“Do you think that little girl can pull it off?” the bull-headed man beside Ye Shu suddenly nudged him with his elbow and asked.

“Whether she succeeds or not isn’t important.”

Ye Shu’s gaze did not waver, and his voice remained calm.

“Not important?”

The bull-headed man was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter. “That’s right. It really isn’t important.”

While the two of them were speaking, the result had already been decided.

The Giant Ape City Lord raised the small box high into the air. In full view of everyone, he opened the lid and took out the stones inside one by one, laying them across the table so that every beast could see them clearly. There was no possibility of fraud.

“Ao Xue—eighty-six thousand four hundred and thirty-two votes.”

“Zi Yue—three thousand six hundred and thirteen votes.”

The Giant Ape City Lord’s voice echoed across the plaza, every word ringing clearly in the ears of every beast.

It was an overwhelming victory, with no suspense whatsoever.

Ao Xue, who had been staring at the stone box, immediately let out a sigh of relief. She proudly thrust out her chest, raised her chin, and cast a provocative glance at Ye Shu in the distance.

This was the will of the people!

Even without that great villain’s support, she could still become the leader of the beastfolk!

Unfortunately, Ye Shu did not even spare her a glance.

Her flirtatious look had been thrown at a blind man.

The Giant Ape City Lord turned toward Little Beast. “Can you accept this result?”

“It is what the people want.”

Standing below the platform, Little Beast showed little change in expression.

She raised her head toward Ao Xue and gave a slight bow. “Congratulations, Your Highness the Dragon Princess.”

“Nothing special. You did pretty well too.”

Ao Xue was in an excellent mood and waved her hand magnanimously.

Seeing this, Little Beast said nothing more. She turned around and slowly walked down from the platform.

Her back looked lonely and desolate, clearly carrying the disappointment of defeat. The beasts of the Eastern Wasteland followed behind her, surrounding her protectively.

Regardless of the outcome, they recognized only one leader.

“Clan Leader…”

Watching the Eastern Wasteland beastfolk leave, the Giant Ape City Lord could not help but remind Ao Xue, “Are we really letting them leave like that?”

This was an election for the beastfolk, and Ao Xue was now their leader.

Yet the Eastern Wasteland beastfolk had acted as though they did not acknowledge the election results at all.

They remembered that they were members of the beastfolk when it was time to vote, then abandoned the tribe the moment they lost.

Where in the world was there such a good deal?

“Let them go.”

Ao Xue raised her hand to stop him and said indifferently, “Those who are forced to stay will not stay willingly, and there is no point keeping those who refuse to submit.”

Just as Little Beast had said moments ago, bloodline was both the shackles and the blessing of the beastfolk.

As a member of the dragon clan, Ao Xue did not actually need the position of beastfolk leader to become a ninth-rank existence. She merely wanted to prove that, even without Ye Shu’s support, she could still lead the beastfolk out of their predicament.

She turned her head once more and looked toward the stands.

But Ye Shu was nowhere to be seen.

Only an extremely ugly bull-headed man remained.

…

“Are you unhappy?”

Outside Giantstone City, Ye Shu lay sprawled across the back of the Amethyst Lion King and asked lazily.

Little Beast pouted, not knowing how to answer.

After a long while, she finally muttered, “I’m not unhappy. I’m just… a little disappointed.”

“Fine. I am unhappy.”

She raised her head, her large eyes filled with confusion. “Master, was I being too conceited?”

“I thought everyone would listen to me, but I was wrong.”

“Do you think you lost?”

Ye Shu shook his head with a laugh. “Silly girl, you’re too focused on those eighty-six thousand votes. You’re ignoring the three thousand votes you did receive.”

“As the saying goes, you can’t rush a good meal.”

“You’ve planted a seed today. In the future, it may grow into a towering tree.”

He pointed toward the City of Ten Thousand Beasts behind them.

“Look at that city. It’s filled with countless beasts of noble bloodlines, while those of lowly bloodlines are few and far between. Preaching the theory that bloodlines are shackles here is no different from tearing down the emperor’s roof. The fact that you received more than three thousand votes is already incredible.”

“What do you mean, Master?”

Little Beast raised her head and stared at him in confusion.

“You should go into the wilderness, into those overlooked corners where no one cares to look.” Ye Shu gazed at the endless mountain ranges in the distance. “The forests and mountains have no shortage of wild beasts with lowly bloodlines. Some of them may go their entire lives without ever catching the eye of a beast from this city.”

“But, child, remember this.”

“These magical beasts are the true foundation of the beastfolk.”

The Little Beast nodded, only half understanding. “I understand, Teacher. We need to go down there and unite them, so that those overlooked beasts can feel they have a path forward too.”

“Exactly.”

Ye Shu nodded lightly. Then he smiled and turned around, pointing toward the city gate.

“Look. Isn’t your first supporter already here?”

The Little Beast spun around.

Under the towering city wall, a tiny Fancy Rat was scurrying toward them on its short legs.

“Wait! Wait for me!”

“I want to go with you, too!”