Chapter 57

Chapter 57

"Awesome! Thanks, High Priest!" Upon hearing it was time to eat, Xiao Er got really excited—the food at Mountain Water Tribe was incredibly delicious! Besides reuniting with his family, this was the only thing that could truly cheer him up.

So Xiao Er busied himself getting his crutches ready, stood up, and followed Yun Lu outside, while Da Er walked behind him to help.

It was as if the earlier incident where Da Er had slapped him never happened; Xiao Er was back to his usual cheerful self, only now his joy was completely worry-free.

In truth, the brown-eared leopard clan was generally easygoing, and individuals like Da Er, who seemed distant on the surface, were quite rare among their kind.

That slap had actually been the first time in Da Er's life he had ever done such a thing—it was entirely the result of overwhelming frustration and worry for Xiao Er, acting on impulse when exhausted.

Thinking back to that moment now, Da Er felt quite embarrassed. To have acted so rudely upon arriving at another tribe's home—he hoped it wouldn't hurt their clan's reputation.

The midday sun was pleasant, so they could eat outside the cave. Da Er sat with Feng Yan's family and Shi Hu's family around several pottery pots outside the cave, now appearing quite reserved.

Those who had witnessed him slap Xiao Er kept looking over at him, checking to see if he was acting normally again.

The others' stares made Da Er a bit fidgety; he wanted to help with something but didn't know how to help. The Mountain Water Tribe seemed to have their own unique way of cooking, unlike his clan, who just boiled everything.

Da Er walked over to Rong Shan and Feng Yan: "Chief, please tell me if there's anything I can help with, I—"

"Don't worry, just sit down. It'll be ready soon." Rong Shan noticed Da Er's unease and responded.

They had become quite skilled at cooking now and didn't need any help. Though Da Er was an adult beastman, he looked about the same age as the tiger weasel brothers, so in Rong Shan's eyes, he was still quite young.

"Tuanzai, come over here." Bing Qiu grabbed Xue Tuan, who had been heading toward Xiao Er, not wanting his younger brother to be near that Da Er.

The little black lion had also intended to tug at Xue Tuan's fur clothing but was beaten to it by Bing Qiu, though their intentions were the same.

"Alright."

Xue Tuan had no choice but to let his brother handle things. Seeing how close Xiao Er and his brother Da Er were now, it was clear the two brothers usually had a good relationship—Da Er had just lost his temper earlier and wanted to "teach Xiao Er a lesson."

So Bing Qiu really didn't need to be so cautious; Xue Tuan still wanted to pet the brown-eared leopard and get closer to Xiao Er.

Over the past couple of days, they had stored away the cured meat and sausages. Everyone was excited about this new food, and Xue Tuan had contributed a recipe for dry pot potatoes with cured meat. Without various sauces, they couldn't achieve more complex flavors, but it still tasted quite good.

Xiao Er had only tried it once before and couldn't stop thinking about it, while Da Er was completely amazed. The refined pottery and the cooking steps, so different from their clan's methods, left Da Er momentarily amazed.

The freshly brought-out cured meat had a perfect balance of lean and fat, shiny with oil along the edges and firm skin. Feng Yan swiftly sliced the meat into even slices and arranged them on a pottery plate.

"Cut the potatoes thinner this time," Rong Shan reminded Bing Qiu, who was slicing potatoes.

"Okay, Dad," Bing Qiu replied. Last time, he hadn't cut them well—he hadn't realized that thicker potato slices would take longer to cook than the meat.

Rong Shan placed a piece of animal fat into the heated pottery pot. As the fat melted quickly, he said, "It's ready to cook."

He took the pottery plate handed to him by Bing Qiu, poured in the potatoes, and began stir-frying. Once the potatoes turned golden, he removed them, then added wild garlic slices, ginger shreds, and some chopped dried chili peppers. When the aroma rose from the pot, he added the cured meat.

The bottom of the pot sizzled, and soon a delicious smell burst forth, making Xiao Er watch eagerly.

Just then, Rong Shan pushed the cured meat to one side, mixed in the potato slices and green and red peppers again, and continued stir-frying. Instantly, the aroma exploded in front of the pot—the salty, rich flavor of the cured meat blending with the spiciness of the peppers.

Da Er placed his hands awkwardly on his thighs, already swallowing without thinking.

In another pot, a meat and vegetable leaf soup had already been prepared, and nearby, the pottery steamer had steamed several sweet potatoes—everyone could take what they wanted.

Feng Yan would also mash a bowl of potatoes separately for Xue Tuan. According to Xue Tuan, this could be considered his "staple food."

The mashed potatoes were mixed with a bit of animal milk, salt, and crushed pepper, resulting in a soft, creamy texture that probably only the young would enjoy.

A large plate of dry pot potatoes with cured meat was served—golden potato slices and richly fragrant cured meat, garnished with green and red peppers, looking very appealing and smelling delicious.

Da Er couldn't wait to taste it, but since this wasn't his home, he didn't want to be rude.

"Be careful, it's hot!" The freshly cooked dish was scalding, and Yun Lu immediately slapped Sha Hu's hand away. No matter how many times his hand was slapped, the cub always couldn't resist reaching for food right out of the pot.

Shi Hu and Yun Lu weren't as skilled at cooking as Rong Shan and Feng Yan, so when the two families ate together, they mostly helped with preparations and cleanup.

"I've almost finished my soup, I want some cured meat..." Even after Yun Lu's warning, Sha Hu was still impatient—he just couldn't help himself.

Xiao Er wasn't yet used to the chopsticks used by the Mountain Water Tribe, so he used something called a "fork." He stabbed a crispy potato slice, blew on it gently, and quickly popped it into his mouth.

Da Er picked up a small fork, curiously examining its shape. Had he ever imagined he'd have to learn to eat all over again one day? These chopsticks and forks were all new to him.

Da Er imitated Xiao Er, using the fork to try a bite of this "colorful food."

At first, Da Er chewed slowly, but soon he was taking bite after bite, he didn't want to stop eating. The dish was intensely savory with a hint of spiciness, each mouthful a flavor explosion that surprisingly suited Da Er's taste perfectly.

If he hadn't felt a bit embarrassed about how much he was moving his hand holding the fork, Da Er would have loved to pull the entire plate toward himself.

Xiao Er quietly winked at Da Er and whispered, "So, isn't their food amazing?"

Da Er, his mouth full of cured meat, couldn't respond immediately, only nodding silently. Earlier in the cave, when Xiao Er had been enthusiastically praising the Mountain Water Tribe, Da Er had been half-skeptical. Now, he was completely convinced. He couldn't help but entertain other thoughts—though he wasn't sure if they would work out...

After the meal, while Feng Yan's family handled the cooking, Shi Hu's family handled the cleaning. They used simple brushes made from palm fibers to scrub the pots.

Xue Tuan's Beast God Stone Slab had informed Yun Lu and Rong Shan that while researching palm bark for raincoats, they could use excess palm fibers to make brushes. Paired with soap, these brushes could clean pots, bowls, and dishes exceptionally well.

Both Xiao Er and Da Er eagerly offered to help with the cleanup, but seeing the Mountain Water Tribe using tools they'd never seen even for washing pots, the two brothers were both astonished and impressed.

Da Er and Xiao Er silently marveled in their hearts: How does this tribe have so many new and interesting things! If only their clan could use them too...

After cleaning the pots and utensils, Yun Lu turned to the brown-eared leopard brothers and said, "Tomorrow, our tribe's leader will accompany you to your clan for trade. You must be tired today, so rest up."

Da Er didn't know how long he had been searching for Xiao Er. At first, he seemed mentally drained, but after finding him, it was like a brief burst of energy, yet he still needed rest to recover his energy for the journey ahead.

Da Er: "Okay... alright, we welcome your visit." Even though he had already learned from Xiao Er that the Mountain Water Tribe planned to trade with their clan, hearing Priest say it directly still surprised him.

The Mountain Water Tribe didn't seem like a small tribe at all—they possessed many skills and things he had never seen, and what he had witnessed was likely just a fraction. He wasn't even sure what their clan could offer in exchange, as it seemed they were the ones with more to desire...

Overwhelmed by so many new experiences, Da Er felt as if he had visited the legendary grand gathering the elders often spoke of. Faced with so many novelties at once, Da Er was nearly overwhelmed.

Seeing his older brother looking confused and overwhelmed, Xiao Er felt rather proud—he had been dealing with these surprises for days, while Da Er had only just arrived!

Xiao Er led Da Er to a bamboo bed arranged for him by the Mountain Water Tribe to rest. It was clear Da Er hadn't slept well in a long time and needed a proper nap.

The bamboo bed had been made by Ye Cong Priest as an "experimental piece" for Xiao Er to use.

The bed was first layered with dried reeds as a cushion, then covered with a thick fur blanket. With the charcoal fire burning in the cave, nights were especially warm.

Xiao Er had never slept on such a comfortable bed or experienced such cozy nights. The thought of leaving the Mountain Water Tribe made him quite reluctant.

He had heard that the bamboo bed's true benefits were felt in the hot season, but unfortunately, it was still the tail end of the cold season, and he couldn't possibly take the bed with him.

"Brother, try this bamboo bed." Xiao Er's eyes sparkled—it was the same look he had as a youngster whenever he discovered something wonderful, and Da Er understood it immediately.

The two brothers sat on the bamboo bed one after the other. The bamboo bed creaked initially but remained stable no matter how much Xiao Er wiggled his butt.

Da Er tested the edge with both hands and remarked, "So it’s this sturdy."

Xiao Er replied, "Yeah, it was perfectly stable even when I took a nap with a few cubs earlier—didn’t wobble at all."

Xiao Er turned and lay on the inner side, leaving the outer part for his older brother. He added, "Sleeping on this, you don’t have to worry about worms or insects, or dampness from the ground." He casually listed the bamboo bed’s advantages.

"Also, you can use the space under the bed to store things," Xiao Er said, crawling forward, dragging his injured leg, and pointing beneath the bed.

With the bed raised, the beastmen gained extra storage space. Though Xiao Er had only stayed here for a few days, he already had his own private belongings—gifts from the cubs, like tops and tangram puzzles, which they had grown tired of and passed on to Xiao Er, who hadn’t played with them before.

Looking at the items under the bed, Xiao Er felt warmth in his heart. The cubs of the Mountain Water Tribe were so endearing—he wished they could follow him back to his tribe.

"Move over a bit, I’m going to sleep," Da Er said as he lay down in the fur blanket. It felt as if the exhaustion from searching for Xiao Er over the past days had melted away. Though his mind was still buzzing with thoughts, he eventually couldn’t hold on any longer and sank into a deep sleep.

After seeing Xiao Er and his brother return to the cave to rest, Yun Lu went to find Feng Yan and the others. Since the chief would be on a long journey with Xiao Er and his brother tomorrow, they were likely busy handing over their current tasks.

Even with the chief away, all normal activities in the tribe should continue as usual.

Meanwhile, Bing Qiu, Xue Tuan, and little black lion were with Elder Mushi. Xue Tuan was having the elder help polish a thumb-sized stone for him.

This stone was once again discovered by red fox cub. He still remembered how happy Xue Tuan had been when he thanked him for the previous "songhua stone," so he started paying attention to unique stones, much like Bing Qiu. red fox cub was clever—he knew Xue Tuan’s brother had probably already found him many ordinary stones, so only unusual ones would catch his eye.

That day, while following Bing Qiu to fish by the frozen river, he spotted a small black stone on the bank with many black substances attached to it, varying in length. Its overall shape somewhat resembled a hedgehog beast.

red fox cub picked up the stone and played with it for a while, trying to pull off the black attachments. To his surprise, an invisible force resisted him. Not only that, but as soon as he pulled one off, it snapped back into place with a "click"!

Frowning, red fox cub sensed there was something special about this stone. He repeated the "pull off and snap back" process but couldn’t figure it out—though he found it quite amusing—and decided to gift it to Xue Tuan.

"Where did you find this?!" Xue Tuan was pleasantly surprised—it was a small piece of magnetite. However, after some questioning, he realized red fox cub had simply stumbled upon it by chance, with no more to be found.

Xue Tuan took the small magnetite to Elder Grandpa, planning to grind it into several small magnetic needles to make simple compasses.

Just as the compasses were nearly finished, Feng Yan personally came to fetch Bing Qiu and Xue Tuan. Since they were leaving tomorrow, Rong Shan figured the two cubs would have plenty to pack and sent Feng Yan to bring them back.

"Ah! Are you taking us along?!" Bing Qiu exclaimed excitedly. Initially, after hearing his father’s explanation, Bing Qiu thought Feng Yan had come to instruct him and Xue Tuan to stay put in the tribe while he and his dad were away. He never expected his father to say they would take him and Xue Tuan along!

Xue Tuan was also surprised. He hadn’t realized the plan was for his father and dad to travel to Xiao Er’s tribe for trade. The idea of going along made him happy—it would be good to see other tribes.

"Can... can I come too?" a voice chimed in.

Xue Tuan turned to see it was little black lion.

The other cubs stared wide-eyed at little black lion. They also wanted to follow Xue Tuan, but this was a matter for the arctic fox family—how dare the black lion speak up?!

Feng Yan also looked at Zhong Yan. It was unexpected yet understandable; he knew little black lion was very close to his well-behaved cub, almost inseparable as friends. But he hadn’t expected the cub to be so bold as to ask to join their family trip.

Feng Yan asked with amused interest, "Why should I take you?"

Feng Yan usually maintained a serious, authoritative presence in front of the tribe. Aside from Xue Tuan, few beastmen dared to be so forward with him, and most cubs were timid in his presence.

The cubs knew the chief wouldn’t "eat cubs," but they were inexplicably afraid—perhaps it was the natural intimidation large beastmen had over young ones? They could only comfort themselves with that thought.

Being stared down by Feng Yan was undeniably intimidating, but little black lion knew that if he wanted to follow Xue Tuan, he couldn’t back down now. Yet, for some reason, his legs felt like they were trembling.

little black lion lifted his neck, staring unblinkingly at Feng Yan, trying to stay calm as he declared, "I... I can protect Xue Tuan! I can carry things, and I can hunt on my own!"

His inner thought was: I can fully take care of myself and Xue Tuan. If you take me along, I won’t be a burden!

The other cubs gasped softly. That black lion actually dared to speak so loudly in front of the chief—was he out of his mind?!

In his nervousness and intense desire to stay with Xue Tuan, little black lion didn’t realize that his usually quiet voice had just been several times louder than normal, terrifying the nearby cubs.

Even Xue Tuan was shocked. little black lion was typically a quiet, fluffy cub who spoke softly—he’d never heard him be so loud before.

Feng Yan was also taken aback. Since leaving their original tribe with Rong Shan, this was the first time someone had dared to speak so boldly in his presence.

Zhong Yan certainly had courage. A flicker of admiration unintentionally crossed Feng Yan’s eyes.

However, Feng Yan glanced toward Elder Mushi. Even if he agreed to let Zhong Yan accompany them, he still needed the elder’s approval.

Although they had an adoptive relationship, everyone could see that Elder Mushi and Zhong Yan interacted like true family.

Elder Mushi caught Feng Yan’s gaze and understood his agreement. Elder Mushi looked at Zhong Yan, who stood frozen and stunned. He had never seen Zhong Yan so proactive—and it was always because of that little cub named Xue Tuan.

Since leaving their old tribe, Zhong Yan had been reborn—no longer ostracized, playing with many cubs, and making close friends like Xue Tuan. Elder Mushi was very happy for him.

Cubs grow up eventually, and Zhong Yan no longer needed to stay only where Elder Mushi was.

Elder Mushi walked to little black lion’s side and gently ruffled his head. Since the chief didn’t mind, he had no reason to object. "If you want to go, then go," he said.

little black lion was extremely tense. Feeling his grandfather’s touch, he turned to see the elder smiling at him, the smile deepening the wrinkles on his face.

Before he could process what happened, Feng Yan had already turned to leave, and Bing Qiu quickly followed.

"Let’s go," Xue Tuan said, nudging the fluffy cub to snap him out of his daze.

little black lion finally came to his senses and hurried after Little Dumpling. If he were in human form, his face would be flushed red with excitement and joy.

Outside the cave, Bing Qiu glanced back at black lion and Xue Tuan playing but said nothing, silently following his father.

He, too, had been shocked when black lion spoke up. But thinking about it, if anyone were to accompany them, it would likely be black lion.

Oh well, black lion was actually quite useful. With him around to keep Xue Tuan company, Bing Qiu could focus on helping his father and dad with their tasks.

Back in their cave, Bing Qiu exclaimed excitedly, "We’re going on a trip!" Having stayed in the tribe for so long, he occasionally missed their nomadic days.

Besides Rong Shan, Yun Lu and Shi Hu were also in the cave, discussing tribal matters for after their departure.

Xue Tuan and little black lion were the last to enter. Like the adults, Xue Tuan had things to arrange. He went to his small bamboo shelf—his personal storage space filled with his belongings.

Xue Tuan sorted through the bottom layer, which held several thin animal hides marked with charcoal sticks.

Since beastmen didn't yet have a writing system, Xue Tuan used drawings to record things. Often, the more accurate the drawing, the easier it was to understand without explanation.

However, one hide was harder to decipher—it contained Xue Tuan’s progressive sketches of an "exploded diagram of a waterwheel."

Their trip would take a minimum of ten days. During that time, the tribe could continue various projects. This waterwheel would serve as a preview for Elder Grandpa and the others—whatever they could understand would help ease the process upon his return.

Another hide depicted irrigation ditches. Ditches couldn't just be dug arbitrarily; Xue Tuan used his limited knowledge to sketch potential locations starting from the tribe’s farmland.

Specifics might need further discussion, but he’d show them to Yun Lu and Uncle Shi Hu, citing the Beast God Stone Slab as reference, and encourage collective brainstorming.

Xue Tuan also prepared several "blank" hides to use for mapping their surroundings—documenting geographical features around the tribe and resources they might encounter on their journey.

"Zhong Yan, can you take this over to Elder Grandpa for me?" Xue Tuan told the little black lion, asking him to deliver some animal hides that needed to be given to Elder Grandpa and the others.

"Okay, I'll go right away."

The little black lion picked up the bundle of hides Xue Tuan gave him and was running past Feng Yan when Feng Yan suddenly called out to him.

"Zhong Yan."

Perhaps surprised by the sudden call, the little black lion quickly slammed on the brakes, leaving claw marks in the dirt.

The little black lion turned back quickly and asked, "Uncle Feng Yan?"

"Don’t forget to bring your own things when you go. You'll stay here with us tonight." Feng Yan said calmly.

"I understand, thank you, Uncle Feng Yan." The little black lion had thought it was something serious, but instead, he found out he could be Little Dumpling's blanket and sleep with Xue Tuan tonight. He practically bounced as he ran off.

Seeing that Zhong Yan had left, Feng Yan and the others went back to their conversation.

Yun Lu: "Regarding the soil, during this time, I’ve had the patrolling beastmen try planting in areas farther away."

Hearing this, Xue Tuan pricked up his ears and listened closely.

Yun Lu: "At first, I didn’t know if it was just a coincidence. Is it only our tribe’s land that can be cultivated, or can other places grow crops too?"

After all, the sudden ability to farm seemed strange to everyone, and some beastmen might believe it’s the Beast God’s "blessing," protecting their tribe.

As the Priest, he needed to find out the extent of the Beast God’s "blessing."

"So I’m thinking, we should try to identify as much suitable land for planting as possible and claim these areas for our tribe." Yun Lu said.

This also meant that their tribe needed to expand its territory, not just building inner and outer walls like they've been doing.

Hearing this, Xue Tuan was also surprised. He had only intended to expand the available arable land as much as possible, but he hadn’t expected the beastmen to already be investigating whether it was just luck that only their tribe’s land could be cultivated.

Indeed, there were times when he still underestimated the capabilities of the beastmen.