All The Furry Creatures In The Beast World Are Farming With Me – CH26

Chapter 26

At dawn, most of the Black Wolf Tribe’s members were woken by the priest’s howling.

Lang Qi opened his eyes and looked outside. Not seeing the chief, he asked strangely, “Where’s the chief?”

Most matters involving the priest were handled by Lang Yan himself, and there were very few places where Lang Qi could interfere.

The other members shook their heads, all looking blank. Clearly, they did not know what had happened, nor did they know why the chief, who usually appeared at the slightest movement, had been so slow to come out of his cave this time.

With the chief absent, no matter how unwilling Lang Qi was, he could only walk out of the cave.

But just as he was about to reach the priest’s cave, Lang Qi turned a corner.

No. He still had to call the chief over.

That old fellow the priest was best at bullying the weak and fearing the strong. Usually, when facing the chief or the sub-adults who acted the moment they said they would, he was always submissive. But when facing Lang Qi, he would lose his temper at every turn. It was still early in the morning. Lang Qi did not want the other party to ruin his good mood.

“Boss, boss?” Lang Qi went straight into the cave to look for Lang Yan.

Only after he walked in did he discover that Lang Yan had actually just woken up!

Lang Qi was shocked.

“It’s so noisy outside, and you could still sleep?” This was even more impressive than him.

Lang Yan silently removed the animal hide wrapped around his head and did not explain further. He asked, “What happened?”

“The priest started shouting early in the morning. I don’t dare go in. You should go take a look.” Lang Qi explained, thinking that no wonder he had slept so well—he had even covered his ears. This method was good. Next time, he would do the same.

“Mm.” Lang Yan responded and walked out of the cave.

Outside, there were many members who had been woken by the noise, but there were only young wolves under sixteen and adult members. As for the age group in between, needless to say, they had definitely all run off.

Ever since they started going to the Snow Wolf Tribe to help, this group of sub-adults no longer lazed around and no longer got lost. Each one was more diligent than the next.

It was just that the tribe was becoming empty a little too quickly, Lang Yan thought as he looked toward the priest’s cave.

Hu Yun had been the Black Wolf Tribe’s priest for more than twenty years. Aside from needing supplies when treating members, he would usually ask for things every few days. Sometimes it was tools such as stone knives and bone knives. Sometimes it was stone bowls and stone tables.

As long as he did not go overboard, the tribe did not mind him requesting these supplies. After all, heavy tools were not something he could take elsewhere.

The last time Lang Yan came over, the cave had been packed full. Stone bowls of various sizes, stone knives and bone knives of different lengths, and stone pots arranged in a row—seven of them in total.

And now, there was only one of each type of tool left. Everything that could be taken had been taken, while still not affecting Hu Yun’s ability to treat the tribe’s members.

Seeing these changes clearly, Lang Yan had only one thought.

Sub-adults were not very obedient, but at certain times, they were quite useful. For example, now.

However, in front of Hu Yun, Lang Yan naturally could not show it. He looked around and asked coldly, “Where are the things?”

Hu Yun, who was crying and howling, paused, nearly unable to catch his breath.

He was asking him?

Lang Yan looked at him doubtfully. “Besides you, who has come to the cave?”

“Lang Yong! Lang Yong and the others came yesterday!” Hu Yun did not believe Lang Yan did not know.

Lang Yan turned back and asked Lang Qi, “Where are the sub-adults?”

Lang Qi looked confused. “No idea. They were gone this morning. Probably went out.”

Lang Yan said, “Then we’ll discuss it when they come back.”

Hu Yun: “???”

Hu Yun’s heart ached. “My pots! My bowls! My knives! My food!”

Hu Yun was truly miserable. He had come to the Black Wolf Tribe for so many years, yet had contacted the high priest very few times. Seeing that he was getting older and older, if he did not find the high priest to exchange for the elixir of immortality, he would not live many more years. His heart grew more and more anxious.

However, Lang Yan was even sharper than his father. Every time Hu Yun wanted to make small moves and ask for more food, Lang Yan could discover it.

Helpless, Hu Yun could only turn his attention to the tools he had accumulated over the years. The priest’s tools were the best in the entire tribe and could be taken to exchange with other members for supplies. It was just that when Lang Yan was in the tribe, he did not dare do this. His only hope was the annual market season.

The market took place every year before snow season arrived. At the last market, Hu Yun had only had time to convey to a few members that he wanted to exchange tools for food and remind the members who wanted them to save more food from then on. He planned that at the next market, as soon as Lang Yan left the tribe, he would immediately exchange for supplies, then coax the remaining wolves by saying he was going to exchange for divine medicine and have them escort him to the Beast God Temple.

In any case, aside from Lang Yan, there were hardly any people in the entire tribe with brains, and Lang Yan himself could not possibly pay attention to every single member. His plan was absolutely perfect.

But now, all his plans were only plans.

The tools had been taken away by the sub-adults, and there was not much food left either. The only things the sub-adults had not taken were herbs. Not only had they not taken them, they had not even touched them. However, the Beast God Temple did not lack those things at all, so keeping them was useless. Moreover, because his mind had not been on treating illnesses these past few years, he had not prepared many medicinal herbs. Even if he used them to exchange with tribe members, he would not be able to get enough food.

Thinking that all his plans had gone down the drain, Hu Yun could not help feeling sorrowful.

Seeing him like this, Lang Yan made an insincere promise. “When the sub-adults return, I’ll ask them what happened.”

Hu Yun’s crying paused as he waited for the next half of the sentence.

But he waited and waited, and Lang Yan had already turned around and left without saying how he would punish the sub-adults.

Hu Yun almost failed to breathe again.

“Priest, Priest, be careful.” Lang Qi had originally wanted to leave with him, but seeing Hu Yun looking like he could not catch his breath, he hurriedly opened his mouth to comfort him. “Don’t hold it in and hurt yourself. At your age, if you collapse, our tribe won’t have a priest anymore.”

Hu Yun, who had barely managed to catch his breath, was almost angered to death by his sentence.

…

“You took all the things? Did the chief and priest agree?”

In the morning, as soon as Lang Shuo came out of the cave, he was stunned by the tools the sub-adult black wolves had brought back.

Those who knew would understand that these were tools brought over to process food. Those who did not would think they had moved house.

There were too many things, making Lang Shuo suspect the sub-adults had secretly moved them over.

Lang Yong was very frank. “They agreed. The chief doesn’t manage us, and Grandpa Priest said we could move all of it over.”

Lang Shuo was still suspicious. Based on his understanding, most priests were not as friendly and kind as their tribe’s old priest. Could it be that the Black Wolf Tribe’s priest was also rather special?

Seeing that Lang Shuo did not believe them, the other young wolves began mentioning the things that had happened over the years, one sentence after another.

“Every month, we go to the priest’s place to eat, and the priest has never gotten angry.” They went several times a month.

“Right. The priest even asks if we’re full.”

“The chief has seen it before and said we could eat.”

When Lang Shuo heard the first few sentences, he felt something was not quite right. But after hearing that Lang Yan had agreed to let them eat the priest’s food, he felt he might be overthinking. Perhaps the Black Wolf Tribe’s priest really was like their old priest.

Lang Shuo still had some trust in Lang Yan, who looked as steady and reliable as his brother. After confirming that these sub-adults were not deceiving him, he had them first place these tools outside the cave.

There were too many items, and here, finished tools could be exchanged for food. Even if the sub-adults had not lied, he could not use them casually. It would be better to have someone go over tonight and ask.

After placing the tools, Lang Shuo began arranging work for the sub-adults.

He had absorbed valuable experience from yesterday’s incident. That was: it was best not to let sub-adults gather together. If they could be separated, then separate them.

It just so happened that there were many types of work today: cutting meat, washing fruit, squeezing juice for marinating, making mud bricks, and picking up branches. Each type of work only had four or five sub-adults assigned to it, and every team had to include one sub-adult from the Snow Wolf Tribe.

As for the remaining most active ones, Lang Shuo did not assign work to them. He only said to let them follow him.

The sub-adults were extremely excited, thinking that Lang Shuo was going to lead them in making something delicious.

However, after they finished eating, Lang Shuo only said two words. “Dig soil.”

“What?” Lang Yong was surprised. What were they digging soil for?

Lang Shuo did not explain, only urging them to dig quickly. After digging, they had to carry it into the cave.

Lang Yong and the others were still confused, but for the sake of delicious food, they obediently began digging.

Lang Shuo had them carry more than a dozen back baskets of soil into the cave before calling for them to stop. The next task was moving mud bricks.

So far, mud bricks had only been used to make two things: bread ovens and stoves. Both were used to process food. The young wolves understood. They were going to build a stove inside the cave, or perhaps make a bread oven. They immediately rubbed their hands in anticipation. They had seen this before.

However, Lang Shuo did not dare let them do it. If a stove was crooked, it could be rebuilt. If a bread oven collapsed, it could also be rebuilt. But once a heated bed was built, it would be used for at least over a month. If it broke midway, it would not be easy to repair. It had to succeed in one try. Therefore, he called over the steadier elders in the tribe.

Most of the Snow Wolf Tribe’s elderly had died during migration. Not many had survived. In truth, their age, in Lang Shuo’s view, had not yet reached the level of old age. However, going out to hunt was too dangerous. Once their claws and teeth showed signs of aging, they were no longer suitable for hunting or gathering outside and could only stay in the tribe.

These people’s hunting abilities had deteriorated, and they also could not keep up with their companions while gathering, but when it came to handiwork, they were not bad at all. Most of the back baskets currently used in the tribe had been woven by them. They spent a long time in the tribe, and as they were older, they had patience. Their finished products were better than those made by most members.

For something like building a heated bed, aside from Lang Yu, Lang Shuo felt that handing it to them was the most reliable.

Everyone knew that Lang Shuo had recently had the sub-adults make many mud bricks, but they had never known what they were for. Only after hearing Lang Shuo’s explanation now did they understand: he planned to make a large “stove” inside the cave.

Lang Shuo wanted to explain the difference between the two, but after thinking about it, before the actual object came out, the thing closest to a heated bed in everyone’s eyes was indeed a stove. So he simply stopped emphasizing the naming issue and explained the construction method in detail.

Before building the heated bed, they had to lay a layer of mud and sand on the ground, raising it by about half a meter to allow airflow. After laying it, they began using mud bricks to build the flue, and covered the top with larger mud bricks.

Because the whole thing was made from mud bricks, the heated bed they made had one drawback: its load-bearing capacity was relatively poor. Therefore, the heated bed Lang Shuo designed was quite narrow. People could lie on both sides to rest, while the top could hold some foods that needed drying.

The cave was large. Building four heated beds along the two sides still did not affect everyone’s rest.

The surface of the heated bed and the gaps between the mud bricks used mud mixed with weeds. It would take several days to air-dry. After they finished building it, Lang Shuo did not hurry to light a fire. He only placed several back baskets nearby to remind the members to be careful.

The sub-adults looked at the heated bed, which was longer than them even when they lay down, and had only one thought: how much food could be roasted on it at once?

The other young wolves either only thought this in their hearts or felt that it did not seem like something used to roast food. Only Lang Yong was entirely preoccupied with eating, and he was bold too. He asked Lang Shuo, “Shuo, can this roast an entire curved-horned beast?” As he spoke, he stepped over the back basket, wanting to take a closer look.

Lang Shuo: “…”

Lang Shuo said, “I don’t know whether it can roast a curved-horned beast, but roasting you shouldn’t be a problem. How about after it dries in a couple of days, you lie on it and try?”

It just so happened that he wanted to test how its load-bearing capacity was.

Lang Yong shivered and took a step back. He was wrong. When Lang Shuo was not gentle, he was also quite terrifying. After all, their chief usually only beat people. Lang Shuo, however, wanted to roast them.

Because of Lang Shuo’s sentence, the sub-adults who had originally been curious and wanted to reach out and touch the heated bed all gave up the thought. They were worried Lang Shuo might really do it.

Although Lang Shuo was somewhat helpless that they believed such words, it was not without benefits. At least before it dried, probably no one would randomly touch it.

Even with many people, building four heated beds still took the whole day. Seeing that the sky outside was no longer early, Lang Shuo drove them out. “Everyone go out and prepare to eat.”

After eating, they still had to pack today’s processed food into back baskets and seal them properly. There was no idle time at all.

Eating was something that made people happy, but when eating was linked to returning to the tribe, it became less wonderful. The sub-adult black wolves completely lost the excitement from earlier and drooped their heads.

They did not want to return to the tribe. There truly was not a single delicious thing in the tribe. The only delicious things were what they brought away, and they could not eat those. It was nothing like here, where they got little extra meals from time to time. Although the quality varied because they were testing flavors, at least they got to eat them.

Lang Shuo looked at them like a group of pitiful little creatures about to be abandoned and felt both helpless and a little amused. “When you return to the tribe and sleep once, you’ll come back again. Close your eyes, and it’ll be over.”

Lang Yong shook his head. “No. It takes a long time to fall asleep.”

Before sleeping, his mind would be filled with what delicious food there might be in the morning. He would think through all the foods he had eaten, and the more he thought, the hungrier he became. He would want to set off immediately, but could only endure until the next day. It was far too hard to bear.

The first two days had been a bit better. By the time they finished packing things, it was already midnight, and they were just sleepy enough. After waking, they could come over. Today, after they returned, there would be nothing to pack. Just thinking about it was unbearable.

Thinking of this, Lang Yong suddenly came up with a good idea. “Shuo, what else do you want?”

Whatever Lang Shuo wanted, they could help move it. They had many people, so even stone tables could be moved. That way, by the time they returned to the tribe and prepared everything, it would be midnight again. They would not have to endure time passing slowly.

Seeing Lang Yong’s serious expression, Lang Shuo quickly interrupted him. “No need. There’s nothing I want.”

He seriously suspected that if this continued, the Black Wolf Tribe would be emptied out entirely. Since the sub-adults were so good at moving supplies, did Lang Yan really not intend to manage them a bit?

Hearing this, Lang Yong was very disappointed. “All right. How about we go hunting at night and bring it straight over tomorrow?”

The other sub-adult black wolves nodded in agreement. This method was good. First, they would go catch prey, then return to the tribe to sleep, and after waking, come over to eat. Not a bit of time would be wasted.

Lang Shuo began to suspect whether he looked very much like an exploitative landlord. Why were these sub-adults’ minds full of overtime? This could not continue.

However, seeing their expression of insisting on finding something to do, Lang Shuo thought for a moment and said, “After you return, pick up branches. Big ones and small ones both. Bring them over tomorrow.”

Compared with hunting, picking up branches was relatively easy work. They could also pick them up near their living area and did not need to walk too far, so it was relatively safe and suitable for sub-adults returning to the tribe.

Picking up branches was a bit simple, but since it was something Lang Shuo needed, Lang Yong did not continue bargaining and agreed.

Lang Shuo let out a breath of relief. Finally, they stopped thinking about other things.

Today, the adult wolves of the Black Wolf Tribe would not come over to pick them up. In addition, Lang Shuo needed to confirm whether the tools had been obtained with Lang Yan’s agreement. So during dinner, he discussed it with Lang Yu. “Brother, bring a few members to the Black Wolf Tribe tonight.”

“What are we going there for?” Lang Yu did not like adult black wolves coming to his tribe, and likewise did not like entering the Black Wolf Tribe’s territory.

“The sub-adults brought over a pile of tools today. They’re over there. There are too many. Ask their chief whether he knows about it. If he doesn’t, let the sub-adults bring them back tomorrow.”

The status of a priest was rather special. As the chief of the Snow Wolf Tribe, Lang Yu most likely would not be able to meet him. It was still better to ask Lang Yan about this.

Recently, every time Lang Yu returned to the tribe, the tribe had changed greatly. After returning from hunting, he had not looked carefully. After hearing his younger brother’s words, he looked toward the cave entrance. First, he saw the stacked stone pots, then the various tools beside them.

Lang Yu fell silent for a moment. “Did they capture the priest?”

Lang Yu could not think of any other possibility. The priest was not stupid. How could he hand over so many supplies for nothing?

Lang Shuo said, “I don’t know. They said the priest agreed and that the chief also knows. But I think there’s something wrong, so it’s safer to ask.”

Lang Yu said, “Mm. I’ll follow them later.”

He could also watch the sub-adult black wolves and prevent them from running around.

Lang Yu had originally thought he would have to send the sub-adults all the way to the Black Wolf Tribe settlement before he could ask, but unexpectedly, Lang Yan was guarding the edge of the territory with several adult black wolves.

Seeing Lang Yu, Lang Yan explained, “I was afraid they would secretly eat on the road.”

Sub-adults had jumpy personalities and had done bold things before. Carrying piles of processed food that could be eaten, they could endure at first, but halfway through the road, that might not be the case. It was not impossible for them to decide to directly open a back basket while walking.

Lang Yu, who was used to facing the relatively worry-free sub-adults of his own tribe, fell silent for a moment. Thinking carefully, this was indeed something this group of sub-adults could do. For the first time, he felt a bit of sympathy for Lang Yan.

However, Lang Yu did not forget what Lang Shuo had asked him to do and brought up the tools the sub-adults had brought in the morning.

Lang Yan’s tone was very casual. “Those are all things our tribe’s priest doesn’t use. Leaving them there is a waste. Use them as you like.”

Lang Yu was somewhat surprised. It was hard to believe that the Black Wolf Tribe’s priest would be so approachable. Their tribe’s old priest had already been good enough, but even he had not casually given away things like this before, and to another tribe at that.

Lang Yu could not help asking, “Your priest has a very good temper?”

Lang Yan responded, “Pretty good.” He did not mention a single word of how broken down Hu Yun had been that morning.

In Lang Yan’s view, taking the things to the Snow Wolf Tribe ultimately helped process food for their tribe. There was not much difference from leaving them in their tribe. But if they continued to stay with the priest, that was uncertain.

…

That night, after hearing the news Lang Yu brought back, Lang Shuo felt reassured and directly planned the stone pots’ use. “For now, put the stone pots outside to use. Once the heated beds dry, move four into the cave.”

Without stone pots, they could use stone slabs or mud bricks to block the stove opening in front of the heated beds, but that would waste part of the heat source. It was far less convenient than adding stone pots. They could boil water and heat food inside the cave.

Lang Yu did not understand how the four additional things would be used. In any case, his younger brother was responsible for arranging things. He only needed to agree.

“The Black Wolf Tribe’s priest is really a good person.” While counting the tools, Lang Shuo could not help praising him.

Lang Yu nodded.

Lang Shuo’s movements slowed. He thought of the Snow Wolf Tribe’s old priest. The old priest had been quite old. In his memory, he seemed to have never changed. When Lang Shuo was very young, the old priest already had a wrinkled face and an especially good personality. When Lang Yu went out, he often left him in the old priest’s cave. The other side always treated him like an ordinary cub and often taught him to recognize herbs.

Unfortunately, the old priest had been too old, and his legs and feet were inconvenient. In the end, he had died on the road.

Seeing him fall silent, Lang Yu knew he had thought of the old priest. He rubbed Lang Shuo’s hair. “If the old priest knew you were like this now, he would be happy.”

Lang Shuo lowered his eyes and nodded. “Mm.”

The brothers checked the tools once, taking out those they were currently using separately and putting away the ones they temporarily did not need. If they still did not use them after processing this batch of food, they would return them to the Black Wolf Tribe.

Lang Yu placed several knives separately. “Don’t use these, and don’t pick them up. They’re too sharp.”

His younger brother’s leg still had not healed, and he was unsteady when walking. If he fell while holding a knife, it would be very easy to get hurt.

Lang Shuo looked at Lang Yu’s cautious appearance and wanted to say he had used sharper ones than these. However, to keep Lang Yu from worrying, he still nodded. “Okay. I won’t use them. I’ll let Lang Nuo use them.”

“Use what?” Lang Nuo was holding a large bone in his hand. Hearing the two brothers mention him, he casually asked. After asking, he lowered his head and continued gnawing on the bone. Before, he had not liked gnawing bones and disliked that there was little meat. Recently, he discovered that after eating half-full, gnawing bones was quite good. It both satisfied cravings and filled the stomach.

“Letting you use the bone knife tomorrow to cut meat,” Lang Shuo explained. “There’ll be a lot of jerky to dry tomorrow.”

The Black Wolf Tribe had a lot of food. Previously, when preparing food for their own tribe, cutting one prey animal a day was enough. Now they had to cut three or four in one day. The other members of the tribe wanted to help, but they also had things to do. The sub-adults’ tasks were heavier than before.

“Oh, cutting meat. No problem.” Lang Nuo did not take this seriously. It was not as if he had never cut meat before. Besides, he had cut quite a lot today too.

Lang Nuo thought this until the next day, when Lang Shuo assigned tasks. Lang Nuo pointed at the pile of meat beside him. “Shuo, I’m alone, and I have to cut this much?”

Lang Nuo suspected Lang Shuo had remembered wrongly. This should be the task for this temporary team.

“That’s right. These are yours. Yesterday was to let you familiarize yourselves with the work. Today, we officially begin.” Yesterday, the work of several teams had been swapped around a few times precisely to familiarize them. Today was when processing truly began.

In front of each sub-adult was a large stone. They sat on a small stone. Beside them, aside from a knife, there were only several back baskets of meat. This let them clearly see how much of their task remained and also eliminated the possibility of them using their hands to communicate.

Unlike the shock of the Snow Wolf Tribe’s sub-adults, the sub-adults of the Black Wolf Tribe had eyes full of excitement. So much meat, all of it to be made into jerky. When the time came, they could lie in the cave, do nothing, and only eat jerky. Just thinking about it was blissful.

The sub-adult black wolves sank into longing for their future life.

“Wake up.” Lang Shuo waved his hand in front of them. “Did you not sleep well yesterday? Did you pick up branches all night?”

“No.” Lang Yong wiped away the nonexistent saliva from the corner of his mouth. “I got tempted.”

Lang Nuo showed sympathy. They were tempted even by raw meat? Was the Black Wolf Tribe’s food that hard to eat?

…

“Boss, is our tribe’s food really that bad?” Seeing the empty sub-adult cave once again, Lang Qi asked a sincere question.

Lang Yan, who was roasting meat, glanced at the other members around them. “What do you think?”

Lang Qi looked at the roasted meat in various colors held by the group of black wolves and quietly shut his mouth.

Theirs was generally unpleasant to eat.

The sub-adults’ was especially unpleasant to eat.

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