Chapter 224
With iron ore now available, the tribe’s existing tools could be improved, and the planting area could be expanded. Bai Tu wasted no time and immediately started making arrangements. The plan was to finalize everything before the rainy season so that once it ended, the Eagle Tribe could transport the iron ore, allowing for iron smelting. As for fuel, Bai Tu first considered charcoal—burning wood to produce charcoal and then using it for smelting. Although it required a lot of work, it was the best option at the moment. However, before Bai Tu could even organize the charcoal-making process, Lang Ze arrived with another resource.
Recently, Hei Yan had been sticking close to Hei Xiao, boasting about his discovery of useful materials whenever he saw Lang Qi or Lang Ze. Lang Ze, who was about the same age as Hei Yan and had a competitive personality, didn’t want to be outdone. Hearing that Hei Yan had found something valuable, he began searching as well. Bai Tu had already examined most of the resources around the two tribes, so Lang Ze came up with a new idea—digging underground.
And sure enough, he struck gold.
He unearthed large chunks of black stone, which he thought would be great for constructing a breeding area, eliminating the need for bricks. However, when Bai Tu saw it, he was momentarily stunned—it wasn’t just any stone. It was coal.
Lang Ze’s discovery of coal was nothing short of a lifesaver. It directly solved the problem of the heavy workload by eliminating the step of burning wood for charcoal, saving a lot of time. Since the Snow Rabbit Tribe had a small population, reducing the workload of iron smelting meant other tasks could proceed more smoothly.
As the rainy season approached, everyone once again prepared items to take to the market. Unlike last year, this time their mentality had changed significantly. With an ample food supply in the tribe, there was no longer the same anxiety about not being able to trade for enough salt. Not only could they obtain salt, but they could also trade for other essential materials.
Since food had been prepared in advance, they left earlier than the previous year, giving them more time for the journey and allowing them to browse the market at a leisurely pace upon arrival.
Bai Tu’s first priority at the market was searching for seeds and live animals to bring back for breeding.
Unfortunately, few tribes brought live animals to trade; most offered only lightly smoked meat.
The market was enormous, and different tribes set up stalls in a chaotic manner. Bai Tu organized several teams—wolves, rabbits, and even the accompanying eagles—to help with the search. After two full days of scouring the market, they returned with a large haul of seeds.
During the latter half of the rainy season, Bai Tu immediately arranged for planting. With an abundance of seeds, not only did their own tribe cultivate them, but two allied tribes also joined in. With the rich resources around the settlement and the assistance of both the Wolf and Eagle Tribes, the Snow Rabbit Tribe developed rapidly.
With food supplies secured, Bai Tu focused more on the young ones.
If a wolf cub hadn’t taken on human form by the age of three, everyone knew that even if they eventually transformed, they would still be weaker than their peers.
However, Bai Tu believed there was a difference between being slightly weak and being extremely weak. He sought every possible way to boost their nutrition, going beyond just meat. Using food obtained through trade and ingredients brought by the Eagle Tribe from the Southern Continent, Bai Tu provided a diverse diet for the cubs.
His efforts paid off. Before winter arrived, the two wolf cubs under his care successfully transformed into human form.
Although a bit late, their physique and intelligence were on par with their peers.
Even Lang Qi was surprised, let alone the other beastmen.
Due to their early experiences, the two cubs had been timid and noticeably smaller than others when Bai Tu first took them in. But now, not only had they caught up in size, but they also seemed to have a natural ability to dominate other cubs—a rare phenomenon.
While their transformation was cause for celebration, Bai Tu couldn’t shake off an unsettling feeling. He noticed Lang Qi looking at him strangely—glancing at the cubs, then back at him, repeatedly.
Since they were mates, it wasn’t unusual for Lang Qi to look at him, but Bai Tu couldn’t shake the bad premonition he felt.
This feeling peaked as winter approached.
With the harsh season drawing near, there was much to do in the tribe. However, Hei Xiao, who was usually by Bai Tu’s side, had been absent for two whole days.
The first time Bai Tu asked about it, Hei Xiao simply said he hadn’t been sleeping well. Bai Tu assumed his brother was just exhausted from work.
But when Hei Xiao still hadn’t left his cave the next day, and only Hei Yan came out to fetch food, Bai Tu knew something was off. No matter how tired he was, skipping meals was unlike him.
Unable to rest easy without seeing it for himself, Bai Tu ignored Hei Yan’s attempts to block him and walked straight into the cave.
Hei Xiao hadn’t expected his brother to barge in. He scrambled to cover something beside him and pretended to be calm.
“Tu, why are you here? Is it too busy outside? I’ll be out this afternoon.”
But no matter how fast Hei Xiao moved, Bai Tu had already seen it. He frowned and asked,
“Brother, what are you hiding?”
He had caught a glimpse of a few eggs, but seeing Hei Xiao’s reaction, he wondered if he had been mistaken. After all, it was unlikely that Hei Xiao would go to such lengths just to hide eggs.
Hei Xiao got out of bed and said, “Nothing, just some eagle eggs from the tribe. I was keeping them here for a few days before taking them out tomorrow.” He quickly changed the topic, urging Hei Yan to set up the food.
Bai Tu glanced at Hei Xiao, then at the place he had just covered, his skepticism evident.
Their tribe indeed had several members from the Black Eagle Tribe, and some eagles had even laid eggs there, trusting Bai Tu’s ability to care for young ones.
But recently, he hadn’t heard of any eagles laying eggs in the tribe.
Furthermore…
Eagle Tribe members always incubate their eggs personally—how could they possibly hand them over to someone else? Even if there were no other choice and someone else had to care for them, the best option would be another eagle who had laid eggs at the same time, or at the very least, a close relative. There was no way they would entrust them to Hei Xiao, whose beast form was a rabbit. If Bai Tu believed Hei Xiao’s excuse, that would be truly absurd.
“I’m telling you, it’s really just—” Hei Xiao still wanted to keep the truth hidden for another two days, at least until the hatchlings broke out of their shells. However, before he could finish his sentence, he took a proper look at his brother for the first time in a while and was immediately shocked. “Tu, what’s going on with your stomach?!”
Someone, please explain to him—how could Bai Tu’s belly have grown noticeably bigger in just two days?
Bai Tu looked down at his stomach. It did seem a little swollen. He placed a hand on it, and suddenly, he understood why Lang Qi had been looking at him so often lately. Thinking back to his recent appetite, Bai Tu answered his brother’s question:
“I’ve been eating a lot lately. I must’ve gained weight.”
Hei Xiao: “ … ?”
That’s the kind of excuse you tell a naïve beastman who knows nothing!
Was Bai Tu really just fat? Hei Xiao knew better than that.
In the past, he might not have reacted so quickly, but now things were different. Hei Xiao’s gaze shifted toward the bed, and as anger surged in his chest, he kicked Hei Yan.
Hei Yan: “ … ?” What did this have to do with him?!
Hei Xiao didn’t look at his mate. Instead, he focused entirely on Bai Tu’s reaction. Watching his brother earnestly explain how his increased appetite was simply his body preparing for winter, Hei Xiao fell into deep thought.
Had he never told Bai Tu that sub-beastmen could get pregnant?
Bai Tu finished analyzing his supposed weight gain and then looked up, only to see Hei Xiao staring at him with a mixture of guilt and distress. He was instantly stunned.
Hei Xiao almost never looked at him that way. Bai Tu had been convinced he was just storing up energy for winter, but now, he started to doubt himself.
“… Brother?” Bai Tu asked hesitantly.
Hei Xiao’s expression—was he seriously ill with some rare disease?
