Chapter 31
Lang Ze had been dancing on the edge of getting beaten for quite some time now—it wasn’t just a one-day or two-day thing. But every time, he seemed to reach new heights in testing his limits.
Bai Tu had only turned away for a moment when he heard Lang Ze’s voice. Just as he was about to issue a warning, Lang Qi had already stepped over.
“Stupid big brother!” Lang Ze muttered as he poked at the meat in the pot. Then he suddenly realized that the piece of meat was getting farther and farther away from him. Panicking, he let out a horrified howl. “Tu! The pot’s collapsing!”
Bai Tu: “…”
Bai Tu sighed in exasperation. “Look up,” he said, utterly drained. Foolish child, it’s not the pot collapsing—it’s you flying.
Lang Ze raised his head, his face full of alarm. He was so startled he almost reverted to his original form. “Big brother?!”
“Go drink some water!” Lang Qi suppressed his anger, silently reminding himself that this was his younger brother. Family was family.
Bai Tu placed a freshly made dipping sauce on the side. “Use this—it’s a new mix I just made.”
The dipping dishes were freshly crafted that very evening.
In this area, there was no shortage of wood, so they could carve bowls, spoons, and even small trays out of it.
Making a smaller dipping dish was hardly a problem. Seeing that Bai Tu was already putting more meat into the pot, Lang Qi finally let go of his younger brother, who had been courting disaster all night.
As soon as his feet hit the ground, Lang Ze bolted without so much as a pause, terrified that his big brother might hit him the next second.
Only after running far away did he remember—he hadn’t finished eating yet! That was the meat he had painstakingly sliced himself.
Every single slice was cut extremely thin because his big brother had demanded it. It had taken him forever! But now, he didn’t dare go back.
Lang Ze hid behind a corner, watching from afar, waiting for his big brother to leave so he could sneak back and eat.
Bai Tu noticed Lang Ze peeking around nervously. Remembering the way Lang Ze had reacted to spicy food before, Bai Tu pointed to the mildly spicy pot nearby.
While the spicier broth was undeniably more flavorful, it was better to start with something milder, especially for someone like Lang Ze, who couldn’t handle spice well. Not everyone was like Lang Qi, who had been able to dive straight into the spiciest option on his first try.
But Lang Ze resolutely refused to approach the mild pot. No way! If he was going to eat, he was going to eat the spiciest one!
Bai Tu: “…”
Forget it. Bai Tu shook his head helplessly and went to prepare some marinade.
Judging by the way things were going, this meal wasn’t going to end anytime soon. Eating too many thinly sliced meat pieces could get monotonous, so he decided to marinate some diced meat for variety.
With three large prey animals on hand, they could afford to eat to their heart’s content—they wouldn’t finish it all anyway.
Before, meals were always eaten in shifts, with one group of beastmen eating their fill while the others guarded their supplies. But slicing meat for hotpot took time, and even after eating several kilos of meat, many still felt they could eat more. However, it was already time to change shifts, so the beastmen reluctantly switched places, not forgetting to remind those taking over to eat quickly.
This meal stretched from evening until the crack of dawn. The beastmen leaned back, stretching lazily and burping. “Ah, that hit the spot!” They felt utterly content. This kind of life was pure happiness—they wished every day could be like this.
Ma Xin and Ma Ping, the two newcomers, were even more amazed than the others.
It was their first time experiencing this kind of meal, and they never could have imagined that the fire fruit—a food that everyone despised—could be eaten this way. It was summer now, but they could already imagine how incredible it would feel to eat hotpot in the winter!
Bai Tu watched as the beastmen began cleaning up the remnants of the feast. His heart was filled with nothing but shock—pure, unadulterated shock. One cow and two pigs, and these beastmen had devoured more than two-thirds of it!
That single cow alone weighed nearly a ton. After bleeding it out and removing the bones and hide, there were still over 500 kilos of meat left. Now, all that remained were the head and hooves—parts that were hard to slice for hotpot.
The pigs fared slightly better, with a bit more meat left over, but even so, the beastmen had eaten 100 or 200 kilos of pork. No wonder Lang Qi, despite being such an excellent hunter, always seemed worried. These beastmen were bottomless pits! They never truly ate to their heart’s content. Especially that little wolf Lang Ze—his appetite was almost larger than that of an adult wolf!
The rabbits weren’t light eaters either, and Bai Tu had already witnessed the wolves’ enormous appetites on the journey here. But even so, he hadn’t expected their capacity to grow even larger.
The stomachs of the beastmens were like an overcrowded subway during morning rush hour—no matter how full it seemed, there was always room to squeeze in a little more. You could never truly know how much they were capable of eating.
One benefit of having such massive appetites was that fewer baskets had to be carried back. After eating and drinking their fill, the beastmen were all drowsy and sluggish, having spent the entire night focused solely on eating, with barely any sleep at all.
Bai Tu personally witnessed more than one wolf walking with their eyes closed—but the most remarkable thing was that they still managed to keep pace with the group. It was an almost magical ability.
Noticing the astonishment in Bai Tu’s eyes, Lang Qi glanced briefly at Lang Ze, who was walking ahead of them, then shifted his gaze elsewhere.
Bai Tu followed Lang Qi’s gaze and guessed what he might be implying. “Is this one of the special skills of your hunting team?” he asked. Lang Qi silently nodded.
The answer was as expected, and Bai Tu gave him a thumbs-up in admiration. Truly impressive.
Although the wolves often appeared unreliable, they always came through in critical moments.
After resting for a night, the entire group of beastmen was brimming with energy.
Probably because they had eaten so well the day before, they were now so full of vigor that they looked like they were itching for a fight.
Bai Tu glanced up at the distant mountains. “We’re almost at Blackstone Mountain.”
By tonight, they would reach the base of Blackstone Mountain. On the way here, they had encountered beastmen from the Brown Monkey Tribe. Bai Tu wondered if they might run into them again.
Unlike Bai Tu’s concerns, Lang Ze and the younger wolves looked at Blackstone Mountain with barely contained excitement.
Although they had started hunting a year ago, fighting beastmen was generally not something that involved them.
Strictly speaking, beastmen still in their growth phase were considered juveniles—just slightly older cubs.
While they were fine hunting prey, since they could usually avoid severe injuries as long as they dodged skillfully, fighting other beastmen was a different matter.
Injuries were much more likely, as beastmen from opposing tribes didn’t care about sparing juveniles.
When full of energy, the younger wolves would usually spar with their peers to vent their excess energy.
But after years of fighting the same opponents, it had grown dull. They had been fighting the same group of wolves for over a decade now, and sometimes they dreamed of sparring with adult wolves.
But the adult wolves completely ignored them! Now, with their energy at its peak, the younger beastmen looked eagerly at Blackstone Mountain, hoping for a few Brown Monkey beastmen to appear.
They were desperate for a fight. If they didn’t get one now, they’d have to wait until they returned to the tribe, where the adult wolves would go off to battle and certainly wouldn’t bring them along.
It was as if their prayers had been heard—or perhaps the Brown Monkey Tribe felt emboldened once again.
When the group climbed Blackstone Mountain, they discovered that a band of monkey beastmen had indeed come for a second attempt at stealing supplies. This time, dozens of them moved in from multiple directions, attempting to surround the group while they were eating.
But this time, success was impossible. The monkeys didn’t even get close to the baskets before being pounced on by the ambushing young wolves.
The beastmen had already sensed something was off on their way up the mountain.
The monkeys believed their previous failure was due to insufficient numbers, so they had multiplied their forces several times over.
Ironically, this larger group only made them more conspicuous. The rabbits’ sharp hearing picked up on even the faintest rustle of leaves or snap of a branch, while the monkeys, overly confident in their climbing abilities, assumed they would go unnoticed as long as they stayed in the treetops. But the constant movement had already been detected by the rabbit beastmen.
Meanwhile, the wolves’ famously keen sense of smell made it easy to identify the presence of another tribe nearby. The heat of summer only made the monkeys’ scent more noticeable.
Both the rabbits and the wolves had been prepared for this ambush, lying in wait for the monkeys to walk right into their trap.
The monkeys didn’t disappoint—they mistook the sight of the group eating as a sign of relaxation and tried to make a move on the salt. In reality, half the beastmen were hidden behind them, waiting for the monkeys to appear.
The monkeys hadn’t anticipated this at all. They typically relied on ambush tactics because their physical strength and endurance couldn’t match those of other tribes.
Taking advantage of tree cover often gave them the upper hand, but now they had fallen into an ambush themselves. They didn’t stand a chance. The fight turned into a one-sided beatdown, with the wolves dominating entirely.
The younger wolves, who hadn’t had a proper outlet for their energy since the journey began, were ecstatic. They had been itching to fight the Brown Monkey Tribe for ages—these monkeys did nothing but steal and deceive.
Although the wolves didn’t have much familiarity with the Leopard Tribe either, the supplies sent by the leopards were deeply appreciated by Bai Tu, especially since it was said that some of the items were even edible.
Anyone who sent food was considered a friend. But the Brown Monkeys? Daring to scam them, and now even targeting their supplies? Their audacity was outrageous.
After a hearty feast and two days of rest, all the beastmen were in peak condition.
The Brown Monkey Tribe’s hopes were completely dashed—they didn’t even get close to the salt baskets.
They were beaten so badly that they scattered in all directions. If not for the dense trees in the area providing escape routes, things might have gone even worse for them.
Bai Tu was in awe. The young beastmen fought without restraint, attacking with sheer ferocity, aiming for the most painful spots, and even biting when necessary.
The wolves, in particular, excelled at group tactics. No matter which direction the opponent attacked from, there was always a wolf waiting behind them.
Even though the Brown Monkey Tribe was known for their cunning, they couldn’t handle such a relentless onslaught and were forced to flee.
Some wolves wanted to chase after them, but the adult wolves called them back. Fighting here, where they had the advantage of numbers, was fine, but the wolves didn’t know Blackstone Mountain as well as the monkeys did.
Chasing after them could lead to trouble. This was why most tribes, even after fighting the Brown Monkey Tribe, didn’t push them to the brink of annihilation. It was safer to stand their ground and counterattack when necessary; pursuing them into unfamiliar territory could result in getting lost or worse.
The young wolves, having finished their brawl, were just in time for their next meal.
Bai Tu went around applying medicine to their wounds. Even though the young wolves were beastmen, and therefore quite resilient, they were still inexperienced and hadn’t fully learned how to protect themselves.
Injuries were inevitable. During the fight, they hadn’t felt the pain, but now, as they rested, the wailing began.
“It hurts!” Lang Ze extended his paw and howled with his eyes shut. Although he’d been injured before and would usually tough it out, now that someone was applying medicine, he felt like he had to cry out for sympathy.
Hearing his cries, Bai Tu couldn’t help but soften his touch, which only resulted in a chorus of whining.
Lang Qi surveyed the injuries and, upon returning, heard his foolish younger brother still howling. “Want me to apply the medicine for you?”
Lang Ze, mid-wail, froze as if someone had grabbed him by the throat. He immediately opened his eyes and withdrew his paw. “It doesn’t hurt! It doesn’t hurt at all!”
Bai Tu: “…”
“Don’t let the wounds touch water, and don’t lie on them while you sleep,” Bai Tu instructed.
For anyone else, just the first part of the advice would suffice. But for these young wolves, the second part was equally important.
These adolescent beastmen were both reckless and obedient—they listened when told what to do, even if their methods were over the top. That night, all the injured wolves lay down with their arms or legs held upright. The scene was startling, to say the least.
After a moment of silence, Bai Tu found a few empty baskets and placed them beside the injured wolves, instructing them to rest their injured limbs on the baskets. Otherwise, holding their arms up all night might strain even their healthy limbs.
Fortunately, the adult wolves were keeping a close watch, and the injuries weren’t severe enough to hinder walking. By the next morning, everyone was able to set out as usual.
Bai Tu distributed pig trotters and beef shank that had been simmering all night to the injured. The uninjured young wolves stared enviously.
Lang Zuo asked seriously, “If I get hurt later, will I get some too?”
Bai Tu handed him a piece of chilled pigskin jelly. Without refrigeration, he had soaked the pigskin in cool water overnight in a stone pot.
The result was smooth and chewy, a texture completely different from their usual meals. The beastmen, who had been on the verge of a mental breakdown while scraping pigskin a few days ago, were instantly captivated by the dish’s unique texture. They were so delighted they wanted to hunt two more pigs on the spot.
The journey back was uneventful. Upon returning to familiar territory, everyone was thrilled. No matter how comfortable life on the road was, it still wasn’t home. Only within their own territory could they truly feel at ease.
Lang Ze clung to Bai Tu’s arm. “Tu, come back to the tribe with me. I can’t live without you—”
Before he could finish, Lang Qi yanked him aside.
The rabbits were already accustomed to Lang Ze blurting out such declarations from time to time.
At first, it had made them nervous, but after realizing that Bai Tu was completely unfazed, they gradually stopped worrying.
Today, however, things felt a bit different. After all, they were now near the wolves’ territory. What if Bai Tu suddenly decided to go to the Blood Wolf Tribe?
When they saw Lang Qi drag Lang Ze away, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. They couldn’t help but feel grateful for Lang Qi’s reliability.
Bai Tu comforted the dejected Lang Ze. “I’ll make something delicious for you after the rainy season!”
Before the rainy season, there likely wouldn’t be time, as everyone would need to focus on hunting as much as possible. Lang Ze’s sorrow lifted slightly, but before leaving, he repeatedly emphasized, “Tu, you mustn’t forget about me…”
Bai Tu: “…”
Anyone who didn’t know better would think they were parting ways for life.
In reality, Lang Ze showed up the very next day, carrying a basket. It wasn’t because he’d been kicked out of the tribe, but because Lang Qi had realized that while everyone understood Bai Tu’s instructions on farming in theory, they were utterly clueless when it came to practical application.
For instance, how deep should the soil be tilled? How much water was needed? After some thought, Lang Qi decisively packed up his nagging younger brother and sent him to the rabbits for “apprenticeship.” Along with Lang Ze’s personal rations, the wolves also sent over a freshly caught pig.
For the sake of the pig, Bai Tu couldn’t refuse Lang Ze’s request to stay and learn.
The payment was far too generous, and it was only a deposit for lessons that hadn’t even started yet! If more students like this came along, Bai Tu would gladly teach them all!
Lang Ze’s life among the rabbits was exceptionally satisfying.
Bai Tu was always busy, and since Lang Ze had come to learn, Bai Tu made sure to involve him in almost everything.
Bai Tu also had a habit of rewarding himself with delicious food after a hard day’s work, which made Lang Ze so excited he almost howled with joy. This was his dream life! As for the work, it was nothing—an adolescent beastman bursting with energy could easily handle double the workload!
Ma Xin and Ma Ping only stayed in the rabbit tribe long enough for one meal before hurrying back—they needed to deliver the mulberry trees before the rainy season.
Half of the silkworms in their basket had managed to survive up to this point. From their condition, Bai Tu could tell they were about to start cocooning within the next couple of days.
This batch was meant to be kept for egg production, so Bai Tu took extra care of them. He would frequently explain the process to Lang Ze, Bai Dong, and others—teaching one person was teaching, but teaching a group wasn’t any more effort. With that mindset, Bai Tu decisively gathered all the half-grown children in the tribe who were nearing adulthood and had them join Lang Ze in learning.
Chili peppers and melons should have been planted earlier, but this time, Bai Tu didn’t plan to deliberately separate their planting times.
Since they had plenty of seeds, even if the current batch didn’t grow well, they could try again with the remaining seeds. However, with the weather growing hotter, the surrounding soil was getting drier. Bai Tu decided not to plant directly into the ground.
Instead, he soaked the seeds and planted them near the cave for nursery care. This location made it easier to water and monitor them.
Corn, on the other hand, was better suited for direct planting. Because they had a large quantity of corn seeds, Bai Tu had assigned a task to the remaining tribe members before the salt trade team left: clear the weeds in the surrounding area and turn the soil.
The beastmen’s strength made this task relatively easy. At first, they used tools, but they soon discovered that transforming into their animal forms and digging with their claws was much faster.
By now, the entire area from the front of the mountain to the nearby riverbank had been cleared, just as Bai Tu had requested.
Bai Tu chose a patch of land that was covered in weeds but had no trees. Previously, this area had been used as a dumping ground for animal carcass remnants and other leftovers.
Because it wasn’t shaded by trees, the sunlight was abundant, and the weeds grew exceptionally well. This made it an ideal spot for planting corn.
The weeds they removed weren’t wasted either. Anything that could be used to feed cows, pigs, or chickens was kept and dried into hay as Bai Tu had instructed, to be stored for feeding animals in the winter.
When it came to animal domestication, rabbits were technically the easiest to raise—they reproduced quickly and in large numbers. However, now that Bai Tu understood he was also a rabbit beastman, he found himself strangely resistant to the idea.
It felt uncomfortably like cannibalism. The rest of the tribe seemed to share this sentiment. While rabbit beastmen were capable of eating regular rabbits, none of them ever caught or raised rabbits, as if by unspoken agreement.
Once the area was cleared, Bai Tu divided it into small plots arranged in a grid pattern. The field was too large to manage or water all at once, so splitting it into smaller sections made things more manageable.
Considering that continuous rains were likely to start soon, Bai Tu also arranged for drainage ditches to be dug. A moderate amount of rainwater would benefit the crops, but excessive rain could cause flooding. If they didn’t prepare properly, it would be a major headache later.
Corn had a relatively short growing period of about 100 days. Since this corn crop was tied to the tribe’s food supply for the winter, Bai Tu treated it with utmost importance.
Aside from the beastmen who had to leave for hunting or gathering and the children too young to work, everyone else in the tribe was assigned tasks. Those capable of digging worked on turning the soil, while those who could not dig holes would plant seeds. No one was allowed to stand idle.
After seeing the salt brought back by the salt trade team, the rabbit tribe had developed absolute trust in Bai Tu.
Whatever he told them to do, they would do it without question, even if they didn’t fully understand why. They just focused on their work!
In previous years, the tribe’s hunting yields had barely been enough to meet their needs, let alone allow for a surplus to trade for salt. But this year, they had returned with so many animal pelts and such a large amount of salt that it would last them more than a year.
This was the first time the rabbit tribe had experienced such abundance, and they couldn’t have been happier.
Their joy translated into enthusiasm for their work. Whatever tasks Bai Tu assigned were carried out with great fervor. Seeing everyone so eager made Bai Tu happy as well. The more work they put in now, the better their harvest in the fall would be.
Bai Tu had made some improvements to the corn-planting techniques provided by the Leopard Tribe. For instance, the leopards didn’t water their corn at all, relying entirely on natural germination.
Bai Tu, however, had the tribe water the seeds after planting to encourage faster sprouting. Without chemical fertilizers, even fertile soil would yield lower harvests, so he spaced the seeds farther apart.
With about 10 kilos of corn seed, they planted six to seven acres of land. It took the entire tribe three or four days of busy work, but they managed to finish just before the rains arrived.
The rainy season didn’t start with heavy downpours. The initial rainfall was light, and the weather became cooler and more pleasant.
Hunting was still possible during these first few days, so the hunting teams didn’t stop their activities. They took advantage of the rain to catch more prey, ensuring the tribe would have plenty of food for the rainy season.
Lang Ze, carrying the hopes of his entire tribe, participated in every task to learn firsthand how to plant crops so he could bring the knowledge back to the wolves.
After completing his “training” with the rabbits, he was teary-eyed when Lang Qi came to take him back.
“Tu, I’ll be back!” Lang Ze declared confidently.
He had already learned that there would be a harvest after the rainy season, and he planned to return then to help with the harvest—and, of course, to eat Bai Tu’s cooking for a few more days.
Lang Qi’s tone was unreadable. “Why don’t you just stay with the rabbits?”
Lang Ze’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Really?!” He could hardly believe his ears. Was this really his brother, or had someone impersonated him?
Lang Qi: “…”
