When Jian Mo heard about the Meng Shui Tribe organizing a trade caravan, his curiosity was piqued. “This isn’t their first time putting together a trade caravan, is it?”
Wu Jiong shook his head. “No, they do it every year. Sometimes they go alone, and other times they invite other tribes to join.”
Jian Mo was intrigued. “It sounds like they’ve got a well-established system.”
Wu Jiong nodded. “They do. Every trip they take, they bring back something new. For example, their houses are modeled after ones they saw in another tribe.”
Jian Mo was surprised. When he first saw the Meng Shui Tribe’s houses, he had been impressed.
“Turns out they learned it from someone else?” he mused. “It sounds like these trips are quite fruitful.”
After weighing his options for a moment, Jian Mo said, “If nothing urgent is happening here, I’d like to go on this trip.”
Wu Jiong had anticipated this. “I’ve already arranged for it. I’ll let Yun Long know, and we’ll join them.”
Jian Mo brightened. “Great! I’ll start packing and figure out what to bring.”
Not only Jian Mo, but many in the tribe were eager to join the expedition, especially the younger beastmen and sub-beastmen.
Life in the He’an Tribe was steady but lacked much entertainment or excitement. Many were feeling restless and desperate for something new.
After some discussion, Wu Jiong and the others decided to allow ten additional members to join the caravan.
Couples, worried about being separated, opted out of the lottery, leaving most of the spots to the young singles.
Among those drawing lots, Ban Ming was lucky enough to get a spot, but his close friend Ah Hu wasn’t as fortunate.
Holding his winning lot, Ban Ming excitedly asked Qing Kuo, “Dad, can I invite Ah Meng to come along?”
Qing Kuo replied, “If you can convince him, go ahead. The tribe doesn’t mind.”
Encouraged by his friends, Ban Ming went to ask Ah Meng, who agreed.
Overjoyed, Ban Ming returned to his friends to share the news.
Ah Hu and the others who didn’t win the draw had expected Ban Ming to fail, and they couldn’t help but grumble about his good fortune.
Ignoring their complaints, Ban Ming threw himself into preparing for the trip. He brought out all his saved clothing and accessories, dressing up flamboyantly every day.
With Qing Kuo’s good looks, Ban Ming naturally inherited an impressive appearance. When he wasn’t acting foolish, he was a striking young man, and his newfound style drew a lot of attention.
Jian Mo, on the other hand, stayed focused on preparations. Before leaving, they had to deal with the Tou Tou Beasts. Managing such a large herd wasn’t easy, and they couldn’t simply entrust the entire burden to others while they were away.
They contacted the Bing Jiang Tribe, intending to trade the beasts.
The Bing Jiang chief, Kang Ying, came personally to inspect the herd. Satisfied with their quality, he agreed to take most of the Tou Tou Beasts.
Afterward, Jian Mo’s family was left with only six lactating females and two newborn females, bringing their total down to eight. The reduced number significantly lightened their workload.
Watching Kang Ying load the Tou Tou Beasts onto wooden carts, Jian Mo was surprised. “When did you guys start using carts? And four-wheeled ones at that?”
Kang Ying grinned sheepishly. “We learned it from another tribe not long ago. They’re really useful, so we made a few. Want one? We can spare one for you.”
Looking at the carts, which didn’t seem particularly complex to make, Jian Mo politely declined. “No need for now, but they do seem handy.”
Kang Ying nodded. “They are. Without these carts, we’d have to walk the whole way back.”
He hefted the beasts onto the carts with his powerful arms, the wooden planks creaking under the weight.
The Tou Tou Beasts huddled together, trembling. Fortunately, their numbers provided some comfort, and none of them had died from fright—yet.
Watching the process, Jian Mo asked, “Don’t you have a different way of raising Tou Tou Beasts?”
Kang Ying confirmed, “We release them into a valley. When we need meat, we hunt them there, and when we need milk, we go and milk them directly.”
After finishing the loading, Kang Ying covered the beasts with straw mats and chuckled. “Keeping them in the tribe is too much work.”
Jian Mo glanced at the remaining beasts at home. They were indeed labor-intensive to care for and had taken up much of their time.
After the Bing Jiang people left, Jian Mo called Qing Kuo over.
He arranged for the remaining beasts to be cared for by the tribe, offering fabric and milk as compensation. The six lactating females would provide milk directly, making the arrangement convenient for the tribe.
Having watched Jian Mo manage the Tou Tou Beasts as they grew their herd, Qing Kuo had a good understanding of their needs, and Jian Mo didn’t need to give much explanation.
After a brief discussion about the beasts, their conversation shifted to the upcoming trip.
Qing Kuo asked, “What will you bring to trade?”
Jian Mo counted on his fingers. “Soap, paper, glassware, and lip balm. We’re bringing both Chirpy and Ying Ao—they’re strong enough to carry the load.”
Qing Kuo chuckled. “Ying Ao certainly is.”
Jian Mo defended Chirpy. “Chirpy is strong too!”
Qing Kuo teased, “Bring more ointments. Those are always popular.”
Jian Mo considered it. “Lip balm? We don’t have much left. If it’s herbal balm made from lynx-tail grass, it might not compete well with the Meng Shui Tribe’s medicinal oil—their stuff is excellent for repelling insects and soothing itches.”
Qing Kuo clarified with a smirk, “No, I meant lubricant. Every tribe needs that.”
Jian Mo immediately waved his hands in refusal. “No, no, no. I’m a respectable doctor. I’m not promoting that!”
Qing Kuo clicked his tongue at Jian Mo’s earlier remark.
Soon after, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong finished packing.
Besides the He’an Tribe, the Meng Shui Tribe had also enlisted members from the Red Zhen and Zheng Chi Tribes to join the caravan.
With over fifty participants, the caravan was quite large.
The group included beastmen in various animal forms, all adept at carrying loads. Even with heavy bundles strapped to their backs, their pace didn’t falter.
Compared to the others, Jian Mo’s group carried relatively light loads, thanks to Chirpy and Ying Ao sharing the burden.
The sight of the two winged beasts garnered envy from the others, who began asking about raising winged beasts.
Winged beasts were notoriously difficult to domesticate. While some had ridden them to trade with the tribes, few could compare to Chirpy and Ying Ao’s agility and intelligence. Coupled with their voracious appetites and high maintenance needs, interest in keeping winged beasts was generally low.
Jian Mo could only sympathize. Even among winged beasts, the intelligence of Chirpy and Ying Ao stood out. He hadn’t put much effort into their training; they simply came that way.
As they traveled, the group chatted, exchanging plenty of news.
The Meng Shui Tribe’s pace was slower than average, but they covered a significant distance by the end of the day.
By evening, the caravan arrived at the Sharp-Tooth Tribe.
The group planned to stay for about two days, giving nearby tribes a chance to trade and share information.
Jian Mo hadn’t interacted directly with the Sharp-Tooth Tribe before but was familiar with their green onions, which he had planted at home.
The Sharp-Tooth Tribe, however, seemed well-acquainted with Jian Mo. They enthusiastically expressed their admiration, saying they’d heard of him for a long time and had always wanted to meet him.
Surprised by his reputation, Jian Mo said, “If you ever need help, feel free to visit the He’an Tribe. We’re not that far apart.”
The Sharp-Tooth people replied eagerly, “If we need anything, we’ll definitely come. Doctor Jian Mo, we heard you can perform surgery?”
Jian Mo nodded but cautioned, “I rarely perform surgery. Most treatments rely on medicine.”
One of the Sharp-Tooth members asked excitedly, “When you perform surgery, is it true you have a medicine that puts people to sleep so they don’t feel pain?”
Jian Mo nodded again.
Upon confirmation, the Sharp-Tooth members began murmuring among themselves in excitement. They spoke so quickly that Jian Mo couldn’t catch what they were saying.
Before he could ask, a young beastman suddenly leaned his large head toward Jian Mo and asked, “Then… could you help us pierce our ears painlessly?”
Jian Mo blinked. “What?”
With that question, the Sharp-Tooth people launched into an animated discussion.
“In our tribe, it’s tradition to pierce ears, but Song Lu’s technique is terrible. It hurts so much that I don’t dare go to him.”
“Song Lu’s not even the worst! Babu’s ear piercings are excruciating.”
“Don’t remind me. Last time, my ear was infected for a month. By the time it healed, the piercing had closed.”
They turned hopeful eyes to Jian Mo. “Doctor Jian Mo, couldn’t you use your anesthetic to numb us before piercing our ears?”
“We’ll pay whatever you ask—even extra if needed!”
Jian Mo frowned. “Using anesthetic for ear piercings would be such a waste.”
The Sharp-Tooth members pleaded, “How about just giving us a little? As long as it doesn’t hurt as much.”
Jian Mo explained, “Even without anesthetic, piercing the earlobe doesn’t hurt that much. As long as it’s disinfected properly, it shouldn’t get infected.”
The Sharp-Tooth members, however, didn’t believe him.
Regardless of their skepticism, Jian Mo refused to waste anesthetic on such a trivial matter. He’d only brought a limited supply and didn’t know what emergencies might arise during the journey. He had to conserve it.
Seeing his firm stance, the Sharp-Tooth members huddled together to discuss. Eventually, they proposed, “Doctor Jian Mo, could you at least pierce our ears? Song Lu and Babu’s piercings hurt too much.”
Jian Mo hesitated. “I’ve never pierced anyone’s ears before, so I can’t promise it’ll be painless.”
They didn’t mind. “We’re willing to take the risk.”
After a moment’s thought, Jian Mo agreed. “Alright, if you’re sure. For payment, can we trade for your green onions?”
The Sharp-Tooth members readily agreed. “No problem! We’ll gather them tomorrow. You can even come with us to pick them if you want. If it’s too much to carry, we’ll deliver them to the He’an Tribe for you.”
Delighted, Jian Mo said, “It’s a deal. I’ll prepare my tools. Pick one person to try it out first. If it goes well, the rest can follow.”
The young beastman who had first approached Jian Mo immediately raised his hand. “I’ll go first!”
Jian Mo nodded. “Alright, what’s your name?”
The beastman grinned. “Babu.”
Jian Mo’s face froze. “…The same Babu who’s known for painful ear piercings?”
The Sharp-Tooth members burst into laughter. “That’s him!”
Babu scratched his head sheepishly. “My technique isn’t great, so I figured I’d learn properly this time.”
Jian Mo’s lips twitched. “Alright then.”
He retrieved a small bottle of high-proof distilled liquor, made from Mien Fruit, which he used for disinfecting. While it tasted terrible, its sterilizing properties were excellent.
Jian Mo selected a medium-sized metal needle, sterilized it by boiling it, and then soaked a cloth in alcohol to clean Babu’s earlobe.
The cold alcohol made Babu wince.
From a few meters away, the onlookers shouted, “How is it? Does it hurt?”
Babu grimaced but replied, “No, it’s cold and tingly. Kind of spicy, though.”
The onlookers were puzzled. “Spicy? Is it onion water?”
Wearing gloves and a mask, Jian Mo focused on disinfecting and replied to the onlookers, “It’s not onion water; it’s alcohol. If you don’t have alcohol, using concentrated saltwater to clean can also help disinfect.”
Babu nodded in understanding.
“Hold still,” Jian Mo instructed, firmly pinching Babu’s ear to keep it steady.
Babu lay stiffly on the bench, unsure of what Jian Mo was doing. All he could feel was Jian Mo rubbing his ear—roughly and a bit painfully.
After a while, Babu suddenly felt a quick pinch on his earlobe. He widened his eyes as Jian Mo pulled the metal needle back and swiftly attached the bone earring Babu had prepared.
“All done,” Jian Mo said. “For the next two days, don’t touch your earlobe or remove the earring. In a few days, the hole should set.”
Babu stared in disbelief. “That’s it?!”
Jian Mo nodded. “Yes. If you plan to pierce others’ ears, follow this process. Always disinfect thoroughly, especially the earrings. Boil them in hot water to prevent infection.”
The nearby onlookers were stunned.
“That’s all it takes?”
“It’s so simple! The last time someone pierced their ear, they screamed so much I thought the cave would collapse. Took a group of us to hold them down.”
“When I got mine pierced, I wanted to run away. Only stayed because I didn’t want to lose face.”
Before the group could finish debating, someone eagerly stepped forward. “Doctor Jian Mo, can you pierce my ears too?”
Jian Mo nodded. “Sure. Let me finish Babu’s other ear first.”
His movements were swift, and soon, Babu’s second ear was done.
Jian Mo dropped the needle into the boiling pot to sterilize it, replaced his gloves, and soaked a fresh cloth in alcohol to disinfect the next person’s earlobe.
The beastman lying on the bench was visibly nervous, his body taut.
After thoroughly disinfecting, Jian Mo retrieved the boiled needle, allowed it to cool slightly, and with two quick movements, pierced both ears.
Having grown more accustomed to these tasks, Jian Mo’s improved dexterity and keen eyesight ensured precision. Although it was standard to mark the earlobes for symmetry, he no longer needed to—his results were flawless.
For the first beastman, Jian Mo took his time preparing. By the second, he finished within mere breaths.
“Goodness, faster than I take to relieve myself,” someone quipped.
Others laughed in agreement.
The second beastman, satisfied with his piercings, reached to touch his ears but was stopped by Jian Mo, who warned, “Wash your hands thoroughly first—preferably with soap—or you’ll risk redness and infection.”
Taking the opportunity, Jian Mo promoted their tribe’s soap. The Sharp-Tooth people enthusiastically promised to trade for it.
With two successful cases, more volunteers stepped forward, eagerly lying on the bench to have their ears pierced.
Jian Mo didn’t refuse anyone.
Piercing ears was far easier than performing surgery and less mentally taxing.
When one beastman requested multiple piercings, Jian Mo asked, “How many?”
“Three on each ear,” the beastman replied.
Jian Mo cautioned, “That will hurt more and carry higher risks.”
The beastman bravely said, “I can handle it.”
Seeing his determination, Jian Mo agreed. Beastmen were larger, with equally sizable ears, making it straightforward to fit three piercings per ear. This time, Jian Mo marked the spots to ensure symmetry before starting.
The result was perfect. Both ears were symmetrical, and the beastman beamed with satisfaction, thanking Jian Mo profusely.
Jian Mo was happy to see his joy.
By nightfall, Jian Mo was exhausted and announced he’d continue the next day. The crowd readily agreed.
To show their gratitude, the Sharp-Tooth Tribe provided Jian Mo and Wu Jiong with a private room. Most others had to sleep outdoors.
Fortunately, the warm weather made sleeping outside pleasant, as long as precautions against insects were taken. Still, Jian Mo preferred the comfort of a room.
While Jian Mo spent his day piercing ears, Wu Jiong handled other tasks.
That night, Jian Mo hugged Wu Jiong’s neck and asked, “How are Chirpy and Ying Ao?”
Wu Jiong replied, “I’ve fed them and left them at the main camp. Ban Ming and the others are keeping an eye on them.”
Jian Mo nuzzled against Wu Jiong’s chin, murmuring sleepily, “Thanks for your hard work.”
Wu Jiong patted Jian Mo’s back. “Get some rest.”
They slept soundly that night. Tired from traveling, Jian Mo overslept the next morning.
After a leisurely breakfast, he joined Wu Jiong in gathering information and trading goods with other tribes.
By midday, someone approached Jian Mo, asking for ear piercings. He returned to the room prepared for him by the Sharp-Tooth Tribe, readied his tools, and began.
Having traded for plenty of green onions the previous day, Jian Mo shifted his focus to lighter items such as cloth and metal. He arranged for the Sharp-Tooth people to help deliver these items to the He’an Tribe later, ensuring his load wouldn’t slow down the caravan.
With someone dedicated to piercing ears, nearly everyone was willing to trade valuable materials for Jian Mo’s services.
As evening came, Jian Mo hoped for some rest. However, even more people arrived for piercings, including Ban Ming and a few other beastmen and sub-beastmen.
Jian Mo frowned at them. “You’re feline beastmen—your inner and outer ears are highly sensitive. Wearing earrings could affect your hunting abilities.”
Ban Ming dismissed the concern. “We’re not wearing them all the time—just when we want to. Besides, earrings look so cool!”
Jian Mo raised an eyebrow. “What happened today?”
Ban Ming grinned. “You gave Shan Dun six piercings, right? When he shifted into his beast form, the earrings stayed in place.”
Another beastman from the He’an Tribe squeezed forward excitedly. “Brother Jian Mo, you didn’t see it, but Shan Dun’s beast form is something else. He’s a giant lion, kind of like De Jiang, with long fangs and pointed ears. When he flicked his ears, the three earrings on each side caught the sunlight and sparkled like crazy. It was amazing.”
Ban Ming chimed in, “Every beastman and sub-beastman there couldn’t stop staring when he moved his ears.”
Another beastman added, “His beast form is already impressive—solid muscles and sleek lines. There are plenty of beastmen as good-looking as him, but the earrings? They changed his whole vibe instantly.”
Jian Mo stood silently, listening for a full five minutes about how attractive the six-pierced beastman was. These guys were completely captivated.
Seeing Jian Mo deep in thought, Ban Ming moved in to massage his shoulders. “Brother Jian Mo, just help us out. Worst case, we’ll only wear the earrings for a while and let the holes close naturally after.”
Still, Jian Mo didn’t relent.
Ban Ming, not giving up, grinned slyly. “Brother Jian Mo, if you pierce our ears, we’ll give you some of the best stuff we traded for today as payment.”
Unable to resist their persistent pleading, Jian Mo finally caved.
The local beastmen and sub-beastmen clearly had a penchant for decorating themselves, so it wasn’t a big deal.
This group, however, didn’t dare go as far as Shan Dun with three piercings on each ear. They settled for two per ear instead.
Two seemed reasonable.
Jian Mo quickly completed the task and grew curious about what they would offer as compensation.
Ban Ming and the others brought out a box, initially intending to hand it to Jian Mo.
But after glancing at Jian Mo’s face, they hesitated and said, “Brother Jian Mo, we’ll just give it to the chief instead.”
Jian Mo raised an eyebrow in confusion.
The young beastmen hastily ran off with the box.
A short while later, Wu Jiong entered the room carrying it. “A little sub-beastman handed this to me, saying it’s for you as payment for the ear piercings. They said they’ll give you another reward once we’re back at the tribe.”
Curious, Jian Mo opened the box. Inside was a finely crafted black leather whip. The details were exquisite, but the whip was unusually short. It looked less like a practical tool and more like… something else.
Jian Mo: “…”
Wu Jiong: “…”
Calmly, Jian Mo closed the box. “When we get back, I’m reporting this to their parents.”
Wu Jiong nodded. “I’ll find a reason to beat them tomorrow.”
