After spending an entire day piercing ears in the Sharp-Tooth Tribe, Jian Mo was exhausted.
He turned to Wu Jiong. “I can’t do this anymore. Tomorrow, I want to join you all in foraging. I’ve come all this way; I’d like to see if there are any unique plants in other tribes.”
Wu Jiong nodded. “Alright. Let’s let the others know.”
By now, nearly everyone interested in ear piercings had already gotten theirs. When the Sharp-Tooth people heard Jian Mo wanted to go foraging, they readily agreed and promised to take him to the most plant-rich areas within their territory.
Eager with anticipation, Jian Mo rose early the next day.
When he and Wu Jiong stepped outside, most of the others were already up, looking equally prepared and enthusiastic. It was a rare chance to explore another tribe’s lands, and everyone was eager to participate.
The Sharp-Tooth Tribe, hoping to exchange goods and demonstrate their tribe’s strengths, had selected their strongest beastmen and sub-beastmen to lead the group into the designated wilds.
Jian Mo and Wu Jiong traveled together, with Chirpy and Ying Ao circling above them.
Having missed Jian Mo the day before, Chirpy seemed extra clingy. Every so often, it swooped down with a cheerful “Chirp!” to rub affectionately against him before flying off again.
Members from other tribes, unaccustomed to such a well-behaved winged beast, were intrigued. Some even tried petting Chirpy.
Far from being shy, Chirpy warmly nudged its large head against anyone who reached out, delighting the group.
As they walked, the Sharp-Tooth leaders introduced the flora and fauna along the way. While the vegetation wasn’t drastically different from what grew near the He’an Tribe, Jian Mo remained attentive, searching for anything unique.
After some time, his sharp eyes spotted a cluster of mushrooms peeking out from beneath a layer of fallen leaves. He crouched down, brushed the leaves aside, and revealed a patch of delicate, yellow mushrooms.
The mushrooms were pale yellow, with thin white powder covering their caps, giving them a sugar-dusted appearance. They looked like egg custards sprinkled with powdered sugar—irresistibly tempting.
Jian Mo called out to the Sharp-Tooth guide ahead. “Can these mushrooms be eaten?”
The guide came over, took a look, and confidently nodded. “They can. They’re delicious… and also terrible.”
Jian Mo blinked in confusion. “What do you mean by ‘delicious and terrible’?”
Others in the group gathered around, equally puzzled.
The guide scratched his head, struggling to explain. “It’s hard to describe. The taste is just… strange. If you’re curious, take some back and try them yourself.”
Jian Mo’s curiosity was piqued. “Alright, I’ll gather some.”
The Sharp-Tooth guide quickly called out, “Everyone, help pick some powdered yellow cap mushrooms! Doctor Jian Mo wants them.”
From all directions, beastmen responded with enthusiastic roars: “Woohoo!”
Perhaps due to their peculiar taste, these mushrooms were rarely foraged, so the group quickly collected a sizable amount. Before long, Jian Mo’s basket was overflowing.
Grateful, Jian Mo thanked everyone and asked them to pause their gathering.
Hearing the commotion, Chirpy swooped down to investigate. It sniffed the basket deeply, then abruptly scampered off to nuzzle Ying Ao, as if fleeing.
Jian Mo couldn’t help but suspect the mushrooms were truly as unpalatable as the guide suggested. If even Chirpy avoided them, they couldn’t be great.
Still, since he’d already collected them, Jian Mo resolved to try them for himself.
Back at the tribe, Jian Mo retrieved his metal pot, determined to prepare a mushroom dish.
“Mushrooms fried with meat can’t be that bad,” he reasoned.
He sliced some high-quality beast meat, ready to show off his culinary skills.
Ban Ming and others soon gathered to watch. As Jian Mo tossed the mushrooms into the pan, someone remarked, “I think I smell something… odd.”
“Yeah, me too. Doesn’t seem promising.”
“Come on, with Brother Jian Mo’s cooking skills, how bad could it be?”
Jian Mo frowned at the remarks but kept frying. “It’s not done yet. Don’t jinx it.”
The group conceded the point.
However, as the mushrooms and meat sizzled, the smell grew increasingly off-putting. Even Jian Mo’s confidence began to waver.
Desperate to neutralize the odor, he cooked the dish longer than usual, but it made no difference.
When the mushrooms were on the verge of drying out, Jian Mo finally plated the dish.
He held up the plate and looked around. “Who wants to try it first?”
Everyone shook their heads in unison. Only Wu Jiong, unbothered, grabbed a pair of chopsticks. “I’ll go first.”
After Wu Jiong tasted it, his expression didn’t inspire confidence. Jian Mo sighed and took a bite himself.
The mushrooms were undeniably tender and flavorful, but a strange aftertaste made them almost gag-worthy—truly both delicious and terrible.
Frowning, Jian Mo said, “The taste is so strange. Is it just that we’re not used to it?”
The Sharp-Tooth guide shrugged. “We’ve been eating these mushrooms for over a thousand years, and nobody’s ever gotten used to them.”
Jian Mo wondered aloud, “Maybe it’s the powder on the caps? Washing it off might help.”
The guide disagreed. “Washing them makes it worse. You lose the nice flavors, and the bad taste stands out even more.”
Yun Long, chewing thoughtfully on a piece of mushroom, added, “I’ve heard some tribes use these mushrooms to stew a certain type of bird meat. They remove the mushrooms halfway through cooking and say the resulting broth is amazing.”
The Sharp-Tooth guide nodded. “We do that too, but we didn’t catch any of those birds today.”
Shan Dun, the six-pierced beastman, immediately volunteered. “I know where to find those birds. I’ll go grab some now.”
Jian Mo quickly stopped him. “It’s already getting dark.”
Shan Dun grinned. “No problem. We often hunt at night, and I know exactly where they are. It won’t take long.”
Before Jian Mo could decline Shan Dun’s offer more firmly, the surrounding crowd chimed in, expressing curiosity about this “mystical bird.”
Soon, a mixed team of beastmen and sub-beastmen from several tribes dashed off into the wild to hunt the bird.
It didn’t take long for them to return, carrying their prize.
With practiced efficiency, the hunters quickly plucked and cleaned the bird, presenting a basin of prepared meat to Jian Mo. “Doctor Jian Mo, here you go.”
Unable to refuse, Jian Mo had a fire lit again and set about cooking the bird.
The gathered crowd watched eagerly, treating the cooking fire as both a campfire and a chance to chat and digest their earlier meals.
As Jian Mo started frying the bird meat with the powdered yellow cap mushrooms, everyone noticed the difference almost immediately. The strange taste that had plagued the earlier dish was gone. In its place was the rich, mouthwatering aroma of perfectly cooked bird meat.
Following the Sharp-Tooth people’s advice, Jian Mo stir-fried and then stewed the dish. Midway through the process, he removed the mushrooms and reduced the broth until it thickened.
Finally, the bird meat was ready. As usual, Wu Jiong was the first to try.
Jian Mo studied his expression intently, about to ask for his opinion, when Wu Jiong picked up a tender piece of leg meat with his chopsticks and offered it to Jian Mo.
Jian Mo instinctively bit down, and his eyes widened as the flavorful, tender taste spread through his mouth.
“It’s… delicious,” he exclaimed, astonished.
The crowd, emboldened by their reaction, eagerly clamored for their share.
Passing out chopsticks, Jian Mo asked, “Is this bird naturally delicious, or is it the mushrooms?”
A Sharp-Tooth tribesman, speaking through a mouthful of meat, mumbled, “Not naturally. We left some uncooked bird meat over there. You can cook another batch to compare.”
Still skeptical, Jian Mo replied, “Alright, let’s try.”
Another batch of cleaned bird meat was swiftly brought over.
Jian Mo had the first dish set aside and the pot cleaned thoroughly. Then, he fried the new bird meat using the same method as before but without the mushrooms.
As the meat sizzled, Jian Mo immediately noticed something off. The meat appeared tougher, and the smell was slightly gamey.
Determined, he followed through and plated the dish, only to confirm his suspicions with the first bite. The meat was dry, stringy, and lacked the earlier depth of flavor.
Jian Mo frowned. “Are we sure this is the same bird? Could there have been a mix-up?”
The surrounding hunters assured him, “It’s the same bird. The feathers are still over there.”
Jian Mo was baffled. How could the same bird taste so different depending on the ingredients? Could the powdered yellow cap mushrooms be reacting chemically with the bird meat?
Staring at the pot of disappointing bird meat, Jian Mo suddenly asked, “Do we have more powdered yellow cap mushrooms?”
Shan Dun responded quickly, “We have plenty. We picked so much.”
“Bring me some more,” Jian Mo instructed.
Although the bird meat was already cooked, Jian Mo wanted to test whether adding the mushrooms afterward would still enhance the flavor.
Just as the mushrooms were about to be added, Jian Mo recalled the earlier warning about scraping off the mushroom’s powder. Inspiration struck.
“Wait!” Jian Mo stopped them. “This time, let’s skip the mushrooms and only add the powder.”
Everyone agreed, pulling out their knives to scrape the white powder off the mushroom caps. They then sprinkled the powder into the pot.
What happened next was remarkable.
As the bird meat stewed, it softened visibly, and a rich, appetizing aroma filled the air.
After reducing the broth and plating the dish, Jian Mo tasted it again. The gamey, tough meat had transformed into tender, flavorful perfection.
Jian Mo marveled, “I can’t believe it. The real magic is in the powder.”
Wu Jiong added wryly, “And the mushrooms are what make it taste bad.”
Jian Mo chuckled. “It seems so—one of those mutually exclusive relationships.”
The Sharp-Tooth people, who had eaten these mushrooms for generations, were stunned. They had never realized the potential of the powder.
Eager to experiment further, Jian Mo fried other meats with the powder. The results were just as impressive, with each dish turning out tender and delicious.
For tribes that frequently relied on coarse and fibrous meats, this discovery was a game-changer.
“What a waste. We’ve been trampling over these mushrooms for years.”
“There was a time when these mushrooms grew everywhere. We worried they’d choke out other fungi, so we’d destroy them on sight. Who knew they could be used as tenderizing powder?”
“Every time the trading caravans passed through, they brought new ideas. From now on, we need to start collecting powdered yellow cap mushrooms.”
Encouraged by this newfound value, everyone vowed to harvest and use the mushrooms more effectively.
Jian Mo grinned. “If you gather the powder, bring some to the He’an Tribe. I’ll trade other goods for it.”
Yun Long chimed in, “Our Meng Shui Tribe wants some too.”
The Red Zhen and Zheng Chi tribes quickly followed suit, expressing their interest in trading for the powder.
The Sharp-Tooth people happily agreed. Adding another unique specialty to their tribe’s resources was undoubtedly a good thing.
As night fell, everyone helped Jian Mo clean the cooking area and scrape more powder from the mushrooms. When they moved to discard the remaining mushroom caps, Jian Mo stopped them.
“Wait. Don’t throw them out. Lay them out to dry overnight. I’ll take them with me.”
Puzzled, someone asked, “These mushrooms are useless now. Why take them? They’re so hard to eat.”
Jian Mo explained, “I want to see if I can cultivate them back at our tribe. If they grow, we’ll have fresh powder available anytime.”
The group exchanged skeptical glances but complied. The mushrooms were laid out to dry as Jian Mo suggested. The climate in He’an Tribe was similar to Sharp-Tooth’s, and Jian Mo was optimistic that the spores could take root.
His good reputation worked in his favor. Many people were willing to help with his peculiar request.
After a night of drying, the mushrooms were nearly ready to transport without much effort.
The following morning, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong rose early to prepare for the journey ahead.
After spending three nights and two days with the Sharp-Tooth Tribe, it was time to move on. Everyone had exchanged valuable information, secured new goods, and was brimming with excitement for the next leg of their expedition.
Jian Mo was just as eager as the others. The next leg of the journey would pass near the Yu Qi Tribe, home to a group of giant Pallas’s cats, or “big rabbit-cats,” as they were sometimes called. He was curious to see their tribe and also wanted to pay a visit to the “fat Chirpies” in the area.
Wu Jiong mentioned there might be some interesting developments between the two tribes, so this trip would be a good opportunity to check things out.
When Jian Mo stepped outside to wash up, most of the group was already awake, busy packing and preparing for departure.
Chirpy was awake too.
The winged beast had been playing with the Sharp-Tooth Tribe’s little ones and seemed to be having the time of its life.
Jian Mo called out, “Chirpy!”
Chirpy lazily flapped a wing in response, as if to say hello. “Chirp.”
Jian Mo held up some dried meat. “Come over for breakfast. Where’s Ying Ao?”
Chirpy sauntered over at its own slow pace, snatched the meat, and began chewing with an expression of pure bliss. It looked as though it hadn’t even registered Jian Mo’s question, let alone intended to answer.
It acted like it had gone deaf.
A suspicion formed in Jian Mo’s mind. He turned and called out to Ban Ming, who was standing nearby. “Ban Ming, did you feed Chirpy this morning?”
Ban Ming straightened up. “Huh? Oh, yeah. I was out catching fish earlier, and Chirpy seemed interested, so I gave it a bit. Why? Is that not okay?”
Jian Mo took a deep breath. “It’s fine. Did anyone else feed it?”
Hearing this, everyone nearby exchanged guilty looks, as if realizing something.
Jiang Tou, an elder from the He’an Tribe, spoke up. “While I was eating some tubers this morning, it sat nearby looking pitiful, so I gave it a bit.”
Ya Zheng from the Meng Shui Tribe added, “I was having roast meat, and it rubbed against me with its wing. I ended up giving it an entire roast beast leg.”
Yan Dun, the old chief of the Zheng Chi Tribe, blinked his small eyes and admitted, “We had meat porridge earlier. It pawed at us, so we gave it a bowl.”
Jing Huo from the Hong Zhen Tribe hesitated before confessing, “It begged while we were eating, and, well, we couldn’t resist…”
Jian Mo turned to look at Chirpy.
Chirpy tilted its head innocently. “Chirp?”
Wu Jiong walked over, rubbing Chirpy’s now rounded belly, and observed calmly, “I saw Ying Ao feeding it earlier too. Its stomach is already puffed up.”
Having scammed its way through breakfast with nearly the entire group, Chirpy pretended not to hear any of this. It let out a nonchalant, “Chirp.”
