Jian Mo rarely traveled, so he was eager to rejoin the trade caravan.
After another day of rest, his fever had completely subsided, though his ears still wouldn’t retract. Fortunately, the floppy gray ears weren’t too noticeable. With a bit of hair combed over them, only a careful observer would notice their presence.
Jian Mo told Wu Jiong, “Let’s head out today. There’s nothing to do here, and it’s just too boring.”
Wu Jiong felt Jian Mo’s forehead, confirming it was no longer hot. Seeing how restless he was, Wu Jiong relented, “Alright, but let’s leave after breakfast. We need to prepare and inform the Snowfoot Tribe.”
Jian Mo agreed immediately. “I’ll go let them know. You handle the preparations. We can split up to save time.”
Wu Jiong nodded. “Fine. I’ll start by feeding Chirpy.”
As for Ying Ao, he didn’t need their help—he could find his own food.
Jian Mo quickly made his way to the Snowfoot Tribe.
The Snowfoot Tribe members asked, “You’re not staying to rest for a couple more days?”
Jian Mo replied with a smile, “No, I’d like to check out the tribes up ahead. Thank you for everything these past few days.”
“It’s no big deal. No need to thank us,” one of them said, bringing out two jars. “Here’s some fruit preserve you helped make. It’s not ready yet, but this is from an earlier batch. Take two jars back to enjoy.”
Jian Mo had planned to trade for it, so he was surprised and grateful for the gift. “Thank you so much! I love your preserves. Once we’ve eaten these, we’ll definitely come back to trade for more.”
The Snowfoot Tribe members laughed. “Sounds good. Drop by anytime.”
Jian Mo carefully packed the jars and handed them a prepared drawing on paper. “Have you seen a root like this around here? It looks like this and has a slightly spicy taste. It can be used as a seasoning.”
The drawing depicted ginger. Jian Mo wasn’t sure if it was accurate, but he had done his best.
Dan Guan’s bald spots had been troubling him. Jian Mo had heard that rubbing ginger on the scalp might promote hair growth. Though he wasn’t sure if it worked, he figured it couldn’t hurt to ask. Besides, they were looking for spices anyway—it was worth combining the efforts.
If ginger could help, then Dan Guan’s bald spots might finally be cured.
The Snowfoot Tribe members studied the drawing carefully, exchanging opinions. After some time, they shook their heads. “We’ve never seen a plant like this.”
Jian Mo wasn’t surprised. If they had it, they would likely have used it in cooking by now.
He said, “If you come across this plant or hear any news about it, could you let us know? We’d like to trade for some.”
The Snowfoot Tribe members nodded. “Got it. We’ll keep an eye out. Can we keep this drawing? What’s this white stuff—it looks like a kind of leaf?”
Jian Mo laughed. “It’s not a leaf. It’s something we make called ‘paper.’ You can write and draw on it, but it’s fragile—it tears easily and can’t withstand water or fire.”
The Snowfoot Tribe members handled the paper gingerly. “Something this useful—who would waste it with water or fire?”
Seeing their interest, Jian Mo said, “If you’d like, I can bring you some paper and pens next time. Pens are tools you can use to write or draw on paper.”
He demonstrated the pen, drawing gasps of amazement. “You He’an Tribe folks have so many good things!”
Jian Mo grinned. “We do have quite a few. If you visit our tribe, you’ll discover even more.”
The Snowfoot Tribe members laughed. “If you put it that way, we’ll have to make time to visit!”
Jian Mo smiled. “Then it’s settled. Come find us when you do.”
As Jian Mo and Wu Jiong packed their things, members of the Bai Zhi Tribe and Yu Qi Tribe arrived.
They were surprised to hear that Jian Mo’s group was setting off to catch up with the trade caravan that day.
One of the chubby cubs asked, “Why not stay a couple more days?”
Jian Mo repeated what he had told the Snowfoot Tribe.
The Bird and the Cat Beatsmen exchanged glances, their eyes glinting with a shared idea.
The Bird Beastman spoke up first:
“Doctor Jian Mo, how about we come with you?”
“Yeah, we’re not busy anyway. Think of it as an adventure. You’re heading to the Eighteen Bends Tribe, right?”
“I’ve never been there. This is a great chance to see something new!”
The Pallas cat beastmen quickly followed suit:
“Then we want to come too!”
“The Eighteen Bends Tribe isn’t far. We can make it there today and return tomorrow or the day after.”
“Exactly! A quick trip won’t hurt.”
Jian Mo, exasperated by the group’s enthusiasm, raised his hand to stop them. “Did you let your tribes know you’re coming along? If you suddenly disappear, won’t they be worried?”
The Bird and the Cat Beatsmen chorused, “We’ll send word!”
They glared at each other for copying the same response.
Jian Mo ignored their bickering. “Make sure someone goes back to inform your tribes. Otherwise, this is a no-go.”
The Bird and the Cat Beatsmen replied, “We’ll talk to the Snowfoot Tribe!”
They repeated the same phrase in perfect unison, then glared at each other again.
Jian Mo sighed. “Find someone to send the message back first. Otherwise, there’s nothing to discuss.”
At this point, Wu Jiong joined them and reminded the group, “When we return, we might come back through the Ming Jiang Tribe instead of the Snowfoot Tribe.”
The bird beastmen cheered, “That’s even better—Ming Jiang Tribe is closer to us!”
The Pallas cat beastmen added, “It’s not far for us either!”
Wu Jiong nodded, no longer objecting.
Soon, Dan Guan was ready, carrying his supplies. His beast form resembled a massive tiger cat—majestic and long-haired. His bald spots were hidden beneath his fur, making them hardly noticeable.
A sudden thought struck Jian Mo: ringworm.
Dan Guan’s case didn’t seem like typical ringworm—his fur wasn’t coarse, he wasn’t itchy, and no one else in his family was infected, so the likelihood was low.
But could it be a fungal infection of some other kind?
Jian Mo pondered this idea as they traveled, deciding to prepare medicinal baths for Dan Guan once they returned. He also planned to advise Dan Guan to move out of his current living environment, ideally into a vacant house.
At midday, during their break, Jian Mo shared his theory and suggestions.
Dan Guan, confused, asked blankly, “It could really be that?”
Jian Mo nodded. “Yes. We’ll try using storm bird eggs for medicinal baths. If it works, we’ll follow this treatment path. If it doesn’t, we’ll think of something else.”
Dan Guan nodded repeatedly. “Alright, alright, I’ll do whatever you say.”
Jian Mo asked, “Do you still want to go with us to catch up with the caravan? You could head back first and pick up the medicine later at the He’an Tribe.”
Dan Guan shook his head. “I’ll go with you. I’ve come this far already.”
After a quick meal, the group continued their journey.
Dan Guan and Yan Ze both had excellent stamina—Yan Ze was the beastman who carried Bei Ya on his back—so the journey went smoothly.
As for the Pallas cat beastmen and bird beastmen, they weren’t carrying any loads and moved even faster.
Riding on Wu Jiong’s back in his wolf form, Jian Mo mulled over potential treatments for “ringworm.”
He suspected Dan Guan’s previous focus on alopecia might have been misguided. If they instead concentrated on treating fungal infections, they might find success with some of the region’s herbs.
Given the local living conditions and less-than-ideal hygiene practices, fungal infections were likely common and not too difficult to address.
After mentally organizing a few treatment plans, Jian Mo felt more at ease.
If it was indeed ringworm, Dan Guan might see results quickly. If it turned out to be true baldness, there was little Jian Mo could do.
The group pushed forward with determination and reached the Eighteen Bends Tribe’s territory by evening.
This region, nestled in the mountains, was warmer than the He’an Tribe’s area. Snow-capped peaks were nowhere in sight, and the trees had wide, lush leaves.
The terrain was rugged, with steep cliffs and narrow paths. It wasn’t an easy journey, but the Rainrise Tribe members led the way, knowing the location of the Eighteen Bends Tribe’s settlement.
Hiking through mountain trails was exhausting, leaving little energy for conversation. Everyone focused on moving forward.
After what felt like ages, Jian Mo heard shouting ahead. The lively commotion suggested a group of people.
Gripping Wu Jiong’s neck, he said excitedly, “Listen, isn’t that the sound of people up ahead?”
The bird beastmen flying overhead chattered, “They’re hunting some kind of bird. Oh, wait—the Meng Shui Tribe is there too. It’s your caravan!”
Jian Mo perked up. “That’s great! Let’s go check it out!”
The wolf beneath him growled in agreement and sped up, with the rest of the group—giant beasts and bird beastmen—quickly following. Chirpy and Ying Ao hovered above, circling as they moved.
When they arrived, they saw their caravan companions.
From a distance, the caravan members waved and shouted, “Doctor Jian Mo! Chief Wu Jiong! You’re here? Jian Mo, are you feeling better?”
Jian Mo shouted back, “Much better! I’m fine now!”
When the two groups met, Wu Jiong asked, “What are you hunting? Birds?”
Yun Long replied, “Yes, we’re trying to catch long-tailed birds. We originally planned to come back tomorrow to hunt them, but they got startled today, so we decided to give it a try.”
Jian Mo craned his neck to look. Sure enough, a few people were holding birds about the size of geese, but with much sleeker bodies and extraordinarily long tails. Their elegant appearance was vastly different from the bulky aesthetic of geese.
There weren’t many long-tailed birds caught, though—either the hunt had been challenging, or these birds were naturally scarce.
Yun Long introduced the Eighteen Bends Tribe members to Jian Mo and the others.
The tribe members were friendly and enthusiastically invited everyone back to their village for a bonfire celebration that evening.
With so many people gathered, introductions were quick, and names didn’t always stick. Still, faces became familiar in no time.
Since they were already in the mountains, Jian Mo took the opportunity to ask about a few medicinal herbs, wondering if they were found nearby.
The Eighteen Bends Tribe confirmed that they had some and even offered to help gather them.
Eager to resolve his hair loss problem, Dan Guan threw himself into the task with zeal. He quickly returned with a full basket of herbs.
With the camaraderie of the group, chatting along the way made the remaining journey feel shorter.
To Jian Mo, it seemed like they reached the Eighteen Bends Tribe settlement in no time.
The village was a quaint mountain settlement, its stone houses modestly built. Though not as decorative as the homes of the He’an or Meng Shui Tribes, the settlement exuded a tranquil, idyllic charm.
The tribe wasn’t very large, and empty houses were scarce. Most of the visitors would need to camp on the open grounds.
No one minded—the novelty of being outdoors fostered conversation and camaraderie, making the experience lively.
However, given Jian Mo’s role as a healer and his recent recovery, the tribe kindly offered him and Wu Jiong a room to ensure his comfort.
Grateful, Jian Mo thanked them and promptly dragged Wu Jiong inside. Compared to sleeping outside, he much preferred the privacy of a proper room.
As evening fell, everyone busied themselves preparing for dinner, cleaning, and butchering their catches.
Jian Mo and his group contributed two large metal pots, making it easier to cook for the crowd.
Meanwhile, Dan Guan couldn’t wait any longer. He asked for a place to bathe, grabbed his clothes, and headed into the wilderness to scrub himself clean.
After thoroughly washing up, he returned to Jian Mo, requesting his help with the medication.
Jian Mo had already prepared the medicine. He asked Dan Guan to shift into his beast form, then carefully shaved the affected areas before wrapping the paste-covered cloth around them.
As everyone worked on their respective tasks, they eventually regrouped to eat and chat.
It was during dinner that the group finally noticed Jian Mo’s beast ears.
To Jian Mo’s surprise, their reactions were calm and matter-of-fact:
“The world is a big place. It’s not strange for a sub-beastman to have four ears.”
“Just eat and drink as usual. One day, your ears might retract on their own.”
“Brother Jian Mo, don’t be upset. Your ears look a lot like the Spirit Cat Clan’s. Maybe they’ll grow into something amazing.”
“Exactly! Brother Jian Mo, when you get back, ask my father. He might have some advice.”
Having slowly come to terms with his new ears, Jian Mo felt even more at ease after their reassurances.
Raising his bowl of soup in lieu of alcohol, he expressed his gratitude and then shifted the topic. “Is everyone heading back into the mountains to hunt tomorrow?”
The Eighteen Bends Tribe members responded:
“Yes, we didn’t catch enough long-tailed birds today, so we’ll go back for more tomorrow.”
“We’ve scouted the paths already,” one of the Eighteen Bends Tribe members explained. “Tomorrow, we can head straight there. Once we catch enough long-tailed birds, we’ll treat everyone to bird soup in the evening—it’s absolutely delicious.”
The caravan members agreed enthusiastically, saying that hunting long-tailed birds was great fun. Having not had their fill today, they were eager for another go tomorrow.
Since Jian Mo’s group had just arrived, staying another day made sense—it gave everyone more time to exchange information and trade goods.
Jian Mo found the suggestion reasonable and had no objections.
After a tiring day, the group finished dinner and cleaned up together, tidying pots, plates, and utensils before heading off to wash up and prepare for bed.
Although Jian Mo hadn’t done much running, riding on Wu Jiong’s back had been anything but relaxing. By the time he lay down on the bed prepared by the Eighteen Bends Tribe, his head barely touched the pillow before he was fast asleep.
The next morning, Jian Mo woke to a scratching noise outside the door. It sounded like someone clawing at the door—or perhaps the ground nearby.
Initially, he thought it might be Chirpy, hungry, or restless in the unfamiliar environment, waiting for them to wake up.
But when he opened the door, it wasn’t Chirpy at all. Instead, a bright-eyed tiger cat was sitting there—Dan Guan.
The tiger cat immediately stood up. “Doctor Jian Mo, I think I’m feeling better! Can you check if it’s working?”
Jian Mo walked over and carefully unwrapped the bandage on the affected area. After examining it, he found no noticeable change. “It’s still too early. We might need a few more days to see results.”
The tiger cat licked the fur around the bald spot, exposing the skin more clearly. “Are you sure? I feel like the skin where the medicine was applied is smoother now.”
Jian Mo offered a diplomatic response. “Sometimes, when you’re overly concerned, it’s easy to imagine progress that isn’t there yet.”
The tiger cat deflated immediately. “Oh, so it’s not getting better yet?”
Jian Mo reassured him, “A problem you’ve had for years won’t resolve overnight. Keep applying the medicine for a few more days, and we might see results.”
Dan Guan nodded thoughtfully. “You’re right. I’ll keep using the medicine. Doctor Jian Mo, you should go wash up and have breakfast—they’re nearly done preparing it.”
After washing up, Jian Mo joined the others in the large clearing for breakfast.
Breakfast consisted of a porridge made with tubers and dried meat, served with small pickled vegetables.
The Eighteen Bends Tribe’s pickles were unique—spicy with a refreshing natural aroma from the plants themselves. The combination of salty, tangy, spicy, and crunchy flavors was delicious.
Curious, Jian Mo asked about the pickles and learned that the wild vegetables used had a natural spiciness and meaty texture, making them perfect for pickling.
After sampling a few extra pieces, Jian Mo couldn’t resist trading for two small jars of pickles. He also asked if the Eighteen Bends Tribe would be willing to trade seeds.
The tribe generously invited him to join their hunting expedition that day, promising to point out the plant if they came across it so Jian Mo could collect seeds himself.
Jian Mo happily agreed.
After breakfast, the large group set off again, heading toward the habitat of the long-tailed birds under the guidance of the Eighteen Bends Tribe.
As they walked, the tribe members explained, “Long-tailed birds like to live in colonies. We’ve located two nests. First, we’ll head to the one on the cliff. After we’re done there, we’ll check the second nest.”
Listening to their conversation, Jian Mo learned that they were trying to catch the birds alive for domestication, which made the task even more challenging.
It seemed the Eighteen Bends Tribe was the only nearby tribe with the practice of raising long-tailed birds—none of the other tribes did.
Jian Mo couldn’t help but think of poultry farming. If the Eighteen Bends Tribe succeeded, perhaps his own tribe could try as well.
Having domesticated Tou Tou Beasts already, expanding their settlement to include a chicken coop wouldn’t be too difficult. Regular access to bird eggs could be a great addition to their resources.
While Jian Mo pondered, one of the Eighteen Bends Tribe members whispered excitedly from the front, “Here they are! Look, the long-tailed birds!”
Hearing the signal, everyone looked ahead and soon spotted the birds pacing back and forth on the cliff.
The tribe member continued in a hushed voice, “Let’s split into groups. Some of us will guard the top of the cliff, while others will stay below. Remember, we’re aiming to catch them alive.”
No one had any objections to the plan.
Wu Jiong volunteered, “I’ll take a group to the top.”
Yun Long smiled. “We’ll cover the bottom.”
Yan Dun, the elder leader of the Zheng Chi Tribe, said, “We’ll take the left flank.”
The Red Fang Tribe’s leader took the right by default.
The groups quickly organized and got into position. Beastmen prepared to ambush, while sub-beastmen, not as adept at hunting, stayed behind to observe. The bird beastmen and Pallas cat beastmen kept watch over the onlookers.
The hunting beastmen were incredibly skilled, stealthily approaching the birds’ territory without alerting them. The long-tailed birds continued their leisurely pacing, oblivious to the danger nearby.
After a period of observation, the signal—a long howl—pierced the air.
At once, the beastmen lunged.
Startled, the long-tailed birds scattered in a panic, flying in all directions.
Despite the coordinated effort, only a handful of birds were captured. The long-tailed birds proved to be astonishingly agile, darting through gaps in the encircling beastmen with ease.
Once out of the trap, the birds spread their wings and glided gracefully down the cliff, covering distances of ten or even dozens of meters in mere moments.
The beastmen, unwilling to risk chasing them down the cliff, could only watch from the edge.
Nearby, a sub-beastman from the Eighteen Bends Tribe sighed. “This always happens. Long-tailed birds are just too nimble. They’re so hard to catch.”
Another sub-beastman perked up, saying, “At least we found plenty of eggs. If we can incubate them, we’ll have a good number of chicks. The challenge will be raising them.”
The first sub-beastman brightened. “That’s true. Hatchlings would be a great success.”
The bird beastmen, watching from the sidelines, were baffled. “That’s it? You’re just giving up? You’re not going to chase them?”
The Eighteen Bends Tribe members explained, “It’s not that we don’t want to chase them, but if we keep going, we might fall off the cliffs.”
The bird beastmen from the Bai Zhi Tribe perked up at this. “That’s a problem for you, not us! We’re not afraid of cliffs.”
“Exactly! Watch us handle this,” another bird beastmen chimed in.
With that, the bird beastmen spread their wings and took to the air.
Their smaller beast forms made them perfect for maneuvering through the mountain terrain.
It didn’t take long before the bird beastmen closed in on the long-tailed birds.
The long-tailed birds, noticing the approaching bird beastmen, panicked and flapped their wings frantically, trying to escape.
But the bird beastmen were undeterred, flapping their own wings as they pursued with relentless determination.
The long-tailed birds twisted and turned sharply to evade capture, their agility on full display.
The bird beastmen gave chase, mirroring their every move.
Seeing this, the Pallas cat beastmen from the Yu Qi tribe, who had been watching from a distance, couldn’t hold back their frustration. “Ugh, can’t believe they haven’t caught one yet!”
Not to be outdone, the Pallas cat beastmen leaped into the fray, using their compact beast forms and nimble movements to join the pursuit.
And so, chaos broke out in the mountains as feathers flew and birds screeched, with predators darting after their prey.
The other beastmen and sub-beastmen, unable to join the chase, watched the spectacle from the sidelines.
Even Chirpy and Ying Ao, Jian Mo’s winged beasts, perched behind him and craned their necks to watch the bird beastmen and Pallas cat beastmen chase down the long-tailed birds.
The cliffs and steep terrain made the hunt perilous, but for the bird beastmen and Pallas cat beastmen, it was as if they were running on flat ground.
After some time, one of the bird beastmen decided enough was enough. Rather than trying to grab a long-tailed bird with its talons, it swooped above the bird and used its larger size to dive-bomb it.
With a swift descent, the bird beastmen slammed into the bird, pinning it down under its weight.
The long-tailed bird let out a pitiful “Cheep!” before fainting, its eyes rolling back.
The triumphant bird beastmen proudly held up its catch, displaying the still-alive bird for everyone to see.
Success!
The bird beastmen cheered, excitedly mimicking their companion’s strategy and diving onto other long-tailed birds.
The Pallas cat beastmen, though slightly disdainful at first, soon adopted the same approach. They pounced on the birds with precision, pinning them down in much the same way.
Despite their success, the Pallas cat beastmen’s larger forms often left the long-tailed birds in such a state of shock that it seemed they might lose their spirits entirely.
By now, only a few long-tailed birds remained in the forest.
As Jian Mo watched, Chirpy suddenly stepped forward, squeezing past him. Without hesitation, it leaped off the cliff and flew toward the birds, flapping its massive wings. “Chirp!”
By the time Jian Mo realized what was happening, Chirpy had already flown several meters away.
Panicking, Jian Mo called out, “Chirpy, come back!”
But Chirpy pretended not to hear, zeroing in on a chosen long-tailed bird. With a resounding “Chirp!” it dove down, using its impressive weight to slam onto the bird with force.
The unfortunate long-tailed bird squawked in panic, its cries dwindling as it barely clung to life.
Jian Mo couldn’t help but scold, “You silly bird! They’re supposed to be caught alive!”
If the goal had been to kill the birds, the Eighteen Bends Tribe would have hunted them to extinction by now.
Chirpy picked up the limp bird in its beak, its bright eyes gleaming with pride as it presented its catch to Jian Mo and Ying Ao. “Chirp!”
It had succeeded!
Far from being upset, the bird beastmen from the Bai Zhi Tribe cheered loudly for Chirpy, flapping their wings in applause. “Amazing, Chirpy!”
Others joined in with their praise. “Well done, Chirpy!”
Hearing all the compliments, Chirpy puffed out its chest with pride and let out an even louder “Chirp!!”
So cute