The long-tailed birds were indeed skilled at evasion, but they were no match for the nimble bird beastmen or the bird-hunting prowess of the Pallas cat.
Before long, the area’s long-tailed bird population had been almost entirely captured.
The Eighteen Bends Tribe members praised their efforts, releasing the weaker and smaller birds back into the wild before leading the group to the next hunting spot.
Once again, the bird beastmen and Pallas cat vied to outdo each other, eager to settle the score.
Even Chirpy and Ying Ao joined in, determined to help catch long-tailed birds.
Amid the concerted efforts of the hunting party, the long-tailed birds screeched and flapped wildly in protest.
Chirpy, with its massive size, proved particularly adept at snaring birds, catching them with remarkable ease. The Eighteen Bends Tribe members and others cheered Chirpy on, which only fueled its pride and enthusiasm. Jian Mo gave up trying to call it back.
By contrast, Ying Ao’s hunting technique was much more refined. It could deftly snatch two birds at a time with its talons, a feat that left the others awestruck.
After finishing the hunt, the Eighteen Bends Tribe once again released the weaker and younger birds. Carrying their catch, the group collected resources along the way as they returned to the village.
It had been a bountiful day, and everyone was in high spirits.
Back at the village, the Eighteen Bends Tribe members immediately sorted through the long-tailed birds, separating the severely injured ones. They began feeding them with freshly gathered mushrooms.
Jian Mo watched with curiosity. “Do these mushrooms help the birds recover from their injuries?”
The tribe members paused, then burst out laughing. “Of course not.”
Jian Mo glanced at the mushrooms, then back at the birds. His expression clearly asked, Then what’s the point?
The tribe members laughed even harder. “We’re testing for poison. You see, there are a lot of mushrooms in our area, and many of them look alike. Some are highly toxic and hard to identify. We have a habit of feeding questionable mushrooms to long-tailed birds.”
Understanding dawned on Jian Mo. “So, if the bird dies, you know it’s poisonous, and you won’t eat it. But if it survives, you cook both the bird and the mushrooms together, right?”
The tribe members nodded with grins.
Jian Mo continued observing as they placed the less-injured birds in a large pen. Before putting them inside, they clipped the birds’ tail feathers and the long feathers on their wings.
Doubtful, Jian Mo asked, “Will that really keep them from escaping?”
A tribe member explained, “Long-tailed birds are very vain. Without their tail feathers, they get depressed and just want to hide. They won’t even try to escape.”
Jian Mo glanced at the birds curled up in the pen, marveling at this peculiar trait. Truly, every creature has its weaknesses.
After observing for a while, Jian Mo asked, “What’s the longest you’ve managed to keep a long-tailed bird alive in captivity?”
The tribe members exchanged thoughts before giving an answer. “Four years. But after a while, they stop laying eggs, and their meat isn’t as good.”
Jian Mo continued his questions. “Have any birds ever hatched chicks while in the pen?”
“Occasionally, but only a few,” one tribe member replied. “They don’t like incubating eggs in captivity, and sometimes they’re eaten before they even get the chance.”
Jian Mo was puzzled. “Eaten? You mean they get sick and die?”
The tribe member chuckled sheepishly. “Not always. Sometimes they’re just not worth keeping, so we eat them.”
Jian Mo asked several more questions, and the tribe members answered as best they could. They even invited him to try raising long-tailed birds himself.
Apparently, no other nearby tribes raised long-tailed birds, and many considered the Eighteen Bends Tribe’s practice unusual.
Jian Mo countered that such high-quality poultry could be a valuable asset, making it a perfectly logical endeavor.
The tribe members were delighted by his support and promised to send him two long-tailed birds and some eggs when he returned home so he could start his own flock.
Overjoyed, Jian Mo immediately offered them a finely crafted dagger in return.
While they chatted, other tribe members began preparing bird soup by butchering the injured birds and cooking them with freshly gathered mushrooms.
It was getting late, and the stew would be ready just in time for dinner.
The tribe’s method of cooking involved placing the birds, mushrooms, and cured meat into large clay pots. The thick clay walls absorbed heat and released it slowly, locking in the flavors as the ingredients simmered together.
The mushrooms’ umami and the cured meat’s smoky aroma gradually infused the broth and the bird meat.
As the pot stewed, its enticing fragrance grew stronger, drawing everyone’s attention and making their mouths water.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the tribe announced, “Dinner’s ready! Everyone, come eat!”
The group gathered eagerly around the steaming clay pots.
As the lids were removed, a rich, savory aroma wafted out, blanketing the area.
Some people ladled soup into bowls, while others carved the cooked birds into portions, drizzling them with a special sauce before serving.
Jian Mo took a sip of the soup first, savoring the distinct flavors of the long-tailed bird, mushrooms, and cured meat.
Each element contributed a unique freshness, blending harmoniously into a broth that tantalized the taste buds with its layered complexity.
Holding his bowl, Jian Mo couldn’t help but praise, “This is amazing!”
The tribe members encouraged him, “Try the bird meat—it’s just as good!”
Taking a piece of meat, Jian Mo found it tender and flavorful, enhanced by the cured meat’s rich, smoky taste. The combination was so delicious that he couldn’t resist exclaiming, “This pairing is perfect!”
One of the Eighteen Bends Tribe members said, “Our mushrooms are good, but they’re not the best. The finest mushrooms come from the Ban He Tribe. They have a variety called Ban He Mushrooms, which, when used to cook long-tailed birds, are so delicious they’ll make you want to swallow your tongue!”
Jian Mo’s interest was piqued. “Really? Are mushrooms that good? Is their tribe far? If not, maybe we could go trade for some and try them out?”
The last part was directed at Wu Jiong.
Wu Jiong nodded. “Not far. They’re just a bit further down from the Eighteen Bends Tribe. We’ll pass by them on our way back.”
“Perfect!” Jian Mo exclaimed. “Let’s plan to stop there tomorrow.”
The Eighteen Bends Tribe members chimed in, “It’s worth it. Their mushrooms are something else—we’d highly recommend getting some. Everyone who’s tried them agrees they’re incredible.”
Other people confirmed enthusiastically, “The flavor is out of this world. Eating them on their own is delicious, but using them to stew meat creates a whole new kind of magic.”
Since the caravan was all together, the group discussed it and decided to head to the Ban He Tribe the next day. They would trade for mushrooms and rest there for a day before resuming their journey.
Jian Mo asked, “What do the Ban He Tribe people like to trade for? Do we have things they’d want?”
The Eighteen Bends Tribe members reassured him, “Don’t worry about that. They often trade mushrooms with other tribes, and they’ll take anything they can use. We’ve lived next to them for so long and never heard of them turning anyone down.”
Jian Mo laughed. “These Ban He Mushrooms sound so amazing that I was starting to worry we wouldn’t have anything good enough to trade for them.”
After dinner, everyone completed their trades for the day and prepared to rest, ready for the next morning’s journey.
Before bed, Wu Jiong checked on Jian Mo’s ears. “Are they hurting today?”
Jian Mo touched them lightly. “They’re fine, not really painful. I think I’m getting used to them. I can even automatically tune out all those tiny noises now.”
Wu Jiong reminded him, “Tell me if they start bothering you.”
Jian Mo patted Wu Jiong’s shoulder with a grin. “Of course! I’d never keep something like that from you.”
Seeing Jian Mo in good spirits, Wu Jiong relaxed, assured that there was nothing seriously wrong.
Jian Mo rummaged through their supplies. “What did we trade for today?”
Wu Jiong replied, “Some seasonings, seeds, small pickled vegetables, and the two long-tailed birds and their clutch of eggs you got in exchange for the dagger.”
While the long-tailed birds were technically a gift from the Eighteen Bends Tribe, Jian Mo had offered a metal dagger in return, making it feel like a fair trade.
Jian Mo glanced at the metal and fabric at the bottom of the packs. “It looks like most of our goods haven’t been traded away.”
Wu Jiong agreed. “That’s right. Our largest trade so far was with Ji Xun for the honey sparrow nests and honey blocks using glass.”
The honey sparrow nests were fragile, so they had arranged for the Bai Zhi Tribe to carry them back to the He’an Tribe. Since the Bai Zhi Tribe would be delivering pearl rice, transporting the nests along the way wasn’t an issue.
Jian Mo sorted through the goods with a sense of satisfaction. “I feel like we’re really well-off.”
Wu Jiong replied calmly, “We’ve never lacked resources.”
Lowering his voice, Jian Mo added, “I noticed that the Meng Shui Tribe was trading their lubricating balm with other tribes. It looks like they’re doing quite well with it.”
“That’s one of their most popular trade items,” Wu Jiong remarked.
Jian Mo flopped onto the bed with a sigh. “When we were preparing for this trip, Qing Kuo suggested I bring some balm too, but I turned him down. I should’ve listened to him—experience does make a difference.”
“Next time,” Wu Jiong said, “we’ll bring some along.”
“Sounds good,” Jian Mo agreed.
The two chatted for a while longer before drifting off to sleep.
The next morning, before heading to the Ban He Tribe, Jian Mo called Bei Ya and Dan Guan over for a check-up.
Bei Ya’s facial wounds had mostly healed, leaving only faint red marks. Whether it was due to Jian Mo’s skillful surgical work, his sharp tools, or Bei Ya’s remarkable recovery abilities, it seemed likely that there would be no noticeable scarring if his progress continued.
Aware of his condition, Bei Ya had been extra cautious these past few days, avoiding exaggerated facial expressions or excessive talking.
Jian Mo gave him some instructions to maintain this care and then moved on to check Dan Guan’s condition.
Dan Guan shifted back into his beast form, revealing the previously smooth, bald patches on his skin. Now, small bumps had started appearing on those areas.
Jian Mo donned gloves and carefully touched the bumps. “Does it itch?” he asked.
The massive tiger cat nodded. “A little.”
Frowning, Jian Mo suggested, “Maybe we should stop the medication for a couple of days to see if the reaction subsides.”
Dan Guan shook his head. “I actually think itching is a good sign. My condition hasn’t changed in years, so even this little reaction feels like progress. It’s better than nothing happening at all.”
Surprised, Jian Mo studied him for a moment.
Dan Guan continued earnestly, “Really, I think this is worth pushing through. It doesn’t look like it’ll break the skin or anything. Let’s keep using the medicine and see if it leads to improvement.”
Jian Mo considered this and finally agreed. “Alright, but we’ll give it two more days. If the bumps get worse and there’s no sign of new hair growth, we’ll stop and take a break.”
Dan Guan nodded eagerly. “I’ll follow your advice.”
While Jian Mo finished with the check-ups, Wu Jiong took care of feeding Chirpy and grooming Ying Ao. Once they were packed, the group set off.
With the Meng Shui Tribe leading the way and the Red Fang Tribe covering the rear, the caravan formed a long line heading toward the Ban He Tribe.
Above them, Chirpy, Ying Ao, and a flock of bird beastmen from the Bai Zhi Tribe soared through the sky. Excited by the company of so many airborne companions, Chirpy flapped its wings with extra vigor, clearly thrilled.
Thankfully, the fragile items were safely packed on Wu Jiong’s back. Otherwise, Jian Mo worried they’d arrive at the Ban He Tribe with a pile of broken goods.
As they traveled, the group chatted leisurely. Jian Mo exchanged a few words before succumbing to the gentle rhythm of the journey and falling asleep.
The group traveled until midday, when Jian Mo, half-asleep, faintly heard an unfamiliar voice calling out, “Are you part of the caravan? We’re from the Ban He Tribe, here to meet you.”
Since growing his beast ears, Jian Mo had become highly sensitive to sounds, and the voice woke him instantly.
Sitting atop the giant wolf, he looked ahead and saw a group of young beastmen and sub-beastmen standing by the roadside, holding jars in their arms. Judging by their youthful faces, they couldn’t have been very old.
The bird beastmen were the first to rush over, calling out, “Peng Duo, why are you here?”
Hearing familiar voices, the Ban He Tribe members brightened up. “We heard the news and came to greet you! You must be tired from your long journey. Here, have some water.”
Since it was clear they were friends, the caravan relaxed and decided to rest on the spot.
The Ban He Tribe’s gesture came at just the right time. After traveling for so long, everyone’s throats were parched, and the freshwater they brought was a welcome relief.
The bird beastmen quickly dragged the Ban He Tribe members over to Jian Mo. “Brother Jian Mo, this is Peng Duo and Ao Xi. They’re our friends, and they’re really nice!”
The young beastmen and sub-beastmen of the Ban He Tribe looked at Jian Mo with bright eyes. “Doctor Jian Mo! We’ve heard so much about you. They say your medical skills are amazing!”
Jian Mo smiled warmly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
After some introductions, Ao Xi, one of the sub-beastmen, stepped forward with a question. “Doctor Jian Mo, my brother has been coughing a lot. Can you help him?”
Jian Mo tilted his head in thought. “Coughing? Has he caught a cold recently?”
Ao Xi shook his head. “No, he just coughs and brings up phlegm. It happens every so often, but he doesn’t seem to have any other problems.”
Coughing periodically… could it be chronic sinus issues or even mild asthma? Jian Mo ran through possible conditions in his mind before replying, “I can’t say for sure without seeing him. It could be a number of things, or I might not be able to figure it out at all. But I can take a look.”
Ao Xi’s face lit up. “Thank you, Doctor Jian Mo! I’ll bring him to see you later.”
Looking at the concerned sub-beastman, Jian Mo’s tone softened. “You’re welcome, and thank you for the water.”
Ao Xi beamed. “We boiled it early this morning and cooled it down just for you. I heard your tribe doesn’t like drinking spring water directly. Is that true?”
The practice of drinking boiled water was something Jian Mo had introduced. Smiling, he confirmed, “That’s right. Some spring water has invisible parasites. Boiling the water makes it much safer to drink.”
Taking the opportunity, Jian Mo explained the risks of parasites in untreated water. The Ban He Tribe members listened with wide eyes, nodding seriously as they promised to drink more boiled water and less raw water in the future.
Jian Mo chuckled, finding himself liking this earnest group of beastmen and sub-beastmen even more.
