The fluffy bear cubs squatting in horse stance were irresistibly adorable. Unable to hold their posture for long, they kept shifting their weight from foot to foot, which made them look even cuter.
Jian Mo glanced at the younglings, then resumed cleaning the scale-less fish. After a chaotic evening, watching the younglings being punished was especially satisfying.
Two large metal pots from Jian Mo’s home were placed on simple stoves set up in the clearing, flames roaring beneath, ready to fry the scale-less fish.
Qing Kuo and the others brought out two large vats of beast oil brewed by the tribe, pouring one into each pot.
When the oil began to smoke slightly, a beastman poured in the scale-less fish, which had been drained of water.
As the fish hit the hot oil with a loud sizzle, the temperature dropped momentarily before quickly rising again.
The strips of scale-less fish curled up as they fried, turning a golden brown, and releasing a mouthwatering aroma that spread immediately.
The adults found the smell enticing, but the younglings were even more overwhelmed, inhaling deeply from where they squatted.
One adult, noticing their behavior, called out, “Squat properly! No slacking!”
The younglings, who had been squatting lazily, reluctantly straightened their postures and resumed their stances with pitiful expressions.
The day’s catch of scale-less fish was abundant, requiring a total of five large batches to fry them all.
Once fried, the fish was immediately taken to a stone slab for grilling.
Already coated in oil from frying, the fish didn’t need additional oil. Instead, excess oil was pressed out during grilling.
Jian Mo prepared a special sauce for barbecuing, which they brushed onto the fish as it cooked. He sprinkled pepper sprout powder and garlic powder on top, making the fish incredibly fragrant.
Soon, everyone was sitting in the cool evening breeze, drinking fruit wine and feasting on grilled scale-less fish while chatting.
The fish was rich, tender, and slightly chewy, with a hint of spice from the pepper sprout powder. The more they ate, the more they craved.
As the adults ate, they fanned themselves, wafting the delicious aroma directly toward the younglings still squatting in horse stance.
The Ice River Tribe’s younglings swallowed hard, staring longingly at the scene.
None of the adults softened, not even their parents.
Meanwhile, the He’an Tribe’s younglings happily devoured skewers of grilled fish, their faces smeared with sauce, looking like little flower-patterned cats.
One youngling, overwhelmed by the spiciness, stuck out his tongue and hissed as he ate, but he never once put down his skewer.
An adult handed him a cool leaf drink mixed with honey and fruit syrup. The youngling gulped it down in one go, wiped his mouth, and resumed eating. The adult chuckled and brought him more of the drink.
The Ice River Tribe’s younglings watched, their eyes practically glued to the fish skewers.
Grilled fish was already a favorite of the bear cubs. The fatty, flavorful scale-less fish made today’s meal even more tantalizing.
The cubs hoped the adults might eventually take pity on them and share.
To their dismay, the adults deliberately ate slowly in front of them, savoring each bite. They even finished all the cool leaf drinks, leaving nothing behind, and burped loudly in satisfaction.
The younglings quickly realized this was a deliberate attempt to tease them.
One bear cub, unable to hold back any longer, burst into tears.
Kang Ying’s eyes widened as he barked, “What are you crying about? Squat properly!”
Startled, the cub flinched, immediately adjusting his stance to be perfect, though he continued to sniffle, his face fur soaked with tears.
Kang Ying declared, “Mischievous cubs will get no grilled fish tonight—nothing else either. You’ll go hungry and learn your lesson.”
The He’an Tribe’s younglings glanced sympathetically at their companions.
More Ice River cubs began crying, their wails joining the first’s. This punishment would certainly leave a lasting impression.
The adults watched with a mixture of satisfaction and amusement.
Jian Mo, meanwhile, thoroughly enjoyed the scale-less fish. The tender meat, with its unique and enticing flavor, suited his palate perfectly.
That night, he ate a lot and drank plenty of wine. He had no memory of when Wu Jiong carried him back to bed.
The next thing he knew, Wu Jiong was calling him by the bedside.
“What time is it?” Jian Mo blinked groggily, shifting toward the edge of the bed. “Is it morning already?”
Instead of getting up, he wrapped his arms around Wu Jiong’s waist and, with a twist of his legs, rolled them both onto the bed. He nuzzled against Wu Jiong’s neck and planted a kiss there.
Wu Jiong chuckled, cradling Jian Mo’s head and massaging his scalp. “Someone’s here asking for a doctor. Do you want to see them?”
“Right now?” Jian Mo glanced at the window, noting the bright sunlight. “Alright, it’s already late. Which tribe are they from? What’s the issue?”
Wu Jiong replied, “It’s a youngling from the Cloud Bottom Tribe. They’ve been feeling stomach discomfort and look malnourished, very thin.”
Jian Mo, still drowsy, took a moment to recall the Cloud Bottom Tribe’s location. “Oh, the one under the Cypress Branch Tribe? Alright, I’ll check on them.”
Yawning, he grabbed his clothes, got dressed, and headed downstairs.
In the living room, he found a family of three—a pair of fathers and their youngling.
The youngling, in beast form, was incredibly thin, resembling a long scarf and looking like a small mink. If Jian Mo hadn’t been sure the youngling was alive, he might have mistaken him for a fur accessory.
The fathers greeted Jian Mo anxiously, and Jian Mo invited them to sit while he prepared tea. After freshening up, he returned to inquire about the youngling’s condition.
The fathers looked deeply worried.
“Gong Wei doesn’t eat much. Even when we force-feed him, he quickly throws it up.”
“He often has stomachaches and sometimes vomits acidic liquid.”
“He refuses to shift into humanoid form, saying it pulls at his stomach and hurts.”
After listening carefully, Jian Mo summarized, “It sounds like he has a loss of appetite, indigestion, upper abdominal pain, and acid reflux with vomiting. This points to a stomach issue. Let me examine him.”
The fathers nodded, though they didn’t fully understand his medical jargon.
Jian Mo brought out his stethoscope, listening intently before placing the young mink on his lap.
The mink was long, over 1.5 meters from head to tail, and so thin he seemed no wider than a strip of fabric.
Jian Mo gently petted his head.
The little mink, looking sickly, swished his fluffy tail once and sniffed Jian Mo’s wrist with his tiny paws holding on.
Jian Mo spoke softly, “I’m going to check your body with my hands now. Tell me if anything feels uncomfortable.”
The mink wagged his tail again and replied quietly, “Got it.”
“Good boy,” Jian Mo said.
He carefully palpated the youngling, moving inch by inch. Soon, he reached the soft abdomen and felt something hard beneath the skin.
From its location, the hard object seemed to be in the stomach—round and fairly large, about the size of a goose egg.
For a small mink like this, such a large object was truly alarming.
Jian Mo frowned, worried it might be a tumor.
There were many kinds of tumors, and some were particularly troublesome. This could mean serious issues for the little mink.
But then again, not necessarily. Upon closer examination, Jian Mo noticed the texture felt slightly unusual. There was a possibility it wasn’t a tumor but a foreign object.
He gently prodded the area and asked the little mink, “Does this hurt?”
The little mink shook his head.
Turning to the mink’s two fathers, Jian Mo asked, “Do you know when this lump first appeared?”
The mink’s father quickly responded, “You mean this hard lump? We’re not entirely sure. One day, the little one complained of discomfort, and when we touched him, we felt it.”
The other father added, “It probably started last autumn, just before winter. We’ve tried everything, but it hasn’t gone away.”
Jian Mo continued, “Was it this size from the beginning, or did it grow larger over time?”
Both fathers were certain about their answer. “It got bigger over time.”
Jian Mo frowned again. “A growing foreign object can be more complicated. I can’t determine what it is just by touch. I suspect surgery might be necessary to remove it.”
The mink’s second father hesitated. “Doctor Jian Mo, surgery… does that mean cutting his stomach open?”
Hearing this, the little mink started crying and squirmed in Jian Mo’s lap. “I don’t want surgery! Dad, Papa, I don’t want it!”
Jian Mo patted the little mink’s head gently. “Don’t worry, we’re not doing surgery right now.”
Turning back to the fathers, Jian Mo said, “We can discuss this later. For now, you should settle into the clinic. Have you eaten breakfast? If not, you’re welcome to eat with us.”
The fathers replied that they’d already eaten dried meat, so there was no need to trouble him.
Jian Mo directed them to stay at the small clinic for now. He also asked Wu Jiong to bring Ban Jiu and the other younglings over to play with the little mink.
Once the family had left, Jian Mo had a quick breakfast before heading upstairs to write a preliminary medical record about the case.
Aside from a tumor, the possibility of a gastric stone seemed high—a condition caused by indigestible materials clogging the stomach.
These stones could be plant-based, such as those formed by eating too many persimmons (persimmon stones), hair-based (hairballs), or a combination of substances.
Jian Mo had previously treated a cat with hairballs in its stomach. If this was a gastric stone, it was likely a hairball.
Either way, surgery would be required to confirm and remove the object.
The little mink’s frail condition, however, posed a surgical risk.
After finalizing his notes, Jian Mo went to discuss the situation with the mink’s fathers.
Wu Jiong personally fetched them, and since the little mink was off playing with other younglings, the conversation could proceed without concern.
Facing the worried fathers, Jian Mo said, “The little one’s condition is indeed serious. I have a few ideas about what it can be.”
He outlined the possibilities of a tumor, gastric stone, or other complications, explaining the necessity and risks of surgery.
The fathers’ faces grew increasingly grim.
The first father asked, “Can we try building up his strength first? Gong Wei is so weak—couldn’t he get better with some care?”
Jian Mo replied, “In theory, improving his health could help slightly. However, with such a large foreign object in his stomach, it’s uncertain if he can recover through care alone. If his stomach isn’t functioning properly, no amount of food or medicine will fully help.”
The first father sighed. “Still, let’s try that first. The thought of cutting him open—”
His voice broke, and his eyes reddened as he buried his face in his partner’s shoulder.
The second father’s eyes filled with tears. “I feel the same. Everyone says Gong Wei might not survive. You mentioned the surgery is risky, and if something goes wrong, he’ll have endured all this suffering for nothing. We just… we…”
Seeing their anguish, Jian Mo felt a pang of sympathy. “Alright, for the next few days, I’ll prescribe appetite stimulants and digestive aids for you to prepare for him. I’ll also provide some candied fruits to see if it helps improve his appetite.”
The fathers nodded repeatedly in gratitude.
The He’an Tribe had recently been renovated with several new guesthouses and separate living and workshop areas, allowing visitors to stay within the tribe.
After providing resources to the He’an Tribe, the little mink and his fathers settled into one of the guesthouses to either prepare for surgery or recover gradually.
With so many younglings in the He’an Tribe, the little mink quickly found friends and seemed to enjoy himself.
Whether it was the improved mood from companionship or the effectiveness of Jian Mo’s medicine, the little mink’s appetite did improve. He began eating more than he had at the Cloud Bottom Tribe.
His fathers were overjoyed at the progress.
One evening, the little mink was dining with the He’an Tribe’s younglings in the clearing.
Zhou Dao, a small white wolf, had made delicious grilled meat and generously shared some with the mink, giving him two pieces.
The little mink happily ate the meat, but soon after, he vomited it up, blood mixed with the partially digested food. He collapsed, writhing in pain.
The other younglings were horrified, their fur bristling in panic. Zhou Dao stood frozen, his eyes wide with fear.
It was He Feng who managed to pull himself together and shouted at the top of his lungs, “Someone, help! Gong Wei is vomiting blood!”
The other younglings echoed his cries as they ran toward the adults. “He’s vomiting blood!”
The adults rushed over, immediately scooping up the little mink and carrying him to the clinic.
Jian Mo, hearing the commotion, quickly mounted the giant wolf to hurry to the scene.
In the clinic, everyone gathered around as the little mink lay weakly on the examination table.
Jian Mo conducted a quick check. The little mink had vomited fresh blood, but the bleeding had stopped. It seemed his stomach had been damaged while eating.
In a low voice, Jian Mo informed the fathers, “It seems surgery will still be necessary.”
Both fathers, their eyes already red from crying, gazed at their unconscious child with deep reluctance.
Seeing their expressions, members of the He’an Tribe softly urged them:
“We can’t delay any longer. No amount of care will solve the root problem.”
“Jian Mo is willing to help, which means he has confidence. He wouldn’t take on a case he wasn’t sure about.”
“The poor little one is so thin and suffering so much. Any further delay might affect his growth.”
In these simple and honest times, the words of the He’an Tribe members didn’t offend the mink’s fathers, who simply replied that they would consider it further.
Since the child wasn’t theirs, the He’an Tribe people refrained from saying more, only urging the fathers to rest well and reassuring them that help would be just a call away.
The two fathers thanked them earnestly.
That evening, the little mink woke up, blinking his eyes as he called out, “Dad, Papa.”
His father quickly went to him, gently stroking his head. “What hurts, sweetheart? Is there anywhere else that feels uncomfortable?”
The little mink whimpered, “I’m hungry… and it hurts.”
Hearing this, both fathers felt their hearts shatter.
Because he had just vomited blood, Jian Mo had advised against feeding him for the time being. All they could do was stroke the mink’s head. “Sleep a bit more, sweetheart. Tomorrow morning, we can eat again.”
The little mink nodded and nuzzled their hands with his head before murmuring, “I want to have the surgery.”
His second father forced a smile. “Do you know what surgery is? Why do you want to have it?”
The little mink pouted. “I want to get better quickly so I can play with Zhou Dao and the others.”
When Jian Mo arrived after being informed, the little mink had already fallen back asleep. It was unclear whether he had dozed off naturally or passed out from exhaustion.
The two fathers sat nearby, their faces etched with worry.
After checking the little mink’s condition, Jian Mo listened as the first father said, “Doctor Jian Mo, let’s proceed with the surgery.”
Jian Mo became serious. “Alright, but I need to explain the risks and details of the surgery first. Let me call some people over.”
He summoned Wu Jiong, Qing Kuo, and others to carefully outline the situation. He also asked the fathers to leave their paw prints as a formal consent.
Though the fathers were sub-beastmen, their beast forms were also minks, allowing them to extend their paws.
Jian Mo believed this formal ritual was essential—it helped family members treat the matter seriously and prepare themselves mentally. Though there was no legal system here, he adhered to this practice.
Since the little mink hadn’t eaten since vomiting blood, the surgery was scheduled for the following morning, giving him time to rest overnight.
The fathers, burdened with worry, agreed.
In this era, every surgery was a significant challenge.
Most of Jian Mo’s past patients had robust constitutions, relying on their natural resilience and regenerative abilities to overcome complications.
But the little mink was frail, much weaker than the average beastman, which increased the risks and required meticulous preparation.
The next morning, Jian Mo ate a light breakfast, took a bath, donned sterilized surgical attire, and prepared the surgical instruments before heading to the riverside clinic.
Wu Jiong accompanied him to assist, and he specifically asked De Jiang to stand by outside in case of emergencies, relying on De Jiang’s quick thinking.
Their serious demeanor heightened the fathers’ anxiety. Holding hands, they paced nervously outside the clinic, walking more than they would during a hunting trip.
The atmosphere outside was heavy, though it was calmer inside.
When Jian Mo opened the little mink’s abdomen, the situation turned out better than expected.
The gastric stone was primarily a hairball, mixed with fibers and some gelatinous material.
The stone, round and brown, had likely been in the stomach for a long time. It resembled an oversized lump of donkey dung and felt dense and heavy.
Jian Mo removed the stone, which was larger than his fist. No wonder the little mink had suffered from indigestion and vomiting blood. With such a massive obstruction in his stomach, anyone would struggle.
Aside from the stone, the little mink’s stomach showed signs of minor ulcers. However, these weren’t severe. With proper care, they would heal naturally.
After thoroughly examining the area, Jian Mo sutured the stomach with protein thread.
As for the displaced organs, there was no need for concern. Once placed back into the abdominal cavity, they would return to their proper positions on their own.
The surgery was meticulous but didn’t take long. Jian Mo finished shortly after sunrise.
Carrying the extracted gastric stone outside, Jian Mo met the two fathers, who rushed up with anxious, hopeful expressions, hesitant to ask questions.
Jian Mo reassured them, “The surgery is complete and was very successful. This is the gastric stone we removed from his stomach. Now that it’s out, he’ll recover. All he needs is some time to regain his strength.”
He showed them the stone.
The old gastric stone emitted a strong, unpleasant odor, hard and foul-smelling.
The fathers could hardly believe such a thing had been inside their child.
The second father’s eyes reddened as he said, “Gong Wei was so thin… how much pain must he have endured with this in his stomach?”
Jian Mo consoled them, “He’ll get better now. Take care of him properly. Once he recovers, encourage him to eat more wild greens and groom himself less.”
The first father asked, “Was the stone entirely made of hair?”
Jian Mo replied, “Not just hair. There are other materials too, probably some fruit pectin. You can examine it if you’d like.”
The fathers nodded, genuinely considering studying it.
Exhausted, Jian Mo instructed them to take good care of the mink and call for help if needed before heading back to bathe and rest.
The fathers walked him out a long way, their eyes full of gratitude.
The little mink’s condition was better than Jian Mo had anticipated.
Despite his frailty, he had decent resilience. By noon, he woke up, looking noticeably more energetic.
After a checkup, Jian Mo declared the surgery a success but advised keeping the little mink under observation in the He’an Tribe for a few more days.
The fathers readily agreed, not minding the cost of resources.
A few days later, Jian Mo instructed the fathers to start feeding the mink meat porridge mixed with finely chopped wild greens.
They quickly complied, eager to ensure their child’s recovery.
Since the matter with the little mink had been addressed, Jian Mo took the opportunity to remind others in the tribe as well, urging parents to include wild greens in their younglings’ diets instead of feeding them only meat.
Even on Earth, feline species, though strict carnivores, occasionally ate grass to expel hairballs.
Beastmen and sub-beastmen were omnivores—avoiding wild greens was not an option.
However, the younglings of the He’an Tribe were not fond of wild greens. Their heightened sense of taste and more delicate constitutions made them instinctively averse to certain greens that contained mild toxins.
But it wasn’t negotiable—between minor toxicity and potential health issues, the lesser evil had to be chosen.
Reluctantly, the younglings were forced into the “wild greens initiative,” and their collective resentment was palpable.
That evening, Ban Jiu, the little cat, noticed wild greens on the dinner table again. Swinging his tail, he protested loudly, “Papa, I don’t want to eat this! Meow!”
Qing Kuo replied calmly, “If you don’t eat it, you might develop hairballs in your stomach. If they grow too large to cough up, we’ll have to cut open your belly to remove them.”
Ban Jiu, quick-witted as ever, retorted, “We eat grass all the time! Nobody got hairballs before, even when we rarely ate wild greens. Gong Wei’s case is super rare—he was sick!”
Ban Ming chuckled from the side. “Sure, stomach hairballs are rare. But what about constipation? How many of you had your butts cleaned out with claws?”
Having experienced such indignity before, Ban Jiu shot his brother a disgusted look. “Brother, why would you bring that up at dinner? Gross.”
Ban Ming smirked. “It wasn’t me who got their butt cleaned, nor was it me doing the cleaning, so I’m not grossed out.”
Left speechless, Ban Jiu swatted his brother’s ankle with his long tail. “Hmph!”
Even Jian Mo took the mink’s case to heart and ate more wild greens himself for a few days.
He could handle performing surgery for others, but if he developed a gastric stone, there would be no one to help him. Given his physical constitution wasn’t as robust as the average beastman or sub-beastman, falling ill would be a serious problem.
Under the tribe’s collective care, the little mink steadily recovered. He even put on a bit of weight.
Previously thin enough to resemble a scarf, he now looked plumper, with a glossy and smooth coat of fur that made him appear even more adorable.
The little mink had developed a particular fondness for Jian Mo. Every time Jian Mo examined him, he would leap onto Jian Mo’s lap, stretch out his belly, and eagerly wait for the check-up.
One day, after completing an examination, Jian Mo told the two fathers, “He’s almost fully recovered. Let’s try having him shift back into his humanoid form so I can take a look.”
Before, the massive gastric stone in the mink’s stomach had caused severe pain when he tried to shift, so he had avoided it altogether.
The fathers, who hadn’t seen their child in humanoid form for over half a year, were thrilled by Jian Mo’s suggestion. They encouraged him, “Gong Wei, change back and let Doctor Jian Mo take a look.”
The little mink hesitated, nervous but willing. “Papa, clothes.”
His father quickly rummaged through their belongings and handed over some clothes, smiling. “Go ahead and shift.”
The little mink added shyly, “I’ll turn my back.”
His father chuckled. “Feeling modest, are we?”
Ignoring the teasing, the little mink turned his back and transformed into his humanoid form.
Taking the robe from his father, he wrapped it around his waist, adjusting it until he was fully dressed.
Jian Mo watched the scene with a soft smile.
The little one’s humanoid form was still slender, but his skin looked healthy, and the scar on his chest had healed nicely, leaving only a faint mark.
The boy was so good-looking that having a prominent scar on his chest would have been a shame.
Gong Wei looked up at Jian Mo, both shy and delighted. “Brother Jian Mo.”
Jian Mo waved him over. “Come here, let me check your wound more closely.”
Gong Wei ran to him.
Jian Mo put on his stethoscope, warming it in his hands before pressing it gently to Gong Wei’s chest.
The sounds from the stethoscope indicated the boy was in good health.
After a thorough check, Jian Mo stood up and addressed the fathers. “He’s recovering well. You can return home now. Just make sure to watch his diet—he needs to eat more and have a balanced intake. Gong Wei is still a bit frail, so focus on nutrition to ensure healthy growth.”
The fathers nodded eagerly.
Jian Mo smiled. “You’re free to head back now. You’ve been away from home for so long—aren’t you feeling homesick?”
As he spoke, Jian Mo playfully nudged Gong Wei. At that moment, he noticed something odd about the boy’s clothing fabric. “Hmm?”
