Jian Mo’s hand paused mid-motion.
Gong Wei’s fathers noticed. “Doctor Jian Mo, is something wrong?”
Jian Mo asked, “Can I take a closer look at Gong Wei’s clothes?”
Gong Wei’s father immediately responded, “Of course! We also have clean clothes in our basket—also from the Jiu Nian Tribe. Would you like to see those too, Doctor Jian Mo?”
Jian Mo took the spare set of clothes and quickly noticed that the fabric was indeed different from typical materials.
It was coarser, stiffer, and had the texture of hardened plant fibers, unlike the usual animal-based fabrics.
During his time here, Jian Mo had only encountered two main types of fabric:
One was leather, often made from animal hides. Some tribes, like the Snowfoot Tribe, even used fish skin to make clothing as part of their tradition.
The other was woven from animal fur. Some used their own fur, some used the fur of their mates or younglings, and others, like Jian Mo, used fur from Tou Tou Beasts.
He had never seen fabric made from plant fibers before.
Jian Mo looked up and asked, “This fabric—is it made from plants?”
Gong Wei’s fathers both shook their heads, admitting they didn’t know.
“I’ll burn a few threads to test,” Jian Mo said.
“Burn them?” asked Gong Wei’s father, puzzled.
Jian Mo explained, “Fabric made from animal fur gives off a distinct smell when burned. Plant-based fibers don’t.”
Gong Wei’s father offered help. “I have a fire starter here. Doctor Jian Mo, would you like to burn the threads now?”
The fire starter was a slender hollow stone cylinder filled with compacted wood shavings. By removing the cap to allow air in and blowing gently, sparks could be fanned into a flame. It was a simple, portable tool that beastmen and sub-beastmen always carried when traveling.
Seeing their enthusiasm, Jian Mo carefully pulled two threads: one from his own garment and another from Gong Wei’s. He stepped outside to conduct the test.
When burned, Jian Mo’s thread emitted the strong, distinct smell of burning protein. Gong Wei’s thread, in contrast, had almost no odor.
Gong Wei’s father widened his eyes in amazement. “I thought the fabric felt cooler and more comfortable when I traded for it, but I never realized it was made from such a different material!”
Jian Mo chuckled. “It might be a trade secret of their tribe. How did you trade for it? How much material did they ask for one roll of this fabric?”
“Two rolls of our fabric for one of theirs. They were quite generous,” replied Gong Wei’s father.
Hearing this, Jian Mo’s interest was instantly piqued.
Suppressing his excitement, Jian Mo bid farewell to Gong Wei and his family before heading off to find Wu Jiong with the fabric threads in hand.
Wu Jiong was in the middle of training Ban Ming and the others.
Summer was nearing its end, and the nearby tribes were preparing for the upcoming Summer Harvest Festival.
During the festival, all tribal territories would be open for young beastmen and sub-beastmen to hunt and gather as they pleased. Their harvests would then be ranked by value.
To avoid embarrassment for the He’an Tribe, Wu Jiong and De Jiang were intensifying training sessions for the younger members.
Sweat poured down Ban Ming’s face as he pushed through the drills. His lips were chapped, and it seemed more like a beastman version of boot camp than routine training.
When Ban Ming spotted Jian Mo approaching, he immediately shouted, “Chief, Brother Jian Mo is here!”
Wu Jiong glanced at Ban Ming. “Then you all squat in horse stance for now.”
The group groaned in unison but begrudgingly complied, shifting into their stances with exaggerated reluctance.
Jian Mo waved at Wu Jiong. “Am I interrupting your training?”
Wu Jiong replied, “Not at all. What’s going on?”
Jian Mo held up the two threads, his eyes sparkling. “Check this out!”
Wu Jiong took the threads and rubbed them between his fingers. “What is this? It doesn’t seem like animal fur.”
“It’s from Gong Wei’s clothes! While examining him, I noticed his clothes were stiff but also cooler and more breathable, perfect for this season.”
Ban Ming and the others, still squatting, perked up their ears at Jian Mo’s comment.
Hearing this, Ban Ming interjected, “Brother Jian Mo, summer’s almost over. Shouldn’t you be switching to warmer, softer fabrics instead?”
Jian Mo only smiled without responding. Whether outerwear changed with the season wasn’t the issue—finding better underwear was a more pressing priority.
Wu Jiong asked, “Which tribe is this fabric from?”
“The Jiu Nian Tribe,” Jian Mo replied. “But didn’t the last trade caravan skip over the Jiu Nian Tribe?”
Wu Jiong explained, “They passed near its outskirts. Are you thinking of visiting the Jiu Nian Tribe?”
Jian Mo nodded enthusiastically. “They’re not far from us. If we ride Chirpy and Ying Ao, we could get there by the next day. Why don’t we make a trip?”
From the sidelines, Ban Ming chimed in again. “Chief, you should go! De Jiang can train us—we won’t fall behind.”
A Hu added, “Yeah, yeah! You can leave us tasks, and we’ll train ourselves!”
Wu Jiong raised his head. “Want extra practice? I’ll assign you two some solo drills after this session.”
The other beastmen, overhearing this, immediately fell silent, focusing on their stances with renewed determination.
Ban Ming and A Hu gaped in silent dismay, looking thoroughly wronged.
Jian Mo, amused, laughed heartily before waving and heading home.
Since Chirpy and Ying Ao were out, Jian Mo grabbed a broom to clean their nests before moving on to tidy the enclosures of the Tou Tou Beasts and long-tailed birds.
The Tou Tou Beasts were still producing milk, and their supply hadn’t dried up yet.
As for the long-tailed birds, they hadn’t started laying eggs, possibly due to adjusting to their new environment. Jian Mo decided to observe them for a while longer and, if needed, consult the people of the Eighteen Bends Tribe for advice.
After finishing his chores at home, Jian Mo headed to the back hill to check on the honey sparrows.
The honey sparrows had settled comfortably in the area. Even from a distance, Jian Mo could hear their chirping.
He touched his soft ears and wondered if his beastman hearing made the sounds seem louder.
Circling the back hill, Jian Mo inspected the 31 honey sparrow nests. Most of the birds appeared well-adapted, with many already producing one or two blocks of honey.
Once the nests yielded four or five blocks, it would be time to harvest.
The little honey sparrows couldn’t count. If two blocks of honey were taken from their nests, they wouldn’t even notice.
As long as they hadn’t accumulated enough honey blocks, they would continue gathering. Once they had enough, they would stop collecting, focus on finding mates, and use the stored honey to feed their hatchlings.
Ji Xun had once explained that the most important part of raising honey sparrows was managing the number of honey blocks in their nests. It couldn’t be too many or too few, requiring frequent inspections and collections.
After finishing up his chores, Jian Mo made fried meatballs and jerky to bring as road snacks.
Although Gong Wei’s fathers had said that exchanging fabric for fabric would suffice, Jian Mo wanted to ensure a successful trade. He packed extras like glass, metal pieces, soap, and paper, filling an entire carrying basket.
When Wu Jiong returned in the evening and saw the packed supplies, he said, “Everything’s ready. Let’s set off tomorrow.”
Jian Mo blinked. “So soon?”
Wu Jiong nodded. “The sooner we go, the sooner we get the fabric, and the sooner you’ll stop fretting.”
Jian Mo smiled brightly. “Alright, I’ll prepare some treats for Chirpy and Ying Ao tonight, and we’ll leave tomorrow.”
Thanks to their winged beasts, traveling to distant tribes had become significantly easier.
The next day, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong set off on Chirpy, with Ying Ao carrying the supplies.
Though closer than some places, the Jiu Nian Tribe was still far enough that even flying couldn’t get them there in one day. They camped in the wilderness overnight before arriving the following day.
When they approached the Jiu Nian Tribe, a patrolling beastman greeted them with a cheerful shout, “Doctor Jian Mo and Chief Wu Jiong, right?”
Jian Mo was puzzled. “You know us?”
The beastman laughed. “We’ve heard about you. You traveled with the trade caravan last time, right? We thought you’d visit us then, but you took a detour.”
Feeling slightly embarrassed, Jian Mo replied, “We had gathered so many goods back then and were exhausted, so we didn’t come by.”
The beastman waved it off. “Understandable. You’re here now to trade for our fabric, right?”
“That’s right,” Jian Mo confirmed. “Do you still have fabric available?”
“Of course! It just depends on how much you need. If it’s a lot, you might need to stay here for a couple of days while we gather the fibers and weave it for you,” the beastman explained.
As they chatted, the patrolman led Jian Mo and Wu Jiong into the tribe and sent a youngling to inform the tribe chief.
Jian Mo took the opportunity to observe the unfamiliar surroundings.
The buildings in the Jiu Nian Tribe were typical stone houses with slightly sloped roofs for rain drainage.
However, the village appeared tidier and more refined than most, with paved stone paths instead of the usual dirt roads.
Following the patrolman, Jian Mo noticed a few Tou Tou Beasts leisurely grazing in the village.
Tou Tou Beasts were timid by nature and rarely left their enclosures. The fact that they could graze freely here indicated that the Jiu Nian Tribe had successfully domesticated them over a long period.
The patrolman, who introduced himself as Min Yan, was chatty and informative. As they walked, he shared insights about the Jiu Nian Tribe and eagerly inquired about other tribes.
“I’ve always wanted to travel like the merchants, carrying goods to trade with different tribes,” Min Yan admitted. “But my dad and papa won’t allow it. They say it’s too dangerous for one person to go alone. Honestly, I’m pretty fast on my feet—there shouldn’t be any danger. Did you encounter anything risky on your way here?”
Jian Mo gestured toward Chirpy and Ying Ao outside the village. “We came on winged beasts, so it was relatively safe.”
Min Yan looked on enviously. “Winged beasts, huh? You’ve raised them well. Even without riding them, it’s much safer now, isn’t it? I heard your nearby tribes have cleared out the large predators along the main roads, and younglings even walk alone between villages.”
Jian Mo shook his head. “That’s an exaggeration. We still have adults accompany the younglings.”
“Exaggeration or not, the connections between your tribes have definitely improved, right? Much more than before. I remember when your tribes barely interacted,” Min Yan remarked.
Jian Mo smiled. “I wouldn’t know much about the past—I wasn’t around then.”
As they spoke, someone called Min Yan over. A tall sub-beastman approached them briskly.
The sub-beastman had striking features: a broad, vibrant appearance with a prominent mouth, giving him an energetic and charismatic look.
The newcomer introduced himself. “Chief Wu Jiong, Doctor Jian Mo—I’m Xin Jun, the chief of the Jiu Nian Tribe.”
Jian Mo and Wu Jiong exchanged polite greetings.
Xin Jun asked, “Are you here to trade for fabric personally or on behalf of your tribe?”
Jian Mo answered, “Just personally. We’re looking for some fabric for summer clothing.”
Xin Jun grinned. “That’s a wise trade. Come, let’s have some tea at my home.”
He led them to his house while instructing Min Yan to resume patrol duties.
Xin Jun’s home featured a small courtyard filled with flowers climbing along the fence. The blossoms swayed gently in the wind, creating a beautiful and refined atmosphere.
Jian Mo admired the sight with a hint of awe.
The carefully tended courtyard revealed Xin Jun’s love for life and beauty.
Once inside, Xin Jun led them to a seating area by the window and poured tea from a ceramic pot.
The liquid that streamed out was a familiar yellowish-brown, and Jian Mo recognized it immediately.
It was tea.
Surprised, Jian Mo took a sip, savoring the familiar taste and gentle aftertaste. “This is made from a type of plant leaf?”
Xin Jun nodded with a smile. “Yes, young leaves dried and brewed into tea. This is Crescent Tea. It’s refreshing and helps with focus. But if you’re not used to it, drink sparingly—it can keep you up at night.”
Jian Mo sighed in delight. “It’s wonderful.”
“If you like it,” Xin Jun offered, “I’ll send you some when you leave.”
Jian Mo grinned. “We’d be happy to accept.”
As they sipped tea and exchanged information about their respective tribes, Xin Jun brought out rolls of fabric for them to inspect.
“These are newly woven fabrics. The fresh material is stiffer but more durable. After a few washes, it softens significantly.”
“This particular fabric uses a double-weave method, making it thicker and sturdier—perfect for beastmen who tend to wear out their clothes easily,” Xin Jun explained.
“This one is made using a single-weave method, which we sub-beastmen prefer. It’s lighter and more comfortable. The patterns you see here are dyed, all unique to our tribe,” Xin Jun explained, showcasing the fabrics one by one to Jian Mo and Wu Jiong, detailing everything clearly.
Jian Mo touched the newly woven fabrics. They felt somewhat like burlap—slightly coarse but quite comfortable.
What excited him most was that this was an entirely new type of fabric. With it, they could create more varied clothing styles and make daily life significantly more comfortable.
Jian Mo took out some fabric from his bag. “We’d like to trade for all these fabrics. Is it still two rolls of fabric for one of yours?”
Xin Jun smiled. “That’s right. But if you want all of them, we might not have enough on hand.”
He explained, “Do you know the Cypress Branch Tribe? They recently traded for a batch of our fabric, so we’re a bit low right now.”
“Yes, we know them well,” Jian Mo replied.
Xin Jun raised his eyebrows in surprise before smiling. “Then I don’t need to explain further. If you want to trade for more, why not stay in our tribe for a couple of days? We’re harvesting fibers tomorrow and can have more fabric woven by the day after.”
Jian Mo’s interest was piqued. “Can Wu Jiong and I join you for the fiber harvesting?”
“Of course!” Xin Jun agreed. “Rest here for the night, and we’ll head into the mountains early tomorrow.”
Xin Jun quickly arranged for Wu Jiong and Jian Mo to stay in one of the tribe’s vacant houses. Like most tribes, the arrangement required them to pay with resources.
The Jiu Nian Tribe, however, seemed exceptionally warm and hospitable.
That evening, Xin Jun invited them to dine at his home. One of the dishes featured small crab-like creatures fried until golden and crispy, then stir-fried with tea leaves. The result was an exceptionally delicious dish.
Xin Jun also served cured meats, roasted meats, pickled vegetables, and stewed dishes—all rich in flavor. Additionally, there was pearl rice, perfectly cooked into fluffy white grains. Jian Mo wondered if the rice had been traded with the Cypress Branch Tribe or was native to the Jiu Nian Tribe.
Later, as Jian Mo lay in bed, he remarked to Wu Jiong, “The Jiu Nian Tribe seems to have a particularly abundant variety of plants.”
“If the He’an Tribe’s territory consists of snowy mountains, forests, marshes, grasslands, and lakes,” he continued, “then the Jiu Nian Tribe’s area is mostly rainforest. From above, it’s just an endless stretch of green forest.”
Wu Jiong nodded. “Their land is indeed richer, but their territories are smaller, and there are more tribes packed into the area.”
Jian Mo agreed. “I noticed that too. The neighboring territories feel densely packed, but it makes sense—only a resource-rich area could support so many tribes.”
Wu Jiong turned to face him, lying on his side. “Looking forward to tomorrow’s gathering?”
“Absolutely,” Jian Mo replied. “I’m excited to see what interesting things we can find.”
“Still hoping to find chili peppers?” Wu Jiong asked with a knowing look.
Jian Mo nodded without hesitation. “If we do, it’ll double the number of recipes we can make!”
Wu Jiong chuckled. “With so many tribes helping us search, I’m sure we’ll find them eventually.”
Jian Mo sighed. “I hope so. I just worry they might not exist in this region at all.”
