Transmigrated to the Beastman World as a Veterinarian – CH14

The first batch of fried fish fillets Jian Mo made was almost entirely traded away by the people in the tribe.

He and Wu Jiong, along with their winged beasts, went fishing twice more. After catching more fish, they processed and fried them again.

However, with the starch made from mao gen roots nearly used up, Jian Mo was reluctant to waste the remainder solely on frying fish. So, he adjusted the recipe—omitting the starch, marinating the fish only with spices, air-drying them, and then frying the fillets directly. After frying, he let them soak briefly in hot oil.

The final product ended up resembling canned fried fish from Earth or vacuum-sealed five-spice fish jerky. It was aromatic and chewy, with even the bones richly flavored, making it irresistible to slowly savor.

While they were busy preparing the dried fried fish, the day of the Hunting Tournament drew closer until, finally, it arrived.

The entire tribe took this event very seriously. Before dawn, Jian Mo was already being woken up by the various noises outside.

He hugged his long legs around the animal hide blanket, mumbling in protest, burying his head under the covers, but he couldn’t escape the excited sounds coming from below. Reluctantly, he got up.

When Jian Mo went downstairs, he found that Wu Jiong was already awake, wearing a more elaborate animal hide robe than usual.

Ordinarily, such robes would make most people look bulky, but on Wu Jiong’s tall frame, it exuded a unique wild allure, mixed with a hint of youthful fierceness.

Even Jian Mo couldn’t help but take an extra appreciative glance.

After breakfast, everyone prepared to head to the Mengshui tribe for the Hunting Tournament.

As a rare festive occasion, nearly the entire He’an tribe came out, leaving behind only a few patrols and those less interested in the tournament.

The beastmen transformed into their beast forms, carrying their families on their backs as they ran across the open plains.

Each beastman was strapped with all sorts of supplies, but this didn’t slow them down one bit as they sprinted swiftly.

Jian Mo, sitting atop Wu Jiong, looked at the cheerful faces around him, feeling his spirits lift.

Before they even reached the Mengshui tribe, Jian Mo could already see other beastmen and sub-beastmen from different tribes.

The beastmen had taken on their animal forms, but they weren’t the familiar felines or canines that Jian Mo was used to. Instead, there were those resembling rhinos, elephants, and moose, or even forms that didn’t resemble any animal he recognized.

The sub-beastmen’s beast markings also differed from those of the He’an tribe. Some had eyes that, along with their sockets, were partially beastified, while others had hands that had transformed into tentacles.

Jian Mo sat on Wu Jiong’s back, awestruck by everything he saw.

Fortunately, when he transmigrated, he ended up in the He’an tribe. If he had arrived in another tribe, it would have been even harder for him to adjust.

“We’ve arrived—!” shouted a sub-beastman from another tribe.

Everyone looked different, but the beastman language was the same.

Jian Mo lifted his gaze and looked ahead, catching sight of the Mengshui tribe.

The Mengshui tribe was situated on a vast plain, much larger than the He’an tribe. Their houses were scattered across the plains, stretching so far that one couldn’t see the end of them at a glance.

The buildings were made of stone, mostly single-story structures. What stood out was the way the Mengshui people painted their stone houses with various ochre-red patterns, especially around door and window frames.

The reddish frames contrasted sharply with the white bark they used as makeshift windows, giving the buildings a rugged, bold aesthetic.

In the He’an tribe, they also used bark to cover their windows at night, but it lacked the refinement of the Mengshui designs.

As Jian Mo observed, he speculated that the Mengshui tribe might have access to deposits of red iron ore, which could explain their abundant use of ochre pigments.

While these thoughts flashed through his mind, they had already arrived at the designated open space for their group.

The sub-beastmen quickly dismounted and began unloading the supplies carried by the beastmen.

With the help of Qingkuo and Zhou Fu, Jian Mo removed the baskets from Wu Jiong’s back.

Wu Jiong turned away, transformed back into human form, and donned his animal hide robe.

As the leader of the He’an tribe, he needed to meet with the Mengshui tribe to discuss the details of the Hunting Tournament.

Wu Jiong said to Jian Mo, “The Hunting Tournament can get pretty chaotic. Stick close to Qingkuo and the others, and don’t wander off. I’ve already talked to Qingkuo—they’ll look after you.”

Jian Mo nodded, “Got it.”

Wu Jiong added, “I’ll come find you after I’ve finished talking with the Mengshui people. If anything happens, just call for our tribe members. Don’t be afraid.”

Jian Mo wasn’t afraid, but he noticed that Wu Jiong was more talkative than usual, almost as if he were anxious.

Jian Mo smiled at him, “Don’t worry. Back in my… former tribe, I used to attend events like this all the time.”

Wu Jiong stared at him for a moment, then gave Qingkuo another reminder before finally leaving.

After organizing his belongings, Qingkuo approached with his partner Di Ya. “Jian Mo, you’ve brought a lot of things. Why don’t you set up a stall here? Walking around with all that stuff would be exhausting.”

Jian Mo nodded, “Good idea.”

With that, Qingkuo led Jian Mo to the riverbank within the Mengshui tribe’s territory, where they found a spot to set up their stall.

The area was bustling with people coming and going, and many stalls had already been set up, offering a wide variety of goods, most of them unique handicrafts.

Jian Mo looked around and noticed that no one else was trading food, which reassured him.

He laid out the two baskets of fish fillets, arranging them neatly. He also placed a large leaf on top, then spread more fish fillets on the leaf, with a pile of wooden skewers beside them.

Qingkuo was puzzled. “What’s that for?”

Jian Mo explained, “For sampling. No one here knows what these fish fillets are, so if they get to taste it, more people might be willing to trade.”

Qingkuo nodded in understanding.

While they were talking, a beastman with a keen sense of smell approached their stall and asked, “What’s this?”

The beastman was pointing at the fish fillets.

Jian Mo looked up. “Fish fillets. Try some.”

When the beastman heard the word “fish,” he hesitated. But after Jian Mo quickly skewered a piece of fish fillet and held it out, the beastman couldn’t resist.

He reluctantly took the fillet, put it in his mouth, and his eyes lit up instantly. “Delicious!”

Jian Mo smiled, “Good, isn’t it? How about trading for some?”

The beastman shifted his basket to the front and dumped out its contents: a mix of plant stems, beautiful stones, wild fruits, and bone knives. Jian Mo sifted through the items and carefully picked out a bone knife. “How about trading for this?”

The beastman agreed eagerly, “Of course!”

Jian Mo then wrapped a generous portion of fish fillets in a leaf he had prepared and handed it to the beastman.

After placing the fish in his basket, the beastman didn’t leave but instead introduced himself with a grunt, “I’m Duan Xu, a beastman from the Hongzheng tribe.”

Jian Mo nodded, “I’m Jian Mo.”

Duan Xu smiled nervously, “Are you planning to watch the wrestling matches later? I’m the third contestant.”

Qingkuo, overhearing this, raised an eyebrow slightly.

Jian Mo was at a loss, “I’m just here to trade my fish fillets.”

Duan Xu persisted, “Once you’re done trading, you should come watch. This year, there are many skilled warriors. The wrestling matches should be exciting.”

Jian Mo hadn’t expected this beastman to be so friendly. After thanking him, he replied, “If I finish early, I’ll definitely come watch.”

Duan Xu nodded and left.

After the stranger departed, Qingkuo asked, “Are you planning to go watch?”

Jian Mo nodded, “Wu Jiong is participating, and Zhou Fu and the others want to watch too. We agreed to go cheer for him.”

Qingkuo chuckled, “Let’s finish trading quickly and head over.”

As they chatted, more and more people, attracted by the scent of the fish, gathered around.

Jian Mo was generous with his samples, offering bites of the fish fillets for everyone to try.

Most people had never tasted anything like it before and were eager to trade for some.

Jian Mo ended up exchanging the fillets for items like animal fat, plant stems, fabric, and spices.

The fish fillets sold out quickly. In no time, the two large baskets he had brought were completely emptied.

Jian Mo even helped the other sub-beastmen from the tribe with their trades.

Qingkuo trailed behind him leisurely, “Aren’t you going to watch the wrestling matches?”

Jian Mo replied, “Wu Jiong’s match is scheduled for later. There’s still plenty of time. I’ll head over after helping Zhou Fu and the others finish their trades.”

Qingkuo just smiled again, a look that was both tolerant and amused.

Jian Mo noticed that Qingkuo seemed a bit off today but couldn’t quite put his finger on what was different.

Having run a pet clinic before, albeit not very successfully, Jian Mo had some experience in business.

His skill in negotiating helped the other sub-beastmen complete their trades much faster than they could have on their own, and soon, most of their goods were exchanged.

After finishing their trades, everyone headed to watch the wrestling matches.

The Hunting Tournament featured various competitions, but everyone said that the wrestling matches were the most exciting and worth watching.

They reached the edge of the arena, where Wu Jiong and a few others were still waiting to enter the ring. Seeing them arrive, Wu Jiong led them to the stands.

There were already other beastmen competing in the arena.

All of these beastmen had shifted into their beast forms.

From his spot in the stands, Jian Mo peered down through the gaps in the crowd.

In the arena below, two massive beasts, resembling a cross between elephants and rhinos, were crashing into each other, letting out deafening roars.

The force of their clashes made the ground tremble, and even from the stands, Jian Mo could feel the vibrations.

It was terrifying.

He had never witnessed such a spectacle before—this clash of raw strength, the flying blood and flesh, and the powerful roars sent his adrenaline surging.

His mouth hung slightly open as he felt his throat go dry.

The crowd around him, however, was incredibly excited, with cheers erupting from all directions, deafening in their intensity.

Some people had even shouted themselves hoarse.

Jian Mo could smell the sweat in the air, and it seemed to convey the excitement and fervor of the spectators.

Suddenly, Jian Mo felt out of place in this world. Unable to help himself, he turned to look at Wu Jiong.

Wu Jiong would also be entering the arena soon, and Jian Mo couldn’t imagine him transforming into a giant wolf and engaging in such brutal hand-to-hand combat.

As he turned to look, Wu Jiong happened to glance over as well, and their eyes met.

Wu Jiong’s gaze was calm, completely different from the surrounding frenzy. When he saw Jian Mo, his eyes softened, and he gave a slight nod.

Amid the noisy surroundings, Jian Mo had to lean closer to Wu Jiong to speak into his ear, his tone tinged with concern, “Are you really going to compete?”

Wu Jiong nodded, “I’m the tribe leader—I have to.”

Jian Mo asked, “Is it required?”

Wu Jiong took a moment to understand what Jian Mo meant by “required” before shaking his head. “No, it’s not a rule. But this is how the tribes gauge each other’s current combat strength—how many fit fighters they have, whether they can hold their own. So we need to participate.”

Jian Mo understood now. The tribes couldn’t engage in formal battles, so they used the arena to show their strength.

He muttered regretfully, “If I had known, I would’ve brought more medical supplies instead of so many fish fillets.”

Wu Jiong leaned closer to reassure him, “Don’t worry. Everyone knows their limits; it won’t get too out of hand.”

Wu Jiong began explaining the matches to Jian Mo—who was pulling his punches, who had missed their kicks, who had struck in the wrong spot…

With Wu Jiong’s guidance, Jian Mo gradually started to understand what was happening in the arena and began to feel the excitement of the matches.

Before long, someone came over to call them, announcing that it was time for the He’an tribe’s beastmen to enter the ring.

Jian Mo’s heart clenched as a wave of nervousness washed over him.

Though the beastmen in the arena usually held back, every match still left at least one person bloodied.

There was nothing Jian Mo could do to stop it, so he clenched his fists and took Wu Jiong’s spot, silently watching the arena from amidst the crowd.

As the tribe leader, Wu Jiong transformed into a massive white wolf and was the first to represent the He’an tribe in the arena.

His opponent was a beastman as tall as a hill, with thick armor-like skin and curved tusks, looking both sturdy and enormous.

Jian Mo watched the arena intently, wondering how Wu Jiong would defeat such a heavily armored opponent.

“Don’t worry,” Qingkuo said beside him. “Wu Jiong’s combat skills are top-tier among all the nearby tribes. That giant armored beast won’t stand a chance against him.”

Jian Mo nodded but kept his eyes glued to the match.

In the arena, the two colossal beasts wasted no time and immediately lunged at each other, teeth and claws bared.

The crowd erupted into cheers, even Qingkuo turned to watch the fight and joined in the shouting.

Amidst the fierce collisions and bites, both beasts drew blood. However, the giant wolf only suffered a few minor scratches, while the other beast was already bleeding profusely.

The cheers from the He’an tribe’s side grew even louder, and the atmosphere became electrifying.

The giant armored beastman didn’t back down; his wounds only seemed to ignite his fighting spirit, and he attacked even more fiercely, each step causing the ground to tremble.

But the giant wolf was more agile, skillfully dodging the armored beast’s charges and taking every opportunity to tear away chunks of its flesh.

Clearly, as a canine beastman, his sharp teeth were his greatest advantage.

In a matter of moments, Wu Jiong had torn into the armored beast’s throat, leaving it bloodied. Finally, he clamped down on the beast’s windpipe and pinned it to the ground, towering over it.

His slightly narrowed wolf eyes bore down on the armored beast, exuding a deadly aura.

With just a bit more force, his powerful jaws could crush his opponent’s throat.

The armored beast had no choice but to admit defeat, and the referee declared the match over.

Reluctantly, the defeated beastman left the arena, while the giant wolf remained, waiting for the next beastman to step into the ring.

Jian Mo swallowed hard, feeling the sweat in his palms.

Qingkuo’s attention shifted away from the match as he spoke to Jian Mo, “For generations, the leaders of the He’an tribe were feline beastmen, like He Feng’s father, De Jiang.”

Jian Mo was surprised by this sudden topic shift and turned to look at him.

Qingkuo continued, “De Jiang’s beast form was nearly as large as the giant wolf, but with sharper claws and greater agility, making him a fearsome fighter. But then, when Wu Jiong was still young, he defeated all challengers in the tribe with overwhelming strength and was unanimously chosen as the tribe leader.”

Qingkuo added, “He’s a born warrior.”

Jian Mo turned back to look at Wu Jiong in the arena, “He’s incredible.”

Qingkuo nodded, “Of course. He’s the pride of our tribe.”

Wu Jiong, in his wolf form, went on to challenge a total of eight beastmen, emerging victorious every time.

However, by the end, his once snow-white fur was stained red with blood, a sight that was both awe-inspiring and chilling.

As a veterinarian, Jian Mo had treated countless animals and seen his fair share of bloody scenes. Yet, at this moment, he felt his hands and feet go weak.

He didn’t really want to keep watching, but he also didn’t dare to leave.

He was afraid something might happen to Wu Jiong while he was away.

Finally, when the matches concluded, Wu Jiong, having finished his battles, transformed back into his human form and returned to the stands.

Jian Mo had been watching him the entire time.

Turning to face him, Wu Jiong briefly showed off his body, speaking in a low voice, “I’m fine. I’ll heal up in a bit.”

Jian Mo’s gaze roamed over him, examining him closely. “I’ll apply some medicine for you later.”

Wu Jiong’s injuries were indeed mostly superficial—just cuts and scrapes. Although some of them were still bleeding, it was likely that they would stop on their own soon.

Wu Jiong nodded and sat down beside Jian Mo.

The two continued to watch the remaining matches.

With Wu Jiong no longer in the arena, Jian Mo found himself distracted.

Wu Jiong noticed his unease. “Do you still want to watch? If not, we can go for a walk outside.”

Jian Mo wasn’t quite comfortable with the fervent atmosphere, but he glanced back at the arena. “Let’s stay a bit longer. It’s still our tribe’s beastmen competing—it wouldn’t be right not to watch.”

Wu Jiong looked at him for a moment before nodding.

The matches in the arena, despite their intensity, were mostly about showing strength rather than causing serious harm.

In the later matches, there were no major incidents. Although the beast forms sustained some injuries, once they returned to their human forms, the wounds didn’t seem too severe.

As the sky gradually darkened, the day’s matches came to an end. Jian Mo and Wu Jiong stood up, ready to head back.

Wu Jiong casually took the basket off Jian Mo’s back. “Did you manage to trade for anything good today?”

“Not bad,” Jian Mo replied, showing Wu Jiong the items in his basket. “I got quite a few useful things. I also traded for some fabric. Once we’re back, I’ll sew a couple of outfits for you.”

As he spoke, Jian Mo picked up one of the pieces of fabric, but his hand suddenly paused.

Wu Jiong asked, “What’s wrong?”

Jian Mo pulled out the piece of fabric he had grabbed, holding it up for Wu Jiong to see. “This fabric feels different—softer than the rest.”