The He’an Tribe had only a limited amount of lime and cement remaining.
After taking inventory, they gathered materials and fired another batch of lime and cement.
Once everything was ready, they began constructing the sparring platform.
When word spread to other tribes, they eagerly came to help.
“You’re building this sparring platform because of the little ones, right? Of course, we have to pitch in.”
“Exactly. You’re not even asking us for materials, so let us lend a hand.”
“Our Meng Shui Tribe has experience with this. We can help with the design and construction.”
“Our Ice River Tribe is strong. Leave the heavy lifting to us.”
“Hey, hey! It’s not like we’re weak either. Every tribe here has strength to spare!”
The He’an Tribe was touched by their willingness to help and gladly accepted the assistance.
In return, the He’an Tribe provided breakfast and dinner to all the helpers, preparing hearty meals to ensure everyone was well-fed and satisfied.
The helpers were delighted and worked with even greater dedication.
The Meng Shui Tribe’s expertise was invaluable.
The He’an Tribe had initially planned to build a small sparring platform, but the Meng Shui Tribe members explained the practicalities: the maximum size and strength of beast forms, the forces involved in combat, and the materials required to ensure the safety of both participants and spectators.
Taking their advice, the He’an Tribe revised their design multiple times.
During construction, they ran out of stone materials.
Other tribes contributed their stockpiled stones. When the He’an Tribe offered to trade supplies for them, the other tribes refused.
“Our little ones come here to study anyway. Carrying a bit of extra material is no trouble. Besides, with this favor, it’ll be harder for you to refuse our kids in the future.”
The sparring platform took over ten days to complete.
When it was finished, everyone stood in front of the concentric stone seating and stared at the massive, sunken platform in silence.
“This isn’t a sparring platform. It’s an arena.”
“Look at the size, the shape, the level of craftsmanship—if your He’an Tribe carves patterns into the stone, it’ll put the Meng Shui Tribe’s arena to shame.”
“Even without carvings, it’s already something else. Isn’t this arena bigger than the one at the Meng Shui Tribe?”
“Well, yes, it’s a bit larger—and newer.”
As the comments flew, everyone turned to look at the members of the Meng Shui Tribe.
Yun Long remained silent, while the Meng Shui Tribe members looked visibly conflicted.
De Jiang glanced at Yun Long and patted his shoulder.
The Meng Shui Tribe had indeed contributed a lot to the construction of this sparring platform.
Wu Jiong, thoroughly pleased with the new arena, also patted Yun Long’s shoulder. “Thank you all for your help. If anyone needs to use the arena in the future, just let us know.”
“Ha! That’s settled, then. Sometimes we do get the itch to spar.”
“While picking up the little ones, we can stop by for a few matches to kill time.”
“Can the young ones train here? Teaching combat skills in this space would be so convenient.”
“Not just for the little ones—young beastmen and sub-beastmen could train here too. Teaching in the wild can be too restrictive.”
“Exactly. If we ever need it, we’ll come borrow the arena.”
Listening to the conversation, Jian Mo realized the tribe hadn’t just built a sparring platform—they’d essentially built a sports complex.
But then again, the difference wasn’t significant. An arena was essentially an activity space for beastmen and sub-beastmen. With their diverse beast forms, it wasn’t like they could hold races or similar events.
Combat, after all, was the ultimate measure of strength across tribes.
The He’an Tribe’s new arena delighted everyone—except for the slightly sulky Meng Shui Tribe. But the other tribes were thrilled.
Now the little ones finally had a designated place for their squabbles, sparring openly without fear of reprimand.
The young ones were delighted. Fighting in the arena meant no more sneaking around—they could go all out.
Though adorable, the little ones were naturally competitive. Beastmen and sub-beastmen alike had their own skills and strategies when it came to fighting.
One day, Jian Mo witnessed Jiang Xing wrestling with a big cat.
The young sub-beastman had pinned the cat down, pounding it so hard that its nose was nearly bleeding.
Jian Mo finally understood how Jiang Xing had become the leader of the little ones. It wasn’t just because he was slightly older—he was genuinely strong.
His perception of the little ones had completely changed.
Later, when they approached him, bouncing with excitement, he assumed they were preparing for another fight.
Instead, they craned their necks to look up at him and said, “Brother Jian Mo, the Muding roots in the fields are almost ripe. When are you going to dig them up?”
Jian Mo had been too busy lately to notice. “Almost ripe? Let me go check.”
The little ones all nodded eagerly. Jiang Xing added, “The leaves on the Muding roots are turning yellow. We dug a little, and the roots underground are really big.”
The little spotted cat, Ban Jiu, stood on its hind legs and stretched its paws wide as if to demonstrate. “They’re this big—”
Seeing the serious look on the fluffy cat’s face and its efforts to spread its paws as far as possible, Jian Mo couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright, let me see if they’re really that big.”
Hearing this, the little ones immediately grabbed onto his sleeves and pant legs. “Brother Jian Mo, are you going now?”
Since it was as good a time as any, Jian Mo nodded with a smile. “Let’s go.”
The young ones cheered and skipped ahead, leading the way. They hopped across the river rocks to the fields on the other side.
After the summer winds passed, the wooden stakes in the fields had been pulled up and stacked along the edges. These stakes could be reused next year for fencing or other purposes, ensuring they wouldn’t go to waste.
The little white wolf Zhou Dao and the little white fox Bai Lu eagerly began digging with their paws, aiming to unearth a Muding root to show Jian Mo.
Canine paws, compared to feline ones, were better suited for digging.
Jian Mo watched the two little ones with a smile as they worked. When more of the root was exposed, he couldn’t help but exclaim, “Huh? It really does look big!”
Hearing the surprised tone in Jian Mo’s voice, the wolf and fox straightened their backs and puffed out their chests, proudly showing off their work.
Jian Mo, now curious, stepped forward and knelt to dig away some of the soil with his hands.
It didn’t take long to confirm his suspicions—these Muding roots were exceptionally large.
He measured one with his hand and realized it was as thick as his thigh.
Jiang Xing chirped from the side, “A lot of the Muding roots are this big—not just this one.”
Jian Mo dug around a bit more and found that Jiang Xing was right.
He muttered to himself, “Could Chirpy and Ying Ao’s droppings really be this effective?”
The little ones caught onto a keyword and immediately chimed in, “Chirpy is amazing!”
If Chirpy had been there, it would surely have been puffed up with pride, knowing it was being praised for its droppings.
Jian Mo stood up and thanked the little ones. “Thank you. Wu Jiong and I will come to dig them up tomorrow.”
The little ones responded in unison, “You’re welcome, Brother Jian Mo!”
Jian Mo laughed. “You’ve all worked hard. Once we’ve dug everything up, I’ll treat you to something delicious.”
The young ones were even more excited and happily escorted Jian Mo back.
The yellowing leaves confirmed that the Muding roots were ready to be harvested.
The next morning, Jian Mo dragged Wu Jiong to the fields to start digging.
Min Dang noticed and brought his hoe to help.
Qing Kuo and the others heard about it and also joined in.
As everyone dug, they couldn’t help but marvel.
“Who would’ve thought these Muding roots would grow so big? I think the last batch we dug up in the mountain caves was about this size.”
“These ones are even bigger—and more tender.”
“They really are! They look so crisp and juicy, I bet they taste amazing.”
“Not to mention how easy they are to dig up. The ones in the mountains grow all over the place, even in rock crevices.”
“Now that you mention it, I remember breaking two stone hoes trying to dig those out. It still pains me to think about it.”
“Even with metal hoes now, the blades get dull easily, and we have to keep sharpening them.”
The unearthed Muding roots were thick, long, and neatly piled along the edges of the field, resembling stacks of logs.
Initially, the harvest didn’t seem too remarkable, but as the pile of roots grew, everyone agreed—they had to plant more Muding roots next year.
These roots were simply too good.
Qing Kuo remarked, “With just these Muding roots, your family could skip foraging this year and still not run out of food.”
Ye Luo added, glancing at the nearby Mien Grass, “And look at all that Mien Grass. Once it’s harvested, you’ll have enough to last a long time.”
Hearing this, everyone grew even more envious.
Jian Mo shook his head. “That won’t do. If we don’t go out and forage, we’d get tired of eating the same food every day. Besides, we have Chirpy and Ying Ao to feed. Those two eat so much that this definitely won’t be enough.”
Ye Luo nodded. “True. There’s so much good food out there, it’d be a shame not to gather some.”
Qing Kuo added, “Still, we could consider planting more crops next year. Once we’ve figured out the patterns, farming is definitely more convenient than foraging. We should bring it up at a meeting and see if anyone else is interested.”
Jian Mo was agreeable. “That’s fine. If everyone wants to plant crops, they can come to us for fertilizer. We’ve already stockpiled quite a bit of manure.”
Qing Kuo laughed. “You really are raising more and more animals.”
Jian Mo’s Muding roots were harvested in no time.
Once their field was cleared, everyone moved on to Qing Kuo’s field, then Min Dang’s, and finally the communal fields of the tribe.
All the Muding roots were excellent, but Jian Mo’s stood out as the best.
Whether it was because of the fertilizer, watering techniques, or just his exceptional planting skills, his Muding roots grew particularly well.
This year’s harvest was so abundant that it was impossible to consume all the Muding roots immediately. Jian Mo and Wu Jiong transported them to a riverside cave for storage.
The cave, being underground, had a relatively low temperature and poor ventilation. Jian Mo and Wu Jiong placed charcoal inside to resolve the humidity issues.
Now the cave functioned like a giant refrigerator. The Muding roots could be stored there for a long time.
To protect this valuable harvest, Jian Mo had Wu Jiong gather dried grass, which they layered on the cave floor. They alternated between a layer of Muding roots and a layer of dried grass to prevent the roots from being crushed while keeping them dry and separated.
After finally completing the task, Jian Mo kept his promise and invited the little ones over for a meal.
The He’an Tribe had just twenty-three little ones, so hosting them wasn’t a burden for Jian Mo and Wu Jiong.
The young ones had spent a lot of time chasing birds and catching bugs in Jian Mo’s fields, contributing greatly to the impressive harvest. When Jian Mo told them this, they were filled with pride, their eyes shining. “Brother Jian Mo, what will we eat? Are we having Muding roots?”
Jian Mo smiled. “Yes, I’ll make caramelized Muding roots for you.”
“Is it tasty?” they asked eagerly.
Jian Mo chuckled. “You’re going to love it.”
The little ones cheered.
Earlier, after the summer winds, Jian Mo had dragged Wu Jiong to check on the honey sparrows in the mountains. Since their nests were in a sheltered area, they were unharmed, and the sparrows were safe.
The honey sparrows, full of energy, tried to peck at them when they approached. Jian Mo and Wu Jiong didn’t hold back either, taking a small portion of the honey blocks stored in the nests.
Now, their honey block supply was replenished, making it the perfect time to prepare something sweet.
On the day of the meal, the little ones arrived early.
This time, they brought gifts. Each child brought something they wanted to give—nuts, berries, jerky, flower wreaths, or even edible insect pupae.
Jian Mo was surprised and touched. “You even brought gifts?”
Jiang Xing explained earnestly, “We learned in class that friendships shouldn’t be one-sided. We need to give as well as take.”
The other little ones nodded in agreement.
Jian Mo’s heart melted. The young ones seemed so grown up all of a sudden. “Thank you all. Come on, it’s about time to eat.”
The Muding roots had already been fried once and only needed a second frying.
Jian Mo’s household had two pots—one for frying the roots and the other for melting the honey into syrup.
Wu Jiong seated the little ones in the courtyard while Jian Mo made the final preparations in the kitchen.
After frying the Muding roots a second time, Jian Mo tossed them in the syrup, stirring quickly to coat them evenly. He then spread the caramelized roots onto a large tray and placed several bowls of water around it.
Holding a pair of chopsticks, Jian Mo demonstrated how to eat them. “Pick up a piece, lift the caramel threads, and dip them in the water before eating. Be careful—it’s hot, and no grabbing.”
The little ones had decent table manners, having been treated to meals by Jian Mo before. They didn’t have a habit of fighting over food.
After Jian Mo’s demonstration, their eyes sparkled even more.
Even before tasting the caramelized Muding roots, the little ones found the process fun and exciting.
Jian Mo handed out chopsticks and forks. “Alright, you can eat now. Take your time.”
The humanoid little ones used chopsticks, while those in beast form used forks, diving in eagerly.
The crispy exterior, soft and tender interior, and sweet caramel coating made the caramelized Muding roots an instant hit with the little ones.
They ate happily, their mouths full of compliments.
“Brother Jian Mo, you’re amazing!”
“This is delicious! Brother Jian Mo, your cooking is the best!”
“Brother Jian Mo, how do you come up with so many tasty and fun dishes?”
Their chatter didn’t stop them from eating. Jian Mo watched them with a smile, saying it was just a dish from his hometown and not worth so much praise, though his face betrayed his delight.
The young ones finished everything, licking the caramel syrup clean before reluctantly heading home.
Afterward, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong went to the kitchen, reheated the remaining Muding roots, and made a fresh batch of caramelized Muding roots for Chirpy and Ying Ao.
Having contributed significantly to keeping the fields pest-free, the winged beasts deserved their share of the reward.
Chirpy, confined to its nest, had been eagerly waiting.
When it saw Jian Mo and Wu Jiong approach, it became so excited it nearly leaped up.
As Chirpy nudged him with its head, Jian Mo quickly raised his arms to block it. “Alright, alright. I’m here to feed you.”
“Chirp!” Chirpy replied enthusiastically.
Jian Mo fed Chirpy while Wu Jiong fed Ying Ao. No creature could resist the combination of sugar and fried food—not even the usually stoic Ying Ao or the gluttonous Chirpy. They devoured their treats joyfully.
Thankfully, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong controlled the temperature, ensuring neither beast got burned.
As Jian Mo fed Chirpy, he shared stories about the little ones, marveling at how much they’d grown.
Normally, Chirpy perked up at any mention of its little friends, but this time, it barely reacted, its ears twitching slightly before ignoring the conversation entirely. It was too focused on nudging Jian Mo for more food.
Jian Mo laughed, patting its head. “Chirpy, you’re such a greedy little bird.”
Chirpy nudged him again and hopped twice in place. “Chirp!” It wanted more!
