Jian Mo and Wu Jiong quickly finished preparing for their journey.
This time, they packed particularly light, bringing only two large baskets. Jian Mo carried one on his back while riding on Chirpy, and Wu Jiong did the same on Ying Ao. On a clear autumn day, under a brilliant blue sky, they took off into the open air.
The weather was crisp and cool. Jian Mo’s shirt flapped in the wind, the hem slightly lifted, but instead of feeling cold, he found the sensation invigorating. Watching Ying Ao follow closely behind them, carrying Wu Jiong, Jian Mo suddenly raised his hand, tugged on the reins, and patted Chirpy’s neck. “Chirpy, let’s go full speed!”
Chirpy let out a long cry, “Chirp—!” before beating its wings with vigor and darting into the azure sky.
Ying Ao tilted its head to glance at Chirpy and soon followed with powerful wingbeats.
Looking down from the heights, they occasionally spotted figures from various tribes gathering or hunting. Sometimes they saw travelers along the winding roads. The view from above, with its miniature-like scenery, resembled a crystal ball.
Jian Mo hugged Chirpy’s neck and felt a surge of gratitude for the decision to adopt the winged beast. Their first destination was the Yu Qi Tribe.
The Yu Qi Tribe had initially found the chili seeds and informed Jian Mo via the Baizhi Tribe. Visiting them first seemed promising for gathering clues.
After flying for an entire day, the group stopped to camp. By the campfire, they shared a hotpot—Jian Mo cooked the ingredients before feeding Chirpy and Ying Ao.
The broth was made with garlic and pepper fern, flavored with bone oil from a horned beast. It also included thin slices of yellow umbrella mushrooms, giving it a rich, savory flavor. Jian Mo enjoyed the meal but admitted, “When we find chilies, the first thing I’m making is a spicy hotpot. That’s the real deal.”
Eating hotpot without spice felt incomplete.
Wu Jiong smirked. “I’ll look forward to it.”
Jian Mo raised his cup of chilled leaf drink and toasted, “We’ll load up on ingredients and eat to our heart’s content.”
With visions of a perfect hotpot meal, Jian Mo fell asleep in Wu Jiong’s arms.
The next morning, riding Chirpy, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong continued their journey toward Yu Qi Tribe.
Upon entering Yu Qi territory, their arrival was quickly noticed, though it wasn’t unexpected.
Tribal leader Qi Ming personally greeted them and invited them to his home. “You’re here about the chilies, aren’t you?”
Jian Mo smiled. “So you figured it out?”
Qi Ming shrugged. “It wasn’t hard. If you’re coming all this way, it’s likely for that. Can’t think of another reason.”
Jian Mo asked eagerly, “Do you have any leads?”
Qi Ming shook his head. “No, but we did keep a cage of birds for you.”
Jian Mo blinked in confusion.
Qi Ming explained, “The ones that supposedly ate the chili seeds. At first, we thought we might find more seeds, but after some time passed, it seemed unlikely. So, we decided to just keep the birds.”
Jian Mo’s spirits lifted. “I’d love to see them.”
Qi Ming gestured for them to wait at his home while he retrieved the cage.
Soon, he returned carrying a cage filled with birds. The creatures had vibrant plumage and strikingly broad, orange-red beaks. It was clear they weren’t native.
“These are red-beaked crossing birds,” Qi Ming explained. “They only show up here in autumn and winter, migrating south once it gets warm.”
“Wait a minute—” Jian Mo interrupted, startled. “Did you say that backward? Don’t birds usually head south when it gets cold and return when it warms up?”
Qi Ming shook his head. “No mistake. These birds are different.”
Jian Mo processed this. “Then it’s likely the chilies these birds ate came from the south.”
“Exactly,” Qi Ming agreed. “Follow the migration path of the red-beaked crossing birds southward. You shouldn’t have to go too far. They wouldn’t eat a chili and hold it in their stomach for days before flying all the way to us just to digest it.”
“That’s what I thought too. That’s why Wu Jiong and I decided to set out on this search.”
Qi Ming smiled warmly. “Then I wish you both the best of luck.”
“Thank you,” Jian Mo said sincerely. “By the way, you informed the Baizhi Tribe and kept these birds for us. How can we repay you?”
Qi Ming’s smile widened. “Asking the Baizhi Tribe to pass the message was partly our way of strengthening ties with them. So, let’s call it even. If you find chili seeds, just share some with us.”
Jian Mo agreed immediately. “It’s a deal!”
With the day still young, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong set off again, heading directly south without detouring back to the He’an Tribe.
The first few tribes along their path—Yunxia, Haizuo, and Xiongying—were all familiar to Jian Mo. But once they passed into the Huaman Tribe’s territory, the land became new and uncharted.
They followed the red-beaked crossing birds’ trail, occasionally hunting them for dinner. However, their luck wasn’t as good as the Yu Qi Tribe’s. Despite cooking countless birds, they didn’t find another chili seed.
Jian Mo grumbled, “Where exactly did that Yu Qi bird eat the chili seeds? It’s ridiculous that we can’t find another trace!”
Wu Jiong ruffled his hair. “Be patient.”
Jian Mo flopped onto a soft patch of grass. “At this point, it feels like a sightseeing tour. By the time we return, do you think the tribe will have harvested all the Mien Grass?”
Wu Jiong chuckled. “Maybe they’ll have ground it into flour too.”
Jian Mo laughed. “Sounds exactly like something Qing Kuo would do.”
After several days of camping, they approached an unfamiliar tribe. Jian Mo decided to try seeking lodging there.
Camping was freeing, but staying in a tribe meant enjoying local cuisine and a comfortable, private space to sleep—an appealing change.
They carried plenty of trade goods like metal pieces, cloth, and soap, so they weren’t worried about paying for accommodations. Even if their supplies ran low, Wu Jiong could always hunt near the tribe to replenish their stock.
Consulting a map inherited from the He’an Tribe, Wu Jiong identified the unfamiliar settlement as the Shang Meng Tribe, known for being cautious but reasonable.
With Chirpy and Ying Ao left a short distance away, the two began their approach on foot to show respect.
The patrolling beastmen questioned their intentions from across the river and, after hearing their explanation, agreed to fetch someone with authority from the tribe to speak with them.
Before long, a sub-beastman arrived, accompanied by a small group, to greet them. Seeing that there were only two people and their two winged beasts, the Shang Meng Tribe members readily welcomed them and settled them in an empty house near the river.
Strangers were a rare occurrence in the Shang Meng Tribe, so their arrival sparked a wave of curiosity. Before long, people began gathering to watch and chat with them.
As the questions flowed, someone suddenly exclaimed, “Are you from the He’an Tribe? The one with that incredibly skilled healer?”
Another person chimed in, “Oh, right! The healer with that odd title. What was it? Doctor Jian Mo?”
“Do you know that healer? Is he really that amazing?”
Jian Mo hadn’t expected his name to travel so far. He exchanged a glance with Wu Jiong, then sheepishly rubbed his nose. “The person you’re talking about might be me.”
The Shang Meng Tribe members looked at him in surprise. “You?”
Jian Mo nodded. “I’m Jian Mo. ‘Doctor’ is just a term we use, but I’m not particularly amazing.”
Jian Mo’s youthful appearance, fair skin, and delicate features made him seem far from what they imagined a skilled healer to be. They eyed him skeptically. “Really? Does your tribe have another Doctor Jian Mo, or does anyone nearby go by that name?”
It was the first time Jian Mo had faced such doubt, and he widened his eyes in disbelief. “How many people could have such an odd name?”
The tribe burst into laughter. “You look too good to be true. The healers we’ve met are all old—really old.”
Someone in the crowd interjected, “Like Lian Ke the healer. He’s ancient, but not very good.”
The crowd laughed again, though one person chastised the speaker. “You can’t just talk about Lian Ke like that.”
The first person wasn’t swayed. “It’s the truth. Lian Ke’s treatments are poor, and he charges too much.”
Jian Mo perked up at the name and quickly interrupted, “Wait, Lian Ke—he’s a beastman from around here?”
The Shang Meng Tribe members looked at him curiously. “You know Lian Ke?”
Jian Mo nodded. “He’s visited our tribe before. I even learned a method from him for using certain leaves to make medicinal salves.”
Though the process of learning it had been… complicated.
The Shang Meng Tribe members explained, “Lian Ke is from the Xia Meng Tribe. He travels a lot but returned not long ago.”
Jian Mo found this revelation surprising. Somehow, the knowledge that a familiar figure roamed this vast and foreign land made it feel a little closer to home.
Seeing his familiarity with Lian Ke, the tribe grew more curious. “So, who’s better at healing, you or Lian Ke?”
Jian Mo hesitated but replied diplomatically, “People in my area usually choose me.”
A small cub squeezed through the crowd, looking up at Jian Mo with bright eyes. “Then can you help our River Qin?”
Jian Mo assumed it was a sick beastman or sub-beastman. “What’s wrong? I’ll take a look, but I can’t promise a cure.”
The cub clarified, “It’s not sick. It’s giving birth but can’t seem to deliver.”
The distinct pronunciation of “he” and “it” in the beastman language left no room for misunderstanding. Jian Mo instantly realized this wasn’t a person.
Before he could respond, a tribe member scolded the cub, “Don’t bother the healer with River Qin.”
The cub pouted but looked unconvinced.
Turning to Jian Mo and Wu Jiong, the tribe member explained, “River Qin is a type of fish. We have plenty of water here, so we domesticate River Qin to carry us.”
Jian Mo’s eyes lit up with interest. He gripped Wu Jiong’s wrist and eagerly asked the Shang Meng member, “Can I see it?”
His gaze gleamed with enthusiasm. “To be honest, I’m better at treating animals than beastmen or sub-beastmen.”
After all, Jian Mo was a professional veterinarian. From hamsters with broken bones to fish with tumors, birds losing feathers to depressed cats—whether or not he had personally treated them, he had seen plenty of cases.
Certainly more animal cases than human ones!
