The second River Qin baby was smaller in size, and its position was optimal.
Almost without Jian Mo’s assistance, Xiao Guai, regaining a bit of strength, successfully delivered the second baby.
This newborn was even more agile than the first, immediately swimming around playfully. It quickly made its way to Xiao Guai and the other River Qin baby, affectionately rubbing against both.
Xiao Guai gently nuzzled the smaller baby with her snout before expelling the remaining egg debris and membranes. Completely spent, she drifted into a deep sleep.
Jian Mo used long-tailed beast sinew to stitch Xiao Guai’s wound and applied a Kun Zhi tree resin dressing.
Although the dressing was not particularly durable, it was waterproof—perfect for aquatic creatures like Xiao Guai.
The Shang Meng Tribe members watched Jian Mo’s deft handling in astonishment, marveling at the advanced techniques.
Jian Mo simply smiled, attributing it to knowledge from his homeland.
Seeing both Xiao Guai and her babies safe and sound, the tribe was overjoyed and organized a celebratory bonfire that evening.
Exhausted from the day’s events, Jian Mo had little energy for festivities. After eating a modest meal, he returned to rest.
The next morning, Jian Mo awoke to see Xiao Guai fully revitalized, swimming gracefully near the shore.
Both River Qin babies were beside her, occasionally approaching the riverside to beg for attention.
The tribe members enthusiastically tossed the meat into the river. The young River Qin babies leaped out of the water, catching the meat in their wide mouths with precision.
For Xiao Guai, the tribe members, mindful of her wound, carefully fed her directly at the water’s edge.
Observing this, Jian Mo noticed the smaller River Qin baby’s mischievous streak. It frequently splashed water on the tribe members, prompting Xiao Guai to reprimand it with a slap from her fin.
After a few rounds of scolding, the little one became more obedient.
Spotting Jian Mo, the tribe members greeted him warmly.
“Good morning, Doctor Jian Mo!”
Jian Mo smiled. “Feeding Xiao Guai and the little ones so early?”
“Yes,” they replied. “Xiao Guai used up a lot of energy yesterday. We’re trying to replenish her strength. The two little ones eat so much too; we’re feeding them extra.”
Jian Mo nodded. “Let me check on Xiao Guai’s wound.”
They stepped aside, giving him space.
One of the tribe members gave him a thumbs-up. “We checked earlier, and Xiao Guai is recovering wonderfully. Your medical skills are incredible, Doctor Jian Mo!”
Jian Mo inspected the wound carefully and smiled. “It’s mainly thanks to Xiao Guai’s resilience and your excellent care that she’s recovering so quickly.”
The tribe members beamed at the praise. “Then we’ll keep this up. By the way, Doctor Jian Mo, would you like to raise a River Qin baby?”
Surprised, Jian Mo looked up. “Hmm?”
The tribe explained, “Since Xiao Guai had two babies this time, our leader said you could take one if you want.”
Looking at the playful River Qin babies swimming joyfully in the river, Jian Mo felt a surge of temptation.
The creatures, with their dolphin-like appearance and charming personalities, were undeniably adorable.
However, Jian Mo quickly sobered. He shook his head regretfully. “No, our He’an Tribe doesn’t have a river large enough for them. It would be unfair to the little one.”
The river near the He’an Tribe was broad but shallow—unsuitable for raising a creature as large as a River Qin.
Even if he entrusted it to another tribe, it seemed unnecessary. Jian Mo and Wu Jiong didn’t plan to leave the He’an Tribe, and Wu Jiong, as its leader, would always stay with the tribe.
Jian Mo made up his mind and declined. “I’ll visit when I can and play with Xiao Guai and her babies instead.”
Relieved, the tribe members smiled. “Of course, Doctor Jian Mo. You’re always welcome here.”
They also extended an invitation. “Stay with us for a few more days until Xiao Guai fully recovers. We’d love to show you around the tribe.”
Jian Mo agreed readily. “I’ll stay to keep an eye on Xiao Guai for a couple more days.”
As Xiao Guai recovered, the tribe’s children couldn’t resist jumping into the river to play with the River Qin babies, with Chirpy joining in enthusiastically.
Watching this unfold, Jian Mo surmised that the Shang Meng Tribe, much like the Snow Foot Tribe, relied on aquatic resources for sustenance.
Nestled by a vast, resource-rich river, they likely enjoyed an easier life, contributing to the tribe’s evident prosperity.
Chirpy proved adept at swimming, diving into the water and resurfacing with a bounty of shellfish.
Upon inspection, Jian Mo noticed several unique species among the haul—fat, plump, and likely very tasty.
A tribe member observing this praised, “Chirpy’s skills are impressive. These shellfish are delicious!”
Chirpy, basking in the compliments, puffed out its chest proudly. “Chirp!”
Another chimed in, “And its luck is incredible. We rarely find these varieties, even when we go diving ourselves.”
Chirpy’s chest swelled even further. “Chirp chirp chirp!”
Soon, it had become the tribe’s darling, flying members around the river for fun.
Though Jian Mo noticed this, he let it slide. Chirpy only flew over the water, ensuring any falls would be harmless splashes.
Meanwhile, Jian Mo, intrigued by the special shellfish, enlisted Wu Jiong’s help to prepare them.
Wu Jiong’s skill in cleaning game extended effortlessly to these unfamiliar shellfish, expertly discarding inedible parts and saving the rest.
Jian Mo prepared a garlic sauce using beast oil, garlic powder, dried shallots, and fresh ginger, planning to steam the shellfish with it.
The pungent aroma wafted through the air, quickly attracting half the tribe to the riverbank.
Curious, they asked for a taste.
After sampling the sauce, the tribe members were instantly hooked and eagerly offered to barter for more.
They hurried home, returning with dried scallops and dried Three-Eyed Fish bile—a prized remedy for fever.
Jian Mo, thrilled to confirm its authenticity, gladly traded, sharing half of the sauce and suggesting they visit the He’an Tribe for future exchanges.
The He’an Tribe had cultivated a variety of spices, making them the most abundant in such supplies.
The Shang Meng Tribe members happily agreed to trade.
Since Jian Mo had already exchanged some scallions, ginger, and garlic, he decided to conserve the rest. Instead, he retrieved some preserved vegetables from his supplies, finely chopped them, and stir-fried them in beast oil with pepper sprout powder and garlic powder. The mixture worked wonderfully as a base for steaming the shellfish.
The saltiness of the preserved vegetables complemented the freshness of the shellfish, suppressing any fishiness while adding a unique flavor.
Dinner preparations wrapped up quickly, and everyone gathered to eat. The Shang Meng Tribe members, curious about Jian Mo and Wu Jiong’s dish, eagerly joined them to sample the steamed shellfish.
As expected, the shellfish prepared by Jian Mo and Wu Jiong was a huge hit, with everyone singing their praises.
“You really know how to cook! You even outshine us when it comes to preparing shellfish.”
“We have pickled vegetables too, but who would’ve thought they could be used to steam shellfish like this?”
A tribe member asked while eating, “Doctor Jian Mo, the seasoning you’re looking for—does it taste as good as the ones you’ve brought today?”
Jian Mo chuckled as he stirred the pot. “I’m not sure. It’s a unique seasoning. Those who like it find it delicious, but for those who don’t, they can’t even take a bite.”
The Shang Meng Tribe members exchanged glances. “We’ve never heard of a seasoning like that. It’s probably not from around here.”
Jian Mo and Wu Jiong had already inquired about chili peppers on their first day in the tribe. Knowing none were available here, Jian Mo wasn’t disheartened. “Then we’ll head further south to look.”
The Shang Meng Tribe quickly began offering advice.
“Doctor Jian Mo, don’t you know Witch Doctor Lian Ke? You could ask him.”
“Yes, yes! Lian Ke has traveled far and wide. His medical skills might be average, but his knowledge is unmatched.”
“He knows you, so he probably wouldn’t refuse to help.”
“He’s staying in the Xia Meng Tribe right now. If you wait too long, he might leave, and then it’ll be hard to track him down.”
Jian Mo was intrigued by their suggestion.
Lian Ke had traveled from the Xia Meng Tribe to the He’an Tribe, covering great distances. Even if he didn’t have specific information about chili peppers, he could help rule out certain areas, making the search easier.
Jian Mo rubbed his chin. “If that’s the case, we’ll visit him in a couple of days.”
The Shang Meng Tribe nodded enthusiastically. “Lian Ke loves trading for supplies. As long as you have good items, he’ll answer almost anything you ask.”
“He doesn’t care if you’ve interacted before. If you have good supplies, you’ll be best friends in no time.”
Jian Mo thought back to his previous dealings with Lian Ke and laughed. “Understood.”
With the tribe pointing them in the right direction, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong prepared to leave once Xiao Guai had recovered sufficiently.
The next morning, after ensuring Xiao Guai no longer required monitoring, they bid farewell to the Shang Meng Tribe and headed to the Xia Meng Tribe.
Since the two tribes were connected, they departed the Shang Meng Tribe in the morning and reached the Xia Meng Tribe by midday.
Unlike the Shang Meng Tribe, the Xia Meng Tribe was more open and welcoming. Upon hearing they were looking for Witch Doctor Lian Ke, the patrols didn’t hesitate to point them directly to his residence, even allowing them to ride their flying beasts to the location.
At Lian Ke’s door, Jian Mo knocked, and the witch doctor quickly answered.
The moment Lian Ke saw them, he looked as though he’d seen a ghost. “What are you doing here? I didn’t scam you that badly last time! You didn’t have to chase me all this way, did you?”
Jian Mo burst out laughing. “So, you remember scamming us?”
Lian Ke grew even warier. “If it’s not about that, why are you here?”
Jian Mo grinned. “We’re here to trade supplies for information.”
Lian Ke relaxed slightly and sized them up. “What kind of supplies? What kind of information? Let me be clear—I don’t divulge anything that could harm another tribe. I do have some principles.”
Jian Mo raised an eyebrow, amused by his self-proclaimed ethics. Then he said, “We want to ask about chili peppers.”
Lian Ke looked puzzled. “Chili peppers?”
Jian Mo elaborated, “It’s a type of seasoning. When eaten, it makes your tongue burn, your stomach hurt, and even the trip to the bathroom painful, but it’s incredibly satisfying and appetizing.”
As he spoke, Jian Mo pulled out a notebook with a vivid, colored illustration of a chili pepper.
Lian Ke took the notebook, flipping it back and forth. “Your He’an Tribe has some impressive stuff. Give me this notebook, and I’ll tell you about the chili peppers.”
Jian Mo’s eyes lit up. “You really know about chili peppers?”
Lian Ke shrugged. “Sure. They don’t look exactly like this, but it matches your description. People eat them and feel terrible—tongue burns, stomach aches, and some even get diarrhea. I’ve been called to treat people who ate too much of the stuff.”
Hearing this, Jian Mo felt confident Lian Ke was familiar with chili peppers. “Deal. I’ll even throw in a pen for you to use with the notebook.”
Pulling out a pen, Jian Mo handed it to Lian Ke.
Once Lian Ke pocketed the items, he said, “Head southeast from here. After passing three tribes, you’ll reach the Yan Gan Tribe. That’s where you’ll find what you’re looking for.”
