Jian Mo squinted at the bird beastmen and the Pallas Cat beastmen.
These two rival tribes seemed to have found common ground—mocking him.
As soon as they caught sight of Jian Mo’s sharp, menacing gaze, both groups hurriedly wiped the laughter off their faces and put on serious expressions.
The bird beastmen explained, “The cave beast doesn’t have any strong means of attack; it can only release its fart to drive away enemies. Once it’s done, it won’t be able to release another one that smelly for a while.”
Jian Mo squinted again at the cave beast in front of him, skeptical. “Can the meat of a beast that releases such a foul stench even taste good?”
The bird beastmen responded, “Once you take it back and clean it up, it’s fine. Its intestines are the smelliest part. Don’t we eat intestines sometimes too?”
Jian Mo raised an eyebrow. “So it’s gotten to the point where it’s being compared to intestines?”
Qi Ming, understanding the situation, explained helpfully, “Not quite. Cave beast meat is relatively delicious. The main draw is its tender texture—it’s not as tough as other wild beast meats. Once you bring it back, whether you fry it or roast it, it’ll be very juicy.”
The bird beastmen chimed in, “Exactly! Just wait a moment while we pull this one out.”
They shifted back to human form and braved the lingering stench of the cave beast’s fart to crawl into the cave. Grabbing its hind legs, they began shouting commands to each other as they struggled to pull the beast out.
The cave beast had firmly wedged itself into the cave, using its full weight to anchor itself immovably, like a mountain.
Despite their collective efforts and synchronized grunts of “Heave-ho!” for a while, the bird beastmen couldn’t budge the cave beast an inch.
Qi Ming, still in his Pallas Cat form, stepped forward. “Let us help.”
The bird beastmen hesitated, reluctant to accept aid and risk losing face, but eventually moved aside to let the Pallas Cat beastmen assist.
Seeing the situation, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong joined in as well. After all, they planned to visit the Bai Zhi Tribe soon, where they’d surely be hosted graciously. It wouldn’t be appropriate to stand idly by now.
The cave beast had wedged itself so tightly into the cave that removing it was an arduous task. The awkward positioning inside the cave didn’t help matters, making it hard for anyone to exert proper force.
As Jian Mo grabbed the cave beast’s leg, he couldn’t help but feel as if he were trying to pull out an enormous radish.
But this radish was ridiculously heavy, seemingly rooted in the crevices of the rock, refusing to budge.
Straining, Jian Mo suggested, “What if we kill it before dragging it out? At this rate, we’re not getting it out alive.”
Wan Zheng, the leader of the bird beastmen, replied, “We can’t. It’s protecting its vital areas.”
“Ah?” Jian Mo asked, confused.
Wan Zheng knocked on the cave beast’s rear to demonstrate. “Look, it has a thick bone plate here. You can hear how solid it is—it’s practically impenetrable. Neither claws nor knives can get through this bone.”
Jian Mo found the situation both amusing and bewildering. “Are there really beasts with butts like this?”
Skeptical, he knocked on the cave beast’s rear. Sure enough, he hit something hard. It was clear that beneath the thick layer of fat was a massive, solid bone.
Wan Zheng explained, “Cave beasts heal very quickly. Even if we clawed its rear to shreds, it would only be a surface wound, and we still wouldn’t be able to do anything to it.”
Jian Mo understood that every creature had its survival strategies, but the cave beast’s method of sacrificing its rear to save its life was almost too absurd. “How did it evolve this way?”
“Evolve?” Wan Zheng looked puzzled. “No idea. Cave beasts have always had butts like this. They’re also highly resistant to hunger. They can stay hidden in a cave with their rear exposed for ten days or even half a month. As long as their predators don’t leave, they’ll just keep hiding.”
Jian Mo suggested, “Have you tried using ropes to pull it out?”
Wan Zheng replied, “We’ve never had to. Most of the time, we can just drag them out. This trick isn’t really meant to deal with us but other beasts.”
Another member of the Bai Zhi Tribe added, “If it were truly facing beastmen, only beastmen would be able to handle it.”
The Pallas Cat beastmen nearby nodded in agreement.
As they spoke, the cave beast’s rear wiggled slightly.
Those who had just learned their lesson quickly called out, “Uh-oh! It’s about to fart again! Let’s get outside and avoid it.”
Everyone scrambled to retreat, hurrying to a safer distance to dodge the impending stink bomb.
However, once the cave beast noticed they had left, it stopped mid-fart. Infuriated, the bird beastmen and Pallas Cat beastmen began throwing rocks at its rear, forcing it to release the gas.
The second fart was indeed less foul than the first. Jian Mo, laughing and shaking his head, couldn’t help feeling that his mindset was shifting after spending time with the Bai Zhi Tribe.
The cave beast, however, couldn’t hold out against the group’s relentless efforts for long. Exhausted, it finally gave in, and everyone worked together to pull it out. Singing in celebration, they carried it back to the Bai Zhi Tribe’s settlement.
As Jian Mo watched the group hauling the enormous beast, he remarked, “This cave beast is huge! It should be enough to feed your tribe for two days, right?”
Wan Zheng held up three fingers. “Three days. We don’t just eat meat; we pair it with all kinds of other food.”
Glancing at the Pallas Cat beastmen, Wan Zheng added, “Even with guests, we wouldn’t finish it in two days.”
When Jian Mo and the group arrived at the Bai Zhi Tribe, they were warmly welcomed.
Once Jian Mo presented chili peppers as a gift, the Bai Zhi Tribe members grew curious, gathering around to inspect them. “Is this a new seasoning? Like ginger or something?”
Jian Mo clarified, “Not quite. Chili peppers are much spicier.”
The Bai Zhi Tribe members replied, “Then we’ll use just a little. Perfect timing—we can use the chili peppers to cook the cave beast.”
The Bai Zhi Tribe had recently acquired metal pots, but they didn’t know how to prepare chili peppers, so they asked Jian Mo to take charge of the cooking while they assisted.
Since it was everyone’s first time trying chili peppers, Jian Mo was careful to use only a small amount, focusing mainly on the meat.
As the peppers were stir-fried, their pungent aroma filled the air, causing the Bai Zhi Tribe members to sneeze repeatedly. However, their eyes gleamed with anticipation, their excitement practically written on their faces.
Jian Mo hadn’t expected this reaction.
The Bai Zhi Tribe members explained that the spicy aroma was invigorating, and they were certain the dish would taste incredible once it was done.
Before long, a dozen dishes were arranged on leaves. After sampling the chili-flavored dishes, the Bai Zhi Tribe members unanimously praised the food as delicious.
Their eyes sparkled as they looked at Jian Mo and Wu Jiong, showering them with compliments. They marveled at the duo’s resourcefulness in traveling so far to bring back such flavorful chili peppers, and they eagerly requested that they plant more next year so the Bai Zhi Tribe could trade for some.
Meanwhile, the Pallas Cat beastmen were not to be outdone, even though the spiciness had turned their noses red.
When it came to handling spiciness, the Pallas Cat beastmen couldn’t quite match the Bai Zhi Tribe members but refused to admit defeat.
Watching their competitive spirit, Jian Mo quickly urged everyone to eat the other dishes as well. The last thing he wanted was for someone to end up with a stomachache. After all, he had come here to relax, not to add an emergency medical case to his workload.
While at the Bai Zhi Tribe, Jian Mo mentioned his plans to recruit apprentices.
Given that the Bai Zhi Tribe members could fly, anyone interested in becoming a witch doctor would be especially efficient at providing medical aid. However, these people didn’t seem particularly inclined toward studying. Even learning to read posed a significant challenge for them.
Jian Mo decided to simply inform them of the opportunity, leaving it up to them to decide whether or not to apply.
After discussing the apprenticeship program, Jian Mo recounted his experiences searching for chili peppers along the way.
The tribe chief, Zhou Zhi, remarked, “Speaking of remedies, I recall something. There used to be a medicinal substance for stomach pain that came from the south.”
Jian Mo asked, “What kind of medicine?”
Zhou Zhi replied, “I’m not exactly sure. Something like soil—probably a mineral. The southern regions are mountainous and rich in minerals. In addition to herbs and animal-based remedies, minerals and soils are also used as medicine there.”
Jian Mo nodded. He was aware of this but hadn’t considered it recently. “That’s a good point. Next time, I’ll keep an eye out.”
Zhou Zhi nodded in return. “Every tribe has its own hidden treasures, but unless asked, they usually won’t share them openly. Since you’ve visited many places, it’s worth asking.”
“Thank you for the reminder,” Jian Mo said.
Zhou Zhi smiled and replied, “You’re welcome. I just mentioned it casually. I’m glad you don’t mind me talking too much.”
Before Jian Mo could respond, Qi Ming gently interjected, “How could that be? Brother Jian Mo isn’t the type to hold a grudge.”
Naturally, Jian Mo wouldn’t object at such a moment, though he gave Qi Ming a sidelong glance. It seemed Qi Ming was trying to court Zhou Zhi, though Zhou Zhi didn’t appear interested.
No wonder he had been struggling to join the conversation earlier.
As night fell, the Bai Zhi Tribe invited Jian Mo and his group to stay.
As for the Pallas Cat beastmen, the Bai Zhi Tribe couldn’t accommodate so many people and politely asked them to return home, inviting them to visit again sometime.
The Pallas Cat beastmen, understanding the situation, agreed. They lingered for a while longer before finally bidding farewell.
The Bai Zhi Tribe prepared a cozy resting spot to accommodate Jian Mo and his group.
The bird beastmen also took Jian Mo and Wu Jiong to the nearby river for a bath—after being exposed to the cave beast’s foul stench earlier, they definitely needed to clean up.
The weather wasn’t too cold, making the outdoor bath refreshing.
Moreover, the bird beastmen had improved their soap-making skills, providing them with essential oil soap and fresh clothes. After the bath, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong felt completely rejuvenated.
When they returned to the Bai Zhi Tribe, Jian Mo bid the tribe members goodnight and prepared to rest.
Unexpectedly, late in the evening, Zhou Zhi came to visit. “Doctor Jian Mo, Chief Wu Jiong.”
Looking at the tall, aloof beauty of a tribe chief standing before him, Jian Mo guessed there was something important. Inviting Zhou Zhi inside, he smiled and asked, “Chief Zhou Zhi, is there something you need our help with?”
Zhou Zhi nodded, then shook his head. “Not for me—this is about Ji Xun.”
Ji Xun was a sub-beastman who lived high in the mountains. Jian Mo had once traded with him for honeybird nests.
Jian Mo was a bit surprised. “What about him?”
Zhou Zhi frowned slightly. “He seems unwell. When we ask him about it, he refuses to say anything, perhaps out of some difficulty. I remembered that you’re friends, so I thought I should let you know.”
Jian Mo had always gotten along well with Ji Xun. Hearing this, he grew serious. “When was the last time you saw him?”
“Two days ago,” Zhou Zhi replied.
He explained further, “When we first noticed he wasn’t feeling well, we worried something might happen to him, so we started checking in every few days. It seems like he has stomach trouble. That’s why I asked if you know of any remedies for stomach issues, especially those brought from outside—do you think they’d be effective?”
Jian Mo responded, “We’ve been pressed for time during our travels and only spent extended periods at the Shang Meng Tribe and the Jungle Tribe. As for the other tribes, I don’t know much about their situations. However, we brought back some leaves that can relieve pain. We’ll visit him tomorrow and see if there’s anything we can do.”
“That would be wonderful,” Zhou Zhi said.
Despite his seemingly cold demeanor, Zhou Zhi was clearly warm-hearted. Jian Mo noticed this and said, “Thank you for taking the trouble to care for him.”
Shaking his head, Zhou Zhi replied softly, “We haven’t done much. It’s you who will bear the burden.”
