The He’an Tribe confirmed that the herbs Di Ying brought were safe, so Jian Mo brewed them into a tea and gave it a try.
Since Jian Mo was still in his development stage as a sub-beastman, even a small amount of the herbal tea caused a significant reaction in his body.
After drinking it, he developed a slight fever, felt uncomfortable, had restless sleep at night, and even experienced some muscle cramps.
Wu Jiong was particularly worried, holding Jian Mo close and massaging his cramping calf and sore lower back. “Feeling better now?”
Jian Mo lazily rested in Wu Jiong’s arms. “A little better.”
Wu Jiong pressed his forehead to Jian Mo’s. “Still a slight fever.”
Jian Mo thought for a moment. “Maybe it’s just hormonal changes acting up.”
Wu Jiong hugged him tighter. “You’re really going through it.”
Jian Mo smiled weakly. “It’s not too bad. I’ll take a break from it tomorrow.”
Jian Mo was well aware of his body’s condition, and his symptoms matched what he had experienced during previous growth spurts.
Apart from the fever, the parts of his body capable of beast transformation had an indescribable aching and swelling sensation—his fingertips, tailbone, and the feline ears atop his head all felt peculiar.
It seemed to be a normal physiological phenomenon.
After observing himself for a few days and confirming his condition was stable without any serious issues, Jian Mo gradually let down his guard.
As his development entered a rapid phase, Jian Mo felt more than just discomfort; he was also constantly sleepy.
He barely wanted to leave the house, spending most of his time in bed, drifting in and out of sleep.
By his estimate, he could sleep for over 20 hours a day, waking only briefly to eat or play with Chirpy and Ying Ao.
The sub-beastmen of the tribe came to visit him in groups.
Qing Kuo comforted him, saying, “This is perfectly normal. You seem to be a feline sub-beastman, and feline sub-beastmen are especially prone to long sleep cycles during growth spurts.”
Jian Mo, aware of his feline-like ears and paws, nodded. “That makes sense. I’ve seen kittens sleep a lot during their growth stages.”
Qing Kuo added, “Exactly. Even our Ban Jiu sleeps for long stretches—sometimes he falls asleep in the middle of eating. Just endure this period, and you’ll be fine.”
The other sub-beastmen chimed in to reassure him.
“You’re probably experiencing your first and second growth phases simultaneously. That’s why it feels tougher.”
“Exactly! My ears and paws developed during my first phase, and my reproductive cavity developed during the second. Both times were pretty uncomfortable.”
“I also had fevers during my reproductive development, just like you.”
Jian Mo had been a bit nervous since there were no instruments or tests available to check his condition, but hearing their experiences put him at ease.
Even though he suspected it was just developmental changes, it was reassuring to have advice from those with firsthand experience.
The tribe encouraged Jian Mo to seize the opportunity during this period to boost his nutrition with plenty of meat.
Wu Jiong, ever attentive, had been hunting diligently, bringing back a variety of game daily to ensure Jian Mo wouldn’t tire of the same meals.
One morning, as they were eating breakfast, Ban Ming’s booming voice echoed from afar. “Brother Jian Mo, Chief, great news—”
Jian Mo leaned lazily against his chair. “What’s the good news?”
Ban Ming grinned. “The chief asked me to keep an eye out for special prey. This morning, I ran into someone from the Yi Gu Tribe, and they told me the Brown-Butt Beasts have returned. It’s hunting time!”
Jian Mo tilted his head. “Brown-Butt Beasts?”
Ban Ming enthusiastically explained, “Yeah, they’re seasonal beasts, like Horned Beasts. They come to graze near our tribe in the fall. They’re plump and tasty but fast, strong, and prefer to move in herds, so they’re tricky to hunt.”
Wu Jiong nodded. “We’ll go after them later. Ban Ming, rally the tribe and see who’s interested. Have them gather at the clearing. We’ll hunt together.”
Jian Mo quickly asked, “Is it dangerous?”
Wu Jiong reassured him, “Not for us.”
Ban Ming chimed in, “Don’t worry, Brother Jian Mo. The chief is incredibly skilled—there’s almost no beast that can harm him.”
Jian Mo frowned slightly. “Even so, be careful. If it’s too risky, back off. Don’t get hurt.”
Wu Jiong placed another dish on the table. “Got it. Finish your breakfast, then get some rest. I’ve already prepared lunch—it’s in the pot. Just heat it up when you’re ready to eat.”
Since Jian Mo was going through a critical growth phase, his meals had reverted to a regular three-a-day schedule.
Wu Jiong wanted him to eat well and regain his strength. Despite eating so much, Jian Mo remained thin—apart from a slightly more rounded backside, he hadn’t gained much weight.
Even Jian Mo was bemused. He hadn’t expected to hit another growth spurt at his age, but he had grown taller.
At least now, he was no longer one of the shortest sub-beastmen in the tribe.
After breakfast, Wu Jiong washed the dishes and kissed Jian Mo’s forehead. “Go rest now.” Then he grabbed his tools and headed to the clearing to meet the other hunters.
The Brown-Butt Beasts’ rare return motivated nearly all the able-bodied beastmen in the tribe. They formed five hunting groups, shifted to their beast forms, and set off for the plains.
They ran tirelessly all morning until they finally spotted the herd.
The Brown-Butt Beasts were massive creatures with conspicuously large, fluffy brown rumps. They looked adorable but were notoriously aggressive. If they sensed any threat, they would lower their heads and charge without hesitation.
This combination of aggression and fearlessness made them formidable prey—while not quite as dangerous as Horned Beasts, they were close.
At the hunting ground, Wu Jiong, in his massive wolf form, let out a low growl, signaling the others to split the herd into smaller groups.
Once isolated, the smaller groups of Brown-Butt Beasts became noticeably panicked, immediately launching attacks.
The hunters, in their beast forms, moved swiftly to counter. Wu Jiong led the charge.
A particularly large Brown-Butt Beast lunged at Wu Jiong’s side, but the giant wolf deftly sidestepped the attack, and then spun around with lightning speed. His powerful jaws clamped down on the beast, breaking its neck with a decisive crunch.
The whole process took less than 30 breaths.
While the others were still struggling with their first targets, Wu Jiong had already taken down five or six beasts.
Ban Ming and the others stood dumbfounded, their jaws practically on the ground.
“Chief, you’re a legend today!”
“How are you making it look so easy? That first one nearly dislocated my jaw!”
“When did your hunting skills improve this much?”
Wu Jiong’s wolf eyes swept over them as he gave a low growl. “Prepare to surround the next group.”
The hunters, sensing his unspoken authority, immediately straightened up and responded in unison, “Yes, Chief!”
By now, the remaining Brown-Butt Beasts had caught wind of the danger and bolted, kicking up clouds of dust as they fled across the plains.
At this point, the Brown-Butt Beasts were little more than tiny dots on the horizon, far away from the giant beastmen.
But the giant beastmen were relentless. Some carried their earlier catches back to the tribe, while the rest continued the pursuit.
With their incredible stamina, the beastmen chased the herd from morning until midday, finally driving a small group of Brown-Butt Beasts into a corner. The hunt resumed.
As before, the giant wolf led the charge, immediately lunging at the largest and plumpest Brown-Butt Beast.
The beast let out a defiant howl and thrashed in its final moments, but it ultimately fell to the wolf’s crushing bite.
Without pausing, the giant wolf turned to another target, swiftly taking it down as well.
In no time, the wolf had killed seven beasts. The rest of the group finished their hunts around the same time, and the chase came to a halt.
Di Ya glanced at the kills. “Aside from the chief, the one who caught the most is De Jiang.”
The lion-like De Jiang licked his lips. “I know. The chief got seven, and I managed three.”
Di Ya grinned. “Three is good! In previous years, that would’ve been impressive.”
De Jiang snorted. “You didn’t have to point that out.”
Di Ya chuckled sheepishly, finding satisfaction in the banter.
Wu Jiong surveyed the area. “Let’s move on to the next group. Once we finish this round, we’ll call it a day.”
The group collectively responded with a resounding, “Understood!”
Emboldened by their earlier success, the beastmen were in high spirits as they began their third and final pursuit.
By sunset, they had successfully cornered the remaining Brown-Butt Beasts, isolating another small group and taking them down.
This time, there was no need to send beasts back separately; they carried their latest kills directly on their backs for the journey home.
Each beastman was loaded with a massive Brown-Butt Beast, but despite the weight, everyone’s faces were filled with satisfaction.
As they walked, one of the beastmen broke into song.
“Today’s haul is worth ten days’ work! If only the Brown-Butt Beasts came around more often!”
“Yeah, and the chief really outdid himself this year. No need to hunt them down again—we’ve cleared enough for now.”
“Exactly! Normally, it takes four or five days to gather this much. Now we can rest for a few days.”
“I could use the break—my legs are ready to give out.”
“Still, I’d rather have it all done in one go. Chasing these beasts every day last year was miserable. The further we chased, the further they ran. What a nightmare!”
Chatting and laughing, they trudged back to the tribe under the setting sun.
When they arrived, they found a crowd gathered around the captured beasts in the clearing, engaged in animated discussion.
Di Ya called out, “What’s the hold-up? Aren’t we dividing the beasts?”
Qing Kuo looked up and replied, “Some of the beasts aren’t dead. We’re debating what to do with them.”
Di Ying furrowed his brow. “They’re still alive? We hit them pretty hard.”
Qing Kuo shrugged. “Maybe you were too quick. Many are severely injured but not dead. I was just asking Jian Mo if we should try treating them.”
Jian Mo waved to show he was there.
Ban Ming frowned. “Why bother? They’re food. Treating them would just waste medicine.”
Zhou Fu interjected, “Because we’re tired of eating dried salted meat all the time.”
The sheer volume of meat they had collected meant they would need to preserve it as jerky, a process everyone dreaded. Salted meat, no matter how well-seasoned, was dry and tough, tolerable in small amounts but miserable as a daily staple.
Qing Kuo added, “If we can treat and keep them alive, we can raise them and eat fresh meat whenever we want.”
The reasoning clicked for everyone.
De Jiang turned to Jian Mo. “Can they be treated?”
Jian Mo nodded. “In theory, yes. Most just have severe blood loss and shock. With proper cleaning and wound care, they should recover.”
Wild animals were naturally resilient, and their goal wasn’t perfect health—just survival. If one didn’t make it, they could still butcher and eat it without waste.
With the explanation clear, there were no objections to treating the beasts, except for one question.
“Where would we keep them? These beasts are aggressive. Letting them roam around the tribe is out of the question.”
“We were discussing this. The current idea is to use the arena.”
“The arena? The newly built, pristine arena? What about the mess they’d make?”
“We could lay down a thick layer of hay to keep it clean. The arena’s sunken design and blocked pathways would keep them contained.”
“Even with hay, their urine will soak through!”
“Then we’ll wash it out. Once or twice should do it. These beasts eat grass, so they won’t smell too bad.”
The tribe engaged in a heated debate over housing the beasts.
No one objected to keeping them alive for fresh meat, but the idea of using the arena was divisive. Many saw it as sacred—a place for combat and glory, not a holding pen for livestock.
The opposition was vehement, citing scenarios where combatants might end up rolling in animal waste mid-fight.
Wu Jiong listened to the arguments and offered a compromise. “If opinions are split, we’ll divide the beasts as usual. Those who want to keep them can build pens, and those who don’t can butcher their share for jerky.”
The solution satisfied everyone. With ample open space and materials, creating pens wouldn’t be an issue.
Wu Jiong assigned De Jiang and Qing Kuo to calculate each household’s share based on contributions. Hunters would receive a full beast or more, while non-hunters would get a portion of meat.
The fair division went smoothly, with everyone contentedly carrying their share home.
Wu Jiong’s substantial contribution earned him six full beasts and two baskets of meat.
Jian Mo initially planned to clear a spot in the animal shed for the Brown-Butt Beasts but quickly abandoned the idea upon seeing their size.
These beasts were walking masses of muscle. Even cramming them into the shed risked structural collapse—or scaring the Tou Tou Beasts into a panic.
After some discussion, they decided to build a separate pen outside, like the rest of the tribe. Chirpy and Ying Ao, stationed nearby, could keep watch.
Chirpy enthusiastically took on the role of guard.
As for the two baskets of meat, Jian Mo wasn’t worried about storage. Between the two of them and their winged beasts, a meal could easily finish it off.
For dinner, Jian Mo opted for simplicity. He boiled the meat, sliced it thin, and drizzled it with garlic chili oil—a straightforward yet delicious dish.
He also prepared a batch with less salt for Chirpy and Ying Ao.
When they sat down to eat, Jian Mo noticed Wu Jiong only picked at his food.
Curious, Jian Mo tasted it. “What’s wrong? It tastes fine to me.”
Wu Jiong put down his chopsticks. “I bit into too many beasts today. My teeth ache.”
Jian Mo chuckled, leaning closer to inspect. “Let me see.”
Gently, he cupped Wu Jiong’s jaw and ran his thumb over the wolf’s sharp canines.
