Jian Mo noticed Qing Kuo’s playful expression, a clear indication that he was itching to tease him about his tail. Without hesitation, Jian Mo muttered a few words before clutching his rear and bolting away.
Behind him, Qing Kuo called out, “Seriously?! Do you think I’d actually do that? No trust at all!”
Jian Mo shouted back, “I trust you, which is exactly why I know you’ll definitely try!”
Qing Kuo laughed, his voice full of mischief. “It’s not like I don’t have a tail myself. What’s the harm in taking a look?”
Knowing he was being teased, Jian Mo picked up speed and ran even faster.
By the time he reached home, Jian Mo was out of breath.
Wu Jiong, who was rarely at home during the day, walked over and wiped the sweat from Jian Mo’s forehead, handing him a cup of water. “What happened? Why are you so winded?”
Jian Mo panted, “I was worried Qing Kuo would try to touch my tail.”
Wu Jiong raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Hmm?”
Jian Mo recounted what had just happened and then showed Wu Jiong his claws. “When I extended my claws earlier, my tail popped out too.”
Wu Jiong glanced at Jian Mo’s lower back. “Can I see?”
Feeling a little embarrassed, Jian Mo hesitated. “You can… but it’s broad daylight—”
Wu Jiong replied matter-of-factly, “Daylight means better light.”
Admitting the logic in that, Jian Mo turned and started heading upstairs. “Fine, come on. Let’s go to the bedroom.”
Following behind, Wu Jiong couldn’t help but notice the slight bulge under Jian Mo’s clothing at the base of his spine. The sight made his gaze grow deeper.
Once in the room, Jian Mo shut the door and said, “It’s a bit sensitive, so be gentle.”
With that, he pulled down the waistband of his pants slightly, revealing the base of his tail.
The newly grown tail was small, with long, fluffy fur that made it resemble a soft pompom.
Wu Jiong reached out to touch it. The fur was incredibly soft and smooth to the touch.
Despite having braced himself, Jian Mo still shivered involuntarily when Wu Jiong’s hand made contact. Reflexively, he swiped his tail, smacking Wu Jiong’s palm with a soft thud.
Wu Jiong seemed unbothered, but Jian Mo winced in pain, tears welling up in his eyes.
Wu Jiong gently held the tail to stop its movement. “It’s still very delicate. Don’t move; let me check.”
Jian Mo gritted his teeth and hissed, “It feels like I just slammed into something sensitive.”
Wu Jiong reassured him, “It’ll get better after some time.”
When Wu Jiong finally let go, Jian Mo cautiously wagged his tail. “I hope so. Right now, it feels swollen, and I can’t pull it back in.”
Wu Jiong nodded. “Then just leave it out for now.”
Examining the tail again, Wu Jiong observed, “Based on the fur, your beast form might be a long-haired spirit cat.”
Jian Mo tilted his head. “Like Qing Kuo’s?”
Wu Jiong considered it. “Your fur might be even longer. Right now, it already looks quite fluffy. It might grow even longer later.”
Jian Mo glanced back at his tail. “Do you think it’ll turn into a feather duster?”
Curious, Wu Jiong asked what a feather duster was. Jian Mo explained, and Wu Jiong assured him that even the fluffiest long-haired cats didn’t reach that level.
Since Jian Mo couldn’t retract his tail, he opted to stay home for the time being. Although it wasn’t unusual for sub-beastmen to reveal their beast traits, Jian Mo felt a peculiar sense of embarrassment.
Wu Jiong suggested he rest while he went to the garden to cut grass for Chirpy and brought back vegetables as well.
That evening, after dinner and a bath, Jian Mo finally managed to retract his tail. However, his beast ears, still drooping atop his head, showed no signs of receding.
The newly grown tail was undeniably fun, and the two spent half the night playing with it.
The next morning, sunlight bathed the rolling hills. Jian Mo lay under the covers, staring out the window at the peaceful village. Most people had gone hunting or gathering, leaving the place unusually quiet.
He didn’t feel like getting up or doing anything and rolled lazily in bed.
After a while, Wu Jiong came upstairs. “How about eating breakfast before you go back to sleep? I made noodles.”
Jian Mo, still lying on his side, glanced at him. “I don’t feel sleepy anymore.”
Wu Jiong leaned down to kiss him. “Then get up. Let’s go for a walk.”
Jian Mo groaned. “I’m too tired to move.”
Wu Jiong offered, “I’ll shift into beast form and carry you.”
After some thought, Jian Mo realized he should probably soak up some sun. He stretched out his hand, and Wu Jiong, understanding his intent, pulled him up and handed him his clothes and shoes.
As they walked downstairs, Jian Mo looked out at the sunlight and suddenly said, “How about we visit Ji Xun and Mo Ah? We haven’t checked on them since they settled in.”
Wu Jiong agreed. “Sure.”
Jian Mo grinned. “Let’s eat quickly, pack my medical kit, and head up the mountain.”
After breakfast, Wu Jiong transformed into a giant wolf and carried Jian Mo on his back.
The weather was sunny, and the cool breeze against Jian Mo’s face felt refreshing. Hugging Wu Jiong’s neck, he enjoyed the view of the passing scenery, feeling utterly content.
Reaching the mountain, they found Mo Ah in his giant panda form, sitting on a log with his back to them. Ji Xun was sawing the log, using Mo Ah’s weight to keep it steady.
With Mo Ah firmly holding it down, Ji Xun made quick work of the task. After finishing, Ji Xun patted Mo Ah’s leg and said something, making the panda grin widely.
The scene was so heartwarming that Jian Mo hesitated to interrupt.
When Mo Ah and Ji Xun heard the noise, they turned to see their visitors.
Ji Xun waved. “What brings you here?”
Jian Mo replied, “The weather’s great. We thought we’d come for a visit, and I can give you a checkup while we’re here.”
Ji Xun smiled. “That’s great. Come in and have some tea.”
Leaving their work behind, Ji Xun and Mo Ah led them inside, where Ji Xun served freshly brewed tea.
The house, recently built, was beautifully arranged, with repurposed glass from their old home and a clear view of the surrounding greenery, mountains, and snowcaps.
Jian Mo sipped his tea and sighed. “This place is stunning, so comfortable.”
Ji Xun beamed. “We chose this spot for the view. We even planned the vegetable garden layout to make it look neat and pleasant.”
Jian Mo nodded approvingly. “You’ve done a wonderful job.”
After tea, Jian Mo performed Ji Xun’s checkup, noting that while his health was fine, he was noticeably thin.
“Have you been experiencing morning sickness? You seem underweight. You need to eat more to keep up your nutrition,” Jian Mo advised.
Ji Xun replied, “I haven’t been nauseous, just constantly hungry. I already eat a lot, but Mo Ah says their kind always burns through energy during pregnancy. I think our cub takes after them.”
Mo Ah nodded. “We’re naturally high-energy, and it’s common during pregnancy.”
Jian Mo suggested preparing snacks like dried meat for quick, convenient energy boosts. Ji Xun mentioned they’d been planning to gather some Crackfruit to make nut butter.
Surprised, Jian Mo asked, “There’s Crackfruit nearby?”
Ji Xun confirmed, “Yes, Mo Ah found a tree. The fruits are ripe now. Want to come with us to gather some?”
Excited, Jian Mo quickly agreed.
The four of them grabbed baskets and headed into the mountains. Mo Ah led the way confidently, navigating through the dense forest until they reached a towering Crackfruit tree.
Ji Xun pointed up. “This is the one. Last time, the fruits weren’t fully ripe, but now they’re perfect.”
Jian Mo glanced at the ground and noticed some Crackfruit that had been blown down by the wind.
He picked one up. The Crackfruit was about the size of his fist, its tough outer shell split open to reveal clusters of nuts inside, each encased in a smooth skin.
Applying a bit of force, Jian Mo cracked the hard outer shell, separating the individual nuts and rolling them into his palm. The small nuts, about the size of longan, felt dense and heavy. He handed some to Wu Jiong and Ji Xun before casually picking one and biting into it. He cracked the shell easily, revealing the crunchy, sweet flesh inside. It was slightly dry but had an excellent flavor.
Ji Xun observed Jian Mo’s reaction and asked, “How is it? Does the fruit from this tree taste good?”
Jian Mo nodded. “It’s fragrant and sweet.”
Mo Ah set down his basket. “Step back a bit. I’ll climb to the top and shake the Crackfruit loose.”
Ji Xun looked up at the tree. “Be careful.”
Mo Ah reassured him, “I’ll be fine.”
With that, Mo Ah shrugged off his beast-hide skirt and transformed into his giant panda form. Hugging the thick trunk of the Crackfruit tree, he climbed upward with ease.
The massive tree, towering over ten meters tall, was no challenge for the panda. He climbed as effortlessly at the top as he had near the base, even reaching the thinnest branches with confidence.
Watching from below, Jian Mo grew concerned. “Shouldn’t we ask him to come back down a little? Those branches are awfully thin.”
Ji Xun shook his head. “Don’t worry. Mo Ah isn’t the type to take unnecessary risks. If he thinks it’s safe, it probably is.”
Reassured, Jian Mo kept silent and watched as Mo Ah swayed the treetop with his weight.
The giant panda used his heft to tilt the tree crown in one direction, then swung it the other way, much like rocking a swing.
The tree crown shook vigorously, its leaves rustling loudly. Ripe Crackfruit fell like raindrops, landing with soft thuds and scattering across the ground.
After just a few sways, the ground was blanketed in Crackfruit. They didn’t even need to sift through the area carefully—sweeping the fruit into piles with a branch was sufficient.
Jian Mo marveled at the scene. “Mo Ah is amazing.”
Ji Xun smiled proudly. “He really is. Even when he was wandering alone, he managed just fine. And look at his beast form—it’s larger than most other beastmen’s forms despite everything he’s been through.”
Jian Mo nodded in agreement. “Absolutely. When he was teaching the little ones, I could tell he was not only powerful but also kind. He’s incredibly charismatic.”
Mo Ah, still up in the tree, likely didn’t hear the praise being exchanged below.
Wu Jiong, however, caught every word and gave Jian Mo a sidelong glance but remained silent.
Sensing his partner’s subtle shift in mood, Jian Mo leaned against Wu Jiong’s waist and, without any concern for Ji Xun’s presence, said, “Wu Jiong is just as impressive. I’d say he’s the most capable leader in this entire region.”
Ji Xun chimed in enthusiastically, “That’s true. Everyone in the neighboring tribes sings his praises. They all say Wu Jiong is strong, fair, and the very definition of a heroic beastman.”
Jian Mo nodded fervently. “Exactly! Power often comes with arrogance, but a humble powerhouse like Wu Jiong? That’s someone truly admirable.”
Wu Jiong’s ears turned a shade redder. He muttered in a low voice, “I’ll go up and help.”
As he moved to shift into his beast form, Jian Mo quickly wrapped his arms around Wu Jiong’s waist to stop him. “No, no, no! Mo Ah up there is already nerve-wracking enough. If you go too, I swear my heart will leap out of my throat!”
Though wolves could climb trees, they weren’t adept at it, and the strain could take a toll on Wu Jiong’s body.
Jian Mo insisted, “Let’s stay down here and help collect the fruit later.”
Wu Jiong nodded reluctantly. “Alright.”
From above, Mo Ah called out, “I’ve shaken loose most of the ripe Crackfruit. The rest will need more time to mature before they can be shaken off.”
Ji Xun shouted back, “Got it! Come down, and we’ll gather the fruit together. Be careful!”
Mo Ah responded, “Give me a moment.”
The panda descended with surprising agility, sliding down the trunk like a streak of black and white. When he landed, his round belly jiggled slightly like rippling water.
Jian Mo’s fingers itched with the urge to reach out.
Of course, it would be rude to pet an adult beastman, so Jian Mo could only hope Ji Xun and Mo Ah’s cub would inherit the panda form. Then he could indulge himself.
Suppressing his impulses, Jian Mo turned his attention back to the task.
Wu Jiong fetched a few sturdy shrubs and chopped off their leafy tops, creating makeshift brooms. Together, they swept the scattered Crackfruit into neat piles.
While sorting the fruit, they picked out the ripe ones and loaded them into their baskets. Being a wild fruit, many Crackfruit were less than perfect—some were infested with worms, others pecked by birds, and a few had over-ripened and gone bad.
As they worked, Jian Mo remarked, “This is the first time I’ve ever harvested so much Crackfruit in one go.”
Ji Xun nodded. “There are two more trees on the neighboring mountain. Since they’re on the shadier side, their fruit ripens later. If you’re free in a few days, come help us pick them.”
Jian Mo asked, “Will it be the same process as today?”
Ji Xun chuckled. “Of course. It’s the most efficient way!”
Jian Mo agreed. “It really is.”
After a moment of thought, he added, “When I get back, I’ll make a large cloth sheet. Next time we shake the fruit down, we can spread the sheet underneath the tree. That way, we won’t even need to sweep—we can just gather the edges and pour everything straight into the baskets.”
Intrigued, Ji Xun asked, “How do you plan to make it?”
Jian Mo explained, “We’ll sew a large circular sheet and lay it around the base of the tree.”
Ji Xun asked, “How big does the cloth sheet need to be?”
Jian Mo replied, “The bigger, the better. It’s reusable and won’t go to waste. Plus, if we ever stop using it for harvesting, the fabric can be repurposed into something else.”
With the amount of fabric stored at Jian Mo’s home, making a large cloth sheet wouldn’t be a problem.
Ji Xun, though initially hesitant about using so much fabric, was eventually convinced.
They often ventured into the mountains to pick fruit, and having such a cloth sheet would be incredibly convenient. Spread it out beneath a tree, shake the branches, and in no time, an entire tree’s worth of fruit would be collected—far more efficient than sweeping and sorting.
As Ji Xun bent down to scoop more fruit into his basket, his back ached slightly from the repetitive motion. He sighed, “Your ideas are always so practical. You’re constantly coming up with clever solutions.”
Jian Mo smiled modestly. “It’s not entirely my idea. Back where I come from, people use similar methods for harvesting flowers and fruits. It’s all about learning from the experience of those before us.”
