The sub-beastman who guided them was named Xing Jiu.
Xing Jiu’s voice was soft and gentle, his demeanor warm and inviting. He spoke in a steady, pleasant tone: “In our Chu Xing Tribe, everyone’s name begins with ‘Xing.’”
Jian Mo smiled. “It sounds wonderful.”
Xing Jiu’s eyes curved into a smile. “Your names are lovely too, especially yours. It’s so unique—it leaves a lasting impression when spoken.”
With Xing Jiu’s relaxed and welcoming attitude, Jian Mo and his companions found themselves easing up as well. They chatted amiably along the way.
To Jian Mo’s surprise, Xing Jiu said, “Actually, we’ve heard of you before. Your name is so distinctive; the moment we heard it, we knew it was you.”
Jian Mo widened his eyes in astonishment. “Even from so far away?”
Xing Jiu nodded with a smile. “My teacher has always valued learning from other shamans, collecting prescriptions and medical techniques. When we heard you could perform abdominal surgeries, we really wanted to visit you.”
He sighed. “Unfortunately, my teacher is very old, and we always have many patients. We couldn’t find the time to travel and meet you.”
Jian Mo reassured him. “Meeting now isn’t too late.”
Xing Jiu agreed. “It’s fate.”
He led them to a stone house nestled among a row of similar structures. “You can stay here for now. If you need water, you can draw some from the well outside. These houses are specifically for hosting patients and their families, so staying longer isn’t a problem.”
Jian Mo and Wu Jiong expressed their gratitude.
Xing Jiu continued, “Feel free to rest. The bedding inside is clean—we always boil and sun-dry it after someone uses it, so you don’t need to worry.”
After ensuring they were settled, Xing Jiu left.
Jian Mo and Wu Jiong first helped Fen Hui rest in another room, then stepped into the space assigned to them.
The small stone house was simple but neat, with a raised bed and an outward-opening window that let in fresh air.
Jian Mo collapsed onto the bed, exhausted. “The Chu Xing Tribe seems quite prosperous!”
Wu Jiong stroked his forehead gently. “It’s an old tribe situated at the center of many others—prosperity comes naturally. At least we’ve arrived. Get some rest.”
Still in his growth phase, Jian Mo was indeed feeling worn out. He turned his face to nuzzle Wu Jiong’s hand. “I’ll sleep for a while. Call me if anything happens.”
Wu Jiong lowered his voice. “Alright.”
Jian Mo slept until the afternoon. When Wu Jiong woke him with the news that Xing Yi, the shaman, had returned, he was still groggy.
Sitting on the bed to clear his head, Jian Mo finally processed the information and perked up. “The elder shaman is back?”
Wu Jiong handed him a water jar. “He’s outside now. Even Fen Hui has gone to see him.”
Jian Mo took several gulps of water, wiped his mouth, and fully woke up. “Let’s go see him!”
Wu Jiong chuckled. “No rush. Fen Hui just got there.”
But Jian Mo, eager to witness the skills of a renowned shaman, couldn’t wait. He quickly put on his shoes and dragged Wu Jiong outside.
Fen Hui was seated outside the house, and in front of him stood an elderly sub-beastman dressed in white robes.
The elder wasn’t tall and looked quite aged. His gentle features radiated kindness, giving him an amiable and approachable aura.
Jian Mo’s sudden entrance created a bit of noise, drawing everyone’s attention.
The elder shaman smiled. “Is Doctor Jian Mo awake?”
Jian Mo immediately guessed his identity. “Shaman Xing Yi?”
Xing Yi nodded. “That’s me.”
Jian Mo pulled Wu Jiong closer and stood to the side. “Can we watch?”
Xing Yi smiled again. “Of course.”
Standing before Fen Hui, Xing Yi closely examined his face, skin, and eyes. He then asked Fen Hui to lift his beast hide robe so he could inspect his abdomen.
After a thorough look, Xing Yi concluded, “It seems like his liver has hardened. You see here, and here—there’s also some ascites.”
Fen Hui’s slightly swollen abdomen was subtle enough that an untrained eye might miss it.
Jian Mo observed carefully. “You’re right. Your eyesight is incredible.”
Xing Yi replied modestly, “Every symptom corresponds to a disease. Our predecessors have already summarized these observations. It’s just a matter of slowly ruling out possibilities.”
Jian Mo nodded, taking mental notes.
After examining Fen Hui’s humanoid form, Xing Yi asked, “Can you still transform into your beast form? It will give me a clearer picture and help me prescribe the right medicine.”
Fen Hui quickly nodded. “I can transform.”
Xing Yi gently patted his arm. “Take your time. No rush.”
Fen Hui whispered, “Thank you, Shaman Xing Yi.”
Xing Yi helped Fen Hui stand and moved his chair aside. “Go ahead.”
Jian Mo assisted from the other side, while Wu Jiong returned the chair to the house.
Though Fen Hui struggled to stay steady on his feet, he gritted his teeth and managed to transform into his beast form.
In the Sea Zuo Tribe, beast forms varied greatly due to their mixed heritage. Fen Hui’s beast form resembled a massive creature that was part fox and part wolf. However, his dull fur and emaciated frame made him look more eerie than majestic.
Xing Yi patted the large fox-like beast on its leg and comforted it kindly. “You’ve been through a lot, but don’t worry—you’ll get better soon.”
Fen Hui’s yellow-brown eyes welled up with tears.
Xing Yi instructed, “Lie down so I can examine you properly.”
The big fox whimpered softly but obediently lay flat.
Xing Yi started with his paws, moved to his head, and finally climbed onto his chest and abdomen to listen closely.
Jian Mo, standing nearby, watched with curiosity. He had never seen such a detailed examination before.
Xing Yi noticed Jian Mo’s expression and chuckled. “What’s on your mind? Is there something unusual?”
Jian Mo quickly waved his hands. “No, no. I’ve just never seen this method before—it’s fascinating.”
Xing Yi grinned. “Different places, different practices. Would you like to try it yourself?”
Jian Mo’s eyes lit up. “May I?”
Xing Yi’s gaze fell on the beast ears atop Jian Mo’s head. “Of course, you can. As a sub-beastman undergoing secondary development, you’ll likely hear everything very clearly now.”
This was a rare opportunity, so Jian Mo didn’t hesitate. “Alright, let me try.”
Concerned about Fen Hui’s weak condition, Jian Mo decided not to climb onto his body. Instead, he stood at Fen Hui’s side and mimicked Xing Yi’s posture, leaning in to listen to the abdomen.
Xing Yi guided him gently. “Move a little lower and listen carefully there.”
Jian Mo followed the instruction, pressing closer to the large fox’s thin abdomen. Through the thin layer of fur and skin, he heard faint water and gurgling sounds.
Xing Yi asked, “What do you hear?”
Jian Mo replied, “Water sounds.”
Xing Yi nodded. “How about the heartbeat? Does it sound different?”
Jian Mo hesitated before answering. “It seems weaker, muffled, like it’s coming from far away.”
“Exactly. The heartbeat is faint. Can you hear any organ activity?” Xing Yi continued.
This was more challenging. Jian Mo concentrated for a while before responding, “I think I can hear the intestines moving.”
Xing Yi smiled approvingly. “That’s correct. As long as a creature is alive, its organs will produce sounds. Different diseases affect these sounds in unique ways. While you may lack experience, someone skilled in this method can identify abnormalities, like the irregularity in this young man’s liver.”
Xing Yi spoke with the patient tone of an experienced teacher, his words both encouraging and informative.
Jian Mo, realizing that Xing Yi had spotted his inexperience, took no offense. Instead, he marveled aloud, “That’s amazing.”
To Jian Mo, it felt akin to traditional Chinese medicine’s pulse diagnosis. Though he wasn’t well-versed in that field as a veterinarian, he knew of its efficacy.
Xing Yi patted the large fox gently. “Now that we’ve identified the issue, it’s not beyond saving. Let me prescribe some medicine and see how it goes.”
The big fox whimpered softly, his gaze full of trust and hope.
Xing Yi stood up slowly. “I’ll go prepare the prescription.”
Jian Mo hurried to support him. “Is there anything we can help with?”
Xing Yi responded, “If you’re willing to help, that would be wonderful. Some herbs need to be freshly gathered, and we don’t have them on hand.”
He looked up at the sky. “We should collect them before dark so we can prepare the first dose for Fen Hui tonight.”
Jian Mo nodded quickly. “That would be perfect.”
Turning to Fen Hui, Xing Yi added, “If you don’t mind, stay in your beast form and rest. We’ll adjust the dosage based on your size.”
Fen Hui whispered gratefully, “Thank you, Shaman Xing Yi.”
Xing Yi nodded and then called for Xing Jiu. “Take them to gather the herbs. We’ll split up to make sure we get everything in one trip.”
Jian Mo and Wu Jiong readily agreed.
Soon, Xing Jiu arrived carrying several rectangular wooden boards. As he approached, he handed the boards to Xing Yi. “Teacher, I’ve brought the prescriptions for liver ailments.”
Xing Yi took the boards, wiping his sweaty palms on his beast hide robe before carefully accepting them.
Jian Mo’s curiosity was piqued. He glanced at the wooden boards and noticed patterns of carved marks, including shapes resembling birds, beasts, and plants.
“Are these… words?” Jian Mo couldn’t help but ask.
Xing Yi glanced up. “Yes. Do you have written language where you’re from?”
Jian Mo nodded. “We do. Our writing system is quite advanced.” He quickly added, “But in the He’an Tribe, we don’t yet have a writing system, though we do have epic poems.”
While Jian Mo lacked musical talent and couldn’t recite the tribe’s traditional songs, he was aware of their existence. During grand bonfire events, such as the Beast Festival or the Summer Harvest Festival, songs narrating the history and legends of various tribes would be performed.
For example, the He’an Tribe’s origin story described their ancestors settling along the riverbanks after seeing a falling star—a divine sign.
Xing Yi, who seemed to have already deduced Jian Mo’s unusual background, didn’t pry further. He simply remarked, “It seems the place you’re from has a very advanced understanding of medicine.”
Jian Mo nodded in agreement.
Xing Yi handed the wooden boards to him. “This is our prescription for liver diseases. Take a look. I’m planning to modify the second formula since Fen Hui’s body is too frail for potent medicines.”
Jian Mo accepted the boards and examined them closely. The ancient-looking text was elegant, almost artistic, but after staring for a while, he admitted, “I can’t read this script.”
Thank you for the chapters!
I’ve finally caught up! Thanks for the chapter, looking forward to the next one <3
<3
I love this so much
Thank you for the hard work! Looking forward to the next chapter!