Chapter 186: Group Order
This year’s hunting festival was a resounding success, attracting an ever-growing crowd.
Even tribes that hadn’t officially joined the festival came to join in the fun, including those Ji Xun had mentioned earlier.
Jian Mo seized the opportunity to inquire whether he and Wu Jiong could visit their tribes for exploration and resource gathering. The tribes all readily agreed, warmly inviting them to come anytime.
The Shan Ming Tribe, in particular, was enthusiastic. One of their members said, “Doctor Jian Mo, you’re welcome to stay in our tribe as long as you like. We’d love to have you.”
Jian Mo replied with a smile, “Sounds good. I’ll look for you when the need arises.”
The Shan Ming Tribe’s people were even more eager, adding, “Our tribe is surrounded by other tribes, so staying with us will make visiting them very convenient.”
Jian Mo chuckled. “It’s settled then. When I get the chance, I’ll pay you a visit.”
As the hunting festival drew to a close, the strength of the participants left a deep impression on everyone, particularly the He’an Tribe.
The beastmen and sub-beastmen of the He’an Tribe displayed remarkable skill, and even their little ones performed impressively in their matches, leaving the spectators in awe.
In truth, many attendees were already astonished by the He’an Tribe’s architecture. It was clear to all that this was no longer the remote, isolated tribe it had once been.
Thanks to the combined efforts of all the tribes, the festival concluded smoothly.
Those from distant tribes traveled home in groups, while nearby tribes stayed behind to help the He’an Tribe clean up and repair its facilities.
After everything was finally sorted, the He’an Tribe members were utterly exhausted.
Even someone as diligent as Qing Kuo announced, “I’m taking two days off to rest. Hunting and gathering can wait.”
Wu Jiong, who had been wearing the medicinal plaster for days, noticed that the scar on his leg had indeed faded slightly.
Encouraged by these results, Jian Mo invited Bei Ya over to treat the scars on his face.
After applying the plasters, Bei Ya’s scars lightened further, leaving only faint white lines. However, since his face bore numerous scars, the lines were still clearly visible, requiring further treatment.
Jian Mo carefully examined Bei Ya’s face. “Not a big problem. With a bit more treatment, the scars
should fade even more. Have you been protecting yourself from the sun?”
Bei Ya nodded. “I have. I wear a hat and cover my face with cloth when I’m out.”
Jian Mo approved. “Good habit—keep it up. Now, hold still while I apply the plaster.”
Bei Ya obediently tilted his head slightly and remained motionless.
Jian Mo measured the scars against the plaster, cutting precise pieces to match their size. He
warmed the pieces over a flame before carefully applying them to Bei Ya’s face.
As he worked, he asked, “Does it feel uncomfortable anywhere?”
Bei Ya spoke softly, “No. I’m used to the tension from the plasters.”
Jian Mo nodded. “If anything feels off, or if it gets too hot, let me know immediately.”
Bei Ya agreed. “Understood.”
Jian Mo continued until Bei Ya’s face was fully covered with plasters. “You can keep wearing a cloth over your face, but you don’t need to. These black plasters will protect the scars well enough.”
Bei Ya replied, “I’ll keep the cloth on for now. It’s cool enough this season to wear one without discomfort.”
Jian Mo smiled. “Suit yourself. I’ve packed extra plasters for you. If the ones on your face lose their stickiness, replace them with fresh ones.”
After carefully instructing Bei Ya on their use, Jian Mo handed him a large batch of plasters.
Grateful, Bei Ya asked, “Doctor Jian Mo, I heard you plan to visit our region to treat patients. When will you come? You can stay at my house—I’ll prepare a room for you.”
Jian Mo chuckled. “I’ll probably need a few more days to rest. It’s harvest season, and we’re busy gathering. Once we’re done, I’ll head over.”
Bei Ya smiled. “There’s plenty to gather in our area too. When you come, I’ll show you the best spots.”
Jian Mo grinned. “Then I’ll count on you.”
Bei Ya’s eyes crinkled with delight as he left with the plasters.
Afterward, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong threw themselves into gathering.
Autumn was a season of abundance, offering a wealth of wild fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, and tubers. In just a few days, their storage room was half filled with supplies.
Wu Jiong also took advantage of the season’s plump prey, leading hunting parties to bring back plenty of game, enough to hang meat from every available beam.
During this time, Chirpy and Ying Ao feasted on the bounty, growing rounder with each passing day.
Jian Mo couldn’t help but tease, “Chirpy’s belly is so round now. Even though it’s cute, I can’t keep spoiling it like this.”
Wu Jiong reassured him, “It’s fine. Gaining a little weight in autumn is good preparation for winter.”
Jian Mo pointed out, “We won’t run short on food this winter. We’ve planted plenty, and even if it’s hard to hunt, there’s always fish in the Green Marsh and White Sands Delta.”
Chirpy blinked at him, too timid to make a sound.
Wu Jiong added calmly, “Chirpy’s active enough. Any extra weight will burn off quickly.”
Jian Mo glanced at him, then at Chirpy. “Keep spoiling it, then. If it ever gets too heavy to fly, I’ll make it run laps with the little ones.”
Chirpy let out a faint “chirp,” clearly dejected.
Amidst their busy days, a group of beastmen and sub-beastmen arrived at the He’an Tribe.
The little ones ran up to Jian Mo, saying, “Brother Jian Mo, they’ve been waiting for you at the clinic for a while.”
Jian Mo patted their heads in turn. “Got it. I’ll go see what’s going on.”
Like tiny shadows, the little ones followed him, eager to find out for themselves.
The people waiting at the clinic all stood up to greet Jian Mo when they saw him arrive.
Jian Mo looked at the group of diverse beastmen and sub-beastmen, feeling a bit puzzled. “What brings you all here?”
Surely this many people couldn’t be here for medical treatment? Their expressions didn’t suggest any discomfort.
One sub-beastman stepped forward, lifting the bangs from his forehead to reveal a large scar. “Doctor Jian Mo, can scars like this be treated?”
Another sub-beastman raised his hand. “I’ve got a long scar on my arm that I want to remove.”
Jian Mo suddenly understood. “You’re all here for scar treatment?”
The crowd nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, we heard you could do it, so we came together to see if you could help.”
The group introduced themselves as people from several tribes near the Tian Ning Tribe. They’d heard about Jian Mo’s scar treatments and the ointment he’d given to Bei Ya, prompting them to make the trip to see if their scars could also be addressed.
Surprised by the demand, Jian Mo examined the scar on the leg of the first sub-beastman. “This scar has been there for a while, hasn’t it?”
The sub-beastman nodded. “Yes, I got it when I was a kid after a bad fall.”
Jian Mo asked, “Are you sure you want to remove it? The results might not be ideal since it’s an old scar.”
The sub-beastman’s eyes lit up. “I don’t mind! I just want it gone—it’s too ugly.”
Another beastman rolled up his shirt to show a scar on his stomach. “I want this one gone too. Every time I touch it, it feels weird.”
Jian Mo examined it carefully. “How did this happen?”
The beastman grinned. “Got gored by a wild animal during one of my first hunts.”
The scars varied in size, depth, and cause, but the common goal among the group was clear—they all wanted their scars removed.
Jian Mo hadn’t anticipated this level of interest. “I’m out of ointment right now. If you want treatment, I’ll need to make another batch.”
“Can we pre-order it?” someone asked eagerly.
Jian Mo hesitated. “I’m not sure if I can find the right ingredients. The herbs needed for scar treatment are quite rare.”
“We can help look!” someone offered.
“Exactly! We’ll pay you extra in supplies if that helps.”
Another chimed in, “Doctor Jian Mo, I’ve got some delicious nuts. Can I trade those for the ointment?”
Jian Mo quickly waved his hands. “It’s not about the supplies. I’ll start searching for the herbs, but if I can’t find them, I won’t be able to make the ointment. The main ingredient is called houyan zhu. If you find any, bring them to me, and I can exchange them for finished ointment.”
“Doctor Jian Mo, how long will it take you to find the herbs? We’ll come back to check in later.”
“Right! Just give us a timeframe. If we find the herbs, we’ll bring them to you.”
Jian Mo spent quite some time discussing the matter with the group. By the time everything was settled, the sun had set. It wouldn’t be polite to send them off in the dark, so Jian Mo arranged temporary housing for them in the tribe. He checked in with Qing Kuo, and they prepared a few empty houses, charging a small fee for supplies.
Once the guests were settled, Jian Mo and Qing Kuo headed back. Qing Kuo remarked, “I’m not surprised so many people want scar ointment.”
Jian Mo raised a brow. “Really?”
Qing Kuo laughed. “Of course! People care about their looks. Nobody wants scars, especially not on their face.”
Jian Mo chuckled. “Wu Jiong has scars on his leg and doesn’t care about removing them.”
Qing Kuo smirked. “Our chief’s a special case. Honestly, if you two hadn’t hit it off, I’d have thought he’d remain a bachelor for life.”
Jian Mo defended him. “That’s nonsense. Wu Jiong is tall, handsome, and strong. He’s great at everything. There’s no way he’d stay single.”
Qing Kuo teased, “I didn’t mean he’s not attractive. I meant he wouldn’t settle for anyone.”
Jian Mo tapped his chin thoughtfully. “That’s true.”
With so many people wanting the scar ointment, some even offering down payments, Jian Mo decided to take action.
He told Wu Jiong, “We should go look for houyan zhu. If we don’t, I think people will be really disappointed.”
Wu Jiong agreed. “The supplies they’re offering are more than enough. Even if we pause hunting and gathering, it’s worth it.”
Making the ointment was both practical and rewarding. Jian Mo quickly organized his plans. He and Wu Jiong packed up, mounted Chirpy and Ying Ao, and headed to the Nong Liu Tribe, where the houyan zhu was said to grow.
When they arrived, the Nong Liu Tribe was already expecting them. Their chief, Yi Sen, greeted them warmly. “We heard about the scar ointment. While gathering recently, we specifically looked for houyan zhu.”
Jian Mo’s eyes lit up. “Did you find any?”
Yi Sen shook his head regretfully. “We haven’t. It’s scarce here, and we recently used a batch to cure meat. The usual spots are empty. We may need to explore new areas to find more.”
Another tribesman added, “We’ve harvested houyan zhu in the same places for generations. If we want more, we’ll have to search less familiar grounds, which will take time.”
Jian Mo nodded in understanding. “It’s not easy, for sure.”
Yi Sen smiled kindly. “You’ve traveled so far. Rest here for now, and we can discuss things tomorrow. In the meantime, try some of our tribe’s food. We’ve got cured meat made with houyan zhu. See if you like it.”
Jian Mo grinned at Wu Jiong. “Sounds great. Thank you—we won’t be shy.”
Yi Sen chuckled. “Make yourselves at home. Many in our tribe have ailments and have been eagerly awaiting your visit. We’ve prepared supplies in exchange for your help.”
Jian Mo nodded earnestly. “I’ll do my very best.”
