Transmigrated to the Beastman World as a Veterinarian – CH187

Chapter 187: Let Chirpy Help

The preserved meat of the Nong Liu Tribe was semi-dry and semi-moist, different from the kind made in the He’an Tribe.

They sliced the meat into thin pieces and grilled them on a scorching hot stone slab.

With a loud sizzle, the meat turned golden and curled up, releasing a rich aroma that wafted through the air.

The Nong Liu Tribe also served sliced stone-grilled tubers, shaped like small round cakes, to accompany the meat.

Presented on black ceramic plates, the white tubers and golden roasted meat looked incredibly appetizing. The sprinkle of green herbal powder on top only made it more tempting.

Yi Sen gestured for Jian Mo and Wu Jiong to dig in. “This is one of our specialty dinners. Try it and see if you like it.”

“Thank you,” Jian Mo replied, his voice sincere. “It smells amazing.”

Jian Mo used his fork to pick up a piece of tuber and grilled meat. As he bit into it, the rich flavor of the meat combined with the fluffy texture of the tuber. The taste was truly delightful.

When the fat from the meat splattered slightly, it added a final touch of perfection to the dish.

“It’s delicious,” Jian Mo couldn’t help but say again.

Yi Sen looked pleased. “Take some with you when you leave. Consider it a gift.”

“Thank you for the treat,” Jian Mo said with a smile. “We won’t be polite about it, then.”

Yi Sen added, “We’ve also prepared food for your winged beasts, but they don’t seem interested. You might have to feed them yourselves.”

Jian Mo guessed that Ying Ao had stopped Chirpy from eating food given by strangers. “We’ll take care of it later. Thank you for the trouble.”

“It’s no trouble at all,” Yi Sen replied. “It’s just a meal. When our tribe visited yours, we had your hotpot. That was a stroke of genius—it was so delicious!”

Jian Mo chuckled. “It’s just meant to be convenient.”

As they ate, they chatted about various topics.

After dinner, those in the Nong Liu Tribe who needed medical attention came to see Jian Mo.

Most of their ailments were chronic issues—work-related injuries, inflammation, and similar conditions.

Before visiting the Star Reservoir Tribe, Jian Mo wouldn’t have been able to treat such cases and would have only suggested heat therapy or other minor remedies. But now, armed with a repertoire of prescriptions and some herbs he brought along, he was able to provide effective treatments.

Jian Mo treated patients patiently and kindly, charging minimal fees that anyone could afford.

Hearing about this, even those who had hesitated initially came forward to join the line.

Jian Mo worked late into the evening, treating patients by the light of the tribe’s bonfire.

Eventually, he declared that the dim light made it difficult to examine patients thoroughly and suggested they return during the day. Only then did the crowd reluctantly disperse, planning to return the next morning.

Yi Sen escorted Jian Mo and Wu Jiong to their temporary lodging and said admiringly, “Doctor Jian Mo, you’re incredible. It’s our tribe’s good fortune to have you here.”

“Thank you for the praise,” Jian Mo said modestly. “But there are many excellent healers out there.”

Yi Sen shook his head. “I’ve met a few in my younger days, but none as skilled as you.”

Jian Mo smiled. “I’ll keep working hard to live up to your kind words.”

Their lodging was simple—a typical stone house with a basic layout. The first floor served as a kitchen and reception area, while the living quarters were on the second floor to avoid dampness and insects. However, the rooms were much smaller than those in the He’an Tribe, with no bathrooms or washrooms. Bathing required going outdoors.

Jian Mo said to Wu Jiong, “After traveling for two days, I’m covered in dust. Let’s go wash up, and we can check on Chirpy and Ying Ao while we’re at it.”

“I already checked on them while you were treating patients,” Wu Jiong replied. “They’re probably asleep by now.”

Jian Mo paused. “Are they settling in well?”

Wu Jiong’s lips curved in a small smile. “Chirpy’s lying on its back, all limbs splayed out, snoring.”

“That relaxed, huh?” Jian Mo mused.

“It trusts people’s attitudes,” Wu Jiong explained. “Seeing how much respect the Nong Liu Tribe has for you, Chirpy feels secure. Plus, with us here and Ying Ao by its side, it has no reason to worry.”

The two headed outside to bathe.

The water was chilly, and Jian Mo shivered as he gradually adjusted. He quickly scrubbed himself clean, and Wu Jiong helped with the harder-to-reach spots.

Once done, Jian Mo jumped into the river to rinse off the soap before rushing back to shore to dry off and dress.

Wu Jiong gave his arm a light squeeze. “You’re still a bit weak. Eat more meat.”

“I already eat plenty,” Jian Mo replied, fluffing his ears. “I think water got in my ears. Can you check?”

His beast ears, now upright most of the time, were prone to getting waterlogged during baths.

Wu Jiong held Jian Mo’s chin gently, inspecting the ears closely. Using a rolled cloth, he carefully wiped out the water droplets. “All set.”

Jian Mo shook his head to test it. “Ah, much better!”

Wu Jiong leaned in and kissed one of the ears. “Let’s head back and rest.”

The next morning, after finishing treatments for those who hadn’t been seen the previous day, Jian Mo proposed to Yi Sen that they search for houyan zhu.

Yi Sen readily agreed. “Let’s go to the mountains today. We need to gather supplies anyway.”

“Thank you,” Jian Mo said with relief.

“It’s no trouble,” Yi Sen replied. “You’ve already done so much for our tribe.”

The Nong Liu Tribe’s members were welcoming as they led Jian Mo and Wu Jiong to places where houyan zhu was known to grow.

However, luck wasn’t on their side. Most of the plants they found had either already been harvested or had rotted. After an entire day of searching, they managed to gather only four small houyan zhu.

Jian Mo stared at the pitiful harvest and asked, “Are there other places where houyan zhu might grow?”

Yi Sen apologized, “That’s it. There are only a few places where it grows.”

Jian Mo considered asking if other tribes might have it but decided against it. “Then can we search the mountains ourselves tomorrow?”

Yi Sen agreed readily. “Of course. Treat it like your own home. Feel free to look around. We’ll also keep searching tomorrow to see if we can find more.”

Jian Mo smiled. “Then we’ll give it a try tomorrow. Who knows? We might get lucky.”

Wu Jiong, understanding Jian Mo’s intentions, waited until the Nong Liu Tribe members left before quietly asking, “Do you plan to visit other tribes to search?”

Jian Mo shook his head. “I doubt they have it. If they did, they’d have already sent word.”

The tribes were interconnected, with information flowing freely, especially after the hunting festival. It was unlikely they wouldn’t know about his need for houyan zhu.

Wu Jiong nodded. “We’ll keep looking in the mountains tomorrow. The forest is vast, with tall trees and dense grass. It’s normal not to find anything on the first try.”

“That’s what I think too,” Jian Mo agreed. “But it might be hard relying on just the two of us. Let’s bring Chirpy along to help tomorrow.”

Wu Jiong glanced outside. “Chirpy?”

“Yeah,” Jian Mo said. “Chirpy has a sharp sense of smell, and since houyan zhu is edible, it should be able to find it if it tries.”

Wu Jiong didn’t object. “It’s worth a shot.”

Chirpy, however, was completely caught off guard when Jian Mo entrusted it with such a crucial mission. After sniffing the houyan zhu, it blinked its large eyes, looking utterly clueless.

Jian Mo slipped a piece of roasted preserved meat into Chirpy’s beak. “This meat is made with houyan zhu. Tastes good, right?”

Chirpy chewed the meat, its eyes lighting up like stars. “Chirp! Chirp!” Delicious!!!

Jian Mo grinned. “If you help us find houyan zhu tomorrow, I’ll make even more preserved meat for you when we get back.”

Ying Ao, curious, leaned in to sniff the meat in Jian Mo’s hand. Laughing, Jian Mo offered it a piece too. “You help out too, Ying Ao. Let’s see if we can have more of this tasty meat.”

Ying Ao let out a proud screech.

After breakfast, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong set off into the mountains with the two winged beasts.

Once deep in the forest, Jian Mo gave the two their instructions. “Go ahead and search. If you find anything, come back and let us know.”

Chirpy and Ying Ao each let out a long call, indicating their agreement.

They flew off in opposite directions, each heading to a different part of the forest. Watching their departing silhouettes, Jian Mo said to Wu Jiong, “Let’s start looking too. Maybe we’ll get lucky today.”

Wu Jiong, already transformed into his giant wolf form, rumbled, “I’ll carry you so we can cover more ground.”

Jian Mo’s interest piqued. “Great idea. You’ll have a sharper sense of smell in beast form. Maybe we really will find something.”

The giant wolf growled softly in agreement. “Let’s go.”

Jian Mo climbed onto Wu Jiong’s back, settling himself securely. His now-sharpened beastman eyesight scanned the surroundings. If there was any houyan zhu nearby, he was confident he’d spot it.

They searched through the forest, taking in the rich diversity of the terrain.

Though they didn’t find any houyan zhu initially, Jian Mo stumbled upon several types of edible mushrooms and even found a few nests of bird eggs.

It was unusual to find wild birds laying eggs in autumn. Jian Mo carefully checked each egg, ensuring they weren’t already fertilized or partially hatched. Learning from a previous unpleasant experience, he now avoided any eggs that weren’t purely fresh.

With their baskets halfway full of their finds, Jian Mo felt the trip wasn’t wasted even if they didn’t find any houyan zhu.

As they continued their search, Chirpy’s loud call echoed through the trees. “Chirp! Chirp!”

Wu Jiong threw his head back and howled, guiding Chirpy to their location.

The winged beast swooped down from above, landing in front of them with a triumphant flutter of its wings. “Chirp!”

Hearing the pride in Chirpy’s tone, Jian Mo’s face lit up with excitement. “Chirpy, did you find houyan zhu?”

Chirpy puffed out its chest. “Chirp!”

Jian Mo beamed. “Good job! As expected, when it comes to finding food, you’re the best! One Chirpy is worth two of anything else!”

Chirpy flapped its wings energetically, squawking loudly, “Chirp! Chirp!”