Chapter 192: No Chirping
The next morning, Jian Mo and his group headed into the mountains to gather medicinal plants.
With the lively bird beastmen joining them, the team was filled with chatter and laughter, making the journey much more enjoyable.
Jian Mo briefly described the plants they needed, asking everyone to keep an eye out.
Not long after they entered the mountains, someone from the Yu Qi Tribe called out, “Isn’t that the plant we’re looking for up ahead? I think I see a ‘stinkleaf’ plant.”
Everyone turned to look at the spot he indicated, then back at Jian Mo.
Following their gazes, Jian Mo nodded. “It looks like it. Let’s dig it up.”
The young beastmen, including those from both the Yu Qi and Bai Zhi Tribes, eagerly ran forward to extract the plant.
They soon returned, proudly holding the plant aloft for Jian Mo to inspect.
Jian Mo examined it carefully. The leaves were ovate and opposite, with fine hairs on the underside. When rubbed, the leaves emitted the distinct musty smell of rotten wood. It was unmistakably stinkleaf.
“Good work,” Jian Mo affirmed. “Let’s keep searching.”
The young beastmen cheered and took the lead, forging ahead to find more plants.
The mountains were rich with medicinal resources. In addition to the plants they needed for the day’s pesticide experiments, they stumbled upon other useful herbs, including some tonic plants. Jian Mo instructed the team to dig up everything they could find.
Autumn was an excellent season for foraging. Most medicinal plants were at their peak, particularly those harvested for their roots or bark. Collecting them now ensured optimal potency.
By the end of the day, every member of the team had a nearly full basket.
The haul was impressive, and Jian Mo, in high spirits, suggested hunting for game to make a hearty soup.
The idea was met with enthusiastic approval from the young beastmen, who assured him that they could handle the hunting themselves.
Jian Mo watched as a group of bird beastmen took to the skies while Pallas Cat beastmen darted into the forest below, all heading into the woods with great energy.
Qi Ming called out after them, “Make sure to bring back something good for soup!”
A distant voice echoed back, “Got it!”
With the hunters off, Jian Mo and the others returned to process the medicinal plants.
The harvest was bountiful, but not comprehensive. Jian Mo sorted through the plants and managed to cobble together three pesticide formulas.
Given the unpredictable nature of wild foraging, he wasn’t in a position to be too picky.
The gathered herbs needed further preparation before they could be used. Jian Mo assigned tasks to the group, dividing the workload.
Some washed the plants, others sliced or ground them, and still others dried or preserved the herbs in oil.
To ensure safety, Jian Mo instructed everyone to wear masks to avoid accidental poisoning.
Thanks to the large number of helpers, the processing was completed quickly. Before nightfall, they had three small barrels of liquid pesticide ready.
Jian Mo inspected the results and said, “Let’s use these today. We’ll observe the effects tomorrow.”
Pesticides typically showed results within a day, allowing them to gauge their effectiveness quickly.
Qi Ming agreed. “Let’s head back to the fields.”
Jian Mo joined the group in returning to the vegetable plots, personally diluting the pesticides with water. He divided the plots into three sections, applying one formula to each area to avoid cross-contamination.
The vegetable plots had a uniform level of pest infestation, making it easy to monitor the results.
The Yu Qi Tribe’s watering cans were designed like sprinklers, with fine holes in the spout that ensured even distribution.
After verifying the setup, Jian Mo used charcoal to label wooden stakes with the corresponding formulas and placed them at the edges of each plot.
“All set,” Jian Mo announced, washing his hands in a nearby cold spring. “We’ll check back tomorrow morning.”
Qi Ming said, “Let’s head back. The hunters should have returned with their catch by now.”
“Let’s go!” Jian Mo agreed enthusiastically. “I’m ready for some soup.”
Wu Jiong shifted back into his giant wolf form, and the others followed suit, transforming into their beast forms to quickly descend the mountain. They returned to the Yu Qi Tribe just before nightfall.
What greeted Jian Mo was a curious sight—a massive hole beast at the forefront of the hunters’ haul.
This was the infamous creature known for its noxious, jelly-like farts.
Jian Mo stared, incredulous. “Weren’t you supposed to hunt something good for soup?”
Lan Zheng quickly stepped in, pulling out a purple bird and a long-tailed bird from beside the hole beast. “These are for the soup. The hole beast is for stir-frying or stewing.”
Another young beastman from the Yu Qi Tribe added, “We weren’t planning to hunt a hole beast, but we ran into one. We couldn’t just let it go, so we brought it back.”
Jian Mo sighed, realizing that neither tribe excelled at hunting. Given their skills, improvisation was inevitable.
Qi Ming asked, “Jian Mo, how do you want to prepare the food? You decide.”
Jian Mo didn’t hesitate. “Use the birds for soup, and stir-fry the hole beast while it’s fresh.”
A young beastman from the Bai Zhi Tribe raised his hand eagerly. “Can we have hotpot? Or the He’an Tribe’s spicy soup?”
Jian Mo chuckled. “Sure. If you have chili peppers, we can whip up a broth on the spot.”
Qi Ming nodded. “We do. We’ve also traded for a variety of ingredients recently. We can use those.”
Jian Mo’s interest was piqued. “Great! Let’s do hotpot, then. We’ll make a clear broth for the vegetables and a spicy one for the meat. For the base, we can boil some bones with chili and peppercorns.”
Qi Ming replied, “Got it. I’ll organize everything.”
With everyone pitching in, the preparations were soon underway. Two rows of hotpots were set up—one with a mild, clear broth and the other with a fiery red soup. Diners could choose according to their preference.
The lively atmosphere carried into dinner, with everyone chatting and laughing around the hotpots.
Jian Mo observed the camaraderie between the once-antagonistic tribes and felt a warm sense of accomplishment.
After the meal, the bird beastmen transformed into their animal forms and flew off into the night.
Jian Mo and his group set out early the next morning to gather medicinal plants in the mountains.
The lively bird beastmen, chattering and laughing as they flew, added to the group’s energy. Since they could see at night and flying was safer than walking, everyone was comfortable letting them travel back and forth independently.
As expected, the bird beastmen returned early the next morning, chirping excitedly outside to urge everyone to check the effects of the pesticides.
Jian Mo, still groggy and yawning, was practically pushed out the door. By the time they started their trek into the mountains, he was sprawled across Wu Jiong’s giant wolf form, clutching his neck for support. Before long, Jian Mo dozed off again.
Qi Ming, in his Pallas Cat form, ran beside the wolf, glancing worriedly. “Brother Jian Mo is asleep—is that okay?”
The giant wolf turned to nudge Jian Mo lightly with his snout. “It’s fine. He’s holding on tightly. If he slips, I’ll catch him. Let him rest.”
Reassured, Qi Ming ran ahead to lead the way.
By the time they reached the mountaintop, the morning sun bathed the vegetable plots in soft light, revealing every detail.
Three plots had been treated with pesticide the previous day. One plot showed yellowing leaves, likely damaged by the pesticide—thankfully, only a small area was affected. Of the other two plots, one had a significant number of dead insects, while the other showed only a few.
Yawning as he inspected the plots, Jian Mo concluded, “The pesticide that harmed the vegetables is a no-go. The one with poor insect-killing performance is also out. It seems the last formula is our best bet, but we’ll need to refine it further.”
Qi Ming nodded. “That makes sense.”
Jian Mo stood up and stretched. “Let’s gather more medicinal plants today and test a few more formulas this afternoon. We might be able to improve it.”
Everyone agreed.
Creating an entirely new formula was challenging, but refining an existing one was much simpler.
That evening, Jian Mo experimented with a few variations and finalized a formula based on the next day’s results.
“This formula should work for now,” Jian Mo told Qi Ming and the others. “Use it for the time being, and I’ll continue refining it after I return to He’an Tribe.”
Qi Ming agreed readily. “We’ll count on you. As for payment, we’ll send you a batch of vegetable seedlings and seeds, along with a tenth of our harvest this year.”
Jian Mo nodded. “Deal. I’ll also take some of the medicinal plants we gathered back with me to test more formulas.”
Qi Ming responded without hesitation. “Take whatever you need. Should we gather more while you’re here?”
Jian Mo waved off the suggestion. “No need for now. We don’t plant much in autumn or winter, and this stock is plenty. Once we start planting again, we can come back to restock.”
Qi Ming smiled. “That works. With Chirpy and Ying Ao, traveling to our tribe is easy for you.”
Jian Mo laughed. “Exactly. Let us know if you need fertilizer. Our tribe produces plenty, and we can trade.”
Qi Ming nodded. “It’s a deal.”
When Jian Mo announced his departure, the bird beastmen offered to escort them.
“We’re free anyway and can help carry your things.”
“It’s been a while since we visited your tribe. We want to play with Ban Ming and the others.”
“Brother Jian Mo, let us come along. Flying doesn’t tire us out.”
Seeing their enthusiasm, Jian Mo agreed, cautioning, “It’s a long trip. Bring goods to trade along the way—you might as well make some business out of it.”
Lan Zheng, a bird beastman, quickly replied, “We’ve got plenty of supplies in our tribe—fabric, metal, spices, you name it. We’ll carry those.”
Jian Mo nodded. “Good idea. On the way, we’ll stop by Snowfoot Tribe to catch some fish. After that, we’ll meet you at Skypeace Tribe to continue the journey together.”
Lan Zheng looked surprised. “Why stop to fish? We can help catch them.”
Jian Mo grinned. “Not just any fish—we’re after the big ones in Snowwater Lake. You don’t need to worry; we’ll catch a few as souvenirs for our tribe. Just help us carry supplies while we handle the fish.”
Lan Zheng agreed. “See you at Skypeace Tribe, then.”
Chirpy and Ying Ao seemed excited to head home. When Jian Mo and Wu Jiong directed them toward Snowfoot Tribe’s wild lake, Chirpy grew even more enthusiastic, flapping its wings so vigorously it nearly sped ahead.
Rarely did Chirpy fly this fast. Jian Mo clutched his cloak tightly, holding the reins as he shouted, “Chirpy, slow down! Save some energy for fishing later!”
“Chirp—” Chirpy squawked in response, but it didn’t slow much.
Arriving at the wild lake early, Jian Mo dismounted, his body warmed from the exertion of staying balanced. Standing by the lake, he sighed. “Well, no need to warm up. Let’s go straight to fishing.”
Wu Jiong, back in human form, approached and ruffled Jian Mo’s hair. “Stay on the shore. These fish can be aggressive—you might get bitten.”
Jian Mo nodded. “Fair enough. I’ll leave it to you two.”
Wu Jiong directed Chirpy and Ying Ao, “Chirpy, enter the water from this side. Ying Ao, go in from the other side. Try to herd the fish toward me. Leave the small ones—focus on the big fish.”
Chirpy’s eyes sparkled with excitement. Panting eagerly, it launched itself into the air with a running start, soaring toward its assigned area to herd fish.
As soon as it hit the water, Chirpy began diving. Its experience diving near the shores of Star Reservoir Tribe served it well, and it moved underwater smoothly, driving fish with ease. A few moments later, the water churned violently as it began tussling with the fish.
Compared to Chirpy, Ying Ao’s herding efforts were less eventful. The fish fled at the sight of the majestic Ying Ao, avoiding direct confrontation.
Wu Jiong, now in his giant wolf form, waited on the shore like a predator lying in ambush. When Chirpy’s skirmish with the fish brought the school closer, he pounced, expertly snapping up several large fish with swift, precise movements.
The fish floated belly-up, and Chirpy, huffing and puffing, pushed them toward the shore.
Jian Mo quickly transformed his hands into sharp feline claws, using them to hook the slippery fish and drag them onto the bank. With the water aiding his efforts, he managed to haul all the fish ashore.
Each fish weighed at least 60 to 70 pounds, their slick bodies making them challenging to handle. Without his claws, Jian Mo wasn’t sure he could have managed.
As he finished, Jian Mo’s beast ears twitched proudly, his face glowing with satisfaction. He was getting stronger and more capable.
Chirpy, thrilled by their bounty, immediately darted to the other side of the lake to herd more fish. Soon enough, it was tussling with another school, loudly calling as it drove the fish toward Wu Jiong.
Meanwhile, Ying Ao, who had spent considerable effort catching a single fish, seemed to decide teamwork was better. It joined forces with Chirpy to corral the fish, swimming alongside the giant wolf for a coordinated strike.
Jian Mo watched and couldn’t help but marvel at Ying Ao’s intuition. It abandoned ineffective strategies decisively—truly deserving of its reputation as a clever and efficient hunter.
With everyone working together, two rounds of fishing yielded a total of seven large fish.
Feeling the chill seeping in, Jian Mo called out, “That’s enough! Let’s head back, or we won’t make it to Skypeace Tribe before dark.”
The giant wolf growled in agreement. “Chirpy, Ying Ao, come ashore.”
Ying Ao swam to the shore promptly, but Chirpy, unwilling to give up, dove once more, attempting to catch more fish. However, the remaining fish had grown wary and didn’t fall for its tricks.
Jian Mo inspected the haul and suggested, “Let’s clean and salt the fish before we go. It’ll lighten the load and preserve the fish for the best flavor.”
Wu Jiong nodded. “I’ll handle the fish. You mix the seasonings.”
Jian Mo teased, “Should we add some throat-eye berries?”
Knowing Chirpy loved the taste of those berries, adding a little to the marinade would be a treat.
Wu Jiong agreed. “Sounds good.”
As Jian Mo pulled out a small stash of throat-eye berries from his pack, he lamented, “I should’ve asked Yu Qi Tribe to plant some for us.”
Wu Jiong, busy cleaning the fish, replied, “We can save some seeds and have Lan Zheng take them to Yu Qi Tribe to plant.”
Jian Mo nodded. “Good idea. Remind me when the time comes.”
While they prepared the fish, Chirpy and Ying Ao hovered nearby, watching eagerly. Chirpy’s mouth practically watered as it eyed the food.
Jian Mo quickly stuffed a piece of dried meat into its beak. “Have some patience.”
Chirpy let out a resigned whimper, “Hngh…”
Wu Jiong cut off two generous strips of fish meat and handed them to Chirpy and Ying Ao. “Here, try some now. The fish is fresh.”
Jian Mo agreed. “Fine, but they’ll need deworming medicine later.”
Chirpy held its fish uncertainly, looking to Jian Mo for permission. With his hands full of marinade, Jian Mo lightly nudged Chirpy’s side with his head. “Go ahead. Just remember to drink the medicine later.”
Encouraged, Chirpy happily tilted its head back, devouring the fish. It even licked its beak and snout clean of any remaining bits.
Satisfied, Wu Jiong handed them each another large piece. “Eat this too, so we don’t have to carry it.”
Overjoyed, Chirpy nudged Wu Jiong affectionately. “Chirp chirp!”
Thanks to Wu Jiong’s strength, he remained unshaken by Chirpy’s enthusiastic affection.
After cleaning and salting the fish, the group set off again, flying toward Skypeace Tribe.
They arrived just as the moon rose, their timing perfect. The bird beastmen had arrived earlier and informed the tribe of Jian Mo’s plans.
The people of Skypeace Tribe, familiar with Jian Mo and Wu Jiong, had prepared accommodations and even grass feed for Chirpy and Ying Ao.
Despite their gratitude, Jian Mo insisted on cooking a hearty meat stew for Chirpy and Ying Ao. The grass feed became more of a side dish to accompany their feast.
A slender winged beast named Dara, who had come to play with Chirpy and Ying Ao, eyed the meal with envy. “Hngh…”
Ying Ao ignored Dara entirely, not even sparing it a glance.
Chirpy, however, hesitated. After a moment of thought, it nudged its food bowl closer to Dara. “Chirp?”
Jian Mo, touched by Chirpy’s act of sharing, was about to praise it when Dara dove into the bowl, taking a huge bite of meat.
Chirpy froze, staring in horror. It quickly snapped out of it and dragged the bowl back with its claws, squawking indignantly. “Scree—!”
This was its meat!
Thanks for the chapter!