Chapter 198: Don’t Spoil It Too Much
After five days of evaluations, Jian Mo accepted a total of seventeen students.
Five were from the He’an Tribe: the sub-beastmen Ye Luo, Xi Lu, Min Dang, and Chen Yi, as well as the beastman Yan Yun. The remaining twelve came from other tribes, including Bei Ya, whose face had been injured.
Apart from the five locals, the twelve external students would temporarily live in the He’an Tribe to study diligently under Jian Mo’s guidance.
The He’an Tribe welcomed the arrangement, and the other tribes had no objections. Yun Long even brought a large delivery of supplies to thank the He’an Tribe for their hospitality.
From the Meng Shui Tribe, the beastman Ya Zheng and the sub-beastman Luan Feng successfully became part of Jian Mo’s first group of students. Their chief, Yun Long, quickly realized the benefits of this opportunity. He was so thrilled that his stride became bolder and more confident. Were he not already a chief, he might have signed up himself.
Jian Mo planned to use late autumn and winter to teach the foundational knowledge required of shamans. His goal was to train his students to handle minor ailments and emergencies before sending them back to their tribes. Each winter, they would return for further training.
This setup wouldn’t disrupt their daily lives and would allow the students to gradually absorb and comprehend what they learned.
Given the long lifespan of beastmen and sub-beastmen, they could refine their skills through years of study and practice. They could also become teachers in their own tribes, spreading knowledge and contributing to the region’s overall development.
Since the goal was to train village-level barefoot doctors rather than highly specialized physicians, Jian Mo believed the challenge wasn’t insurmountable. The workload was manageable, and he genuinely enjoyed this mode of teaching.
Teaching and learning were reciprocal. Jian Mo could identify his own knowledge gaps while teaching and record unresolved questions for further research—or save them to discuss with the Xing Chu Tribe’s experts during a future visit.
Once classes officially started, Jian Mo eased up on the strictness, and the students quickly warmed to him.
Every day, they bombarded him with countless questions. Some were so unexpected that Jian Mo felt like he was the one being tested.
“Why does Cang Lang Grass need to be steamed and dried three times? It’s slightly toxic, and the steaming process reduces its toxicity. Drying it prepares it for the next steaming, and repeated steaming and drying ensure the toxicity is removed while retaining its medicinal properties.”
“Why must Zhao Mu Root be used with Ming Tai Moss? When boiled together, Zhao Mu Root and Ming Tai Moss form small granules. Did you notice the black, sand-like residue at the bottom of the pot during boiling? That’s a reaction between the two.”
“Why should the fruit of the Ming Ye Tree be steamed over water before being added to other medicines? The fruit is toxic when raw and must be steamed. However, boiling it too long will dissolve it and render it ineffective, so it’s best to steam it and mix it into the decoction afterward.”
“Why must Qing Qing Flowers be harvested in the morning and dried by noon? Can’t they be harvested and dried in the afternoon? I’m not entirely sure, but I’ve noticed that flowers dried in the midday sun retain their color and fragrance, while those dried in the afternoon turn black and lose their aroma. This might affect their efficacy.”
After answering an endless stream of “why” questions, Jian Mo saw that the students had no more inquiries. He waved them off for the day and began packing his things to head home.
When he arrived, he saw a cup of cooled herbal tea on the table. It contained honey cubes and herbs known to soothe the throat, and its temperature was just right for drinking.
Jian Mo picked up the cup, drank it in one go, and leaned back in his chair with a satisfied sigh. He felt much better.
Wu Jiong returned from feeding Chirpy and Ying Ao and found Jian Mo sprawled on the lounge chair. He walked over and gently touched Jian Mo’s face. “That tired?”
Jian Mo grabbed Wu Jiong’s hand and pressed it to his cheek, sighing. “It’s not too bad. I can manage.”
Wu Jiong looked at him with concern. “Manage? Is it that bad? Are the students hard to handle?”
Jian Mo shook his head. “Not really. The problem is that I realized my foundational knowledge is lacking. While teaching, I have to address my own gaps and research things I don’t understand. That’s what’s exhausting.”
He sighed again. “I slacked off recently. I copied a bunch of prescriptions but didn’t study them properly, so now I’m playing catch-up.”
Wu Jiong used his other hand to massage Jian Mo’s head. “You’ve worked hard. Is there anything I can do to help?”
Jian Mo smiled. “You’re already helping. You’ve been taking care of all the household chores lately. I feel guilty about it.”
Wu Jiong smirked and gently squeezed Jian Mo’s cheeks, making his lips pout. “Feeling guilty? With me?”
Jian Mo laughed, pushing Wu Jiong’s hands away. “What? No!”
Wu Jiong raised an eyebrow. “No?”
Jian Mo grabbed both of Wu Jiong’s hands. “I just feel bad for you!”
Wu Jiong chuckled and leaned down to kiss him. “The chores aren’t heavy, so don’t worry. I’m just glad I can be here while you’re so busy.”
Jian Mo’s students quickly adapted to life in the He’an Tribe. Not only did they bond with the tribe members, but they also got along well with Chirpy and Ying Ao.
Chirpy had a knack for reading people’s moods and could immediately tell if someone liked it. The students’ gratitude toward Jian Mo extended to Chirpy, and their natural fondness for it didn’t go unnoticed.
Sensing this, Chirpy eagerly approached the students and became fast friends with them. Recently, Chirpy spent more time with the students than with the younglings, who were annoyed enough to complain to Jian Mo. He had to soothe them before they left.
With Jian Mo’s busy schedule, Chirpy and Ying Ao were mostly cared for by Wu Jiong. Jian Mo only occasionally checked on them.
One afternoon, Jian Mo gave the students a day off and, for once, had some free time. Before the sunset, he decided to visit Chirpy.
Neither Chirpy nor Ying Ao was in their usual spot, but their feeding bowls were full. Wu Jiong might have filled them, or perhaps the two winged beasts had brought back extra food on their own.
Jian Mo examined the food bowls and was immediately captivated.
He reached in and sifted through the contents—red heather berries, antler vine leaves, sweet roots, pine fruit… Goodness, they might not even gather this many tasty treats for the New Year.
Jian Mo bolted toward home, calling out, “Wu Jiong, where have you been today?”
Wu Jiong had just returned and was in the middle of changing clothes. As he removed his beast hide robe, his muscular frame, narrow waist, and long legs were revealed, radiating raw strength and charm.
The moment Jian Mo laid eyes on him, his voice involuntarily softened, and the urgency in his tone eased. Instead, he found himself lingering on Wu Jiong’s physique with an appreciative gaze.
Wu Jiong bent down to pick up the robe he’d set aside and, as he passed Jian Mo, cupped his head and gently turned it in a circle. “What kind of look is that?”
Jian Mo tilted his chin slightly, smiling. “The look of someone admiring something beautiful. Now, tell me, where did you go today? How did you manage to gather so many goodies?”
Wu Jiong thought for a moment and quickly realized what Jian Mo meant. “You’re talking about the food in Chirpy’s bowl? That wasn’t me. It was your students.”
Jian Mo was surprised. “No way. On their day off, they went out to collect snacks for Chirpy?”
Wu Jiong chuckled. “Maybe Chirpy made them do it.”
Jian Mo raised an eyebrow. “How? Do you think Chirpy went ‘chirp chirp chirp,’ told them exactly what it wanted, and sent them off to forage?”
Wu Jiong explained, “It doesn’t need to say anything. All it has to do is lead them to a spot abundant with food. Naturally, they’d start picking. Lately, it’s been flying around a lot and has probably discovered quite a few fruitful locations.”
Jian Mo still found it hard to believe. “That’s too clever. And everyone just cooperated?”
Wu Jiong replied, “When I came back earlier, Chirpy was leading people to pick ruby fruits in the Meng Shui Tribe’s territory. It’s probably still there. Do you want to go see? We could gather some ourselves.”
Ruby fruits were similar to raspberries but larger and sweeter. They were delicious, but their vines were covered in short, stiff thorns, making them tricky to harvest without getting pricked.
Jian Mo didn’t hesitate. “Let’s go!”
Wu Jiong smiled and reached out to take his hand. “Alright, let’s go.”
He shifted into his wolf form, and Jian Mo climbed onto his back. They sped off toward the Meng Shui Tribe.
The giant wolf ran swiftly, wind rushing past as Jian Mo clung tightly to its neck. The exhilarating pace and the scenery flashing by filled him with joy.
They crossed forests and meadows, eventually entering the Meng Shui Tribe’s territory. While it was generally frowned upon to hunt or gather in another tribe’s land, picking a few wild fruits was fine as long as they informed the Meng Shui Tribe members they encountered.
Before they reached their destination, Jian Mo heard an enthusiastic “chirp chirp chirp” ahead. It was Chirpy, unmistakably acting spoiled with its shrill and deliberate tone.
Jian Mo craned his neck, peering into the distance. After a moment, he spotted Chirpy on the far side of a grove.
Beyond Chirpy, a group of people were busy picking fruit. Each carried a basket and carefully reached through the thorny vines to pluck the large, jewel-like ruby fruits and place them in their baskets.
The fruit’s thin skin often burst during harvesting, releasing a fragrant, sweet aroma unique to the ruby fruit.
The scent made Chirpy even more excited. It hopped around the grove, chirping loudly, “Chirp chirp!”
Someone noticed Chirpy’s enthusiasm and playfully tossed a fruit into the air. Chirpy opened its mouth wide and caught it mid-flight, devouring it in one bite before chirping for more. The person obliged, throwing another fruit.
The sound of the approaching wolf and Jian Mo’s laughter drew everyone’s attention. They turned in unison to see who had arrived.
Chirpy also turned and, upon seeing Jian Mo and the wolf, joyfully hopped in place. Its round, bright eyes sparkled as it eagerly tried to nuzzle both Jian Mo and the wolf with its fluffy head.
Still seated on the wolf’s back, Jian Mo quickly pressed against Chirpy’s face to push it away. “Stop! You’re too heavy for this.”
One of the gatherers called out, “Teacher, what brings you here?”
Jian Mo replied, “I heard you were picking fruits here, and since I had nothing else to do, I thought I’d join in.”
Hearing this, the group eagerly made space and invited him over. “Teacher, come stand here. This year’s ruby fruits are perfectly ripe—no sourness at all!”
They even handed Jian Mo and Wu Jiong a generous handful of ruby fruits. Jian Mo shared half with Wu Jiong, then popped one into his mouth. The sweet juice and unique fragrance instantly spread across his tongue. “You’re right, these are amazing. Not a hint of sourness.”
“It’s all thanks to Chirpy for bringing us here. We’d have never found such a great patch of ruby fruits on our own.”
“Probably because Chirpy loves to eat them. It must keep an eye out for them all the time.”
Jian Mo chuckled. “That makes sense. Chirpy’s always been particular about food.”
The group laughed along. “Exactly!”
Jian Mo smiled warmly. “It’s rare to have a day off. I thought you’d all be resting in the tribe, but here you are picking fruits. Did Chirpy really bring you here? Next time it tries to drag you out, just ignore it.”
One of them replied sheepishly, “How could we resist? It looks at you with those big, round eyes, tugs at your clothes, and chirps in such a soft, sweet voice. I couldn’t say no.”
“Besides, the fruits it leads us to are always amazing. It’s also nice to get out and relax.”
Another added, “Teacher, we’re not tired. If we were, we wouldn’t have come. Don’t worry about us.”
Seeing their cheerful faces, Jian Mo patted Chirpy. “Alright then, as long as you’re enjoying yourselves.”
Chirpy, far from feeling guilty about its manipulative tactics, tilted its head adorably and chirped, “Chirp chirp!”
With its large frame and clumsy paws, Chirpy had no way to pick fruits itself. Bringing people along made things much easier.
Everyone continued picking fruits while occasionally tossing some to Chirpy. After each bite, Chirpy would affectionately nuzzle the feeder and chirp twice in its soft, high-pitched tone.
The feeders’ faces were filled with smiles, resembling doting parents utterly charmed by their “child.”
Jian Mo watched for a while but couldn’t bear the sight of it any longer. Pulling Wu Jiong by the hand, he moved to another area to focus on picking fruits.
Once this patch of ruby fruits was thoroughly harvested, Chirpy let out an excited chirp, its large eyes sparkling. It took a few running steps before launching into the air, circling above and signaling for everyone to follow.
No one complained.
So, the group set off again, obediently trailing after Chirpy.
Curious about what lay ahead, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong joined the procession.
After roughly half an hour of traveling, Chirpy led them to a clearing.
Because it was autumn, the area was covered with withered vines and dried leaves. The plants had lost their luster, their once-green leaves now faded to a dull yellowish-white.
Chirpy landed, shuffling its feathered backside left and right as it squeezed between the vines and bushes. It then used its claws to scratch at the debris.
Everyone watched intently as Chirpy revealed a surprise hidden beneath the withered foliage: tender green shoots, glistening with moisture.
Chirpy puffed up its chest and let out a triumphant chirp, “Chirp!”
Jian Mo leaned in for a closer look. “Oh, these are green jade grass shoots!”
Green jade grass shoots resembled asparagus and were incredibly tender. Their taste was delightfully crisp and slightly sweet, making them a versatile ingredient. They could be eaten raw, stir-fried with cured meat, or even served in hot pot. However, they were notoriously difficult to find.
Normally, people only stumbled across a few scattered shoots in the wild, barely enough to use as a garnish. It was unheard of to find a patch large enough to serve as the main dish.
Yet here was Chirpy, guiding them to an entire field of green jade grass.
With such a rare delicacy in front of them, no one held back. They stepped into the dried branches and leaves, carefully clearing the top layer before using sticks to dig out the shoots.
The shoots were mostly hidden underground, with only a small portion visible above the soil. Leaving the underground stem behind would be a waste, so everyone took care to extract the full length of each shoot.
No wonder Chirpy hadn’t attempted to harvest these on its own. Its large size and clumsy claws made such delicate work impossible—it was smarter to bring others to do the job.
What a clever Chirpy.
Once they had gathered all the shoots, Chirpy inspected the area to ensure none were left behind. Satisfied, it proudly led everyone back.
Jian Mo’s students initially wanted to give all the harvested ruby fruits and green jade grass to Chirpy, but Jian Mo immediately stopped them. “Both the ruby fruits and these shoots are delicious. Take them back and enjoy them yourselves. Don’t give everything to Chirpy—it already has plenty of food.”
Chirpy stood nearby, its large eyes fixed on Jian Mo. When Jian Mo gave its plump backside a gentle pat, Chirpy reluctantly chirped as if telling everyone not to hold back.
The group laughed and waved their thanks. “Thank you, Teacher. Thank you, Chief Wu Jiong. And thank you, Chirpy!”
Jian Mo smiled. “Alright, you should head back. We’ll be returning too.”
Jian Mo and Wu Jiong escorted Chirpy home, carrying a portion of the gathered food to add to its stash.
When they arrived at Chirpy’s nesting area, Jian Mo checked its food bowl again.
As expected, it was filled with a variety of delicious treats. In contrast, Ying Ao, who had just returned, had brought back much more ordinary fare.
For once, Chirpy had outdone Ying Ao in the quality of its food—a rare occurrence indeed.
Jian Mo stared at the bowls for a long moment before turning to Wu Jiong with an amused expression. “This really proves it—some birds know how to use tools, while others know how to use people as tools.”
