Chapter 201: Extra (1)
Another summer had arrived.
Jian Mo and Wu Jiong spent a day collecting herbs in the mountains. They returned home with baskets full, but the scorching heat left Jian Mo flushed. His delicate skin had red marks from wiping his face too hard.
Setting down the baskets, Jian Mo turned to Wu Jiong and said, “Let’s go swimming and have a picnic by the water. I really don’t feel like cooking today.”
Wu Jiong agreed readily. “Sure, I’ll prepare the ingredients.”
Jian Mo suggested, “Let’s make a cold salad. Toss together some Zhuzhu algae, the wild greens we picked today, some meat, and sour fruits for flavor.”
Cold dishes weren’t Wu Jiong’s specialty, so he stepped aside and said, “Why don’t you handle it? I’ll head to the back hill and pick some fruits.”
Over the years, they had transplanted many fruit trees to the back hill of the He’an Tribe. These carefully tended trees, enriched with compost and pruned regularly, yielded fruit far sweeter and juicier than those in the wild. The small children from the tribe and visiting students often patrolled the hill to chase away birds and pests, ensuring that most of the fruits made it to their table rather than being snatched by opportunistic animals.
Jian Mo chuckled. “Pick the ones on the sunniest branches. Those are the sweetest.”
Wu Jiong nodded. “Got it. Should I grab some ice from the ice cellar while I’m at it?”
During winter, they harvested blocks of ice and stored them in caves insulated with straw. These blocks lasted well into summer, providing a steady supply of ice. Sometimes, Jian Mo used the ice to make treats like ice cream—not the modern kind, but by pouring milk and fruit syrup into a metal container and stirring it over ice, much like making rolled ice cream. It was a perfect summer refreshment.
The mere mention of ice cream had Jian Mo craving it. “Great idea! Bring plenty, and let’s make a big batch. We can take Chirpy and Ying Ao with us to enjoy it too.”
Wu Jiong smiled. “On it.”
While Wu Jiong headed out to pick fruit and fetch ice, Jian Mo stayed back to prepare the cold salad.
Over the years, their experiments in fermentation have yielded excellent results. They now had homemade soy sauce and fish sauce, both brewed in large clay vats. Their soy sauce, free from any additives, was rich and savory—far superior to what Jian Mo had once bought in the modern world.
Jian Mo added the soy sauce to the salad along with chili, powdered shellfish meat, and slices of sour fruit. The flavors melded together beautifully. Tossing a piece of meat into his mouth, he smiled, thinking how much better the dish would taste after it marinated during their swim.
He prepared three large metal boxes of salad—one for himself and Wu Jiong, one for Chirpy, and one for Ying Ao.
They worked efficiently, and before long, they were packed and ready to ride Chirpy and Ying Ao to White Sands Shoal.
White Sands Shoal was far from both the He’an Tribe and Yi Gu Tribe, ensuring they had the place to themselves.
By the time they arrived, dusk was settling. The lake reflected the vibrant colors of the sunset, painting the scene in breathtaking hues.
The moment Jian Mo dismounted from Chirpy, he shed his clothes and shoes, sprinted toward the clear lake, and leaped in with a splash. “This feels amazing! Summer isn’t complete without a dip in the lake.”
Wu Jiong unloaded their food, set it aside, and joined Jian Mo in the water.
Chirpy eyed the food on the ground, then glanced at the two swimming figures, back at the food, and then again at the swimmers. It looked thoroughly conflicted, torn between sneaking a bite and diving in for a swim.
Ying Ao, however, was decisive. It readied itself and charged at Chirpy, knocking it into the water.
Chirpy flailed, letting out a series of muffled cries: “Chirp! Gurgle gurgle—”
It rolled in the water a few times before surfacing, glaring indignantly at Ying Ao.
Ying Ao, unfazed, spread its wings and swam leisurely.
Chirpy stared for a moment before huffing and swimming off in the opposite direction, clearly sulking.
Watching the scene, Jian Mo burst out laughing. “Chirpy, why are you afraid of Ying Ao? You’re bigger than it is!”
Wu Jiong teased, “Chirpy’s just fat. Ying Ao is all muscle—it wouldn’t stand a chance.”
Chirpy let out an indignant squawk. “Chirp!”
Jian Mo treading water, cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, “Chirpy, I’m rooting for you! Go teach Wu Jiong a lesson!”
Chirpy looked between Wu Jiong and Ying Ao, hesitated, then turned and lunged at Jian Mo instead.
Its massive body sent waves splashing everywhere, submerging Jian Mo completely.
Spluttering as he resurfaced, Jian Mo wiped water from his face and laughed. “Chirpy, you bully! You’re just picking on the easy target, aren’t you?”
Chirpy chirped smugly in response.
As the long summer evening wore on, they swam, enjoyed their picnic, indulged in ice cream chilled with fresh ice, and eventually bathed before heading back to the He’an Tribe.
By the time they returned, the sky was still faintly lit. Without needing to dry Chirpy and Ying Ao’s feathers in the warm weather, their routine was much quicker.
As they arrived, a group of little ones came running into their courtyard.
Jian Mo dismounted and patted Chirpy, sending it off to play. He turned to the children. “What’s going on? Do you want to play with Chirpy?”
The children shook their heads, their expressions eager. “No, Brother Jian Mo, we came to find you.”
“Brother Jian Mo,” one of them piped up, “another Chirpy came by just now!”
“Not Chirpy,” another corrected. “It’s a little one that looks just like Chirpy.”
“A baby that looks just like Chirpy said it’s here to see you!”
Jian Mo listened patiently, amusement lighting up his face. “A guest, huh? Where are they?”
Jiang Xing said, “We told the guest you weren’t home, so they said they’d come back tomorrow.”
Jian Mo was surprised. “Didn’t Qing Kuo ask them to stay as guests?”
Jiang Xing shook his head. “There wasn’t enough time; the guest left too quickly.”
Jian Mo merely asked out of curiosity. Since the guest wasn’t there, he didn’t dwell on it. “Alright, then we’ll meet tomorrow.”
The next day, when Jian Mo met the small cub that resembled a red panda and its father, he wasn’t
too surprised, thanks to the children’s heads-up.
However, the cub’s uncanny resemblance to Chirpy didn’t escape the observing little ones. They couldn’t help but whisper to Jian Mo, “Brother Jian Mo, doesn’t that little cub look just like Chirpy?”
Jian Mo studied the cub closely and said, “Not exactly. Its fur isn’t the same.”
The little cub was chubby with soft red-brown fur that indeed resembled a red panda from Earth—and bore a striking likeness to Chirpy.
Jian Mo greeted them warmly, “Hello there!”
The cub’s father introduced himself. “Jian Mo, I’m Lu Wei. We’re from the area near the Dense Forest Tribe. I brought my cub here after hearing about all the new things in your tribe.”
The little red panda cub stared at Jian Mo with big, round eyes. When Jian Mo returned the gaze, the cub shyly looked away.
The little one was quite young, with a body full of baby fat. Its plump belly, fluffy fur, and thick ears made it irresistibly adorable. Jian Mo’s hands itched with the urge to scoop it up and give it a good cuddle.
Since the Bai Zhi Tribe’s bird beastmen had all gained the ability to transform, there hadn’t been any small cubs in the He’an Tribe that couldn’t shift into human form. While the other cubs were still fluffy, they lacked the baby fat and soft fur, making them slightly less endearing in comparison.
Jian Mo invited the father and cub inside. “You’ve traveled a long way. The journey must have been difficult, right?”
Lu Wei replied sincerely, “Not really. The Bai Zhi Tribe often travels to our area for trade, so we followed the route they shared with us. The tribes along the way were very welcoming; we had no trouble finding food and lodging.”
Jian Mo smiled. “So you came to see the sights and learn something new?”
Lu Wei chuckled. “Not just that. If possible, I’d like to bring back some goods and do a bit of trading.”
Jian Mo asked, “What are you looking for?”
Lu Wei replied, “Soap, medicine, or other lightweight, portable items. If you’re willing to trade glass, I’d be interested in that too.”
Jian Mo nodded. “Medicine is no problem. I can trade some topical treatments with you. For the rest, you’ll need to speak with Qing Kuo—he handles material exchanges for the tribe.”
Lu Wei agreed, “That works. We’ll visit him later.”
After settling the business talk, Jian Mo turned to the cub, scratching under its chin. “Why did you bring your little one along?”
Lu Wei patted his cub on the head with a smile. “I heard your tribe is quite different, so I wanted my cub to see it for themselves.”
The little red panda chimed in with a soft, childish voice, “The journey was so fun!”
After thinking for a moment, the cub added, “Your tribe is fun too!”
Jian Mo laughed. “Then you should stay a few days. You can play with the cubs in our tribe.”
Lu Wei asked, “Don’t your tribe’s cubs have lessons?”
Jian Mo explained, “Just two hours in the evening. It’s not too much.”
Having been in the He’an Tribe for so long, Jian Mo had introduced the concept of clocks. While they lacked the technology to make proper timepieces, they had created hourglasses.
The tribe’s hourglasses came in various sizes. There were small ones that lasted exactly an hour and large ones that took an entire day to empty. When they first made them, the tribe had painstakingly measured the time using sundials and counted seconds, so the timing was fairly accurate.
Lu Wei, having seen many unfamiliar sights along the way, was fascinated as Jian Mo explained their purpose.
After several rounds of tea, Jian Mo took them to find Qing Kuo.
As they passed through the central clearing, a group of cubs was playing tag, with Chirpy acting as the eagle in a game of “eagle and chicks.” The cubs’ shrill laughter filled the air, their joy palpable.
The little red panda cub stopped in its tracks, chewing on its paw while watching the others with wide, envious eyes.
Jian Mo glanced at Lu Wei. “Is it alright if our cubs invite your little one to join them?”
Lu Wei nodded.
Jian Mo stroked the red panda cub’s soft, fluffy head, paying extra attention to its plush ears. “Would you like to play with the cubs here?”
The cub nodded enthusiastically.
Jian Mo called out, “Ban Jiu, come over here!”
In human form, Ban Jiu looked like a six- or seven-year-old child, with fair skin, large round eyes, and grayish irises. Hearing Jian Mo’s call, he wiped the sweat from his brow and trotted over, revealing a row of tiny, pearly teeth as he grinned. “Brother Jian Mo!”
Jian Mo patted Ban Jiu lightly on the back. “Ban Jiu, take this little friend to play with you all.”
Ban Jiu nodded seriously and extended a friendly hand, gently holding the red panda cub’s paw. “Let’s go play!”
The red panda cub trotted off with Ban Jiu, their tiny legs carrying them quickly to the group.
The other cubs made space for the newcomers, integrating them seamlessly into their game.
Under the protection of the tribe’s cubs, the red panda cub soon joined in the fun.
Watching for a while, Lu Wei saw how naturally his cub fit in and couldn’t help but remark, “Your tribe has such a warm atmosphere.”
Jian Mo replied with a smile, “Yes, we’re a very loving community.”
As they chatted, the sound of wings flapping filled the air.
Lu Wei instinctively looked up and saw a large flying beast leading a line of smaller ones in formation as they emerged from behind the mountains.
It was none other than Ying Ao, training a group of young flying beasts.
The Tian Ning Tribe’s flying beasts had recently produced several offspring, some of which had been sent to the He’an Tribe.
The young flying beasts were now under Ying Ao’s tutelage, with the tribe collectively covering the training costs.
Ying Ao’s abilities were truly impressive, and everyone was envious.
After discussing it with Ying Ao, Jian Mo agreed to let it train the young flying beasts.
Now, Ying Ao served as the instructor for the little flying beasts, conducting their training in an organized and efficient manner—so much so that it even outperformed most human trainers.
Seeing Lu Wei staring at Ying Ao and its trainees in awe, Jian Mo offered a brief explanation.
Lu Wei’s jaw dropped. “Your tribe… even your flying beasts are extraordinary?”
Jian Mo’s eyes curved into a smile. “Of course.”
Thanks for the chapter!