Transmigrated to the Beastman World as a Veterinarian – CH28

Jian Mo nestled under Chirpy’s belly, basking in its warmth as if soaking in a hot spring.

The cozy heat enveloped him, and the sweet aftertaste in his mouth spread, filling him with immense contentment. It was a bliss that worked directly on the body, irresistible and all-encompassing. He couldn’t help but squint his eyes in satisfaction.

Wu Jiong noticed his expression and asked, “Sleepy?”

“A little,” Jian Mo admitted. “This feels so good. I could fall asleep right here.”

“Go ahead and sleep,” Wu Jiong replied. “I’ll keep watch.”

Above them, Chirpy chirped, “Chirp chirp!” as if to say it would watch over Jian Mo too.

Jian Mo smiled, his voice tinged with drowsiness. “What are you fussing about, Chirpy? Let me rest for a bit, then you can wake me up.”

“Go on,” Wu Jiong encouraged.

Although Jian Mo didn’t usually sleep soundly outdoors, the comfort lulled him into a light doze. He woke up not long after.

Upon waking, Jian Mo felt his body relaxed to the point of laziness, his muscles and bones slack and unwilling to move.

Wu Jiong was close by, his body radiating a warmth that seemed even hotter than Chirpy’s.

If Chirpy was like a hot water bottle, then Wu Jiong was like a basin of burning coals.

Jian Mo felt warm from head to toe, his cheeks flushing slightly.

Judging by the sky, it wasn’t too late yet.

Suppressing his drowsiness with sheer willpower, Jian Mo turned to Wu Jiong and said, “Shall we go collect some more nests?”

Wu Jiong replied, “You rest here, I’ll go.”

Jian Mo crawled out from under Chirpy’s belly. “No way, we came out together. How can I let you do all the work? Let’s go, we’ll gather a bit more and then head back.”

They returned to where the honey sparrows had built their nests.

The honey sparrows, startled earlier, had returned. From a distance, Jian Mo could see some nests still housing fledglings.

The baby birds opened their beaks wide as the adults fed them pieces of sugar lumps, pushing them straight down their throats.

Such lucky fledglings.

Jian Mo envied them from the bottom of his heart. In this era, getting to eat sugar was no small feat.

He recalled how on Earth he only drank bubble tea with half sugar, and he let out a quiet sigh.

With so many nests on the rocks, they decided not to disturb the honey sparrows. Instead, they focused on collecting abandoned nests.

The sugar lumps used by the honey sparrows to build nests weren’t particularly colorful, but their quality was consistent.

As the sky darkened, they had collected nearly enough abandoned nests.

Wu Jiong tugged at Jian Mo. “Let’s head back. We can come again next time.”

Jian Mo sniffled. “Okay. When we get back, I’m definitely making some braised pork and brewing some pepper blossom tea. It’s way too cold today.”

“Pepper blossom tea is quite pungent,” Wu Jiong remarked.

“It won’t be with some sugar added. Just wait and see,” Jian Mo replied. “Though, boiling tea with sugar lumps is too wasteful. On our way back through the Southern Gorge, let’s stop and pick some pink pipe flowers.”

They had come prepared, not only with backpacks but also with bags.

The flowers weren’t heavy, so they could be collected directly into the bags.

Jian Mo and Wu Jiong headed back to find Chirpy.

The winged beast was still obediently crouched where they had left it, unmoving. The wind ruffled its downy fur, forming little divots, which softened Jian Mo’s heart. He couldn’t resist giving it another piece of sugar lump. “Good Chirpy.”

Chirpy lowered its head and chirped, “Chirp!”

They carefully secured the lids of the backpacks and fastened them tightly onto Chirpy’s back.

Then, they climbed onto Chirpy’s back.

Wu Jiong unfolded a large beast-hide coat, wrapping the two of them up, and directed Chirpy to fly toward the Southern Gorge.

The mountain air was freezing, but it warmed considerably as they descended into the gorge.

No wonder people didn’t go out much in the winter. The cold outside felt like it could freeze you sick.

After picking for a while, the sky began to grow darker.

“Let’s stop,” Jian Mo said. “We can cut the vines and take them back to pick the flowers later. It’s getting too dark to see the path.”

Wu Jiong didn’t object. He took out a shell knife and asked, “Fill the bags?”

“Yes, all three of them should do,” Jian Mo replied.

Wu Jiong began slicing the pink pipe flower vines with efficient strokes.

To ensure the flowers would grow back next year, they only cut half the vines from each plant, leaving the rest intact.

By spring, the plants would sprout new growth, and the gorge would be filled with flowers again by next winter.

After cutting enough vines, they tied the bags to Chirpy and began the flight back to the tribe.

As Chirpy took off, the evening glow spread across the sky, painting it in dazzling hues.

Below was an endless expanse of snowfields and mountains, while above, the vibrant sky seemed to invert the usual scenery, making it appear as though earth and sky had swapped places.

Flying high, Jian Mo spotted a distant lake.

Despite the freezing weather, some of the lakes hadn’t iced over, their shimmering surfaces like fragments of the sky fallen to the earth.

The evening glow faded quickly. By the time they reached the He’an Tribe, it was entirely gone, leaving the sky a subdued gray-blue.

However, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong’s return was anything but subdued.

The sight of two massive baskets filled with sugar lumps and nests left everyone stunned.

Word spread quickly, and nearly the entire tribe came out to see. The commotion surpassed even their bonfire gatherings.

“It really is sugar lumps! My goodness, so many of them!”

“It’s been ages since I’ve seen sugar lumps. Back when I was courting my partner, he gifted me a small bag. Sweet memories, indeed.”

“Didn’t the Mengshui Tribe offer sugar lumps as part of the reward for helping them track a woolly mammoth two years ago?”

“Exactly! That’s the only reason I agreed to help.”

“Brother Jian Mo! Are you trading the sugar lumps? I’ll trade anything!”

Hearing this, everyone’s eyes lit up, and they all turned expectantly to Jian Mo.

Since there was no communal labor during the winter, personal harvests were entirely at their owner’s discretion.

If Jian Mo wanted to trade, he could do so freely.

Startled by the crowd, Jian Mo waved his hands. “No plans to trade for now. Sugar lumps keep for a long time, so I’d like to store them for later.”

Disappointed but understanding, everyone nodded and refrained from pressing further.

Jian Mo found it curious that they only asked him and not Wu Jiong. After a moment’s thought, he figured it might be because Wu Jiong, as their tribal chief and a bit intimidating, was less approachable.

A young beastman couldn’t resist asking, “Brother Jian Mo, where did you find the sugar lumps?”

Before Jian Mo could reply, the surrounding beastmen and sub-beastmen chided the questioner:

“They found their own gathering spot. How can you ask them to just reveal it?”

“Don’t ask! It’s a rule in the tribe. If you find something good, you don’t have to tell others.”

“Exactly! Let’s leave Brother Jian Mo and Wu Jiong their secret spot.”

Jian Mo, amused by this unspoken rule, smiled and didn’t offer unnecessary generosity.

After getting a good look at the sugar lumps, the crowd dispersed, satisfied.

Jian Mo and Wu Jiong returned home.

The first thing Jian Mo did was find the pepper blossoms and boil half a pot of water with them. Then, he added some syrup, pouring himself a cup and another for Wu Jiong. He planned to save the remaining portion for Chirpy.

It was bitterly cold, and they needed something hot to drive away the chill. Otherwise, they might actually catch a cold.

Jian Mo blew on his cup and took a sip.

The pepper blossom tea was sweet with a spicy kick. It reminded him of ginger tea, though the heat from the pepper blossoms was sharper.

Jian Mo found it delicious.

In a world with no proper beverages, anything sweet and flavorful was a treat to him.

Wu Jiong, however, held his cup for a long time without drinking.

At first, Jian Mo thought he was afraid of the heat. But upon closer inspection, he realized Wu Jiong didn’t like the taste. Jian Mo couldn’t help but chuckle.

It was rare to see Wu Jiong being picky.

“You don’t like it?” Jian Mo asked.

“It’s all right,” Wu Jiong replied calmly.

Jian Mo raised his cup in a toasting gesture. “If it’s not too bad, have a couple of sips. The rest can go to Chirpy.”

Wu Jiong gave a small grunt of acknowledgment and eventually finished the pepper blossom tea.

Jian Mo then went upstairs and fetched some unused ceramic jars, carefully storing the sugar lumps inside.

After sealing the jars, he also found a few high-quality charcoal sticks and placed them into the jars.

Curious, Wu Jiong asked, “Why are you putting charcoal inside? Is it for some kind of dish?”

“No, charcoal is great at absorbing moisture and odors. It helps keep things fresh,” Jian Mo explained.

Though Wu Jiong didn’t fully understand, he nodded in agreement.

Jian Mo grinned at seeing the usually all-knowing tribal chief wear such an expression. “Why don’t you go fetch a piece of meat with the skin on? Let’s make braised pork tonight.”

Wu Jiong agreed and went to the back to retrieve some frozen meat.

Their stored food included a mix of smoked meats, pickled vegetables, tubers, and frozen cuts of meat—each item varied since they were gathered or hunted.

Wu Jiong returned with a tender, relatively mild-tasting cut of meat, which he sliced into thick, three-finger-wide chunks under Jian Mo’s direction.

Jian Mo blanched the meat twice with spices before taking special care to caramelize sugar in a stone pot.

Once the sugar caramelized, he added spices and the meat, stir-frying it until fragrant. Then, he poured in fruit wine.

After everything was evenly coated, Jian Mo transferred the meat into a clay pot, added water, and placed it over the fire to simmer.

The aroma filled the air almost immediately and only grew stronger, wafting far from their home.

Wu Jiong didn’t rush to start eating but paced back and forth inside the house.

Both of their stomachs were growling. Jian Mo scooped up some cooked tubers to calm Wu Jiong over, but he refused.

“I’m saving my appetite for dinner,” Wu Jiong said.

Jian Mo laughed. “All right, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.”

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the braised pork was ready.

Even in the dim firelight, the meat glistened with an alluring, reddish sheen. Its rich aroma, carried by the steam, wafted upward in waves, making their mouths water.

The scent was a complex blend of meat, sweetness, and spices—so layered that even Wu Jiong, with his keen beastman sense of smell, couldn’t pinpoint its exact components.

The intense fragrance refreshed his understanding of what “delicious” could mean. He realized there were flavors in the world he had never imagined.

Jian Mo set aside a portion for Chirpy before handing Wu Jiong a pair of chopsticks. “Let’s eat! I’m starving.”

Wu Jiong accepted the chopsticks and commented, “This was worth the wait.”

Jian Mo picked up a piece of braised pork and bit into it.

The fatty skin was rich and luscious, the lean meat tender and soft, and the thick sauce bursting with flavor. Together, they seemed to explode like fireworks in his mouth.

The flavors vanished all too quickly, sliding down his throat with a small gulp.

Jian Mo found himself unable to fully describe the taste. It was so overwhelmingly savory and rich that it left him slightly dazed.

He took another bite, determined to dissect the flavors.

Outside, the snow hadn’t melted, and the fire inside cast a dim glow.

By the hearth’s light, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong could see each other clearly.

The heat from the food made Jian Mo break out in a light sweat. Tiny beads formed on his fair nose, and his nose and cheeks were tinged with a faint red, either from the warmth or his happiness.

That touch of red brought out the vividness of Jian Mo’s delicate features.

Wu Jiong gazed at him and was suddenly reminded of the moment they unearthed the radiant pink pipe flowers beneath the snow. A faint sense of intoxication filled him again.

Jian Mo had prepared plenty of meat and tubers, more than he’d eaten in ages, but he only managed to finish a third of the meal before he was stuffed.

Wu Jiong polished off the rest.

Jian Mo rubbed his stomach, worriedly eyeing Wu Jiong. “Aren’t you afraid you’ll overeat?”

Wu Jiong looked up. “Don’t worry. I burned a lot of energy today.”

“No matter how much you’ve burned, your stomach has a limit,” Jian Mo countered.

“It’s fine. Beastmen can eat a lot. If I overeat, I’ll just shift into my beast form,” Wu Jiong replied nonchalantly.

Jian Mo regarded him with concern. “If you feel uncomfortable, let me know. I’ll make you some digestive fruit tea.”

To Jian Mo’s surprise, Wu Jiong actually nodded. “I’d like that.”

Smiling, Jian Mo went to retrieve dried fruits and a ceramic pot to brew the tea.

After dinner and cleaning up, Wu Jiong did indeed transform into his beast form to sleep.

The two of them usually slept in separate corners of the second floor. But tonight, Wu Jiong moved closer, curling around Jian Mo and wrapping him in his belly fur.

It was cold, and they were already used to sleeping close together for warmth. Though being encircled like this felt a bit unusual, Jian Mo quickly got used to it and ignored the oddity.

The giant wolf’s body radiated comforting heat, making sleeping on its belly incredibly cozy.

It was far better than curling up alone under thick animal hide blankets, where even after half a day, one’s feet might still feel cold.

Covered in thick, soft fur, and with a belly that was plush and yielding like a waterbed, sleeping on the wolf was infinitely more comfortable than the hard ground.

Jian Mo found a snug spot on its belly and was swiftly pulled into a deep, fatigue-dissolving slumber.

Perhaps it was thanks to being encircled by the wolf’s warmth that night, but Jian Mo’s sleep was of exceptional quality. He remained cozy throughout and woke up feeling refreshed and alert, contrary to his fears of catching a cold.

He woke early, but Wu Jiong was already up and about.

By the time Jian Mo stirred, Wu Jiong had already fed the Tuo Tuo beasts and Chirpy, swapped out the charcoal braziers for the Tuo Tuo beasts, and even finished milking.

Jian Mo wandered around inside and outside the house, but there wasn’t much left to do. So, he placed some tubers into a clay pot and set it over the fire pit to cook. Then, he took the pink pipe flower cuttings to the slope in the backyard, intending to plant them.

Vines like these usually thrived through cuttings, and with the current cold weather, the survival rate would actually be higher.

Since they had already picked the flowers the day before, Jian Mo pruned off some of the leaves before planting. Too many leaves would evaporate moisture and lower the chances of the plants surviving.

As he was plucking leaves, Jian Mo’s thoughts drifted to moisture and then to the lake they had seen the previous afternoon.

The rivers outside the tribe were all frozen solid, yet that lake wasn’t frozen.

Wait, not frozen?!

A thought flashed through Jian Mo’s mind, and he suddenly realized—it must be a salt lake!

Saltwater has a significantly lower freezing point than freshwater, which explained why it hadn’t frozen.

A salt lake! Salt in the summer and alkali in the winter—this was basic middle school chemistry.

He had been tested on it in exams before!

Jian Mo abruptly put down the pink pipe flowers, grabbed his beast-hide coat, and bolted down the hill.

“Wu Jiong—I need to talk to you!”