Transmigrated to the Beastman World as a Veterinarian – CH37

The winged beast occasionally carried other members of the He’an Tribe.

Whenever it did, it would swiftly transport them to their destination and drop them off without sparing a single glance.

Ban Ming once complained to Jian Mo, saying he felt the beast was especially hasty when taking tribe members out.

Jian Mo listened to his grumbling and thought to himself that Ban Ming clearly hadn’t seen what it meant to be a “worker bee.”

“It’s just work, why expect genuine enthusiasm?”

The winged beast was indifferent when accompanying the tribe but acted completely differently when it went out with Jian Mo and his group. It chirped happily the entire way, visibly overjoyed.

Jian Mo’s ears were sore from the chirping. He lightly patted its neck and loudly asked, “What’s got you so happy?”

The winged beast responded even louder, “Chirp chirp chirp!”

Wu Jiong’s strong arms wrapped around Jian Mo’s waist. “Careful, don’t fall.”

Jian Mo turned his head to look at Wu Jiong, who was just inches away and smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ve got a good grip, and Chirpy flies steadily.”

Their journey took them to an unclaimed piece of land between the Zheng Chi Tribe and the Yi Gu Tribe.

Wu Jiong mentioned that this area had a name—“Dezhou Highlands.”

“What a strange name,” Jian Mo thought, but then again, the naming conventions in this world of beastmen were quite different from those in Huaxia.

He repeated the name silently in his mind, committing it to memory.

When they reached their destination, Wu Jiong gently pressed Chirpy’s neck, signaling it to land.

The two of them, along with Chirpy, came to rest in an open space by the riverbank.

Jian Mo looked around. The landscape was a blanket of white, with only occasional glimpses of yellowish-brown withered grass and dried wood visible through the cracks in the snow.

Jian Mo turned to Wu Jiong and asked, “How do we find Snow Pearl Fruits? Do we really have to dig through the snow bit by bit?”

Wu Jiong replied, “I’ll shift into my beast form first to see if I can pick up the scent.”

Jian Mo nodded enthusiastically. The beastmen’s sense of smell was far superior to his.

In no time, Wu Jiong transformed into a giant wolf and began sniffing the snow-covered ground.

Chirpy watched him curiously, waddling over and imitating his movements, sniffing at the snow.

However, Chirpy was all show and no substance. After sniffing for a long while, it didn’t find anything and instead ended up with snow stuck to its nose.

Moments later, the cold snow on its nose made it shudder, and it sneezed a loud, “Ah-choo!”

Jian Mo quickly stepped aside to avoid being sprayed by Chirpy’s sneeze.

Chirpy seemed dissatisfied with Jian Mo’s reaction and attempted to nuzzle against him.

But Jian Mo quickly noticed Chirpy’s intention and pushed it away in time.

While Jian Mo was playfully scolding Chirpy, the giant wolf said, “Found it.”

Jian Mo perked up and rushed over to Wu Jiong’s side. “Where?”

Wu Jiong pawed at the snow. “Here.”

As soon as the snow was cleared away, Jian Mo spotted the fruit lying quietly on the ground.

The Snow Pearl Fruits were transparent and varied in size. They looked like cracked pieces of candy or frosted tanghulu, appearing exceptionally enticing.

The moment the fruit was revealed, a sweet fragrance wafted up to Jian Mo’s nose.

Jian Mo silently counted them: five large ones and three smaller ones, eight in total.

He sniffed and asked, “Can these be eaten, or are they only for making wine?”

Wu Jiong replied, “You can eat them, but not too much.”

Without hesitation, Jian Mo plucked three of the largest fruits, grabbed a handful of snow, and used it to clean them. Then he fed one to Chirpy, who was eagerly sticking its big head forward, handed another to the giant wolf, and kept the last one for himself.

When he bit into the Snow Pearl Fruit, its jelly-like flesh gushed out, sticking to his teeth with a sweetness that was both sugary and uniquely fresh.

Delicious!

Jian Mo let out a contented sigh and collapsed backward into the snow.

The giant wolf immediately tensed, placing a paw on his chest and sniffing at his torso. “What’s wrong?”

Jian Mo lay on the snow, gazing at the sky. “It’s just too delicious. How can something taste this good?”

Chirpy chirped loudly in agreement.

Wu Jiong: “…”

Jian Mo turned over, wrapped his arms around the giant wolf’s muzzle, and looked into its eyes. “You don’t think it’s delicious?”

The giant wolf replied, “It is.”

Jian Mo’s eyes crinkled into a smile.

After eating, Jian Mo felt a slight itch in his throat, as though something sticky was stuck there.

It seemed the Snow Pearl Fruit was edible, but not in large quantities.

If eaten in excess, it would probably irritate the throat and possibly upset the stomach too.

Jian Mo got up and carefully picked the remaining five Snow Pearl Fruits, placing them in the basket strapped to his back. “Let’s go look for more fruits.”

Wu Jiong nodded. “Alright.”

They continued their search.

Wu Jiong sniffed the air and ground, his nose soon becoming dusted with snow.

Jian Mo found the sight adorable and mimicked his actions, sniffing carefully.

He wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, but Jian Mo felt like he could detect a variety of scents much more distinctly today.

Although he hadn’t caught the Snow Pearl Fruit’s scent yet, he could smell the dried grass and the faint traces of small animals that had passed under the snow.

Maybe it was the sharp chill of the air piercing his nostrils, heightening his sense of smell.

They walked along, sniffing as they went.

Snow Pearl Fruits were sparse; it took quite some time to come across a small cluster.

With the giant wolf and the winged beast sniffing for scents and Jian Mo doing the harvesting, they had only barely covered the bottom of their basket by midday.

After trekking through the snowy landscape for so long, Jian Mo felt cold and a little hungry. Gathering in this weather was truly exhausting.

He turned to Wu Jiong to ask, “Why don’t we take a break and grab a bite to eat?”

Wu Jiong agreed. “Sure.”

He shifted back into human form, picking up the fur coat and boots he had shed earlier and putting them on.

Scanning their surroundings, he pointed ahead. “Let’s rest over there on those rocks.”

Jian Mo had no objections. “Sounds good, it’s sheltered from the wind.”

The two of them and Chirpy headed to the resting spot.

Wu Jiong quickly dragged some dried wood from the nearby forest and lit it with a fire starter.

Meanwhile, Jian Mo took out a clay pot filled to the brim with food—fish balls, meatballs, tubers, and other items.

He grabbed a handful of clean snow from the ground, tossed it into the pot, and placed it over the fire to cook.

The snow quickly melted into water, bubbling and cooking the food inside.

It wouldn’t take long before lunch was ready.

As they sat by the fire, Jian Mo remarked, “I didn’t expect this time of year to be so deserted out here.”

Wu Jiong explained, “People do go out, but not this far.”

It made sense. In such cold weather, there was no need to venture far from the tribe when there was enough to gather nearby.

Jian Mo nodded in understanding. Sitting by the fire, he only felt warmth on his front while his back remained cold.

It was freezing.

Feeling this, Jian Mo turned to Chirpy and beckoned it over.

Chirpy blinked and quickly understood, stepping over and settling down behind Jian Mo. It crouched so its warm chest and belly covered Jian Mo’s back.

With his back pressed against Chirpy’s thick, soft fur, Jian Mo finally felt warm and let out a contented sigh.

Wu Jiong had been watching them all along.

Thinking Wu Jiong might be cold too, Jian Mo scooted over and gestured for him to join. “Come over and warm up?”

Wu Jiong hesitated briefly but eventually moved over to sit where Jian Mo made space.

Chirpy glanced down at the two of them and seemed even more pleased, chirping loudly, “Chirp chirp chirp!”

Jian Mo reached back and patted Chirpy. “Chirpy, not so loud. My ears hurt.”

Chirpy lowered its voice and blinked its glossy black eyes. “Chirp chirp.”

Soon, the food in the pot was ready. Jian Mo took it off the fire, placed it on the grass-covered ground, and broke off four sticks to use as chopsticks.

Both of them grabbed a pair of chopsticks and shared the food directly from the pot.

Jian Mo ate a couple of bites, then picked up a meatball and raised it to feed Chirpy, who was leaning eagerly above them.

Chirpy chirped even more happily, “Chirp chirp chirp!”

Normally, they didn’t eat lunch, but after finishing their meal, Jian Mo felt drowsy from the food.

He leaned against Wu Jiong, nestled into Chirpy’s thick fur, and took a small nap.

After a brief rest, Jian Mo felt refreshed, and they resumed their search for Snow Pearl Fruits.

The afternoon seemed luckier than the morning.

After walking for only a short while, Wu Jiong, in wolf form, announced, “There’s likely a patch down here.”

Jian Mo’s eyes lit up as he rushed over excitedly. “Let me see!”

Wu Jiong had already cleared away some of the snow, revealing a cluster of Snow Pearl Fruits underneath.

The fruits were crowded together, large and small, with at least dozens visible at first glance.

Jian Mo quickly bent down and cleared away more snow.

Chirpy waddled over to join the excitement.

When all the snow was cleared, they saw a patch of Snow Pearl Fruits spread across at least three square meters.

It looked like someone had intentionally laid out the fruits to dry.

After a morning of finding only scattered fruits, discovering such a bountiful patch was a first.

Jian Mo’s excitement was very visible like a cat stumbling upon an open can of tuna. “Quick, quick! Let’s harvest them!”

There were so many fruits that Wu Jiong transformed back into human form to help with the picking.

Chirpy didn’t know how to pick fruits, so it snuck a few to eat, chirping happily with every bite.

Seeing that Chirpy wasn’t overindulging, Jian Mo let it be.

By the time they finished harvesting, their basket, which had barely covered the bottom earlier, was now half full.

Jian Mo plucked the last fruit and, unwilling to leave any behind, scanned the ground one last time. When he was certain there were no more, he sighed in disappointment.

Jian Mo said wistfully, “If only all the Snow Pearl Fruits we found grew in such big patches.”

Wu Jiong replied, “Let’s keep looking.”

Straightening his back, Jian Mo nodded. “Alright, let’s go.”

Wu Jiong helped him up, then shifted back into wolf form after removing his clothes and boots, which he secured onto his back.

Jian Mo hoisted the half-filled basket, and the group set off again.

Jian Mo kept glancing back as they walked. Even after dozens of meters, he could still see the patch where they had harvested the Snow Pearl Fruits—while snow covered the rest of the ground, this area was now a large patch of exposed earth.

After picking so many fruits here, it seemed unlikely they’d find another patch as plentiful.

Jian Mo felt a pang of regret.

After a few more steps, he suddenly grabbed the giant wolf’s front paw. “Wait! I’m going to dig up the soil too!”

The giant wolf looked down at him.

Jian Mo explained, “I think Snow Pearl Fruits grow from the ground like mushrooms. The soil here might contain seeds. If we take it back, we might be able to grow our own.”

Jian Mo worried that Wu Jiong might not agree to his somewhat unreasonable request—normally, such a suggestion to a buddy might earn a scolding.

However, Wu Jiong responded cooperatively, “Makes sense.”

Jian Mo grinned, flashing his neat white teeth. “Right?”

He had brought two extra stacked baskets just in case the primary one wasn’t enough. Ironically, after a whole day of effort, they had only managed to gather half a basket of fruits.

Now, the extra baskets would serve as containers for the soil.

Returning to the fruitful patch, they carefully scraped off a thin layer of soil where the Snow Pearl Fruits had grown and packed it into the baskets. They then tied the baskets to Chirpy.

This spot truly marked the pinnacle of their foraging for the day.

As they ventured further, they didn’t come across another area with such an abundance of Snow Pearl Fruits. Finding even a dozen at once felt like incredible luck.

As the sun sank lower in the sky, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong decided it was time to head back. They climbed onto Chirpy’s back and flew toward the tribe.

The area was too far from home. Starting late would mean traveling at night, which was unsafe.

By the time they reached the tribe, the sky was nearly black.

They let Chirpy rest while they unloaded the soil, spreading it evenly over a corner of the backyard.

Jian Mo wasn’t sure if the soil contained seeds or anything else that might grow, so to mimic the natural environment, he carefully covered it with a layer of dried grass.

Snow Pearl Fruits were fragile. After being carried around all day, they were already losing freshness, with yellowish spots of oxidation appearing on their skin.

If they didn’t handle the fruits that very night, they’d likely spoil by the next day.

Jian Mo clicked his tongue in realization. No wonder he’d never seen anyone bring Snow Pearl Fruits to trade. They spoiled far too quickly to be transported.

The two of them carefully sorted through the fruits, washed them in clean water, and laid them out in the courtyard to dry.

After dinner, Jian Mo checked on the fruits. They had mostly dried but showed some signs of frost damage from sitting outside.

They brought the fruits back in and packed them into clean clay jars.

Jian Mo grabbed a smooth, peeled wooden stick and began mashing the fruits inside the jar.

When fermenting fruit wine, the finer the mash, the better the fermentation.

As he crushed the fruits, their sweet fragrance wafted out, filling the air.

“So fragrant!” Jian Mo muttered. “This smells so sweet.”

Hearing him mumble to himself nonstop, Wu Jiong brought him a cup of honey water.

The honey water was also sweet, and after drinking it, Jian Mo finally felt a bit more satisfied.

The jar of Snow Pearl Fruits was soon fully mashed. The jar was filled to the brim with juice, without a single drop of water added.

Jian Mo reached for some dry leaves to seal the jar but suddenly had a spark of inspiration. He grabbed a handful of honey chunks.

With a plop, he dropped the honey into the jar, then sealed it with dry leaves and covered it with a piece of animal hide. He placed the jar near the fire pit to keep it warm for fermentation.

Fruit wine needed stirring. Every afternoon, Jian Mo would open the jar to give it a good mix.

Gradually, the juice began emitting a subtle alcoholic aroma.

Jian Mo observed the changes closely every day.

Perhaps because the juice was naturally sweet, the fermentation process was going exceptionally smoothly.

Over time, the transformation was evident. The scent shifted from pure sweetness to a rich, sweet alcoholic fragrance. The wine turned from milky white to a clear amber, resembling melted honey or the golden hues of a sunset.

Mien Fruit wine, even after prolonged fermentation, would only yield a faint hint of alcohol.

Yet Snow Pearl Fruit, after just a few days, was already exuding a heady, intoxicating aroma.

A few days later, when the fruit pulp had floated to the surface, Jian Mo couldn’t resist. Using a wooden spoon, he scooped out two small bowls of wine and called to Wu Jiong, “Come, have a taste.”

Wu Jiong walked over. “Is it drinkable already?”

Jian Mo nodded. “I just had a taste. It seems fine—actually, it’s really good.”

He handed Wu Jiong a bowl and clinked it lightly against his. “Cheers.”

Before Wu Jiong could react, Jian Mo eagerly sipped. The wine’s delicate sweetness spread across his tongue, while its mild alcohol and fruity aroma surged straight to his head.

Jian Mo couldn’t help but narrow his eyes, savoring the taste.

This wine was far more fragrant than any fruit wine he’d had on Earth. Its sweetness and alcohol were perfectly balanced, with an enchanting fruity bouquet that was utterly captivating.

Even though he sipped slowly, Jian Mo finished his small bowl of wine in no time. Tilting the bowl back for the last drops, he found there was nothing left.

He set the bowl down, a lingering desire evident in his expression, and instinctively licked his finger, which still carried a faint trace of wine from earlier.

Across from him, Wu Jiong, nursing his own drink, caught sight of Jian Mo’s pink tongue brushing against his thumb. His gaze flickered.

Jian Mo belatedly noticed Wu Jiong watching him and smiled sheepishly.

Wu Jiong said nothing. Instead, he drained the rest of his wine in large gulps, as if suddenly thirsty.

Not every winter day was heavy with snow. Occasionally, the temperature would rise slightly, making it more bearable to go outside.

The tribe took advantage of the fair weather to organize another round of hunting and foraging, eager to replenish their stock of fresh food.

Though winter yielded fewer resources than other seasons, it was better than sitting idly and depleting their stores.

When the cold snap returned and they stayed home to hibernate, Jian Mo used his free time to clean up his home, inside and out.

While tidying up the backyard, Jian Mo noticed several piles of Chirpy’s droppings on the soil patch.

Although Chirpy had relieved itself on the dried grass layer and not directly on the soil, it was still an eyesore.

The Snow Pearl Fruit patch beneath was sacred—how could Chirpy think this was an appropriate place?!

Even if the soil wasn’t touched, this was unacceptable!

Jian Mo’s vision darkened, and he turned to glare at Chirpy with a murderous aura.

Chirpy shrank back, avoiding eye contact, and whimpered, “Chirr…”

Jian Mo stomped over and grabbed Chirpy’s wing. “When did you pull this stunt?”

Chirpy stared down at its claws, remaining silent.

“You’ve got some nerve! Didn’t I make you an ash pit to use as a toilet? Why insist on using the dried grass? Is it softer and more comfortable or what?”

Chirpy flattened its ears in guilt, its black eyes peeking timidly at Jian Mo, its body frozen in place.

Jian Mo sighed, lectured it thoroughly, and docked its meat ration for the evening as punishment. Only then did he proceed to clean up the mess.

The soiled dried grass couldn’t be reused, so Jian Mo gathered it with a rake and was about to replace it when he noticed something beneath.

Underneath the dried grass, not only was there soil but also frost-colored fruits.

Staring at the Snow Pearl Fruits that had somehow grown amidst the soil, Jian Mo was speechless.

Chirpy had just left its droppings on the grass above them.

Should he eat these Snow Pearl Fruits or not? That was the question.