Transmigrated to the Beastman World as a Veterinarian – CH41

Jian Mo knew there were many stones along the riverbank, but he hadn’t paid much attention to them before.

To him, these grayish-white stones were just ordinary ones, only worth considering when the tribe needed stones to build walls.

But now that lime needed to be made, he couldn’t afford to be careless.

The group went to the riverbank together. Qing Kuo rummaged through the stones and asked Jian Mo, “What kind of stones can be used to make lime?”

Jian Mo replied, “I don’t remember exactly. Let’s focus on finding the ones we used before. Once we identify them, I’ll make a record. Next time, we’ll know which stones to use and which to avoid.”

He had been trying to recall over the past few days and managed to remember that marble, limestone, and calcite could be used to make lime. However, he didn’t recognize these stones in their natural forms.

His efforts at remembering were futile—he could only gather stones and experiment.

After all, they had managed to make lime before. If they collected stones again, they should be able to do it this time too.

Zhou Fu saw Jian Mo seriously recording on a wooden board and said enviously, “Your old tribe was great; writing things down is so convenient.”

Jian Mo responded, “Exactly. When the weather warms up, I’ll make some paper. Then I can bind these records into a book, which will make them easier to reference.”

He even wanted to teach the tribe to write, but his earlier attempt had failed as no one was interested.

When he tried teaching the younger cubs, it was even less successful.

Every time he saw the furry canine and feline cubs sitting below him, staring at him with unblinking eyes, and yet taking in nothing, he couldn’t help but feel guilty.

Teaching little puppies and kittens to write was simply too demanding for these little ones.

After several failed attempts, Jian Mo had no choice but to give up.

Perhaps he would try again later if someone genuinely showed interest.

Along the riverbank, piles of stones awaited. Jian Mo asked everyone to prioritize softer and whiter stones.

After much effort, they collected the stones he requested.

Once they were gathered, it was time to load them into the kiln for burning.

Jian Mo remembered that lime didn’t require a very high temperature to burn, so he instructed them to use firewood.

Charcoal would involve an extra step and require hardwood, which was harder to find. Firewood was easier and more efficient.

The group filled the kiln with firewood and stones, preparing to start the fire.

Qing Kuo asked, “What kind of fire is needed to burn lime?”

Jian Mo admitted, “I’m not entirely sure. Use as much fire as possible. By evening, it should be done. If we find tomorrow that it hasn’t burned enough, we’ll burn it longer next time. If it is burnt too much, we’ll reduce the time.”

Qing Kuo could tell from Jian Mo’s answer that he truly didn’t know, so he smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll take care of it.”

Jian Mo gave him a shoulder massage and said, “Thanks for your hard work.”

Qing Kuo and his team kept watch over the kiln. The fire roared for an entire day, and smoke wafted far into the distance.

The kiln was warm, so the group brought furs and hides to the kiln, using the opportunity to work while enjoying the warmth.

The next morning, everyone gathered early to open the kiln and check on the lime.

Jian Mo stood among the crowd, feeling a little nervous.

When the kiln was opened, the stones inside had fractured into chunks of white material resembling broken rocks. They felt quite hard to the touch.

Everyone turned to look at Jian Mo.

Jian Mo picked up a piece of lime, squeezed it, and found it could crumble, albeit with difficulty.

It seemed the lime was ready.

Jian Mo wasn’t entirely sure. “Should we crush it and add water to test it?”

Seeing his uncertainty, Qing Kuo directed the beastmen to move the lime out and crush it with large stones to examine its texture.

Crushing lime in the cold weather seemed especially laborious, so Jian Mo suggested, “Why not take it to the stone mortar to crush?”

Qing Kuo hesitated. “Is lime toxic?”

When water was added to quicklime, it bubbled and released a bitter odor.

From experience, bitter things were usually poisonous. Since the stone mortar was often used to crush food, Qing Kuo was uneasy about it.

Jian Mo explained, “Sometimes lime is used in food. If the mortar is cleaned thoroughly afterward, it should be fine.”

Only then did Qing Kuo agree. “Alright, take it to the stone mortar.”

The group used baskets to carry the burned stones to the stone mortar and began crushing them.

Jian Mo observed from the side and concluded that this batch of lime had been overburned.

The lime was soft and fine in the middle and easy to crush into powder, but the edges were tough and difficult to crush, leaving many granules behind.

The middle seemed just right, while the edges were clearly overburned.

It seemed making lime wasn’t easy.

Jian Mo felt a little disheartened, wondering why the lime in the pillar-shaped stones from the kilns had been better burned. Maybe he had unknowingly cleared away the inferior ones before?

Noticing his disappointment, Qing Kuo suggested, “Sifting through it should make it usable, right?”

Jian Mo perked up and replied, “I think so. Let’s test it and find out.”

Qing Kuo said, “Then let’s use the sifted lime first.”

They took a portion of the lime from the batch, added water and fine sand, and made lime mortar to spread over wooden boards.

The next day, when Jian Mo checked, the lime mortar had completely hardened and seemed fine to the touch.

Wu Jiong and others declared it usable.

Thus, the tribe decided by drawing lots which family would use it first.

With the first batch of lime ready, everyone worked quickly to burn the second and third batches.

As more batches were made, Jian Mo realized the first batch had indeed been overburned.

Subsequent batches included underburned lime and lime that was just right, and every batch was slightly different.

After repeated burns, the group gained experience.

Generally, with a full kiln of stones and firewood burning from sunrise until the sun reached the distant snowy mountain peaks, the lime would be perfectly burned.

The abundance of lime allowed every household to create lime mortar and coat their homes inside and out.

With lime mortar, the houses finally became windproof and much warmer.

Most importantly, the houses became sturdier, and they no longer had to worry about them collapsing in the rain.

Some in the tribe found the lime mortar so useful that they designed grooves in their windows to insert glass panes. Once the lime mortar dried, they had perfect glass windows.

This method of installing glass windows was not only more aesthetically pleasing but also sturdier compared to clamping glass with wood frames and attaching the entire window to the wall.

Jian Mo admired the tribe’s creativity but reminded them to leave at least a stone-sized gap above the windows. Otherwise, burning charcoal indoors could lead to deadly poisoning.

Wu Jiong and De Jiang went door to door, inspecting the tribe’s houses. Any windows found to be subpar were promptly fixed with their assistance.

Seeing this, Jian Mo felt relieved.

The things he created were meant to improve the tribe’s living conditions, not to endanger lives.

After finishing the lime production, everyone shifted their focus to making pottery and glass.

This time, they used the same glaze, but the colors of the pottery and glass turned out differently.

Jian Mo speculated that remnants of lime in the kiln had reacted with the glaze or the glass, altering their colors.

He instructed the tribe to thoroughly clean the kiln, and the next batch came out with normal colors.

The tribe produced two extra kilns of lime as a reserve.

Jian Mo, mindful of lime’s disinfectant properties, requested two additional baskets for himself.

For disinfection, slaked lime was needed, which could be made by adding water to quicklime.

That day, Jian Mo donned a mask and filled a wooden jug with limewater, sprinkling it in the Tou Tou Beasts’ shed.

The eight Tou Tou Beasts huddled in a corner, chewing on dry grass.

Jian Mo tried to shoo them out, intending to let them back in after finishing the disinfection. However, they refused to leave, so he had no choice but to continue with them inside.

He had only disinfected part of the shed when someone called for him outside.

“Brother Jian Mo!”

Recognizing Ban Ming’s voice, Jian Mo walked out and asked, “What’s up?”

Ban Ming, leading several beastmen, approached him with a mysterious look. “We’re going beast-fishing today. Want to join?”

Jian Mo paused, unsure if he had misunderstood the beastmen’s language. The term sounded strange. “Beast-fishing?”

Ban Ming grinned. “That’s right, beast-fishing.”

“With a fishing rod?” Jian Mo asked skeptically.

Ban Ming and the others refused to elaborate, simply saying, “Are you coming?”

Jian Mo eyed them for a moment before agreeing. “Sure.”

“Great!” Ban Ming said enthusiastically. “Bring some seasoning. Once we catch a beast, we’ll roast it in the wild.”

“Wait a moment,” Jian Mo replied.

He went home to grab some seasonings before joining the beastmen outside the tribe.

When they arrived at the gathering spot, young beastmen and sub-beastmen were already waiting.

Xi Lu waved to him. “Over here!”

Jian Mo walked over to his familiar companions and asked, “How exactly does beast-fishing work?”

Xi Lu chuckled. “They wouldn’t tell you? It’s simple. We use salt to lure beasts out of their burrows where they’re hibernating. Our main target today is the Arrowbone Beast. Other beasts don’t respond as well to salt.”

Jian Mo recalled the Arrowbone Beast’s appearance: a small creature the size of a puppy with a row of bony spines on its back. Its meat was tender, flavorful, and free of any unpleasant odor.

“Does it work often?” Jian Mo asked curiously.

Ban Ming squeezed into the conversation. “That depends on luck. Let’s go! The chief isn’t here, so I’ll carry you.”

Since Wu Jiong had left early that morning to discuss matters with the Meng Shui Tribe, and Jian Mo wasn’t very familiar with the other beastmen, he happily accepted Ban Ming’s offer.

“Sure.”

Ban Ming transformed into a large cat and instructed, “Hold onto the back of my neck. I don’t run as smoothly as the chief, so hang on tight!”

Jian Mo nodded.

In his beast form, Ban Ming stood over three meters tall, as big as a small house, easily carrying Jian Mo on his back.

Jian Mo quickly climbed on and settled himself.

The beastmen transformed into their beast forms, carrying the sub-beastmen as they prepared to depart.

The wind howled as they ran. Ban Ming’s movements were bumpy, and Jian Mo clung tightly to his neck, struggling to avoid being blown away by the gusts.

After running for what felt like ages, they finally arrived at their destination.

Jian Mo jumped off Ban Ming’s back, holding his waist and panting heavily.

Though not his first time riding on a beastman, this ride was particularly exhausting, leaving him drenched in sweat.

Ban Ming shifted back into human form and enthusiastically called out to the group, “Let’s stick together today and head straight to the marked spots to lay down the salt, alright?”

The group responded with excited howls of agreement.

Jian Mo joined the young hunters as they set off to scatter the salt.

Led by the beastmen, they arrived at a dark hole in the open wilderness and prepared to spread the salt.

Xi Lu’s nose reverted to its beast form as he sniffed the air in the cave. “Fresh scent of Arrowbone Beast.”

Jian Mo mimicked him, trying to catch the scent, but all he could detect was a faintly rank animal odor. Whether it was fresh or not, he couldn’t tell.

The beastmen scattered a handful of salt at the entrance and said, “Leave two people here to watch. Let’s head to the next hole.”

Xi Lu volunteered. “I’ll stay here with Jiu Yin.”

With two guards in place, the rest moved on to the next destination.

Following the group, Jian Mo noticed they moved with a clear purpose, indicating they had scouted the area in advance. They took no unnecessary detours.

Their actions were swift.

In less than an hour, Jian Mo estimated they had laid salt at seventeen Arrowbone Beast dens.

They didn’t spread more because their group was limited in size and couldn’t cover more ground.

Jian Mo was paired with Ban Ming.

After scattering the salt, they hid in a patch of withered grass to wait patiently.

Lowering his voice, Ban Ming explained, “Arrowbone Beasts are extremely cautious. We rarely catch them during regular hunts. But they need salt badly, and since it’s hard to gather in winter, we use salt to lure them out.”

“They consume a lot of salt?” Jian Mo asked.

Ban Ming shrugged. “No idea. They just die easily without it.”

Jian Mo nodded thoughtfully. “That might mean they have a higher physiological demand for salt.”

After chatting for a while, they stopped to avoid scaring the Arrowbone Beast.

They waited in the biting wind for a long time until Jian Mo spotted a small beast poking its head out of the dark hole, sniffing around before retreating back inside.

It seemed to have caught the scent of salt outside but was too wary to venture out. The process repeated several times.

Bored from waiting, Jian Mo silently counted. The Arrowbone Beast peeked out at least eleven times.

Still, it never fully emerged, maintaining a posture that allowed it to dart back into the depths of the burrow at the slightest disturbance.

Beside him, Ban Ming had already transformed into his large feline form, crouched low with his long tail dragging, ready to strike.

Jian Mo turned to look at the big cat and noticed that his pupils were slightly contracted.

It was the posture of a predator ready to pounce.

Ban Ming, who usually seemed unreliable, displayed remarkable patience this time.

Even when the Arrowbone Beast seemed about to emerge multiple times, he didn’t act rashly. He remained quietly crouched by the side.

Jian Mo lay hidden in the grass, his legs going numb.

He spent most of his time foraging and was accompanying a hunt for the first time. He hadn’t realized how tedious hunting could be.

With the endless waiting, his mind started to wander, flitting through random thoughts.

Just as he was distracted, the large cat beside him shot out like an arrow, leaving only an afterimage in Jian Mo’s vision.

A sharp cry pierced the air. Jian Mo saw that the big cat had already reached the cave entrance, firmly gripping the Arrowbone Beast’s head in its jaws.

The Arrowbone Beast’s body hung limp—it was clearly killed in one blow.

The big cat tossed the beast aside and spat a few times before turning to Jian Mo. “Brother Jian Mo, you can come over now.”

Dragging his numb legs, Jian Mo limped over. “Hunting really isn’t easy.”

The big cat replied honestly, “Our hunting skills aren’t that great, so it feels more difficult. If the chief were here, he’d probably catch the Arrowbone Beast on the first try without all this waiting.”

Jian Mo turned to look at him.

The big cat flicked his tail. “What is it?”

Jian Mo smiled. “I don’t know why, but today you seem particularly—”

He searched his mind for the right word before settling on one: “Diligent.”

The big cat seemed to understand but pretended not to. “Come on, let’s meet up with the others. Someone must have caught an Arrowbone Beast by now.”

Jian Mo didn’t press further. He climbed onto the big cat’s back. “Should we bring the Arrowbone Beast on your back too?”

“No need,” the big cat said. “I’ll carry it in my mouth.”

After a quick run, they arrived at the meeting point.

As expected, most of the group had returned, bringing back Arrowbone Beasts of various sizes.

Ah Hu, now in his large orange tabby form, was complaining to the others nearby: “…I caught an Arrowbone Beast, but it turned out to be a pregnant female. I had to release it.”

A large fox next to him looked unconvinced.

The orange tabby bared his sharp fangs. “It’s true! Smell my breath—I still have the scent of Arrowbone Beast blood in my mouth!”

In such a large hunting party, failing to make a catch was embarrassing. Determined to prove himself, the orange tabby insisted his companions sniff him.

Fortunately, a few honest beastmen took a whiff and agreed. “Yeah, it does smell like an Arrowbone Beast.”

Some of the earlier returnees had already gathered firewood.

They planned to clean the Arrowbone Beasts and roast the meat on the spot.

Feeling that he hadn’t contributed much to the hunt, Jian Mo decided to help by skinning and cutting the meat.

He pulled out the copper knife Wu Jiong had given him, ready to get to work.

The moment he unsheathed the blade, all eyes turned to him, staring intently at the knife.

Jian Mo: “…”

Ban Ming sidled up. “Brother Jian Mo, can I borrow your knife?”

Jian Mo handed it over generously. “Sure, just be careful not to nick the blade.”

“I’ll use it carefully,” Ban Ming promised. “I won’t let it touch any bones.”

With no nearby water source, the group didn’t bother with cleaning. They simply used knives to cut the Arrowbone Beast meat into pieces, skewered them on branches, and placed them over the fire.

The Arrowbone Beast meat had a delicate marbled pattern, making it look incredibly appetizing.

As it roasted over the fire, the meat quickly sizzled and released a rich, enticing aroma.

Even Jian Mo couldn’t help but feel his stomach rumble at the sight of such high-quality meat.

The meat was noticeably better than the usual tough, coarse beast meat.

Arrowbone Beast meat was exceptionally tender and cooked quickly. Before long, it turned a golden brown with a glossy layer of oil on the surface.

Jian Mo took out the seasoning powder he had brought and placed it in a small pottery dish. “I won’t sprinkle it on the meat directly. Just dip the meat in the seasoning when you eat. That way, we don’t waste any.”

Everyone agreed. When the meat was ready, they took it off the fire, divided it among themselves, and began eating with their hands, dipping the skewers into the seasoning.

Switching hands to avoid the heat, they ate while exclaiming:

“Wow, this is delicious! The seasoning is amazing!”

“Brother Jian Mo, what’s in this seasoning? It’s different from what we usually use.”

“It smells incredible! I wanted to hunt Arrowbone Beast days ago. Good thing I was too busy then—if I’d caught one, it wouldn’t have tasted this good.”

Jian Mo, hearing their questions, generously shared, “The recipe’s a bit complex. It’s a mix of pepper stamen powder, honey block powder, shellfish meat powder, and salt powder. If you’re interested, I can show you how to make it when we’re back.”

The group eagerly nodded.

Ban Ming tore off a big bite of meat and said, “Brother Jian Mo, see? We really don’t eat raw meat that often. Roasting it tastes so much better.”

Still remembering their previous argument, Jian Mo chuckled. “Got it.”

The roasted meat was truly delicious—juicy, and tender, with a hint of creamy flavor. Paired with the seasoning, the taste was even more layered.

The pepper stamen powder’s spiciness, honey block powder’s sweetness, shellfish meat powder’s umami, and salt powder’s balance combined into a savory profile that elevated the roasted meat to perfection.

The hot meat, eaten while blowing on it to cool, tasted even more delectable.

As Jian Mo ate, he thought to himself: Will there be any left later?

If there was, he’d bring some back for Wu Jiong. If not, they could always organize another hunt. It would be a shame for Wu Jiong to miss out on such delicious meat.

Lost in his thoughts, Jian Mo snapped back to reality when someone called his name.

Ban Ming grinned at him. “Brother Jian Mo, this meat’s great, isn’t it?”

Jian Mo nodded. “It’s fantastic.”

Ban Ming suggested, “There are more Arrowbone Beasts left. You should take one back and share it with the chief.”

Others chimed in, “Yeah, Brother Jian Mo, take one back for the chief to try.”

Amused by their enthusiasm, Jian Mo raised an eyebrow.

Ban Ming leaned in. “See? We’re pretty good at hunting now. Could you, maybe, tell the chief that we did a great job?”

The others looked at Jian Mo expectantly.

Slowly, Jian Mo bit into another piece of meat and smiled. “If I don’t say anything, will you guys not give me any meat?”

From the side, Ah Hu waved a skewer of meat and laughed. “Of course not. We just want you to put in a good word for us with the chief.”

Ban Ming groaned. “Exactly! The chief has been training us like crazy this winter—I feel like I’m going to shed a whole layer of skin.”

Jian Mo asked with a grin, “Do my words really carry that much weight?”

“Of course!” Ban Ming insisted. “Your words matter the most! You’re probably the only one in the tribe whose advice the chief actually listens to.”

Jian Mo chuckled, flashing his small white teeth. “In that case, I definitely shouldn’t say anything. I wouldn’t want to interfere with Wu Jiong’s judgment.”

The nearby sub-beastmen burst into laughter, enjoying the show.

The beastmen, meanwhile, looked dejected.

Jian Mo patted Ban Ming on the shoulder. “Keep working hard, all of you.”

After finishing the meat, they carefully extinguished the fire, covered the ashes with snow, and prepared to head back.

As they left, Jian Mo glanced back wistfully. “Arrowbone Beast meat really is amazing. We should try fishing for them again sometime.”

Ban Ming shook his head. “Probably not.”

“Why?” Jian Mo asked. “Are they rare? If we hunt too often, will we risk driving them all out?”

Ban Ming shook his head again. “No, it’s because they’re smart. After being lured out a couple of times, they stop falling for it. That’s why we only hunt them once or twice a year.”

“I see,” Jian Mo said thoughtfully.

When they returned to the tribe, the beastmen insisted on giving Jian Mo an Arrowbone Beast to share with Wu Jiong. Naturally, they hoped he would put in a good word for them.

Jian Mo, seeing their hopeful expressions, laughed and said, “I can’t make any promises, but I still have some seasoning powder. Do you want it?”

The seasoning, perfect for roasted meat, was a hit. Overjoyed, the group exclaimed, “Yes, please!”

Jian Mo waved them over. “Come on in. I’ll share some with you.”