The people of the Jin Tuo Tribe offered several of their nests to accommodate Jian Mo and his group.
From the outside, the nests didn’t look particularly remarkable, but crawling inside revealed their spaciousness. Each nest spanned at least thirty square meters, with walls over three meters high. Combined with the sturdy canopies above, the nests were not so different from the beastmen’s usual houses.
Jian Mo glanced around the empty nest, convinced that it strongly resembled a dinosaur nest.
Wu Jiong approached. “What are you looking at?”
Jian Mo turned back. “Their nests are really interesting. The architecture is unique.”
Wu Jiong laid out fur bedding. “It’s getting late. Let’s sleep.”
“Still, I prefer our houses,” Jian Mo said as he walked over. He hesitated for a moment upon seeing Wu Jiong place two fur blankets side by side but ultimately said nothing.
The two lay down fully clothed.
Wrapped in his fur blanket, Jian Mo stared out from the edge of the nest, where he could see a sky full of stars.
He could see stars from Wu Jiong’s home too, but most nights, he would fall asleep quickly on the fur bedding, barely paying attention to the sky.
Here, in this unfamiliar place, his senses felt heightened.
He glanced to the side.
Wu Jiong, already bundled in his blanket, was breathing evenly, either on the verge of sleep or already asleep.
Jian Mo shifted closer, lying next to him, but couldn’t quite get comfortable.
The drastic change in surroundings unsettled him, as did Wu Jiong’s change—he hadn’t shifted into his beast form tonight.
With so much in flux, Jian Mo found himself unable to fall asleep.
After what felt like an eternity of tossing and turning, Wu Jiong extended a long arm and gently patted Jian Mo. “Go to sleep.”
Jian Mo moved a bit closer and whispered near Wu Jiong’s ear, “Hey, I can’t sleep.”
“Not used to this place?” Wu Jiong asked softly.
Jian Mo blinked. “You didn’t shift into your beast form today.”
There was a faint trace of amusement in Wu Jiong’s voice. “Understood.”
He got up, took a few steps to the side, and transformed into his massive white wolf form.
The white wolf filled the nest completely, radiating warmth that Jian Mo could immediately feel.
“Alright, sleep now,” the white wolf said, lightly patting Jian Mo with a paw.
As the wolf settled down, Jian Mo instinctively reached out to hug its front paw.
This, indeed, felt familiar.
Jian Mo smiled contentedly.
He gently nuzzled the wolf’s paw and quickly fell asleep.
The wolf, however, stayed awake for half the night, watching over him. Eventually, it nudged Jian Mo closer and finally drifted off.
When Jian Mo woke the next morning, the nest was empty.
Sunlight poured in, illuminating the space clearly.
Turning his head, Jian Mo located his carry basket and pulled out a toothbrush-like wooden stick and some charcoal powder. He decided to clean his teeth first.
But as he stepped outside, he was greeted by eight burly men standing on either side of the nest.
They beamed at him in unison as he emerged. “Doctor Jian Mo!”
Breaking into a nervous sweat, Jian Mo nodded in greeting. “Good morning.”
“Good morning,” they chorused, then explained with cheerful smiles, “The chief sent us to have our teeth checked.”
Jian Mo blinked. “This early?”
“Teeth hurt. Better to fix them early,” one of the men said earnestly.
Thinking it over, Jian Mo replied, “Let me wash up first. After that, I’ll find your chief. I can’t do this alone; I’ll need help from my tribe.”
The men nodded in understanding. “Fair enough. It is a bit early, haha.”
Seeing their cooperative attitude, Jian Mo took the opportunity to ask about the washing area.
They led him to a spring in the center of the tribe.
As Jian Mo began brushing his teeth with the wooden stick and charcoal powder, the men didn’t leave. Instead, they watched in fascination, intrigued by the black powder and the contrast of Jian Mo’s white, clean teeth.
Taking the chance, Jian Mo gave them a brief lesson on the importance of dental hygiene, explaining how charcoal’s abrasive and absorptive properties worked.
He also mentioned alternatives like plant ash or crushed firewood charcoal, which they likely had access to.
Between his explanations, Jian Mo efficiently finished brushing his teeth and washing his face.
At that moment, Wu Jiong arrived with Jin Shi, the Jin Tuo Tribe’s chief.
Jin Shi greeted them warmly. “We’ve prepared breakfast. I hope it suits your taste. Come, have a try.”
Jian Mo wiped his hands dry. “Thank you, Chief Jin Shi.”
“No need to thank me. We’ll be relying on your help,” Jin Shi replied with a laugh.
The group moved to a larger nest for breakfast, which was lively and bustling.
On the table was roasted meat, though it was quite different from the dry, lean meat Jian Mo was used to. This was juicy, tender, and richly spiced.
—The Jin Tuo Tribe’s cooking skills were clearly superior to those of the He’an Tribe.
After sampling the accompanying sweet drink, Jian Mo realized it wasn’t just about skill. The Jin Tuo Tribe, situated on the plains and rich in metal resources, was far wealthier than the He’an Tribe.
Their prosperity afforded them the means to enhance their quality of life.
Once breakfast was over, Jian Mo didn’t delay further. He set up in an open area of the tribe to begin examining their teeth.
As usual, Jian Mo first inspected their mouths in human form before asking them to shift into their beast forms.
The Jin Tuo Tribe members had poor dental health but no significant oral inflammation or infections.
Jian Mo deduced that their problems stemmed from poor hygiene habits and a diet that was too refined, leading to dental issues.
For treatment, he had them drink water mixed with an anesthetic. Then, he extracted their decayed teeth and cleaned their mouths.
There wasn’t much more he could do for now.
Hmm, he thought. It might be worth figuring out how to make some kind of dental filling material. That way, I could repair their teeth instead of just pulling them.
As he worked, Jian Mo couldn’t help but reflect on his situation. He had trained as a general veterinary practitioner but somehow found himself specializing in dentistry.
Perhaps beastmen were too healthy overall, leaving their teeth as the only common issue.
The Jin Tuo Tribe members gathered at a distance, watching the spectacle with interest.
Despite having adapted to this world, Jian Mo’s Earth-based aesthetic preferences were still apparent. His attire was distinct from the local style, and with his gloves and mask on, his appearance stood out even more.
Everyone was curious about Jian Mo’s appearance and his treatment methods.
However, once they saw him, with Wu Jiong’s assistance, extract one bad tooth after another—dark, bloody teeth placed in a pottery dish—their curiosity faded. Instead, a chill ran down their spines, and their own teeth started to ache sympathetically.
The beastmen whose mouths had been treated were still unconscious. After checking their condition, the Jin Tuo Tribe members carried them back to their nests to rest properly.
Jian Mo reassured them that the patients should wake up by the afternoon, at which point he would check on them again.
Tooth extraction wasn’t particularly difficult. In this world, with its limited medical resources and simple treatment methods, pulling teeth was the most straightforward solution.
After completing the extractions, Jian Mo noticed the large crowd lingering nearby. Rather than sending them away, he took the opportunity to explain the causes of tooth decay.
He emphasized the consequences of not brushing teeth: food remnants feed oral bacteria, which in turn wreak havoc on the teeth.
After listening, Jin Shi remarked, “Our teeth weren’t this bad before. It got worse after we started cultivating Zhu Zhu Algae.”
“Zhu Zhu Algae?” Jian Mo asked curiously.
Jin Shi explained, “It’s a type of water algae from the river. It tastes good, so we grow it for food.”
Guessing that the He’an Tribe was unfamiliar with it, Jin Shi had someone bring some for them to see.
The algae was a pale yellow with thick, rounded leaves, almost elliptical in shape.
Jian Mo examined it closely, turning it over in his hands.
Jin Shi gestured that the algae could be eaten raw.
Tentatively, Jian Mo plucked a piece of the leaf and put it in his mouth.
The Zhu Zhu Algae was soft, with a texture that burst in his mouth like tiny bubbles. A light sweetness spread across his tongue—it was surprisingly delicious.
Jian Mo looked up in amazement. “This Zhu Zhu Algae is really tasty.”
Jin Shi nodded. “That’s why we can’t stop picking and eating it. The more we eat, the worse our teeth get.”
Jian Mo flipped the algae over a few more times and asked, “Can we trade for some of this Zhu Zhu Algae for our tribe?”
“Of course,” Jin Shi agreed readily. “Other tribes traded it to us too, but it only grows in warmer places. Your area is colder—I’m not sure if it will grow there.”
Jian Mo replied, “That’s fine. We’ll take it back and give it a try.”
Jin Shi said, “I’ll have a basket prepared for you.”
Then, with a sigh, he added, “But be careful not to eat too much if it grows. Otherwise, you’ll have the same dental problems as we do.”
Jian Mo nodded. This algae was indeed similar to sugar—eating too much would be harmful to teeth.
Wait—
A thought struck Jian Mo. If adults couldn’t resist eating Zhu Zhu Algae, what about the children? Surely, they’d be even worse.
He turned to Jin Shi. “How are the children’s teeth? I should take a look at them.”
Jin Shi froze for a moment before realization dawned. “They’ll lose their baby teeth, so their dental issues aren’t as severe as the adults’.”
Jian Mo sighed. “But some children grow permanent teeth that are already decayed. If bad teeth aren’t treated, the decay will spread, ruining one tooth after another.”
Jin Shi had no response to that. He quickly ordered his people to gather the children for a check-up.
After examining the children, Jian Mo found their dental problems were indeed worse. This could be due to their more delicate oral tissues or simply their lack of self-control.
Jian Mo treated their decayed teeth one by one and sternly instructed the parents to ensure their children brushed their teeth properly. Especially before bed, no sweet snacks should be allowed—once teeth decay, there’s no replacing them.
The adults listened intently, their expressions serious, and agreed.
Having spent the day treating teeth, Jian Mo realized his reputation in the Jin Tuo Tribe had shifted. Upon his arrival, he was “that handsome sub-beastman.” By the end of the day, he had become “that terrifying Doctor Jian Mo.”
The way people looked at him had completely changed.
Jian Mo was used to this reaction and paid it no mind.
Although the tribe members were now somewhat afraid of him, the successful treatments had brought them closer on a personal level.
On the third day, after the two tribes exchanged pottery, glassware, and metal tools, Jin Shi learned that Jian Mo needed metal medical instruments. He immediately agreed to help.
“Doctor Jian Mo, come back in a while, and we’ll make the tools you need,” Jin Shi said.
Jian Mo was delighted. Metal instruments were far superior to wooden ones. “Thank you so much.”
Jin Shi laughed. “It’s nothing. You’ll probably end up treating our teeth again, so these tools might come back to us anyway. Consider it us helping ourselves in advance.”
Jian Mo sincerely advised, “Please take good care of your teeth. Hopefully, they won’t decay again.”
Jin Shi smiled. “We’ll try. But bad teeth run in our tribe. It’s been like this for generations.”
“Brush diligently, and it’ll improve,” Jian Mo insisted firmly.
When it came to medical matters, Jian Mo’s tone was unyielding, which made even Jin Shi a bit apprehensive. The chief quickly agreed. “Alright. If you leave your medical tools here, we’ll replicate them.”
The wooden instruments Jian Mo brought were nearly worn out and of little use back home, so he readily agreed to leave them behind as references. “Sure, I’ll leave them to you.”
Jin Shi smiled. “Thank you. If we hadn’t used up most of our mined ore, we could have expedited the production while you were here. But it’s fine—this way, you’ll have a reason to visit us again. If we have any issues, we’ll know where to find you.”
Jian Mo chuckled. “We’ll visit again next time.”
This trip had primarily been about trading supplies, so there wasn’t much reason to linger.
With the exchanges complete, they prepared to leave.
Jian Mo was quite satisfied with the outcome. They had traded for plenty of metal tools and obtained Zhu Zhu Algae.
Although not overly sweet, the algae was a rare source of sweetness and could serve as a versatile addition to their diet. Back home, it could enrich their meals.
As the He’an Tribe prepared to depart, the Jin Tuo Tribe members came to see them off.
Many who had been treated by Jian Mo, despite the pain, were grateful. They tried to stuff gifts into his basket.
Jian Mo, having already accepted payment for his services, felt awkward and repeatedly tried to return the gifts. “I have enough supplies. Please keep these for yourselves. Thank you.”
But when he pushed the items back, they were shoved at him again.
Caught in this back-and-forth, Jian Mo became flustered, eliciting good-natured laughter from both tribes.
As he pulled out a particularly heavy item from his basket, he noticed its weight and paused. Bringing it closer, he realized it was a golden-yellow ore.
It was dense, cold to the touch, and had a striking presence.
For a moment, Jian Mo wondered if it was gold.
His human instincts made him especially sensitive to gold.
After a couple of seconds, he dismissed the thought. Gold was famously heavy, and while this ore was dense, he could still lift it with one hand. It was more likely copper or brass ore.
Jian Mo examined it closely, impressed by its rarity. It was his first time seeing such a mineral.
Jin Shi noticed and said casually, “That’s one of our ores. Take it as a keepsake, Doctor Jian Mo.”
Jian Mo hesitated. “No, it’s too valuable.”
Jin Shi waved it off. “It’s just one piece. It won’t make much difference. Keep it.”
Unable to refuse but feeling reluctant to accept without reciprocating, Jian Mo rummaged through his basket and glanced at Wu Jiong for help.
Wu Jiong handed him a small pouch of honey blocks.
Relieved, Jian Mo took the honey blocks and handed them to the sub-beastman who had gifted him the ore. “Thank you. Please accept this as a gift—it’s sweet.”
The sub-beastman shyly smiled and quietly retreated into the crowd.
Jin Shi grinned. “Come visit again in spring. When the plants grow and flowers bloom, our tribe will be even more beautiful.”
Wu Jiong nodded. “You’re welcome to visit our tribe too. We have beautiful scenery as well.”
Jin Shi laughed. “It’s settled then—may our tribes share a lasting friendship.”
As the group was about to leave, Jian Mo suddenly remembered something and pointed at the black sand in the river. “Can we take some of that sand back?”
Though he wasn’t sure of its properties, Jian Mo thought it might be useful for making new glazes or dyes for pottery and glass.
The Jin Tuo Tribe members followed his gaze.
After a moment’s thought, Jin Shi waved generously. “It’s just sand. Take as much as you want.”
