The attempt by the Jin Tuo Tribe to poach members from the He’an Tribe failed. They left, carrying the techniques for charcoal burning and furnace construction, with a mix of delight and disappointment.
In an effort to show hospitality, Qing Kuo initially planned to send someone to see them off. However, after asking around, he found that no one in the tribe was willing to go.
The Jin Tuo Tribe traveled too slowly for the impatient big cats and dogs to handle. Compared to escorting guests, the beastmen were much more eager to go hunting.
The past few days had been relatively warm, melting much of the snow outside and revealing patches of yellowing grass.
The beastmen noted that this kind of weather was perfect for hunting, as prey often ventured out to graze on the grass.
Jian Mo also heard about the beastmen’s plans for a hunt. Feeling cooped up himself, he asked Wu Jiong, “What kind of prey is there now? I remember some of the grazing prey would have migrated south by this time, right?”
Wu Jiong replied, “Small prey are still around, and there are also some animals that live in the mountains. Remember those Woolhorn Beasts we saw when we went to collect honeyblocks in the mountains?”
Jian Mo immediately recalled them. “Then why don’t we catch them? Freshly hunted prey must taste better than frozen meat.”
Wu Jiong explained, “They’re fast—really fast. The skilled ones can run for an entire day and night. In the mountains, our beast forms might not be as agile as they are. It’s also easy to fall when chasing them.”
Jian Mo was surprised. “That does sound dangerous.”
Wu Jiong nodded. “Hunting is never without risks. But you’re right, fresh prey is always better than frozen meat. We should take advantage of the good weather to stock up on meat.”
Jian Mo asked, “So, are you going?”
Wu Jiong replied, “Yes, I’ll discuss it with the others tomorrow.”
The tribe had been cooped up for too long without hunting or foraging. When the news of a hunting trip spread, there wasn’t a single voice of opposition in the tribe.
Thus, everyone began to prepare for the trip.
Jian Mo was surprised to learn that even sub-beastmen could join in. Concerned, he asked, “Didn’t you say the prey is dangerous? Plus, it’s winter, so wild animals will be hungrier and more aggressive than usual. Wouldn’t we just be a burden if we tagged along?”
Qing Kuo reassured him, “Don’t worry. They’ll just take us to the mountains. While they hunt, we’ll gather resources on the mountain.”
Relieved, Jian Mo agreed, “Alright, I’ll go too. What can we gather in the mountains at this time of year?”
Ye Luo, who was nearby, chimed in, “There’s plenty to gather. We can collect moss and mushrooms. Some mushrooms even dry out on the mountain itself. We’ve found them in past years and can check again this year.”
Zhou Fu joined the conversation, “We can also dig up underground tubers. While the vines aboveground have withered, the tubers beneath are still fresh. They’ll definitely be better than the ones we’ve stored at home.”
Seeing Jian Mo’s eyes light up with excitement, Qing Kuo smiled and added, “There are also leftover fruits on branches and edible insects underground. We can gather those too.”
As Jian Mo listened to their back-and-forth, his excitement grew, and he could hardly wait to set off.
When it was time to leave, Jian Mo stacked two large carrying baskets together, just in case they found more food than expected.
Wu Jiong took the baskets from him and said, “It’s winter; food is scarce. We probably won’t need two baskets this big.”
Jian Mo nudged Wu Jiong’s shoulder playfully. “I don’t care. They’re not heavy anyway. Better to be prepared than not.”
Before departure, the group gathered in the open ground of the tribe. Jian Mo perched high on Wu Jiong’s back, glancing around at the assembled crowd.
Eighty percent of the tribe had come out, including some elders and children. It was clear that everyone was eager to get out and stretch their legs.
Once everyone was accounted for, the beastmen quickly shifted into their beast forms and started running.
The cold wind outside was fierce. After only a short run, Jian Mo’s ears and nose felt icy. His nose, protruding from the center of his face, took the brunt of the wind and felt like it might freeze solid.
He pulled his fur hat lower, adjusted his fur coat to cover more of his exposed skin, and left only his eyes and mouth uncovered.
Despite his efforts, his teeth still ached from the cold.
Looking around, he noticed that the sub-beastmen were partially transforming—beast-like ears, eyes, or noses replacing their human features. It was clear that their beastialized parts were much more resistant to the cold. Despite their flushed cheeks, they looked spirited rather than miserable.
“Cold?” the giant wolf carrying him turned its head to ask worriedly. “Lie down; it’ll keep you warmer.”
Jian Mo uncovered his mouth and grinned. “I’m okay.”
The wolf insisted, “If you feel cold, just tell me.”
Jian Mo nodded. After the wolf turned back around, Jian Mo lay down on its back. Its body warmth seeped through, providing much-needed comfort.
He tucked both hands under its fur to warm them. Gradually, he started to feel better.
There was no significant prey near the tribe, so they traveled to the mountainous outskirts. After half a day’s journey, they finally arrived at a mountain peak around noon.
Wu Jiong told Jian Mo, “We’ll be hunting Woolhorn Beasts in the mountains. Stay here with the other sub-beastmen to gather resources. Don’t wander off; it’s dangerous to be alone in this season.”
Jian Mo nodded solemnly. “You all be careful too. Just catching some prey is enough. Safety first.”
After parting ways, the beastmen went hunting, and the sub-beastmen, along with the children, began their foraging.
Surrounded by the little ones, Jian Mo was quickly asked to tell stories, but the treacherous terrain left him in no mood for storytelling. He waved them off, saying, “I’ll tell you later. For now, focus on being careful.”
A small, striped cat named Ban Jiu glanced at Jian Mo before padding ahead carefully. “Brother Jian Mo, I’ll clear the way for you. Follow my footprints.”
Seeing this, the other cubs rushed forward, competing to lead the way. “Brother Jian Mo, we’ll help too!”
Qing Kuo barked out an order, “No running! Slow down and stay in the middle of the group.”
At his command, the cubs quickly behaved themselves, falling in line.
Jian Mo scratched his nose sheepishly. Qing Kuo patted his shoulder and said, “You too. Stay in the middle for safety.”
Jian Mo nodded. “Alright.”
The young ones, including both small beastmen and sub-beastmen, regardless of gender, were all taught how to forage to build a foundation for their future survival.
The adults of the tribe were diligent and detailed in teaching the children during these outings. Jian Mo followed along, picking up a wealth of knowledge in the process.
Their foraged food was quite diverse, ranging from hibernating insects to small animals, mosses, mushrooms, tubers, nuts, and fresh fruits.
If it was edible, they would gather it, even if it wasn’t particularly tasty. Nothing was wasted.
Walking along the mountain ridge, Jian Mo’s head began to ache slightly from the wind, but the abundant harvest made up for it.
He collected half a basket of moss alone.
Ye Luo explained that this particular moss was quite delicious despite its rough texture. It had a hint of sweetness and was surprisingly flavorful, making it better than most bitter wild greens and an excellent accompaniment to roasted meat.
Jian Mo sniffed it and caught a pleasant aroma. However, he doubted it would be digestible for anyone other than ruminants back on Earth.
Still, it wasn’t a problem. Eating a little could supplement fiber and vitamins.
Mindful of the younger ones, the group moved at a steady pace, taking breaks frequently.
Jian Mo found this foraging trip to be relatively smooth, and far less tiring than previous ones.
They continued climbing halfway up the mountain, occasionally hearing the long, echoing howls of the beastmen.
The sound was eerie and intimidating, and Jian Mo guessed that they used such calls to drive prey, which made the howls sound particularly oppressive and loud.
Listening carefully, Qing Kuo remarked, “They seem to be having a good hunt today.”
Ye Luo agreed, “For this season, getting some Woolhorn Beast meat is already great.”
Qing Kuo nodded, “I think so too. It’s winter; being able to eat our fill is a blessing.”
The two exchanged a smile.
From their expressions, Jian Mo inferred that Woolhorn Beast meat might not be particularly tasty. However, having fresh meat in this season was undoubtedly a treat.
The meat stored back at the tribe was no longer as fresh due to the large temperature fluctuations between day and night. The freezing and thawing had begun to take its toll.
Even the meat stored in mountain caves, where conditions were more stable, couldn’t compare to freshly hunted game.
Fresh meat was a luxury.
The group stayed out until late afternoon, foraging until the sun began to dip toward the mountaintop. They called out to each other, signaling it was time to head back.
The beastmen arrived to fetch the foragers.
Jian Mo watched as a team of big cats and dogs bounded down the mountain ridge, each carrying a large prey on their backs. The haul was impressive.
The tribe’s mood was cheery. Their furry faces beamed with satisfaction, and even their upright ears looked more spirited.
The sub-beastmen and children climbed onto the backs of the beastmen, taking positions in front of the prey.
Jian Mo also climbed onto the giant wolf’s back, wrapping his arms around its neck. Behind him was the bound Woolhorn Beast.
The Woolhorn Beast was enormous, nearly covering one side of the wolf’s body.
Concerned, Jian Mo leaned close to the wolf’s ear and whispered, “Is it too heavy?”
Carrying such a weight wasn’t great for the spine.
The giant wolf turned its head, amusement glinting in its eyes. “Don’t worry, I can handle it.”
Jian Mo reached out and touched the wolf’s nose, finding it warm and dry. “Alright. But let me know if you need to rest. I can walk for a while.”
The wolf chuckled. “Got it.”
As they spoke at the rear of the group, Di Ya was already running ahead, carrying Qing Kuo, Ban Jiu, and a Woolhorn Beast.
Behind him was Ban Ming, who carried Ye Luo and another Woolhorn Beast with equal ease.
The other beastmen were no different, running lightly and swiftly despite the steep downhill trail. The descent didn’t hinder their speed in the slightest.
Jian Mo observed the surroundings for a while, noticing how the scenery zipped by with a swooshing sound. The descent brought a feeling of weightlessness that made him uncomfortable. To cope, he buried his face in the wolf’s fur and closed his eyes.
By the time they returned to the tribe, night had fallen.
Most of the tribe had gone hunting today, so dividing the prey was straightforward. Typically, two or three families shared a single animal, and the division was completed quickly.
Wu Jiong’s family and Qing Kuo’s family split one large Woolhorn Beast.
They carried it to the riverbank and began cleaning it with knives.
Ban Ming volunteered to skin the Woolhorn Beast. “Now that we have metal knives, skinning has become so much easier.”
Qing Kuo instructed, “Cut off two pieces of meat first. We’ll go back to cook while you handle the rest of the meat here.”
Ban Ming agreed. “Sure. Dad, which part would you like to eat tonight?”
Since it was dark, Jian Mo, unable to shift his eyes into a beast-like form for better night vision, couldn’t make out the Woolhorn Beast’s details. He asked, “Which part is the tenderest?”
Ban Ming pointed with the back of his knife. “That would be these two strips on its back.”
Jian Mo suggested, “Why don’t we take those? We can stir-fry them while they’re still fresh. After a couple of days, the meat won’t be as good.”
Ban Ming quickly cut the meat and held it in his hands, hesitating to hand it over. He glanced at his dad, then at his other father, and cleared his throat. “It’s already so late. Should our families eat together tonight?”
The small cat, Ban Jiu, who had been quietly squatting nearby, perked up, raising its round head to look at Jian Mo. “Meow? Eat together?”
Qing Kuo playfully smacked Ban Ming’s head. “You’re just trying to take advantage of Jian Mo’s good cooking!”
Jian Mo chuckled. “Let’s eat together. I’ll cook, and everyone can help out.”
Ban Ming and Ban Jiu cheered loudly in response.
Thanks for the chapter! So many foodies, lol