Having finally captured the beasts raiding their garden, Jian Mo decided to cook one of the Purple Birds for breakfast.
Purple Birds were large, with plump, tender meat and a rich flavor.
After Wu Jiong processed the bird by the river, Jian Mo chopped it into pieces. He stir-fried the chunks in oil to remove moisture and bring out their aroma, then added garlic powder and a handful of pepper buds.
The resulting dish was dry-fried Purple Bird, fragrant, slightly spicy, and perfect with a side dish.
As Jian Mo paired the bird with some cooked stalks, he lamented, “These stalks don’t go well with Purple Bird. If only we had rice—two bowls of rice with this would be perfect.”
Wu Jiong, who had heard Jian Mo talk about rice countless times, nodded despite never having tried it. “We’ll keep looking. Sooner or later, we’ll find it—or something similar as a substitute.”
Jian Mo agreed. “If we can’t find rice, beans or corn would work too. Anything that can be cooked into a meal.”
Still, he wondered how these wild, unrefined crops might turn out. Judging by the wild wheat-like grass they’d encountered, it didn’t seem promising.
“Never mind,” he muttered. “We’ll figure it out once we find something.”
As they ate, Jian Mo brought up another topic. “We’re running low on moss. It’s been a while since we last went to Thunder Mountain to collect some. There should be new growth by now. How about we check it out today?”
“Let’s head there after breakfast,” Wu Jiong agreed.
Jian Mo nodded thoughtfully. “We’ve been going off on our own a lot lately. I’ll try to cut back on solo activities for a while.”
Wu Jiong waved it off. “You’ve already done so much for the tribe. Everyone understands you deserve special treatment. It’s fine if you don’t join every group outing, as long as you’re not taking a share of the distributed supplies. No one will complain.”
“Even if they don’t say it, they might think it,” Jian Mo countered.
Wu Jiong replied calmly, “Anyone who has complaints can take on everything you’ve done.”
Jian Mo chuckled. “Alright, I’ll figure it out myself.”
Wu Jiong looked at him seriously. “Do what you want. You don’t have to follow the tribe’s pace. I’m the tribe leader; if I say it’s fine, it’s fine.”
Jian Mo smiled. “Got it.”
Then he added, “That was a pretty cool thing to say.”
Wu Jiong’s ears reddened slightly. “Eat your breakfast.”
They had visited Thunder Mountain several times before.
Since Chirpy was afraid of the mountain’s lightning, they decided to leave it behind this time. Wu Jiong transformed into his giant wolf form and carried Jian Mo on his back.
At full speed, it took them less than half a day to reach the mountain—a trivial effort for the giant wolf.
By late morning, they arrived at the damp and lush terrain of Thunder Mountain.
Gazing at the moss-covered tree trunks, Jian Mo mused aloud, “This place feels so different like it doesn’t belong to the He’an Tribe’s territory, but somewhere much farther away.”
“You mean the plants here are completely different?” Wu Jiong asked.
“Exactly. The landscape and vegetation are unique. I wanted to mention this last time we came. If we have time after gathering moss, how about finding a warm spring to soak in?”
“I know just the spot,” Wu Jiong replied. “I’ll take you there later.”
They began searching for the moss used to make anesthetic.
The moss grew in soft, furry patches, each about the size of a hand, making it easy to find.
As they collected, they carefully left small portions behind to ensure regrowth. That way, the moss would regenerate, and future trips would yield even more.
Over time, their efforts would make harvesting easier and more fruitful.
While wandering, Wu Jiong pointed to a plant. “The core of this grass is edible.”
Jian Mo looked down. “Grass? Really?”
The plant only reached his knees, but its thick stalks were as wide as his wrist, topped with pairs of fleshy, opposite leaves.
“Are you sure this is grass?” he asked doubtfully.
“Peel it, and you’ll see,” Wu Jiong said.
He cut a particularly thick stalk and stripped away its outer layer, revealing a pale, tender core resembling water bamboo.
Jian Mo took it, examining it closely. “It looks more like a vegetable.”
“You could call it a wild vegetable,” Wu Jiong replied. “Try it.”
Jian Mo took a cautious bite. The core was sweet and crisp, with a texture similar to water chestnuts but less sweet.
“This is delicious!” Jian Mo exclaimed. “Can we dig some up to grow back home?”
Wu Jiong shook his head. “Not likely. It grows incredibly slowly—this plant is at least five years old.”
After studying it for a moment, Jian Mo sighed. “Five years to grow this much? Definitely not worth it. Fine, let’s let it grow longer.”
“I’ll cut a couple more stalks,” Wu Jiong said.
“What’s it called?” Jian Mo asked.
Wu Jiong thought for a moment. “We call it Slow Grass.”
Jian Mo squinted at him, suspicious. “Did you just make that up?”
Wu Jiong smirked. “That’s what our tribe calls it. I’m not sure what other tribes might call it.”
Efficiently, Wu Jiong harvested two-thirds of the Slow Grass stalks, leaving the rest intact. He placed the unpeeled stalks into his backpack to preserve their freshness.
Jian Mo glanced back at the plant. “When we get back, I’ll ask Ye Luo about it.”
The name “Slow Grass” sounded like a joke.
Along with the Slow Grass, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong collected plenty of wild vegetables and even caught several fish during their day at Thunder Mountain.
The fish from this area were especially tasty, unique varieties that couldn’t be found elsewhere.
After wandering the mountain all day and enjoying a soak in a hot spring, they returned home at dusk.
Jian Mo expressed a craving for the fresh fish they’d caught, so Wu Jiong carefully descaled them, removed their innards, and cleaned them thoroughly.
The small fish were lightly marinated and then cooked in a stew with Mien Fruit cakes and pickled vegetables. The resulting dish was flavorful—tender fish, soft and chewy Mien Fruit cakes, and tangy-salty pickled vegetables.
Jian Mo ate two large bowls of the stew with stalks, and after overeating, dragged Wu Jiong out for a long walk around the tribe to digest.
Over the next few days, their meals were consistently delicious, filled with fresh meat prepared in a variety of ways—pan-fried, stir-fried, roasted, and stewed.
Chirpy was the happiest of them all, chirping joyfully every day with eyes that sparkled brightly.
Watching the lively and energetic Chirpy bounce around, Jian Mo began brainstorming ways to procure even more fresh prey for it to try.
Chirpy’s love for food, coupled with its high emotional energy, made Jian Mo enjoy cooking for it even more.
For several consecutive days, Jian Mo joined the tribe on foraging trips without bringing Chirpy along.
Occasionally, young members of the tribe would call out to Jian Mo before riding off on Chirpy for their own outings.
Jian Mo noticed this but didn’t think much of it. They had agreed to co-raise Chirpy with the tribe, and since Chirpy enjoyed these outings, he saw no issue.
One day, while most of the tribe was out gathering or hunting, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong were also away, leaving only a few patrolling beastmen and a handful of others resting at home.
Everyone was busy with their tasks and paid little attention to Chirpy and the young cubs playing nearby.
Chirpy often played with the cubs, a sight so familiar that no one gave it a second thought. The fluffy group of little ones and their larger winged companion were an endearing sight, a mix of furry and feathered chaos.
However, unbeknownst to the adults, this seemingly innocent group was up to no good.
That day, Chirpy and the cubs wandered to the riverbank. They crouched in a row on the shore, their wide eyes fixed intently on the opposite bank.
A patrolling beastman noticed them and walked closer, cautioning, “Stay on this side of the river. Don’t go across, alright?”
“Chirp!” Chirpy responded cheerfully.
The cubs all nodded earnestly. “Got it! We’ll stay right here and keep watch!”
Truthfully, there wasn’t much danger in crossing during the day. The patrolling beastmen had already scouted the area, and no wild beasts were nearby.
The patroller assumed the group was simply guarding Jian Mo’s vegetable patch from invading animals. With that thought, he affectionately ruffled a small tabby cub’s head. These little ones were clever and obedient.
Satisfied with his warning, the patroller continued on his way, circling around to patrol another area.
The cubs watched him out of the corners of their eyes, staying perfectly still until he was out of sight.
The moment he disappeared, the tabby cub sprang up and urged, “Quick, quick, quick! We can cross the river now. Be careful, everyone!”
The little ones, too young to shift forms yet, raised their small paws and splashed through the shallow river, paddling to the opposite bank.
Chirpy brought up the rear, carefully stepping on the riverbed stones with its hind paws. By the time it reached the other side, its rump was thoroughly soaked.
Once across, the group of fluffy creatures shook themselves off under the sunlight, droplets flying everywhere. They looked back at the river, puffing out their chests with pride at their successful crossing.
Spring made food plentiful, and foraging had become relatively easy. Most cubs capable of shifting had gone out with the adults to learn the ropes, leaving this mischievous bunch to their own devices.
The tribe, confident in the safety of the area and the presence of patrollers, didn’t worry about the cubs.
No one expected them to actually cross the river. After all, the river was considered a natural barrier.
Once they had shaken off most of the water, Chirpy took the lead, trotting ahead before turning back to chirp twice at the group, signaling, “This is the spot!”
The tabby cub flicked its tail and stared intently at the vegetable patch. “Let’s get started! Two to a plot—see if we can catch anything.”
The cubs erupted in a chorus of growls, barks, and meows, scattering to their assigned areas to stake out their prey.
The pickings were slim; after a while, they managed to catch only two bugs.
Soon, a chubby white wolf cub named Zhou Dao let out a quiet howl, warning the others, “Jiang Tou is patrolling this way!”
The cubs scrambled back to the riverbank, tumbling into the water like dumplings being dropped into soup. With frantic paddling and wagging tails for extra propulsion, they crossed back to their side of the river in no time.
Once ashore, they all shook out their fur in unison.
What followed was a chorus of childish complaints:
“You splashed me!”
“You splashed me too!”
“Zhou Dao, keep your distance!”
“Shh, keep it down! Jiang Tou is coming. Run!”
The cubs darted into the forest by the river, leaving behind a trail of giggles and pawprints.
Chirpy, bringing up the rear, ran the slowest. With the river being shallow and its large size, only its rump had gotten wet, leaving the rest of its feathers dry.
Jiang Tou, the patroller, arrived just as Chirpy lumbered away. Seeing the group frolicking, he assumed they were simply playing tag and didn’t interfere.
The cubs spent the entire day playing, alternating between evading the patrollers and crossing the river to try and hunt prey.
When the first hunting team returned to the tribe, the cubs had just made it back to the central clearing, panting heavily.
Ban Ming noticed his little brother breathing hard and scooped him up by the chest to inspect him. “What have you all been up to? You’re panting like crazy.”
The tabby cub licked Ban Ming’s fingers and replied innocently, “Playing.”
His fur was mostly dry, with only a faint dampness remaining. Ban Ming didn’t think much of it—every cub had tumbled through the woods and splashed in puddles at some point. A little wet fur was perfectly normal.
“Alright, go play,” Ban Ming said, setting him down.
“Meow,” the tabby cub replied, scampering off.
The adults hadn’t realized the cubs had been sneaking off to the other side of the river to hunt.
When Jian Mo visited the vegetable patch to water the plants, he noticed a few faint paw prints. The weather had been dry, so the prints were shallow. Lacking much experience in hunting, he simply found them puzzling and didn’t think much of it.
Over the past few days, the crops had grown well, with no signs of damage. The seeds from Ru Da had sprouted tender green shoots, and Jian Mo had already harvested some to cook with Mien Fruit. He added just a bit of animal fat, salt, and shellfish powder, and the result was incredibly fresh and tender—a perfect taste of spring.
The greens were so delicious that Jian Mo decided they could be a long-term addition to their crops.
Meanwhile, the cubs, seeing that no one had caught on, turned their river-crossing hunts into a daily adventure.
For several days, they failed to catch any prey.
That was, until one day, while Ban Jiu was lying in wait in the vegetable patch, a bird attempted to land and peck at the sprouts. Ban Jiu leaped up and pounced, pinning the bird to the ground.
“Awwooo! Ban Jiu is amazing!”
“You caught it! You caught it!”
“Quick, quick, the patrolling beastman is coming. Let’s run to the little forest!”
“Chirpy!”
The cubs babbled excitedly before bolting, crossing the river, and hiding in the small forest.
Once the patrolling beastman was gone, the cubs gathered around the bird—decently sized but now limp—and found themselves in a dilemma:
“What do we do with it? Eat it?”
“We can’t eat it raw! Jian Mo said so.”
“Then take it home?”
“If we take it home, our dads will know we’ve been hunting.”
“Aw, should we bury it?”
“Chirpy says give it to him!”
“Alright, give it to Chirpy. We’ll try to catch another one later.”
The cubs handed the half-dead bird to Chirpy, who gleefully clamped it in his beak and joined the cubs for another round of hunting.
They returned to the vegetable patch to lie in wait, full of excitement.
Before long, they caught a small long-eared beast. Unable to eat it themselves, they handed it off to Chirpy as well.
When Jian Mo and Wu Jiong returned home that evening, they found Chirpy sitting proudly in the courtyard, chest puffed out, with two pieces of prey in its beak.
Jian Mo paused, eyeing the scene before him. Spotting the prey, he exclaimed, “Chirpy, did you catch these yourself?”
Chirpy, still holding its trophies, mumbled proudly, “Chirp!”
Jian Mo called out, “Wu Jiong, come look! Chirpy can hunt now!”
Chirpy straightened up even more, chest swelling with pride. “Chirp!”
Wu Jiong came over, took a look, and identified the prey: “A red-necked bird and a long-eared beast. No visible wounds—Chirpy must have pounced on them.”
Jian Mo grinned. “I’ll cook them up as a treat for it tonight!”
Chirpy flapped its wings excitedly and let out a jubilant chirp.
Since Chirpy had proven itself as a hunter, it was only fitting to reward it. Jian Mo and Wu Jiong cleaned the prey and made a special pot of low-oil, low-salt braised meat for Chirpy.
The entire pot was for Chirpy. When Jian Mo placed the full bowl of meat in front of it, Chirpy chirped joyfully, eyes sparkling at the feast.
After feeding Chirpy, Jian Mo turned to head back inside for dinner.
Chirpy, however, began eating its serving of greens first, all the while keeping an eye on Jian Mo out of the corner of its eye.
Chirpy had a habit of eating the less tasty food first before enjoying the good stuff. Jian Mo noticed this but thought nothing of it.
As soon as Jian Mo was out of sight, Chirpy confirmed his absence, grabbed its food bowl stealthily, and waddled off with it.
Inside the house, Jian Mo was about to sit down to eat when he noticed the bowl of shellfish powder on the table. Remembering that Chirpy hadn’t gotten any, he said, “I’ll take some shellfish to Chirpy before it gets cold.”
Wu Jiong offered, “I’ll go with you.”
The two headed back to the courtyard but found it empty.
Jian Mo froze, staring at the vacant space. “Where’s Chirpy?”
Wu Jiong scanned the area and pointed out, “Its food bowl is gone.”
Jian Mo frowned. “It took its bowl and left? Don’t tell me it’s secretly raising a pet of its own?”
As a veterinarian, Jian Mo had encountered many cases of cats and dogs adopting their own pets. Some were so attached that they would become visibly distressed when their “pets” died.
Intrigued, Jian Mo grabbed Wu Jiong’s arm. “Let’s go find out what Chirpy is up to!”
Wu Jiong sniffed the air and quickly caught the scent. “This way.”
The aroma of the braised meat was too strong to hide, making it easy for Wu Jiong to track.
He led Jian Mo through the paths, following the scent trail, and soon they spotted Chirpy waddling along, dragging its plump body slowly through the underbrush with the food bowl in tow.
Jian Mo observed its leisurely pace and remarked, “It’s heading to the little forest. Strange—I passed by there this afternoon and didn’t see anything unusual.”
Wu Jiong lowered his voice. “Maybe it’s hidden in a burrow.”
Jian Mo suggested, “Let’s hide and watch.”
When Chirpy reached the little forest, it set the bowl down, sat upright, and let out a series of loud, clear chirps: “Chirp! Chirp!”
Its voice carried far through the trees.
After calling out, Chirpy waited patiently, not moving from its spot.
Jian Mo’s curiosity grew. Chirpy’s intelligence wasn’t surprising—he’d seen plenty of smart cats and dogs—but if the creature it was “raising” was also intelligent enough to stay hidden from the entire tribe, that would be remarkable.
Pulling Wu Jiong behind a tree, Jian Mo crouched low, anticipation bubbling within him.
Not long after, they heard rustling in the distance.
As the figure approached, Jian Mo’s expectations shattered—it wasn’t some mysterious animal.
It was one of the tribe’s cubs.
Chirpy was “raising” the tribe’s children!
Jian Mo’s scalp prickled. He exchanged a stunned look with Wu Jiong, both of them equally dumbfounded.
The first cub to arrive was Zhou Dao, the chubby white wolf. He sniffed at the food bowl and exclaimed excitedly, “Smells amazing! I’m having a piece!”
Jian Mo twitched. Just as he was about to intervene, Ban Jiu arrived and smacked Zhou Dao on the head with a paw. “Jian Mo said we’re not allowed to eat random food!”
Then, Ban Jiu’s gaze met Jian Mo’s, and he froze, fur bristling in shock. “Meow?!”
Having just stepped out from hiding, Jian Mo muttered to himself, “…Should’ve stayed hidden.”
Zhou Dao, startled by the movement, turned his head. When he saw Jian Mo, he practically leaped out of his fur. “Jian Mo!!!”
Chirpy, still holding its bowl, widened its eyes. “Chirp?”
Caught red-handed.
