The wandering beastman cub’s fur was long and tangled, making it difficult to manage.
Jian Mo first trimmed off the long fur, then used a razor to carefully shave away the remaining short fur, leaving only a layer of soft stubble.
This made the cub look much cleaner and also allowed Jian Mo to conduct a thorough examination.
Without the fur, the little cub’s bony spine and protruding ribs were clearly visible.
The revealed face of the cub was delicate and gentle, with a pair of soft, mild eyes.
Looking at this little one, Jian Mo could immediately tell it had a good temperament.
He turned and called to Wu Jiong, “Help me carry him to the bath basin. Let’s wash him.”
Wu Jiong came over, lifted the cub, and carried him to the basin the Meng Shui Tribe had prepared outside the house.
Jian Mo followed behind, speaking gently to the cub, “We’re going to give you a bath. You’ve got trimmed fur stuck on you, and it’ll itch if we don’t clean it off.”
The cub didn’t respond or resist.
Wu Jiong gently placed the cub next to the basin.
Jian Mo crouched down, patted the cub’s head, and then scooped a ladle of warm water, pouring it down his back.
The cub flinched slightly, but Jian Mo scratched his chin to soothe him, and the cub quickly calmed down.
The two men thoroughly soaked the cub with warm water before lathering him with soap.
The soap, which the Meng Shui Tribe had traded from the He’an Tribe, produced a rich, fine lather and had a faint herbal fragrance. It felt soothing on the skin.
Both Jian Mo and Wu Jiong were careful to avoid the cub’s areas of skin irritation, ensuring the soap wouldn’t sting him.
After washing with soap, they rinsed the cub with clean water. Jian Mo then wrapped him in a clean cloth to dry his fur, while Wu Jiong carried him into the sunlight to bask.
Together, they applied an herbal ointment for the cub’s skin condition.
The ointment, made from animal fat and herbal extracts, felt cool to the touch and carried a mild herbal aroma.
As they worked, large tears suddenly welled up in the cub’s eyes, and he began to sob.
Jian Mo paused, picked up a clean cloth to wipe his tears, and patted his back gently. “It’s okay now. You’re safe.”
The cub continued crying.
Jian Mo didn’t stop him, calmly wiping his tears while continuing to apply the ointment.
By midday, when the Meng Shui Tribe members brought lunch, they had also specially prepared a bowl of meat broth for the cub.
The meat was finely minced and mixed with broth, clearly prepared with care.
The cub glanced at it, and tears began streaming down again. He opened his mouth slightly and whispered, “Thank you.”
The sub-beastman who delivered the meal was stunned and turned to Jian Mo. “The cub can speak?”
Jian Mo, equally surprised, shook his head slightly, indicating he didn’t know.
The sub-beastman quickly said, “I’ll call the chieftain over.”
Yun Long soon arrived, gently patting the cub’s head. “What’s your name?”
With naturally kind eyes and a gentle demeanor, Yun Long exuded warmth. He crouched in front of the cub, radiating patience and friendliness.
The cub shuffled closer to Jian Mo’s knee before answering hesitantly, “Xing Yuan. My name is Xing Yuan.”
Once the cub was willing to talk, things became much easier.
Everyone gathered around him, asking where he came from and why he had been wandering in the wilderness.
The cub explained the events in a halting but coherent manner.
It turned out that his two fathers were from the Qing Lin Tribe. Having grown older, they decided to leave the tribe to travel.
The couple, who had married young, had never been able to have children. Unexpectedly, during their journey, the sub-beastman became pregnant. Being older, he hadn’t realized he was pregnant until the pregnancy was well advanced.
Shocked, the couple decided to return to their tribe.
They never made it back. Xing Yuan was born along the way. To ensure their safety, the couple temporarily settled in a nearby tribe.
When Xing Yuan grew a bit older, his fathers decided to bring him back to the Qing Lin Tribe, thinking it would be better for his upbringing.
Tragically, one of his fathers aged rapidly and passed away during the journey. Realizing they might not make it back to the Qing Lin Tribe, his other father tried to find an inhabited area where he could entrust Xing Yuan to a tribe.
Though his remaining father was still capable and managed to protect him for a while, he eventually succumbed to grief and exhaustion. Before passing, he instructed Xing Yuan to grow his fur out, follow the river, and find a beastman tribe.
Following these instructions, Xing Yuan began his search for a tribe.
However, being so young, he was repeatedly chased by wild animals, forcing him to stray from the river and take many detours.
Fortunately, as a beastman, his natural hunting instincts helped him survive. His thick fur shielded him from numerous attacks, and he always managed to escape back to the river before finally encountering the Meng Shui Tribe.
Hearing his harrowing journey, many people were moved to tears.
Jian Mo felt a pang of sorrow in his heart. Among beastmen and sub-beastmen, there was a tradition of traveling in old age, both to avoid the pain of parting by death and to spend their final days exploring the wider world, with their bodies left for wild animals after death.
For this couple, who had longed for a child their entire lives, fate had finally granted their wish—only to cruelly take it away.
Such was the way of the world.
Yun Long gently patted Xing Yuan’s back. “From now on, you can live in our Meng Shui Tribe. This will be your home.”
The cub hesitated briefly before nodding.
Yun Long scratched his chin lightly and wiped his tears. “Our tribe is wonderful. You’ll see once you get to know it.”
The cub nodded again.
With the cub’s situation stabilized, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong prepared to return temporarily to the He’an Tribe.
Jian Mo refused to accept any payment for the cub’s treatment, so the Meng Shui Tribe offered to trade three male Tou Tou Beasts for one male and two females as compensation.
This, Jian Mo accepted.
When they returned to the He’an Tribe, Jian Mo still felt unsettled. He said to Wu Jiong, “Sending elderly couples out to wander is really inhumane.”
Wu Jiong replied, “It’s a tradition from times when food was scarce. Many older couples would leave the tribe. Before you came, we sometimes went hungry during winter. There wasn’t much choice.”
Leaning his forehead tiredly against Wu Jiong’s shoulder, Jian Mo said, “There will be a better way in the future. At least in our tribe, let’s make sure no elderly couples have to leave anymore.”
Wu Jiong stroked the back of Jian Mo’s head. “Alright.”
Jian Mo couldn’t stop thinking about the wandering beastman cub, Xing Yuan. The next day, he packed some fabric and other supplies, along with sausages, intending to bring them to Xing Yuan.
On his way downstairs, he hesitated, then turned back to fetch a small knife and placed it in the basket.
Outside, Wu Jiong was already waiting in the courtyard. Jian Mo took out the knife to show him. “I want to give this knife to Xing Yuan. It wasn’t easy for that little one to find the Meng Shui Tribe.”
Wu Jiong didn’t object. “Having personal belongings might make him more cheerful.”
“I think so too,” Jian Mo agreed. “Having something of his own might give him a sense of security.”
They planned to visit the Meng Shui Tribe that day, riding Chirpy directly.
Chirpy, thrilled to accompany them, didn’t mind carrying them at all. Along the way, the bird chirped joyously, its “chirp chirp chirp” lifting Jian Mo’s spirits.
By the time they saw Xing Yuan, Jian Mo noticed the cub’s skin disease had improved—no more oozing sores—and his brows were more relaxed. This made Jian Mo even happier.
As expected of a beastman cub, his body was recovering quickly now that he was getting proper nutrition.
After examining Xing Yuan and reapplying the ointment, Jian Mo gave him a gentle pat on the head.
The little cub shyly smiled at Jian Mo, revealing a neat row of white teeth.
Jian Mo asked, “Xing Yuan, can you shift forms?”
Xing Yuan hesitated before nodding. He crouched down and transformed back into his human form.
In his human form, the little one looked even thinner. His ribs were visible, but his small, rounded belly made him appear adorably plump.
Feeling self-conscious, he stayed crouched on the ground, unwilling to stand up.
Jian Mo pulled a piece of cloth from his basket and wrapped it around Xing Yuan’s waist, tying an awkward knot.
Wu Jiong, unable to stand the sight of it, untied the knot and retied it gently and securely.
Xing Yuan touched the cloth, his lips curling into a shy but delighted smile. His happiness was evident.
Jian Mo then took out a small knife in a wooden sheath from the basket and handed it to the cub. “This knife is for you. I hope you’ll be strong, brave, and grow tall quickly.”
Xing Yuan’s eyes sparkled with surprise. He reached out, then hesitated, not daring to take it.
Wu Jiong placed the knife in his hand. “Take it. Just be careful with it.”
Only then did Xing Yuan accept the knife. He said softly, “Thank you, Doctor Jian Mo. Thank you, Chief Wu Jiong.”
The cub’s soft, sweet voice was too endearing. Jian Mo couldn’t resist patting his head again. “You’re welcome.”
Hearing that Jian Mo and Wu Jiong had arrived, Yun Long soon came over. Avoiding Xing Yuan’s earshot, he proposed, “We’d like to find a childless couple to adopt Xing Yuan. What do you think?”
In this world, birth rates were low. For example, in the He’an Tribe, couples like Ying Duan and Shui Jin never had children. Similarly, Hong Qiu and Jiang Tou had partners but no children.
The situation was similar in the Meng Shui Tribe. There were several couples without children, and it seemed unlikely they would have any in the future.
The plan was to match Xing Yuan with a middle-aged couple as adoptive parents. The tribe would provide additional resources to the couple, ensuring they wouldn’t mind raising another child if they later had their own.
Xing Yuan would grow up quickly and become self-sufficient. Even if something unforeseen happened, the Meng Shui Tribe would look after him to prevent him from wandering again.
Jian Mo and Wu Jiong agreed with the plan, but Jian Mo asked, “What does Xing Yuan think? Is he okay with having new parents?”
Yun Long nodded. “We asked him, and he agreed. He said his father told him before passing that he should live with any kind-hearted people willing to take him in.”
Since both parties were willing, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong had no objections. “Let’s do it, then.”
Jian Mo handed over the basket. “We brought some supplies for Xing Yuan. Please give them to him.”
Yun Long smiled. “You should give it to him yourselves. It’s your kindness, and this child is smart and grateful—he’ll remember it.”
Jian Mo waved it off. “We just hope he’ll live a better life. That’s all.”
Wu Jiong added, “If he struggles to adapt to life in your tribe, you can send him to the He’an Tribe.”
Yun Long looked surprised. “But isn’t your tribe primarily made up of cat and dog forms?”
Wu Jiong replied, “The people matter most. Having other forms isn’t a problem. We’ve had members with different beast forms before.”
When beastmen and sub-beastmen became partners, it wasn’t uncommon for one to join the other’s tribe. The He’an Tribe had previously welcomed several beastmen who followed their sub-beastman partners.
Curious, Jian Mo asked about Xing Yuan’s beast form.
Yun Long confirmed, “His beast form is similar to a mammoth. In the future, he’ll grow to be large and formidable.”
Jian Mo was genuinely happy for the cub. “No matter what, being strong is always a good thing.”
After consulting Xing Yuan, the Meng Shui Tribe matched him with a suitable middle-aged couple.
The adoptive parents, overjoyed, prepared a room and clothing for Xing Yuan with evident care.
Seeing this, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong felt reassured.
Once Xing Yuan’s matters were settled, Yun Long discussed another issue with Wu Jiong and Jian Mo. “The fact that Xing Yuan wandered here with wild animals suggests many beasts have migrated to the plains. We’re planning to check it out. Would your tribe like to join us? It’s safer to go together.”
Wu Jiong asked, “Did you ask Xing Yuan about this?”
Yun Long nodded. “We did. There are indeed many beasts on the plains now. Sending a hunting party could yield plenty of game.”
Wu Jiong considered it. “I’ll need to discuss it with our tribe.”
Yun Long smiled. “Let us know what you decide. If you don’t come, we’ll go on our own.”
Wu Jiong agreed. “I’ll send someone to inform you tomorrow.”
On the way back, Jian Mo sat on Chirpy’s back and asked Wu Jiong, “Where exactly is this plain? Isn’t the Yi Gu Tribe below us and the Meng Shui Tribe?”
Wu Jiong wrapped an arm around him and explained, “Below the Yi Gu Tribe is a vast plain. Many wild animals migrate there during the spring and summer. It’s unclaimed land, with no tribe overseeing it. However, it’s quite dangerous due to the number of beasts.”
Curious, Jian Mo asked, “Then why hesitate? Wouldn’t it be straightforward to hunt there?”
Wu Jiong replied, “The plains are far from our tribe. Bringing the game back would be challenging. If there’s no migration, the trip wouldn’t be worthwhile.”
Jian Mo pointed out, “But Xing Yuan confirmed the migration. It should be rewarding.”
Wu Jiong nodded. “That depends on how many people are willing to go. If we have enough, it’s worth it. Otherwise, it’s not. We’ll ask around first. Even if we don’t join the Meng Shui Tribe, we could organize our own group.”
Jian Mo understood. “So it’s about weighing the factors and not rushing into a decision.”
Wu Jiong smiled. “Exactly.”
