The cubs of the He’an Tribe, having once again tasted the charm of gourmet cooking, had recently turned their games into cooking roleplay.
Unlike the play pretend games of human children that Jian Mo remembered, these cubs played with real fire and used actual clay pots to make food—and then they ate their creations.
The adults of the tribe found this amusing and didn’t stop them, only instructing the patrolling beastmen to keep an eye out to prevent accidental fires.
Watching this, Jian Mo thought the cubs lived quite a happy life.
Earth’s children certainly didn’t have such freedom in their play.
Chirpy, who always enjoyed hanging out with the cubs, now loved being with them even more, enticed by the food they made during their games.
Since the cubs’ cooking often involved plenty of meat, it was an irresistible temptation for Chirpy.
The cubs, generous as ever, made sure that Chirpy always got a share of whatever they cooked. Chirpy, in turn, relished its little snacks with great enthusiasm.
Jian Mo occasionally worried that Chirpy might upset its stomach.
But then he thought about how Chirpy used to forage in the wild all on its own and never had any problems. Surely, living in the tribe wouldn’t suddenly make it ill.
With that reassurance, Jian Mo decided to let it be.
The cubs were so earnest about feeding Chirpy that he couldn’t bear to discourage them.
One evening, Jian Mo walked over to the cubs, holding a small jar. “Jiang Xing, come here. I’ve got something for you.”
The cubs, led by Jiang Xing, turned their heads and shouted, “Brother Jian Mo—”
Even Chirpy turned around with a soft “Chirp.”
Before Jian Mo could speak, Jiang Xing excitedly offered, “Brother Jian Mo, we just finished cooking! Do you want to try some?”
At this, He Feng quickly scooped up a plate of food. Little white wolf Zhou Dao grabbed the plate in his mouth and happily trotted over to Jian Mo, mumbling around the dish, “Brother Jian Mo, here—awoo!”
Jian Mo looked at the dark, charred dish on the plate and gently declined. “I think I’ll pass. Instead, I brought you some seasoning powder. You can try using it in your cooking.”
The seasoning powder was a blend of salt, garlic powder, honey block powder, and shellfish powder—aromatic and flavorful. As long as the food wasn’t outright burned, adding this powder would make any dish taste good.
This was Jian Mo’s way of supporting the cubs’ efforts.
Hearing his offer, the cubs cheered and ran over.
Jiang Xing accepted the jar with chubby hands. “Thank you, Brother Jian Mo—”
The cubs chorused, “Thank you, Brother Jian Mo—”
Seeing how well-behaved they were, Jian Mo patted each one on the head, ending with a pat for Chirpy, who eagerly leaned its large head forward.
“Alright, off you go now,” Jian Mo said with a smile.
The cubs nodded and ran off together, eager to experiment with the new seasoning.
Before Jian Mo could turn away, someone called out to him, “You’re really in good spirits, playing with these little ones.”
He turned to see it was Fu Zhou and a few others.
Curious, Jian Mo asked, “Isn’t today a rest day? Where did you all go? What’s in the basket?”
Fu Zhou grinned mysteriously. “Bath flowers. Take a look—”
Jian Mo had never heard of bath flowers before. He walked over to peek into the basket and saw small, round flowers inside.
“Feel them,” Fu Zhou urged.
Jian Mo touched one and found the raised stamens soft and springy, almost like tiny silicone bristles. The sensation was oddly satisfying.
“These are amazing,” Jian Mo said, intrigued. “Why haven’t I seen these before?”
Zhou Fu explained, “Try smelling them. That’s the real magic.”
Jian Mo brought his fingers to his nose and caught a faint, pleasant fragrance.
Xi Lu added, “We’re planning to use the bath flowers to get ready for the Festival of Beasts. Are you coming?”
“For the festival preparations?” Jian Mo asked.
Zhou Fu nodded. “Exactly. These flowers only bloom for a few days, so we spent a while gathering enough for a basket.”
Tonight was the second full moon of spring—the Festival of Beasts.
Every tribe would light bonfires in celebration. When Jian Mo had passed through the clearing earlier, he’d seen Qing Kuo and the others busy preparing roasted meat and fruit wine.
By evening, everyone would gather to sing and dance, while young beastmen transformed into their beast forms to visit other tribes in search of partners. If a sub-beastman from their tribe needed a ride, they would gladly assist.
Some would even venture into the wilderness for private rendezvous.
Jian Mo and Wu Jiong had their own plans to avoid the crowds, planning a moonlit date by the Ambus River.
Jian Mo asked, “Doesn’t Qing Kuo still need help preparing the bonfire?”
Zhou Fu and the others chattered, “We already asked—they’re almost done and don’t need us. Qing Kuo said he’ll come over later, and we’ll share some bath flowers with them.”
Satisfied, Jian Mo nodded. “Alright, I’ll join you.”
Zhou Fu urged, “Hurry up; it’s almost dark.”
The group headed to the usual bathing spot together.
Though the warming weather had made baths more frequent, tonight’s bathing was unusually meticulous, almost ceremonial.
Jian Mo chose a quieter spot and watched as the others helped each other trim hair and groom fur with solemnity.
Some even brought flowers to dye their lips and cheeks, giving them an alluring glow under the moonlight.
Observing them, Jian Mo was struck by the ritualistic beauty of it all. It reminded him of courtship displays in birds: serious, vibrant, and full of life.
Soon, Qing Kuo and the others arrived.
Seeing Jian Mo watching with a smile, they came over and pulled him into the activity.
“Don’t just watch—join in and spruce yourself up.”
Jian Mo resisted. “I’m not really into the whole dye thing.”
“Then at least let us trim your hair,” Qing Kuo suggested. “It’s getting a bit long.”
Jian Mo agreed, “Alright, that’s fair.”
Qing Kuo used a small knife to give Jian Mo a neat haircut, while Ye Luo helped tidy his nails. Despite not yet seeking a mate, Ye Luo was also preparing for the festival, planning to meet someone who caught his eye.
After some grooming, they even handed Jian Mo a mirror to admire their handiwork.
Although the mirror was just a piece of glass with a reflective coating and the image wasn’t particularly clear, Jian Mo could still see that he looked much more refreshed and spirited.
After arriving in the beastman world, with all the physical activity and his routine of early to bed and early to rise, his features had become more refined. In fact, his appearance now was better than it had been on Earth.
Even he felt a flutter of attraction looking at himself.
Jian Mo marveled, “You all are too skilled at this.”
Qing Kuo, satisfied as he examined Jian Mo’s face, replied, “You’re just naturally handsome.”
Jian Mo glanced at the sub-beastmen around him. Most of them had striking, bold features, were tall and lean, and had an exotic charm enhanced by their slightly tanned complexions.
“You all look great too,” Jian Mo said appreciatively.
The group laughed and complimented each other before packing up to head back.
When they returned to the tribe, the young beastmen had also finished grooming.
Just like the sub-beastmen, the beastmen had trimmed their fur, dyed parts of their skin and lips, and adorned themselves with accessories, appearing far more refined than usual.
Particularly eye-catching was Ah Hu, a beastman whose beast form was a long-haired orange tabby cat. Around his neck hung a colorful glass-bead necklace, transforming him from a mischievous youth into a magnetic young man.
Seeing him now, Jian Mo found it hard to reconcile this elegant figure with the memory of Ah Hu last winter. Back then, Ah Hu’s house had collapsed, and a rock had struck his rear end. Embarrassed and furious, he had chased his companions around while howling indignantly.
Jian Mo cast a glance across the group of beastmen and sub-beastmen, his gaze lingering on Wu Jiong.
Wu Jiong had only done some simple grooming, but he looked extraordinarily tall and handsome, his presence radiating confidence.
Especially his long-lashed eyes—when they looked Jian Mo’s way, Jian Mo’s heart skipped a beat.
Wu Jiong strode over with his long legs, offering Jian Mo a smile as he extended his hand.
Jian Mo placed his hand in Wu Jiong’s palm, muttering quietly, “My gosh! You’re too handsome. I don’t want to go to the bonfire party anymore.”
Wu Jiong responded, “Then we won’t go.”
Jian Mo turned to him in surprise. “Are you serious? You’re the tribe leader. Isn’t it mandatory for you to attend?”
Wu Jiong shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. They’ll figure out why we’re absent, and someone else can host.”
Tempted by the suggestion, Jian Mo hesitated but ultimately sighed and declined. “Forget it. No need to rush things.”
Wu Jiong chuckled softly and leaned down to kiss him. “Let’s stop by the bonfire for a bit and then leave.”
When they arrived at the bonfire, most people were already there.
Hong Qiu and the others were busy hosting both the He’an Tribe and visitors from other tribes—while the younger generation played, the older members had taken on more of the preparation duties.
Seeing Wu Jiong return, Hong Qiu heaved a sigh of relief and quickly pulled him and Jian Mo over to help greet the guests.
Jian Mo followed along, enjoying the atmosphere. There was drinking, eating, chatting, dancing, and singing—all of it bursting with energy, the youths fueling the festivities with minimal prompting.
Under the bright moonlight, exuberant singing echoed far into the sky, as if it might reach the clouds.
Jian Mo and Wu Jiong joined in for a while before letting Hong Qiu know they were leaving.
Wu Jiong transformed into his massive white wolf form and carried Jian Mo to the Ambus River.
It was the same place where they had caught three-eyed fish a while back. The flowers had been in full bloom then, and the grass was lush and green.
Tonight, the wildflowers still flourished, and the grass remained vibrantly verdant.
The full moon shone so brightly that they could clearly see the clouds in the sky and every detail of the open fields below.
Jian Mo had assumed they’d start with moon-gazing, but the reality didn’t unfold quite as he’d expected.
Bringing along the jar of balm made from the insect nest seemed to guarantee things would go beyond his control.
Still, indulging fully before enjoying the moonlight didn’t seem like a bad idea.
Resting his head on Wu Jiong’s shoulder and gazing at the moon above, Jian Mo felt a rare, simple contentment.
Life felt utterly untroubled at that moment—nothing to worry about, only the freedom to savor the bright moon and the joy of the present.
They stayed by the Ambus River for a long while. When they returned to the tribe, it was already late into the night.
The dew had settled, dampening the white wolf’s fur on his paws and tail.
Jian Mo stroked Wu Jiong’s fluffy ears, noting that they were slightly damp as well.
Playing with them idly, Jian Mo started to doze off.
On the way back, the white wolf ran gently, ensuring the ride was smooth and comfortable.
When they reached the house, they found a few people waiting outside. Surprised, Jian Mo shook off his drowsiness and called out, “What’s going on?”
“Doctor Jian Mo—” one of them started, then trailed off awkwardly. “Something happened, and we need you to take a look.”
Sliding off the white wolf’s back, Jian Mo tightened the belt around his waist. “What kind of issue?”
As he stepped closer, Jian Mo recognized one of them as Qi Xia from the Meng Shui Tribe. They’d met a few times and were somewhat acquainted. “Is someone injured?”
Qi Xia hesitated, stumbling over his words. “Not exactly an injury. You explain,” he said, pushing a companion forward before quickly retreating behind him.
The unfortunate companion hesitated, glancing nervously at Wu Jiong—who had shifted back into human form and was adjusting his beast-hide skirt—before stammering, “It’s… um, one of our companions. He, uh, used moss… you know, that kind of moss… to soak, um, his… that area…”
The poor beastman stuttered so much that Jian Mo struggled to follow.
“???”
Tentatively, Jian Mo guessed, “You mean… his lower body?”
Qi Xia nodded. “Yes…”
The companion chimed in, “And now something seems off…”
Jian Mo’s brain reeled at the absurdity of soaking that in a moss-based solution. “Why would anyone do that?”
The beastman’s stammering worsened. “They said… it might, uh, help with… endurance…”
…Indeed, the beastman world was as unrestrained as ever.
Jian Mo suddenly recalled that the balm used by their tribe had all been traded from the Meng Shui Tribe.
The Meng Shui Tribe’s products in this category were certainly advanced.
But it also seemed… not particularly reliable. Perhaps they should trade for less of it in the future.
Jian Mo closed his open mouth, adopting a serious tone as he asked, “So, what exactly is wrong?”
The companion hesitated before replying, “Uh, he says he… can’t really feel anything.”
Jian Mo frowned. “From soaking too much?”
Qi Xia chimed in, “We’re not entirely sure. It’s just… something isn’t right now.”
Jian Mo thought for a moment. “From what you’re describing, I can’t really determine the exact issue. Can you take me to see him?”
Qi Xia quickly interjected, “Uh, that might not work. He doesn’t want anyone to know.”
The other companion added, “He, uh, just asked us to come and see if you might have any suggestions.”
Jian Mo probed further, but the men from the Meng Shui Tribe were adamant. They refused to let him see the individual in question or even reveal who it was.
With no choice, Jian Mo suggested, “In this case, it’s probably just an overdose of the moss. Tell him to wait it out. The effects should wear off by tomorrow.”
The men nodded eagerly, as if receiving a pardon, and were about to make a swift exit.
Jian Mo quickly added, “But if it’s still not better tomorrow, he must come to me. This is serious and shouldn’t be ignored.”
The group nodded even faster and hurried off. Two steps later, they transformed into their beast forms and darted away, disappearing into the moonlit night.
Jian Mo watched their retreating figures until they vanished, then rubbed his face and burst into laughter.
Wu Jiong reached out and gently pinched the back of Jian Mo’s neck. “Stop laughing.”
Doubling over with mirth, Jian Mo gasped, “Hahaha! It’s just too ridiculous. I can’t help it.”
Wu Jiong’s lips twitched with amusement as well. “I’ve heard stories about their antics, but I didn’t think they’d take it this far.”
Jian Mo wiped tears from his eyes. “I think I understand now why they were the first to discover the moss’s anesthetic properties. They’re truly experts in exploration. Hahaha!”
Wu Jiong chuckled. “Let’s head back to bed.”
Straightening up, Jian Mo suddenly said, “Actually, I think I’ve laughed myself wide awake. Maybe we can explore a bit more?”
Wu Jiong raised an eyebrow. “With moss?”
“Of course not!” Jian Mo exclaimed, then stopped abruptly. “Wait, are you suggesting—?!”
Wu Jiong’s tone was calm. “I don’t need moss to extend anything.”
“Well, that’s true,” Jian Mo admitted, stifling another laugh as he pushed open the door. “This has truly been an enlightening night.”
Thanks for the chapter! lol