Chapter 31

Qiao’s new cave is a little smaller than Zhuo Yan’s. It’s about twenty square meters, and the walls are compacted with soil and then baked, leaving a faint fragrance in the entire cave.

It wasn’t the smoky scent of burning firewood but rather a fresh, earthy aroma. Whatever wood they’d used to heat the cave had a unique, soothing scent.

Outside, the gentle slope was quite spacious. Some wild scallions and garlic had been planted at the base, probably by Sister Qiao after their last trip into the mountains.

When Qiao saw so many people arriving, she greeted them warmly. As her eyes landed on the wooden door, she couldn’t hide her joy. But after a closer look, she asked in surprise, “What’s this on top? What is this?” She turned to Zhuo Yan for an explanation.

This unfamiliar yet beautiful design was undoubtedly something he had come up with.

Zhuo Yan smiled and said, “Since you’re pairing up with a mate, I thought I’d add some blessing symbols while I was free. Here’s a cloud motif and some flowers. When both doors are closed, they form the word ‘Peace.’”

“Peace?” Qiao leaned in for a closer look.

Aman and Shitou, hearing this for the first time, stared at the door in confusion. Their eyes turned to Zhuo Yan, silently asking if they’d placed it wrong.

“It’s backward,” Zhuo Yan chuckled. “Aman, flip it around so the letters and Shitou’s side match up.”

Aman fumbled with the door, and Zhuo Yan helped. The other onlookers, mostly sub-beasts, had no idea what was going on but crowded around, curious. They watched as Aman and Shitou adjusted the wooden panels, and sure enough, the patterns in the middle finally aligned perfectly.

“Is this what you call ‘Peace’?”

“I know what ‘Peace’ means, but how does this represent it?”

“Zhuo Yan, what exactly is this?”

Zhuo Yan hadn’t expected the wooden door he’d made for Sister Qiao to cause such a commotion. He realized he had to think fast. After briefly pausing, he explained, “This is a character I created, a symbol for peace. It’s meant to bless Qiao and Ada in their partnership, wishing them safety and peace every time they walk through this door.”

Qiao’s eyes lit up with delight. She loved the sentiment behind it and couldn’t help but grab Zhuo Yan’s hand, touched. “Thank you, Zhuo Yan. I really love this door you made, and the peace you’ve woven into it.”

“You’re welcome. We’re all friends here, and it was a group effort,” Zhuo Yan smiled.

The other sub-beasts were all fascinated by the ‘Peace’ symbol on the door. Some even asked Qiao if they could touch it. She gladly agreed. One of them noticed more carvings on the edge of the door. “I can see it now! These are little flowers.”

“Yes, they are,” Zhuo Yan confirmed.

“So this is what ‘Peace’ looks like.”

“This wood panel is so beautiful.”

“It’s not just a wood panel; it’s a door! Didn’t Aman say it’ll come to life soon?”

Zhuo Yan: …Aman, please explain.

Aman, catching Zhuo Yan’s glance, confidently said, “Of course it’ll come to life!”

Zhuo Yan sighed internally. That wasn’t exactly the clarification he was hoping for, but he decided to let it go. If the others ended up disappointed, so be it. The important thing was that Qiao liked her new door.

Qiao, thrilled with the gift, was eager to have it installed right away. “Let’s put it up,” she suggested.

The door frame and grooves were already prepared by Qiao and Ada. With a stack of wood ready and sub-beasts watching, Aman and Shitou—both having helped install Zhuo Yan’s door—were determined to impress. They wanted to show everyone in the tribe that Zhuo Yan wasn’t as foolish as they once thought. In fact, he was clever!

Even Xiao Xian, holding wooden hinges in his hands, was eager to help.

At first, the sub-beasts were hesitant to get involved, afraid of breaking something. But when Aman and Shitou started carrying the wood, a few stronger sub-beasts offered to lend a hand, and Shitou readily agreed.

While the others worked, Zhuo Yan dumped out a basket of yellow mud and dry grass, adding water to mix it into a thick paste.

“Aman, is the door frame set?” he asked.

Aman fitted the frame into the slot and replied, “Should I tamp it down?”

“Yeah, make sure it’s tight,” Zhuo Yan instructed.

Shitou, with his considerable strength, pushed the doorframe into the mountainside, pulling at it to make sure it was secure before calling out, “It’s done!” Then Zhuo Yan filled the gaps with yellow mud, smoothing out the surface and ensuring everything fit perfectly.

Next, it was time to carve the hinge slots. Shitou and Aman stepped back for this part.

“Check the alignment, dig out the rough part, and I’ll handle the fine details,” Zhuo Yan said.

Aman cautiously started chiseling, making sure not to go too deep. Shitou, fearing his strength might make the hole too large, let Aman take the lead. Once the rough holes were done, Zhuo Yan refined them, creating four perfect slots.

“Xiao Xian, you can insert the wooden hinges now,” Zhuo Yan called out.

Xiao Xian, excited for his moment, rushed over with the hinges. Some of the sub-beasts, having lost patience with the slow process, had already left. Only half remained, eager to see what Zhuo Yan’s mysterious door was all about.

Most of them were skeptical. How could a wooden door possibly “come to life”?

They watched intently as Aman lifted the first door panel and Zhuo Yan, along with Xiao Xian, secured the hinges. As soon as the first panel was attached, Shitou enthusiastically shouted, “It’s done!”

Zhuo Yan: ???

Suddenly, all eyes were on him and the door, filled with curiosity and doubt. “Is it working? Did it come to life?” they wondered aloud.

Zhuo Yan noticed Aman and Xiao Xian smirking. They were clearly enjoying the suspense, eager to show off—just like schoolchildren who couldn’t wait to amaze their peers.

“You can push it,” Xiao Xian encouraged.

Aman added, “It moves—it’s what Zhuo Yan said, it can move.”

“Oh, so it moves, but it’s not really alive. What does it mean for it to ‘move’?”

“I’m not sure.”

“It’s odd. The door isn’t touching the ground—it’s floating a bit.”

“How do we push it? What if we break it?”

Qiao reassured them, “Don’t worry, it won’t break.” Shitou and Aman stepped aside, and Xiao Xian’s excitement was infectious. But the others hesitated, exchanging nervous glances, none willing to take the first step.

Finally, Zhuo Yan pushed the door himself.

“Ahhhhh!!!”

“How—how did it move?!”

“The wood really came to life!”

Some even backed away, startled, while others eyed the door with suspicion, as if it were bewitched.

Shitou, Aman, and Xiao Xian couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Did we look that silly when we first saw it?” Xiao Xian whispered.

Aman quickly denied, “Of course not. I’m way smarter than that!”

“You were shouting pretty loudly. I remember that,” Shitou chimed in, teasing.

Qiao smiled, reassuring the other sub-beasts that there was no danger. She began demonstrating how to close the door, which covered half of the cave’s entrance. It could swing open and shut with ease.

Back and forth it went.

The more the sub-beasts watched, the more their faces filled with surprise and astonishment. One of the bolder ones finally asked, “Can I try?” Qiao nodded, allowing everyone to have a go. “Honestly, the first time we saw Zhuo Yan make this; we were just as shocked. We never thought wood could move like this.”

“It’s so strange.”

“I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“It seems more practical than using stones to block the entrance.”

“Stones are only used during snow season, anyway.”

Like Aman and Shitou had been before, the sub-beasts were cautious at first, gently touching the door before giving it a light push. The door swung smoothly, and the sub-beast who touched it exclaimed in disbelief, “It really moved! It really moved!”

“Let me try! Let me try!”

Soon, everyone was taking turns playing with the door. Zhuo Yan leaned against the other side of the door frame, taking a moment to rest, a slight smile playing on his lips. Everyone here was so innocent, he thought.

After enough people had tried the door, one of the sub-beasts, a tall figure, turned to Zhuo Yan. “I’m Abai. You’re really smart, Zhuo Yan.”

“Thank you,” Zhuo Yan responded with a smile.

Abai continued, “This door you made is amazing. Can we watch how you do it?”

“Of course! I can even teach you. Shitou, Aman, Xiao Xian, and Qiao already know how. If you want to make one, you can ask them for help too,” Zhuo Yan said, looking at the eager group. After all, he couldn’t do it all himself.

The sub-beasts chimed in from all directions, thanking him, asking questions, and some even apologizing. “We misjudged you before.” “Yeah, we didn’t realize you were this generous.” “Thank you, Zhuo Yan.”

“No need to thank me,” Zhuo Yan replied, laughing off their words.

As he began carving slots for the second doorpost, the sub-beasts gathered around, asking questions along the way. One asked what to do if the hole was too small, and Zhuo Yan patiently explained. Someone even asked if they could try.

“No, no, no!” Xiao Xian jumped in, alarmed. “You have to carve the hole slowly. If you make it too big, the door won’t fit, and if it’s too small, the wooden hinge won’t go in. If you force it, the wood will crack!”

Zhuo Yan nodded. “Xiao Xian’s right. You can practice on wood first. Controlling your strength and making the hole the right depth takes practice. It’s not hard, but you need patience. The wooden hinges, in particular, take time. You can’t rush them.”

“Oh, so that’s how it’s done. I’ll try carving wood first.”

“I thought carving wood would be easier.”

“What’s a wooden hinge?”

Xiao Xian, surrounded by curious sub-beasts, was excited to explain. He knew how to make wooden hinges and eagerly began demonstrating how he did it. The installation process slowed down with all the chatting, and by the time the doors were finally installed, it was dusk.

The two doors, together, formed a solid entrance. On the door panels, Zhuo Yan had carved the word ‘Peace’ along with intricate floral designs. He also attached a handle to the door.

Qiao was ecstatic. She pushed the door open, then closed it again, marveling at how it worked. The sub-beasts, still watching, were equally amazed, taking turns to test it out. Zhuo Yan, meanwhile, found himself answering questions about the door until his mouth went dry. As night began to fall, he finally found an excuse to head home.

“Oh, it’s already dark!” someone said, surprised.

“Time really flew by today.”

“But we got to see the door in action. Qiao’s door is amazing.”

Qiao, with an apologetic smile, didn’t invite anyone to stay for dinner, explaining, “There’s not much meat left. But tomorrow evening, please come to my bonding ceremony.”

“We’ll be there with empty stomachs, ready to feast!” Zhuo Yan joked.

Aman laughed heartily. “Zhuo Yan’s right. Don’t worry, Qiao, we won’t hold back tomorrow.”

Qiao’s smile brightened, and she hugged her close friends before they all headed off.

Zhuo Yan made his way out of the village, and by the time he was halfway home, the sky was pitch black. That’s when he saw a large, furry silhouette—a mostly white figure, shimmering with a hint of silver. He had been walking briskly, but when he saw it, his face lit up with a relieved smile.

“A-Yin!”

“Awooo!” Brother, brother!

A-Yin, moving swiftly, reached his brother in no time, leaping up and pawing at him. Zhuo Yan caught him in a hug, ruffling the fur on his head. “I was over at Sister Qiao’s house, installing her door. Let’s head home. Are you hungry?”

Zhuo Yan was feeling a bit hungry himself.

A-Yin let out a small howl, shaking his head.

Zhuo Yan laughed. “You’re in a good mood today. Did you catch something again?”

A-Yin pressed against his brother, licking his face enthusiastically. Zhuo Yan hugged him tightly, noticing how much A-Yin had grown. His head was nearly level with Zhuo Yan’s. It wasn’t his imagination—A-Yin really was getting bigger.

And that made Zhuo Yan happy.

“Let me guess, you’ve got a surprise for me, don’t you?”

A-Yin nodded eagerly. He had gone hunting with Xiao Xian earlier, and though they hadn’t caught any sheep, they had managed to snag some rabbits! Xiao Xian wasn’t too thrilled, thinking it was a wasted trip for such small prey. But A-Yin remembered what his brother had said before—raising chickens and rabbits was a good idea.

Xiao Xian had grumbled, lazily eating a few rabbits before heading home with a couple more in his mouth.

A-Yin, on the other hand, hadn’t eaten any yet. He wanted to bring some back to their den.

Xiao Xian had even told him, “If you run home now and come back later, they’ll all be gone. These rabbits are great at digging. The whole grassland is full of their burrows. You’ve got to eat your fill while you can.”

A-Yin realized he was right, so he had quickly devoured a few. He followed Zhuo Yan’s advice, making sure to end the rabbits’ lives swiftly and cleanly. He drank their blood first, licked them clean, and didn’t waste any of the meat or organs, eating every last bit.

The two leopards had feasted, while the rest of the rabbits, too terrified to move, remained huddled in their burrow, too scared to flee.

Xiao Xian, jaws filled with more rabbits than he could chew, looked over at A-Yin, signaling for him to hurry up and eat.

A-Yin opened his mouth wide, but gently, his teeth applying just the right amount of pressure. He needed these rabbits alive, so on the way back, he kept his jaws from clamping too tightly, though he had trouble controlling his drool. He couldn’t speak either.

His second brother, Xiao Xian, didn’t understand why A-Yin was going through all this trouble. “Just bite them dead,” he thought.

Without a sound, A-Yin finally made it back to the cave, carefully loosening his stiff jaws to let the three rabbits fall to the ground. They were drenched in leopard saliva and lay motionless as if they were dead.

Tilting his head in frustration, A-Yin thought, Are they dead again? He gently pawed at one with his soft pads, claws retracted.

The rabbits immediately began trembling, two even urinating in fear.

A-Yin frowned in annoyance. This was his and his brother’s home, and now these smelly rabbits were peeing all over it! But at least they weren’t dead.

Sighing, he picked up some dry grass and cleaned the mess they made before stepping outside to sniff the air. He took a quick detour to the river before heading off to find his brother.

Meanwhile, Zhuo Yan had no idea what A-Yin had been up to. He playfully rubbed A-Yin’s ears as they walked home, stopping by the river to wash up after a day of hard work. He was starting to feel a little hungry, and his stomach growled.

Hearing the sound, A-Yin pressed his big head against Zhuo Yan’s stomach.

Zhuo Yan, embarrassed, laughed, “I’m just a little hungry. Let’s head home for dinner.”

With no meat at Sister Qiao’s house, and Ada away on a hunting trip with friends, they only had a few dudou fruits left in the house—definitely not enough to fill their bellies.

A-Yin, understanding the situation, shook his head and gestured for Zhuo Yan to hop on his back so he could carry him home.

Zhuo Yan smiled at the offer but declined. “You’re still small. What if I stunt your growth by squashing you? We’re almost home anyway.”

“Owuuu! Owuuu!” A-Yin insisted, but Zhuo Yan teased him by sprinting ahead, turning it into a playful chase all the way home.

As they approached the chicken coop, A-Yin paused to check on the hens. They clucked nervously and scurried into the coop. Only the rooster was missing.

A-Yin dashed over to the crooked-neck tree and howled twice. Moments later, a weak crow came from below. The poor rooster, scared out of its wits, fluttered clumsily up the slope and into the coop.

Zhuo Yan stared, speechless.

A-Yin didn’t even touch the rooster! Why was it so terrified?

Standing tall, A-Yin puffed out his chest, clearly proud of his accomplishment. Zhuo Yan chuckled and patted him on the neck. “A-Yin, you’re amazing—you can even herd chickens now.”

“Owuuu!” A-Yin wagged his tail happily, soaking in the praise.

Once inside the cave, moonlight streamed through the entrance, casting a soft glow over three mysterious shapes on the floor. Zhuo Yan looked closer and exclaimed in surprise, “Rabbits!”

A-Yin, sitting behind him, wagged his tail so vigorously it could have powered a windmill. He knew his brother would be happy!

Zhuo Yan knelt down to inspect the rabbits. They were huge, all trembling in terror. When he picked one up by the scruff, it went completely rigid, stretching its legs out stiffly as if playing dead.

“Why are you so scared? It’s okay,” Zhuo Yan whispered soothingly to the terrified animal.

A-Yin gently poked the stiff rabbit with his paw, which immediately jolted back to life. Zhuo Yan chuckled, stroking its ears. “A-Yin was just teasing you. No need to be so scared.”

But as Zhuo Yan’s stomach growled again, he sighed. He wasn’t in the mood to prepare rabbit tonight.

“A-Yin, did you already eat?”

A-Yin nodded eagerly—he’d already eaten his fill. But as he glanced at the three rabbits, Zhuo Yan could tell what he was thinking. “No need to kill the rabbits. I’ll just whip up some dudou fruit for myself.”

“Owuuu! Owuuu!” A-Yin nudged him, clearly insisting they eat the rabbits instead. He even eyed the one that had peed all over, the especially smelly one, and playfully pounced on it.

Zhuo Yan sighed, smiling. “Alright, fine. Rabbit it is.”

While Zhuo Yan lit the stove, A-Yin trotted off to fetch water. By the time Zhuo Yan had skinned the rabbits and set aside the meat, A-Yin was already racing back, carrying the water bucket in his mouth.

In the firelight, Zhuo Yan couldn’t help but laugh. A-Yin was so excited—bounding through the moonlit night, tail swaying, careful not to spill the water. His silver fur shimmered, and his happiness was infectious.

Taking the bucket, Zhuo Yan rubbed A-Yin’s head fondly. “You really love rabbit, don’t you?”

“Owuuu! Owuuu!” A-Yin nudged him again, letting out a series of contented howls, clearly in high spirits.

Zhuo Yan smiled, already knowing tonight was going to be a good one.

Zhuo Yan had no idea what had transpired while he was out. He had a great day, helping Sister Qiao install a door, and now he had three rabbits and was looking forward to eating rabbit stew. Rabbit meat was scarce, and this big one alone weighed almost twenty pounds.

The stone slab was already heated, and Zhuo Yan began roasting the rabbit. He and A-Yin each took a bite, and after eating around three or four pounds of meat, they were both full. A-Yin, satisfied, showed off his belly by stretching out his front paws to his brother.

“Alright then, let’s clean up and go to bed. Tomorrow morning, we’ll make rabbit soup with some green onions,” Zhuo Yan said as he tidied up the cooking area. A-Yin brought water for him to brush his teeth and rinse his mouth. When they went back inside, the two remaining rabbits were huddled together in a corner, trembling in fear.

Zhuo Yan, still savoring the delicious meal from moments ago, paused for a second before saying softly, “Don’t be scared, really. Tomorrow, I’ll set up a little burrow for you two.”

If there was one thing the house had plenty of, it was space.

A-Yin’s ears perked up at the mention of a “burrow,” and he excitedly pawed at his brother while letting out a string of “owuus,” but Zhuo Yan, a little confused, didn’t get it. “Are you talking about the rabbits?” he asked. A-Yin nodded enthusiastically. “A burrow for the rabbits?” Zhuo Yan continued, but they weren’t quite communicating.

Eventually, A-Yin grew frustrated, and Zhuo Yan comforted him with a pat on the head, saying, “It’s alright, no worries.”

The next morning, A-Yin had disappeared, but Zhuo Yan wasn’t concerned—A-Yin never wandered off without reason. He started the fire for breakfast, noticing the water bucket was full, indicating A-Yin had even fetched water before going out. Not long after, A-Yin returned, and to Zhuo Yan’s surprise, he wasn’t alone—Xiao Xian’s second brother had tagged along.

It was still early, and Xiao Xian’s brother was barely awake, wearing nothing but a leather skirt, his messy hair sticking up like a bird’s nest. Still, orcs were naturally well-built—standing over six feet tall with a lean, muscular physique that wasn’t overly bulked up, just smoothly defined.

His tanned skin, high cheekbones, and single eyelid eyes gave him a sharp, rugged look, although his casual posture made him seem somewhat laid-back.

A-Yin was howling excitedly, trying to get his point across, so Zhuo Yan shifted his focus away from Xiao Xian’s brother.

“He said you don’t need to dig a burrow for the rabbits. They can dig their own. Let them do the work themselves,” Xiao Xian’s brother yawned and stretched, adding, “I’m heading back. No patrol today—taking a rest.”

A-Yin barked again.

Zhuo Yan smiled, grateful for the help, “Thanks for running over here.”

But Xiao Xian’s brother waved it off as he hurried away, muttering to himself, “A-Yin, you silly boy. Who’d be interested in your brother? Dragging me over just to say this…”

“Owuuu!” A-Yin growled, hearing the jab. How dare he say that about my brother! My brother is amazing! “Oooowuuuuu!”

Xiao Xian’s brother sped off, faster than a beast in full form.

Zhuo Yan chuckled, rubbing A-Yin’s head. It was nice to see how well A-Yin got along with Xiao Xian’s brother. But getting back on track, he asked, “A-Yin, is that what you meant last night? That the rabbits should dig their own burrow?”

The idea of having the captive rabbits build their own home seemed a bit wild.

“Owuuu!” A-Yin nodded eagerly. Yes! They can dig, so you don’t have to do it!

He was determined to keep an eye on the rabbits.

Zhuo Yan sighed. A-Yin’s enthusiasm was almost too much to turn down, so he relented. Worst case, the rabbits escape or die, he thought. I’ll leave it to A-Yin.

“Owuu! Owuu!” A-Yin joyfully wagged his tail, dashing into the cave to herd the two rabbits outside. The poor creatures trembled and scurried out, while A-Yin crouched low, growling softly.

The rabbits weren’t sure what to do, but the chickens nearby had gotten the message—they pecked around for bugs in an orderly fashion, not daring to wander too far.

Zhuo Yan watched in amazement. A-Yin was truly a master at taming animals.

Later that morning, as Zhuo Yan was cooking a pot of rabbit soup, Xiao Xian came running over, curious. “A-Yin called for my brother this morning. What’s going on? My brother wouldn’t tell me anything, which just makes me more curious!”

Zhuo Yan laughed. “It’s nothing major. A-Yin wanted to let me know the rabbits could dig their own burrow, but I didn’t understand him, so he asked your brother to explain.”

“Ohhh,” Xiao Xian nodded in understanding, grinning. “A-Yin really is thoughtful.”

“Yes, he’s both sweet and considerate. Always looking out for me,” Zhuo Yan replied fondly.

A-Yin, still watching over the rabbits, perked up his ears, catching every word. Brother praised me! His heart swelled with pride.