The stem was as long as his arm and as thick as two fingers pressed together. 

Though he had never seen it before, it looked strangely familiar. 

Curious, he moved closer, bent down, and picked up the stem. He shook off the water and twisted it a couple of times. 

When he noticed the uneven holes inside the stem, his suspicion grew stronger. 

Bringing it up to his nose, he sniffed, then stuck out his tongue for a small taste. At that moment, he was sure—this was a lotus stem! 

The faint scent and subtle bitterness of the lotus were unmistakable. 

But this stem was unbelievably thick! It was at least twice as thick as the ones he had seen before. 

He couldn’t help but imagine how large the lotus flowers, leaves, and even the seed pods must be. 

His mind started racing with ideas. Holding onto the green stem, he began walking upstream along the creek, carefully looking around. 

After walking just a bit, he found a gigantic lotus leaf lying flat on the ground. It was so large that, when he held it up, he could completely cover his upper body. 

The leaf was thick, with deep green veins and a rich color. It was clear that it had been growing for quite some time. 

Excited, he continued upstream and soon found more stems and large leaves. 

Unfortunately, the creek had too many branching streams, making it impossible to figure out where they had floated down from. 

As the sky began to darken, he thought of Zhuo Mu and Yin He, who were still waiting for him. Reluctantly, he memorized the path and carried the lotus leaves and stems back toward the hot spring mountain. 

After walking some distance, he saw a fire already lit. The dry firewood crackled as it burned. 

Yin He stood by the hot spring, talking to Zhuo Mu with a slightly upset expression. 

When Yin He spotted him, his face immediately relaxed, and he called out loudly, “Brother, where did you go? You’ve been gone so long that Brother Zhuo Mu and I were about to come looking for you!” 

Wen Ze raised the leaves in his hand. “I just wandered a little farther than I planned. Sorry for worrying you.” 

Yin He mumbled, “It’s good that you’re back. What kind of leaves are these?” 

Zhuo Mu turned to look at him as well, waiting for an answer. 

Wen Ze asked first, “Zhuo Mu, have you seen these before?” 

Zhuo Mu shook his head. 

Wen Ze then explained, “It should be a lotus leaf, but this one isn’t edible. It’s normal if you haven’t seen it before, since we don’t gather it often. Have you ever eaten lotus root? It’s made of sections of hollow stems, and when you cut it open, there are lots of fine white threads.” 

When Wen Ze explained, Zhuo Mu finally remembered, “I’ve eaten them a few times. But they’re not common in the tribe’s territory.” 

Wen Ze glanced at the massive lotus leaf in his hand. He wasn’t sure if the lotuses grew in hidden spots or if there were only a few scattered plants. 

If they were hidden… just how many lotus roots could be buried underneath? 

His heart skipped a beat, and he almost wanted to drag Zhuo Mu along to look for them right away. 

“Grrr~” 

Wen Ze looked in the direction of the sound. The fire cast a faint red glow on Yin He’s face. 

The sunny and handsome young man rubbed his stomach awkwardly. 

Wen Ze burst out laughing. “Hungry? I’ll start preparing the meal now.” 

Yin He eagerly volunteered, “I’ll help!” 

No matter what, filling one’s stomach was the top priority. 

Wen Ze started by laying out the large lotus leaves he had washed earlier, then asked Zhuo Mu to bring over the long-legged birds. 

Even though Wen Ze had already chopped off the bird legs, the birds were still quite large. If not for the oversized lotus leaves of this world, they wouldn’t have been big enough to wrap them. 

Squatting down, Wen Ze checked the birds and said, “They’ve marinated long enough. I kept the seasoning simple—just salt, scallions, Sichuan pepper, honey, and berries. The long-legged bird’s meat is naturally flavorful, so lighter seasoning is best to preserve its original taste.” 

Under the firelight, the marinated long-legged birds glistened with a honey-like sheen, looking incredibly appetizing. 

Yin He couldn’t help but drool as he nodded enthusiastically. 

Wen Ze instructed him, “Yin He, go over there and dig a hole. Bring some water and mud, too.” 

“Got it!” 

“Zhuo Mu, can you help me hold these two long-legged birds for now?” 

“Okay.” Zhuo Mu followed his instructions. 

Wen Ze bent the neck of one bird, tucking it tightly against the body, then lifted the lotus leaf and swiftly wrapped it up. 

He flipped the bird over and wrapped two more layers of leaves around it, making sure nothing would leak through. 

Finally, he used the long stems to tie the lotus leaf bundle securely. 

Zhuo Mu watched silently for a moment before asking, “Are we wrapping the other two birds the same way?” 

Wen Ze nodded. “Yes.” 

Without needing further instruction, Zhuo Mu wrapped and tied one of the birds himself. 

When all three birds were bundled up, Yin He came running over, waving his hands. “Brother, the mud’s ready!” 

“Got it!” 

Wen Ze carried the wrapped birds over, grabbed a handful of mud, and started smearing it all over the lotus leaf bundles. 

Yin He stared in shock. “Brother, what kind of cooking method is this? How are we supposed to eat it if it’s covered in mud?” 

“The lotus leaves will protect the meat. Don’t worry.” 

Just like before, Zhuo Mu observed Wen Ze’s actions and quickly began copying him step by step. 

Once the three birds were completely coated with mud, Wen Ze used a wooden stick to dig a hole in the middle of the fire and placed them inside, leaving enough gaps between them. 

The firewood had turned into glowing, hot charcoal. He moved the charcoal back over and added a few more roots, waiting for them to cook so that Yin He could have something to fill his stomach. 

Next, he spread another layer of coals on top, grabbed a few more pieces of wood, and piled them onto the small mound of the fire to ensure it would keep burning. 

After finishing up, he clapped the dust off his hands, straightened up, and smiled. 

“This should be good. We can enjoy the hot spring for now. The birds will take a while to cook,” he said. 

Yin He stared at the fire, still a bit unsure. “It’s so simple. I can’t even imagine what it’ll taste like…” 

Wen Ze chuckled. “You’ll know once you eat it. Anyway, we’ve been busy all day, and I’m covered in dirt. I’m going to soak for a bit.” 

As the sun gradually set, the temperature in the mountains dropped, and the steam rising from the hot springs thickened. 

Wen Ze walked a bit further away. His figure, shrouded in the white mist, grew hazy and unclear. 

Standing by the water’s edge, he took off his clothes, folded them neatly, and placed them on the shore. He then tested the water temperature with his toes—it was slightly hot. 

Without hesitation, he stepped into the hot spring, and the water covered his knees. 

He splashed some water on himself, washed his hair, and rinsed his face. Once his body had adjusted to the heat, he sat down in the water. 

As the warm spring enveloped him, the soothing and relaxing sensation made him close his eyes and let out a satisfied sigh. 

“Ah…” 

After a long day of work, even just soaking his feet felt incredibly comfortable, not to mention a full bath. 

He felt like all the tension in his body was melting away. With the mist swirling around him, it felt as if he were floating among the clouds. 

Since no one else was around, he let his wolf ears and tail appear. He gave them a good scrub in the hot spring water. 

After getting wet, his fluffy ears felt especially thick and warm to the touch. As he tilted his head, they swayed back and forth, which was amusing to him. 

His tail was also thick, and in a good mood, he swished it powerfully behind him, creating a loud splashing sound. 

Just playing with his ears and tail was enough to keep him entertained. 

From behind the mist, the sounds of two people entering the water could be heard. It seemed that Zhuo Mu and Yin He had also gotten into the hot spring. 

Wen Ze didn’t pay much attention and simply leaned back against the edge of the hot spring, fully enjoying the warm water. 

As Zhuo Mu had mentioned, there were indeed small fish in the water. They were about the size of a palm, with silver scales and black backs, happily swimming around. 

At some point, the fish began gathering around Wen Ze, bumping into him and even nibbling on the fur of his tail. 

It tickled so much that Wen Ze couldn’t help but laugh softly. 

Yin He called out, “Brother, what’s going on?” 

Wen Ze replied, “Oh, nothing. These little fish are just really amusing.”

Back in the modern world, a fish spa this relaxing would definitely cost a lot of money. 

Yin He got curious. “Oh? Let me try too!” 

Through the mist, Wen Ze suddenly saw a large, dark shadow appear. At the same time, the water level around his chest noticeably rose. 

With a loud splash, the startled fish scattered, some leaping out of the water, while a few slapped Wen Ze in the face with their tails. 

“…Did you just change into your beast form?” 

Yin He shouted, “Yes! But why did all the fish swim away?” 

“Which fish isn’t scared of a bear? You should stay in human form!” Wen Ze said helplessly. 

“Oh, oh, oh!” Yin He quickly changed back. 

After soaking for about forty minutes, Wen Ze stood up, put on his clothes and straw shoes, and flipped the “beggar’s chicken” in the fire. 

The mud and lotus leaves were tightly sealed, so there wasn’t much smell leaking out. 

After that, he soaked in the hot spring for a little longer before returning to the fire. He took out the pot he had used before when making the soap and started steaming the sulfur ore over water. 

Footsteps approached from behind, but without turning, he already knew it was Zhuo Mu. 

“You’ve gathered quite a bit of sulfur ore today. Do you need my help?” he asked. 

Wen Ze sensed that Zhuo Mu had something else to do, so he shakes his head. “No need. The beggar’s chicken still needs some time to cook. I can do it slowly.” 

Zhuo Mu nodded. “Okay, then I’ll go check around to see if there’s a suitable mountain to build a kiln.” 

Wen Ze nodded. “Mhm, be careful.” 

Under the firelight and steam, Zhuo Mu gazed at the handsome young half-beastman with a soft expression in his eyes. 

“Got it,” he said. 

With something to do, the wait for the food to cook didn’t feel so long. 

After almost two hours, Yin He finally climbed out of the hot spring, his fingers and toes wrinkled from the soak. 

Just in time, Zhuo Mu returned as well. Wen Ze grabbed a wooden stick and began peeling away the clay shell from the fire to reveal the baked bird inside. He cracked open the hardened mud. 

Suddenly, the aroma of lotus leaves mixed with the rich scent of roasted meat filled the air. 

Yin He’s eyes lit up instantly. He couldn’t stop swallowing as he exclaimed, “Brother! It smells amazing! It’s not just the bird meat; I can smell something really special!” 

“That’s the smell of lotus leaves. It’s refreshing, isn’t it?” 

Yin He nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, yes, that’s it!” 

Wen Ze crouched down and reached out to pull at the stems, but Zhuo Mu stopped him. 

“Let me handle it,” Zhuo Mu said. 

“It’s hot. Be careful,” Wen Ze reminded. 

“Don’t worry.” 

Zhuo Mu crouched across from him, his expression calm, as he quickly tore open the lotus leaves, revealing the perfectly cooked bird inside. 

After roasting, the bird meat had turned a golden honey color, with its skin gently stretched, but it was clearly not dry. 

Steam rose from the bird, and the seasonings enhanced the aroma of the meat. A mix of salty, savory, sweet, and spicy scents filled the air, making their mouths water. 

Wen Ze placed a clean lotus leaf in his hand, grabbed a wing, and gave it a gentle tug. 

The tender bird meat, rich with juices, separated easily from the bone. Even the soft, trembling white tendons were so tasty and chewy it was hard to even describe. 

With a grin and his eyes curving into crescents, he announced, “It’s time to eat.” 

The three of them enjoyed the meal thoroughly. 

Perhaps because the preparation preserved the full flavor, the clay-baked bird exceeded Wen Ze’s expectations. 

The meat was seasoned just right, with the fresh aroma of the lotus leaves infused throughout. It wasn’t dry or greasy. 

He took a bite, and the juice burst out, so much that it almost spilled, and the flavor was so intense it felt like it could melt on the tongue. 

At first, the three of them were so absorbed in the delicious food that no one said a word. 

The one with the fiercest eating habits was Yin He. 

He tore off a bird leg with one hand and stuffed it into his mouth, puffing out his cheeks. 

The freshly roasted bird meat was hot. As he chewed, he kept his mouth open, blowing air to cool it down faster. 

After devouring almost half the bird, Yin He finally paused long enough to speak. 

“It’s delicious! Really delicious! The roasted bird meat I’ve had before was also tasty, but it wasn’t as tender. The stewed bird meat could fall off the bone, but there was so much liquid it wasn’t as satisfying as this.” 

“Basically, this is the best! Brother, why don’t we always make it like this from now on? It’s incredible!” 

Wen Ze chuckled. “Have you forgotten the mushrooms we ate a while ago? If we only eat it like this all the time, you’ll start missing roasted and stewed birds again.” 

Yin He grinned and didn’t argue. 

He savored the taste and praised the dish. “I think this dish shouldn’t be called ‘Beggar’s Chicken,’ it should be called ‘Beggar’s Bear Chicken!'” 

Wen Ze laughed loudly and looked over at Zhuo Mu. 

Zhuo Mu wasn’t as exaggerated as Yin He, but he was eating fast, and there was a pile of bird bones by his feet. 

Noticing Wen Ze’s gaze, Zhuo Mu spoke up first. “It’s really good.” 

Wen Ze smiled happily. “I can tell.” 

After staying with Zhuo Mu for so long, he knew that he wasn’t picky—he’d eat whatever was made. But when he liked something, he’d eat a bit more than usual. 

The long-legged bird was large, and Wen Ze didn’t have as big an appetite as the other two. He was full after eating half. 

Yin He and Zhuo Mu, after finishing their portions, shared the remaining half between them. 

“Burp,” Yin He tilted his head back, satisfied yet struggling. “I’m so full.” 

Wen Ze said, “Then change back to your beast form. It’s getting late, we should head back.” 

This time, Yin He didn’t insist on staying in his human form and obediently changed into a giant panda. 

He squinted for a moment and honestly said, “I’m still too full.” 

Wen Ze chuckled, feeling genuinely proud of his cooking being praised. 

They put out the fire, packed up, and prepared to head back to the tribe. 

Zhuo Mu glanced at Yin He, who was stumbling as he walked, and said to Wen Ze, “Climb on my back.” 

Wen Ze didn’t hesitate. “Alright.” 

Zhuo Mu changed into his beast form, and Wen Ze took his usual spot on his back. He listened to the hissing sound of the giant snake slithering forward, with the scenery retreating behind him. 

“That reminds me, how did the mountains you looked at seem? Are they suitable for making kilns?” 

Zhuo Mu replied, “One of them seems fine. I’ll bring Wu Ye and the others over to take a look tomorrow.” 

“Mm.” 

“Are you going to work tonight when we get back?” 

“No, I’m a bit tired, and the light’s not great.” 

The sky is clear tonight, and the moonlight shines brightly across the earth. 

The evening breeze rustled the leaves. 

As the giant snake and panda moved, they startled flocks of birds into the air. 

Zhuo Mu’s pace wasn’t fast, but it was steady. 

Wen Ze chatted with him, then occasionally glanced back at Yin He, who was yawning. 

It’s hard to tell if it’s the peaceful surroundings or if sleepiness is just catching on. 

Having soaked in the hot spring and eaten his fill, Wen Ze’s eyelids grew heavier and heavier. Eventually, he fell asleep, lying on Zhuo Mu’s back. 

When Wen Ze woke up the next morning and stepped out of the cave, he rubbed his drowsy eyes. 

The outside was dim and gray, and he thought it was still early. He asked Yin He, “Has Zhuo Mu gotten up yet?” 

Yin He, who was putting the last bit of firewood into the stove, turned his head and answered, “Brother Zhuo Mu left a long time ago.” 

Wen Ze raised an eyebrow. “Huh?” 

Yin He grinned. “Brother, it’s a cloudy day. You slept in. After making breakfast, Brother Zhuo Mu didn’t ask me to wake you, so we ate first. Your portion is still in the pot, come eat.” 

“I see,” Wen Ze walked over. “I guess I just slept through it on the way after the hot spring last night.” 

Yin He nodded in agreement. “I slept really well last night too! The hot spring is just a bit far from here, or else I’d go every day. Oh, and the milk last night was squeezed by Brother Zhuo Mu.” 

Wen Ze was a little touched. “Did he say when he’ll be back?” 

Yin He shook his head. “No, but he’s going to the mountains this afternoon with Wu Ye and the others. He wants you to come along too.” 

Wen Ze nodded. “Got it.” 

He was actually planning to head towards Hot Spring Mountain to look for lotus flowers. 

After breakfast, the morning was quite busy: milking the cows, feeding them, cleaning up the manure; planting the tomato seeds, watering them; and then taking Yin He to the Salt Sea to collect two pots of saltwater. 

The Salt Sea was a bit far from the tribe, so the round trip took about an hour. 

With all that work, the morning passed by quickly. 

By noon, the sky cleared up, and Zhuo Mu came back from his hunt. 

When Wen Ze saw what he had brought back, he couldn’t help but be pleased. 

“These are the fluffy beasts, right? There are even two of them! They’re so plump!” 

“Yes, one of them is for you and Yin He.” 

What he didn’t mention was that he had originally planned to catch some long-legged young birds for Wen Ze, but he couldn’t find any. 

The fluffy beast was similar to modern sheep, with thick, curly wool and curved horns. 

But it was much larger than a regular sheep. When Zhuo Mu set them down with a thud, Wen Ze felt the ground shake slightly. 

Looking at the two beasts he had carried back, the tall, imposing, and wild-looking beastman, with not a single drop of sweat on his smooth forehead, was truly impressive. 

Wen Ze walked around the fluffy beasts, overjoyed. “This is perfect! I need their oil and wool!” 

“Fluffy beast meat has a strong smell. You want to cook with its oil?” Zhuo Mu raised his eyebrows slightly. 

“No, I want to use it to make soap.” 

In the modern world, natural sheep tallow soap is not only great at cleaning, but it’s also delicate, pollution-free, and non-toxic. It’s quite popular! 

Wen Ze looked up at him and said, “I plan to use the wool to spin thread, and we’ll keep the meat for ourselves. How about it?” 

Zhuo Mu smiled faintly. “Sounds good. Should we make it after we get back this afternoon?” 

“Mm!” 

Having been in the Beast World for a while now, Wen Ze had gotten used to eating two meals a day. 

So they skipped lunch, told Yin He to watch the house, and headed to the tribe’s altar square to meet with Wu Ye, Sang Hui, and Ji Sha. 

Sang Hui was wearing his new hemp clothes, a long-sleeved T-shirt style. 

Not seeing Yi Yan, Wen Ze asked, “Is the chief not coming?” 

Wu Ye replied, “He said it’s fine as long as we decide. Once everyone is here, should we go?” 

A few beastmen changed into their beast forms and carried two half-beastmen as they headed toward Hot Spring Mountain. 

On the way, Wen Ze listened to their conversation about the “inspection,” and it seemed like only the mountain Zhuo Mu visited yesterday barely met the requirements. 

Wu Ye sighed, “I thought after visiting the Rainbow Sun Tribe, we’d be able to start building our kiln right away, but it turns out that even the kiln construction is a challenge.” 

Sang Hui remained optimistic. “It’s fine. If needed, we can make the whole mountain like the Rainbow Sun Tribe. With so many of us, we should be able to do it.” 

Wu Ye nodded. “Yes, you’re right.” 

Since there was no gathering today, they traveled at full speed, and within half an hour, they arrived at the foot of a small mountain called Bao Fang. 

The group circled the mountain and noticed that the soil and the mountain’s shape were similar to the kiln mountain at the Rainbow Sun Tribe. The mountain also had winding caves inside. 

The difference was that Bao Fang Mountain was a bit taller. 

Everyone seemed satisfied with the location. Wu Ye said, “The raised part is easy to handle. We can just trim it down.” 

Sang Hui asked, “So, we’re agreeing on this? I’ll arrange for the people in the tribe to start working on the kiln tomorrow.” 

Ji Sha said, “I think it’ll work. Zhuo Mu, Wen Ze, what do you think?” 

Zhuo Mu glanced at the mountain and said, “We don’t know what’ll come up during the kiln construction, so there’s no rush on trimming the mountain.” 

Wen Ze nodded. “I agree with Zhuo Mu.” 

Wu Ye clapped his hands. “Alright, it’s settled then.” 

With that worry settled, he felt much lighter. He turned to everyone and asked, “It’s still early. Are you all heading back to the tribe, or do you have other plans?” 

Sang Hui replied, “Lately, between going to the Rainbow Sun Tribe and getting busy with choosing the kiln location and weaving, I’ve neglected gathering. So, I’m planning to go with Ji Sha to gather some wild vegetables and fruits and maybe hunt if we come across any good game.”

Wu Ye also felt like hunting. 

But since they were heading into the wild together for hunting and gathering, it could seem like a date, so he didn’t bring up going with them. 

His hopeful gaze landed on Zhuo Mu, but surprisingly, Zhuo Mu turned to Wen Ze! 

Wen Ze, used to being with Zhuo Mu, didn’t think anything was strange and casually said, “I’d like to gather as well. Yesterday, we found some lotus leaves by Hot Springs Mountain. I’d like to see if there are any lotus flowers nearby and maybe dig up some lotus roots.” 

He turned to the experienced Sang Hui and asked, “Uncle Sang Hui, have you ever seen lotus flowers before?”

Wen Ze simply described the lotus flowers, leaves, and roots. 

Sang Hui thought for a moment and said, “The flowers and roots you mentioned, I have seen them before, but not near Hot Springs Mountain. It was at the southernmost part of the tribe.” 

“There aren’t many lotus flowers there, but I dug up a few roots, about the length of a small arm, and cooked them at home.” 

Ji Sha added, “I remember now. The lotus root smelled fresh, but the taste… it was hard to describe. When you chew it, it’s full of strings that get stuck in your teeth.” 

Wen Ze could tell from their expressions that the lotus root hadn’t left a good impression on them. 

He chuckled and said, “Anyway, I’m still planning to look for them.” 

Sang Hui offered, “Why don’t we go together? While we’re gathering, we can help you look for it too.” 

More people would make it easier, so Wen Ze happily agreed. 

Since the four of them would be going together, Wu Ye naturally joined as well. 

Soon, the three beastmen changed into their beast forms, carrying the two half-beastmen, and headed in the direction Wen Ze pointed. 

They first reached the stream where Wen Ze had found the stems yesterday. Wen Ze stood on the ground and pointed upstream. “Let’s split up and look.”

Everyone agreed. “Sounds good.” 

The forest here was dense, with thick vegetation, and hardly anyone came to this place. 

The deeper they went, the taller the tree canopies grew, blocking out most of the sunlight. The path became harder to follow. 

Following the stream he had chosen, Wen Ze cleared the weeds with his knife while walking forward for a long distance. 

At first, they could spot some broken lotus leaves, but soon there wasn’t even a trace of them. 

He realized he might have chosen the wrong path and called out, “How’s it going on your end?” 

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