Wu Ye, Sang Hui, Li Shui, and the others had already arrived. 

Everyone stood in the open space, but no one rushed to crack open the hardened clay shells. 

Wen Ze glanced around and noticed that Tribe Leader Yi Yan was not present. 

Hearing footsteps, everyone turned their heads at the same time and greeted the two with smiles. 

“Wen Ze, Zhuo Mu! We’ve been waiting for you!” 

Wen Ze smiled and quickened his pace. 

He took a light sniff and said, “Even though we haven’t seen the charcoal yet, the scent in the air is quite pleasant.” 

Sang Hui nodded in agreement. “It has that distinct, roasted wood scent. If this works out, I might start making charcoal regularly.” 

The tall Wu Ye also stepped forward eagerly. “Wen Ze, where should we start?” 

“Let’s begin from the left.” 

“Alright!” 

Wen Ze led a group of Beastmen and half-beastmen toward the leftmost pile. 

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Wen Ze felt a bit nervous. He took a deep breath, raised his fist, and knocked on the hardened clay shell while silently praying: Please let this work! Come on! 

With a crisp crack, the fully dried clay shell shattered easily and crumbled to the ground. 

Ashes drifted away, and in that instant, the scent of charcoal became much stronger. 

Inside, the wood had turned into dark black chunks of charcoal! 

Wen Ze’s eyes lit up. He quickly crouched down and picked up a piece. 

The moment he felt its weight; a surge of joy filled his heart. 

It’s heavy! 

He pressed it with both hands—it’s solid! 

The evening light reflected off the charcoal’s surface, giving it a faint sheen. 

Finally, he tapped it with his knuckle— 

Tok tok! The sound was crisp and clear! 

Overjoyed, Wen Ze gripped the charcoal and stood up, announcing to the eagerly waiting crowd, 

“It worked!” 

“And not just that—the quality is really good! We’ve got a decent yield too!” 

He had heard that using a kiln to make charcoal often had a yield of only ten percent, so he had mentally prepared for theirs to be below thirty percent. 

But from a rough estimate just now, at least fifty percent had turned into charcoal! What a huge surprise! Staying up all night yesterday was worth it—ha! 

The others had already guessed the outcome just from Wen Ze’s reaction. 

But hearing him say it out loud still sent waves of excitement and a deep sense of accomplishment through their hearts. 

“Thank the Beast God! This is amazing!” 

“We did it! We really did it!” 

“Wen Ze, it’s all thanks to you!” 

“Unbelievable! We got it right on the first try! Hahaha!” 

“Can I take a look too?” 

Wen Ze stepped aside. “Of course, everyone, come take a look.” 

Immediately, the group crowded around, each person picking up a piece of charcoal. Even though it would stain their fingers, they didn’t care at all. They turned it over again and again, while expressing their amazement. 

Wu Ye smiled. “I can already tell this charcoal will burn really hot.” 

“The sound is so crisp!” Sang Hui’s eyes widened slightly. “It also looks so nice… I almost don’t want to burn it.” 

“This black sheen is stunning,” Li Shui’s eyes sparkled. “It almost looks like a gemstone!” 

Sang Hui nodded. “I think so too, but it’s much easier to get than gemstones.” 

Li Shui nodded firmly and asked, “Can I take a piece back? I want to try polishing it into beads and make a necklace or something.” 

Wen Ze chuckled. “Of course, we made plenty.” 

Sang Hui immediately added, “Then I’ll take one too! Bai Ling will be overjoyed to see this!” 

Everyone burst into laughter, the atmosphere light and cheerful. 

Wen Ze then led the group to break open all the clay shells, revealing a pile of black charcoal stacked as high as a small hill. 

Seeing the pile, Wen Ze couldn’t help but think of coal. 

Coal was an excellent fuel. If they could find it in this world, they wouldn’t have to go through the trouble of making charcoal. 

While moving the charcoal, everyone’s hands and faces got smudged with black dust. 

It was amusing, especially on someone like Zhuo Mu, who was usually reserved, serious, and indifferent. His cold demeanor was completely undone by the soot marks.

Wen Ze held back for as long as he could but eventually burst into laughter. 

Zhuo Mu: “…” Forget it. He was used to being laughed at by now. 

The others teased each other as well. 

Sang Hui clapped his hands. “Since the charcoal is ready, I’ll take a few people to fix the kiln tomorrow morning. You all can shape the clay, and we’ll start firing the pottery in the afternoon, alright?” 

Wu Ye nodded. “Sounds good. I can’t wait to see how well this charcoal works.” 

Li Shui said, “Then I’ll help Wen Ze lead the group in making the clay pieces.” 

Wen Ze spoke up, “I might not be able to join the pottery firing this time.” 

“Hm?” Everyone looked at him in confusion. 

“I made plans with the Snow Sea Tribe today. Tomorrow, I’m heading to their tribe to discuss some things.” 

“Oh…” Sang Hui thought for a moment and asked, “Should we wait for you to come back before firing the pottery?” 

Wen Ze waved his hand. “No need. The charcoal is ready, and you’re all familiar with the process. My presence won’t make a difference. If you start firing tomorrow, Zhuo Mu and I will be able to check the finished pottery as soon as we return.” 

Sang Hui nodded. “Alright, then we won’t wait for you. Are you and Zhuo Mu going alone? Do you need more people with you?” 

Wen Ze smiled. “No need.” 

Seeing his face covered in soot, Sang Hui chuckled. “There’s nothing else going on here. You two should go wash up.” 

Wen Ze asked, “Don’t we need to keep an eye on the charcoal?” 

Wu Ye said, “We’re using it tomorrow, so there’s no need to move it anywhere else. I’ll stay here with two Beastmen to keep watch. You’ve been working hard these past few days—go get some rest.” 

Wen Ze nodded and didn’t refuse this time. Instead, he brought up something else. 

“Chi Yu and his tribe sent over twenty more weaving frames today. If any of you want one, you can exchange with me. Preferably with moisture-proof and insect-resistant wood—I need it for building a house.” 

“We can have our own weaving frame now?” Li Shui said excitedly. “That’s great! I want to exchange one!” 

Sang Hui was unwilling to be left behind. “I want two!” 

The other half-beastmen also expressed interest in exchanging. 

Wen Ze nodded. “If Zhuo Mu and I aren’t around, you can go to Yin He. I’ll let him know.” 

“Oh, right,” before leaving, he said to Li Shui, “Can you help me make a few more jars like the ones I made last time? The ones with an upward ridge around the rim.” 

Li Shui nodded. “Sure, I remember what they look like. But how exactly do you use them?” 

Wen Ze briefly explained how to seal them, leaving everyone amazed. 

“You can do that?” 

“Sealing with just water? That’s such a great idea!” 

“I’m going to make a few jars too!” 

After wrapping things up, Wen Ze smiled, waved goodbye to everyone, and climbed onto the back of the pure white python. 

The giant snake swam forward for a while before asking in a low voice, “The charcoal is ready, and it’s still early. Want to go soak in the hot spring?” 

Wen Ze’s eyes lit up instantly. 

Of course he wanted to! Soaking in the hot spring with the cool mountain breeze was incredibly comfortable! 

“What about Yin He?” he asked. 

“I’ll roar and have another beastman pass the message so he can meet us there.” 

“Sounds good!” 

Zhuo Mu opened his massive snake mouth and let out a thunderous hiss that echoed through the mountains, startling flocks of birds into the air. 

Fortunately, there was no hostility in his voice, so once someone heard it, they relaxed again. 

Not long after, the roar of a bear echoed back. 

Wen Ze and Zhuo Mu both understood it. 

That kid Yin He was happily playing with his friends in the tribe and said he wasn’t coming. 

Since that was the case, it would just be the two of them going to the hot spring. 

***

Meanwhile, Wu Ye had already returned to his quiet home. 

He stepped into the dimly lit cave and saw the old beastman, Yi Yan, in his beast form. His fur had faded to a dull gray, and he lay on the ground with his eyes closed. His breathing was so faint it was almost undetectable. 

After confirming that his body was still moving slightly, Wu Ye let out a sigh of relief and was about to leave quietly. 

“You’re back?” Yi Yan’s aged voice suddenly sounded, making Wu Ye’s heart ache. 

In his memories, his father had always been a strong and imposing beastman. But as the years passed, age had caught up with him too quickly. 

It had been years since Wu Ye last saw Yi Yan speak loudly or run briskly. 

“Yes.” Wu Ye walked over, crouched beside him, and asked with concern, “How are you feeling today?” 

“The same as always,” Yi Yan said casually, not paying much attention to it. 

Noticing Wu Ye’s sorrow, he chuckled and reassured him, “Returning to the embrace of the Beast God is a path everyone must take. I have already been blessed by the Beast God for so many years. I’m already grateful.” 

Wu Ye wiped his face and responded with a low “mm.” 

Yi Yan asked, “How did the charcoal turn out?” 

Wu Ye perked up. “It was a success! Look, I even brought a piece back.” 

He handed the charcoal to Yi Yan, who changed into his human form, holding it carefully as he looked, sniffed, and tapped on it. 

After a long moment, he smiled and sighed. “This is wonderful.” 

“With such good charcoal, we can fire pottery again tomorrow. It’s all thanks to Wen Ze.” 

Yi Yan nodded. “Yes, Wen Ze has brought so many things to our South Mountain tribe that we couldn’t have imagined before. He is the Beast God’s blessing to us.” 

The old man’s face was lined with age, but his eyes remained bright as he looked at his son and solemnly said: 

“In the future, you must work together with Wen Ze to protect our tribe and help everyone live better lives.” 

“Father, I will,” Wu Ye promised. 

“Good.” Yi Yan smiled in relief. “With such an outstanding younger generation in the tribe, I have no regrets.” 

*** 

The giant python moved swiftly, and before Wen Ze had even rested on its back for long, they had already arrived at the hot spring. 

“Do you want to go further up the mountain? The water is cleaner there,” Zhuo Mu asked. 

“Mhm! Mhm!” Wen Ze eagerly nodded. He was about to climb down from its back, but the python didn’t stop. It slithered up the mountain in an instant.

As his body tilted, Wen Ze felt like he was riding a roller coaster going uphill. 

Following that logic, if Zhuo Mu slid down the mountain quickly, wouldn’t it feel like freefall? 

It seemed fun, but he was too embarrassed to ask. 

Before long, Zhuo Mu stopped beside a steaming hot spring. 

It was called a “small pool,” but in reality, it was much bigger than the ones Wen Ze had soaked in back at the hot spring resorts in his past life. 

“You can soak here,” Zhuo Mu said. 

Wen Ze slid off the python, and in the blink of an eye, Zhuo Mu changed back into a tall, imposing man. 

“What about you?” Wen Ze asked. 

“I’ll be in the lower pool,” Zhuo Mu gestured with his long fingers. “It’s not far. Call me if you need anything.” 

“Mm, mm.” 

Watching Zhuo Mu leave, Wen Ze eagerly stripped off his clothes and jumped in with a splash. 

“Ah—it’s a little hot! But it feels so good!” 

Zhuo Mu had already gone to the lower pool, and with the rocks blocking the view, he couldn’t see Wen Ze at all. 

But with his sharp hearing, every sound still reached his ears. 

His thin lips curled slightly as he scooped up some water and washed his face. 

With no dinner to prepare tonight, Wen Ze soaked in the hot spring until the moon was high in the sky. Satisfied, he finally lay on the giant python’s back to head home. 

Fresh out of the hot spring, Wen Ze’s body was warm, his lightly tanned skin glowing with a faint red hue. The python’s body also felt like a piece of warmed jade—so incredibly comfortable to the touch. 

Wen Ze turned over on his back and yawned. 

So cozy~ 

*** 

The next morning, Wen Ze and Zhuo Mu finished handling things at home and checked the tree bark fiber soaking in the pond—it wasn’t fully processed yet. 

After that, they bid farewell to Yin He and set off toward the Snow Sea Tribe. 

Although the South Mountain Tribe and the Snow Sea Tribe weren’t as large as the Rainbow Sun Tribe, the distance between them wasn’t exactly short. 

Since they weren’t in a hurry this time, Wen Ze and Zhuo Mu didn’t push their speed to the limit. 

On the way, they would stop to gather any rare wild vegetables or fruits they came across. 

As they traveled, they enjoyed the scenery. Around ten in the morning, they stepped into the territory of the Snow Sea Tribe. 

The deeper they went, the more Wen Ze felt the distinct differences in the landscape and wildlife compared to the South Mountain Tribe. 

The mountains were taller, the forests denser, and the trees more massive. 

Even the wild beasts that roamed here were more ferocious. 

Fortunately, Zhuo Mu was the “fiercest” among them. As long as he released his aura, all the beasts would flee in panic. 

“This place is definitely cooler than our territory. It feels like autumn here,” Wen Ze said as he lowered his rolled-up sleeves. 

“Do you need a piece of beast hide?” the giant python asked. 

Wen Ze was momentarily stunned before he chuckled. “No need. It’s not that cold.” 

“I meant for you to sit on.” 

Oh… so he was worried his snake scales might be too cold. 

Now that he mentioned it, Wen Ze did feel a chill beneath him. 

But Wen Ze still felt a little embarrassed about using a beast hide as a cushion. He was already sitting on his back—adding a cushion would make him seem completely at home. 

“No, no, the sun’s out now. It’s really not that cold. Besides, we’re almost there.” 

Zhuo Mu didn’t insist, but he silently picked up the pace. 

A little over an hour later, they arrived at the Snow Sea Tribe. 

Like in the South Mountain Tribe, their caves were also dug into the mountains, but here, they were all built along the mountainside. The entrances were slanted, and above each one, a layer of mud had been shaped into a wide, arching “roof.” 

As soon as the patrolling beastmen of the Snow Sea Tribe spotted them, they change into massive tigers and ran toward them. 

“Who are you?” 

Sitting on Zhuo Mu’s back, Wen Ze replied, “I’m Wen Ze, and he’s Zhuo Mu. We’re from the South Mountain Tribe.” 

Before he could finish speaking, the two beastmen immediately relaxed. 

“Oh, it’s you! The tribe leader mentioned you’d be coming! Welcome, welcome! Here, I’ll take you to him!” 

Wen Ze nodded. “Thank you.” 

As they passed by the caves, many beastmen and half-beastmen curiously watched them. 

Wen Ze noticed a group of fluffy figures “fighting” up ahead. 

Looking closely, they turned out to be tiger cubs! 

Some were white, some were yellow. Not only were they smaller than Jia Yi, but their fur also looked much softer. 

Even as Wen Ze and Zhuo Mu got closer, the little tigers remained oblivious, swiping at each other with tiny paws, nibbling on each other’s ears, and letting out soft, playful growls. 

With their chubby faces, glossy fur, and squishy paw pads, who wouldn’t be mesmerized?! 

Wen Ze was instantly captivated! 

His eyes sparkled with excitement, and his fingers itched to reach out. 

He had an overwhelming urge to scoop up the tiger cubs and cuddle them! 

The shadow cast over them finally made the little cubs notice something was strange. 

They adorably turned their heads, and upon seeing the imposing tiger and the massive white python that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, their fur instantly bristled in fear! 

“Rawr!” 

A few of them forgot they could talk and scrambled away in a panic, tumbling over each other. 

One particularly chubby cub tripped over its own feet and landed face-first in the dirt. Wen Ze couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight. 

“What are you running for?” one of the patrolling beastmen called out. “We’re not going to eat you! Slow down, don’t run into a—” 

Unfortunately, he spoke too late. The leading cub let out a startled “Oof!” as it crashed straight into a tree. 

Wen Ze burst out laughing. 

The patrolling beastman scratched his head in embarrassment. “These are the tribe’s little ones who haven’t taken human form yet. They love playing together and can be a bit mischievous.” 

“It’s okay,” Wen Ze said sincerely. “I think they’re adorable.” 

The tiger cubs, still curious about the strangers, hadn’t gone far. Instead, they had stacked themselves into a wobbly “tiger tower” behind the tree, peeking their fluffy heads out to watch. 

Hearing the handsome half-beastman praise them, they beamed with delight. 

This half-beastman wasn’t just good-looking—his clothes were different, and he gave off a warm, gentle aura that made them want to get closer. 

Since they spent most of their time playing anyway, their curiosity won out, and they trailed after him without hesitation. 

Meanwhile, Bai Han had a feeling Wen Ze would be visiting today, so he hadn’t gone out hunting. 

When he spotted Wen Ze, he jumped down from his cave. The five-meter drop didn’t faze him at all—he landed gracefully and strode forward with long, steady steps. 

Wen Ze slid off Zhuo Mu’s back and walked toward Bai Han. “Tribe Leader Bai Han.” 

Zhuo Mu change into human form. Like Bai Han, he had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a well-defined, powerful build. 

Bai Han nodded. “Wen Ze, Zhuo Mu, welcome.” 

His tone remained composed, with only a faint smile on his lips. 

Glancing behind Wen Ze, he raised an eyebrow. “Looks like you brought a little entourage.” 

The tiger cubs eagerly called out, “Leader~!” 

“Leader, are you playing with us today?” 

Bai Han replied gently, “I have things to do today, so no playing.” 

“Then can the new big brother play with us?” Their eyes all turned to Wen Ze. 

Bai Han paused slightly, his golden eyes softening just a bit. “They are guests of the tribe. This afternoon, we will be heading out together.” 

The tiger cubs drooped their ears in disappointment. “Okay~” 

Wen Ze looked at Bai Han with a bit of surprise. Despite his cold demeanor, this young, single beastman, who had already become a leader, was surprisingly patient with the cubs. 

Seeing how much the little ones liked him, Wen Ze felt delighted. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of nut candies. 

These candies were made with honey from yellow fruits and came in both plain and milk flavors. 

As soon as the cubs caught the sweet scent, their eyes lit up with excitement, and they all locked their gazes onto Wen Ze.

Bending down with a smile, Wen Ze handed each cub two candies. 

“I made these. Here, have some.” 

The little tigers’ eyes sparkled with greed, but they weren’t sure if they were allowed to take them, so they turned to Bai Han for permission. 

“Is this honey candy with milk?” Bai Han asked, hesitating. “Wen Ze, you should keep them for yourselves.” 

“It’s fine, we have plenty,” Wen Ze said with a smile. “I made these especially for the little ones. Let them enjoy them. The nuts from your tribe make especially fragrant candies.”

Bai Han said, “Then you all should thank Brother Wen Ze.” 

The little cubs happily howled and said in unison, though not quite synchronized, “Thank you, Brother Wen Ze! Awooo!” 

Wen Ze gestured for them to raise their little paws. They immediately stood on their hind legs, stretching their bodies as much as they could while lifting their front paws to take the candy he handed them.

As soon as they put the candy in their mouths, the cubs jumped up and down in delight. 

“It’s so good! So sweet!” 

“It’s milk! It tastes like milk! Awooo!” 

“The nuts smell amazing!” 

While they were eating, Wen Ze reached out and ruffled each cub’s head twice. 

Their fur wasn’t as soft as he had imagined! But the texture was amazing—smooth, warm, and incredibly pleasant to the touch! 

Reluctantly, he withdrew his hand to focus on the task at hand, but his eyes couldn’t help but linger on the little tiger cubs. 

Seeing this, Bai Han’s golden eyes softened with warmth as he said, “If you like them, you can stay in our tribe for a few more days. We’ve already prepared a cave for you.” 

Zhuo Mu silently walked up to Wen Ze, stopping beside him and looking up at Bai Han. 

The cubs had originally wanted to keep playing with Wen Ze, but Zhuo Mu’s powerful presence made them instinctively nervous. With candy still in their mouths, they called out in their soft, childish voices, “Goodbye, Leader! Goodbye, Brother!” before running off. 

Wen Ze smiled at Bai Han and said, “I’ll take a look at the situation first.” 

Bai Han nodded and led them toward the straw shelter at the base of the mountain while saying, 

“The plants we found are all in the wild. Once the half-beastman guides arrive, we’ll set off.” 

Wen Ze agreed. 

He and Zhuo Mu exchanged a glance: The Snow Sea Tribe’s attitude was surprisingly good? 

Zhuo Mu gave a slight nod: I didn’t sense any hostility either. 

Wen Ze felt much more at ease. 

Still, it was best to remain cautious until the very end. 

After a short wait, two young men with striking features and outstanding presence approached them. 

“Leader, we’re here.” The slimmer of the two, dressed in gray hemp clothes, spoke first. 

His hair was also pure white, shining with a satin-like luster under the sunlight. 

Wen Ze and Zhuo Mu stood with Bai Han as he introduced them. 

“Wen Ze, this is the half-beastman Xue Yuan, and beside him is his partner, Ri Yang. Xue Yuan is more than twenty years older than me and is one of the most experienced gatherers in our tribe.” 

“This is Wen Ze and Zhuo Mu from the South Mountain Tribe.” 

Everyone exchanged friendly greetings. 

Noticing Wen Ze’s gaze linger on his hemp clothing, Xue Yuan calmly explained, “My son made this for me. He’s a half-beastman, now living with his partner in the Rainbow Sun Tribe.” 

Wen Ze hadn’t expected him to be so perceptive and smiled. “I see.” 

After asking for Xue Yuan’s son’s name, Wen Ze mentioned that he had heard of his skillful craftsmanship before. 

No parent disliked hearing praise about their child, and Xue Yuan’s expression warmed slightly. 

“Leader, shall we head out now?” 

Bai Han nodded. “Alright, Xue Yuan, lead the way.” 

As soon as he finished speaking, the beastmen change into their beast forms. 

Zhuo Mu became a white python, Bai Han a white tiger, and Ri Yang a large orange tiger. 

Wen Ze and Xue Yuan each climbed onto Zhuo Mu and Ri Yang’s backs. 

The three beastmen dashed toward the outskirts of the tribe, with Ri Yang and Xue Yuan leading the way, Zhuo Mu and Wen Ze in the middle, and Bai Han taking the rear. 

Not long after they left, Wen Ze saw Xue Yuan’s sharp, white fox ears pop out and twitch slightly in the wind. 

Xue Yuan sniffed the mountain breeze, then turned to Wen Ze and said, 

“Let’s find that potato you mentioned first.” 

---

You can grab the full book now on my Ko-fi page, available in both PDF and EPUB formats! 🖤
📎 Here’s the link to the full novel