Chapter 43

After much anticipation, the Leopard Tribe finally completed their pottery for trading. The batch consisted of twenty small clay pots. These pots were slightly deeper and equipped with handles on both sides, but they were only half the size of the ones the Leopard Tribe usually used.

When the pots were finished, Ah Bai couldn’t get enough of them. Holding one carefully in his hands, he said, “Zhuo Yan, this little one is just too cute.”

“Yeah, it’s like a baby’s feeding bowl.”

“If your cubs ate from such a tiny bowl, they’d never grow!”

“For cubs that haven’t transformed yet, this size seems just right.”

As the conversation continued, a few sub-beasts carried the pots and stored them under the shelter.

“I’ve only heard about the Feather Tribe but haven’t seen them yet. Do they really eat that little? I mean, these pots are so tiny…”

“These aren’t bowls, they’re pots!”

“Haha, my mistake! But seriously, do they eat that little?”

“I don’t know, I’ve only heard the beasts talk about it. This time, Qiao, you’re going on the trip, right? You should ask them and let us know when you’re back.”

Qiao laughed and said, “Sure, I’ll take notes and let you know.”

“That’s great!”

The pots were so small and adorable that several sub-beasts grew quite fond of them. Seeing this, Zhuo Yan said, “After we finish this batch and send off the salt trade team, anyone in the tribe who wants one of these smaller pots can sign up, and we’ll make more.”

“That’s awesome! Zhuo Yan, you’re the best!”

Zhuo Yan replied modestly, “It’s no trouble, we’ll be firing them together anyway.” With each household having a couple of extra pots, it would make things easier for the whole tribe.

Meanwhile, the elder sub-beasts were busy weaving by hand. Zhuo Yan remembered that in modern times, people would use hemp ropes to tie pots together for easier carrying. He teamed up with the elders to experiment. They bundled three pots together and stacked five bowls in each pile, with a thin layer of dried grass between each.

Once all the pots and bowls were packed, they lined the bottom of the woven baskets with long-haired furs. The pots and bowls were snugly placed, with extra dried grass stuffed around them for cushioning. Finally, the soft fur tops were tied with flexible vines, completing the preparation.

In total, they packed six baskets containing twenty clay pots and forty bowls. There were also two baskets of bone knives and eight baskets of animal pelts. The night before their departure, the familiar sound of drums echoed through the tribe, calling everyone to gather in the square.

The chief started calling out names. This year’s salt trade team consisted mostly of experienced warriors, including younger ones like Ah Da and Ah Shu. Ah Da’s mother was also going, accompanied by her partner.

The tribe had thirty-two warriors in total, and seventeen were joining the salt trade mission. The goods would be carried in turns by the beasts, and this year’s haul was substantial, with sixteen baskets altogether.

But that load was no problem. Each of the seventeen beasts would carry one basket on their back, along with their sub-beast partner, and could still manage to carry two more baskets. The weight was hardly an issue for them.

The warriors loved bringing their partners along on these trips. The sub-beasts spent most of the year working within the tribe, gathering and crafting, with little chance for adventure. The annual market trip was a rare opportunity for them to escape the monotony of everyday life.

Out of the seventeen warriors, sixteen were taking their partners along, even the chief brought his.

“…As for the tribe, the hunting team will handle the patrols. Zhuo Yan will oversee pottery, and for gathering and weaving, you can ask the elders at the big cave.”

After giving the instructions, the chief saw there were no further questions and dismissed the group.

Zhuo Yan and A-Yin, along with a few others, went to bid farewell to Qiao. They had heard that the team would leave before dawn. It was Qiao’s first time going to the Feather Tribe’s market, and he was visibly excited, his cheeks flushed. “I’m off, so you’ll have to handle the potato harvest while I’m gone,” he said.

“Qiao, don’t worry about that. It’s just some potatos,” Aman replied.

Xiao Xian nodded in agreement. “Yeah, just some potatos.”

“When they’re harvested, you can store them in my cave, and pick them up when you return,” Zhuo Yan offered.

Qiao accepted the offer without hesitation this time.

However, Shitou and Xiao Xian were less cheerful. Both of Shitou’s parents were going on the salt trade trip, which meant his sister, Big Cloud, would rely on him for care during their absence. Xiao Xian was in a similar situation, though at least he still had two older brothers at home.

Zhuo Yan wasn’t sure how to react to Shitou’s family situation.

Shitou’s parents were too affectionate, to say the least.

It turns out that Shitou’s parents had officially bonded as mates. But the idea of leaving their eldest son, a sturdy 1.88-meter-tall sub-beast who’d only been an adult for two years, to care for his seven- or eight-year-old sister while they “went off to have fun” was… questionable. Not only would Shitou need to fend for himself, but he also had to take care of his sister.

Their parting words? “Didn’t you say the beans are almost ready to harvest? And there’s the hunting team. We believe in you, Shitou.”

Qiao’s whole family—his parents, brother, and himself—were all off on the trading mission too.

As for Aman’s parents, they weren’t going because Aman’s little brother was quite a handful. They knew their son well enough to realize he’d probably sneak off if left unsupervised, so they entrusted Aman’s sister and her partner to take some furs to the market on their behalf.

Later, Aman confided to Shitou that his parents had heard from Shitou’s parents. If Shitou and his sister, Big Cloud, ran out of food, Aman’s parents were supposed to send some over, and they’d trade it for salt later.

Zhuo Yan found that somewhat reassuring. At least Shitou’s parents had thought ahead—they wouldn’t just abandon their kids for two months without making arrangements.

In the tribe, fifteen warriors remained, five of them cubs. Among the adults, there were four experienced warriors: Dian, Asen, Big Fang, and Aman’s father.

As they discussed the situation, Zhuo Yan mentioned that his own partner, A-Yin, was still around too. Counting him, that made eleven able-bodied warriors left in the tribe.

The chief had put Dian in charge of the hunting team. Confused, Zhuo Yan asked, “Is that Lei’s father?”

“No, you’ve got it mixed up again. Big Fang is Lei’s father,” Shitou corrected.

Zhuo Yan sighed, frustrated. “Well, you can’t blame me! ‘Dian’ and ‘Lei’ sound like they could be related—thunder and lightning!”

“But Lei’s father has massive, sharp teeth. He once bit through a lion’s neck,” Shitou added, proud of his tribe.

Aman glanced at Zhuo Yan. “Speaking of, why didn’t your uncle join the salt trade this year?”

Zhuo Yan paused for a moment before replying calmly, “It’s normal for him to stay behind.”

Aman nodded. “His partner is pregnant, and she’s due soon—probably not long after the trading team leaves. That’s why he didn’t go this year.”

That made sense. Leopards had a short pregnancy, around three months. Sub-beasts, on the other hand, could shift between human and animal forms, so their pregnancies lasted about six months.

Zhuo Yan suddenly remembered the previous winter. His uncle hadn’t brought meat to his family during the snow season like he usually did. For years, when food was scarce, his uncle would show up once or twice during the harshest winters, leaving behind some meat for Zhuo Yan and his mother.

The memory was foggy, but now it resurfaced in vivid detail. He remembered being huddled with his mother on the stone bed, wrapped in furs as the snow piled high at the cave entrance. His uncle had braved the storm, leaving a hunk of meat before quickly disappearing into the blizzard. All Zhuo Yan had seen was the fleeting silhouette of his beast form.

Zhuo Yan nodded thoughtfully. “That’s good. I hope Aunt delivers her cub safely.”

Everyone turned to look at him.

Zhuo Yan blinked. “What?”

“Why did you call her ‘Aunt’?” they asked.

“Well, she’s my uncle’s partner, so she’s my aunt, right?”

Qiao chimed in, explaining, “We don’t do that here. You might know your uncle, but his partner has no blood relation to you. We just call them by name or refer to them as ‘partner.’”

“Oh, got it.” Zhuo Yan realized how different the tribe’s familial bonds were. They acknowledged blood ties but didn’t extend them beyond direct relationships—no complicated in-law dynamics like “mother-in-law” or “son-in-law” conflicts. It was refreshing.

As they reached a crossroads, the group lingered, not quite ready to part ways. Qiao smiled, breaking the silence. “I’m coming back, you know.”

“Qiao, don’t say things like that!” Zhuo Yan quickly interrupted, not wanting her to jinx herself. He grinned casually, adding, “See you next time.”

Qiao chuckled, catching his mood. “See you next time.”

Everyone else joined in, the tension lifting. After all, the market trip was always a fun adventure.

With that, they finally split up and headed home. Zhuo Yan and A-Yin led the way, while the others whispered about the earlier “aunt” comment. Xiao Xian remarked, “I think Zhuo Yan’s just lonely and wants more family.”

“I thought the same, so I didn’t bring it up. Auntie it is,” Aman agreed.

“Zhuo Yan has A-Yin now,” Shitou added cheerfully. “They’ll have cubs of their own soon enough.”

Xiao Xian and Aman smiled, happy for Zhuo Yan, who remained blissfully unaware that his friends thought of him as the “poor little lonely one.”

Instead, his mind wandered to A-Yin. He was proud of his partner, knowing that A-Yin would soon join the hunting team and contribute more to the tribe. A-Yin was always so enthusiastic, full of energy, and Zhuo Yan couldn’t help but feel proud.

No wonder the chief had approved of A-Yin joining the hunting team. A-Yin had bested Gray in a sparring match, and despite living with Zhuo Yan, he’d never caused any trouble for the tribe. Plus, with the bulk of the warriors away, the tribe needed every capable person they had.

“A-Yin, you’re going to be busy for a while,” Zhuo Yan said.

A-Yin howled happily. “It’s no trouble, big brother!”

“The hardest part—pottery—is done. Things should calm down now,” Zhuo Yan started to say, but then he remembered the potatos still needed harvesting.

Aman had mentioned that summer was approaching, and with it, the heavy rains. That’s why the salt trade team had to leave now—by the time the rain started, they’d already be at the Feather Tribe market. They’d wait for the rainy season to end before returning.

The rainy season would last about half a month.

Zhuo Yan thought to himself, “That’s pretty short.” Recently, the weather had been hot and scorching, so some rain would be a nice change—though he had no idea yet that when the rains did come, they’d bring their own set of headaches.

On his way home, he passed by the chicken coop and noticed that two of the four eggs had already hatched. The rest would probably hatch soon. After checking on them, he and A-Yin headed back to sleep. Tomorrow was another busy day.

The next morning, Zhuo Yan woke up leisurely, knowing there wasn’t anything urgent to attend to. He allowed himself a rare sleep-in, while the salt-exchange team had already set out at dawn.

A-Yin, squatting at the edge of the bed, licked his brother’s hand.

“Awake already,” Zhuo Yan muttered sleepily, reaching out blindly into the air. A-Yin, understanding, nudged his head into Zhuo Yan’s palm, letting him know he was there. Zhuo Yan smiled and said groggily, “If you need to go join the hunting team, go ahead. I’ll be up in a minute.”

A-Yin responded with an enthusiastic, “Awuu~ Awuu~” and licked Zhuo Yan’s hand one last time. Zhuo Yan felt the wet, slightly rough texture against his palm, which fully woke him up. He sat up and gave A-Yin a quick hug. “Go on, don’t be late.”

The hunting team didn’t wait for stragglers, and since their house was the furthest out, A-Yin would be the last to join.

Sure enough, Zhuo Yan could hear faint howls from outside.

A-Yin gave one final affectionate nudge before racing out to catch up with the team.

Zhuo Yan stretched his arms, fully awake now. Grabbing a water bucket and slinging a woven basket over his back, he set out for the day’s tasks. The chickens, rabbits, and the tusked boar they kept were all free-range, so they could forage for their own food. That boar had been a handful at first, but after a few days of training from A-Yin, it now obediently grazed for pigweed. Anyone who saw it couldn’t help but marvel at the “demon” pig’s transformation.

First, Zhuo Yan headed to the river to wash up. His hair had gotten a bit long, so he took out a bone knife to trim it. Just as he was finishing, he heard Shitou scolding his little sister Da Yun from behind.

“Stay still on my back. Don’t move around.”

“Awuu, awuu, brother!” Da Yun whimpered.

Little Xian ran up to Zhuo Yan first. “Are you cutting your hair? Let me help.”

“Sure,” Zhuo Yan said, handing him the knife. “Cut the back shorter—it’s too hot these days.”

“I’ll trim mine after,” Little Xian said, carefully cutting Zhuo Yan’s hair. “Shitou’s been driven crazy all morning. Da Yun cried non-stop until just now.”

“Well, she’s still young, and her parents just left. Crying is pretty normal,” Zhuo Yan replied, glancing over at Shitou, who was doing his best to soothe his little sister.

“She cries so loud, though. Poor Shitou had to entertain her all morning,” Little Xian complained.

Before long, Zhuo Yan’s hair was trimmed. It wasn’t a professional job, but good enough for the heat. His hair now stuck up like a fluffy tree, the length just reaching his ears with a slightly shorter cut on top, leaving his head looking delightfully wild.

Admiring his reflection in the river, Zhuo Yan smiled. “I’ve got so much hair.” He splashed some water on his face and neck, wiping himself down with a scrap of hide.

“Alright, your turn,” Zhuo Yan said, turning to trim Little Xian’s hair.

Shitou, still carrying Da Yun, approached with Aman trailing behind, his hands covering his ears. Zhuo Yan stifled a laugh at the sight. Da Yun might be a little mischievous, but all kids were like that. In their tribe, children were raised tough, able to climb anything and eat anything without complaint. And though they were rowdy, they were well-disciplined when it mattered—like Staying away from the river, where punishment for disobedience could be swift and stern.

Just then, Aman chimed in, “Are you all cutting your hair? I’ll do mine too.”

Shitou set Da Yun down, who wobbled slightly but could walk on her own now, though she still crawled when flustered. She tottered over to Zhuo Yan with her arms wide, asking to be picked up.

“Oh, looks like Da Yun really likes you,” Aman teased while pulling out a bone knife of his own.

Zhuo Yan held Da Yun, noticing her messy hair. “Hey, Shitou, maybe you should cut her hair too?”

“Good idea,” Shitou said, pulling a knife from his pack. “I’ll take care of it.”

And so, the group spent their morning by the river, cutting hair and getting refreshed. Shitou’s trimming job was rather sloppy, so Zhuo Yan took over to tidy up Da Yun’s hair, feeling a bit proud of his own handiwork compared to Shitou’s rough attempts.

When it came time to wash Da Yun’s hair, Shitou unceremoniously dunked her upside down into the river, rubbing her head vigorously with soap, making Da Yun squeal. Zhuo Yan winced. “Shitou, be gentler, will you?”

“Got it, got it.”

The second time, Da Yun didn’t protest as much.

That evening, they’d be firing pottery, but right now, the midday heat was unbearable. Zhuo Yan guessed it must be over 30 degrees, and while he felt awkward without his vest on, many of the other beastfolk and sub-beastfolk had already switched to wearing simple woven leaf and vine coverings—though they didn’t do much for modesty.

“Now, how was cloth made again?” Zhuo Yan pondered. He recognized plants like ramie and jute, but their tribe had none nearby. Shaking off the thought for now, he joined the others to start harvesting potatos.

Shitou placed Da Yun in the shade and got to work, using a stone knife to dig. Not long after, the sub-beastfolk who had promised to help with the pottery showed up as well.

“We heard you’re harvesting today,” Ah Bai said, stepping down into the field. “We’re here to help!”

Before Zhuo Yan could even respond, everyone had already jumped into the task. The group worked quickly, and soon enough, they had a sizable pile of potatos stacked up on the field.

“Wow, how did you grow so many?” Ah Bai asked in amazement.

“I can teach you. It’s really simple,” Zhuo Yan replied, beginning to explain the whole process, from preparing the soil to planting the seeds.

Everyone listened attentively to Zhuo Yan’s instructions. Even if some didn’t fully understand, they waited until he finished speaking before asking questions.

“Can we still plant crops now?” someone asked.

Another chimed in, “We can turn the soil first, then plant after the rainy season. That way, we won’t have to water them.”

“Smart idea!” Zhuo Yan praised.

The young beastman who suggested it blushed, clearly pleased with himself.

“Just be careful in this heat; don’t overwork yourselves,” Zhuo Yan warned.

“We’ll drink some bitter tree sap to stay cool, don’t worry!” Ah Bai reassured him.

Zhuo Yan raised an eyebrow. “Bitter tree sap?” he asked, glancing at Xiao Xian. The younger one, who had quietly snuck up beside him, frowned and mimicked the gesture of peeling bark. “It’s from this ugly-looking tree. When you cut it, this white liquid oozes out. It’s really bitter and hard to drink, though.”

“I had to drink it once when I was overheating,” Xiao Xian added with a grimace.

“Alright, we’ll go gather some bitter sap later,” Zhuo Yan said, chuckling at Xiao Xian’s reluctant expression.

Originally, the work was supposed to take two days, but thanks to the group’s efforts, they finished in one. By the end, they had piled up a literal mountain of potatos. Zhuo Yan was amazed by how well they had grown—the land was practically a potato paradise.

They set aside two baskets of potatos as seeds for future planting. The rest was divided among the group. Each person carried away two full baskets, and Zhuo Yan had to make three trips to store all of his share in his cave.

He also set aside some for Ah Bai and the others, as they had borrowed seeds from him to plant. They promised to return half a basket once the fall harvest came around. Everyone agreed without hesitation, knowing how plentiful the potatos would be by then.

When dusk arrived, the hunting party returned, carrying their spoils: horned sheep. The tribe was smaller now, only 35 people, but each person received about three to four pounds of meat—enough for a good meal.

As usual, the meat was distributed in the tribe’s central square. The one handing it out was Dian’s partner, a strong male beastman in his mid-twenties with a serious expression. When it was Zhuo Yan’s turn, the man gave him an extra bone along with his share.

“Why did he get an extra bone?” someone called out from the crowd.

Dian turned to look at the man who spoke, clearly unimpressed by the challenge.

“Why does he get more than the rest of us?” the beastman repeated.

The one distributing the meat looked uneasy, casting a glance at his partner Dian. He bit his lip, feeling as though he had been unfair and put Dian in a difficult position.

Zhuo Yan didn’t return the bone. Instead, he gave a firm look to the young beastman handing out the meat, silently telling him to stay calm and let Dian handle it. Whether the message got across or not, Zhuo Yan wasn’t sure.

Since the tribe’s leader had left and put Dian in charge of the hunting team, Zhuo Yan had no idea what might have happened during the hunt. But it was clear that someone was using this as an opportunity to challenge Dian’s leadership.

Dian stood his ground, his voice firm as he said, “Ma Ha, during today’s hunt, you refused to follow my orders. You almost got one of the younger hunters injured. Today we were lucky it was just horned sheep. What if it had been something more dangerous?”

“I was teaching them how to hunt,” Ma Ha shot back.

Dian didn’t bother arguing further. “The bone stays with Zhuo Yan. Same goes for Xiao Xian and Ah Hui’s mother. That’s what I decided. If you or anyone else disagrees, you can wait until the tribe leader returns and challenge me. But until then, we follow his rules—no fighting.”

Zhuo Yan suddenly understood. He held up the bone and said loudly, “I trust Dian’s decision. Thank you.”

“This is what you, Xiao Xian, and Ah Hui’s mother deserve,” Dian said.

Zhuo Yan took his share and moved aside, but the tension in the square hadn’t fully dissipated. The atmosphere remained cold and stiff. Glancing toward the crowd, Zhuo Yan caught Ma Ha’s eye for a brief moment before looking away, uninterested in starting a confrontation.

Ma Ha appeared to be a bit older than Dian, or maybe they were close in age. Dian was a female beastman, not particularly tall at around 1.93 meters, while Ma Ha was almost two meters tall. Clearly, Ma Ha had been dissatisfied with Dian leading the hunt from the start.

It was only the first day, after all.

Zhuo Yan patted A-Yin’s ears, sensing that his companion had endured some frustrations. Dian’s comments hinted that Ma Ha had recklessly put the younger hunters in danger, leaving A-Yin to deal with the consequences. Thankfully, they had been hunting horned sheep, which weren’t too dangerous. A-Yin nuzzled Zhuo Yan, reassuring him that he hadn’t been harmed.

With Zhuo Yan’s example set, Xiao Xian approached to receive his share. He was also given an extra bone and, though nervous, managed to say, “Thank you, Dian. Thank you, Xiao Kui.” His voice shook slightly, but he did his best.

Next, it was Ah Hui’s mother’s turn. She smiled gently as she took the bone, saying softly, “Thank you for looking out for Ah Hui. He’s a bit clumsy, so I’m glad it was only horned sheep.”

“Mom! Don’t say that!” Ah Hui protested from the sidelines.

Her lighthearted remark broke the tension, and the square’s atmosphere slowly relaxed.

As they headed back home, Aman asked, “Zhuo Yan, weren’t you scared of Ma Ha?”

Zhuo Yan grinned. “I was too busy looking the other way when I got my meat to notice how tall he was.”

Xiao Xian, who had been looking at Zhuo Yan in awe: “… Wait, what?”

Both Aman and Shi Tou burst into laughter. Shi Tou, carrying his little sister on his back, said, “But even if you had noticed Ma Ha, I believe you’d still stand by Dian.”

Zhuo Yan ruffled Xiao Xian’s hair. “You were brave too.”

Xiao Xian beamed, his earlier nervousness forgotten. “I was shaking, but I did what you told me!”

“I don’t know much about Ma Ha,” Zhuo Yan admitted, “but the tribe leader chose Dian to lead the hunting team. That means he trusts her to keep the tribe safe and fed, at least for now.”

He paused before adding, “And remember, Dian said we wait for the tribe leader to return for any fighting, not now.”

“Is she afraid she can’t beat Ma Ha?” Aman blurted out, then paused, shaking his head. He’d heard that Ma Ha was incredibly strong, possibly even on par with Ah Da’s mother, but he couldn’t quite explain why that didn’t seem to fit.

Zhuo Yan responded, “We have fewer warriors in the tribe now. If Ma Ha is deliberately provoking a fight, regardless of who wins or loses, someone could get hurt. And if that happens, we’ll go from eleven hunters guarding the tribe to just ten.”

“No, nine,” Shitou corrected, before suddenly remembering. “Wait, I forgot about A-Yin. So, yeah, ten. You’re right, Zhuo Yan.”

Zhuo Yan nodded. “The chief is smart. Dian is steady and reliable. Ah Lei’s beast-father still hasn’t fully recovered from his leg injury, and my uncle Asen’s mate is expecting. Ma Ha, on the other hand, seems reckless—”

“Zhuo Yan-ge, what does ‘reckless’ mean?” Aman interrupted.

“It means someone who makes impulsive decisions without thinking them through, not considering the tribe’s overall well-being.”

Aman and Shitou both nodded in agreement. Zhuo Yan was making a lot of sense.

“Still,” Zhuo Yan continued, “I think a fight’s inevitable… I just hope Dian can hold things together until the chief gets back.” He had a feeling that Ma Ha wasn’t the type to let things go so easily.

Among the beastmen, strength spoke louder than words. Once someone was defeated, there would be no more arguments.

Zhuo Yan leaned down to speak quietly to A-Yin. “When you go hunting, keep an eye on Ma Ha. Be careful.”

“Awwoo~” A-Yin nodded, taking the warning to heart.

“By the way, Aman, why doesn’t your father lead the team?” Zhuo Yan asked.

Aman’s eyes widened before he sighed in frustration. “My brother—ah, never mind. My father can’t leave him.”

Zhuo Yan didn’t fully understand, but it didn’t seem important at the moment. As long as Dian had things under control, that was all that mattered. For now, they couldn’t return to their caves with the meat. There was still pottery to fire in the kiln, and since the hunting party had returned early, they could get it done without splitting into shifts.

At the kiln, everyone gathered. Aman’s older brother, Ah Ri, and Ah Lei’s beast-father, Da Ya, were standing guard for the night.

Inside the kiln, pairs of sub-beastmen worked quietly, chatting in low voices.

“Zhuo Yan sided with Dian and Xiao Kui earlier.”

“Yeah, but Ma Ha had a point too—”

“Ma Ha was wrong! Dian explained why he gave Zhuo Yan an extra bone.”

“That’s not what I meant. I was just saying Ma Ha looks stronger. Maybe he’s taking the younger hunters out for their own good.”

“That’s true.”

Not only did the beastmen admire strength, but the sub-beastmen did as well. It wasn’t about attraction; it was about respect and reverence for the powerful.

Da Ya, in his beast form, barely made his presence known. He simply narrowed his eyes at the sub-beastmen talking nearby, then cast a cold, disdainful look.

Ma Ha? What of him?