Chapter 44

The next ten days passed without much change in the tribe.

Zhuo Yan fired the kiln twice during that time, mostly producing small items like deep bowls, cups, and little pots. Everything was divided equally among the households in the tribe. Most homes in the Leopard Tribe had two occupants, either couples or parents with their cubs. The largest family, like Xiao Xian’s, had five members.

Xiao Xian often complained about his parents getting fed up with him and his brother still living with them. They were constantly urging their sons to find mates and move out on their own, basically telling them to stop freeloading.

So, each household ended up with two pots, two large bowls, one big water jug, two small bowls, and three cups with handles and lids that could also double as jars. More than enough.

After the last batch was fired, Zhuo Yan announced, “That’s about it. The weather’s getting hotter, so we’re done with pottery for the year. If the chief returns and we need more, we can fire some then.”

The sub-beastmen all agreed, eager to start working on the large fields by the river to plant mud beans.

Once the pottery was distributed, there was still a batch left over. Zhuo Yan discussed it with the elders, and they decided to store the extra in the large communal cave, waiting for the salt exchange team to return and claim their share.

With the pottery done, the days grew increasingly hotter. The sub-beastmen now rose early, working the fields by moonlight. They toiled until about nine in the morning, when the heat became unbearable. By ten, they had to retreat to their caves, waiting until the cooler evening hours to continue.

One day, Aman mentioned, “Summer’s almost here.”

Zhuo Yan was shocked. “This isn’t summer yet?!”

“Nope, not yet.”

Zhuo Yan couldn’t believe it. It already felt like 35 or 36 degrees. How much hotter would it get? Forty?

Noticing Zhuo Yan’s discomfort, Shitou suggested, “You’re wearing that leather skirt and vest all day. No wonder you’re hot. You should take it off.”

“Yeah, Zhuo Yan-ge!” Xiao Xian chimed in, noticing how overheated he looked. “I know a place where the leaves are huge. I could weave you some clothes out of them.”

Zhuo Yan was grateful for the offer but waved it off for now. “Maybe next time.” He was more worried about the scorching summer ahead. He could always retreat to the cool caves, which stayed pleasantly warm in winter and refreshingly cool in summer. But Silver wouldn’t have that luxury while out hunting in this heat.

“Speaking of, when are we going to collect that bitter tree sap?” Zhuo Yan asked.

Xiao Xian made a pained face at the thought.

Aman burst out laughing. “You were all excited to go earlier, and now look at you!” Xiao Xian shot Aman a glare, but Aman ruffled his hair playfully, and the two started horsing around.

Shitou, always calm, said, “We can go this evening.”

“Is it far?” Zhuo Yan asked.

“Not too far. We’ll be back before dark.” Shitou hadn’t even finished when Xiao Xian, eager to redeem himself, piped up, “Zhuo Yan-ge, I know where there’s a huge tree with tons of sap!”

“Perfect. See you all tonight. I’ll bring a jar to collect it.”

As the heat of the day bore down, the sub-beastmen retreated from the riverbanks. Some of them, unable to stand the heat any longer, jumped into the water, splashing themselves to cool off. Laughing and chatting, they made their way back to the caves.

By the time the evening sun dipped low, the tribe was bustling again. Zhuo Yan stepped out of his cave, slinging a woven basket onto his back. The heat had been rough, not just on him but on the little animals in his care too. He made sure they all had plenty of water, filling up their bowls—wooden basins that Silver had carved from logs back when he was young. Now, Silver had upgraded to ceramic bowls, so Zhuo Yan used the old ones for the animals. One for himself, one for Silver, and they were set.

Zhuo Yan placed the wooden basin under the crooked tree and refilled it with water. He left it there, knowing the animals would come to drink on their own when thirsty. They weren’t dumb, especially the tusked pig, which was surprisingly clever.

At the bottom of the slope, Zhuo Yan joined the others. Shitou, as usual, carried his woven basket and held onto Da Yun.

“Let’s go.”

The three of them made their way to the narrowest part of the river to leave the tribe’s territory. The river looked narrower now compared to early spring, when the snowmelt made it widest. The land on either side, stretching seven to eight meters from the riverbank, had already been plowed.

This was the work of the sub-beastmen over the past few days. They had talked about planting mud beans, and their execution was impressive—fast and efficient. Zhuo Yan glanced at the freshly turned soil, and the others followed his gaze. Shitou wasn’t sure what Zhuo Yan was looking at, but Aman laughed, “This autumn, we’ll have more potatos than we can eat.”

“Exactly!” Xiao Xian chimed in. “If the salt exchange team comes back with plenty of salt, we won’t have to worry about going hungry during the winter.”

Shitou smiled at the thought, though he remained quiet.

“Wonder if the salt team has made it there yet?” Zhuo Yan mused.

“Doubt it,” Aman replied. “They haven’t been gone that long.”

The three of them chatted as they left the tribe’s territory, though they didn’t stray too far. With fewer people to patrol the area, only two beastmen were on guard duty each day. They would mark the boundary outside the riverbank by urinating at various points in the forest to ward off wild animals. Most creatures, sensing the scent of the beastmen, would stay away.

Finding the bitter tree was easy. The trees were short, ugly, and their trunks were black with scars the size of fists. For anyone with a fear of clusters, the sight would have been unbearable.

Using a stone knife, they cut deeply into the tree’s bark, where the scars were thick. The outer bark was tough, and it took some effort to break through. Then, with a bone knife, they scraped away more of the bark, causing a clear sap to ooze out, releasing a sharp, unpleasant odor.

Zhuo Yan grimaced. “Whoever drank this first must’ve been really brave.”

How had anyone even thought to tap such an ugly tree for sap? The thought of someone willingly drinking it was hard to fathom.

“No idea,” Aman shrugged. “Everyone in the tribe knows about it. My parents used to give it to me when I overheated as a kid. You drink it, throw up, and feel better.”

Zhuo Yan found a tree and mimicked Shitou’s earlier movements, quickly catching the sap in a ceramic bowl. Even the smallest bowls made by the tribe weren’t that small by modern standards, and the jar Zhuo Yan was using could hold up to 800 milliliters. One tree scar yielded over 300 milliliters of sap.

He didn’t cut a second scar yet but sniffed the liquid first, nearly gagging from the strong odor. The taste was even worse—a bitter flavor that wrinkled his entire face. Xiao Xian, Shitou, and Aman burst into laughter, while Da Yun, anxious, waved her hands and muttered in concern.

“You three are awful! Only Da Yun is being considerate,” Zhuo Yan fumed, though his tongue was still coated with the unbearable bitterness.

Aman, still laughing, said, “Da Yun hasn’t tried it yet. You should give her a sip!”

“I see right through you. You just want Da Yun to hate me!” Zhuo Yan retorted, catching Aman’s sly trick.

Da Yun, apart from Shitou, was especially fond of Zhuo Yan.

Aman looked disappointed that his plan had been uncovered.

“Zhuo Yan-ge, don’t torture yourself. You’re not overheated yet. It tastes terrible,” Xiao Xian advised, clearly preferring to avoid the drink unless absolutely necessary.

Aman added, “Most of the tribe feels the same as Xiao Xian. They only drink it when they’re already overheating. You’re the only one who came out so early to gather it—it’s nasty stuff.”

“I’m just worried about Silver. He’s out hunting all day. I was thinking, what if we dry the sap into powder or roll it into pills? Then he could take one if he gets overheated while tracking prey under the sun,” Zhuo Yan explained.

Xiao Xian cringed at the thought. “Zhuo Yan-ge, beastmen have sensitive noses. My father never drinks this stuff. Once, my mother tried to give him some, but before she even got close, he woke up and shifted into his beast form to soak in the river.”

Aman and Shitou both nodded in agreement. Beastmen would avoid the bitter sap at all costs.

“So they just tough it out?” Zhuo Yan frowned. It seemed harmful to ignore such a remedy. Maybe they could dilute the sap, use it as Ah Daily drink, or even apply it to the skin to cool down?

He’d have to think more about it.

For now, Zhuo Yan filled his jar halfway, leaving some space to prevent spills. The jar’s lid, a simple cover like one used for tea cups, wouldn’t seal tightly, so Zhuo Yan secured it in place with a grass rope, tying the jar snugly to the inside of his basket. With the jar only half full and firmly tied down, it shouldn’t spill on the way back.

Seeing this, the others copied his method.

“Zhuo Yan really is smart,” Aman remarked, impressed.

Shitou nodded. “I was going to let Da Yun carry mine.”

Xiao Xian had been planning to hold his jar as well, but now with the jars secured in their baskets, it was much easier. No one had to worry about dropping and breaking their ceramic containers.

Meanwhile, the hunting team, led by Dian, was scouring the grasslands outside the tribe. They had spent the entire morning searching and had finally spotted a few lone deer. Dian signaled for them to catch them all.

It should’ve been an easy task—these antlered deer were no match for the leopard beastmen.

Since the incident with Ma Ha, Dian hadn’t trusted him on hunts. She always led the charge herself, while the other beastmen surrounded the prey. After days of hunting the same grasslands, they had only just stumbled upon these deer after walking all morning.

Now, as noon approached and the heat intensified, the deer had gathered near the river to drink.

Hiding behind the grassy hill, the beastmen shifted into their human forms, which were smaller and less conspicuous. Silver, unable to shapeshift, stayed farthest back, carefully watching the scene unfold.

Dian made the first move, dashing toward the deer at lightning speed. The startled animals scattered, but she had already locked onto the lead stag. In one fluid motion, she leaped into the air, shifting into her beast form mid-jump. Her elongated body pounced, and with her powerful front paws, she slammed the stag to the ground, her sharp teeth sinking into its neck.

Something rushed at him from behind.

Dian swiftly dodged, evading the strike—it was Ma Ha.

…

By evening, the hunting party still hadn’t returned. The tribe’s sub-beastmen were working the fields and chatting as they toiled. “The hunting team isn’t back yet?” “Nope.” “I’m getting hungry.” “Same here.”

With the heat and no salt in the tribe, they lived day by day, hunting for food to eat immediately. There were no extra provisions—except for Zhuo Yan’s group. They had recently harvested some potatos, enough to last them for at least a month or two, eating them mixed with meat.

But not everyone was so lucky.

Some of the sub-beastmen resorted to foraging for berries, wild fruits, or edible greens to stave off hunger.

“If only we had planted those beans with Zhuo Yan back then,” one sighed.

“Yeah, we’d have beans to eat by now,” another agreed.

“It’s a little late, but by fall, things will be much better.”

“That’s true.”

As night fell, the sub-beastmen washed in the river, but there was still no sound of the clanging signal that would announce the hunting party’s return, leaving everyone feeling uneasy. The day’s patrol consisted of Ah Tou, a seasoned warrior, and Asen, a younger, less experienced one. Both stood by the river, watching the distant horizon.

Zhuo Yan, back at home, tidied his cave and wove a mat, but with no sign of A-Yin’s return, he grew restless. He wandered out to wait at the foot of the hill, noticing the silhouettes of the patrol warriors in the distance.

Still no sign of the hunters.

“Zhuo Yan, go back to your cave,” one of the patrol called out.

“Oh, alright,” Zhuo Yan responded, unable to recognize his uncle’s voice. He took a few steps back toward his cave but couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that something wasn’t right. He stood there for a while, scanning the horizon before finally returning inside.

Hours passed—it felt like it was already eight or nine at night—when the clanging finally echoed across the settlement. The hunting team was back. Zhuo Yan sighed in relief, grabbed his basket, and rushed out. If the hunters were back, A-Yin must be back too.

At the plaza, a torch was planted in the ground, casting light on a bloodied scene. There were two catches—a large buck and a rhinoceros. The latter wasn’t even from nearby, meaning they had ventured far to get it.

Zhuo Yan didn’t focus on the prey; his eyes quickly scanned for A-Yin. He spotted him, covered in blood, his silver fur stained red. Zhuo Yan’s heart tightened, but when A-Yin met his gaze and wagged his tail, Zhuo Yan realized it wasn’t his blood—it was the prey’s.

Finally, Zhuo Yan allowed himself to relax.

Ma Ha, on the other hand, wasn’t as lucky. She had injured her shoulder and, according to her, Dian had caused it. The injury didn’t seem too severe, though.

“You said we shouldn’t fight without the chief around, but you’re the first to break the rule,” Ma Ha chided, clutching her shoulder.

Dian countered, “You started it. You attacked me first.”

“I was just following your orders, clearing the path behind us.”

The two argued back and forth. A division was forming among the beastmen. Some sided with Ma Ha, others with Dian, and then there were those who chose to remain neutral, like Asen, Dayu, and Aman’s father, Huoxia.

A beastman stepped forward and said, “Dian, it doesn’t matter who threw the first punch. The point is, without Ma Ha insisting on pushing forward, we wouldn’t have brought back this rhinoceros.”

“Exactly!”

“We spent the entire morning only to catch a single deer.”

“And you two fighting scared off the rest of the herd.”

Ari interjected, “That’s because Ma Ha attacked Dian first instead of going after the deer.”

“Either way, Ma Ha’s the one who insisted on going after the rhino.”

“She should get the rhino share.”

“Agreed!”

Zhuo Yan watched this blunt, tribal argument unfold and thought, Really? They’re debating like this? Ma Ha had some cunning but not much, and the beastmen were simple-minded. In the end, what mattered was the result. Dian had only brought back a deer, while Ma Ha had pushed the group to hunt a rhinoceros.

The stakes were clear: if Dian allowed Ma Ha to distribute the rhino meat today, it would signal a shift in power. Until the chief returned, Ma Ha would lead the hunting parties and control meat distribution—a significant symbol of authority.

A large portion of the tribe, especially those who supported Ma Ha, wanted to venture farther for bigger prey, to feast and fill their bellies. Four or five pounds of meat per day was enough for the sub-beastmen, but not for the beastmen, whose physical exertion during hunts left them hungry.

Who wanted to go hungry when they had the strength to hunt more? This was the mindset of Ma Ha’s supporters.

Dian, on the other hand, valued stability—short hunts, quick returns. She wanted to keep a close eye on the tribe, ensuring everyone’s safety. If anyone went hungry, families could share their rations and get through it together in peace.

Zhuo Yan had pieced together the situation, and so had many others. Some wanted to eat more; others prioritized safety. But none of this was for the sub-beastmen to decide—it was all up to Dian.

Dian’s face was tight with anger. Her mate, Xiaokui, stood firmly behind her, clearly aligned with Dian.

The tension between the two groups was palpable. Dian finally turned to Ma Ha, swallowing her fury, and said, “Today’s meat—”

“I think…” Asen suddenly interrupted.

All eyes turned to Asen, including Ma Ha, who looked anxious. He had already sensed that Dian was about to say everyone would get their fair share, and Asen’s interruption was unwelcome.

“Hunting every day like this isn’t working,” Asen began.

The other beastmen nodded in agreement, even Ma Ha’s supporters, as they waited for him to finish. Asen looked at Dian. “Isn’t it true that lately, you’ve had to search longer for prey? If we keep going like this, we’ll soon have to travel farther to hunt. The game on the nearby plains will eventually move farther away, and when that happens, we’ll all be too weak from hunger to keep up. It’ll be even more dangerous.”

“Exactly! Why not go farther now and have a proper feast?”

“Yeah!”

Dian nodded, “Starting tomorrow, we’ll travel farther. We’ll add an experienced warrior to the patrol, and the sub-beastmen can continue their daytime work. If the hunting party isn’t back by nightfall, the patrol will stand guard through the night.”

The other orcs cheered, realizing this was the way it should have been all along.

“Let’s divide the meat,” Asen suggested.

Electric and her partner, Little Kui, naturally started to portion the meat, and Electric cast a grateful glance at Asen. He remained silent, standing his ground, while Maher shot him a furious glare.

“You want to hunt far away? Electric has agreed to it,” Asen stated.

“For the good of the tribe, you all need to step back.”

The other orcs quickly chimed in to persuade Maher: “Yeah, we’ll be able to run farther and eat our fill!” “Don’t be angry; Electric was only thinking of the tribe’s safety!” “Exactly!”

Maher seethed but found himself at a loss for words.

This was the second failed attempt at a power grab in the tribe.

Zhuo Yan watched the whole scene unfold, nearly bursting with laughter. The thoughts of everyone were refreshingly straightforward; the majority of orcs, even those who supported Maher, just wanted to fill their bellies. Once that was settled, everything else fell by the wayside.

The rivalry between Electric and Maher was a personal battle between them.

That night, Electric divided the meat, handing out generous portions of the hefty rhinoceros, allowing everyone to take home over twenty pounds of meat. Both the orcs and the sub-orcs were delighted. Some even thanked Maher, who was torn between joy and frustration.

He had aimed to lead the hunting party, yet here he was, still following orders.

Zhuo Yan made his way to find A-Yin, who was smeared with blood, his fur matted and sticky. He didn’t dare get too close to his brother, worried about getting him dirty, but Zhuo Yan didn’t mind; the blood had dried into a brownish crust, giving off a strong odor.

“Let me see if you’re hurt,” Zhuo Yan said.

A-Yin wagged his tail furiously, insisting he was fine. He had caught a deer while helping out—

“There were supposed to be two deer today. A-Yin caught one, but then Electric and Maher started fighting, and when A-Yin rushed over, the scent of blood attracted a pack of hyenas. Those beasts are the worst! By the time Electric and Maher finished, those hyenas had devoured half the deer!” Ah Hui suddenly emerged from nowhere to explain.

A-Yin was visibly disgusted; hyenas were filthy creatures. After they had bitten something, it was definitely inedible.

“I’m just glad you’re not hurt,” Zhuo Yan replied.

It was time for him to get his share of meat. Zhuo Yan stepped forward with A-Yin as Electric announced that A-Yin would be on patrol the next day. A-Yin’s ears drooped for a moment, but Zhuo Yan quickly reassured him, saying, “A-Yin said he’s not tired and can run long distances too.”

“He just happens to be on hunting duty. I’ll arrange the rest,” Electric stated.

Zhuo Yan nodded immediately. “Thank you.” He didn’t elaborate further, saying, “A-Yin, just follow the plan.”

A-Yin let out a happy yowl, eager to comply!

Tomorrow’s patrol would be good for A-Yin; he could relax at home for a bit. As Zhuo Yan walked back with the meat, he affectionately rubbed A-Yin’s ears. “After a long day in the sun, it’s nice and gentle now. Let’s wash up together later; I’ll give you a scrub.”

“Yow! Yow!” A-Yin wagged his tail joyfully, completely forgetting his earlier disappointment.

Zhuo Yan felt a surge of happiness.

In their basket, wrapped in leaves, was the soap, and they went straight to the riverbank to clean themselves. A-Yin shook his head, splashing water everywhere, making Zhuo Yan laugh as if they were just playing. Once their water fight ended and they were both clean and fragrant, they returned to the cave.

Zhuo Yan set about starting a fire to roast the meat.

Out of the twenty pounds of meat, more than half went to A-Yin. Zhuo Yan knew the hunting party would be heading far out the next day, possibly not returning for a couple of days, so he planned to eat five pounds himself to last a few meals. He dug in hungrily, but to his surprise—he couldn’t eat another bite.

“A-Yin, you go ahead and eat,” Zhuo Yan said, covering his mouth, ready to vomit.

He really couldn’t handle it.

The heat and lack of salt made it worse.

“Just eat; I really can’t take another bite. We still have potatos in the cave; I’ll stick to those. You should eat more.” He’d barely managed to consume two pounds of meat.

A-Yin watched his brother, who couldn’t even finish a piece of meat, and felt anxious. His brother used to love roasted meat and fish, but ever since they ran out of salt in the cave, his appetite had dwindled. It was clear the heat was affecting Zhuo Yan; he needed to eat more meat to stay healthy.

But Zhuo Yan was clearly uncomfortable and didn’t want to pressure him.

Sitting on a small tree stump, Zhuo Yan gently patted A-Yin’s ears. “You still have patrol tomorrow. Eat up; the hunting party might not return until the night after next at the earliest.”

“I can still eat potatos; I won’t starve.”

“Right, I collected some bitter tree sap today. I’ll dry it for you to use when you’re out hunting far.”

A-Yin tilted his head, curious about the bitter sap.

“It’s really bitter,” Zhuo Yan recalled, grimacing at the thought, “but it helps with heat exhaustion. When you’re out in the sun, you don’t want to suffer from heatstroke.”

“Yow! I get it, brother; I’m not afraid of bitter.”

They didn’t have to wake up too early for patrol, around seven or so. Zhuo Yan woke up feeling the heat, while A-Yin returned, carrying a full water bucket. Zhuo Yan rinsed his mouth and washed his face before A-Yin dashed off to begin his patrol.

Today’s patrol team consisted of A-Yin and their father, Big Tooth, with Aman’s father, Fire Summer, taking the night shift.

Big Tooth didn’t shift into beast form; he remained human, eyeing the approaching A-Yin. “You asked me about the mammoth territory; why didn’t you go?”

“Yow! Yow!” I’m still too weak!

“Just know that.”

A-Yin thought about how Zhuo Yan had looked last night and said, “Yow! I’ll go next time.”

“Are you really going to the mammoth territory?”

As they stepped out of the tribe, Big Tooth swiftly shifted into beast form. The two leopards let out their calls, and A-Yin mentioned that the mammoth territory had salt. Big Tooth, however, was skeptical and realized why this young sub-orc was so eager to go there.

There was no salt in that territory. I’ve been there several times, following mammoths around, and there’s never any salt. Big Tooth explained.

There must be salt; my brother said so.

Your brother? A sub-orc? How would he know?

A-Yin fell silent, flicking his tail defiantly as he turned to patrol. Big Tooth watched the silver leopard with a cold smirk; this unshifted orc had such a temper, yet he couldn’t say a single word about it.

Big Tooth made a wide circle outside the tribe, marking his territory as he went. He thought it best not to run into anything that wanted to die. On his way back, he spotted a young boar, which bolted in a frenzy upon seeing him. Having just eaten his fill the night before, Big Tooth took his time trailing the boar, noticing it was headed toward A-Yin and that sub-orc’s cave.

…Forget it.

Back at home, Zhuo Yan was drying bitter tree sap under the blazing midday sun. When he looked down from a distance, he saw the little boar racing back toward him, as if being chased by a dog, barking and flailing its legs as it scrambled through the dirt.

“What the—?” Zhuo Yan stood up, and before he could call out, the boar screeched to a halt right by his legs. It collapsed, legs giving out beneath it.

“Heatstroke?” Zhuo Yan wondered aloud.

While preparing the bitter sap, he effortlessly pried the boar’s mouth open and poured some sap into it. The boar let out a startled squeal and sprang back to life, though this time it didn’t run far. Instead, it scampered in circles a few meters away, in the territory of the chickens. Whenever Zhuo Yan approached, it dashed back a few steps but didn’t dare run too far.

Zhuo Yan sighed.

As he looked down the slope, he spotted a leopard strolling leisurely, and it clicked. The boar hadn’t been chased by a dog; it was scared off by the leopard! Now, after getting a dose of bitter sap, it was too jittery to approach too closely.

“Well done, little one.” Zhuo Yan filled a wooden basin with water and retreated into the cave to escape the heat, thinking Big Tooth must be finishing his patrol soon, and A-Yin would be back shortly.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before the cheerful sound of A-Yin’s yips echoed outside the cave. Zhuo Yan stepped out to find A-Yin with a bunch of berries in his mouth, and he couldn’t help but exclaim, “Where did you find these? There are hardly any berries at this time of year!”

The heat was stifling.

The berries A-Yin brought back were ripe and bright red, though some were rotten and others shriveled. Zhuo Yan didn’t mind; he knew A-Yin must have searched high and low for them. They skipped lighting a fire for lunch, finding it too hot, and washed the berries, discarding the bad ones and eating only the good.

They had a sweet and sour taste, surprisingly not that great.

Zhuo Yan patted A-Yin’s head, saying, “You don’t need to bring me berries anymore; I’m really not hungry. It’s normal not to want to eat in this heat. I heard from Xiao Xian and the others that with summer here, the rainy season will come soon. A few good rains will cool things down.”

A-Yin took a bite of a berry, its juice staining his mouth. He knew it didn’t taste great and felt a pang of regret. The salt trading team wouldn’t be back for a long time, and with this heat, his brother wouldn’t have much to eat. By the time the salt team returned, Zhuo Yan would surely have lost a lot of weight.

He couldn’t afford to lose any more.

The next time the hunting party went out, they would be traveling far, and A-Yin realized this was his opportunity.