Chapter 53

The square was illuminated by a roaring bonfire.

Every face in the leopard tribe was aglow with smiles. In the center of the square, where they usually distributed meat, four wicker baskets stood, shimmering with a bright white sheen in the firelight.

This was salt—their tribe’s precious salt.

And there was one more basket, filled with a dusty mixture of salt granules.

This was the salt the chieftain had brought back, carefully wrapped in hides. As he unwrapped it in front of the tribe, he poured it into the basket, filling it to about three-quarters full. After a journey filled with sighs and doubts, he glanced at the three overflowing baskets beside him, and the corners of his eyes crinkled into deeper smiles.

“This time, for the tribe’s salt exchange, we traded four hides for one sack of salt. We don’t have many hides in our clan, so we managed to get only two sacks. The bulk of our trade was pottery; the feather people absolutely love it. Just one pot and two bowls could earn us a sack of salt…” The chieftain’s voice rang out bright and clear, itemizing the details of the salt exchange with pride.

The tribe members gathered quietly, listening intently. When they heard that pottery could be exchanged for a sack of salt, they felt it was a generous deal—after all, they had long endured exploitation at the hands of the feather people and subconsciously found this trade to be quite favorable.

“It was actually the amount that could fill a wicker basket,” the chieftain continued. “But due to a conflict between the tiger and eagle tribes, a tiger warrior lost both his legs. Because of that, we managed to trade more salt than last year, so I gave two sacks to the tiger tribe…”

Upon hearing this, the tribe fell into a hushed murmur, full of curiosity: How did the tiger warrior lose his legs? Why did we need to give the tiger tribe salt?

The chieftain didn’t elaborate. Instead, he said, “The salt found by Zhuo Yan, A-Yin, and Da Ya, and the efforts of the tribe members who stayed behind to dry and boil the salt, are a blessing from the heavens to our leopard tribe. Zhuo Yan, A-Yin, and Da Ya are our tribe’s brave warriors. And of course, all the beastmen and sub-beastmen who worked alongside them are commendable.”

What had begun as whispers quickly turned into enthusiastic cheers, affirming the chieftain’s words.

“Today, the salt exchange team will distribute a small portion of the salt first. Zhuo Yan said that tomorrow we’ll fire up the kiln to make salt jars. Once Zhuo Yan’s salt jars are ready, we’ll distribute more along with the jars,” the chieftain announced.

Everyone responded with agreement. The tribe members who remained had already received some salt from Zhuo Yan earlier.

“All right, tonight we feast on roasted meat,” the chieftain declared.

At this, the square erupted into even greater excitement. The beastmen began to slaughter their catch—a zebra they had brought back. The previous fire pit had transformed into four or five separate cooking spots. Each member took their share of meat, spearing it on sticks to roast by the fire, with salt set out in bowls for everyone to take as they pleased.

The last time the tribe had such a lively gathering was during Qiao’s wedding.

One of the beastmen called A-Yin over, and he scampered to the group. Moments later, he returned with two skewers of meat clenched in his mouth. Zhuo Yan accepted the skewers from A-Yin, and behind him, Ah Tou held a handful of meat skewers, saying, “I’m just riding on A-Yin’s coattails; everyone gave him the tenderest, tastiest cuts of horse meat.”

A few of them started to roast their meat, while Qiao was surrounded by eager listeners, all wanting to hear about the feather people’s market. Not just those from their own area, but other beastmen clustered around—those who hadn’t joined the salt exchange team this year were curious about what had happened with the tiger tribe and the lost legs.

Qiao recounted the whole story.

“…The eagle tribe actually loves pottery. Originally, one pot was worth a sack of salt, and two bowls another. But they refused! Our uncle and the chieftain were negotiating with the eagle people when a fight broke out between the tiger tribe and the goose tribe. The goose tribe accused the tiger tribe of obstructing their salt trade, causing the eagles to harbor resentment. This time, when we went to the coastal tribe, their males were attacked, and much salt was lost.”

Zhuo Yan furrowed his brows and said, “The eagles bully the geese. They beat up the geese tribe members, and since the geese are too scared to confront the eagles, they took out their frustrations on the tiger tribe.”

Xiao Xian loving Aman had been confused until Zhuo Yan explained it, and it all clicked into place.

“The eagles are truly despicable!” both exclaimed.

Qiao nodded and continued, “The geese announced they wouldn’t trade with the tiger tribe anymore.”

“What?” Aman looked bewildered. “The tiger tribe offends the eagles, and now the geese won’t trade either? This—”

“From what I felt, the eagles seem to dictate the rules, while the sculptors are a bit more reasonable. The eagles ignore the sculptors, and the sculptors return the favor. The sculptors are picky about the salt they produce, wanting the best goods in exchange. As for the other three tribes, they all bow to the eagles,” Zhuo Yan explained.

“Then the tiger tribe leader must be furious! If the geese won’t trade next year, the tiger tribe will have to rely on the eagles for food,” Zhuo Yan continued.

Qiao nodded. “That’s why the conflict broke out.”

The group listened intently, hardly touching their meat. The situation with the tigers reminded them of their own past. The leopard tribe was small and had always kept a low profile. Whenever the other tribes demanded something, they could only smile and comply. Zhuo Yan could guess that the chieftain and their uncle had endured much, holding back their anger while trying to negotiate peace.

“The tigers were the first to attack the eagles. One eagle warrior’s arm was broken; I think it wasn’t actually broken but just swollen and painful,” Qiao said, rubbing his shoulder. “Then the eagles got angry, demanding the life of the tiger who injured their male warrior.”

“On what grounds!” Shi Tou exclaimed, furious.

Unbeknownst to them, a group of sub-beastmen had gathered, their hearts aching with anger at the injustice.

Qiao said, “I heard Zi Lan, the female from the Jin Tou tribe, mention that the tigers used to be numerous and hot-tempered. In the early days, when they traded with the eagles, they mocked the eagles for being ugly and scrawny.”

Among the four fur tribes, the lions and tigers were the kings of the forest and grasslands. Both tribes were known for their fierceness and straightforwardness. The chieftain never disciplined them, holding the feather people in contempt. After the first conflict, the eagles didn’t just sit idly by. Over the years, they had solidified their power as the dominant tribe among the feather people, charging the tigers exorbitant prices for salt and demanding more goods in return.

Previously, the geese had traded with the tigers, but this year, after being “taught a lesson” by the eagles, the geese dared not trade with the tigers anymore.

New grudges and old grievances had built up over time, culminating in this outburst.

“The eagles are indeed ugly,” some sub-beastmen sided with the tigers. They were all beastmen, naturally feeling closer to each other.

Aman nodded, turning to Zhuo Yan. “My father also mentioned this. The tigers insult the eagles’ appearance because the eagles demanded too much during the salt exchanges, and that’s why they vented their frustrations on them. We all secretly complain about them.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

In essence, it was the king of the jungle, the tiger, being oppressed by the tiny eagle tribe for too long. They couldn’t rebel openly—after all, they couldn’t afford to refuse salt outright. Instead, they vented their frustrations by insulting the eagles, who had a tight grip on the salt supplies of the four fur tribes, using this opportunity to assert their authority.

That’s how it was.

“Why should we give salt to the tiger tribe?” Ah Tou asked curiously. They didn’t owe anything to the tigers.

“Perhaps the chieftain is just being kind,” Xiao Xian suggested.

Aman nodded, certain that the chieftain had a good heart.

“It’s not just kindness; the scene must have been chaotic at that time, right?” Zhuo Yan asked Qiao.

Qiao nodded. “The tiger tribe leader was furious, threatening to smash the market and seize all the salt. He declared that if they didn’t get salt, they would kill the entire eagle tribe. The eagles heard this and warned that if they flew away, they would no longer supply salt to the four tribes. So the chieftain and the wolf tribe leader hurried to mediate…”

The air was thick with tension as everyone listened, hearts racing.

“Later, I heard that our clan leader discreetly gave the tiger tribe two bags of salt. He said we had more goods to trade this year, and he wanted to ensure our people had enough to get by, so he offered the tiger tribe some salt to keep them calm. The wolf tribe contributed one bag, and the lion tribe another,” Qiao recounted, his voice steady.

Confused murmurs spread through the crowd. “Why did we give them more?” someone asked.

“Maybe the clan leader has a kind heart,” Qiao shrugged.

Zhuo Yan sighed, stepping in to clarify, “It’s not just about kindness. The clan leader was thinking about the safety of our salt trading team. We brought back more salt in pottery this year, and all the other tribes were watching. The tiger tribe has a notoriously short temper and was ready to fight, potentially leading to chaos. If the clan leader hadn’t stepped in with the salt, things could have escalated into a catastrophic showdown.”

“From a long-term perspective, if the tiger tribe decided to retaliate, we’d all be in trouble next year without any salt.”

“But we have plenty of salt now,” interjected some of the other beastmen.

“True,” Zhuo Yan agreed, “but back then, the clan leader had no way of knowing that. He must have felt uneasy himself, worrying about the future of our tribe.” He glanced around at everyone, adding, “Also, it’s wise not to push a desperate dog into a corner; it will bite.”

“What does that have to do with dogs? We’re talking about the tiger tribe!” someone exclaimed.

“Are you afraid of dogs, Zhuo Yan?” another laughed. “Wild dogs can be vicious.”

A-Yin chimed in with a playful howl, showing no fear—he could hunt dogs if need be.

Zhuo Yan rolled his eyes, thinking, Note to self: avoid using metaphors.

“What I mean is, if the tiger tribe feels trapped, who among the other three tribes has the most salt?”

“The lion tribe,” Qiao replied.

“And who has the fewest beastmen in their trading team?”

“We do,” Qiao admitted, realizing the implications.

“If you were a member of the tiger tribe, feeling desperate with no salt in sight for the next year, would you rather ambush the lion tribe or us on your way back?”

The group fell silent, contemplating the scenario. They had never considered the issue from this angle. Shi Tou, Xiao Xian, and Aman exchanged worried glances, unable to shake the thought that if the tiger tribe did decide to attack, their clan—though small—would be left defenseless. What if their clan leader was injured or killed? Who would avenge them?

Even if the attack was merely for salt and not violent, how would they respond? Autumn would soon give way to winter, and without salt, their people would struggle to survive.

“I heard the tiger tribe has over two hundred members, but only sixty or so went on this trip,” Qiao said, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him.

The group had not anticipated this layer of complexity. Some hesitated to argue against Zhuo Yan’s reasoning, while others whispered, “The tiger tribe is truly frightening if they’re thinking about stealing our salt.”

Zhuo Yan added, “I’m just speculating—it hasn’t happened yet. But if it were to occur, it would be too late to act. The clan leader is considering all these factors. Offering those two bags of salt not only buys us safety but also helps maintain a good relationship with the tiger tribe. We should be united among the four tribes and not turn on each other.”

Thus, despite the feathered tribe’s fondness for pottery and their habit of haggling, they agreed to give two bags of salt to the tiger tribe. In terms of total salt exchanged, it was roughly equal to what they traded last year—perhaps a bag more.

“Thank goodness we have salt now,” Aman said, relieved.

The earlier tension faded as laughter and conversation resumed. The smell of roasted meat wafted through the air, and Zhuo Yan remarked, “Once we find other spices, our food will taste even better.”

“What kind of spices?” someone asked.

“Bark from the cinnamon tree, Sichuan pepper…” Zhuo Yan listed off, but the names slipped from everyone’s memory as laughter erupted.

“Let’s just enjoy the meat for now. The salt has made it delicious!” they all cheered.

After a long stretch without salty flavor, Zhuo Yan now felt that other seasonings would just be the icing on the cake.

The atmosphere brightened as everyone dug into their food, savoring the tender, well-seasoned meat. Zhuo Yan made a note that the salt he prepared was perfect—not too abrasive at all—and the roasted meat was a delight. The beastmen exchanged stories about salt trading, their laughter filling the night air with joy: “From now on, our leopard tribe won’t let those eagle tribes push us around!”

“Exactly!”

With spirits high and bellies full after their long journey, they celebrated late into the night, savoring the food and camaraderie.

By the time Zhuo Yan and A-Yin returned home, their bellies were round and heavy. They moved slowly, letting their meals settle, then headed to the river to wash up before heading to bed, knowing they’d need their energy for the kiln firing tomorrow.

The next morning, as dawn broke and the light began to filter through, Qiao approached the entrance of Zhuo Yan’s cave, a basket slung over his back. “Zhuo Yan!”

A fluffy head popped out from the cave, and A-Yin let out an excited yelp.

Qiao couldn’t decipher the sound, but he could tell from A-Yin’s tone that he was in good spirits, so he made his way up the slope. Zhuo Yan was just waking up, nudging A-Yin to call Qiao in. He quickly threw on a small leather skirt and made his way to the entrance to meet Qiao.

“Yesterday we talked about salt, and I almost forgot to give you this.” Qiao set down his basket and produced a small leather pouch.

Zhuo Yan took it eagerly. “What is it?” He opened it to find—

“Bamboo seeds!” Qiao said with a grin.

“!!! Bamboo rice!” Zhuo Yan exclaimed, his excitement palpable.

Qiao beamed. “I’m glad I didn’t make a mistake. I traded half a bar of soap with Zilan for these. She originally didn’t know about the seeds, but after asking the elder of her tribe, she learned that bamboo rarely flowers. When it does, it produces seeds, but the plant dies afterward. So not many people know about it. If you plant the seeds, you’ll end up with a lot of bamboo…”

Indeed, bamboo is a type of grass that grows quickly. However, to grow bamboo suitable for making furniture or beds can take three to five years. For quicker results, it’s best to cut a section from a mature bamboo plant and plant it directly in the ground.

Yet the distance from the feathered market to the leopard tribe was too far; the seeds wouldn’t survive the trip. Having bamboo rice meant he could plant it slowly, and in three to five years, he’d have a bamboo bed to sleep on.

“Thank you, Qiao! I’ll wash my face, put this away, and think about where to plant it,” Zhuo Yan said, already contemplating the day ahead.

Today, they would fire the kiln to make salt jars.

Zhuo Yan carefully stored the bamboo rice, slinging his basket over his shoulder as he exited the cave. He exchanged a few words with A-Yin, who had become quite popular among the beastmen, now fully integrated into their ranks. A-Yin enjoyed going out to hunt and patrol just as much as the others.

Each person and each leopard has their own tasks to accomplish.

Once the small creatures, Aman and Shi Tou, gathered together, Qiao began to pull items out of her woven basket: a small wooden bird whistle, a necklace woven from blue-green feathers, a hollow green bamboo tube with a striking stick, and a large bundle of golden feathers. She laid them all out for everyone to choose.

“The Zilan tribe is quite generous; I traded two rabbit skins for all of this!”

Aman’s curiosity piqued as Qiao demonstrated how to use the whistle. By blowing into the bird’s tail, a loud, clear sound emerged, causing Aman to gasp in delight.

“The golden feathers come from the Jin Tou tribe. Their members have stunning golden fur Ah Toup their heads, and the healthier and more beautiful they are, the shinier their fur remains, no matter how long it’s kept. You can weave these golden feathers into your hair, pin them to your chest, or make them into necklaces and bracelets,” Qiao explained proudly.

Shi Tou’s gaze lingered on the blue-green feather necklace. “Qiao, which tribe do these feathers belong to? They’re beautiful!”

“They come from the Peacock tribe,” Qiao replied, reminiscing. “When I first arrived, I thought the male members of the feathered tribes were quite slender. But Zhuo Yan told me that everyone has their unique beauty. Over time, I realized that the male peacocks have fair skin and dance beautifully. It’s hard to describe; in the sunlight and under the shade of trees, they look breathtaking.”

It was then that Qiao truly understood what Zhuo Yan meant by “everyone has their beauty.” It wasn’t about going against one’s feelings; it was about genuinely appreciating beauty in all its forms.

“All four tribes adore the Peacock tribe. They often shower them with salt to win their favor.”

“Don’t they have salt?” Shi Tou asked, confused. After all, the Peacock tribe is a feathered tribe too.

Qiao shook her head. “Unfortunately, they can’t fly over the mountains or reach the seaside.”

Shi Tou frowned. “That’s unfortunate. It’s just like how we used to be.” Yet, he couldn’t take his eyes off the peacock feather necklace; its colors were truly captivating.

“Shi Tou, if you like it, it’s yours,” Qiao offered.

“But what about you all?”

Aman, who had already taken a liking to the bird whistle, exchanged glances with Zhuo Yan, who thought the bamboo tube was nice, and the golden feathers were appealing. However, Aman ultimately chose the golden feathers. The bamboo tube, in his opinion, was a bit dull with only one sound. Zhuo Yan gladly accepted the bamboo tube.

“Qiao, what did you trade for?” Zhuo Yan casually asked. He had traded his soap, and Qiao had managed to get salt for it—now that wasn’t an issue, but back then, they had no idea how scarce salt would be.

Feeling a bit shy, Qiao blushed as she replied, “Ah Da said feather skirts are stunning, so I traded for a feather skirt made from the feathers of the Jin Tou and Peacock tribes…”

Laughter erupted among the group, teasing her.

At the time, the salt trading team had no idea there was salt available in their tribe. Ah Da had willingly offered a feather skirt in exchange for Qiao’s trade goods—seeing Qiao’s expression, it was clear she was thrilled. Their bond truly seemed remarkable.

Zhuo Yan suggested, “Once we finish our tasks, we should have you wear it while we’re out having fun.”

“I’d love to see how beautiful it is,” Aman chimed in.

Qiao nodded happily, though she hesitated to wear it, fearing she might dirty or damage it.

They all agreed that after making salt jars, with the weather turning favorable, they could go out and enjoy some leisure time. Zhuo Yan initially wanted to suggest heading up the mountain but worried the branches might snag Qiao’s feather skirt, so he opted for a stroll in a flatter area instead.

They couldn’t venture too far—Zhuo Yan had Aman to carry him, and Qiao had Ah Da, but Aman and Shi Tou couldn’t manage that. They discussed distant travels—the journeys for gathering resources weren’t truly far. Small Aman remarked that he could call his brother to carry him.

“But my brother is still too young,” Aman replied.

In that moment, Shi Tou said, “I wish Duyun could transform into a beast; it would be nice to have him as a beastman.”

“If only we could all go to the feathered tribe’s market together; I’d love to see the beautiful Peacock tribe and the feather skirts Qiao likes,” small Aman sighed.

Aman added, “Now that we have salt, will we still visit the feathered market?”

Zhuo Yan mused, “We should still go. At least next year, we’ll definitely go.” Noticing everyone looking expectantly at him, he continued, “Our tribe needs salt. The amount we traded for this year won’t last us the entire year. Why wouldn’t we go next year? Either we have salt, or we have other reasons. Regardless, the other three tribes will surely be curious and come to find out more.”

“What if the other three tribes discover we have salt but don’t tell them? They might still be enduring the eagle tribe’s hostility at the market. What do you think they would do?”

Both Aman and Qiao’s eyes widened in alarm. “Do you think they might come to our tribe and try to steal our salt?”

Just as Zhuo Yan was about to respond, he suddenly noticed that the tribe leader and Uncle had arrived without them realizing it. He froze for a moment, worried that his earlier words might have been inappropriate.

The tribe leader turned to Zhuo Yan, his gaze filled with admiration and delight. “You were right about everything. I overheard your words during last night’s barbecue.”

“I was just guessing,” Zhuo Yan quickly replied.

The tribe leader gazed across the river to the Leopard tribe’s territory. “We, the Leopard tribe, are the smallest of the four. You guessed well yesterday; I can’t afford to have conflicts with the Eagle tribe while trading salt, nor can I anger the Tiger tribe. I fear not just for the salt but also for the safety of our people.”

After saying this, the tribe leader didn’t seem to expect a response from Zhuo Yan and continued, “I’ve been pondering when would be the best time to inform the other three tribes that we now have salt.”

The immense joy mingled with worry.

The matter of salt couldn’t remain a secret forever; it would eventually be discovered—whether they revealed it first or it came to light later, the repercussions would be faced with the other three tribes.

“I had originally intended to wait until our tribe grew stronger and more numerous.”

Zhuo Yan remarked, “That could take at least a few years.”

The tribe leader nodded in agreement.

Zhuo Yan felt uneasy, noticing the deepening wrinkles on the tribe leader’s face, prompting him to voice his thoughts.

In the orc tribe, everyone had a straightforward and bold personality, continuing their annual trips to the Feather People’s market to trade for salt. However, their expressions would inevitably betray them; if they accidentally revealed too much and the other three tribes discovered their secrets, the orc tribe would find itself at a disadvantage.

“I think the same,” the chieftain nodded in agreement.

But when would they make the announcement?

Zhuo Yan proposed, “Chieftain, let’s first ascertain how much salt we can get from the mammoth territory.” Being from the leopard tribe, his priorities were clear: if the salt mines produced more than they could consume, sharing would be easy, but if the supply was limited, discretion was key.

The chieftain regarded Zhuo Yan thoughtfully and nodded for him to continue.

Feeling encouraged, Zhuo Yan took a deep breath and continued, “If there’s enough salt for multiple tribes, ensuring nourishment for future generations, we could find an opportunity to inform the werewolf tribe first.”

Building a strong alliance with the werewolves made sense since both tribes were smaller and could benefit from collaboration.

“This year, everyone has traded for salt—though not in abundance, it’s still a good amount compared to before. We won’t mention it now; let’s confirm the salt quantity first, then assess the mammoth territory, and ideally discuss with the werewolf tribe around the snow season.”

Timing was crucial; the best moment to reveal their surplus would be during a time of need, showcasing the leopard tribe’s generosity.

Though the orcs were often impulsive and straightforward, they also valued loyalty and honesty.

“If we announce it first, it’s an act of goodwill, but if we’re discovered later, the other tribes might misinterpret our intentions, thinking we’re akin to the eagle tribe, and that would be problematic.”

At this, the chieftain’s heart sank as he pondered the implications of ‘misinterpretation, like the eagle tribe.’ After careful consideration, he finally spoke, “Zhuo Yan, you’re very perceptive. The leopard tribe is dwindling in numbers, and perhaps the divine is guiding you to help our tribe.”

Zhuo Yan felt a weight settle in his chest; this was no trivial matter, and he was unsure how to respond.

Fortunately, the chieftain smiled afterward, as if dispelling his worries, and said, “Next time we visit the mammoth territory, I’ll lead the team, and you’ll come along.”

“You’ll see how much salt we can gather.”

“Understood,” Zhuo Yan replied. He often felt as though the chieftain could see right through him, as if he knew he was no longer just Zhuo Yan, yet somehow didn’t quite know him either.

Relieved that the conversation had concluded, Zhuo Yan hurried back to the kiln, where a crowd of sub-orcs had gathered, eagerly awaiting the salt production. Qiao and the others—especially Aman and Shitou—were buzzing with curiosity, and Xiao Xian chimed in occasionally to stir the pot.

Aman and Shitou were a mix of blatant curiosity and subtle mischief.

“The chieftain said that next time we go to the mammoth territory, I’ll be there too. I’ll check how much salt we can gather and how long we can sustain ourselves,” Zhuo Yan announced, withholding other details.

The surrounding sub-orcs paused, shocked at the revelation. “Right, how much salt is there?” “If it’s scarce, we need to ration.” “Ah, I ate too much yesterday.”

Seeing their concern, Zhuo Yan quickly reassured them, “It’s not that little! I heard from A-Yin that there’s a lot of mud—big patches of it. I’ll check beneath the mud and see if there’s any salt in the lake.”

Initially skeptical of a saltwater lake, Zhuo Yan had shifted his thinking after learning from A-Yin that the lake water wasn’t overly salty—much less than the mud itself. He adjusted his perspective and now believed there might be salt deposits beneath the surface.

If there was a salt mine, they wouldn’t have to worry. They’d confirm this before discussing anything further.

Hearing Zhuo Yan’s words, everyone felt reassured. They all encouraged him, saying, “Zhuo Yan, be careful!” “Yes, we trust you.”

The following days were consumed by the kiln’s activity, with the sub-orcs working tirelessly. Zhuo Yan barely had time to plant bamboo as the orcs grew increasingly motivated now that salt was available. Everyone eagerly set out to hunt.

When the salt barrels were finally fired, they resembled large, rounded pots with lids. Zhuo Yan also crafted small spoons for salt collection, matching one spoon to each barrel, although the handcrafted pieces varied slightly in size.

That night, the tribe gathered in the communal square to distribute the large barrel of salt.

The uncle managed the distribution, adhering to a rule: one barrel for up to three people, two barrels for groups of five. There were no objections. Most groups of three were families, while families of five, like Xiao Xian’s, needed two barrels as their children had grown.

Though Lin Rong and Ah Sen were a family of four, their two younglings had been born less than a month ago.

The uncle, adept at managing the tribe’s needs, ensured the allocations were fair, even if some families received less; the chieftain would supplement as necessary.

As expected.

“This salt is distributed today, and once it’s used up, you can report back. We’ll wait until everyone in the tribe has had their share before distributing more,” the chieftain announced.

Zhuo Yan felt content with this arrangement.

Once the salt was distributed, the tribe noticed they were running low on salt again. The leopard tribe had suffered through long years of salt scarcity, and the sight of their collective stock dwindling brought a sense of heartache, as they hugged their salt barrels tightly, determined to use them sparingly.

The chieftain then declared, “We’ll rest for three days, and then I’ll lead a team, including you, Zhuo Yan, to see how much salt we can gather from the mammoth territory. During this time, don’t hunt too often; let’s hold back and save for the autumn season.”

“Understood!” “Yes, chieftain.”

After three days of rest, as they returned home, Zhuo Yan carried a basket filled with the salt barrels, while discussing plans for a day of fun. A-Yin wouldn’t be patrolling or hunting, so he could join in.

Xiao Xian’s older brother overheard and insisted he wanted to come too.

“We’re going out for fun; why would you want to join?”

“With me and A-Yin around, you can venture further!” Ah Tou asserted confidently.

Xiao Xian replied, “…Fine.”

However, Aman and Shitou didn’t have an orc to carry them, so they couldn’t wander too far either. After choosing their direction, everyone remained cheerful, and Zhuo Yan called out, “Qiao, remember to wear your feather skirt tomorrow!”

“Right! We haven’t seen it yet,” Aman chimed in.

Qiao, initially shy, noticed her friends were excited to see it, so she happily agreed.

That night, as Zhuo Yan held A-Yin in bed, he glanced at the cave. Supplies had increased, and he thought, “We must prepare well before the snow season. Let’s have some fun, and when we return from the mammoth territory, we’ll work on our furniture—a table and a shelf. When the grass grows back, we can weave two mats, and we’ll need to dig the chicken cave a bit deeper and larger for winter, as the wild pigs and rabbits will need shelter during the snow season.”

“Autumn is here, and it’s time to dig up potatos and pick dudu fruits. We also need to burn some charcoal, but let’s hold off on making the wooden bed for now.”

With A-Yin’s weight, a wooden bed wouldn’t be as sturdy as a stone one.

“Once the bamboo grows, I’ll sleep on a bamboo bed, and you can have the stone one,” he said, knowing that by then, A-Yin would be fully grown.

A-Yin had been listening with his eyes closed, absorbing everything his brother planned to do, eager to join him. But at this point, he suddenly opened his eyes wide, letting out a series of eager howls, “Awoo, awoo, awoo~~”

“No way! You’re too heavy; you’d break the bamboo bed!” Zhuo Yan misinterpreted A-Yin’s urgency, thinking he wanted to sleep on the bamboo bed too.

A-Yin howled again. No, no, I just want to sleep with you, not apart!

Seeing A-Yin’s anxiety, Zhuo Yan reached out to pet his ear for comfort, chuckling, “Silly! The bamboo will take three to five years to grow. By then, A-Yin will be much bigger; a stone bed won’t be enough for him.”

A-Yin pressed his body against the mountain wall, demonstrating how small he was, not taking up much space.

Zhuo Yan: …

He chuckled, thinking how adorable A-Yin was.

Zhuo Yan hugged A-Yin, pinching his ear playfully, “Alright, our A-Yin is still a little baby.”

“Awoo~” A-Yin protested; he wasn’t a baby anymore!

“Then how about a big baby?” Zhuo Yan said, giving A-Yin a light pat. “You’ll always be my big baby.”

In Zhuo Yan’s arms, A-Yin’s eyes sparkled brightly. He cautiously licked his brother’s chin. Zhuo Yan felt a tickle and leaned back, catching sight of A-Yin’s beautiful blue eyes, filled with joy. He couldn’t help but lean down to gently touch his forehead against A-Yin’s.

“This winter, we’ll start preparing as soon as we return from hunting the woolly mammoth. I’ll dry some wild vegetables this autumn, and come winter, we can have hot pot!” Even if it wouldn’t have any chili peppers.

“We still have more than half a bear skin; it’ll cover our whole bodies. That bear was massive…”

As Zhuo Yan spoke, drowsiness crept in, and he drifted off, dreaming about the upcoming winter—certain it would be much better than last year.

Last year had been tough; they had endured everything with bittersweet laughter.

This year would be different.

Meanwhile, in the wolf tribe, the werewolves had divided the salt among themselves, leaving only a small amount in each cave—just enough to scrape by. Some orcs were disgruntled, whispering among themselves about why they had to give salt to the tiger tribe. After all, the conflict between the tigers and the eagles had nothing to do with them.

Another orc chimed in, “The leopard tribe chief gave two packs; our chief could only give one. The lion tribe is so big—why not give them two packs?”

“Because the lion tribe has more members.”

“Well, we’re fewer in number. Why should we give the tiger tribe salt?”

The topic circled back, and a returning orc scratched his head and repeated, “…Because the leopard tribe chief gave it first, and then our chief followed suit.”

“It’s clear the leopard tribe chief is afraid of the tiger tribe; why else would they give them salt? The tigers and leopards are far apart—why go out of their way to please them? The tiger tribe won’t help the leopards hunt.”

“That’s not right! You just said the tiger tribe is large, and there’s plenty of prey on their side—too much for them to even consume. They can’t just send it all the way to the leopard tribe. If the leopard tribe chief gave salt to the tiger tribe, there must be another reason behind it.”

“What reason?”

Everyone stared blankly at the speaking orc, unsure.

The orc scratched his head again, “…I don’t know. But if you’re saying the leopard tribe chief is trying to curry favor with the tiger tribe, then shouldn’t our chief be doing the same?”

At this, the surrounding wolf orcs and sub-orcs felt their pride stir, responding indignantly, “That’s not the case!” “We may be fewer in number, but we stand with the tiger tribe.” “Exactly, we don’t rely on the tiger tribe!”

The sentiment was clear: the tiger and wolf tribes were equals, and the wolf tribe refused to be the tiger tribe’s subordinates.

“I’ve dealt with the leopards before; they definitely have this mindset. So, sending salt to the tigers must be the chief’s intention.”

“What intention?”

The orc was left speechless, unable to find a satisfactory answer. The discussion circled back again, and in the end, they just felt sorry for the bag of salt given to the tiger tribe, knowing their own tribe was running low on salt too.

“This time, the leopards brought some great items, like pottery that the bird tribe loves. It’s a shame the salt the leopard tribe chief brought back seems to be about the same as last year…”

“Of course! They gave two packs to the tiger tribe.”

“What’s the pottery like? What’s it used for?”

Meanwhile, the lion and tiger tribes were also discussing their trip to the bird tribe’s market. Especially among the tiger tribe, the orcs and sub-orcs left behind in the tribe couldn’t contain their anger and frustration. The young orc with a broken leg had a mother whose eyes were bloodshot with rage, ready to kill those eagle folk.

“I’d rather go without salt than let my son suffer,” she lamented, her heart breaking for her child.

The tiger tribe chief noted this blood debt. If not for the sake of his whole tribe and the leopard tribe chief holding him back, he would have torched the eagle’s nest without hesitation.

“I’ll personally hunt a short-legged beast. Its wings can help heal Dahn.”

At that moment, the whole tribe’s orcs were filled with rage. Now that they were back, the tiger tribe chief looked at his people, feeling both furious and grateful that the leopard tribe chief had intervened. He understood why the leopard tribe chief had given salt to his people—because he feared the tiger tribe would turn the market upside down, worried that the bird tribe might not come to the market next year to trade for salt, and fearing that his own tribe of werewolves would…

At that time, he had indeed thought about snatching the salt.