Chapter 61

The Leopard Tribe was methodically entering its busy season, while the Tiger Tribe faced difficult times. With the snow season just concluded, the Tiger Tribe leader, Hava, was tallying the losses sustained during the harsh winter.

This year, a beast tide had struck, resulting in the deaths of five cubs, three sub-beastmen, and one beastman. Three elders had succumbed to the freezing cold, and over ten beastmen were injured…

Dawn’s mother had died in the chaos of the beast tide. Dawn had lost both legs and had yet to fully recover. His mother had fought valiantly to protect her son, leaving only his father, a single beastman, to fend off the tide. He had been bitten and was covered in blood, but somehow he had survived.

News of Dawn’s family’s plight spread quickly through the tribe.

“Dawn’s family had two beastmen. Now that Dawn is an adult, he’s in the prime of his strength; no one expected his mother would perish in such a way.”

“Yeah, if Dawn hadn’t lost his legs, things wouldn’t have ended like this.”

The Tiger Tribe had suffered greatly during the snow season, and many, like Dawn, directed their anger toward the Eagle Tribe—some beastmen, although unharmed, harbored resentment toward the Eagles.

The animosity between the two tribes had festered for far too long.

“The salt the Leopard Tribe sent is still enough to last us. The uninjured beastmen can go out hunting; we only need to provide for the tribe. Sub-beastmen and the lightly injured can start repairing the damaged wooden huts,” Hava said, his gaze sharp as he calculated their needs.

The beastmen nodded in agreement.

In the past, after every snow season, they had struggled immensely, tasked with ensuring the survival of the tribe while prey was scarce. The tribe needed time to recover, yet they had to find ways to capture good game to trade at the Feather Tribe market for salt.

The Feather Tribe had always demanded far too much from them.

But this year, they didn’t need to worry about trading for salt; their priority was simply to care for their tribe.

One beastman voiced a concern: “What if the Leopard Tribe wants something in return for their salt—”

“Uncle, you worry too much. If the Leopard Tribe were like the Eagle Tribe, they wouldn’t have risked their safety to bring us salt last winter,” Hava replied, pausing to reflect before adding, “It’s only right that we reciprocate for the salt from the Leopard Tribe. We, the Tiger Tribe, are not unreasonable and brutish. In the past, when our elders traded at the Feather Tribe market, there were never any disputes.”

“I trust that the Leopard Tribe will not act like the Eagle Tribe.”

If the Leopard Tribe were to behave like the Eagles, the Tigers would have nothing to fear.

“You’re right; I’m getting old,” the uncle replied with a sigh.

Other beastmen chimed in, “I remember the beastmen from the Leopard Tribe who brought the salt—they seemed quite decent.” “Yeah, I heard it was a sub-beastman from their tribe who accidentally discovered the salt, and they still had to wash it from the mud.” “How do you wash mud?” “It sounds like this salt is indeed a rare find.” “Trading salt with the Leopard Tribe is far better than dealing with the Eagle Tribe.” “Exactly, I hate the Eagle Tribe.”

Wolf Tribe

This year, the Wolf Tribe experienced an unexpected peace. With no beast tide attacking and the salt from the Leopards, the entire prairie began to regain its vitality after the snow season. The Wolf Tribe leader encouraged slow hunting, not rushing to prepare goods for the Feather Tribe market.

The Wolf Tribe was located relatively close to the Leopard Tribe, so once the spring breeding season had passed, they would have ample time to prepare for their journey to the Leopard Tribe to trade for salt.

“We must thank the Leopards for their friendship in sending us salt last year,” said the Wolf Tribe leader.

The tribe members buzzed with excitement and curiosity about visiting the Leopard Tribe. The cubs flocked around the adults, asking what the Leopard Tribe was like. Among them, Ah Mei was asked the most since she had lived there for a time.

“They live in caves,” she explained.

“The winters are long, and it’s rather dull to snuggle with just one other person.”

“It’s not lively at all.”

“If a cub pairs off, they actually have to move out on their own.”

As Ah Mei recounted her experiences, the Wolf Tribe members reacted with surprise. “Don’t they live with their elders?” “Two people sharing a cave? What happens if there’s a beast tide?” “It really does sound boring.”

The Wolf Tribe also lived in caves, which were spacious and tightly connected. They thrived in large family groups, where the elders took great care of the young. When the spring mating season arrived, the Wolf Tribe’s beastmen and sub-beastmen preferred to find a secluded grove, a tree, or some tall grass to mate away from prying eyes.

Once Ah Mei finished her stories, the crowd dispersed, chatting about the peculiar customs of the Leopards. No wonder Ah Mei had returned after less than a year in the Leopard Tribe. Her thoughts drifted to that silver leopard cub.

She sighed.

Two little wolf cubs bounded into Ah Mei’s embrace, playfully sticking their tongues out to lick her chin and cheeks. Instantly, her spirits lifted as she cuddled them affectionately.

The little cub would have a better life with the Leopard Tribe than if it had returned with her to the Wolf Tribe.

Ah Mei wasn’t fond of the Leopard’s way of life; it felt too quiet and dull for her tastes.

Leopard Tribe

The riverbed had widened considerably, and the kiln had been repaired. Both beastmen and sub-beastmen worked diligently, with clear roles assigned and a well-organized system.

The skillful sub-beastmen began washing yellow clay, shaping pottery, and setting it out to dry—recently, the temperatures had been quite pleasant, slightly better than the previous year. Last year, it had been too hot to work; they had to mold the pottery in the cool evenings, leaving it to dry in the shade overnight, or else the pieces would crack in the heat of the day.

Now, working during the day felt just right. Though sub-beastmen had excellent night vision, daylight was simply more comfortable—something they had adapted from modern work habits.

However, the drying process still required a full day and night.

Batches of pottery were sent to the kiln for firing.

This time, they produced more deep plates. Sometimes the beastmen grew lazy and preferred to eat in their beast forms, finding it more convenient to use deep, open plates. The sub-beastmen also liked these for serving roasted meats and stews, and larger jars became quite popular—sub-beastmen referred to these as “water cups.”

Beastmen tended to drink straight from the jars; one was enough for them.

Last year’s salt jars crafted by Zhuo Yan came with small spoons, which the sub-beastmen loved. “Those little spoons are really handy,” one said.

“Yeah, cubs can hold them themselves without making a mess while eating,” another added.

The beastmen and sub-beastmen were still getting accustomed to using chopsticks, as their diet mainly consisted of roasted meats and stews. Under Zhuo Yan’s subtle influence, his companions had become quite skilled with chopsticks, but others still used their hands, especially when eating roasted meat.

As for stews, they would drink straight from the bowls; before, they had wrapped food in leaves to eat and drink together, often swallowing the leaves whole without care.

Seeing everyone enjoy the spoons, Zhuo Yan decided to make more. “Each cave should have four spoons—”

“Is that enough?” he asked.

That got the sub-beastmen buzzing around him, eagerly requesting more, some shyly admitting, “Actually, I use that spoon too.” “Me too!”

Aside from the cubs, both beastmen and sub-beastmen used the spoons, but the beastmen were a bit proud, thinking of them as mere children’s utensils.

Zhuo Yan couldn’t help but chuckle.

Still maintaining a respectful demeanor, he said seriously, “Spoons are for everyone, young or old. Both A-Yin and I use them at home, especially for soup. So this time, let’s make sure we have plenty—big spoons and small spoons.”

“Sounds good!”

“Great job, Zhuo Yan!”

The spoons were incredibly popular within the tribe; they were lightweight and took up little space. Zhuo Yan had even produced a whole kiln’s worth, ensuring each cave received one large ladle for soup, three medium spoons, and three small ones. To Zhuo Yan, even the small spoons didn’t seem so small.

There were also checks to ensure they had enough pottery bowls and jars.

After half a month of operation, they finally distributed the goods—each cave received one pottery bowl, three deep plates, one large jar, two “water cups,” and six spoons. Everyone in the tribe grinned broadly, showing off their gleaming white teeth.

“Now we won’t spill soup everywhere while eating stew!”

“And we won’t have to fight the cubs for the spoons anymore.”

“I didn’t fight! I was just looking!”

“Okay, okay, you can just look.”

Zhuo Yan listened to their playful banter, unable to contain his laughter.

After this busy half-month—during which they operated the kiln and planted potatoes simultaneously—the potato fields had been tilled, and seeds were sown. With the snow from the winter melting away, there was no need to water the fields. The adults kept a close watch over the cubs, ensuring they stayed away from the riverbank and fields, while even returning beastmen had to pass through designated paths.

Zhuo Yan felt content; he finally had some time to himself.

As spring progressed, temperatures stabilized and began to rise. Hunting was not frequent in the tribe during this season, so the beastmen had more free time. They switched between patrols and hunting, and the prior tasks of tilling, tree-cutting, and charcoal-making had concluded—the sub-beastmen were focused on planting and kiln work.

The entire tribe seemed to have relaxed.

“Has Sister Qiao not come out today?” Zhuo Yan asked, a hint of worry creeping in. “Is she feeling unwell? I haven’t seen her for three days.”

Aman nearly knocked on Zhuo Yan’s head in exasperation, while Xiao Xian chuckled, saying, “Zhuo Yan, you’re so clueless! I already know; how do you not?”

“? Did Qiao tell you?” Zhuo Yan was completely baffled.

Shi Tou glanced at Zhuo Yan and said, “It’s the spring mating season. Everyone was busy before, but now that it’s warmed up and the beastmen aren’t hunting much, Qiao has been busy for the last half month. Now that they both have some free time, of course, they’re in their cave.”

Zhuo Yan: ?!!!!

He was stunned.

He never expected that this was the reason.

“Last year you also entered your mating season, Zhuo Yan. How are you feeling now? We probably shouldn’t disturb you,” Aman said.

Shitou added, “That’s true. Otherwise, we won’t come to find you tomorrow. I’ve been feeling a bit restless too; a few beastmen have been asking me out, but I’m just not interested.”

“Zhuo Yan, even though I really enjoy playing with you, for your sake and A-Yin’s, we should hold off on hanging out for now. Let’s wait until you get through this period,” Xiao Xian said thoughtfully.

“A-Yin is still young, and I’m not feeling particularly restless this year,” Zhuo Yan replied, not wanting to explain further. He had carried too many burdens for too long to clarify anything. “I plan to plant bamboo rice tomorrow.”

“Then we’ll join you!” Shitou said, deciding to bring Da Yun along too.

Xiao Xian grinned widely, eager to play with Zhuo Yan, thrilled at the prospect. Being alone at home was simply too boring, so he nodded in agreement as they made plans for tomorrow.

On the way back in the evening, Aman remarked, “You two are something else.”

“Hey, Aman, we’ll head home early from now on, leaving Zhuo Yan time in the evening,” Xiao Xian said with a knowing smile.

Shitou nodded. “I really don’t want to stay in the cave.”

“…Same here,” Aman admitted. “Lately, the tribe has been all sticky and clingy. These beastmen seem to have forgotten about hunger, only thinking about cuddling the anthropomorphic beasts. I’d rather go work.”

Xiao Xian leaned in. “Has Yu been looking for you?”

“He has, but let’s get back to work,” Aman said, feeling more inclined to work with Zhuo Yan. He thought, I really feel bad for interrupting your mating time with A-Yin, but we promise to return to the cave early before dark!

Zhuo Yan had no idea how considerate his friends were being. Aman, Shitou, and Xiao Xian even felt a bit guilty, thinking they were being selfish for always wanting to invite Zhuo Yan to play. Meanwhile, they planned to exert more effort tomorrow while planting bamboo rice, hoping to lighten Zhuo Yan’s workload so he could conserve energy for his evening mating…

If Zhuo Yan had known, he would have been like: … Thank you all!

Zhuo Yan’s friends were being so thoughtful, and A-Yin’s companions weren’t falling behind either, especially the older beastmen. Since A-Yin transformed into human form, the tribe had shown him even more warmth.

That day, A-Yin went hunting with Ah Tou, A Hui, and some younger beastmen, following the stronger ones. Not long after setting out, they stumbled upon a scattered herd of reindeer. The younger beastmen were eager to charge in, but Ake, one of the stronger beastmen, called out to them.

“Don’t go.”

“Why not?”

Ake, in human form, tilted his chin, “Haven’t you noticed how agitated those reindeer are?”

“Are they about to fight? Should we wait for them to clash, then rush in when the males aren’t on guard?” Ah Tou asked.

Ake sprawled on the grassy slope, basking in the sun lazily. “Just watch for yourselves.”

A few of the younger beastmen scattered to ambush behind the rolling hills. A-Yin, Ah Tou, and A Hui squeezed behind one slope, with A Hui insistently joining in because of his enthusiastic personality. The tribe had already unofficially adopted A Hui into A-Yin’s circle.

A Hui: Victory!

The three young beastmen crouched behind the slope, observing the reindeer from afar, especially A-Yin, who was focused. Everyone thought the older beastmen were imparting hunting wisdom.

Ake couldn’t help but chuckle silently at their naivety.

Ma Ha, leaning against the slope, scoffed, remembering his own youthful folly. He basked in the warmth of the sun, lost in thought, wishing he had an anthropomorphic partner.

Despite being strong and a good hunter, he still lacked a partner, unlike other beasts who already had companions…

He felt a mix of frustration and melancholy.

“They’re fighting! They’re really fighting!” Ah Tou exclaimed, jolting with excitement as he spotted two male reindeer clashing. Ake was indeed experienced, predicting the deer’s confrontation.

A-Yin’s eyes widened, intently searching for an opportunity to spring forward.

Among the hunting party, it seemed only these three behind the slope truly believed they were about to hunt the deer, and they dared not relax.

After a while, one male deer began to lose the battle.

“Should we charge now?” A-Yin asked softly.

Ake could barely contain his laughter, urging them to wait a little longer. “Just keep watching.”

Ma Ha rolled his eyes, yawning in boredom, his mind filled with thoughts of the tribe’s single anthropomorphic beasts. Shitou looked robust, but his stubborn personality made Ma Ha uneasy. He had asked Aman about other options, but Aman had said he was not interested…

The three young beastmen, muscles tensed, were ready to shift into their leopard forms, intently watching the reindeer. Then they saw the victorious male deer approach the defeated one—

Were they going to continue fighting?

Should they wait for another round before rushing in?

Then the three young beastmen watched as the two reindeer began mating…

Ake burst into laughter. He looked at A-Yin, whose face had frozen in shock for a long moment, utterly incredulous and a bit dazed.

Ah Tou and A Hui slowly realized what was happening. They had seen other prey mating before and understood that Ake was just playing a prank on them, feeling frustrated but unable to protest.

“Let’s go, let’s go! Don’t disturb the deer while they’re mating,” Ake said.

After all, the tribe wasn’t lacking in food at the moment. In this season, there was no need to hunt; unless the caves were completely bare, the beastmen were generally too lazy to venture out, preferring to stay inside with their partners.

As Ake turned to leave, he shot a stern look at Ma Ha, who had wasted a hunt before. “Last rainy season, you escaping being struck by lightning was a blessing from the gods. If you interrupt the mating of prey during their breeding period, the tribe leader will penalize you.”

“…I know,” Ma Ha  replied stiffly.

As everyone started to withdraw, still in their human forms, the orcs became more talkative after witnessing the earlier scene. With the warmth of spring settling in, the young males couldn’t help but feel a bit restless; those with partners were yearning for them, and they gathered to chat about wanting to switch patrol teams for a few days.

“The patrol is easy; it’s still in the tribe, and everyone knows what that means.”

“I want to join too.”

“I can do it every other day.”

Ah Tou and A-Hui were still sulking over Ake’s teasing. They flanked A-Yin, sandwiching him between them. Ah Tou declared, “No way! We’re hunting tomorrow, and we’ll find prey that isn’t mating.”

“Sure! Let’s catch some horned sheep or tusked pigs?” A-Hui suggested, knowing a spot where tusked pigs roamed. “A-Yin, I’ve gotten stronger since last year. I’ll show you how to catch a tusked pig!”

A-Yin was lost in thought.

“We could make it a competition. A-Yin—” Ah Tou turned to him, “Why are you daydreaming?”

Ake, who had overheard, laughed heartily. “You two shouldn’t count on A-Yin; he’ll definitely want to patrol tomorrow.”

“How do you know?”

“Just because.” Ah Tou huffed lightly.

Ake stopped and surveyed the two young ones. “You two are clueless without partners. A-Yin’s brother, Zhuo Yan, turned adult last year, right?”

A-Hui and Ah Tou suddenly understood. Ah Tou’s anger faded; they realized A-Yin would likely choose to stay with his brother rather than join them for hunting.

“Springtime can be tough for the sub-beasts; they need companionship,” Ake advised earnestly, sharing his wisdom with the younger orcs. “Spend more time with them, help out with the heavy work, and your partners will be happy.”

Of course, that also meant finding the energy and time to spend with the orcs, but he held that back for now.

Ake glanced at Ma Ha , who was a peculiar orc in the tribe—tall and strong, great at hunting, yet he couldn’t find a sub-beast partner. There had to be a reason behind it.

“You need to care for and pay attention to the sub-beasts. Don’t raise your voice with them. As orcs, we’re strong—take on more heavy tasks. Don’t just sit around doing nothing.”

Ma Ha  retorted, “But I hunt!”

“Then you can guard your own den,” Ake replied, no longer interested in the conversation. It was no wonder Ma Ha  didn’t have a partner or offspring.

A-Yin listened intently, mentally taking notes and reflecting. He worked hard every day to fetch water, ensuring their stone pot was always full. But before, he had been in beast form, leaving most of the chores to his brother, who worked so hard.

Now that he could transform into a human, he could take on more responsibilities!

That evening, the orcs and sub-beasts who had gone hunting, patrolling, or cleaning by the river returned to the tribe. The sun was still hanging low in the sky; everyone was eager to head home early.

Zhuo Yan thought everyone was just tired from the busyness of the past couple of weeks and wanted to relax. He felt the same.

“Woo woo~” I won’t go out tomorrow.

Ah Tou and A-Hui chimed in, “Woo~” They knew that sound well and felt no disappointment at all.

The silver leopard sprinted quickly, reaching the entrance of their den. He passed by their animal den, noticing the chickens and tusked pigs hadn’t returned yet. A-Yin stood at the entrance and shouted, “Brother, I’m going to find the tusked pigs~”

“Alright, we’ll have Dudu fruit pancakes for dinner!” Zhuo Yan called back.

With spring arriving, they could finally eat Dudu fruit. They still had some potatoes left, and Zhuo Yan planned to grind them into a mash to make potato flour tomorrow!

He was really craving some rice flour, but without that, he’d have to settle for potato flour and Dudu fruit pancakes instead.

In the little clay pot, the Dudu fruit juice had been sitting for a while. Zhuo Yan used a spoon to skim off the ‘clear water’ that formed on top. He had intentionally saved the Dudu fruit pancakes and some cold wild vegetable salad for dinner, waiting for A-Yin to return so they could eat together.

After a winter filled with meat, Zhuo Yan was really enjoying this simple meal.

A-Yin quickly returned with the tusked pigs while the chickens flapped their wings, flopping into the enclosure. He dashed in behind them, shouting, “Brother, the tusked pigs and chickens are back! I’m going to fetch water~” He grabbed a water bucket and sped off.

Zhuo Yan: ???

A gust of wind rushed in as A-Yin whizzed past with the bucket.

His little brother loved to work so much; Zhuo Yan couldn’t help but feel proud.

As the sunset cast a warm glow, Zhuo Yan smeared some fat on the stone slab and began to make pancakes, calling out, “A-Yin, no need to fetch more water; we have enough.”

“If you’re bored, bring out the table and stools, and we can eat outside.”

They had eaten dinner early, and sitting at the entrance allowed them to enjoy the night view.

“Got it, brother~” A-Yin transformed into his human form, effortlessly carrying a table and two stools.

Once A-Yin finished setting everything up, he moved closer to Zhuo Yan, glancing at the tools on the stove. “Do you want me to wash these, brother? I can do it.”

Zhuo Yan: “No need; we’ll wash them together later.”

“Okay, brother~”

Zhuo Yan smiled. “A-Yin seems happy today.” His tone was light and cheerful.

A-Yin felt a bit shy and awkward, saying, “I want to help you more, just like Ake said.”

Oh? Ake, the hunting class teacher, taught this? Zhuo Yan was surprised but nodded and replied, “A-Yin has already helped a lot. Now, wash your hands; it’s time to eat.”

A-Yin carried the plate of pancakes, arranging the spoons and chopsticks. Zhuo Yan had also boiled a small pot of Dudu fruit juice—the leftover juice had been saved, and it thickened slightly when heated. It was quite delicious.

They drank it from water cups, while the large bowl on the table held the cold wild vegetable salad Zhuo Yan had prepared with Shitou earlier. The garlic was smashed into a paste and drizzled with hot oil, sprinkled with a bit of salt and crispy bits. It tasted really fragrant, refreshing, and slightly crunchy.

“Dinner time.” Zhuo Yan was pleased with the simple meal spread before them.

A-Yin served his brother some dishes, but Zhuo Yan insisted he serve himself.

“Mmm, this is delicious!”

A-Yin exclaimed, “Everything you make tastes amazing, brother!”

“Ha, true,” Zhuo Yan felt proud for a moment. As they ate, they chatted about their day, sharing their experiences. Otherwise, it would have been quite boring. “…Let’s find a place to plant bamboo rice tomorrow. This year, it feels a bit late; I forgot to go to the forest to look for mushrooms.”

A-Yin asked, “Do you want green mushrooms, brother? I can go look for them tomorrow.”

“No, we need edible ones. It’s probably too late now,” Zhuo Yan replied, uncertain. The snow had only melted less than a month ago, and the forest, dense with trees, should still be quite moist. Perhaps there were still some mushrooms left.

“Then let’s check the forest the day after tomorrow,” Zhuo Yan decided. He was determined to find mushrooms; there might be other wild vegetables too. Since he had the orc genes flowing in him, he thought he could be a bit bold and taste some of the questionable wild plants.

They could dry whatever they found and soak it when they were ready to eat.

Wild vegetables were simply delightful!

A-Yin said excitedly, “Brother, I’ll go with you to plant bamboo rice tomorrow! I can till the soil; I’m strong!”

“Are you not going with the hunting team?”

“No need; I’ll switch to the patrol team the day after tomorrow.” A-Yin was eager; planting bamboo rice with his brother was important. Plus, patrol would only take half a day, and then he could join Zhuo Yan in the forest for mushroom hunting. “Brother, wait for me the day after tomorrow! We can go to the forest together. I can carry you, so you won’t have to walk so much.”

Zhuo Yan felt a swell of emotion.

A-Yin was so considerate! Walking wasn’t that hard!

Not wanting to crush A-Yin’s sweet, devoted spirit, Zhuo Yan agreed. “But you don’t have to carry me. Shi Tou, Xiao Xian, and Aman will definitely come along too. We’ll all walk there together. If we bring back too much, you can help me carry it.”

“Okay!” A-Yin happily accepted.

Zhuo Yan smiled at his little brother’s enthusiasm.

The two enjoyed their dinner as the sun set, and the moon and stars emerged, casting a silvery glow at the entrance of their den. After finishing their meal, they tidied up together—placing the bowls and chopsticks in a wooden bucket. A-Yin took it to the river to wash, taking the opportunity to brush his teeth and freshen up.

Zhuo Yan only carried the soap.

As they walked down to the river, they saw other sub-beasts and orcs bathing, but they kept their distance. Zhuo Yan called A-Yin to move to the other side—further away—when they noticed orcs shifting into their beast forms, carrying sub-beasts back home.

Well then, it was just the two of them left.

“Brother, I just saw a sub-beast kissing an orc’s mouth,” A-Yin said as he crouched by the river washing the dishes, turning to look at Zhuo Yan. “I’ve only ever kissed your head and cheeks. Should I kiss your mouth too?”

Zhuo Yan: Ah?!

What?

Why did this suddenly turn into such a conversation while they were washing dishes and bathing? He met A-Yin’s earnest gaze, and then glanced at the soap in his hand—

His mind was absurdly conjuring up jokes about soap!

“Well…” He opened his mouth but found his throat dry, coughing lightly. Not wanting to mislead A-Yin—who was growing up—he decided to speak seriously. “Kissing on the mouth is something only partners can do.”

Upon hearing this, A-Yin perked up like an eager puppy. The handsome young man in human form set down his bowl, maintained his crouching position, his eyes sparkling with excitement. He took a step closer, gazing intently at his brother—

Zhuo Yan was utterly charmed. The proximity made him notice the bright anticipation in A-Yin’s eyes.

“Brother, can A-Yin be your partner?”