Chapter 65

A-Yin didn’t go this time; she stayed behind to guard the village.

As the weather grew hotter, Zhuo Yan led the sub-beastmen under the makeshift canopy to filter the saltwater. However, the shelter was a bit cramped, so some of the sub-beastmen busied themselves in the shade of the trees.

Zhuo Yan was beginning to think about building another canopy next to the existing one. Before he could voice his thoughts, A-Yin said that she was going with A Hui and Ah Tou to chop some wood.

“?”

“Brother, the canopy is a bit small now. You’re standing outside, getting sunburned and all sweaty,” A-Yin remarked.

Zhuo Yan’s eyes widened in realization, and a grin spread across his face.

“We truly are in sync—”

A-Yin tilted her head in confusion, prompting Zhuo Yan to gently cup her cheeks in his hands. Understanding dawned on her; her brother wanted a kiss, so she leaned in and pecked him on the lips. Zhuo Yan chuckled, “What I meant was, we’re on the same wavelength! I was also thinking of building another canopy nearby. The tribe is growing, and as the workload increases, having two canopies would be fantastic!”

“Then I’ll go today! Brother.” A-Yin couldn’t help herself, cupping her brother’s face in her hands. This time, she kissed him firmly. Brother had told her that this was called a kiss, while the previous peck was just a light touch.

He liked kissing.

Zhuo Yan felt a little weak in the knees. A-Yin, curious, reached her hand back to feel if her brother’s fluffy tail had grown yet. As soon as she touched it, it sprang into view.

Zhuo Yan: !!!!!!! Ahhhh!

“Why are you touching my butt?!”

In the end, A-Yin was playfully ‘chased’ to the cave entrance, while Zhuo Yan settled down on the stone bed to calm his fluffy tail. Soon, he heard someone calling for him in the distance.

A-Yin ran outside and shouted, “Wait! My brother has things to do!”

“Okay then.”

“What’s Zhuo Yan doing so early?” Xiao Xian asked, curious.

“Isn’t he still in bed with A-Yin?” Aman guessed.

“A-Yin is talking at the cave entrance.” Stone hit the nail on the head.

Qiao laughed at the other three and suggested they leave. Xiao Xian said, “Qiao, aren’t you curious?”

Aman replied, “Qiao must have had his share of cuddles with Ah Da before, so he’s experienced and not as curious as you.”

Stone nodded in agreement.

Qiao said, “Well, you all should wait here for Zhuo Yan to come out; he’ll scold you.”

“I get it, I get it! Zhuo Yan calls this ‘getting angry.’”

“‘Angry and embarrassed,’” Aman chimed in, already remembering Zhuo Yan’s quirky phrases.

Qiao’s face turned slightly red as he walked away. The other three exchanged glances, genuinely thinking Zhuo Yan might chase them down in anger. Stone thought to himself that even if it didn’t hurt, it was best to leave.

At the cave entrance, A-Yin happily returned to report, “Brother, they’ve all left!”

“Good, good.” Zhuo Yan looked at A-Yin, “You should hurry and go. I feel like if you leave, I can disappear too.”

A-Yin felt a twinge of reluctance, stealing another glance at her brother’s fluffy tail.

Zhuo Yan dramatically performed an exaggerated ‘angry and embarrassed’ pose!

A-Yin, however, felt a surge of happiness; her brother looked so handsome. She obediently headed out to chop wood for the canopy, hoping to finish early so her brother could use it at noon and stay cooler.

Just minutes after A-Yin left, Zhuo Yan’s tail indeed vanished—he really was a lovesick fool. Spring had already come and gone; he couldn’t blame the season for this!

Resigned, Zhuo Yan put on his leather skirt, finished packing his basket, and hurried down the slope to the riverbank. He was a bit late today, but fortunately, Uncle and Qiao were already there, having begun work—after filtering for an entire day.

Everyone had experience.

The brine that had been filtered three times was poured into the wooden tubs. These tubs were enormous, and even the brine from yesterday was added to the mix. Though it seemed negligible, every little bit counted. Today, someone exclaimed, “It seems like it’s increasing!”

“I can see the water now!”

Even at night, some kept watch. Although the process of drying the salt was straightforward, it required constant attention, especially during the second and third rounds of filtration, where the drips were painfully slow—about a ladle of brine every half hour, which meant they couldn’t sleep through the night. But that was okay; they could catch up later.

The sub-beastmen of the tribe were very diligent. Despite Zhuo Yan saying that it was okay to let some time pass between ladles, everyone still stood vigilantly in front of the filtration barrels. So, Zhuo Yan arranged a night shift team—excluding the elders and young children, with those who had kids at home.

Stone’s father and Aman’s mother had just given birth. Stone now had two more younger siblings, while Aman gained three younger brothers.

Aman looked quite grim because his younger brothers were a handful, and he didn’t like taking them out to play. Seeing Aman’s displeased face, Zhuo Yan thought, You once introduced your mischievous little brother to me; were you trying to ‘get me in trouble’?

That said, Zhuo Yan’s arrangements allowed everyone to take turns sleeping.

A couple of hours later, as the sun began to blaze, A-Yin returned with A Hui and Ah Tou, carrying thin trees. Zhuo Yan instructed, “You all work on the wood by the river; don’t do it next to the canopy, or dust and leaves will fly everywhere.”

“Got it, brother!” A-Yin cheerfully lugged the trees to the riverbank.

The three beastmen stripped the branches, using the thicker roots as corner supports for the canopy and the thinner ones for the top. A-Yin collected the trimmed branches and laid them out to dry in the sun.

“Do you want these? They could be firewood,” A-Yin offered.

Ah Tou shook his head, saying he had enough at home. A Hui remarked, “I told you it was unnecessary to drag the whole tree back; you could have just chopped it there.”

“Then you’d waste the branches,” A-Yin said, a hint of pride in her voice. “My brother told me not to waste anything.”

A Hui: There she goes again with ‘my brother.’ Is having a partner really that great?

Zhuo Yan kept an eye on the situation by the river and, once A-Yin and the others were nearly finished, called out to the sub-beastmen at the filtration barrels, “Let’s move to the shade and start working there while A-Yin sets up the next canopy.”

Otherwise, digging holes would kick up too much dust.

“Sure!”

“Zhuo Yan, you pay such attention to detail in everything you do.”

“Well, my partner mentioned before that we don’t need to use perfectly white salt. It’s okay to skip a filtration step. The salt we exchanged at the feathered market was gray and gritty, and it was still edible.”

Everyone looked over. A young sub-beastman laughed and said, “I said it! The feathered market was such a rip-off. If we’re doing this now, let’s do it well. Our salt will be better than what they have, and even skipping a filtration step doesn’t save much effort.”

“Exactly! That’s what I think too.”

“And I heard that when we deliver our salt to the wolf and tiger tribes, they’ll be surprised because our salt is better than what they got at the feathered market. Just thinking about it makes me so happy!”

“Right! I don’t think it’s troublesome at all. The work isn’t tiring, and we can chat while keeping watch at night; it’s really cool.”

Zhuo Yan understood now; the beastmen didn’t care much for overly refined salt, but the sub-beastmen had a strong sense of pride. The idea of their salt being better than that of the feathered market made everyone feel proud and pleased. Even the beastmen, who typically shrugged things off, had nothing to say when they heard it was better than what the feathered market had to offer.

Everyone had a story to tell about their experiences at the Featherfolk Market.

Noticing the excitement in the air, Zhuo Yan chimed in, “The werewolf clan and the tiger clan should be arriving at our tribe soon.”

“Really? Zhuo Yan!”

Zhuo Yan nodded, his voice steady. “It’s not a secret. The tribe leader mentioned it before leaving. We need to host them well; they’re here to trade salt.”

“Wow!”

“That’s why we’ve been working overtime—everyone has to pitch in at night. Honestly, we wouldn’t be rushing if it were just our tribe needing salt. We have at least two and a half months before the rainy season.”

The were-beasts perked up at the news, animatedly discussing what the werewolves and tigers might look like. Some had visited the Featherfolk Market before and shared their impressions.

“Are we going to have a market in the leopard tribe?” Xiao Xian’s eyes sparkled; having a market felt like a badge of honor.

“This is our first year,” Zhuo Yan replied. “After this… I believe our salt will be better and cheaper than what’s at the Featherfolk Market. They’ll definitely come to our tribe.”

“Wow!”

“Our salt will be superior to what they offer!”

Zhuo Yan confidently added, “Absolutely! Our work is meticulous—our salt is pure white, without any pebbles. Unlike the Featherfolk Market, where they charge outrageous prices—three hides aren’t enough; you need five or six!”

Pride and joy radiated through the group, invigorating their spirits as they prepared to work.

Zhuo Yan wasn’t just flattering the tribe’s beastfolk; he genuinely appreciated their dedication. They worked tirelessly, taking turns day and night, bringing their own meals and eating on the go.

He had even arranged for some rest during the day, providing mats for everyone to lie down on, ensuring that no one would suffer from heat exhaustion.

That afternoon, as A-Yin and the others were setting up a shelter, the uncle found Zhuo Yan.

“The werewolf clan lives in caves like us, but theirs are much larger, while the tiger clan resides in wooden houses.”

Zhuo Yan’s eyes lit up at the mention of wooden houses. The tiger clan was quite clever, building their own homes? He held back his questions, eager to hear more.

“Right now, digging new caves isn’t an option, and we don’t know if those clans will visit again. I spoke with the tribe leader about settling the tiger clan in the dense forest. The werewolf clan is nearby, and there’s no rain now. Once we finish our first batch of salt, we can provide for both clans. They won’t stay long.”

“Let’s figure out the details next year.”

Zhuo Yan understood. “Should I send A-Yin to prepare the area in the forest?”

“That’s exactly why I’m here to see you, Zhuo Yan. I’m entrusting this task to you,” the uncle replied.

“Okay, okay.” Zhuo Yan was puzzled; the uncle was part of the tribe, yet he seemed to delegate every task to him—he was certainly not slacking off.

“The remaining beastfolk in the tribe will follow your lead. If you need anything, just come to me,” the uncle said.

See? The uncle wasn’t shirking his responsibilities; he was just letting Zhuo Yan take charge—perhaps he wanted to give him a chance to grow.

Just as the tribe leader had begun to train young beastfolk for hunting this year.

Zhuo Yan quickly accepted this explanation. There were eleven beastfolk left in the tribe, excluding the three on patrol, leaving eight to work.

Tomorrow, they would head to the dense forest to prepare a place for their guests.

That evening, the new shelter was finished, and the saltwater in the barrels was halfway full. Zhuo Yan arranged the night shift of five, allowing the others to return to their caves early to rest. The beastfolk assigned eight members to check the forest’s condition the next day.

They couldn’t set up too close to their tribe, but not too far either—mainly for the guests’ convenience. Zhuo Yan already had an idea of where to go; they had recently foraged mushrooms and wild vegetables in that area, so he was somewhat familiar.

Early the next morning, the beastfolk gathered by the river, awaiting Zhuo Yan’s command. He rode on A-Yin’s back, calling out, “Let’s go!” Leading the group, they burst forth from the tribe.

The uncle watched them depart, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. He turned to the were-beasts who had kept watch the previous night and said, “Go back and rest. If you feel bored, you can come back in the afternoon.”

“Understood!”

“We’ll be off now.”

The five young were-beasts left in pairs, feeling a bit braver as they distanced themselves. “The uncle seems so approachable now!” “I’m not scared of him anymore.” “Zhuo Yan is so impressive, riding A-Yin and taking the beastfolk on an adventure!”

“I know! Zhuo Yan said the tiger clan and werewolf clan are coming, isn’t he finding them a place to rest?”

“Definitely.”

“We leopards finally have a market, and now the werewolves and tigers are coming!”

“What do they look like?”

“I know! I went once before, and the tiger folk are muscular with fiery tempers. The werewolves are kind of like us—no, wait, they’re like A-Yin, but their eyes are blue or green.”

The werewolf clan lived closest to the leopard clan. This time, they packed up with supplies, unlike their trip to the Featherfolk Market, which was a long journey—at least over a month on the road. The trip to the leopard tribe would take just a little over half a month.

Little Wo, now an adult, remembered his first trip to the Featherfolk Market with his parents when he was younger. It had been an exhilarating experience, but he had only gone once. After his parents disappeared, he became a lone wolf, living in the big cave and relying on the protection of the tribe.

Now, as they were heading to the leopard tribe, Little Wo was the first to raise his hand. He wanted to join. Seeing everyone looking at him, he gathered his courage and said, “Last year, before the snow season, Ake and Ma Meng came to deliver salt, and I met them then. I’d like to see them again.”

“You don’t have an adult to guide you, Little Wo.”

“I’m an adult now.”

The tribe leader smiled warmly. “Alright, it’s a short trip to the leopard tribe; Little Wo can join.”

In previous trips to the Featherfolk Market, the werewolves would bring their families, mostly to let the cubs see the world. The werewolf clan traveled in groups, and if the cubs grew tired, the adults would carry them, leading to many young ones traveling along. Meanwhile, the older teenagers, around seventeen or eighteen, preferred not to go out as much.

Because the weather was sweltering, they had to traverse through grassy plains, hilly forests, and rivers, making the journey seem long and arduous. They worried that the almost-adult beastmen might run out of stamina or get distracted along the way, falling behind and facing potential dangers.

But this year was different; they were headed to the Leopard Clan, which was much closer.

Little Wo was particularly excited. He hurried back to the communal cave, where he lived, and found his hide bed. After collecting his things, he tied them up in a loose bundle, shifting between human and beast forms several times until he got it just right.

With this arrangement, he wouldn’t have to trouble anyone from the clan for help on the road.

Seeing this, the elder smiled fondly and said, “Little Wo, everyone would be more than willing to help you tie up your things.”

“Auntie, I can do it myself!” Little Wo replied cheerfully.

“Look at you, all grown up now.”

“Auntie, aren’t you coming to the Leopard Clan?”

“I’m not going. I’m getting old, and it wouldn’t be right to trouble the young ones to carry me. The Leopard Clan is quite similar to us; they live in caves and eat roasted meat and mud beans, just go enjoy yourself. But remember, they’re not as entertaining as the Feather Clan; don’t be too disappointed.” The elder worried that Little Wo might find the Leopard Clan dull, having previously taken him to the Feather Clan when his parents were still around.

The Feather Clan had many more exciting things to offer.

“I understand, Auntie, but even if the Feather Clan is more interesting, they wanted a lot of salt, and I still prefer the Leopard Clan.”

“Good boy! You’re right; you’re not just going for fun,” the elder said, pleased.

The group heading to the Leopard Clan was well-prepared. The wolf elders had almost vaccinated all the younglings, with some even hesitating to take their cubs along—after all, there wouldn’t be much to entertain them. Still, others thought the short journey made it worthwhile to let their young ones see another clan, just as long as they didn’t cause a ruckus. The Leopards were much like them, and there wasn’t much to do.

The clan leader led a rather large party this time, totaling forty-four individuals, both young and old, including beastmen bringing along their elderly mothers and fathers.

After fifteen days of travel, the wolf clan leader looked over the sprawling grasslands and said, “We’re almost there.”

“Really? Are we almost there already?!”

“Wow, that’s so close!”

The leader replied, “We’ve reached the hunting territory of the Leopard Clan.”

The seasoned beastmen could catch the faint scent of the marking, but the young cubs and sub-beastmen were oblivious. The beastmen remarked, “We should be seeing the Leopard Clan in a day or two.”

As the large group set off, this time the wolf clan leader didn’t hurry.

On the seventeenth day, the patrolling Leopards—Dian, Asen, and Yu—had just returned from the second salt retrieval mission five days prior. Yu was the first to spot them, exclaiming, “I think someone is coming!”

“It’s the Wolf Clan,” Dian confirmed.

Asen said, “I’ll notify the tribe. Dian, you and Yu take them to the woods to settle down.”

“Got it.”

Asen and Dian split up to take action, while the excited Yu ran ahead of Dian to greet the incoming wolves.

When they met, the wolf clan leader roared a few times, relaying the situation. Dian also shouted, “The Leopard Clan welcomes the Wolf Clan! Please follow me; we haven’t had time to dig proper caves this year, so let’s find a spot in the forest to rest.”

The wolf clan leader understood; the Leopards had even fewer members than they did. As long as they could trade for salt, it didn’t matter where they stayed for a few nights. On their previous journeys to the Feather Clan, they had slept wherever they could.

Everyone was well-prepared for the journey—once they had salt, nothing else mattered. The group followed the Leopards into the forest, which was just a short run away, and soon they spotted an area that appeared to be well-maintained.

This was a campsite set up by Zhuo Yan, a clearing of about two hundred square meters. The ground was cleared of weeds, dug fifteen centimeters deep, and compacted. Stones were brought in from the river and laid out, covered with a mixture of yellow clay and grass, then baked with firewood to drive away the chill.

The perimeter was surrounded by low walls made of mud and wood, forming a concave shape. The walls weren’t very high, only reaching waist level, making it easy to construct a roof supported by trees and covered with large leaves.

At least… it hadn’t rained recently.

The walls created a cozy sleeping area for the Wolf Clan, giving them a sense of belonging.

The Tiger Clan had a similar setup.

Outside the sleeping area, there was a small “courtyard” with an earthen stove, designated as the activity zone for the Wolf Clan.

“This is where we’ll be resting?” the clan leader asked, now in his beast form.

Dian emerged from the woods, wrapped in a hide, and replied, “Yes, there’s a river just beyond the trees.”

“Alright, thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

The wolf cubs and their partners had already jumped onto the platform, with little cubs yelping excitedly, “Mom! Dad! Come look! The ground here is so smooth, unlike anywhere else!”

“The roof is made of leaves!” “This binding is really interesting.” “This mud is yellow; what’s half of it?”

Yu chimed in, “That’s the wall. Zhuo Yan helped us make it so we wouldn’t roll off while sleeping at night.”

“So it’s a wall!” They all recognized the concept of cave walls.

Even though they were staying in the forest, the Wolf Clan felt the warmth of the Leopard Clan’s hospitality. The area had been well-prepared, unlike what they had imagined about sleeping on the forest floor, and it felt surprisingly inviting.

Then, a voice broke through the chatter.

“Uncle and Zhuo Yan are here with the others!”

The wolf clan leader gazed into the distance, and the previously rowdy wolves quieted down, all turning their attention to the newcomers. Some beastmen and sub-beastmen recognized the uncle, the Leopard Clan leader’s mate, but who was Zhuo Yan?

From the tone of these two beastmen, it was clear that Zhuo Yan was well-respected in the Leopard Clan.

He must be a formidable beastman.

After a brief wait, the crowd spotted the uncle, along with a young sub-beastman standing beside him—definitely a sub-beastman. This one looked quite young, like he had just come of age, dressed in clothes woven from leaves, with short, tousled brown hair that brushed his ears. He was thin, with bright round eyes that sparkled as he smiled upon seeing them.

The werewolves watched from the shadows, their eyes sparkling with curiosity as they caught sight of the young leopard people.

“Uncle, Zhuo Yan!”

To their surprise, Zhuo Yan turned out to be a young sub-beastman, and the werewolves couldn’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment. They had hoped to encounter some of the more formidable and youthful beasts of the leopard tribe.

Uncle exchanged a few words with the werewolf tribe leader, noting that the leopard tribe leader would be returning later that evening. He was currently preoccupied with salt production.

At the mention of salt, the werewolves’ eyes lit up.

“The salt was discovered by Zhuo Yan, and his partner, A-Yin, along with another beastman, found it. After bringing it back, Zhuo Yan turned the clay into salt. When our tribe leader returns, you’re welcome to see it if you’re curious,” Uncle explained.

The werewolf leader blinked in disbelief. “Can we really see it?”

“Of course,” Uncle nodded. “If you have any questions, Zhuo Yan is more than happy to answer.”

The werewolf leader looked over at the young sub-beastman. Zhuo Yan flashed a smile that was both polite and warm. “Greetings, werewolf tribe leader! You must be tired from your journey. Later, our tribe will provide some supplies for your stay.”

“Thank you!” The werewolf leader replied, still processing the unexpected turn of events.

“Then we won’t keep you any longer.”

As soon as the leopard tribe departed, the werewolves erupted in excitement. The tribe leader, still somewhat dazed by the conversation with the leopards, pondered over what had just been said.

“Did the leopard tribe really say salt is made from clay?” “Can we really see the salt?” “I’ve heard salt is white when delivered by the leopard tribe. How exactly is it made?” “Did you notice how that young sub-beastman seemed to be really popular among the leopard tribe?” “Even the beastmen listen to Zhuo Yan.”

“Alright, everyone, let’s settle down first. We don’t want to disrupt the leopard tribe’s camp,” the leader commanded.

“Understood, tribe leader.”

Zhuo Yan deliberately delayed his return. About an hour later, he and his companions—Shi Tou, Aman Yu, and Dian—made another trip to the forest, carrying provisions like salted meat, a basket of potatoes, grass mats, large clay pots, water cups, ceramic bowls, and spoons.

Every time they fired the kiln, they ended up with extra goods, which were delivered to the main cave. This cave housed two elderly tribesmen and was spacious enough to accommodate the collective supplies of the tribe: hides, salt, wooden boards, and frames.

When Zhuo Yan arrived, the werewolves were already settled in. The platforms were laid with skins, though some were insufficient for all the beasts, so the young ones slept on the hides while the adults rested on the ground—firm and warm thanks to the stones placed beneath, which prevented moisture from seeping in.

The other supplies were piled at the corners of the door, with some beastmen keeping watch at the entrance.

As soon as Zhuo Yan stepped inside, the werewolf leader and his partner emerged to greet him. Zhuo Yan explained his purpose, and the werewolves took note of the supplies provided by the leopard tribe.

“The grass mats can be spread on the ground for sleeping. The clay pots are useful for boiling water and cooking some food. The salted meat and potatoes will just about suffice for tonight…”

The werewolf leader instructed his people to take the supplies, expressing his gratitude once more. Zhuo Yan replied with a smile, “No need to thank me. Rest well tonight; we’ll see each other tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow.”

Once Zhuo Yan departed, the werewolves gathered around to inspect the new supplies. “Grass mats—we know how to use these,” a sub-beastman said, lA-Ying one on the yellow mud floor. “It may not be the same grass, but we have our own that we weave with vines. The leopard tribe’s mats are well-made too.”

“Right, they’re very sturdy.”

“What’s this? The clay pot? Didn’t the leopard tribe use something similar at the feather tribe market last year to trade for salt?” A werewolf made the connection.

The tribe leader nodded. “The eagle tribe favored these and traded a lot of salt for them. The leopard tribe leader said Zhuo Yan made this one.”

“Zhuo Yan? That sub-beastman from earlier?”

“He’s truly impressive; no wonder so many beastmen and sub-beastmen in the leopard tribe listen to him.”

“Tribe leader, how do we use this clay pot?”

Last year, when the leopard tribe visited the feather tribe market, they explained how to use the clay pots. The werewolf leader had kept the instructions in mind, stating, “Just fill it with water, like a stone pot, but it’s fragile and less sturdy than a stone pot.”

“Well, it’s still useful.” “I prefer our stone pots.” “But this clay pot looks very clean.”

“Let’s hold off on using these clay pots for now. We’ll set them aside to avoid breaking them.”

“Understood.”

That evening, the werewolves prepared food without a cooking stove. Unable to decipher how to use the clay pots, they simply built a small fire and roasted the potatoes and salted meat.

“I thought Zhuo Yan meant something else when he said ‘potato’; turns out he meant mud beans.”

“But why do we have mud beans now? Aren’t they usually only available in the fall?”

“This salted meat tastes great when roasted, but it’s a bit tough and super salty. They really have a lot of salt!” Their envy was palpable.

Curious young werewolves examined the stove, crawling up to ask their mother why there was a hole. Suddenly, thud, a little wolf cub fell into the hole, struggling to poke its head out from the cooking opening, only to be met with a scolding from its parents.

“Don’t go crawling around!”

As evening descended, the werewolves sensed something amiss. The tribe leader led a few warriors to keep watch, and it wasn’t long before they spotted the leopard tribe leader returning with their beastmen—each in their beast form, carrying heavy, mud-caked bundles of clay on their backs.

“…They’ve come back with the clay.”

“Is the salt really made from clay?”

“What kind of clay is it?”

The werewolves were brimming with curiosity. The tribe leader reassured them, “We’ll find out tomorrow. For now, let’s eat and get some rest.”

Naturally, some beastmen stayed behind to patrol the area.

“I wonder when the tiger tribe will arrive?”

Meanwhile, the tiger tribe had already crossed into the hunting territory of the leopard tribe.