This bonus chapter was brought to you thanks to NyxVervaine on Ko-fi. Thanks so much for your support! Enjoy!

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

As the flames ignited, Wu Ming’s complexion visibly paled.

Zhang Shuguang suddenly realized that wielding those powers likely took a significant toll on the caster.

Wu Ming tossed the ignited straw into the fire and said to Zhang Shuguang, his voice slightly weak: “This is Shaman power.”

Zhang Shuguang gave him a thumbs-up and sincerely praised, “That’s amazing! But using Shaman power must consume a lot of energy, right? You look terrible.”

“Yes, I’m old. I can’t repeatedly use shamanic power to light fires. I’m searching for a new shaman.” Wu Ming gazed at the flames, a smile spreading across his deeply wrinkled face. Though his spirit seemed somewhat flagging, his mood was clearly good. “Your arrival will make the tribe better and better. That is my prophecy.”

Zhang Shuguang stared at him in stunned silence. Even Xiong Kui was equally dumbfounded.

Mang Jiu, however, showed little reaction. Ever since learning that Zhang Shuguang could start fires and find food to survive the snow season, he had already envisioned a brighter future for the tribe.

Even during the snow season, when the tribe subsisted solely on potatoes, they could still endure.

Xiong Kui was utterly bewildered. “Is he a shaman? He doesn’t possess shamanic power.”

Wu Ming shook his head, turning the potatoes in the fire. “Chief, shamans have been dwindling these years. I’ve searched for new shamans for many years but found none. I have a premonition that there will be no next generation of shamans.”

His tone carried a faint sadness, yet he didn’t appear deeply sorrowful. Instead, he seemed detached, as if he had seen through the world’s illusions. “Many years ago, at the great gathering, I met several elder shamans from other tribes. They sensed the same thing. They, too, were searching for successors, but they never found any.” Seeing the others’ expressions of disbelief, he waved his hand dismissively. “This is simply the natural cycle of life and death. There’s no need to grieve over it.”

Zhang Shuguang felt a deep melancholy. It was like suddenly learning a species was facing extinction—no matter how hard one tried, there was nothing that could be done.

“Shaman, do you have any other premonitions?” Not knowing the old shaman’s true capabilities, he asked tentatively.

Wu Ming turned to face him, his face still kind, but his gaze now serious and direct. “You are different. You are unlike anyone else. You can save many lives.”

Zhang Shuguang forced a stiff smile. “You think too highly of me.”

Xiong Kui’s gaze toward Zhang Shuguang shifted. Before, he’d merely marveled at Zhang’s ability to start fires. Now, hearing Wu Ming’s words, he seemed to regard Zhang Shuguang as another shaman.

“Can a tribe truly survive without a shaman?” Hua murmured softly from the side.

The others turned to look at her. Hua pressed her lips together, her eyes fixed nervously on Wu Ming. “Shaman, have you ever seen a tribe without a shaman?” In their understanding, a tribe without a shaman was doomed to perish.

Wu Ming shook his head. He had lived in the Cliffside Tribe since birth. Even when he encountered shamans from other tribes, their interactions were brief. “I don’t know.”

Zhang Shuguang spoke up then. “The Wanshan Tribe has no shaman.”

The others turned to look at him. Zhang Shuguang shrugged. “It’s true. Many small tribes around us have no shamans either, and they’ve existed for decades or even centuries.”

Wu Ming nodded with a smile and said to Xiong Kui, “You needn’t worry. Honestly, my role in the tribe was merely to help you kindle fires for warmth. Now we have alternative methods to replace the shaman’s fire-making abilities, plus delicious potatoes. More people will survive the next snow season.”

Zhang Shuguang actually wanted to say that eating only potatoes wasn’t ideal, and he could lead everyone in farming other vegetables and fruits. But the words stopped at his lips.

In just this brief moment, he had already caused several people’s attitudes toward him to shift dramatically. If he claimed he could find more storable food and help improve their quality of life and living conditions, they’d probably worship him like a god.

He didn’t want to elevate himself that high. Quietly raising their living standards was sufficient. Even if he had to reveal his special abilities, now wasn’t the time.

No matter how this world had come to be, he held one principle firmly: don’t get too cocky. Overconfidence invites retribution. Being seen as a god was one thing, but if they mistook him for a demon… well, they’d likely burn him to ashes in an instant.

Goodbye, goodbye. I’ll just curl up and nap quietly.

Ding~

Xiao Cai: “Master, the app has released a new mission.”

Zhang Shuguang glanced at the others, pulled his fur cloak tighter, and huddled by the fire. He used a stick to poke potatoes in the embers, appearing fully absorbed in roasting them—though his real focus was on conversing with Xiao Cai.

“Bring up the phone interface. Let me see.”

Xiao Cai: “Yes, Master.”

The app interface appeared in the firelight. Zhang Shuguang scanned it quickly, then exclaimed in surprise, “Why are there more tasks?”

He’d only had three tasks when he checked this morning, but now there were six.

Xiao Cai: “After settling the day’s power consumption, new tasks are released. The number is random. Master, if I complete these tasks before tomorrow’s power settlement, I can level up twice.”

Zhang Shuguang glanced at them.

1. Clear the cave dwelling. Reward: 5% power, 5 points, 100 EXP.

2. Prepare three meals (0/3). Reward: 5% power, 5 points, 100 EXP.

3. Harvest Lemongrass (0/20) – Reward: 5% power, 5 points, 100 EXP.

4. Plant Cabbages (0/30) – Reward: 10% power, 10 points, 200 EXP.

5. Complete the “Make Dried Fish” (0/10) quest to earn 10% power, 10 points, and 200 experience.

6. Complete the “Make a Hoe” quest to earn 15% power, 15 points, and 300 experience.

Zhang Shuguang scratched his chin, shifted his legs to make the kitten more comfortable, and wondered inwardly: “I’ve noticed tasks that directly yield items seem to offer lower rewards. Those requiring secondary processing double the rewards. Will later tasks offer even greater rewards?”

Xiao Cai: “Yes, Master. Quest difficulty will gradually increase, requiring more resources. There’s also a chance to encounter completed tasks that instantly fulfill requirements.”

Zhang Shuguang murmured softly, scooped out the roasted potatoes, and shared them among the group. “Xiao Cai, accept all quests. Shut down and rest. See you tomorrow.”

Xiao Cai: “Understood, Master. Good night. Sweet dreams.”

Zhang Shuguang poked a potato with a wooden stick, held it up to blow on it, then methodically peeled it.

This batch of potatoes wasn’t overly charred. Peeling off the blackened skin revealed a more fragrant aroma than before.

Taking a bite, Zhang Shuguang licked his lips. Delicious. He held the potato and ate it bite by bite. While the kitten meowed softly, nudging closer.

“Want some more?” He glanced down, broke off another small piece, and placed it in the kitten’s palm. Seeing it eat happily, he chuckled softly. “Body the size of a palm, but quite the appetite.”

Wu Ming, also nibbling on his potato, nodded in agreement. “Beastman pups all have hearty appetites. If you plan to raise him, it’ll be quite the task.”

“Yeah, I know. Why do all the cubs in the tribe get raised in the big cave?“ He was genuinely curious. Logically, shouldn’t each family raise their own cub? Why were they all sent to live with the Shaman in the big cave?

Wu Ming’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he raised his weathered hand and tapped him gently. ”Female beastmen and female sub-beastman are very rare, but their fertility is strong. A litter will have at least four cubs. With so many cubs, it becomes difficult to feed them all. That’s why the beastman cubs are sent to the big cave for collective feeding. This increases the cubs’ chances of survival. If a family has the ability to raise their cubs, they can keep them and raise them themselves. This is optional in our tribe.”

“Collective feeding?” Zhang Shuguang felt full after eating most of the potatoes. He broke the remaining half into small pieces and let the kitten eat them on its own.

Xiong Kui glanced at him and said, “Wu Ming, you eat. I’ll explain to him.”

Zhang Shuguang gave the old shaman an apologetic smile before turning to Xiong Kui. “Is this how every tribe does it? Or is it just our tribe?”

Xiong Kui was pleased to hear Zhang refer to “our tribe.” It reinforced his belief in the man’s resolve to stay.

He chuckled, “Beastling cubs are easier to raise than sub-beastman cubs, so they’re all sent to the Shaman to nurture. That’s how it is in several tribes around here. We go out hunting every day, bringing back the tenderest organs and meat to feed the cubs in the big cave. Sub-beastman cubs need more milk, while beastling cubs need less.”

This meant mothers would first nurse the beastling cubs, then wait for the fathers to bring back meat for them. The mothers could then save more milk for their own sub-beastman cubs.

Thinking about it this way, it made sense why they sent their children to be raised together.

“They can eat meat from such a young age?” Zhang Shuguang glanced down at the cub in his arms, feeling a bit bewildered.

In his understanding, cubs needed at least two or three months to grow teeth before they could eat a little meat porridge or similar foods, with milk remaining the primary nourishment during infancy.

Xiong Kui nodded, and Hua chimed in from the side, “Beastman cubs are born with teeth. Just chop the meat finely and feed it to them.”

“Feed them raw meat?” Zhang Shuguang pictured the scene and found it a bit hard to stomach.

Seeing his expression, Hua knew exactly what he was thinking and chuckled, “The cubs love raw meat.”

Zhang Shuguang recalled that dark, unappetizing chunk of meat from earlier and felt a pang of sympathy for the little ones’ stomachs.

“Can you feed them cooked meat? Like boiled minced meat soup or something?”

“Yes, but we don’t know how to make it. Do you?” Hua asked with genuine interest.

The tribe had a large stone pot. They, the sub-beastman, would boil chunks of meat in water before eating them. They’d tried other methods too, but the results never tasted quite right.

If it weren’t for the sub-beastman’s stomachs being unable to digest too much raw food, they actually didn’t want to eat what they made themselves.

Zhang Shuguang nodded. “I can cook. Meat porridge is easy to make. I can also make some shredded meat.”

He’d already mapped out a recipe in his mind, planning to show off his skills later.

Mang Jiu stood up and held out his hand. “Let’s go back to sleep. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

Zhang Shuguang took his hand to rise, then bowed deeply to the chief and the shaman. “Thank you for accepting me.”