Xiao Cai’s electronic voice sounded again.

“Daily settlement: 8% battery consumed. Total chat time: 4 minutes 39 seconds, 1% battery consumed. Vegetable navigation used twice, 2% battery consumed. Remaining phone battery: 78%. 65 points. APP Level 3. Experience: 100/1300 points. Unlocked: Two-Stem Chili Seed, Bird’s Eye Chili Seed. Completed all daily tasks. Extra reward: 3 jin of granular fertilizer.”

Zhang Shuguang touched his inadvertently upturned lips and silently sighed. Today truly was a bountiful harvest—in every sense.

Not only had he gained significant phone battery life, but he’d also discovered many useful items. Though he’d been busy, he wasn’t afraid of the fatigue!

Xiao Cai: “Master, please keep up the good work.”

Zhang Shuguang turned to Li and asked, “Are you full?”

Li nodded, wiping his mouth. “I ate four fish. I’m stuffed.” His belly was bulging from eating, and he’d never found fish so delicious before!

“Sweet fish are so delicious—aren’t you going to take a few home yourself?”

Zhang Shuguang threaded the twenty or so fish he’d caught—large and small—onto the bamboo branch he’d used for fishing. He then skewered the remaining four sweetfish and handed them to Li. “I said they were all for you earlier. Take them home for your mom and grandma to eat.”

Li beamed with joy. Even though he’d only just met Zhang Shuguang, the boy was the kindest person he’d ever met! He was wonderful in every way—Li couldn’t wait to brag about him to his friends! Today he’d learned to start a fire, dug up tons of potatoes, and tasted delicious sweet fish!

“Will you join us for the gathering tomorrow? Our team is heading to the dense forest in the west.”

Zhang Shuguang shook his head, declining the invitation. “I spotted fresh bamboo shoots in the grove earlier. I want to gather some tomorrow and weave a bamboo basket. Once I finish my tasks, I’ll join you.”

Li frowned. “If you don’t come, you won’t get any of the wild vegetables and fruits we gather for the tribe tomorrow. We always bring back plenty.”

Carrying his fish and slung bag, Zhang Shuguang told Li, “It’s fine. I can find my own food. I’ve already spotted plenty of edible things around here. If I’m free tomorrow, I’ll come back and explore. Let’s head back now—the sun will set soon.”

Li didn’t insist. He reached out, “Let me carry your fish.”

Zhang Shuguang handed him the fish. “I think I spotted a bird’s nest earlier. I’ll go check if there are any eggs.”

“Bird eggs?” Li stared blankly as Zhang Shuguang walked toward a few nearby trees. In a few quick moves, he scrambled up with remarkable agility. Li looked up in admiration. “You’re amazing at climbing trees!”

Zhang Shuguang held his breath, peering into the nest in the tree. It was empty, no eggs inside.

He pursed his lips in disappointment before sliding down. “Don’t you guys eat bird eggs normally?”

“We do, but they’re hard to find. The eggs near the tribe get scooped up by the little ones before we even get a chance to look,” Li laughed. “Those little rascals love climbing trees.”

Zhang Shuguang nodded slightly, understanding. This was how they cultivated the wild instincts of Beastman cubs from a young age. He planned to let his own little kitten out for a stroll soon. Then, snatching a few bird eggs for a change of pace wouldn’t be bad.

The two chatted and laughed as they made their way back. Passing through the bamboo grove, Zhang Shuguang dug up two bamboo shoots and tucked them into his bag. As they crossed the patch of lemongrass, Zhang Shuguang’s keen eyes spotted several nests hidden among the tall grasses. He found five snow-white eggs in total, each as large as a goose egg, though he couldn’t identify the bird they came from.

“You’re so lucky—those are cuckoo chicken eggs,” Li exclaimed enviously. “They’re smooth and taste great.”

At the word “smooth,” Zhang Shuguang imagined Li pouring the raw egg straight into his mouth. He couldn’t help but grimace. “Why do you insist on eating them raw?”

“Huh?” Li looked at him. “I’ve tried cooked ones too. My mom boiled cuckoo chicken eggs, but they weren’t good.”

Alright, at least he didn’t try roasting it over a fire. He knew boiled eggs existed, though he understood many people disliked their taste.

He tucked the eggs into his bag, intending to take them back to hatch. More cuckoo chickens meant more eggs! Hatching was just a matter of time—and time was the one thing he had plenty of.

What if these eggs weren’t fertilized and couldn’t hatch chicks?

Simple—just eat them!

By the time the two returned to the tribe, night had fallen completely. Yu saw them coming back and sighed with relief. “The hunting party didn’t return today. Shuguang, wanna come over to my place for something to eat?”

Zhang Shuguang waved it off. “We just had grilled fish. Thanks for carrying the potatoes back for me, Yu.”

Yu chuckled. “No problem. I dug up a lot of potatoes today and plan to dig some more tomorrow.”

When Hua and the other two returned, the other Sub-Beastmen in the tribe saw them and asked what they were carrying. Hua shared some potatoes with them, telling them they tasted great when roasted over a fire. He believed more Sub-Beastmen would join them to dig potatoes tomorrow.

Li asked, “So we’re not going to the dense forest tomorrow?”

“Of course we will. The gathering team still needs to go. The rest of the Sub-Beastmen can dig potatoes if they want.”

Li hummed in response. He really wanted to go to the dense forest. For young, playful Sub-Beastmen, digging potatoes every day was boring. It was better to venture farther out to gather wild vegetables and fruits. Besides, the back mountain held no real danger—it wasn’t thrilling at all.

Zhang Shuguang gave Li a knowing glance before turning to Yu. “Did the hunting party not return today because they didn’t catch anything?”

“No,” Yu explained. “Usually, they eat their fill first when they go out. Digesting a full meal in beast form takes one to two days; otherwise, they can’t shift back to human form.”

Zhang Shuguang’s eyes widened slightly. So that’s how it was? In his memories of the Wanshan Tribe, where he’d been cannon fodder, it hadn’t been like this. Could this be a unique trait of the Cliffside Tribe?

Seeing his surprise, Yu chuckled. “Every time Mang Jiu and the others go out, they take two or three days to return. Don’t worry.”

Zhang Shuguang scratched his nose and muttered, “I wasn’t worried.”

Li bumped him playfully. “Mang Jiu is the most formidable Beastman in the tribe—even more powerful than the chieftain. Lots of Sub-Beastmen adore him.”

Zhang Shuguang thought: If they like him, so be it. What does it have to do with me? And you, Li, wipe that smug look off your face—it’s downright creepy.

Li’s eyes twinkled mischievously. “Want to meet the other three Sub-Beastmen Mang Jiu brought back? They live in the caves on the second level.”

Zhang Shuguang shook his head. “No thanks. I’m not really interested in other people’s business. I’m outta here—gotta go check on Nai Dou.”

Inside Mang Jiu’s cave, Nai Dou heard Zhang Shuguang’s footsteps and scampered over on all fours to tackle him. Its sharp little claws left two red scratches on his calf, making Zhang Shuguang wince in pain.

“Baby, you’re scratching Daddy to death,” Zhang Shuguang set down his shoulder bag and fish, bending to pick up the kitten. “Hungry? I’ll make you some fish soup.” He carried the kitten to the leader’s cave to borrow fire, then returned to light the stove.

“Wait nearby. It’ll be ready soon.” He said it would be quick, but the stone pot heated slowly. Boiling the water would take a while. Worried the kitten was too hungry, he sliced the fish meat into small strips with a bone knife, placed them in a stone bowl, and fed the kitten some first.

Nai Dou ate happily, mewing softly. Truthfully, he’d already polished off all the venison and potato stew Zhang Shuguang had left behind and wasn’t hungry at all. But the scent of fish made him crave more.

Zhang Shuguang knew the kitten wasn’t actually hungry, but seeing how happily it ate the fish, he didn’t stop it. After all, the kitten had just eaten its fill of grilled fish, and having some fish broth before sleep wouldn’t hurt.

While the water boiled in the pot, Zhang Shuguang kept busy. He first sorted the bamboo shoots, lemongrass, ground herbs, and dried grass, sorting them out. He placed the green lemons on an empty patch of ground nearby, then laid the cuckoo chicken eggs he’d brought back on a long-haired animal skin. He wrapped the eggs up and placed them against the stone wall next to the stove.

This spot was warm but not scorching—perfect for an incubation site.

Ding~

Xiao Cai: “Master, a new task has been refreshed. Please check it.”

Zhang Shuguang paused mid-potato-stacking, both amused and exasperated. “Your notification sound actually changes now?”

Xiao Cai: “Yes, Master! I gained so much experience today—so happy~

Daily Tasks: 1. Acquire a 40-square-meter cultivable plot (Completed). Reward: 10% power, 10 points, 200 EXP.

2. Plant lotus flowers (Completed). Reward: 5% power, 5 points, 100 EXP.

3. Harvest bamboo shoots (2/10). Reward: 5% battery, 5 points, 100 EXP.

4. Weave straw sandals. Reward: 20% battery, 20 points, 500 EXP.

5. Plant potatoes (0/30). Reward: 10% battery, 10 points, 200 EXP.

6. Refine Salt (0/500g), Reward: 15% Power, 15 Points, 300 Experience.

Zhang Shuguang stared in surprise at the two completed tasks. Recalling the lotus seeds he’d tossed into the shallow pond, he asked, “That lotus planting task? I only threw in three or five seeds. Is that really enough to complete it?”

Xiao Cai: “Master, the app still has bugs. Please don’t get too hopeful about luck.”

Meaning: This time was luck, but next time, there might not be.

Zhang Shuguang stroked the stubble sprouting on his chin, thinking to himself: Maybe I should try my luck a few more times. Who knows? Next time, I might get lucky again and complete a task instantly.

“Meow~” After finishing the fish, Nai Dou came over to rub against him.

Zhang Shuguang stopped talking to Xiao Cai. With one hand, he scooped the kitten’s soft little body into his arms, then pinched its tiny paws. “Nai Dou, Daddy’s little cutie!”

The kitten didn’t understand a word, but nestled comfortably in his arms and began licking its paws to wash its face.

The potatoes had been buried underground for so long that many had sprouted. Zhang Shuguang sorted through them one by one, squatting until his legs went numb.

At that moment, he found himself missing Mang Jiu. Though not a talker, the guy sure got things done!

Meanwhile, the very Mang Jiu Zhang Shuguang who was missing was stuffed to the gills.

Mang Qi coiled into a circle, slowly shifting to aid digestion. Flicking his tongue, he addressed Mang Jiu: “You really can eat! Two adult male giant boar beasts, one baby giant boar beast… At this rate, you won’t be able to change back into human form for at least four or five days.”

Mang Jiu’s cold, serpentine eyes fixed on the front, where a group of giant boar beasts were rooting through the soil, digging up plant roots and tubers to eat.

Mang Qi asked in surprise, “You’re not still hungry, are you? Careful, don’t overeat yourself to death!”