Back at the cave, Zhang Shuguang made some fish soup for Nai Dou. For his own meal, he simply gnawed on two baked potatoes.

Given his current circumstances, just having enough to eat was a blessing. Even if he was picky, he had to force himself to eat.

Not eating meant starving, starving meant losing strength, losing strength meant failing to find edible things, and so on—a vicious cycle that would lead to starvation.

So even though he’d eaten potatoes for several meals straight and couldn’t stand the sight of them anymore, he had to force them down.

All for the sake of survival.

Zhang Shuguang sniffed, a pang of bitter sorrow welling in his heart.

From this moment on, potatoes would be his lifeline. He felt like crying.

“Meow~ Mii~” Nai Dou rubbed against his calf, snapping Zhang Shuguang back to reality.

He glanced at Nai Dou, only to see the little rascal finish rubbing against him and then leap onto the stove—wild and dangerous!

“You don’t want your whiskers anymore!” Zhang Shuguang quickly grabbed the back of his neck and lifted him up, glaring. “How could you be so greedy?”

After two days of good food and drink, the little guy had visibly gained weight, his belly especially plump and round. Worried he might be uncomfortable from overeating, Zhang Shuguang glanced at the fire, then turned and carried Nai Dou to Yu’s cave.

“Brother Yu,” he called out, “this little guy of mine eats an enormous amount at every meal. Is that okay? Look at his belly.”

Yu emerged from the cave, poked Nai Dou’s belly, and asked, “How many times does he poop each day?”

Zhang Shuguang froze. He didn’t know how many times Nai Dou pooped daily. It seemed like… he hadn’t pooped at all?

Ah!

This question was so awkward!

Seeing his expression shift, Yu raised a hand to wave in front of his face, puzzled. “What’s wrong?”

“Ah, nothing. I mean… I was wondering, where does everyone in our tribe… go to… you know?” Zhang Shuguang hesitated to say “use the restroom,” thinking the other might not understand, so he opted for bluntness instead.

Yu didn’t pick up on his awkwardness, assuming he simply didn’t know where the tribe dug their holes. He explained, “The little ones dig holes anywhere, just don’t poop in the caves. The Shaman requires us to use the big pit on the back mountain. After each time, we bury everything under dirt, pour it in, then cover it with another layer of soil. That way, there’s no smell.”

Zhang Shuguang suddenly understood. No wonder the tribe didn’t have a strong odor—he’d noticed adults always used specific spots when relieving themselves.

It had to be said, tribes with shamans really did have standards. Back in the Wanshan Tribe, from his memories, people would relieve themselves anywhere—no holds barred. They’d just lift their leather skirts and squat.

As for his possible constipation, Zhang Shuguang took it in stride. He hadn’t eaten much these past three days, so not needing to go was normal.

Yu found it amusing to see him suddenly relax: “It’s fine for the little one to eat more. As long as he loves to play and jump around, he’s perfectly healthy.”

Zhang Shuguang nodded, setting Nai Dou down on the ground to run and play on his own. “Go ahead and get busy, Yu. I’ll tidy up and head to the coast with the chief.”

“Go ahead, go ahead. Leave the little one with me. No need to bring him along.” Yu actually liked the little guy, and he could play with his own two cubs.

Zhang Shuguang didn’t stand on ceremony, just said, “I made some fish soup. Have some later with the cubs.”

Chief Xiong Kui headed to the gathering spot at the tribe’s entrance, where the foraging team had assembled. He first greeted the foragers and asked them to bring back two pieces of wood that grew in water. He didn’t specify what he needed them for, only roughly gesturing the size. Afterward, he went to the large cave to tell the Shaman about Zhang Shuguang’s potential salt-making method, asking him to accompany them to the coast.

The Shaman grabbed Xiong Kui’s hand and rambled on about how mastering salt-making would be nothing short of a blessing from the Beast God for their tribe!

“If he truly can make salt, Shaman, take him as your attendant.” Xiong Kui had actually wanted to bring this up yesterday, but as an outsider and a Sub-Beastman, Zhang Shuguang simply finding potatoes for the tribe wouldn’t be enough to convince everyone he deserved to be the Shaman’s attendant.

But salt-making was different. If not for the lack of a Shamanic mark on Zhang Shuguang’s forehead, Xiong Kui would have preferred him as the next Shaman.

Wu Ming waved dismissively. “He knows more than I do. Making him my apprentice would be an insult to his abilities.”

Xiong Kui understood this too, but doing nothing felt like taking undue advantage.

Wu Ming chuckled, patting his bulging chest muscles. “You worry too much. Shuguang isn’t the type to dwell on such things. He’s a good man.”

Xiong Kui sighed. “I know he’s good. Never mind. I’ll ask Mang Jiu what he means when he returns. I can’t give him official recognition, but I can at least give him more meat. Look at Shuguang’s skinny frame—if he doesn’t get properly nourished, he’ll have trouble even producing offspring.”

“Yeah, you should ask him,” Wu Ming agreed. “Go find Xi San. I can handle things here on my own.”

In the cave, Zhang Shuguang altered the leather skirt. He stitched two pieces of hide together with vines, then cut them apart and sewed each section separately. Fastening them at the waist with vines, he fashioned a pair of baggy leather shorts. He also sewed a fur vest from the leftover hide. Once his chest, back, and buttocks were fully covered, he instantly felt at ease.

God knows how unsettling it felt to have the wind chill his balls and risk flashing everyone with every step. Having long mastered the fishbone knife through making leather bags and straw sandals, crafting these shorts and vest took little time.

When he descended the mountain wearing his leather vest and shorts, paired with straw sandals and a leather backpack slung over his shoulders, he instantly became the most eye-catching sight in the entire tribe!

It could be said that this outfit placed him at the very forefront of fashion in the Beast World, setting trends! Perhaps other tribes had people wearing animal hides similarly, but they certainly didn’t have leather shorts and straw sandals. Zhang Shuguang’s pair of straw sandals was absolutely one-of-a-kind in the Beast World!

Xi San tilted his head up to look at Zhang Shuguang and said to Xiong Kui beside him, “Mang Jiu’s Sub-Beastman looks pretty good.”

Xiong Kui shot him a sidelong glance and coldly warned, “Don’t get any funny ideas. Watch out for Mang Jiu’s tail when he gets back.”

Xi San gave an awkward chuckle. 

“I wouldn’t dare! I was just saying… Look at all the young Beastmen in the tribe staring over there.” Xiong Kui snorted inwardly. These good-for-nothings only know how to ogle Sub-Beastmen! Don’t they see what they themselves look like? Are they as fierce and extraordinary as Mang Jiu? Yet they dare to stare at his Sub-Beastman!

“Get to work! What are you all doing, just standing around here?” A roaring voice shook the air.

The crowd dispersed with laughter and chatter. Those who hunted went hunting, those who gathered went gathering, those who trained went training—each had their own tasks to attend to.

Zhang Shuguang smiled and greeted Xiong Kui and Xi San before turning to Wu Ming. “Wu, I found a wild fruit. It’s quite sour, but it sharpens the mind. You can slice it and steep it in water.”

He pulled out the green lemons and handed them to the Shaman. “These little fruits.”

The Shaman examined them in his hands, sniffing them. He hadn’t ventured outside the tribe to gather anything in ages, so he didn’t recognize the fruit. Or rather, even if someone from the tribe had picked them and found them unpalatable, they wouldn’t have brought them to him.

Zhang Shuguang hadn’t lied—this green lemon did indeed refresh the mind after drinking it. If mixed with honey, it would taste even better.

Honey lemon water? Absolutely delicious. Thinking this, his mouth watered.

“Your outfit’s pretty convenient,” Xiong Kui stared at Zhang Shuguang’s shorts, finding them increasingly appealing. “Easy to make?”

“Easy to make. Wearing this keeps bugs from biting your butt.” Had he said it was for privacy or modesty, Xiong Kui would likely have dismissed it. But protecting one’s rear from insect bites was another matter entirely. Even though they were thick-skinned Beastmen, they still dreaded insect bites!

Not just Xiong Kui—several nearby Beastmen and Sub-Beastmen overheard Zhang Shuguang’s words. Instantly, over a dozen pairs of eyes fixed on his leather shorts, their gaze so intense it felt like they could burn holes right through the fabric!

Zhang Shuguang’s mouth twitched. He thought to himself, your ears are sharp enough to catch that clearly. Not just them—even Wu Ming had his eyes glued to Zhang Shuguang’s shorts.

“Um… how about I teach you how to make them when we get back? It’s super simple. Just sew two pieces of leather together, cut a slit in the middle with a stone knife, then sew the sides separately.”

Zhang Shuguang briefly explained his method, but the others listened blankly, utterly clueless about how to proceed.

“Alright, alright. We’ll talk about it when we get back. Xi San, you carry the Shaman. Let’s go.” Xiong Kui glanced at the sun, realizing they couldn’t linger any longer. He hurriedly helped Xi San up and started moving.

Zhang Shuguang watched as Xiong Kui tugged at his leather skirt and instantly transformed into his beast form. He blinked in surprise.

This bear was enormous—far larger than any he’d ever seen. Its thick, dense fur looked prickly enough to hurt without even touching it.

The giant black bear shook its coat, then turned to Zhang Shuguang, its mouth clamped around the discarded skirt.

Wu Ming, carried on Xi San’s back, pointed at the bear and said, “Xiong Kui wants you to climb on him.”

Zhang Shuguang nodded, thanked Xiong Kui, then grabbed the fur and began climbing up. This was truly… riding a bear! And such a huge bear at that! It was practically heaven for a fur enthusiast!

He was so excited he could barely speak!

Xiong Kui let out a roar and began to run. Though Xi San hadn’t transformed into beast form, his running speed was still impressive. He kept pace alongside Xiong Kui as the four of them left the tribe.

Xiong Kui’s pace was swift, forcing Zhang Shuguang to press low against the bear’s back to maintain balance. In that moment, he was intensely grateful he’d worn his leather vest—otherwise, he’d have frozen solid.

Perhaps due to insufficient sleep, nestled within Xiong Kui’s thick, warm fur, Zhang Shuguang gradually drifted off.

“Chief, slow down! He’s asleep!” Xi San urged Xiong Kui to ease his pace, lest he toss the man off again.

Xiong Kui bellowed in warning, then slowed his run, maintaining a steadier gait.

After about fifty minutes, they reached the seashore.

Wu Ming woke Zhang Shuguang. He yawned and apologetically thanked Xiong Kui repeatedly.

“No problem. What do you need those stone buckets for?” Xiong Kui gestured to the two buckets Xi San was carrying. “Do you need these for salt production?”

Zhang Shuguang nodded. “Getting coarse salt crystals is simple—just keep heating seawater. But this coarse salt isn’t safe to eat; it contains substances harmful to the body…” He paused, suddenly realizing something was off.

In primitive times, there wasn’t a speck of pollution. The biggest contamination in this sea was probably just fish waste…

“Chief, I’ll boil a bucket of water first to test. If it’s safe, the coarse salt can be refined into fine salt during processing.” He turned to Xi San: “Please fetch two buckets of seawater—preferably without sand.”

Xi San asked no questions, simply carrying the buckets to fetch water.

Zhang Shuguang began building a fire. He was about to boil salt! This was, after all, a very simple task.