Chapter Bonanza (2/10)

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With the shelter built, Lang Shi also found time to set up the shelves by the hearth.

As soon as they were placed inside, Lang An put them to use, storing the clay pots filled with seasonings.

The clay pots were all recent experimental pieces made by Lang Mo and his group; some had cracks, but Lang An collected any that were still usable.

For now, the beastmen’s cooking seasonings were based on what Lin Qiu had used.

There weren’t many varieties—just ginger, garlic, and Sichuan pepper. These were all ingredients Lin Qiu had previously “borrowed” from the priest.

There was also a green-skinned fruit that added flavor; Lin Qiu tended to use it quite often.

There aren’t many ingredients available for seasoning. Even ginger and garlic—the ones from the priests’ side can’t be used—so Lang An can only ask Lang Bing and the others to bring back extra when they go foraging. As for things like Sichuan peppercorns, they haven’t borne fruit yet, so every bit used is one less.

Lin Qiu also needed to find plants that could be used to make rope, and since he wanted to expand the variety of seasonings, he decided to continue joining the foraging party. However, he still had to study with the priest, so he couldn’t go every day; later on, he settled on going once a week on a fixed day.

Today, the beastmen are heading south to hunt.

The beastmen now understand that overhunting is not a good thing; they won’t just plunder a single herd, so they’ll let the ones in the east rest for a while. The south is different from the east—the rolling mountains and forests seem endless, the woods are shadowy, and the further south they go, the more humid it becomes, with moisture condensing into mist.

A wide variety of plants coexist in harmony; the trees are sturdy with gnarled roots, and various ferns cling to the trunks. As far as the eye can see, countless forms of life are hidden.

Although the vegetation is lush, there are few large prey for the wolf-beastmen to hunt.

They moved slowly; although the hunting parties were originally traveling in the same direction, they had already split up.

There are many plants to gather in the southern forest, but the gathering team led by Lang Bing joined forces with Lang Bei’s group this time. The two gathering teams combined, with the adult beastmen accompanying the youths, teaching them how to gather. Meanwhile, the youth hunting team led by Lang Kim followed the Second Hunting Squad to practice hunting.

The hunting party was moving the fastest toward the south; they planned to cover the entire southern region today, with their main task being patrol.

Lin Qiu tagged along with Lang Bei, but they didn’t continue deeper into the south. Lin Qiu took a look around where they stopped but didn’t see any plants he wanted. Lang Yan lagged behind the first hunting squad; his tail brushed lightly against Lin Qiu’s leg, and when Lin Qiu turned to look, he saw Lang Yan following him.

Their eyes met, and he crouched down.

Lin Qiu climbed up and wrapped his arms around Lang Yan’s neck.

“How big is the Wolf Clan’s territory?”

Lang Yan began to run slowly.

“It’s vast. Last time we went to the eastern grasslands, it took half a day’s run eastward just to reach the edge. The north borders the foot of the snow-capped mountains, and the south extends to the Great Marsh.” 

“What about the west?”

“The highest mountain in the west marks the border; on the other side lies the Feather Clan’s territory.”

Lin Qiu had never encountered any beastmen other than the Wolf Clan.

Hunting Squad One was primarily responsible for hunting and needed to secure a minimum catch.

They ran through the woods for a long time, the beastmen stopping and starting as they went. Lin Qiu watched as Lang You directed the beastmen.

“Is Lang You ready?”

“He’s almost back to normal—he can run again. The priest told him not to hunt for now. He’s a great hunter.” 

“What about you?”

A tribesman who had been quietly eavesdropping on their conversation turned his head back stealthily and tilted his wolf-like head back with a hint of pride.

“Our King is the greatest!”

Usually, Lang You only took command in place of the king when they couldn’t figure things out on their own. 

No matter where the prey hid, the King could always track it down.

He could wipe out the whole pack! He was a skilled hunter!

Lin Qiu and Lang Yan looked over, and the black wolf darted forward to catch up with its companions ahead. They’ve been spotted!

They were moving very slowly now, and Lin Qiu was also scanning his surroundings.

Once they’d entered the woods, no matter where they went, everything looked the same to him. Surrounded by trees on all sides, he’d surely get lost if he were here alone.

“Are we heading to Daze?” 

“We probably won’t make it there.”

Lin Qiu nodded, his gaze sweeping through the woods; this time, he actually spotted quite a few medicinal herbs he recognized.

His training with the priest hadn’t been in vain.

The group had stopped for the moment, so Lin Qiu slid down Lang Yan’s back and hurried to gather some. Lang Yan watched the group ahead and helped search as well. Gray leaf grass to relieve coughs, eight leaf grass to reduce fever, red stone grass to treat diarrhea, and…

“Hmm?”

Lin Qiu pulled up a clump of slender vines. “Dangshen?”

Lang Yan glanced at it. “Purple-fruit vine. The fruit tastes good—the cubs love it. The roots can be used as medicine; the priest should have some.” Lin Qiu thought for a moment—and realized he did, in fact, learn about this.

Since the beastmen weren’t leaving, he might as well dig some up to take back.

Everyone could use a little nourishment; he could ask Lang An to add some to the bone broth they’d stew that night—it strengthens the spleen and lungs, nourishes the blood, and promotes fluid production. As Lin Qiu dug, Lang Yan raised a paw to signal his help.

Lin Qiu dug intently, his eyes fixed on a small dark shadow beside him. Without thinking, he raised his hand—and Lang Yan’s paw pad pressed firmly against it. The paw pad was thick, though not as soft as a cub’s.

Lang Yan tapped his paw lightly. “We should probably get going. Let me take over.”

Lin Qiu stepped back, clenched his fist, and watched as the large paw dug a few times into the soft soil, turning up a dangshen root. Lin Qiu picked it up, shook off the dirt, and placed it in his back basket.

He didn’t leave the vines behind either—big and small alike—to see if he could plant some in the woods near Wolf Mountain.

Just as he finished packing, a low wolf howl rang out from ahead.

Lang Yan crouched down. “Let’s go.” 

Lin Qiu slipped on a tree root and collided with Lang Yan’s back; the thick fur cushioned the impact, and he instinctively wrapped his arms around Lang Yan’s neck. The hunting party broke into a run, accelerating in a few bursts before veering southwest, the wind rushing through the woods as they sped forward.

Lin Qiu squinted as the trees whizzed past him. He didn’t know how far ahead the hunters were, so he didn’t dare speak.

The forest was crisscrossed by numerous clear streams; the beastmen simply leaped right over them. Occasionally they passed small lakes. After running for a while, they somehow emerged from the woods into a field of tall grass.

The place resembled a dried-up lake, with grass waist-high. The beastmen lay flat on the ground, their eyes fixed on the edge where the forest met the grass. Lin Qiu’s cheek pressed against the wolf’s fur as he stared at the large deer.

It must be a species unique to this area; it’s huge, about the size of a moose. It’s slightly smaller than a curved horn beast, but with those majestic antlers, it’s taller than the curved horn beast when it stands up.

It was very alert, glancing up every now and then while grazing.

The beastmen ahead were about to move on, but without warning, it suddenly took off running.

“Chase it!” Lang You ordered.

Lang Yan sprang to his feet; Lin Qiu, caught off guard, staggered and instinctively grabbed hold of Lang Yan’s fur.

Looking at the tufts of fur he’d pulled from the wolf’s coat, Lin Qiu pursed his lips, quickly rolled them into a ball, and stuffed them into the bottom of his backpack. Lang Yan carried him forward as they ran.

Lin Qiu asked, “Is this also a horned beast?” 

Lang Yan replied, “The Yoyo Beast.”

“Why is it different?”

Lang Yan chuckled, running steadily, and explained, “Some of them don’t have horns, so they’re named after their calls instead.” The “Yo-Yo Beast” was actually a type of deer.

It ran extremely fast.

If the beastmen tried to outrun it, they wouldn’t stand a chance.

They simply followed from a distance, making sure not to lose sight of it, with no immediate plans to catch up.

Lang Yan watched the direction the Yoyo Beast was running. “This Yoyo Beast is an adult—one is enough to feed us. It’s our target for today.” 

“Are we going to keep following it?”

“If it spots us, we’ll have to wear it down first. As long as we stay in the tribe’s territory, it won’t be able to escape.”

Wolf-beastmen are top-notch hunters—they’re confident of that much.

As they ran, they passed a dried-up lake and entered the woods. The further south they went, the more waterways they encountered. Lang Yan: “We’re almost there.”

No sooner had he spoken than the beastmen flanked them on both sides and moved in to encircle them from the front.

Lang Yan found a spacious spot and set Lin Qiu down.

“Don’t wander off—watch out for snakes.”

Lin Qiu nodded, watching as Lang Yan rejoined the group.

The sun was already slanting toward the west. On any other day, they’d be well on their way back by now. But they’d run far today, so they’d likely have to run part of the way back in the dark.

The landscape ahead was exceptionally flat, with streams radiating out like veins. Lin Qiu picked up a twig and tapped the grass with it.

His gaze happened to sweep over a spot by the riverbank. Lin Qiu stared at it for a moment, then slowly approached.

In the distance, a pack of wolves was hunting. Lin Qiu listened to the deer’s cries and watched as the beastmen gave chase, splashing water with their hooves as they closed in on their prey. The deer scrambled in panic, but had nowhere to retreat.

It charged toward Lang Yan, and Lin Qiu gripped his stick tightly. Just as they were about to collide, in an instant, Lang Yan darted to the side, coiling his strength as he lunged forward, his wolf claws clamping tightly around the Yoyo Beast’s antlers.

It was in that split second of hesitation that the two beastmen, who had been lying in wait, pounced… Lin Qiu nearly fell to the ground.

His gaze was calm as he tapped the stick against the ground. He walked to the edge of the stream and pulled over some grass he’d spotted earlier. The leaves were emerald green on top and white on the underside.

A smile played at the corners of his lips. He’d found it.

Lin Qiu bent down and cut one off with his small knife. Suddenly, he heard the howling wind approaching. Just as Lin Qiu straightened up, Lang Yan had already charged right up to him, fixing him with a piercing stare.

He had been running a bit too fast.

His fur lay smoothly against his back, giving it a majestic air.

“I didn’t go far,” Lin Qiu said, waving the tuft of hemp grass in the big black wolf’s direction. “I found it.”

Lang Yan didn’t stop; he ran straight up to Lin Qiu, glancing at the plant in his hand and the clump of grass by the riverbank.

“Further south, there’s more of this. Do you want some now?” Judging by his expression, he wanted it right then and there—he’d go pick some immediately. Lin Qiu shook his head. “It hasn’t grown fully yet.”

“Then should we head back first?” 

“Okay.”

As they spoke, the beastmen of Hunting Squad One lunged to the side and lay down, panting. The Yoyo Beast thudded to the ground, flattening a patch of grass. Lin Qiu looked away. “You rest for a bit first.”

Lang Yan crouched down, his gaze still fixed on Lin Qiu. Lin Qiu moved closer to sit beside him, as if she could hear his rapid heartbeat.

Just as he was about to listen more closely, Lang Yan tilted his head and said, “We’ll have to run the whole way back. Should we cover the back basket with something?” Lin Qiu glanced at him, nodded, and continued cutting some hemp grass to thread through the slits in the basket and secure it.

Lang Yan closed his eyes and regulated his breathing.

The beastmen lay down for only a short while before getting up and hurrying back.

Lin Qiu wrapped his arms around Lang Yan’s neck. They were running fast, and Lin Qiu held on tightly with both his arms and legs. His face was pressed against the wolf fur on the side of Lang Yan’s neck, and with every breath, he could smell the faint, woody scent emanating from Lang Yan’s body. The forest was gloomy, yet Lin Qiu felt safe.

Lang Yan ran fast, but steadily.

Lin Qiu said, “I’m sorry I scared you.” His voice was low and soft, like a stream quietly flowing through the woods. Lang Yan heard him.

Lang Yan’s ears twitched. “It was my fault for not seeing you.”

Beastmen ran fast; he couldn’t see clearly around him, and the wind stung his face a little.

Lin Qiu tightened his arms around the wolf, burying his face deep into the long fur on the black wolf’s neck.