Chapter 146

Chapter 146

Wolf Ze leaped onto the tree trunk at the tent's center, untying the grass ropes securing the animal hides. The hides covering the roof rolled down along the branches, piling up on the snow walls.

The mining team moved with clean efficiency. The moment they received Wolf Ji's notification, they stopped mining, shouldered the baskets on the ground, and headed straight for the carts.

As Qi Bai and Cow Xi rolled up the hides inside the tent, the mining team had already parked their sleds in front of the tent.

Horned beastmen maintaining human form jumped off the sleds, casually throwing the hides used as bedding and tents onto the last empty cart in the procession before placing the pottery pots and jars containing food on top of the hides.

Wolf Ze transformed into his beast form, issuing the departure signal. Wolf Kuang and Wolf Pu at the front immediately tightened their reins, leading the way toward the plains.

In barely over ten minutes, only somewhat messy footprints and an umbrella-like tent frame remained at the foot of the vermilion mountains.

Only after a thin layer of fresh snow accumulated on the ground did several tall figures emerge from behind the forest. They cautiously approached the large stones at the mountain's base, even touching them with huge palms, seemingly curious about the Black Mountain Tribe's activities.

The Black Mountain tribespeople knew nothing of what happened after their departure—in fact, most still didn't understand why they had to leave suddenly.

Unlike during the journey to the vermilion mountains, aside from those pulling carts and Wolf Ze's group following in beast form, the remaining dozen-plus tribespeople all gathered on the last cart.

Everyone sat among piles of animal hides, with the transported food in the center. Amid all the rushing, the food in the pottery pot had cooled, a white oily film forming on the soup's surface.

Qi Bai held a bamboo ladle: "Eat something first. I'm afraid no one will rest tonight."

A horned beastman asked puzzled: "Why are we running?"

Dog Liu said quietly: "If Wolf Ze tells us to leave, he must have his reasons. Those beasts must be very powerful."

"I'm not afraid of beasts," Tun Quan rubbed his hands together, "We haven't encountered many prey lately. Defeating them and bringing them back to the tribe would make this trip worthwhile."

"We can't forget our goal chasing prey." Wolf Ji disagreed: "Our mission this time is stones. As long as we bring stones back to the tribe, the trip wasn't in vain."

Tun Quan thought about it and realized this was true. He glanced secretly at Wolf Ji and then at Wolf Ze behind the procession—had to admit wolf tribe warriors were indeed different.

Speaking of stones, Qi Bai looked at the carts ahead. Although they left two days earlier than planned, the other nine sleds were basically full. Their mission this expedition was nearly complete.

This was also one reason Wolf Ze decisively led the team away from the vermilion mountains without confronting those beasts directly.

Cow Xi shoved a bamboo tube of food into Tun Quan's hands: "Always thinking about food. Eat quickly."

Tun Quan grinned, quickly devouring the meat soup—he didn't want his food turning into ice lumps later.

The tribespeople were very familiar with the route from the vermilion mountains to Black Mountain, especially Wolf Kuang and Wolf Pu leading the procession—this was already their third round trip on this path.

However, as they approached the plains where they'd previously battled the mighty oxen, the procession's speed noticeably slowed, eventually deviating from the main path into a patch of low forest.

Everyone crouched silently in the forest until the cart tracks were covered by wind and snow, certain no beasts were following, before heading toward the tribe again.

The mining team's early return should have been good news, but the joy on Sheep Luo's face quickly turned serious: "The vermilion mountains are only a day's journey from the tribe. Have you never seen these beasts before?"

No wonder Sheep Luo was so tense—after all, Wolf Ze was currently the tribe's strongest warrior. Beasts that would make him cautious shouldn't be provoked by the Black Mountain Tribe.

The hunting team members remaining in the tribe looked at each other. Before the ox and horse tribes joined, Black Mountain Tribe's population wasn't large. The hunting team's range was generally within half a day's journey from Black Mountain. If those beasts' territory was beyond the vermilion mountains, they truly might never have encountered them.

Sheep Luo stood before the cart wanting to ask more when Monkey Yan, looking at the reddened frozen faces, pulled him aside: "Let everyone rest first. The tribe has so many strong horned beastmen—no matter what beasts they are, we can handle them."

Sheep Luo finally relented. After the mining team left, he frowned at Monkey Yan: "Don't those beasts' appearances seem somewhat familiar?"

Monkey Yan smiled憨憨: "There are so many beast appearances. They're just a bit larger—nothing special."

Sheep Luo looked suspiciously at the ore on the carts, muttering to himself: "Is that so?"

Monkey Yan didn't overthink it. He called several horned beastmen to unload the ore baskets from the sleds.

Meanwhile, Qi Bai and Wolf Ze pushed open their home's door. Qi Bai rubbed his face: "Heat some water to wash up first. I feel like my face has become one solid block."

This trip made Qi Bai understand the hunting team's hardships. Never mind running outside for over ten days—he'd just stayed motionless in the snow for one day and felt like his blood was about to stop flowing.

Wolf Ze placed dried pine cones into the stove base,正准备 using the hand drill by the stove to make fire when the kitchen's wooden door pushed open.

Rabbit Ruo shook a burning dry branch in her hand, smiling: "I heard you return and guessed you'd need to make fire."

Qi Bai's eyes lit up as he scooped water into the pot: "Your timing is perfect."

Rabbit Ruo smiled and shook her head, knowing both must be exhausted. Without staying longer, she left after placing down the kindling.

Qi Bai closed the door, saying cheerfully: "Good neighbors are better than distant relatives."

Placing a bamboo steamer over the pottery pot, randomly putting several sweet potatoes on the steamer, Qi Bai circled the kitchen feeling he had nothing to do before entering the bedroom.

The kang in the bedroom stood empty. Before leaving home, Qi Bai had stored all bedding in the kang cabinet—otherwise, upon return, the hides would be covered in dirt clods.

Wolf Ze's ears twitched slightly. The rustling sounds in the bedroom had stopped at some point. He stood up, quietly lifting the hide curtain.

His previously energetic mate now had feet still on the ground, entire face buried in bedding, actually having fallen asleep like this.

Over this day-plus period, although Qi Bai had been on the sled, he hadn't fully slept. Now entering familiar surroundings, letting down his guard, exhaustion surged—he didn't even realize he'd fallen asleep.

Qi Bai felt someone pinching his cheek. Squinting, he said with a breathy voice: "I'm tired."

Wolf Zhe chuckled softly: "Aren't you uncomfortable sleeping like this?"

Qi Bai closed his eyes, legs struggling upward several times before rolling onto the kang: "I'm asleep."

"Mm." Wolf Ze helped adjust his body, finally getting him fully lying on the hide blanket. "Sleep."

The person in the hides lay sideways, a tuft of white hair on his head gently rising and falling with breath. Seeming to feel hot, he kicked his legs, exposing toes outside the blanket.

Qi Bai woke from hunger. Seeing faint light coming through the partially covered window, it took him a while to realize they were already home.

Food warmed in the pottery pot—not the sweet potatoes he'd placed yesterday, but two large pieces of steaming roasted meat, clearly Wolf Ze's work.

After eating and opening the door, Qi Bai realized something was wrong. They'd returned home at noon yesterday, but now the sun hadn't fully risen—apparently he'd almost slept an entire day away.

Qi Bai walked next door, gently lifting Wolf Ze's hide curtain to see if he was home.

"Wolf Ze went out."

Qi Bai jumped in place, turning to see Rabbit Ruo.

Rabbit Ruo blinked: "Did I... scare you?"

"No, no." Qi Bai had been too focused earlier, not hearing footsteps behind. What had Rabbit Ruo said? "Wolf Ze went out?"

"Mm." Rabbit Ruo nodded, "Wolf Ze took the hunting team to patrol the territory. He asked me to tell you the hunting team would return later today."

Qi Bai smiled and nodded: "Thank you, Rabbit Ruo."

Since Wolf Ze wasn't home, Qi Bai had no reason to keep peeping through windows. Returning home to put on his cloak, he headed toward the kiln site.

Just past Black Mountain's corner, Qi Bai saw the completely renewed kiln site.

Right beside the original pottery kiln room and storage room, two new buildings had risen from the ground.

One still had tribespeople going in and out, apparently working overtime to complete the interior.

Mouse Lin waved at Qi Bai: "Leopard Bai, come quickly!"

"Coming!"

Qi Bai entered the first building—the room for iron smelting. Because it contained a tall furnace, this room stood noticeably higher than other tribe buildings.

Two enlarged bellows first caught the eye. Qi Bai pulled one, hearing the whooshing air inside.

He climbed several steps up the staircase beside the blast furnace, looking into the hollow furnace with delight: "This is even better than I imagined!"

Mouse Lin's eyes instantly lit up: "Really?"

Qi Bai nodded vigorously: "Of course! At the very least, I definitely couldn't make such a good furnace."

Mouse Lin's cheeks flushed pink. He'd always been the tribe's weakest beastman, his gathering abilities inferior to others'. This was the first time he'd received such praise.

"We didn't complete what we promised you. The building next door isn't finished yet."

Cow Xi entered hearing Mouse Lin's words, immediately shaking her head: "For such good buildings, even ten more days wouldn't be long! Mouse Lin, you all truly did excellently!"

Looking at this place, then recalling their previous makeshift fan made from broken pottery—the difference was tremendous.

Qi Bai jumped down the stairs, clapping: "Let's test this furnace today."