Chapter 194

Qi Bai simply needed to share his excitement about today’s successful hunt with his partner.

From relying solely on shifting his beast form to surprise opponents, to now skillfully controlling attack power and timing—every bit of Qi Bai’s progress was due to relentless daily training.

He hadn’t had many opportunities to hunt directly, and today he discovered just how much he’d outgrown his own expectations.

Lang Ze cradled the young snow leopard in one arm and used his hide sleeve to wipe the blood from Qi Bai’s mouth. He couldn’t suppress the fond smile in his eyes—his mate was unsurprisingly both adorable and powerful.

Qi Bai tilted his head as though asking for more. As if reading his mind, Lang Ze gently massaged the cub’s lower jaw and brought roasted milk tofu to its waiting mouth.

Under ordinary circumstances, Qi Bai would’ve been too shy to cuddle like this outside—but now it was just the two of them, so why hold back?

The snow leopard stretched, nestled into Lang Ze’s arms, and began chewing slowly and contentedly.

After their leisurely picnic, the two packed all their belongings.

Before heading home, they paused to glance at the two beehive boxes they’d installed earlier.

Near the first hive they’d put in place, many bees were already entering and exiting the bottom entrance.

Qi Bai’s eyes lit up. “The bees are here! So our idea worked!”

That hive was one he’d specially marked—unlike the others that just had honey smeared on the wood, this one had comb tied to the frames. The bees clearly remembered their old home.

Qi Bai schemed to expand the colony later and divide off more hives as it grew.

Satisfied, he climbed onto the giant white wolf’s back, flanked by two hide-covered wooden buckets and the day’s game behind them. Today’s harvest was abundant indeed.

Life in the Heishan tribe continued in its steady rhythm—hunting, gathering, farming, smithing… The busier the days, the faster they seemed to go. Before they knew it, the great tree outside had grown lush leaves, and the cicadas were singing incessantly.

Qi Bai, wearing his hide vest and shorts, lay on the bamboo bed leafing through a bamboo manuscript.

Unlike the tribe’s main cave, which many had abandoned, the mountainside cave that Qi Bai and Lang Ze used—near their garden and the ducks—remained well-kept.

As summer’s heat peaked, Qi Bai had cleaned with a broom, unfurled the cooling bamboo mat and curtain, and made the cave his cozy summer hideout.

With bamboo furniture and the cool stone walls, relaxing with short sleeves in the cave during summer was pure bliss.

Ordinarily, the cave might have been slightly damp at this season—but this year was exceptionally dry. It hadn’t rained in three months.

Other parts of the Beastman Continent might differ, but here at Heishan, signs of drought were everywhere. The water level in the Man-eating River had dropped, as had the depth of the irrigation channels alongside the fields.

At dawn, Lang Ze had taken horned beastmen to deepen the water channels. Only when the sun reached its zenith did they return.

Qi Bai propped himself up on his elbow and watched Lang Ze carefully. “Back already?”

Wearing minimal clothing, Qi Bai’s bare skin showed under his light vest clearly—Lang Ze stood at the table and watched.

Lang Ze nodded, and Qi Bai, oblivious to the depth of his gaze, kicked his legs lightly.

“I just calculated our schedule. The trading day is coming up soon.”

Lang Ze lowered himself to lie next to Qi Bai. The heat weighed on them, and Qi Bai teased, “Don’t cuddle so close—it’s too hot.”

Qi Bai unfolded the homemade calendar. “In my hometown, a year has 12 months of 30 days each. Here, a year has 13 months.”

Lang Ze remembered Qi Bai explaining how years were slightly longer here.

“We began planting in the month of April,” Qi Bai traced the marks on the calendar and tapped a day. “Tomorrow is June 24. Last year we set out around July 15. I think this year we can leave earlier.”

It must be said: Qi Bai’s homemade calendar was extraordinarily accurate. Lang Ze had a vague sense of the passing days—like Qi Bai, but not nearly as precise.

He pointed to a day on the calendar: “So let’s depart on July 1.”

Qi Bai shot up. “Only six days away! We need to prepare quickly.”

He tried to stand but found himself pinned back—Lang Ze had pinned him to the bed.

Qi Bai squirmed. “Stop, you’re tickling me!”

Lang Ze nuzzled into his neck. “I want you.”

Qi Bai’s ears glowed red. “In broad daylight—if someone hears…”

Lang Ze smiled softly, rose, knelt next to Qi Bai, and peeled off his loose hide coat, tossing it aside.

Qi Bai stared at Lang Ze’s tanned abs, gulping helplessly.

“Don’t worry, no one’s coming up,” Lang Ze murmured at his lips, trailing wet fingers over Qi Bai’s waist. “You can speak up—no one will hear.”

Outside, cicadas screamed endlessly, the sound drowning out every other noise.

In truth, it wasn’t surprising Qi Bai and Lang Ze would get a bit playful in broad daylight these dry, simmering days. Snuggling together became the heat’s perfect antidote.

So if anyone hears strange noises from huts or grass… best not to look. You might find something adults shouldn’t see.

Qi Bai and Lang Ze cleaned off by a waterfall before heading to the square—by now it was already mid-afternoon. The intense noontime sun had softened, and villagers—one with a wooden basin, others busy sorting bamboo shoots and nuogen—were back to work under the large tree shade.

Priest Yang Luo stood, leaning against the tree with a large palm fan in hand—still serving his priestly duties even during this penalty period. He skipped planting with others (too undignified), content to work half mornings and help behind the communal kitchen in time for meals. With two roles—priest and accountant—he was fully satisfied.

Hearing Qi Bai and Lang Ze discuss departure plans, he stopped fanning and said, “Leaving early is wise. We don’t know when winter will come—or when trading days at Xushan will be announced early again. You can’t afford to leave late.”

Exactly what Qi Bai was thinking. Last year, Xushan trading date moved early, and many tribesmen got nothing because they arrived too late. To avoid the same, they must be ready in advance.

Yang Luo asked, “Who should lead the trading team?”

Neither Qi Bai nor Lang Ze could go. The fields of barley and marigolds were nearing harvest, and apricots from the orchard would ripen soon. Qi Bai must stay to manage.

Lang Ze stayed too. With the Jufeng clan’s arrival, all knew the North—where the Beast God purportedly rested—was not devoid of other tribes. Unexplored lands might hide threats to Heishan’s survival. They’d already built homes, farms, and workshops—they had roots here. Lang Ze was staying to protect those roots.

Plus, the trading team would include at least two-thirds of the horned beastmen—Heishan needed someone to stay behind.

But choosing a team captain was crucial. Last year, during Xushan departure, the Sanghuo tribe turned its sights on the Julu tribe. Qi Bai didn’t know if Julus and Zhanxiong tribes—both guided by him—could resist if attacked. A unified front was dangerous.

They decided to expand the trading team to a hundred strong. This way, if Xushan remained open, a large team could complete trades quickly and return safely—not like last year’s furtive retreat.

A strong trading party commanded respect—maybe even awe—from other tribes.

“Who about Niu Shuo and Lang Ji?” Qi Bai suggested.

Niu Shuo, from the Xiao Niu tribe, had attended Xushan many times before—and had trade experience. With him leading, the team could reach Xushan smoothly.

Yang Luo frowned. Niu Shuo and Lang Ji were new arrivals. While Lang Ji was safe under Lang Ze’s watch, he trusted Niu Shuo’s leadership—but with caution.

Lang Ze nodded in agreement. Niu Shuo’s lover Niu Xu and others would stay behind, and given the Xiao Niu tribe’s feud with Sanghuo, Niu Shuo wouldn’t betray Heishan.

Crucially, the reliable young horned beastmen—Ma Ling, Hu Huo, Xi Zhou, and Lang Ji—were all former slaves. Although distinctions had blurred inside Heishan, outside, they remained slaves. That made them unsuitable negotiators with major tribes like Zhanxiong. Niu Shuo’s free status avoided complications.

Yang Luo tapped his knee. “Let me confer with Monkey Yan. We have time to confirm the leader before departure—but we must start preparing supplies now.”