Chapter 316

At dawn the next day, the Engineering Division led the various tribesmen to begin work. But the structure they were building looked strange. Not only had the five tribes never seen such a thing, even Hei Yao’s own warriors were confused.

Xi Zhou drove his wooden spade into the ground and looked at the half-dug circle they’d spent all day on. He finally voiced the doubt in his heart:

“This foundation circle—too big for a house, too small for a wall. What exactly are we digging for?”

Shu Lin, with a beast-hide measuring cord draped around his neck and blueprints in his hands, turned his head: “Didn’t I explain the style of this house to you?”

Hu Qiao unslung his water gourd, took a long drink, and said, “Since we got here, we’ve done nothing but work. When did you explain anything?”

Shu Lin smacked his forehead, laughing at himself: “I’ve been staying up too late these past days. I’m muddleheaded.”

At Zhong Lü tribe’s site, Shu Lin was the chief engineer. Xi Zhou and Hu Qiao served as vice-captains, responsible for instructing and supervising the Zhong Lü tribesmen. Naturally, they were supposed to know what they were building.

Shu Lin spread the blueprint before them. On it were two adjoining circular buildings.

Each had a square structure in the middle. Outer round, inner square—like ancient coins from Hua Nation.

“What is this?” Hu Qiao asked curiously. From the drawing he could match the foundation trench, but this kind of building he’d never seen.

Shu Lin’s eyes lit up with excitement: “This is a house design Lord Bao Bai created specially for villages. He calls it a stone tower (shi lou).”

The small settlements outside Hei Yao had few people. They couldn’t possibly build city walls.

But on the Beast Continent, beasts attacked tribes without warning. Especially tribes living on plains, with no mountains or rivers as natural barriers, were constantly at risk.

Qi Bai had thought of the tulou of Hua Nation—buildings that were both homes and fortresses.

But to suit beastmen, his design was larger and sturdier, built with thick multi-layered stone walls. Hence its name: stone tower.

Each tower could house about 200 people. For tribes like Zhong Lü or Zhu Ma, with nearly 500, the design joined two circular towers. If the population grew, more could be added outward.

Pointing at the circular plan, Shu Lin explained: “We’ll build a 12-meter-high outer wall of stone bricks, leaving only one main gate.”

Such a wall would block most beasts. Villagers could live safely, not constantly fearing raids. Even if giant beasts like bison or elephants came, watchtowers above the gate would give warning.

“Inside, homes will be built along the wall, each two stories high: kitchen and heated kang on the first floor, a big room upstairs for storage and living.”

For safety, the outer wall had no windows. So Qi Bai had designed balconies on the second floor—giving families outdoor space and easing ground-floor crowding.

The only exception was a section by the gate. That was reserved as offices and barracks. Officials and soldiers would rotate duty there. It was both an administrative office and a security post.

The biggest difference from tulou lay in the square structure in the center—a livestock pen.

Because the tower was large, there was a ten-meter gap between dwellings and the pen, so odor wouldn’t be an issue.

Over years, Hei Yao had built up livestock: from the original four-eared sheep (over a thousand now), to ducks and phoenix fowl. Yun Xian even ran a feather shop in the trade street.

Many families had already taken livestock to raise at home. Even if they couldn’t bear to butcher them, milk and eggs alone enriched daily meals.

So Qi Bai planned for every new village to receive young animals from the city, to quickly build up their own herds.

After all, winters grew colder and longer. Only with enough livestock could they be sure no one starved.

Xi Zhou and Hu Qiao’s eyes shone as they listened.

These towers weren’t as spacious as the city’s independent houses, but they sounded wonderfully warm and communal.

Imagine—families living side by side, chatting at doorsteps, shouting for help and the whole village hearing. They both loved the idea, itching to see it built.

Hearing sniffling, Hu Qiao shuffled aside in distaste. “Really? So moved by a blueprint you’re crying?”

“I’m not crying!” Xi Zhou bristled. “I’m a grown man, why would I cry…”

His words stopped short. All three turned.

Behind them, a burly man stood, face set, tears streaming. In this warmer weather, at least they didn’t freeze into icicles.

More importantly—they knew this man.

Shu Lin hurried up: “Village Chief Lü Jiang, what’s wrong?”

Since Zhong Lü tribe became Zhong Lü Village of Hei Yao, the former chief became village head, and the priest was demoted to ritual officer. This was Lü Jiang.

Wiping his tears with his massive hand, it looked like he was smearing away battle blood.

“I failed,” Lü Jiang said hoarsely. “I couldn’t lead my people through winter. Half of Zhong Lü died under me.”

“But if you can truly build such homes, and help us store enough food—” he thumped his chest—“then I’ll entrust my life to you.”

He gave them a hopeful look, then strode off toward the worksite.

Shu Lin was left speechless. What did they need his life for?

Hu Qiao watched him go, muttering: “Did either of you notice him come up?”

Both shook their heads.

“Don’t dismiss his ‘life,’” Hu Qiao said, stretching his neck. “If he can get this close without us noticing—few in the city could do that. He may be nearly first-rank warrior already.”

Strong, but not too bright—that was Hu Qiao’s judgment.

In any case, work went smoothly. Maybe because it was the five tribes’ first real assignment from the city, everyone pushed hard to prove themselves. Progress was even faster than Qi Bai had expected.

On the seventh day, Xiong Han and Lu Yan returned from patrol—with Wei’s snow mountain expedition. But Wei’s warriors lay unconscious on wagons, dragged through the gates.

“At the plains’ entrance, we met Wei’s team,” Lu Yan said, carefully uncovering bark over baskets. Crystal-like blossoms glittered in the sunlight. “They found Xuequ grass.”

Even that motion woke nearby guards, who instantly checked the baskets in their sleep—protecting the lifesaving herb.

Seeing Qi Bai, Wei sighed in relief. “Great Priest, I brought the Xuequ grass back, as promised.”

Qi Bai’s eyes stung. Thank goodness. They were only exhausted, none hurt.

“You’ve done well. You came back at the right time. I’ll bring these straight to the hospital—our people can use them immediately. Rest now.”

The warriors smiled faintly, then fell back into sleep.

From a hundred, they brought only three baskets—and these blooms were smaller than those Lang Ze had found years ago.

But no one complained. It proved the herb still existed in the snowy mountains. For Hei Yao, that was hope.

Wu Rao and Zhi had already prepared other ingredients. Seeing the Xuequ grass, they got to work at once.

In no time, Zhi rushed to the wards with fresh powder.

For days, lighter wounds had been treated with ordinary herbs to save the stronger medicine for the gravely injured. But those lacked Xuequ’s anti-inflammatory power. Infections and fevers had spread.

Now, finally, they had what they needed.

“It’s thanks to Great Priest’s suturing method,” Wu Rao said, grinding herbs. “Without closing those wounds, our medicines couldn’t have saved so many.”

Qi Bai, sleeves rolled up, scarf on his head, kneading herb paste into honeyed balls, smiled: “I gave the idea, but only with everyone’s practice could wounds be closed so quickly.”

The mixture was divided into equal pills and dried for use.

These weren’t the strongest herbs—but even old, weak ones still held some effect. Made portable, they could help discharged patients.

Yet Qi Bai’s heart wasn’t fully eased. Finding the Xuequ had relied on snow. Without snow, what then?

He stared at the trays of pills. In the end, they still had too few herbs.

Young Lord Shu had already been lodging in the guesthouse ten days. Qi Bai thought—perhaps it was time to discuss serious business with him.