Chapter 318

The Sacrificial Hall

At five in the afternoon, the horn sounded. Qi Bai set down his brush, tidied the documents on his desk, locked the door, and got off work.

Just as he stepped outside, he ran into Yang Luo coming out of the office next door.

Qi Bai greeted warmly: “Grandpa Yang Luo.”

The two walked out together. Yang Luo asked casually: “You’re off work early today? Finished everything?”

Their offices—the five elder priests—were on either side of the Great Priest’s office. But lately Qi Bai had been working overtime every day. Yang Luo hadn’t seen him leave this early in some time.

Qi Bai smiled secretly. If anyone “followed trends,” it was Yang Luo. Clocking in and out on time had long been his habit. Hearing him say it sounded completely natural.

If not for the ancient architecture surrounding them, Qi Bai thought their conversation was no different from two modern office workers chatting after work.

Qi Bai replied with a smile: “Thanks to the statistics you and Tu Ya did—after balancing the stock of stored beast meat and the seeds for spring planting, the rest isn’t urgent. So I can finally leave work on time.”

Yang Luo said with pride: “Mm, that’s nothing. Back in the tribe, I used to balance even more complicated accounts.” His mood visibly lifted after being praised. Suppressing a smile, he asked: “So where are you going now? If you’ve got nothing urgent, come with me to the trading street for a meal. Have you tried the noodles Mouse You makes? Much better than the canteen’s.”

Qi Bai shook his head: “Not today. The staff dormitories at the City Lord’s Mansion are ready for move-in. I need to go take a look.”

When the five tribes’ slaves were brought back to the city, Qi Bai had sought out Niu Cheng and had him lead those twenty to build the dormitories.

After the City Lord’s Mansion was built, there had been leftover materials for building courtyards. Now was the perfect time to use them. But though the materials were ready, the workers were novices. The houses had only just been completed two days ago.

Seeing Qi Bai still had things to do, Yang Luo said no more. At the front steps they parted—Yang Luo heading south toward the trading street, Qi Bai north toward the City Lord’s Mansion.

When they saw Qi Bai coming, the group of beast men chopping firewood quickly set down their axes and stood respectfully before him.

Zu Jian glanced up nervously at the Great Priest.

Horned beast man Niu Cheng, who had taught them to build houses, had said the houses they built this time were for them.

Zu Jian hadn’t believed it at first. But the allure of the houses was too great. Not knowing how to count properly, he had imagined fitting their group one by one into the rooms in his mind. To his amazement, the number had come out exactly right. He had been looking forward to this moment for days.

Qi Bai walked past the group and entered one of the single rooms.

These dormitories were only temporary housing for staff, so the design was simple—two rows of connected single rooms.

Each was about fifteen square meters, rectangular. On the left was a narrow passage; on the right a partition separating the hearth and stove, with a small extra space behind. Not large, but complete.

Qi Bai touched the wall—the lime plaster was dry. The rooms were ready for living.

Stepping back outside, Qi Bai asked the group: “Coming here wasn’t your choice. So I’ll confirm one last time—are you willing to stay here voluntarily?”

After ten days of observing them, Qi Bai was fairly satisfied. Whether horned beast men or sub-beast men, they all worked diligently. He hadn’t found anyone lazy or deceitful.

One beast man bluntly asked: “And if we’re not willing?”

At once the others froze, worried Qi Bai would be angered.

But Qi Bai showed no impatience. Instead, he smiled warmly: “A good question.”

He turned to address them all: “There are traveling traders in the city. If you don’t want to stay in Hei Yao, I can have one take you to another city.”

He explained: “That could be a decent choice. They go to middle cities, sometimes even to upper cities—the three closest to the Beast God’s City itself.”

“But you are slaves. You should know what that means. If you go there, you’ll be resold. As for what kind of master you’ll get—that, I can’t promise.”

The words “Beast God’s City” stirred their hearts. Every beast man longed for it. But Qi Bai’s test was clear.

“I won’t go to the Beast God’s City,” said the beast man who had asked the question. He shook his head. “Lord Priest, I want to stay here. Please let me stay.”

With that lead, the rest all hurriedly voiced the same.

These twenty had survived this long—none were foolish. Even if they could reach the upper cities alive, none believed they’d live as well as they did now.

Here, as long as they worked, they had two meals of thick porridge every day—sometimes even with minced meat. That was better than the life they’d had as ordinary beast men before.

“Good. Since you’re all willing to stay, then work hard. Hei Yao has no use for idlers.”

Qi Bai scanned them, then looked back at the questioner: “What’s your name?”

The horned beast man replied: “I’m Niu Wu, a slave of the Tan Quan tribe.”

His introduction startled Qi Bai. It was the first time he’d seen anyone so proudly declare himself a slave.

Of the twenty, twelve had been Tan Quan slaves. Considering Tan Quan itself had only a little over two hundred beast men, Qi Bai thought that tribe was… peculiar.

“Niu Wu, Zu Yu—you two will be captains of the twenty City Lord’s Mansion workers.”

Zu Yu looked surprised. Qi Bai added: “Niu Cheng recommended you. I believe you can handle it.”

Zu Yu’s expression dimmed briefly. “Yes.”

Qi Bai split the twenty into two teams and gave them tasks.

Over winter, he and Lang Ze had already built some furniture, but much was unfinished. Originally, they’d planned to hire city beast men after spring planting. These twenty workers had arrived at the perfect time.

After arranging everything, Qi Bai pointed to the row of houses: “These are your dormitories. Your temporary homes.”

Twenty pairs of eyes turned to him instantly.

Seeing how they looked ready to dash inside, Qi Bai hid a smile. They’d relax better once he wasn’t there.

“One room per person. You captains assign them.” Tossing that out, Qi Bai left without worry.

But just before leaving the mansion, he nearly collided with two carts.

Looking closer, he asked: “Hu Huo, what are you doing?”

Hu Huo poked his head from behind: “Bao Bai, I heard you were assigning rooms today. Did I come just in time?”

Qi Bai then noticed the new furniture on the carts.

He suddenly remembered—Hu Huo had first suggested housing the slaves. Though he wasn’t as tense as when he’d first arrived in Black Mountain, his disability still weighed on him. Qi Bai had rarely seen him bother with strangers’ affairs.

Yet now, not only had he suggested it—he had even rushed to prepare furniture. Clearly, he cared.

Qi Bai’s gossiping spirit sparked. He leaned in and whispered: “Hu Huo… did you take a liking to one of them?”

“Don’t—don’t talk nonsense!” Hu Huo’s face reddened. “Zu Yu once saved me. He came here with nothing, so I thought I’d make him some things to use.” His voice dimmed at the end.

Saved him… Xu Hu tribe…

“Xu Hu tribe was your old tribe?” Qi Bai was surprised. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Hu Huo shook his head: “I don’t want the city to treat Xu Hu differently because of me. However far they can go—that depends on them.”

Qi Bai respected his choice. Smiling, he gestured toward the dormitories: “Then you’re just in time. Rooms should be assigned now. If you bring the gifts now, Zu Yu will surely be touched.”

“Pfft.”

From the other cart, Hu Bu couldn’t help laughing.

Hu Huo glared at him and said to Qi Bai: “We’ll go ahead then.”

The two pushed the carts to the dormitories. Sure enough, assignments were done.

Not knowing which was Zu Yu’s room, Hu Huo stopped the cart to ask—when Zu Yu himself came out.

Seeing him, Zu Yu brightened: “Lord Hu Huo!”

“Mm,” Hu Huo answered quickly, then cleared his throat. “May we come into your house?”

“Of course.”

Zu Yu thought “come in” meant to look around. He hadn’t expected that once Hu Huo was let in, he and Hu Bu started unloading.

Tables, stools, cabinets, bowls, chopsticks… in no time, the little room was filled.

Hu Huo held a wooden tub, eyes evasive: “This is for bathing. Sub-beast men in the city like these. I made one for you.”

Zu Yu took it carefully. “This… you made this yourself?”

Before Hu Huo could reply, Hu Bu—carrying two rolled mats—blurted: “Of course. Every piece here—down to the chopstick holder—was carved by Teacher himself. He even inscribed your name.”

Hu Huo kicked him: “You talk too much. Get back to work!”

Once Hu Bu scurried off grinning, Hu Huo explained: “This is what I do. If you see any furniture you like, tell me. I can make it.”

Zu Yu still looked dazed: “How can I let you… make things for me…”

Hu Huo waved his hand: “Don’t call me ‘lord’ anymore. Hei Yao has no slaves. No more such titles here.”

Then Hu Bu’s voice rang again: “Teacher, the mat’s too wide.”

Hu Huo tore his gaze from Zu Yu and hurried over. Measuring, he and Hu Bu laid hides atop the mat to weigh it down. “Use this one for now. Tomorrow I’ll bring a new one.”

But neither replied. Turning, they saw Zu Yu staring in disbelief.

“He… he called you ‘Teacher’?”

Hu Huo straightened, finally realizing he hadn’t introduced them. Proudly, he patted Hu Bu’s arm: “Yes. This is my student. And this brat’s already surpassed me in many ways.”

Hu Bu grinned at Zu Yu, his mood soaring.

Teacher’s partner should be called ‘teacher’s wife’… He’d heard others say so. He’d thought his teacher would never look at another sub-beast man, that he’d never get the chance to say it. But now the Beast God had delivered him a grand “teacher’s wife.”

Zu Yu, however, hadn’t noticed Hu Bu’s delight—he was staring at the clear slave brand on Hu Bu’s left arm.

Hu Bu was a slave.

Yet here, in Hei Yao City, a slave could become a student of an ordinary beast man…

So when Hu Huo had said there were no slaves here—that was what he meant.