Chapter 337

The sky was clear and bright, the sun warm.

Qi Bai squatted in the courtyard of the kindergarten, holding a foxtail weed he had casually picked up by the roadside, teasing the little cubs.

The various little “cats” and “dogs” were full of energy, tails and heads wagging as they chased the foxtail back and forth.

Other cubs were much lazier—especially the little panda cub. With bow-legged steps, it stretched out its paw a few times half-heartedly, then sprawled flat on the ground, tongue sticking out red and small, flattening itself into a “panda pancake.”

Qi Bai found it unbearably adorable, so he rubbed it thoroughly a few times before finally leaving the academy.

On the streets, whenever beastmen spotted Qi Bai, they all stopped what they were doing to warmly greet him.

Two major events had taken place in Hei Yao these past few days.

The first was that after the spring planting, Cang Xie had led a thousand warriors—carrying grain bricks and milk tofu—out of Beizhou.

This thousand-strong force was not only made up of the Cang Quan horned beastmen, but also included a tribe that had voluntarily chosen to follow Cang Xie.

This tribe was called Ba Du, and its chieftain, Bie Ba, was the scar-faced leader who had always stayed by Cang Xie’s side.

Additionally, Niu Xin and his fellows had finally realized their wish to form a small unit and join the army, tasked mainly with reconnaissance and cartography—since words and diagrams were hardly Cang Xie’s strong suit.

Cang Xie’s mission was to lead his force across the border between Dongyi and Beizhou, heading further east into the desolate plains of Peng Ye.

This expedition’s location had been decided jointly by the council and the military office.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t really a “campaign”—Cang Xie’s main task was to gather beastmen willing to migrate, as well as refugees who had fled from Dongyi.

Because Peng Ye lay even further from Beast God City, knowledge about that land was scarce. Like Yidi, it too was called a wasteland, and its beastmen were rumored to be equally savage and impoverished.

Whether those rumors were true or not, Cang Xie would have to find out himself. Even if he couldn’t win over all the tribes there, just mapping their distribution would already be a sufficient achievement.

With that, Hei Yao’s influence now extended across nearly all the lands bordering Beizhou—Yidi, Beihuang, Peng Ye, and Dongyi. Except for Dongyi, still struggling to recover from disaster, the rest were essentially under Hei Yao’s control.

Unnoticed, Hei Yao had become a massive hidden power in the north.

The second major matter discussed in the city these days was the Sheng Ling tribe’s trade caravan.

Nearly three months after Hu Liao and Xun had led the Song Wu caravan away from Beizhou, the Sheng Ling caravan had finally departed Hei Yao.

What had delayed them so long? The stone towers.

Ever since entering Song Wu and seeing the city, the Sheng Ling tribe had longed to build their own settlement.

But building houses wasn’t something one could figure out just by looking. To construct homes, Sheng Ling needed outside help. Their first thought was to ask their neighbors, Song Wu.

Ji wasn’t unwilling to help, but he truly lacked the ability.

The Chi Hu clan’s city had been taken from Wan Gu—they had little knowledge of construction themselves.

And when they asked around, they learned that back then, Wan Gu beastmen and slaves had only done grunt labor. The true craft of building had always been held by artisans dispatched from the God Temple. Even their great sacrificial hall, destroyed in battle, couldn’t be rebuilt by Song Wu alone—they’d had to rely on the Fu Shen division from Beast God City.

Perhaps the Wan Gu’s great shaman and city lord had known how to build, but with not even their bones left, there was no way to ask them.

Worse still, beyond technique was an even thornier problem: permission.

On the Beastmen Continent, construction methods were considered divine wisdom, property of the temple. Without its approval, none could teach them.

As in ancient China, where house size and floors reflected one’s rank, here too building homes—and how large they could be—required temple sanction.

But Sheng Ling was merely a tribe of two or three thousand. Gaining construction rights was no simple matter.

That was why Ling Ping and Ling Ta had come to Hei Yao—to quietly ask Qi Bai and Lang Ze if they might secretly learn the methods.

Especially after seeing the stone towers outside Hei Yao, their longing only grew.

These dwellings, defensive and residential combined, easily connected in clusters—perfect for Sheng Ling. They dreamed of circling their holy spring with such towers, building their own true settlement.

Ling Ping and Ling Ta thought Hei Yao would make demands like the temple. To their shock, Qi Bai agreed outright.

“Of course we can teach you. This spring, we’ll be building over twenty new stone towers outside the city. If you want to stay and help, you can learn while working,” Qi Bai had said with a smile. “But remember, as apprentices you won’t be paid.”

Ling Ping and Ling Ta didn’t care about pay. They knew nothing—there was no faster way to learn than working firsthand.

What stunned them further was how Hei Yao raised a stone tower in just over a month.

Song Wu’s great hall had been under repair for two years, and was still unfinished.

So, once this round of twenty-five towers was done, Ling Ping and Ling Ta hurried home, eager to tell their tribe. Perhaps by winter, Sheng Ling too could sleep on warm fire-heated beds.

Qi Bai was pleased as well. For he had finally obtained what he coveted most: holy spring water.

The effects of holy spring water were undeniable. Not only did it strengthen beastmen’s bodies, it could also serve as a life-saving elixir in times of peril.

And Qi Bai had no need to worry about being duped with fake water.

Holy spring water never froze, even in the coldest outdoors. A few drops could revive withered plants. With such miracles, no ordinary water could impersonate it.

Had another tribe offered, Ling Ping and Ling Ta might not have dared decide. But with Hei Yao, there was no need for secrecy. After all, Qi Bai and Lang Ze had already seen the spring, even been blessed by it.

But no sooner had one trade caravan left than another arrived.

Unlike the tense party earlier in the year, this one created no commotion.

The familiar Luo Shu sat at the side of a wagon, legs dangling as it rolled to the city wall.

He jumped down and ran cheerfully to the gate.
“Hey, old man, still you on duty, huh? This time we’ve got one hundred and fifty-two people—write it all down properly!”

Xiang Yu leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, and laughed.
“You brat. You know I can’t write. I’m just the gate guard. Go line up at the registry.”

Luo Shu waved his men to queue.
“Been over half a year since I came, and here I thought you’d have learned to read by now!”

“You still talk like that? Want a beating?”

Luo Shu laughed heartily, then leaned closer.
“Anyway, I’ve got proper business. Are the city lord and high priest in town?”

Last time, when he came to trade, Qi Bai and Lang Ze were away leading the army to Beihuang, and he’d missed them. This time he wanted to be sure.

Xiang Yu eyed Luo Shu, then swept his gaze over the people at the back of the caravan. Sitting up straighter, he asked:
“What do you want with the city lord and high priest?”

Hearing this, Luo Shu’s eyes narrowed in a grin. Looked like he’d get to play middleman today.

“Important business, of course. Please, elder, send word.” Luo Shu pointed to the tall, cold horned beastman in the distance.
“Tell them that Leopard Xi, attendant of the Shen Si from Beast God City, has come to Hei Yao to request an audience.”

The name Bao Xi instantly made Qi Bai and Lang Ze think: Bao Tan must have run into trouble here, and the Ling Bao clan had sent someone to demand answers.

But after listening to the messenger describe his demeanor, Qi Bai felt it wasn’t so simple.

This one’s style was nothing like Bao Tan’s.

Both had used familiar tribes to lead them here, but Bao Tan treated Song Wu and Sheng Ling like slaves, relying on his own men as the core.

Bao Xi, however, had brought only five guards. So low-key, it hardly seemed like an official envoy.

If he was here for vengeance, six men would accomplish nothing.

Lang Ze said, “Let them in. Whatever their purpose, we’ll know once we meet.”

The entry inspection into Hei Yao was still as thorough as ever. Alongside height, build, and eye color, they recorded beast form and unique traits.

Though Luo Shu had explained the rules on the way, he still feared Bao Xi would take offense. But though the man’s face was stern, he cooperated fully.

Once the records were complete and they stepped through the gate, they were greeted immediately by Hu Xiao.

“Bao Xi-shishi, Luo Shu-xiaochengzhu, the high priest sent me to receive you both.”

Luo Shu’s expression twitched oddly.

He’d come to Hei Yao many times, and every time Hu Xiao treated him with disdain. Now here he was, all formal and polite.

Bao Xi nodded. “Thank you.”

Hu Xiao turned his gaze to Luo Shu.

Luo Shu dropped his silly suspicions that Hu Xiao was just targeting him, and instead turned to Luo Ren, giving some quick instructions.

The beastmen he’d brought were all seasoned traders who’d run with him many times. They knew how to handle the goods and lodging arrangements. But since Bao Xi’s belongings were mixed in, Luo Shu told Luo Ren to keep a closer eye.

With everything arranged, Luo Shu smiled at Bao Xi and Hu Xiao.
“Then please, ritualist, lead the way.”