Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Starting Work on the Kiln

A little while later.

The meat was cut, salted, and marinated, then packed into wooden barrels.

The ginkgo nuts were spread out to dry, with baskets, carrying frames, and barrels lined up neatly.

Yadong left, heading toward the rocky beach. Before he went, Nan Feng called him over and said a few words, asking him to bring some people from the tribe to help collect stones from the rocky beach.

It’d be best to bring all the stones back in one trip.

Meanwhile, Chang Xia led a group of people busily working on the western hillside.

Before digging, the foundation needed to be prepared. Drainage and such weren’t minor issues—they had to be taken seriously. Leveling the ground and clearing weeds and trees around the site didn’t require Chang Xia to do it herself; she just marked lines with a piece of charcoal.

“Chang Xia, are you working already?”

Suddenly, a familiar voice called out.

Chang Xia looked up to see Gen and Mu Qin leading a group of tribespeople over in a grand procession. She twitched her lips and covered her eyes.

The beast tribe didn’t have much in the way of entertainment.

It was rare for Chang Xia to start such a big project, so of course it drew the whole tribe’s attention.

“Chief, what brings you all here?” Chang Xia asked.

Gen shook the pottery jar in his hand and replied, “We brought you some pottery, and thought we’d see how you build the kiln.”

“Chang Xia, I heard you’re going to live in a cave?”

“Caves are damp and stuffy. A beast den is much more comfortable.”

“You’ve got it wrong—Chang Xia’s building a kiln. She’s going to live in a kiln cave, not a regular cave.”

Immediately, a wave of chatter broke out.

Chang Xia felt helpless.

Normally, at this time of day, most of the tribe would be out hunting or gathering. Today, they’d all come together, and it didn’t look like they’d be leaving anytime soon.

“Quiet down, just watch,” Mu Qin said, stopping the arguing tribespeople. She also had them set down the pottery and other items—over a dozen pieces, gifts from the tribe in return for what Chang Xia had given them.

Gen shrugged, not bothering to explain.

“Don’t be impatient. Once the kiln is built, you can come see it. Right now, we’re still laying the foundation and digging…” Chang Xia patiently explained. She knew that to change the tribe’s opinion about kiln caves versus regular caves, she’d have to wait until the kiln was finished.

A few words wouldn’t be enough to convince them.

Besides, a kiln couldn’t be built in just a few days.

The tribespeople still had to hunt and gather—they didn’t have time to stand around watching all day.

Sure enough, after about half an hour, people started to drift away.

The beast tribe didn’t have the habit of storing up food.

Basically, everyone went out hunting or gathering every day. Very few stayed in the tribe unless they were sick or injured.

Even though Chang Xia had already taught them how to make fish balls, she knew that, out of habit, they’d still go out every day to hunt and gather. They wouldn’t stockpile food like she did, let alone farm or raise animals.

“Where’s Yadong?” Gen asked.

Mu Qin squatted down to help Chang Xia weed and clear the ground. Other beastfolk climbed the western slope to clear weeds and trees.

“I traded him some fried meat and fish balls to help collect stones from the rocky beach. I want to make a few stone pots. The tribe gave me so much meat, I plan to cook it all into fried meat for storage…” Chang Xia explained.

In the distance, aside from a few elders and beast cubs, the rest of the tribe had returned to their own tasks. Just as Chang Xia said, they’d come back to watch once the kiln was finished. The cubs, kept in check by the elders, didn’t dare come closer, but watched from afar with curious eyes.

Gen nodded in satisfaction after hearing this.

“You’re doing great.”

Mu Qin eyed the charcoal in Chang Xia’s hand and asked, “Chang Xia, what are you drawing on the ground?”

“These are drainage ditches. Besides that, I need to leave space for flower beds and such.” Chang Xia replied. The vegetable patch would be moved, but she still wanted to plant a few fruit trees by her door.

As she spoke, she unrolled a half-worn piece of beast hide and handed it over.

Mu Qin took the hide and was quickly captivated by the drawing on it. Seeing this, Gen leaned in to look as well, and was immediately amazed.

“Chang Xia, what’s this?”

“The kiln cave I’m going to build.”

Suddenly, a rumbling sound came from someone’s stomach.

Gen and Mu Qin exchanged glances, clearly fascinated by the drawing on the old hide. The shaman knew how to draw, but Gen didn’t. Still, he could understand the picture.

The drawing on the hide was beautiful.

Even the shaman’s hall on Mount Kana wasn’t as elegant or refined as the kiln cave in Chang Xia’s drawing. The shaman’s hall had been built by the tribe for the shaman, all of stone, grand and imposing.

But compared to Chang Xia’s drawing of the kiln cave, the shaman’s hall seemed old and crude. They weren’t even in the same league.

“Chang Xia, your kiln cave is even more impressive than the shaman’s hall,” Gen said with a hint of envy and jealousy.

Chang Xia blinked innocently. “I’ve never lived in the shaman’s hall, so I don’t know if it’s good or not.”

“Don’t be silly.” Mu Qin gently tapped Chang Xia on the head. Chang Xia’s health wasn’t good, so the shaman couldn’t keep her at Mount Kana, but would come to visit her at the Heluo tribe every now and then.

So, all the beastfolk in the Twilight Forest knew the shaman treated the Heluo tribe differently.

“I heard you’re planning to make a whole set of furniture for the witch. Is that true?”

“It’s true. Is there a problem?”

“No, it’s just… why use blackwood?”

Ironwood was always the orcs’ top choice.

But Changxia insisted on using blackwood for the furniture, and Gen just couldn’t help but ask.

Changxia, exasperated, explained, “I just think furniture made from rosewood looks beautiful. Ironwood is good, but its grain is too plain.”

“Gen, I think blackwood is great too,” Muqin chimed in, nodding.

Unlike Gen and Nan Feng, who stubbornly believed ironwood was best, Muqin wasn’t so set in her ways.

That morning, Muqin had seen Chen Rong making tables and chairs, and she was instantly tempted. She was already thinking about asking Gen and Nan Feng to cut some wood so she could get a set of furniture for her own home.

But that would make the beast den feel a bit cramped.

As she thought about it, Muqin’s gaze landed on a half-worn animal hide.

Changxia, this child, is so thoughtful.

She plans everything for the tribe. It’s really not easy for her.

“Muqin, you have great taste!” Changxia said happily.

Before noon, a group of orcs had already tidied up the foundation and the cave dwelling.

Just then, Yadong led some tribesmen back from the rocky beach, hauling a dozen or so stones. Soon, Changxia’s hillside was piled high, and even the lakeshore was covered with stuff.

Changxia squatted in front of her den, starting a fire to prepare lunch. Looking at the mountain of supplies, she couldn’t help but break into a silly grin.

“Changxia, what are you grinning at?” Nan Feng walked over and gave her a light knock on the head.

Muqin shot Nan Feng a glare and scolded, “Nan Feng, stop hitting Changxia. She just recovered—if she gets sick again, you’ll be in trouble.”

“…,” Nan Feng was left speechless, enduring both Changxia’s eye roll and Muqin’s scolding.

Not daring to challenge Muqin’s authority, she quickly changed the subject. “Changxia, where’s Chen Rong?”

At that, everyone stopped what they were doing.

“He—” Changxia’s heart leapt. “He was just sitting right here a moment ago.” She pointed to the spot by the den. Because of Chen Rong’s poor health, Nan Feng and the others hadn’t let him help. But in the bustle, it was easy to lose track.

“I smell blood. Nan Feng, go fetch Elder Ximu from the tribe,” Gen said, face darkening.

They rushed into the den and found Chen Rong curled up on the floor, his body dotted with bright red bloodstains. He was trembling slightly, soft moans escaping his lips.

Changxia’s eyes widened in shock.

She’d suspected Chen Rong’s health wasn’t good, and was just about to do something—when suddenly, something happened.

“Chen Rong—!”

“Cough, cough!”

Chen Rong lifted his head, meeting Changxia’s worried gaze.

“It’s the old problem. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine after a bit of rest,” he said gently. He reached out to comfort Changxia, but seeing the black blood on his hand, he quickly pulled it back.

The orcs fell silent, not daring to ask more.

The atmosphere in the den was tense and anxious, lasting until Elder Ximu arrived and finished examining Chen Rong.

“Elder Ximu, how is Chen Rong?” Gen asked.

Ximu shook his head. “Chen Rong’s condition is strange—he seems both sick and healthy at the same time. I can’t be sure; we’ll need the witch to take a look. Also, the blood he coughed up is poisonous—don’t touch it. Actually, he’ll feel better after coughing up some blood. Once he’s done, make sure he eats plenty of meat.”

The orcs’ go-to remedy: eat more meat.

Meat makes you strong and healthy.