Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Warm-hearted Tribespeople

“Chang Xia, give me some more chili. I’ll help you ask around when I get back to the tribe—see if these chilies have anything to do with the Sky Lion Tribe in the Illusion Forest,” Gen said cheerfully. The boiled fish was quickly finished off, so now everyone was sipping yam and meat soup to soothe the burn in their mouths, while also savoring its sweet, rich flavor.

Muqin, eating yam, turned to Nan Feng and instructed, “Nan Feng, when you have time, go dig up some yams in the shrubland. When the shaman comes, have Chang Xia make yam stew for the shaman and Bai Qing. The yam is soft and sweet—I think the shaman will love it.”

“Your amu is right, Nan Feng. Remember to go to the shrubland,” Gen nodded repeatedly, figuring the shaman might visit in the next couple of days.

Last time, Gen had taken Chang Xia to the Normandy market, and had someone send a message to the shaman of Sacred Mountain Kana. Since then, Chang Xia and Chen Rong had become mates, but the shaman didn’t know yet. Gen glanced at Chen Rong, worried that the shaman might not approve. He’d always thought this male was just sickly—who knew he was actually infected with an illness?

Chen Rong understood the meaning in Gen’s eyes and smiled helplessly.

Clearly, healing and detoxifying had to be made a priority.

It was tough being looked at like a weakling all the time. No matter how many times he insisted he was fine after coughing up blood, no one believed him anymore.

“I’ll go to the shrubland tomorrow morning,” Nan Feng said.

Chang Xia thought for a moment and said, “Chen Rong and I can build the kiln slowly.”

Everyone in the tribe had their own work to do; she didn’t want to disrupt their routines for her own sake.

“The kiln is safe and looks good. I’ll help you build it, and then I’ll know how to build one myself in the future,” Nan Feng said with a laugh. “Digging yams and hunting are easy. Besides, building a kiln isn’t something you can finish in a day or two.”

“Chang Xia, listen to Nan Feng,” Muqin said gently, reaching out to pat Chang Xia’s head.

Chang Xia was a child they’d all watched grow up—soft-hearted and kind. In fact, if they weren’t worried she’d refuse, everyone would have come to help.

But beastfolk had always valued independence.

For a beast cub to grow up strong, they had to go through all kinds of hardships.

Muqin and the others worried that if they interfered too much, Chang Xia wouldn’t learn to live independently. But at the same time, they feared she was too weak to manage on her own. Especially after she chose Chen Rong as her mate, their worries only grew.

A sickly male, infected and coughing up blood all the time—what could she do?

“Nan Feng’s right. We want to build kilns too. We’ll learn by helping you now,” Shankun said steadily.

Compared to Yadong, Shankun, who was already mated, was more reliable.

Nuan Chun smiled and said, “Half a day for gathering and hunting is plenty.”

“Alright, as long as it doesn’t interfere with your own work. I have enough food from the tribe to last ten days or half a month,” Chang Xia said happily.

She’d planned a large kiln, and the beastfolk of the Twilight Forest were strong. They didn’t need tools—just their beast-formed hands were enough for digging. If it were ordinary humans on Earth, even with tools, digging a kiln would be no easy task. In the old days, farmers worked hard for half their lives, and their simplest wish was to build a kiln, get married, and have children—only then could they say they’d truly established a home.

“I can build the kiln,” Chen Rong said seriously.

Gen shook his head, disapproving. “Chen Rong, you’re too weak—don’t push yourself. When the shaman comes, have them check you over. Young males shouldn’t be so frail! Eat more meat—meat will make you strong.”

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“Shen Rong, listen to me. The most important thing right now is to focus on your health. You were in poor shape before you reached adulthood, and only now are you finally recovering. Have the shaman check your condition and figure out the cause of your illness, so they can prescribe the right medicine.” Muqin spoke gently, trying to reassure Shen Rong and keep him from overthinking. “Take advantage of your youth and get healthy now—only then will you be able to take care of Changxia and the beast cubs in the future.”

Changxia grinned widely.

“Shen Rong, I told you before… You married into the Heluo tribe, so I’ll take care of you.”

At that, everyone fell silent, staring at Changxia’s silly smile.

Is this kid’s brain infected too?

With her build, she thinks she can support Shen Rong? She must still be half-asleep!

Noticing the odd looks on everyone’s faces, Shen Rong felt a headache coming on. He had no choice but to explain, “My weakness is due to poisoning. Once the poison is cured, I’ll recover. It’s not some contagious disease, like Elder Ximu suspected, so you don’t need to worry about me.”

“Poisoned?”

“How did you get poisoned out of nowhere?”

As soon as they heard Shen Rong had been poisoned, everyone’s expressions changed.

Beastfolk are generally strong and recover from injuries in just a few days. If someone gets poisoned, they just ask the shaman for an antidote—even severe snake venom is no big deal.

But someone like Shen Rong, who’s been sickly ever since being poisoned… honestly, this was the first time they’d seen something like this.

“You were poisoned and didn’t ask the shaman for an antidote?” Changxia, ever calm, cut straight to the point. In the tribe, if someone is bitten by a venomous snake, they get medicine from the shaman and recover in three days. From what she knew, those snakes were pretty venomous.

Back at the Normandy market, Shen Rong had told Changxia he’d agree to marry her, but he might not live long due to his illness. If Changxia minded, she could refuse.

Shen Rong’s expression shifted slightly as he explained, “The poison in me isn’t ordinary. The shamans can’t cure it.”

“That’s impossible,” Gen blurted out without thinking. “There’s no poison in this world that a shaman can’t cure.”

Muqin and the others nodded in agreement.

To them, shamans were all-powerful, the beast god’s messengers on earth.

So when Shen Rong said the shamans couldn’t cure his poison, they just couldn’t accept it.

Shen Rong gave a bitter smile and, after a moment’s thought, said, “Many shamans have tried, but none could do anything. I came back to Misty Forest this time to visit my late mother one last time. I was born here, and before I die, I wanted to see my homeland again.”

…

In that instant, everyone fell silent.

It suddenly hit them that Shen Rong was different from them.

He’d traveled to many places. Even though he looked weak, those who’d sparred with him—like Nan Feng and Ya Dong—could sense his strength.

If he hadn’t been injured, Shen Rong might have been even stronger than them—a lot stronger.

“Don’t worry. Let the shamans of Misty Forest take a look. Maybe there’s still hope,” Changxia said calmly.

She could see the longing deep in Shen Rong’s eyes.

Changxia had seen that look countless times in the apocalypse.

Anyone who can live, doesn’t want to die.

Besides, Shen Rong had survived this long with the poison—who’s to say he’s doomed?

Changxia never believed in fate.

If she did, she’d have died long ago.

At the same time, she made up her mind to find a chance tonight to check Shen Rong’s condition herself.

“Yes, yes, let’s listen to Changxia. When the shaman comes, have them check you out. If you need any herbs, we can help gather them,” Muqin said quickly.

Gen and the others chimed in as well.

Seeing everyone’s worried faces, Shen Rong felt guilty for bringing up the poisoning in the first place.

“Don’t be so tense. The poison’s been in me for over half a year, and I’m still alive and kicking. As long as I don’t use my bloodline power in battle, I’m just like anyone else.”

He hurried to explain that unless he fought fiercely, he was no different from a normal person.

Hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

“If you can’t use your bloodline power, then don’t join the hunting parties. Just help Changxia gather near the tribe. If you want meat, just trade for it with the tribe,” Gen suggested after thinking it over.

This way, Changxia would be safer too, not having to venture deep into the forest.

The gathering areas near the tribe were regularly cleared and were basically safe.

At worst, they might run into some herbivores—nothing even the females couldn’t handle.

“Exactly,” Shankun said quickly. “Let Changxia make more tasty food, and we’ll trade meat with you.”

“Yeah, we’ll trade with you,” Ya Dong agreed.

Feeling their support, Shen Rong’s cold heart warmed. Changxia squinted, her eyes full of laughter. She understood Shen Rong’s feelings—when she first woke up in this body, she was always on the edge of death.

Even after surviving the apocalypse, she’d often felt like giving up.

But the kindness of the shamans and the tribe slowly changed her mindset.

She didn’t want to die anymore. She wanted to live well and repay these lovely people. That’s why she kept pulling herself back from the brink, starting over again and again, shedding the wariness and vigilance she’d developed in the apocalypse.