The Marsh

Jian Mo refused to accept the meat Heng Man had brought him. With no other choice, Heng Man took it home.

A little while later, the little sub-beastman Wan Ling came over from Heng Man's home carrying a basket filled with sweet-and-sour preserved fruit.

The little sub-beastman was a little afraid of Jian Mo and a little shy. After running over, he shoved the basket into Jian Mo's arms, told him to keep it and eat it, then ran away.

Jian Mo watched the child's retreating back as he ran off into the distance. This time, he did not refuse.

The preserved fruit from A Da's home had been dried very well. It was sweet and soft, like fruit gummies.

Jian Mo ate a few pieces, then washed a handful, poured them into a pot, and brewed them into fruit tea.

After the tea cooled, he stuffed a large handful of cooling leaves into it, making a fruit tea with a distinctive flavor.

That evening, they had grilled meat patties. Jian Mo poured out the fruit tea and set it in front of them.

The fruit tea was sweet and sour, icy cold, and fragrant with fruit. Paired with the meat patties, it tasted superb.

Jian Mo sighed happily. Grilled meat really was best enjoyed with a drink.

Wu Jiong paused, the fruit tea in his hand. "What's this?"

Jian Mo said, "Tea brewed from preserved fruit."

Jian Mo told him how the little sub-beastman had brought over the preserved fruit, then said with a smile, "I wanted to make some tea when I picked the cooling leaves before, but unfortunately I didn't have enough ingredients. Now I can finally try it, and it really is delicious."

Wu Jiong nodded.

As a single beastman, he had neither the time nor the inclination to make so many things, so there were no snacks at home.

He said to Jian Mo, "This is dried yellow-orange fruit. If you like it, we can dry some next summer too."

Jian Mo wasn't sure whether he would still be staying in the beastman tribe next summer, but he smiled and agreed anyway. "Sure."

That reminded Jian Mo to ask, "A Da said he couldn't take part in the Hunting Gathering because he was injured. What's the Hunting Gathering?"

Wu Jiong said, "It's an event held in the Mengshui Tribe every autumn. The participating tribes contribute supplies as prizes to reward the warriors who perform well at the Hunting Gathering."

Jian Mo asked, "A hunting competition?"

Wu Jiong nodded. "There are other events besides hunting, for both beastmen and sub-beastmen."

Jian Mo understood. "So it's a sports meet for the beastman tribes?"

Wu Jiong considered the unfamiliar term. "More or less."

Chapter 13: The Marsh

Following Jian Mo's instructions, A Da came back for a checkup the next evening.

Jian Mo unwrapped the cloth covering his wound. The herbs had dried and turned dark green.

After peeling away the herbs, he could see the wound on A Da's leg, which had closed tightly into a thin line. It was neither red nor swollen and looked almost healed.

Jian Mo examined it carefully and confirmed that the wound was indeed healing well. He estimated that it would heal completely in a few more days.

He looked up at A Da in surprise.

Beastmen really were hardy. Such a large wound had nearly healed in such a short time.

Seeing Jian Mo's expression, A Da asked nervously, "What's wrong? Isn't my wound healing well?"

"No." Jian Mo smiled. "It's much better than I expected. I'll prepare some more herbs and bandage it for another day. I don't think it'll need much of a bandage tomorrow."

A Da breathed a sigh of relief and stared at his leg. "That's great. I thought it was almost healed too. You're really good at medicine."

Jian Mo said, "It's because you're hardy."

Jian Mo pounded some fresh herbs and wrapped the wound in a clean cloth.

The old cloth could still be used after it was washed, boiled, and dried, so it couldn't be thrown away.

A Da watched Jian Mo work and asked hopefully, "Since I'm healing so well, can I take part in the Hunting Gathering?"

Jian Mo's hands paused. "When is the Hunting Gathering?"

A Da said, "Probably in five or six days. The Mengshui Tribe will send someone to let us know when the time comes."

Jian Mo shook his head. "Five or six days might not be enough. The flesh underneath might not have healed yet, and strenuous exercise could easily split the wound open and cause an infection and inflammation."

A disappointed expression appeared on A Da's face at once.

Jian Mo glanced at him. "We'll take another look then. If you really can't go, wait until the next one. Your wound is more important."

A Da agreed, feeling very dejected.

Jian Mo wasn't a local sub-beastman, and the Hunting Gathering didn't feel particularly real to him.

As usual, he gathered, cooked, cared for the Flying-Winged Beast, and occasionally made medical instruments with Wu Jiong. He kept busy every day.

That day, he had just returned from gathering with the group when he sensed that the mood in the tribe was different.

Before he could ask the companions beside him, the people in the group had already rushed forward with cheers.

Jian Mo watched from behind and soon spotted an unfamiliar young man surrounded by people.

The young man was speaking.

Jian Mo listened from the side for a while before learning that the young man was a beastman from the Mengshui Tribe. He had come specifically to announce that the Hunting Gathering would be held in five days and to ask whether their tribe would participate. After receiving an affirmative answer, he told them to prepare.

The young man didn't stay long. After delivering the message and receiving their answer, he changed back into his beast form and ran off.

Jian Mo watched from behind. The young man's beast form wasn't any animal he recognized. If he had to compare it to something, it looked a little like a deer. He was as agile as a deer, but his teeth were sharp and his fur was long, making him look fierce.

By the time Jian Mo came back to his senses, the people around him were all discussing the news of the Hunting Gathering.

Jian Mo asked, "Are you all going?"

Zhou Fu answered first. "Of course! It's so boring staying in the tribe all year round."

Xi Lu explained, "There are lots of fun things to do and interesting things to see at the Hunting Gathering. Even if you're not a warrior competing, you can still go."

Zhou Fu said, "Right, right. Everyone also brings things to trade. Some tribes have really interesting things, like the Dianxin Tribe's flowers. I trade for them every year."

As Zhou Fu spoke, a look of longing appeared on his face. "I wonder how many tribes will take part in the Hunting Gathering this year."

Jian Mo caught his implication. "Are the tribes different every year?"