Upper Meng Tribe

Jian Mo was overjoyed to actually receive the news. "I'll go see it when I have the chance. This information is so useful to me. Thank you."

Shui Mian's companion said a little embarrassedly, "I'm glad I could help you."

Jian Mo was initially unsure if chili peppers really existed in this world, but now she's more certain.

After Wu Jiong returned, Jian Mo specifically spoke to him about it.

Wu Jiong: "So, do we still have to wait for this seedling to produce chili peppers?"

Jian Mo looked at the seedling on the windowsill. "I'm a little doubtful whether it will survive to grow up."

I don't know if it's because autumn has arrived, but the seedlings on the windowsill have stopped growing, and their leaves have started to turn yellow and fall off. It looks like they'll be left with just bare stems.

Jian Mo had some doubts that even if it barely survived the winter, it wouldn't bear fruit next year due to poor growth.

Jian Mo leaned back in her chair, her cheeks slightly puffed out.

This was his depressed expression even when he was relaxed; he himself might not have realized it, but Wu Jiong saw it clearly.

Every time he did this, Wu Jiong wanted to touch his face.

This time, Wu Jiong also made a move, drawing a glare from Jian Mo.

Wu Jiong sat down beside him and changed the subject, saying, "Should we track down those birds that have swallowed chili peppers?"

Jian Mo sat up straight, her eyes wide. "You can do that?"

Wu Jiong: "If we can catch them, we might be able to get the chili peppers directly; otherwise, we'll have to wait until they're planted next year."

Jian Mo: "If we could find them, there would definitely be chili peppers on the branches right now! Wait, what about your job as chieftain if we go chasing birds?"

Wu Jiong already had a plan. "Let De Jiang and Qing Kuo help out for now."

Jian Mo scratched her head. "It's not that. I was just saying, wouldn't going out like this all the time interfere with your work as clan leader and make you seem unqualified?"

Wu Jiong calmly said, "We brought back so many things to the tribe: Flour Grass, garlic powder, ginger, scallions, Pearl Rice, and even sewers."

System

"... Recently, the tribe even built an arena. If this isn't enough, then no tribe chief on this continent is qualified."

Jian Mo: "Haha, that makes sense."

Wu Jiong looked at Jian Mo: "We have enough food stored up: flour, starch, rice, animal fat, and sugar. Even if we don't go out hunting or gathering all autumn, we won't lack supplies."

Wu Jiong: "We have Pack-Pack Beast, Long-tailed Bird, and a River Fluff Beast in our animal pen, so we won't lack meat. Of course, if we need to go out, we can entrust these animals to Min Dang's care; I think they'd be happy to. We can take Jiujiu and Ying'ao with us."

Jian Mo listened to him recount each incident, the more she heard, the more she felt, "Why do I feel like you're trying to get me to go out?"

Wu Jiong looked at Jian Mo and said, "I hope you get everything you want."

Jian Mo couldn't help but bump her forehead against Wu Jiong's shoulder. "I'm tempted. Let's go out."

Chapter 149 Upper Meng Tribe

Jian Mo and Wu Jiong quickly prepared to set off.

This time, the two prepared very little luggage, only two large backpacks.

Jian Mo carried a basket on her back and rode on Jiujiu's back, while Wu Jiong carried a basket on his back and rode on Ying'ao's back. They set off on a clear blue autumn day and flew towards a higher and farther blue sky.

The weather was sunny and the air was cool.

The corner of Jian Mo's shirt was rolled up, but it didn't make him feel cold; instead, it gave him an indescribable sense of comfort.

Seeing Ying'ao carrying Wu Jiong closely following them, Jian Mo suddenly raised his hand, grabbed the reins, and patted Jiujiu's neck. "Jiujiu, let's charge!"

Jiujiu chirped a long "Chirp--"

Then, Jiujiu flapped its wings vigorously and flew into the deep blue sky in a sprint.

Ying'ao tilted his head and glanced at Jiujiu, then flapped his wings and followed.

Looking down from the air, they could occasionally see people from their tribe coming out to gather or hunt, as well as people from other tribes walking on the main road.

Looking down from high above gives you a feeling of looking at a crystal ball.

Jian Mo was in a very good mood, hugging Jiujiu's neck, and once again feeling grateful that they had taken Jiujiu in.

Their first stop was the Rain Rising Tribe.

The people of the Rain Rising Tribe found the chili seeds first, and then asked the people of the Cypress Branch Tribe to inform them that they should go to the Rain Rising Tribe, hoping to get some clues.

They flew all day, and in the evening, the two of them and their two chicks ate hot pot around the campfire— Jian Mo cooked the vegetables and then served them to the Jiujiu and Ying'ao.

Their hot pot broth is garlicky and chili-flavored, and the oil is made from the bones of Horizontal-Horned Beast. It also contains Powdered Yellow-Cap Mushroom, making it very delicious.

It's nice to have a meal like this occasionally, but unfortunately Jian Mo is getting a little tired of it.

Jian Mo declared to Wu Jiong, "Once we find the chili peppers, I'm definitely going to make a spicy hot pot; that's the soul of the dish."

Eating hot pot without spicy food always feels like something's missing.

Wu Jiong: "Then I'll be waiting."

Jian Mo smiled and clinked glasses with him, offering him a glass of chilled leaf tea. "We'll cut up a variety of ingredients and eat to our hearts' content."

Jian Mo, lost in thought, drifted off to sleep, clutching the giant wolf.

The next day, he sat on Jiujiu's back again and flew towards the Rain Rising Tribe with Wu Jiong.

When they entered the territory of the Rain Rising Tribe, the people of the Rain Rising Tribe quickly discovered them and were not even surprised that they would come.

Chief Qi Ming of the Rain Rising Tribe personally came over to greet them and invite them home, "Did you come to ask about chili peppers?"

Jian Mo smiled and said, "You guessed it?"

Qi Ming: "What's so hard to guess? You guys would have come all this way just to ask this, otherwise I can't think of any other reason."

Jian Mo: "Do you have any news from your side?"

Qi Ming shook his head. "No, but I did raise a cage of birds for you."

Jian Mo looked puzzled.

Qi Ming: "It's one of those birds that seems to have swallowed a chili pepper. We were originally thinking of helping you find other chili pepper seeds, but then we thought that so much time had passed, there probably wouldn't be any left, so we just kept the bird as a pet."