Chapter 364

Qingcao and Aya, the two young females, ran at the very front of the crowd, and their loud shout instantly cleared a blank space around them.

The tribespeople who had stepped aside rubbed their ears, feeling as if the huge sound had shaken their heads into a buzzing.

Seeing the two little companions miss her so much, Wu Yue felt only warmth in her heart.

Yue

"Exactly, exactly, we're about to die of anxiety,"

Wu Yue

Meow, the reason you two are so excited to see me isn't because you miss me at all, but because you want to check out my new house?

What a waste! You two little trash!

Wu Yue decisively ditched the two plastic sisters and went with the beastman warriors to the shaman's house.

Half-Beast Warrior

Fireball Beast, Shaman, Chief

"Wu Yue, you have made a huge, huge contribution to the tribe."

Wu Yue, Snow Tiger Tribe

Although the original intention was just to make winter a bit easier, sentiments like this still need to be upgraded when the time comes.

The shaman nodded with relief, his face solemn, and said: "Wu Yue, everyone has seen the contribution you've made to the tribe. If one day I go to meet the Beast God, the shaman's position will be inherited by Yue. I hope you will lead the Snow Tiger Tribe to become even stronger."

Snow Tiger Clan Chief, Beastman Warriors

This let Wu Yue know that the shaman's words were not only a warning to her, but likely also an affirmation of her identity in front of the beastman warriors.

Shaman Disciple, Shaman, Tribe Shaman

And along with this instruction handed to her, there was also a wooden staff that looked very simple.

"This is the shaman's staff passed down to me when I was recognized by the previous shaman; it's suitable for your current use, and I hope you make good use of it."

Wu Yue bowed and took it: "Yes, I will surely inherit the will of all past shamans and make the Snow Tiger Tribe even stronger."

Shaman

none.

I've only just taken office, and you're already giving me such a task—really?

But seeing the shaman's solemn expression, I could only bitterly nod.

Grasping the ancient wooden staff in her hand, Wu Yue felt as if she were attending a crown prince's investiture ceremony.

But for the tribespeople, this is indeed the case: if the shaman's rank is higher than the chieftain's, then the successor recognized by the shaman already holds the same status as the chieftain.

Seeing the young female possess such high status, Yuan Lang looked toward the chieftain and also had an idea, waiting only for his own strength to increase a bit more…

"All right, you little ones have just come back and are already tired; hurry back and rest."

Shaman

Having said that, he himself actually stood up and followed behind Wu Yue as they walked out.

Wu Yue looked at him doubtfully, wondering if the shaman still had something to say to her.

Seeing her stop, the shaman chuckled and said, "Let's go together to see your new house."

Only then did Wu Yue recall that Qingcao and Aya had earlier said that Teng Qian and his group had already built their own houses.

Delighted, she hehehed and said, "This isn't waiting for you to go ahead, is it?"

Yuan Lang

All tribespeople building houses must go to Teng Qian to choose from the already planned locations; they cannot build arbitrarily.

All the beastfolk, hearing the shaman say that, followed behind them, clearly wanting to see Wu Yue's house.

After turning past several houses, they finally saw a courtyard very different from the others; other courtyards' fences were made of rough wood, but this one had a brick wall as high as a beastman's waist, with a layer of horizontally laid bricks on top forming a pattern, making it quite distinctive and attractive.

The layout of the courtyard was exactly as Wu Yue had designed: in front of several houses lay a small courtyard, and near the kitchen a small pavilion had been installed.

Outside the small courtyard was the large courtyard; in the middle of the large courtyard ran a path from the gate to the small courtyard, while the sides were left as small plots prepared for planting.

Wu Yue liked this place as soon as she saw it.

The shaman, beside himself with sourness, said: "Indeed, beastfolk all like young females; the courtyards built for you are much nicer than mine, this old fool's."

Wu Yue wiped the sweat from her forehead, and said, "Old man, you really shouldn't make such a wronged expression."

All kinds of household items inside the house were already ready, except the kang was completely empty.

Yue

Two little heads poked in from the doorway—none other than Qingcao and Aya, who had earlier been clamoring to come into Wu Yue's new residence.

Wu Yue rolled her eyes impatiently and said, "Come in already, what are you waiting for?"

The two laughed hehe and ran in from outside the courtyard.

Teng Qian, Teng Kun

Seeing this smooth wall, the shaman's primordial power finally exploded; he snorted angrily and headed toward the place where bricks were fired, saying, "You two brats, my wall looks like it's been gnawed by a dog, and you don't even fix it—I'm going to find them."

Looking at the shaman's angry snort, Wu Yue could only wryly smile.

After the beastman warriors toured Wu Yue's house, their desire for a house of their own became even more firm.

After the beastfolk left, Qingcao and Aya still lingered in Wu Yue's house, unwilling to go, humming and hawing for a while, before finally dragging in two grass mats from outside.

"This is something I and Aya wove; I specially asked Teng Kun about the size of your kang."

Looking at the grass mat with not a single splinter, Wu Yue felt moved, reached out and hugged the two adorable companions, saying, "Thank you."

Wu Yue's action instead embarrassed the two thick‑skinned females who wanted to mooch a meal, and they actually slipped away early.

Watching the two slip away, Wu Yue proudly raised her eyebrows.

As soon as these two troublemakers came in, I knew what they were up to—I had just returned from a long journey, and all they wanted was for me to make them tasty food; there's not a shred of sisterly feeling left!

"The substance smeared on this wall should be the kind of soil that yellow ants excrete after swallowing."

Yuan Lang touched the pale yellow wall and then said:

Wu Yue placed Lan Pangzi, who was asleep in her pack not knowing what day it was, onto the kang, walked over and examined him closely: 'I never expected the two beastman warriors to be this meticulous.'

Wu Yue looked at the beastman warrior beside her and said: 'Are all the houses in your place like this?'

Yuan Lang nodded: 'This is already a fairly well-off commoner.'

Then she turned her head to look at the little female beside her and asked: 'What are the houses like in your place?'

'Our place!'

Wu Yue murmured: 'Our country is the world's most populous nation; some live in such simple small courtyards, others in low-rise buildings...'

Hearing her describe buildings taller than forest trees and flying chickens, Yuan Lang could hardly imagine it.

He had thought the little female came from the same place as them, but now it seemed they were from completely different worlds.

'How are you preparing for the trade fair?'

Not wanting to hear the little female speak of the past world, which always made him feel she was distant, he took her pause as a chance to interrupt the topic.

Sure enough, as soon as the trade fair was mentioned, Wu Yue's thoughts were instantly drawn to it.

She said with a worried expression: 'I've never taken part in this trade fair before; I really don't know what to prepare.'

Seeing her scrunched little face, Yuan Lang smiled: 'It's not as difficult as you imagine; you only need to arrange the trading and lodging places for the tribes coming to the trade fair.'

During the trade, the tribes participating can hunt in the host tribe's territory, so we don't need to supply their food.

Wu Yue's mood instantly brightened; this meant she would have to plan thoroughly.

Seeing her sly expression, Yuan Lang couldn't help laughing: 'What mischievous idea are you cooking up?'

Wu Yue gave him an annoyed glance: 'Speak properly; what do you mean by a bad idea? I'm thinking I shouldn't let them stay for free in our tribe's territory.'

Yuan Lang shook his head: 'You can't handle that; each trade fair, the host tribe provides the lodging and trading grounds.'

Wu Yue chuckled: 'I know that, but we can build different grades of lodging and trading grounds!'

Mark out an open space for a regular trading ground, and set up tents for lodging.

Then build some small rooms for paid lodging; one must pay a certain amount of goods daily to stay there, and the trading ground works the same way.

Yuan Lang's eyes gleamed: 'Isn't that just an inn and a shop?'

He immediately nodded: 'Yes.'

Thus, the preliminary idea of the trading and lodging grounds that the external Beastfolk both love and hate was born today.

After a day's rest, Wu Yue the next day eagerly headed to the taro field.

The slaves built simple thatched huts beside the taro field, resting and eating there each day to conveniently tend the taro.

With their careful care, the taro in the field grew very robust.

Gazing at the vast expanse of taro blossoms and the wild bees and butterflies fluttering among them, Wu Yue's heart brimmed with anticipation.

'Shaman Wu Yue.'

Seeing her approach, Changye led the slaves over to pay their respects.

Yesterday, the tribe's members already knew that Wu Yue had been appointed the next shaman of the Snow Tiger Tribe.

The slaves felt joy and excitement, having a shaman who treats them well; their days would no longer be hard.

'When do these taro bloom…'

Wu Yue carefully inquired about the taro's growth and had Tongzi record it.

Only then did she discover that, compared to Huaguo, the taro's growth time here was as if it had been put on fast-forward.

She found that only a small portion of the taro leaves had been nibbled by insects, leaving tiny holes; aside from those, there was basically no other pest damage.

It seems the slaves caught them, manually handling the pests; these slaves really worked hard.

Seeing her stare at the tiny holes on those leaves, Changye and the surrounding slaves felt uneasy.

'Shaman Wu Yue, these leaves were eaten by insects because we were too slow; please punish us.'

Wu Yue heard this and laughed: 'You've done well; why would I punish you? I thought I'd see many insects, but I didn't expect you to manage the taro field so well.'

They had expected punishment, but instead received praise; the slaves felt relieved and broke into happy smiles.

Looking at the slaves before her, Wu Yue suddenly said: 'I'll brew some insect-repellent potion this period and spray it on the taro sprouts, so we won't have to endure such hardship handling pests.'

Then she smiled and looked at the slaves behind Changye: 'Go about your own business.'

She turned her head to Changye: 'Come with me for a moment.'

Changye bowed in assent, told the slaves to go about their busy work, then followed behind Wu Yue toward a thatched hut.

'Have you been recently helping to make brick and tile blanks?'

Changye heard this, shook his head: 'No need anymore; because there were many insects in the taro field these past days, we all came back to catch them, and the brick and tile blanks have been handed over to the tribe's males to make.'

Wu Yue hummed, then after a moment spoke again: 'What kind of house would you like to live in?'

Hearing that, Changye felt as if a thunderbolt had struck his head, leaving him dazed.

Because his face had been darkened from long-term managing the taro field, astonishment spread across it; he opened and closed his mouth several times before finding his voice: 'House… house? Can we also live in such a house?'

Amused by his incredulous expression, she said: 'Why not? You're also part of the Snow Tiger Tribe.'

Once we have the insect-repellent potion, the taro field won't need so many people; you assign some to make brick and tile blanks, and I'll go tell Teng Qian and Tengkun to help you fire them.

As for the construction site, just go ask Teng Qian; move all the fired bricks and tiles there.

The slaves' living quarters, which Wu Yue had planned from the start, are located on the tribe's outermost edge, built as individual small rooms with a kang and a simple stove, leaving a space for storing firewood.