Chapter 442: My jaw is about to fall off

Xuehu Wu gestured for the Beastman Warriors to lower the city gate, then cautiously approached to examine the thousand-catty winch: "Something like this can actually lift such a heavy city gate."

His tone was full of amazement.

Beside him, the Snow Tiger Clan chief also looked astonished: "Such a huge iron-wood city gate, even powerful Gold-rank Beastman Warriors couldn't lift it."

Wu Yue couldn't explain the principle of the thousand-catty winch to them; under questioning from Xuehu Wu and the chief, she naturally blamed it on the nonexistent Great Chinese Shaman.

Until Wu Yue placed the two sets of loungewear she had prepared earlier on Xuehu Wu's kang: "Back when we were in the forest, we helped the Great Chinese Shaman with some things, so the Shaman gave us these clothes."

The Great Shaman is returning to his own tribe this time; the thousand-catty winch is also a gift for our tribe, and these two outfits are for the Shaman and the chief.

The soft clothing is exquisitely fine; rough, untreated beast hide has no comparison to it.

Xuehu Wu draped the clothing over his arm, and the covered spot instantly warmed up.

The two elders' eyes crinkled with smiles: "It would be great if we could meet the Great Shaman sometime."

Xuehu Wu carefully placed the loungewear in the wooden box he had prepared: "I've lived this long, but only when I was young did I follow an old shaman to a faraway place and see a super-tribe's Great Shaman."

"To this day I still remember that strong shamanic power fluctuation, which made me feel as if I had seen the Beast God."

Xuehu Wu's expression was full of longing and awe; clearly, his youthful experience still haunts him to this day.

The Snow Tiger Clan chief hehe-laughed while hugging the soft loungewear, thinking to give it to his mate when he returns; as a Beastman Warrior with thick skin and rough flesh, he thought nice things were just for looking and touching.

After the thousand-catty winch was installed, the construction of the city gate finally came to an end.

The people of each small and mid-sized tribe drooped their heads as they gathered their belongings earned from working in the Snow Tiger Tribe, their hearts full of reluctance.

"We'll have to go back tomorrow; the Snow Tiger Tribe wouldn't let us freeload here for free."

The tall, sturdy male licked his lips, his eyes filled with conflict and envy.

If someone stood beside him, they could see that his envious gaze was actually fixed on the Snow Tiger Tribe slaves laboring outside.

Previously, I thought being a slave to a large tribe was miserable—no food, no beast hide, not even personal belongings, and even in winter one could only live in a grass hut.

But...

All that notion shattered upon seeing the Snow Tiger Tribe's slaves.

What no food? What no beast hide to wear? What living in a grass hut?

The Snow Tiger Tribe's slaves have ample food, even able to eat meat every few days; though they wear neither precious processed soft beast hide, it is ordinary hide that keeps out the cold, and they are even allowed to possess their own food.

Most outrageous of all, the stone houses said to be reserved only for great tribe chiefs and shamans are accessible to the Snow Tiger Tribe's slaves.

They said slaves were miserable and could die at any moment, right?

He even wanted to be a slave like that.

"What are you thinking? Hurry up and pack; we'll leave early tomorrow, return early to the cave—night travel is too dangerous."

To these pure humans, a beast that a Beastman could dispatch with a single claw is a threat to their lives.

The tall, sturdy male sighed: "I really envy those Snow Tiger Tribe slaves now."

The female who had just spoken stared for a moment, then looked toward the slaves busy outside, her heart instantly filling with intense envy.

"Who says otherwise? She's envious too."

Look at those slaves' children, then look at your own child beside you.

Although they had gained much flesh during this time in the Snow Tiger Tribe, looking plump and round, she knew that once back in the cave, they would never again have days with three meals a day.

Thinking of having to risk life again for just a ball of grass paste, her heart filled with sourness.

"Huh? What are you doing?"

As they silently packed, a somewhat surprised voice sounded at the doorway—the speaker was Changye.

He had just gone to the great cave to drop off a batch of newly made blanks, and on his way home he saw these people actually packing up.

Recalling that Lady Wu Yue of the Shaman had said a few days ago that these small- and mid-tribe peoples were still needed to dig the moat, he felt doubtful.

Life here is so good—daily food, even housing—why would these people want to leave?

The tall, sturdy male knew Changye, for he was the one who left his own tribe, exchanged together with the frail Wu Yue.

But Changye is no longer the one they discarded; rumor has it the Snow Tiger Tribe's new shaman took a liking to him, making him the slaves' leader, able to do many things—even the Snow Tiger Tribe's peoples must trade food with them for what they want.

The Beastman tall and sturdy male, lacking the aura he had when Changye was clan chief, nervously rubbed his hands and rose to his feet.

"The city walls are finished, we have nothing left to do—wasn't the Snow Tiger Tribe supposed to let us return to our own tribe?"

They were just packing early; otherwise, if they prepared last minute tomorrow, they'd have to spend the night in the dangerous forest.

Changye laughed and patted the former chief's shoulder: "Our tribe still needs to dig a deep, long trench around the walls, so you might not be able to leave this winter—I heard that from Shaman Wu Yue."

The tall, sturdy male burst into joy, his whole face flushing red.

His trembling hand from excitement gripped Changye's arm tightly: "Really? Can we stay in the Snow Tiger Tribe all winter?"

Inside the simple hut, the small- and mid-tribe peoples also heard it; some even dared not believe it, pulling at their own ears.

Changye nodded: "Someone might come to notify you shortly."

Inside the simple hut, an uproar broke out; the shamans of the four great tribes had predicted a dangerous beast tide this year and also notified these small- and mid-tribe peoples.

Compared to the active war preparations of the various great tribes, the small- and mid-tribe peoples numbly prepared to meet death.

They lack Beastman Warriors; even ordinary beasts could threaten their lives, let alone stronger ferocious beasts.

Some mid-sized tribes, by maintaining good relations with the great tribes and offering food or herbs, can receive the great tribes' protection.

But there are too few such mid-sized tribes.

"I... when I saw the wall that seemed to be built up to the heavens, I thought if I could live inside, what would I fear from ferocious beasts? I never imagined I could actually move in—wu wu wu..."

A female said this, then covered her mouth and burst into tears.

Those around heard it, and one by one their eyes reddened; merely surviving safely was already exhausting all their strength.

"I still have things to do; don't rush packing—someone should come to notify you shortly."

Having said that, Changye hurriedly left.

Don't ask why; the good fellows all stared with red eyes, the pressure truly being too much.

Changye left; although the people of the small and medium tribes stopped packing, after the initial joy they slowly grew uneasy.

Is what Changye said true?

Can we really stay the whole winter in the safe Snow Tiger Tribe?

The people, filled with apprehension, welcomed a familiar half-beast warrior, the very captain who usually supervised their work.

As soon as this half-beast captain entered the simple hut, he was fixed upon by the people's fervent gazes.

Good fellow, those pairs of red eyes really give the feeling of a wild boar straying into a wolf pack.

"What are you doing?"

Each of them, their expressions are too frightening.

The burly half-beast let out a big breath, then, somewhat uneasy, stepped forward: "Captain, are you here to tell us to leave?"

Although Changye had just said they might not need to leave, they still felt uneasy in their hearts.

The half-beast warrior smiled and waved his hand: "I just came from the shaman, wanting to ask you whether you're willing to stay in the Snow Tiger Tribe for the winter."

Without waiting for them to speak, he continued: "We need to dig a moat around the wall, so we still need you to work."

I came just to ask you; those who want to stay, step forward and say so, and I'll arrange for you to live in the caves behind the mountain.

Those who don't want to stay can leave tomorrow."

It's actually true?

The burly male looked at the half-beast captain with ecstatic joy; without even asking his kin, he was the first to step forward: "Our tribe is willing to stay and work."

The half-beast warrior glanced at him with a smile; he knew this burly male, and though the tribe's people are usually frail, when they work they are the most diligent.

"Good, in a few days I'll take you to the large cave behind the mountain; our stone houses are gone, but since winter is too cold, we'll reassign your lodgings."

In his view, how could anyone refuse such a good thing? After all, during the time they've worked for his tribe, these people have all gotten fat by more than one round.

Indeed, as the half-beast captain expected, these people all agreed to stay and spend the winter in the Snow Tiger Tribe.

"You tribal chiefs of the several tribes, come with me first to inspect the caves where you'll later reside."

Having said that, the half-beast captain walked out on his own.

The few chiefs exchanged glances, each trying to suppress their inner delight as they followed.

They all went to the large cave behind the mountain, which was exactly where the Snow Tiger Clan used to reside for the winter.

"This is where our tribe used to reside for winter, but now we have houses, so we don't need it."

Having said that, he pointed to the unfired bricks placed on the empty ground in the cave: "These are very important things; they need to air-dry here, and after a while they'll be dry enough for Changye and them to carry away."

While they were speaking, Changye entered, accompanied by a female whose beauty was like the moon in the heavens.

Changye, who previously had a familiar expression before them, now merely nodded his chin upon seeing them again, then continued at Wu Yue's side to introduce the clay embryos they had made this time.

At this moment, the half-beast warrior naturally also saw Wu Yue entering with Changye, and hurried forward: "Lady Wu Yue."

Wu Yue, who had been lowering her head to examine the clay skin, lifted her head at the words, a faint smile playing on her lips: "You've come to arrange lodgings for those small and medium tribes?"

She had been present at the earlier meeting, so she naturally knew the arrangements of the chiefs and the shaman; she smiled slightly and nodded: "Mm, then you continue."

Having said that, she turned and continued talking with Changye about something.

Meanwhile, the burly male's heart again rose with a hint of doubt; he quietly edged up beside the half-beast captain walking ahead: "Captain, was that just now Lady Wu Yue?"

The half-beast gave him a doubtful glance: "Of course she is; what's the matter?"

"Has Lady Wu Yue always been a member of your tribe?"

Upon hearing that, the half-beast warrior gave him a deep look: "Why ask so much? These aren't things you can know."

Having said that, he continued forward, leading the several chiefs of the small and medium tribes to see where they would later reside.

Looking at the clean, tidy cave with smooth walls, the chiefs of the small and medium tribes felt ecstatic; if not for the half-beast captain standing beside them, they might even have wanted to shout out in excitement.

Meanwhile, Wu Yue followed Changye to the cave where the slaves used to dwell, and even at the cave entrance stood two male slaves on guard.

Upon seeing Changye and Wu Yue, they gave a very respectful salute: "Lady Wu Yue."

Changye entered the cave, and using the light from the cave's ceiling, Wu Yue finally saw clearly these distinctive unfired bricks.

"Are the colors of these unfired bricks different from before?"

Changye nodded excitedly: "This is the clay we found behind the earthen hill when we gathered mud; we collected some and made them into unfired bricks, hoping to fire them into vessels and objects of different colors."

Having said that, he carefully took out several broken shards from his animal-skin clothing...

No... they can't be called shards.

When Wu Yue saw those fragments, her heart leapt with delight; she carefully picked up a palm-sized piece and began to examine it.

Yet in her mind she was calling her own Tongzi; the sleepy Lan Pangzi came online in a daze: "Hello, your Tongzi is at your service."

"Help me see if this is porcelain."

No wonder Wu Yue was surprised; the fragment in her hand is smooth and warm, with a bluish-green hue tinged with brownish-yellow, clearly different from the pottery they had fired before.

Upon hearing "porcelain," Tongzi was startled, then carefully examined the fragment Wu Yue held; after a moment he sighed: "Changye really has dog's luck; this counts as the earliest porcelain."

Wu Yue rejoiced, her gaze toward Changye also smiling: "This is a new kind of fired ware; I once saw the great shaman of the Huaxia Tribe in the Super Tribe use it, called porcelain, and in the Super Tribe it is a most precious existence."

She looked solemnly at Changye: "Changye, you have made a very important contribution to the tribe."