Chapter 444: with translation of chapter title

~21 min read 4,117 words

The beastman warriors of the other two tribes were startled by the words, then exchanged a glance, their eyes flickering with interest.

Translation: The beastman warriors of the other two tribes were startled upon hearing this, then glanced at each other, their eyes showing a hint of interest.

The beastman warriors of the other two tribes were startled upon hearing this, then glanced at each other, their eyes showing a hint of interest.

Taro is still quite common in the forest, and wild boar beasts especially love to eat it.

Translation: Taro is still quite common in the forest, and wild boar beasts especially love to eat it.

When beastman warriors hunt, they also love wild boar beasts, because this animal's fat-to-lean ratio is fairly even, making it very popular among females and the elderly.

We need to keep all info. We'll translate: "When beastman warriors hunt, they also love wild boar beasts, because this animal's fat-to-lean ratio is fairly even, making it very popular among females and the elderly."

Unlike other beasts, it has more meat, a firm texture, and is rather tough to eat; only half-beasts and beastman warriors like it.

Translation: Unlike other beasts, its meat is relatively abundant and the texture is firm, making it tough to eat; only half-beasts and beastman warriors like it.

Where there is taro, there are wild boar beasts; especially in large taro fields, which are a paradise for them. Now that they know this food is so delicious, they can't stay away.

Translation: Where there is taro, there are wild boar beasts, especially in large taro fields, which are a paradise for them; now that they know this food is actually so delicious, they can't stay away.

We also plan to head back early; the amount of this food we gather is huge, far more worthwhile than hunting here and waiting for cured meat.

Translation: "We also plan to head back early; the amount of this food we can gather is huge, far more cost-effective than hunting here and waiting for cured meat."

Yeah, I remember we have a large taro field in our tribe's territory, with lots of wild boar beasts.

Translation: "Yeah, I still remember there's a large taro field in our tribe's territory, with lots and lots of wild boar beasts there."

Tsk, just thinking about it makes my heart ache; all the good food has been rooted up by the wild boar.

Translation: "Tsk, just thinking about it makes me feel sorry; all the tasty food has been rooted up by the wild boar."

The Black Wolf tribe's beastman warrior furtively grabbed a few taros and stuffed them into his small pack; seeing everyone discussing taros and not noticing him, he secretly felt pleased.

Translation: A beastman warrior from the Black Wolf Tribe secretly took a few taros and slipped them into his small bundle; seeing everyone discussing the taro and not noticing him, he couldn't help feeling secretly pleased.

Bring some taros dug up by the Snow Tiger Tribe back, then dig up our own tribe's taros— they're all taros, edible for the Snow Tiger Tribe, and naturally also edible in our own tribe's territory.

Then we'll immediately roast a few for the chief and the shaman to try— nothing could be more convincing.

Translation: Then we can immediately roast a few for the chief and the shaman to try— nothing could be more convincing.

Thinking that our tribe will have plenty of taros to eat in the future, so the people won't go hungry in winter, the Black Wolf tribe's beastman couldn't help laughing out loud.

Translation: Thinking that our tribe will have plenty of taros to eat in the future, so the people won't go hungry in winter, the Black Wolf Tribe beastman couldn't help laughing out loud.

The beastman warriors of the other two tribes watched the Black Wolf tribe's beastman warrior hugging his small pack and smiling lecherously, and they couldn't help but crane their necks to look.

Translation: The beastman warriors of the other two tribes, seeing the Black Wolf Tribe beastman grinning lecherously while clutching his small bundle, couldn't help but stretch their necks to look.

Upon seeing that, wow, the sly, stinking wolf had actually hidden a few taros in his pack.

Translation: Upon seeing that, "good grief, the thieving stinky wolf actually hid a few taros in his bundle."

Upon realizing this, not knowing his little scheme, they exchanged a glance and then all lunged at the remaining taros.

Translation: Upon realizing that, they didn't know this guy's little scheme; after exchanging a glance, they all lunged at the remaining taros together.

After a scuffle of punches and kicks, the two freshly baked panda beasts blinked at each other; in the middle, the somewhat deformed basket, pulled apart, still had a dozen or so taros lying inside.

Translation: After a scuffle of punches and kicks, two freshly baked panda beasts blinked at each other; in the middle, the basket, somewhat deformed from being tugged, still had a dozen or so taros lying inside.

Stop fighting, we've split, the two of our tribes.

Translation: "Stop fighting, we two tribes have split it."

The Beastman warrior of the Fierce Lion tribe sucked in a cold breath, wow, I didn't expect the Birdmen of the Eagle tribe to still be quite strong; his eyes ached and he felt like tearing up.

Translation: The Mad Lion Tribe beastman warrior sucked in a cold breath, "good grief, I didn't expect the Eagle Tribe's bird people to still be quite strong in combat; his eyes sore and he felt like tearing up."

The Eagle tribe's beastman warrior's arm involuntarily trembled a few times; this pack of dog lions, each strike was too brutal, and they weren't even playing fair with a group beating— it killed him with pain.

Translation: The Eagle Tribe beastman warrior's arm involuntarily trembled a few times; "these dog lions, each strike is too vicious, and they're not even playing fair with a group beatdown— it kills him with pain."

He gave a cold nod: 'Fine, we're split.'

Translation: With a cold face, he nodded: "Fine, we've split it."

The people of the Snow Tiger tribe naturally didn't know about this scuffle among the three tribes; to celebrate today's harvest, not only the beastman warriors of the three tribes, but even the laborers from the mid-sized tribes ate fragrant taro dishes tonight.

Translation: The Snow Tiger Tribe's people naturally didn't know about this scuffle among the three tribes; to celebrate today's harvest, not only the beastman warriors of the three tribes, but even the laborers from the medium and small tribes enjoyed fragrant taro dishes tonight.

Each pair of eyes sparkled as they looked at the food in the bowl, their mouths almost splitting up to their ears.

Translation: Each one looked at the food in their bowl with sparkling eyes, the corners of their mouths almost splitting back to their ears.

The burly male chuckled foolishly: 'The Snow Tiger tribe is great; they didn't keep us away when gathering, so when we return to the cave tomorrow we can also gather this food to eat.'

Translation: The strong male chuckled foolishly: "The Snow Tiger Tribe is really great; they didn't avoid us when gathering, so when we return to the cave tomorrow, we can also gather this food to eat."

The surrounding mid-sized tribe folk were also full of joy; their lives are hard only because they lack food.

Translation: The surrounding medium and small tribe folks were also full of joy; their lives are hard only because they lack food.

Food in the forest is limited, their territories are limited, and it's already hard to hunt enough food; these mid-sized tribes lack the big tribes' traditions, so they naturally know fewer foods.

Translation: Food in the forest is limited, their territories are limited, and it's already hard to hunt enough food; these medium and small tribes lack the big tribes' traditions, so they naturally know even fewer foods.

Even if they go out to gather, they only find a few kinds, making their diet even more monotonous.

Translation: Even if they go out to gather, they only find a few kinds, making their diet even more monotonous.

So they are so happy today—not just because they ate the Snow Tiger tribe's own cultivated food, but more importantly because they have learned about a new food; even if they later leave the Snow Tiger tribe, they now have one more gatherable food source.

Translation: That's why they're so happy today—not just because they ate the Snow Tiger Tribe's own cultivated food, but more importantly, they've learned about a new food; even if they later leave the Snow Tiger Tribe, they'll have one more gatherable food.

Therefore, today's bumper taro harvest in the Snow Tiger tribe has made not only its own people happy, but also the other three major tribes and the mid-sized tribes' folk extremely delighted.

Translation: Therefore, the Snow Tiger Tribe's abundant taro harvest has made not only its own people happy, but the other three major tribes and the medium and small tribe folks are overjoyed.

The joyful atmosphere has continued nonstop since the harvest began.

Translation: The joyful atmosphere has continued nonstop since the harvest began.

Having already harvested taro once, the people are very familiar with its classification and processing; naturally they don't need Wu Yue to remind them again, and they all cooperate skillfully.

Translation: Having already harvested taro once, the people are very familiar with its sorting and processing; naturally they don't need Wu Yue to remind them again, and they all cooperated skillfully.

The mid-sized tribe people, having finished their food, were sitting outside their simple huts talking about today's taro, when they saw Changye smiling broadly, leading equally jubilant slaves carrying basket after basket of taro toward the rear of the tribe.

Translation: The medium and small tribe folks, having finished their food, were sitting outside their simple houses chatting about today's taro when they saw Changye, face full of smiles, leading equally joyful slaves carrying basket after basket of taro toward the rear of the tribe.

The burly beastman blinked, then rose and greeted: 'Changye, moving food?'

Translation: The strong beastman startled, then rose and greeted: "Changye, moving food?"

Changye, who had a big harvest, also warmly greeted him, then gestured for the slaves to keep moving the food away while he himself walked over.

Translation: Changye, who had a big harvest, also warmly returned the greeting, then signaled the slaves to keep moving the food away as he himself walked over.

To be frank, seeing the former chief of the Snow Tiger tribe, especially when he himself was obviously doing much better, Changye still felt a bit pleased inside.

Translation: To be frank, seeing the former chief in the Snow Tiger Tribe, especially when he himself is obviously doing much better than before, Changye still felt a bit pleased in his heart.

'Did you just eat? Is the taro tasty?'

Translation: "Have you just eaten the food? Is the taro really tasty?"

The burly male and the surrounding mid-sized tribe folk eagerly nodded: 'It's delicious— far better than the wild vegetable cakes we used to chew.'

Translation: The strong male and the surrounding medium and small tribe folks eagerly nodded: "It's extremely delicious, far better than the wild vegetable dumplings we used to gnaw on."

'Yeah, who would have thought that what the wild boar beasts used to eat is actually such delicious food? We really missed out on a lot before.'

Translation: "Yeah, who would have thought that what the wild boar beasts used to eat is actually such delicious food? We really missed out on a lot before."

Changye heard this and snorted with a laugh: 'You've missed out on even more; this is just the beginning.'

Translation: Changye heard this and snorted with a laugh, "You've missed out on even more than that; we've only just begun."

The burly male jerked his chin toward the direction the slaves were leaving: 'I saw you just spread the gathered taros out on the open ground to dry; where are you taking these to?'

Translation: The strong male pointed his chin at the direction the slaves were leaving: "I saw earlier that the taros you gathered back were just laid out to dry in the open; where are you taking these?"

Hearing his question, Changye's smile grew wider as he bared a big white tooth: 'These are the food that Lord Wuyue promised to give us slaves; we're transporting them back to our dwellings to store, and they'll be our winter food.'

Translation: Upon hearing his question, Changye's smile grew even broader as he bared a big white tooth: "These are the taros that Shaman Yue promised to give us slaves; we're transporting them back to our dwellings to store, and they'll be our winter food."

This boast came rather suddenly.

Translation: This smugness came rather suddenly.

The burly male fell silent, and the surrounding mid-sized tribe folk also fell silent.

Translation: The strong male fell silent, and the surrounding medium and small tribe folks also fell silent.

Everyone widened their eyes at Changye, wow, the taros just carried over were surely several dozen baskets— is all that food really for the slaves to eat?

Translation: Each one widened their eyes looking at Changye: "Good grief, the taros you just lifted were surely several dozen baskets, right? Is all that food really being given to the slaves to eat?"

Their gaze toward Changye filled with envy and jealousy, their tone tinged with resentment: 'Is the Snow Tiger tribe being too good to its slaves?'

Translation: At that moment, their gazes toward Changye were full of envy and jealousy, their tone tinged with sourness: "Is the Snow Tiger Tribe being too good to its slaves?"

Changye puffed out his chest: 'Who says otherwise? Aside from not being allowed to own prohibited items and food, our tribe never lacks food and hides for us slaves, and we're hardly different from ordinary folk.'

Translation: Changye puffed out his chest: "Who says otherwise? We slaves, aside from not being allowed to own items and food beyond the regulations, the tribe never lacks our food and hides, and we're not much different from ordinary folks."

Having said that, he lowered his voice a bit: 'Actually, sometimes we're even luckier than some ordinary tribe members, because we're now serving Lord Wuyue, so the food and goods we receive are much better than what ordinary folks get.'

Translation: After saying that, he lowered his voice a bit: "Speaking of which, sometimes we can be even luckier than some ordinary tribe members, because we're now serving Shaman Yue, so the food and goods we're allocated are much better than those ordinary folks get."

'Hasn't anyone called you to do work before?'

Translation: "Hasn't anyone called you to do work before?"

Someone asked sourly, not because they were possessed by a lemon spirit, but because they genuinely felt uneasy inside.

Translation: Someone asked sourly, "It's not that they're possessed by a lemon sprite; they really just feel uneasy inside."

Everyone used to know that being a slave wasn't good; in the big tribes, aside from being able to eat wild vegetable cakes, there was really no way to compare with them.

Translation: In the past, everyone knew being a slave wasn't good; in the big tribes, aside from being able to eat wild vegetable dumplings, there was really no way to compare with them.

In winter they also lived in grass huts, freezing to death was common; the big tribes' food wasn't enough, so where would there be surplus to give to slaves?

Translation: In winter they also lived in grass huts, freezing to death was commonplace, the big tribes' food wasn't enough to eat, where would there be extra to give to slaves?

If you could endure it, you lived; if not, you froze or starved to death— that was just normal.

Translation: If you can endure, you live; if you can't, you freeze or starve to death— that's all quite normal.

Not being able to own your own food, let alone hides— including yourself, everything belonged to the big tribe.

Translation: Not being able to own your own food, let alone hides— including yourself, everything belongs to the big tribe.

Whenever the big tribe's members had something to do, the slaves had to do it— work themselves to death, then be tossed out; even some cruel big tribes would send slaves to lure beasts when they went hunting.

Translation: As long as the big tribe's members have something to do, they make you do it— work yourself to death, then just toss you out; even some ruthless big tribes, when they go out hunting, will have slaves lure wild beasts.

The one with the most complicated feelings here is the burly male— Changye used to be a beastman of his own tribe, after all.

Translation: The one with the most complicated feelings here is the strong male— Changye used to be a beastman of his own tribe, didn't he?

They were brought out to exchange food, also because they weren't close relatives; who knew that the slaves he traded away would now be living better than he, the chief, making his feelings quite complex.

Translation: They were brought out to exchange food, also because they weren't close relatives; who knew that the slaves he traded away would now be living far better than he himself, the tribe chief, making his feelings quite complex.

The smile on his cheeks stiffened: 'You're doing well, that's good... ha... ha...'

Translation: The smile on his cheeks stiffened a bit: "As long as you're doing well, that's good... ha ha... ha ha..."

Changye glanced at him, and the gloom from being abandoned by his former tribe instantly dissipated, his mood brightening.

Translation: Changye glanced at him, and the gloom that had been pent up since his former tribe abandoned him instantly dissipated, his mood suddenly brightening.

He laughed and patted the former chief's shoulder: 'You also do your jobs well; the tribe won't mistreat you. The cave where you'll live this winter used to be where the tribe's people resided in winter.'

Translation: Smiling, he patted the former chief's shoulder: "You also do your work well; the tribe won't mistreat you, and the cave where you'll reside this winter used to be where the tribe's people lived during winter.

But now we have stone houses, so we don't need it; I stayed there last winter myself— it was warm and cozy. When you have free time, go gather some firewood; in winter you can burn it for heat.

Translation: But now we have stone houses, so we don't need it; I myself stayed there last winter and found it warm and comfortable— when you have free time, go gather some firewood, and in winter you can burn it for heat."

Changye finished speaking and left, leaving behind something that the people of the small and medium tribes didn't know what they were thinking.

The tall, strong male returned to his dwelling and saw his tribespeople all sitting inside; seeing him enter, they all stared at him with hopeful eyes, making him somewhat puzzled.

He lifted his foot, stepped on the grass nest on the ground, then plopped down: "Why are you all staring at me?"

An old male lifted his eyelids and glanced at him: "Isn't it that everyone heard you followed the half-beast captain to go see the winter dwelling cave? I want to ask how it was."

The tall, strong male nodded solemnly: "The cave is very good and also very large; living there will definitely be much warmer than our place; when we went today, the half-beast captain had already made arrangements for us."

After finishing work tomorrow, I'll take you over to look; from now on, after we finish eating, we'll go out to gather firewood, and then we can warm ourselves by the fire.

The old male nodded: "As long as you have a plan in mind, we can also store our food there; the Snow Tiger Tribe people are good, they give us salted cured meat."

Speaking of the miraculous cured meat, the old male instantly became a bit excited: "It's truly a great tribe blessed by the beast god, able to make such miraculous food; those cured meats stored for such a long time actually haven't spoiled."

The tall, strong male also nodded with a sigh: "Who would say otherwise, but..."

He lifted his eyes to look at his own father: "When the weather gets cold, you don't need to have the cured meat."

The old male first startled, thought a bit, then also nodded: "Well, when the weather gets cold, we'll just have other food."

The two people with the most authority in the tribe were discussing the food issue; the tribespeople nearby could only listen, but when mention was made of not having cured meat, everyone's faces showed other expressions.

The old male saw this, snorted coldly in his heart, and spoke: "Although cured meat can be stored for a long time, when the weather gets cold, other food won't spoil either."

If we don't want cured meat but other food, we can get more.

The tall, strong male's partner moved her lips a few times, finally holding her child and saying: "Father, there's quite a lot of salt in that cured meat, right?"

They had tasted the cured meat after getting it, and the salty flavor was very obvious.

Salt is so precious, it's something you can't exchange for even with food.

Therefore, in their view, the cured meat being a bit more precious is justified, since it's made with salt.

The old male glanced at her: "We still have some salt, enough to last until next year; when the big tribe's salt-exchange team returns, we'll just exchange some more."

Such a small tribe of theirs, compared to other medium-sized tribes, is nothing; if they had too much salt, that wouldn't be a good thing.

The tall, strong male naturally also thought of this, glared at his partner: "If you don't know, just keep your mouth shut."

He's not very bright, so after being chief for so long, he still sometimes comes to ask his father; his father holds a very important place in his heart.

His partner spoke up; the female also didn't dare say anything else, responded softly, then went to the side to rest while holding her sleeping child in her arms.

The remaining tribespeople, seeing this, also returned to their own grass nests to sleep; they still have work tomorrow.

The shock that taro brought to these tribes, the Snow Tiger Tribe naturally doesn't know; they are immersed in the joy of harvest, unable to extricate themselves, and have no time to care about others' thoughts.

Late autumn, the morning temperature is also somewhat chilly.

The instant Wu Yue opened the door, cold air rushed at her, making her involuntarily shiver: "Hiss! It's not even winter yet, and it's already this cold."

After enduring the chill and finishing her washing up, she shrank her head and shoulders and darted into the kitchen.

But upon seeing that blue fatty nestled in the grass nest by the stove, the corner of her mouth couldn't help twitching: "You're still really good at finding places to stay."

The kitchen stove holds the dung of the fireball beast, so there are still flames to this day, and the temperature naturally can't be compared to other rooms.

She said she felt like something was missing this morning when she got up; it turns out this fluffy thing is gone.

Tongzi, with sleepy eyes, glanced at his dog's host: "Last night the temperature dropped, you bastard rolled up all the blankets, I almost became the first Tongzi to freeze to death; for the sake of my life, I naturally had to struggle a bit."

Wu Yue felt a bit guilty; when she got up today she found the blanket tightly wrapped around her, Tongzi wasn't wronging himself.

Hehe, today I'll make you a small blanket.

Tongzi looked at her relievedly; the dog's host finally showed some conscience.

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End of Chapter

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