Chapter 450

The polar forest on the verge of winter had weather as fickle as a woman's mind—warm and tender by day, then suddenly chilly breezes at night.

As a Beastman Warrior, Yuan Lang's body was strong, but the chills coming from his legs still made him feel the deep autumn cold.

But his upper body was warm and cozy, even breaking out in a layer of hot sweat on his chest.

He raised his large, knuckle‑prominent hand, as if touching his beloved weapon, and gently felt the garment on his body called a down jacket.

He never imagined that merely the common chicken‑duck down used everyday would make a garment warmer than cotton.

Where on earth did this little female come from, to know so many miraculous things?

He turned and headed toward the little female's courtyard.

Wu Yue was helping Tongzi, who was about to overheat, take off his new down vest when she heard the door being knocked.

"Yue, it's still early; let's go see the shaman."

Wu Yue startled, set Tongzi's vest aside, stepped forward and opened the door: "Isn't it a bit late to go now?"

Wu Yue's crescent‑shaped brows furrowed slightly; in the beast world there are no computers or such entertainment, so after a day's labor people rest very early.

Yuan Lang patted his warm down jacket: "With this, they won't be able to sleep today."

He took off his clothes and handed them to Wu Yue: "Wrap them in animal hide, then we'll first go to the chieftain, and together we'll go find the shaman."

His expression was grave, and Wu Yue unconsciously obeyed and walked in.

On the way to the Snow Tiger chieftain's home, Wu Yue glanced dubiously at Yuan Lang: "You seem rather excited."

Yuan Lang chuckled, rubbing the little female's head: "Perhaps this down jacket is common where you come from, but in my former country and here it is quite precious."

Although Beastman Warriors are robust and fear cold more than pure humans and half‑beasts, still, when food runs out or when repelling beasts that invade the tribe, or even during patrols, people can still die.

He spoke, extending his hands: "In this body's memory, when I used to follow my father on patrols, the snow covered the tribesmen's scent, and I nearly froze to death in the wild."

Although his body was draped in animal hide then, the stiff hide could only block some wind, yet his body remained icy cold.

Thinking of the animal hide at home so hard that shavings could be used as throwing knives, Wu Yue nodded in agreement: "If the hide isn't treated, it really can't be used."

"Ding~ Life Mission Two issued: Please host, popularize down‑jacket making in the Snow Tiger Tribe, and before winter arrives lead the tribe to successfully produce 200 down jackets."

"Mission reward: rough animal‑hide tanning method."

"System points ×200."

A sudden voice in her mind startled Wu Yue, truly because aside from issuing upgrade rewards, the system hadn't released a mission in a long time.

"Woof woof woof! Dog host, the system finally has a mission, I finally have a place to shine—hurry up and finish the mission, the points are waiting for us."

Glancing at the handsome Beastman Warrior beside her, Wu Yue quietly subdued Tongzi: "Shhh, we'll talk later when we get back."

Having said that, she one‑sidedly blocked the still‑screaming Tongzi.

···

"Hehe, come on, come on~"

"Get lost, brat, tomorrow our gathering team goes out—don't disturb my sleep."

"Your body is so good..."

The Snow Tiger chieftain's restless heart had not yet been satisfied when a series of knocks on the gate sounded.

The Snow Tiger chieftain, who had been nuzzling his mate in bed, sat up with a blackened face.

Holy cow, he'd even taken off his animal‑skin skirt, and you give him this?

He didn't want to move at all...

But the next second, a pair of feet tended to his buttocks, the Snow Tiger chieftain felt his anus tighten, and in the next moment he found himself sitting butt‑down on somewhat cool ground.

He stared in disbelief at his mate on the kang, already wrapped in an animal‑skin blanket and snoring softly—surely it was his true partner.

After sighing and tidying up, he then left with a dark face.

I thought it was some clueless youngster, but outside the door stood Yuan Lang and Wu Yue.

Yuan Lang, that little brat, I could forgive—but Wu Yue...

"What's happened?"

His dark face brightened at the sight of Wu Yue, but the next moment an involuntary tension rose.

This little female Yue rarely comes to see them at night unless something important is up.

"Yuan Lang and I have something important to discuss with you and the shaman, so I came to see you first, then we'll go together."

Although she hadn't thought the down‑jacket matter absolutely had to be told to the shaman and chieftain today, that mission just now made her feel a bit anxious.

Winter is only a few days away, gathering down is extremely difficult, and she doesn't know if they can finish the 200‑down‑jacket task on time.

The three arrived at the shaman's courtyard; the herb‑storage room still had a light on.

The Snow Tiger shaman always stays up late, which reminded Wu Yue of his earlier remark: "Only at night can one truly focus on preparing medicines."

So the Snow Tiger shaman is actually a hidden night‑owl expert?

What kind of miraculous tribe is this?

"This... this is way too warm."

The Snow Tiger shaman and chieftain each put on a down jacket and went out to feel it; the slight chill that had just been there could no longer affect them in the slightest, and wearing this down jacket made them feel warm all over.

"Yue, what kind of animal's fur is this, so warm? Tomorrow we must hurry and have the Beastman Warriors and half‑beast warriors go out hunting."

With this animal‑hide clothing, will anyone still fear freezing to death in winter?

Wu Yue laughed and shook her head: "The real warmth isn't from this hide; look, this is just ordinary animal hide—if it's thin enough, it works."

"What truly makes this garment warm is this..."

She said, pulling open the cuff with a simple gather, and pinched out a small amount of down from inside.

The Snow Tiger chieftain and shaman looked bewildered at the down in her hand: "This... this isn't just chicken feathers, is it?"

"Can this keep one warm? Can it make that sort of warm, cozy jacket?"

The two stared at Wu Yue in disbelief, "Good grief, don't take advantage of our ignorance!"

Wu Yue firmly nodded: "It's true, the entire garment is filled with down that I and the slaves collected; those chickens rely on this down to stay warm, and using it to make clothes naturally keeps us warm as well."

Xuehu Wu and the Snow Tiger Clan chief locked eyes, their gazes brightening in unison, the curve of their lips impossible to hide.

The gathering team of the clan chief's consort, which was about to head out to collect, was requisitioned, and joining them were half of the Half-Beast warriors and Beastfolk warriors.

The various small-tribe peoples digging the moat watched the Snow Tiger Tribe members gradually recede, feeling some doubt.

Before, they had seen the Snow Tiger Tribe's gathering and hunting parties go out, but never had they all gone out at once in such numbers.

Though they harbored doubts in their hearts, they dared not ask anything at all.

As they watched the moat beneath their feet grow deeper, the smiles on their faces deepened as well.

As long as they properly complete the tasks entrusted to them by the Snow Tiger Tribe, this year they will be able to spend a warm winter without constantly worrying about starving to death.

"Changye, come take a look—can these middle feathers be used?"

A stout-built female held up a tail feather longer than her palm and loudly inquired.

Before Changye could speak, the female's grandmother beside her slapped her on the head: "You're dumber than a wild boar beast—those tail feathers are so sharp, putting them inside clothing is practically suicide?"

The female's face flushed red; she glanced at her body, then at the tail feather in her hand, and instantly threw it away.

Good grief, she's still young—she needs to stay away from danger.

Their conversation was clearly heard by the surrounding tribespeople; after a moment of silence in the forest, a series of "pfft" sounds erupted, and everyone laughed at the two.

"Changye, take a look at what I've gathered—can these be used?"

The cheerful atmosphere didn't affect the tribe's labor at all; a young female clutching a handful of down approached Changye beside her, her eyes somewhat apprehensive as she asked.

Changye's face broke into an appreciative smile: "Exactly, that's it."

Receiving affirmation, the young female cheered, turned and ran toward her small group, instantly being surrounded by a crowd of females asking for guidance.

"Quick, help me check—are these feathers I gathered correct?"

"They're not feathers, they're down—I just heard Changye say that."

"..."

Although no one knew what the down was for, the task ordered by the clan chief must be carried out by the tribespeople to the fullest extent.

However, the forest chickens, already greatly startled by everyone's capture, had the Beastfolk and Half-Beast warriors responsible for catching them, while the females were in charge of gathering the down.

After a full day of gathering work, the gathering party returned with a harvest of exactly ten baskets of down.

"Everyone might be curious about what we're collecting this down for; I can only say we're making a garment that lets the tribe go out in winter, warmer than the soft beast pelts obtained through trade with outside forest tribes."

Upon hearing this, everyone instantly held their breath, their eyes shining as they looked ahead at Wu Yue speaking.

"I also want a garment that can be worn out in winter."

"I also want to join tomorrow's gathering party to try to make a warm garment for my partner as well."

"Haha, next year I'll definitely raise many chickens—we can eat their eggs and meat daily, and keep their down for clothing; chickens are practically a blessing from the Beast God."

The gathering tribe members chatted excitedly, while the surrounding small-tribe peoples who had finished a day's work eyed them skeptically, looking at the somewhat dirty feathers in their baskets.

"Can these chicken feathers really be made into clothing? Will they actually keep us warm in winter, or is it fake?"

"It... should be true, seeing how they all seem to listen to that young female up front."

A Snow Tiger Tribe female nearby, hearing their words, straightened her small face: "Remember, in the Snow Tiger Tribe, the words of the shaman and Shaman Wu Yue are not to be doubted; if you doubt Wu Yue, leave our tribe."

The small-tribe peoples who had just been whispering fell silent instantly, each turning pale as they headed back to their temporary lodgings.

Yet before leaving, they furtively glanced again at the smiling Shaman Wu Yue standing ahead.

No one noticed that one female, after seeing Shaman Wu Yue's face clearly, grew even paler, fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead.

Good heavens, she's still alive.

The burly male, having finished his food and humming a tune he didn't even know himself as he came from outside, had intended to return to the grass hut to sleep, but saw his partner lying there with a grim expression.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Could it be that the Snow Tiger Tribe's people bullied you?"

But he quickly shook his head; having been in the Snow Tiger Tribe for so long, the tribe has always treated these helpers well and never bullied these small-tribe peoples.

Hearing her partner's voice, the female seemed to instantly find her backbone: "Today I saw a very familiar person in the clearing before the Snow Tiger Tribe's gathering party."

Thinking of how they had previously treated that female, she turned pale with extreme anxiety: "You've been in the Snow Tiger Tribe this long—have you ever seen that Shaman Wu Yue?"

The burly male nodded upon hearing that: "Of course I have."

After speaking, his face changed drastically as he looked at his partner: "You... why are you asking this? Did you offend Shaman Wu Yue?"

Seeing him like that, she wished she could stamp her foot on his face: "I wouldn't dare offend her—you've seen Wu Yue, haven't you thought she looks terribly familiar?"

After her partner said that, the burly male furrowed his brows, thought for a moment, then his face gradually turned pale as he stared at her in disbelief: "You mean... she is Yue?"

Upon uttering that name, which hadn't been mentioned in a long while, the burly male felt his tongue tie up a bit.

"Before, Yue was so thin you couldn't make out her appearance, but the Shaman Wu Yue I saw today looks exactly like that female who fled to our tribe earlier."

Thinking back to how they treated this frail little female when Yue's father and A Mu went to see the Beast God, both felt their legs go weak, overwhelmed with guilt.

"Shaman Wu Yue won't let the Snow Tiger Tribe's people..."

Speaking, he drew a line across his own black neck.

The burly male shook his head: "That Shaman Wu Yue probably already knew about us long ago, but did nothing—perhaps she's already forgotten us."

Upon hearing her partner's words, the female instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

The Snow Tiger Tribe entered the era of down garment production; Shaman Wu Yue was so busy she had no time to think about the previous owner's past life.