Chapter 454

Still struggling....

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Yuan Lang gave a humming laugh: "You really are being careful about your feathers."

Wu Yue just kept dry‑laughing and said nothing.

"Yue, people from the Mad Lion Tribe, Gray Wolf Tribe, and Eagle Tribe have arrived!"

Qingcao looked at the two figures, one tall and one short, in the distance, and instead of running, she just stood where she was and began to howl dryly.

This perfectly illustrates how powerful the penetrating force of a loud voice, trained in a beast world where communication basically relies on shouting, is.

Wu Yue heard the sound and looked over, only to see Qingcao already crouched down with several tribal females, not knowing what they were saying.

So, is that how you always deliver messages—so carelessly?

She stroked her chin and suddenly thought she should go back and tell Green Water Grandma, and simply rename Qingcao "Careless".

The two of them all the way to the shaman's residence, where the courtyard was already bustling.

Looking at the three familiar figures sitting around Snow Tiger Shaman, Wu Yue couldn't help but doubt life—aren't shamans supposed to be busy, only leaving their homes if something huge happens in the tribe?

Why are the shamans of these three tribes so idle, running over to their tribe at the drop of a hat?

"Yue, Yuan Lang, you two come in quickly."

Snow Tiger Shaman wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling as if he were about to be annoyed to death by the three old coots beside him.

Seeing Snow Tiger Shaman come trotting over to them, Wu Yue wiped the sweat from her face.

You, after all, are a clan shaman; such a wobbly running posture really doesn't suit you at all.

Probably because they just arrived at the tribe, the three shamans are currently stuffing their faces, not sparing a glance for the wobbly Snow Tiger Shaman.

"Shaman, the trade fair just ended not long ago, and these three shamans are back again?"

Wu Yue was full of doubt.

Snow Tiger Shaman looked disdainfully at the three unsightly old coots: "These three old guys have been obsessing over salt; this time they came to discuss us all going together to the Seafolk Tribe to exchange salt."

Wu Yue's little face stiffened, and she felt a bit guilty.

Their tribe now has plenty of salt; why would they need Beastman Warriors to risk their lives going that far to exchange salt?

Where the tribe's salt actually comes from, I know best in my heart—but can I say that?

Sneaking a glance at the gleeful Black Wolf Shaman gnawing on a chunk of meat, the three of them couldn't help but feel a bit guilty.

"Actually, there's something I've wanted to say for a while; it was also my mistake—the extracted salt crystals are the kind those little beasts eat."

"But the coarse salt from the seaside tribe turns white when boiled in water."

"If they also boiled it in water, they would definitely notice."

Wu Yue said softly.

Snow Tiger Shaman's expression changed instantly: "What do we do? If Black Wolf that old coot finds out where our tribe's salt comes from..."

He couldn't even imagine a beautiful future.

"What are you three whispering about?"

Black Wolf Shaman shook off the grease from his hands and narrowed his eyes at the trio sneaking about not far away.

This comment had weight; even the Eagle Shaman and Lion Shaman, who were still stuffing food into their mouths, put down their food and looked over.

Snow Tiger Shaman gave a dry laugh, rubbed his hands together: "We're just discussing some things—why are you asking so much?"

"Besides, after all these years of friendship, am I the type to hide things from you?"

The three tribal shamans all looked at him with expressions that said, "What kind of bear are you?" and eyes that showed they had no clue.

Snow Tiger Shaman, fed up, jumped up and began to howl: "What's with those looks? I'm just asking Yue when the people from the Watershed Tribe will come."

"If the Watershed Tribe only comes once a year, are we supposed to give them our salt in exchange?"

After he said that, the gazes of the three opposing tribal shamans changed.

"Tiger, at the trade fair you said there was basically no Watershed Tribe, right?"

Since it was about salt, the three shamans stopped eating, immediately stood up, and looked at Snow Tiger Shaman with solemn faces.

Snow Tiger Shaman: "…"

"Damn it! I accidentally bit my tongue..."

Embarrassedly scratching his head, with a look of unbearable weight on life, he shuffled back to the stone table.

"I'm not not telling you... it's just because... sigh!"

"What the shamaness said is correct—I don't know where the Watershed Tribe comes from, nor do I know if they can come every year."

"They brought only a little salt this year, but I exchanged a few crystal cores for it."

Saying this, he gave Black Wolf Shaman and the others a bitter glance: "I'm thinking, if the Watershed Tribe comes again, I'll detain them and then let you know to come over for the exchange."

"Otherwise, just going by what I say, would you believe me?"

I don't know why, but as he spoke, Snow Tiger Shaman ended up convincing himself, really feeling as if he were thinking of those three old buddies, and he even pouted a little out of resentment.

"I'm thinking of you all, yet you don't believe me..."

The three shamans looked at their old comrade, patted his shoulder, and said: "Really didn't expect you to think so far ahead."

"Yeah, no wonder you clearly got the salt, yet gave crystal cores to the Scorpion and Rock Salt Tribes, leaving the chance to go exchange salt at the seaside."

"Tiger, you've grown up..."

Snow Tiger Shaman: "..."

"Bullshit, I'm about to see the Beast God, and your tone of talking to me like I'm your little kid really pisses me off!"

Having successfully bluffed our way through, we must promptly make amends.

"Every year too many Beastman Warriors die in the salt exchange, so this time I'll divide the exchanged salt among you; if the Watershed Tribe doesn't come next year, we'll discuss again going to the seaside tribe to exchange salt."

Black Wolf Shaman frowned at the wrinkle‑faced Snow Tiger Shaman: "Is the salt you obtained enough to split among our four tribes?"

Xuehu Wu proudly lifted his chin: "I did spend five crystal cores, after all, it's naturally enough."

Several shamans, upon hearing it, immediately excitedly sat back at the stone table, happily discussing while again continuing to gorge themselves.

Xuehu Wu turned around after sighing in relief, and saw Wu Yue and Yuan Lang gazing at him with burning eyes, full of admiration.

Meow?

What's this?

"Shaman, you are truly wise; I never expected you to be the one with the deepest thoughts."

Yuan Lang nodded in deep agreement: "You're really practiced at swindling brothers."

After the wise Xuehu Wu floated in Wu Yue's praise for a moment, he came to his senses: "What the heck?"

Xuehu Wu, feeling a bit light‑headed, gave a dry cough twice and lifted his chin: "That's only natural; do you really think I got this shaman position for nothing?"

Having said that, he hummed and hawed as he turned to discuss the salt distribution with his three old companions.

After a heated discussion, Xuehu Wu, feeling the pinch, agreed and produced half of the salt to trade with the three tribes.

The shamans of the three tribes exchanged glances, their excitement beyond words, each grinning wide enough to show their teeth.

"I'm heading back first."

Looking at the several shamans huffing and puffing in the yard ahead, Yuan Lang bent over and whispered into the ear of the young female beside him.

Wu Yue heard that, looked up at him, but saw the beastfolk's gaze directed toward where they had previously cured the salted meat, and instantly understood: "All right, go ahead."

The beastfolk curled the corner of his mouth into a smile, nodded, and walked out.

Teng Qian watched in horror as his beast‑skin garment was torn open by the female atop him, thinking that he would later have to become mates with a female even more burly than himself, and felt his formerly good life turn bleak.

"Teng Qian, come out."

The beastfolk's low voice sounded from outside; the beastfolk who had been lying flat awaiting violation stiffened, then reached out and pulled the female still tearing at his beast‑skin to one side, tightened the beast‑skin belt, and ran out.

"Coming, coming!"

The female beastfolk looked at the scattered beast‑skins around, then touched the back of her neck where she had just been lifted, and hehehe laughed.

Dead look! Teng Qian is clearly willing.

So next time we must not hold back, just go straight for it.

Thinking that, he let out an "ah‑oo" and rolled about on the kang that could sleep four or five sturdy men, rolling while crying "ah‑oo, ah‑oo," utterly excited.

On this side, Teng Qian, dragged away by his elder brother, together with a few brothers, arrived at another food‑storage cave behind the tribe's hill.

"Boss, where should we put this salt?"

Each beastman warrior carried on his back a basket half his height, lined with large leaves and filled with pale‑blue crystalline salt.

"Take it to the tribe's storeroom."

When the Snow Tiger Tribe built their houses, they also constructed a batch of storehouses for the purpose of storing the food turned over by the hunting and gathering parties.

Now the front row of storehouses is completely filled, all with various dried fruits and vegetables made by the females.

Before dawn the next day, the Black Wolf shaman sprang up from the kang, his posture showing an agility unheard of for someone his age.

Looking at the three old coots still yelling beside him, the Black Wolf shaman glanced at his own dry, shriveled feet, hehehed, and stretched out his wicked feet toward them.

"How dare you give the shaman rotten meat!"

As the Eagle shaman was dreaming of eating delicious food, a foul stench of long‑spoiled game hit his nostrils; he instantly shouted and sat up with a "huh."

But...

As the Black Wolf shaman was moving his foot toward the Wild Lion shaman's head, he turned puzzled to look at the Eagle shaman who had just bounced up from the kang: "What are you thinking? It's still early for eating."

While speaking, he also swung his foot back and forth beside the Wild Lion shaman's head.

Seeing this, the Eagle shaman felt terrible: "You damn well just woke me up like that!"

The Black Wolf shaman hehehed and nodded: "Of course."

Having said that, he again swung his foot toward the Snow Tiger shaman who was yelling with his mouth open: "Tiger, get up—today we're exchanging salt."

The Wild Lion shaman, awakened by the stench, just opened his eyes to see a dry, stinky foot drop into the wide mouth of some old guy.

Holding his stomach, for some reason, even before eating he felt full.

Wu Yue rose early, prepared the food, and together with the two half‑beast warriors beside Xuehu Wu carried it to the shaman's courtyard, only to find the three bigwigs seated around the stone table looking dark‑faced.

Especially Xuehu Wu, who from time to time let out a few dry retches, looking somewhat pained.

"Shaman, what's wrong with you? Feeling unwell? Want some herbal tea?"

Xuehu Wu looked at the worried little female beside him and felt reassured: "It's not that I'm unwell; I ate something unclear this morning and feel a bit off."

"Unclear object?"

Wu Yue suddenly thought of some bugs, scratched his head: "Maybe the insect‑repelling herbs in your room need changing; I'll fetch some fresh ones later."

Xuehu Wu was about to say more when he saw the Black Wolf shaman opposite him with palms together, his wrinkled old eyes also holding an embarrassed look.

He swallowed the retort that was about to escape, gave a dark‑faced nod: "Yeah, change it then."

Finally, having saved face before the youngster, the Black Wolf shaman sighed in relief, his gaze toward Xuehu Wu turning somewhat appeasing.

"Oh dear, the food the little female made is really fragrant."

He sighed, stood up, took a bowl and filled it with food, then brought it to Xuehu Wu: "Tiger, don't be angry, come on, have some food to calm down."

"Hehe."

Xuehu Wu gave a cold snort, but still took the food with a sour face.

Although chewing the old wolf's stinky foot this morning had put him in a bad mood, this food was made by Yue and is delicious.

The four shamans, huffing and puffing, finished off all the food Wu Yue had brought, then each, with a round belly, followed Xuehu Wu toward the storehouse.

"!!!"

The Black Wolf shaman rubbed his belly in satisfaction, lamenting that after returning to Buluo he'd never again get to eat such tasty food, when suddenly the sight of a "house" before him shocked him so much he almost tripped over his own feet.

"What... what is this?"

He stretched out his hand in disbelief, only wanting to point at the wall ahead that was as high as three Beastfolk: "Is this also a house?"

Even if Beastfolk turned into their beast forms and went in, they couldn't jump out.

The Flying Eagle Shaman and the Furious Lion Shaman were equally astonished; the three old men's eyes were practically popping out of their sockets.

Xuehu Wu stroked his beard smugly; needless to say, the three old fogeys' unsophisticated appearance greatly satisfied his vanity.

At this moment, that smug feeling in his heart need not be mentioned.

"This is where our tribe stores food."

Having said that, he strode straight toward the great door ahead.

Outside the door stood several Half-Beast Warriors; seeing them enter, they hurriedly bowed and saluted: "Greetings, Shaman."

Xuehu Wu nodded: "Open the door."

The Half-Beast Warriors bowed in assent, then returned to the side of the great door and lightly tapped the bamboo tube on it.

As everyone held their breath, they heard a landing sound from inside, and then the heavy wooden door, as tall as the wall, slowly opened to a gap wide enough for two Beastman Warriors to pass side by side."

Looking at the expressions of his old companions behind him, Xuehu Wu felt smug enough to burst into heaven.

"Let's go, the salt is just placed inside the storehouse."

As his words fell, he took the lead and walked in.

The Beastman Warriors of the three tribes surrounded their own shaman and slowly walked toward the massive gate before them.