LSLFBW: Chapter 62

In the collective cave, only Zhu Zhu was cooking dinner. Qi Bai asked, “What about everyone?”

Zhu Zhu’s movements of his hands didn’t stop. “The little children have followed Priest Yang Luo to collect the weeds that the four-eared sheep eat. Are you looking for the priest?”

Qi Bai also collected weeds, but he was used to picking some wild vegetables when taking a walk. This meant he wasn’t very clear about the time when Yang Luo and the others went out collecting.”

“Okay.” Qi Bai nodded. “Then I’ll wait here for him to come back.”

Even though he said he would wait here, Qi Bai couldn’t just watch Zhu Zhu work alone. He could help with everything from washing vegetables to cutting meat.

By the time dinner was almost ready, Yang Luo returned to the cave with a group of children. He looked at Qi Bai with some confusion. “What do you want to talk to me about so late?”

Qi Bai brought out the large stone slab as if presenting a treasure. “Look, this is the pattern of the cave I designed for the children of the tribe.”

There were only neat, straight lines drawn on the stone slab. Even though Yang Luo couldn’t imagine what type of cave would be dug out according to Qi Bai’s drawing, he liked it just by looking at it.

A few days ago, Qi Bai had already told Yang Luo that after the wall was built, he would gather everyone to help dig a new cave for Yang Luo and the children. Therefore, Qi Bai designed the cave where the children would live in the future very carefully.

After all, even for his own cave, he had only gone over the effect in his mind before starting to dig it directly. The blueprint in his hand was not only based on on-site measurements but also revised it several times. Finally, he chose the version that he was most satisfied with.

Yang Luo naturally didn’t forget Qi Bai’s previous promise to him, but he hadn’t expected that Qi Bai had already made preparations so early. On the day the wall was built, he came to discuss this matter with Yang Luo. It seemed that he planned to start immediately.

Yang Luo’s heart was actually a bit moved, but he had learned how to make others feel grateful to him. He never learned to be grateful to others.

Therefore, Yang Luo’s expression didn’t change as he asked, “Didn’t you also say that you would ask everyone to help dig a cave for me and Zhu Zhu?”

Qi Bai nodded and turned the slate to the back. He said with some embarrassment, “IT is just that you and Zhu Zhu must have your own preferences. I didn’t draw it as detailed as the cave for the children.”

Qi Bai pointed to a block next to him. “But no matter which house it is, I think this stove is very necessary.”

There was no stove in Qi Bai’s own cave. Initially when he dug the cave, the tribe hadn’t invented how to make clay bricks and he hadn’t thought too far ahead.

Even though Qi Bai now used charcoal most of the time, it was always inconvenient without a fixed stove.

Now it was different. Bricks could be made at any time in the tribe. As long as a chimney was left in advance when digging the cave, it would be much more convenient for everyone to cook in the cave in the future.

Of course, if they built a brick house then they could just leave the flue. They could also build the wall into a double-layered fire wall for smoke to escape. This would definitely be much warmer than living in a cave.

It was just that the temperature was too low now. It was okay to build the wall that was urgently needed, but if it was a house that people needed to live in, it was better to wait until the weather warmed up before building the foundation. If the foundation of the house was unstable, it would be better to live in a cave.

Yang Luo just listened to Qi Bai talking to him non-stop. Even though he considered himself to be the smartest beastman in the tribe besides Qi Bai, he couldn’t understand it at all.

However, he at least understood that the cave where the children lived was the largest and most complicated. He shook his confused head and said, “Then you lead everyone to dig the children’s cave first.”

Qi Bai waited for Yang Luo’s approval and immediately said confidently, “Just leave it to us.”

Of course, even if Qi Bai planned everything, it wouldn’t work without manpower to help.

Qi Bai returned to the cave, and took down the small comb and dustpan that he used to comb Lang Ze’s hair from the cupboard. Then he brought it along with the cave design he had made to Lang Ze’s cave.

A white wolf stood in the middle of the cave, his fur covered with a layer of frost which slowly melted into tiny water droplets due to the temperature of the room. Then it was gently shaken off by him.

Ever since Lang Ze revealed his fur shedding mechanism was different from everyone else, Qi Bai made an agreement with Lang Ze to comb his fur every five days.

Qi Bai said in a rather ‘scheming’ way that he didn’t have enough fur to make the little wolf. But in fact, he was a bit sad because he would have no ‘dog’ to pet after Lang Ze shed all his fur.

Fortunately, Lang Ze hadn’t noticed his little thoughts so far. Instead, he cooperated very well every time and even took a bath in advance to make his fur cleaner.

Qi Bai put down what he was holding. He found a piece of animal skin and started to work on Leather under the pretext of helping him wipe the water off his body.

The fur on Lang Ze’s body became thicker. Qi Bai wiped it with a piece of animal skin, and the back of his hand was almost completely covered. Qi Bai could feel that Lang Ze’s body was getting stronger.

Once the moisture on the white wolf’s body was almost dry, Lang Ze tucked his two front legs under his body and lay upright on the wooden bed. Meanwhile, Qi Bai knelt beside him and used the small comb in his hand to smooth out Lang Ze’s silver-white fur bit by bit.

Now the changes in Lang Ze’s fur could be seen more clearly. The outermost layer of fur was soft and smooth. It shone like water in the firelight, while the fur underneath was soft and delicate like the finest flower stamens.

Qi Bai was amazed by Lang Ze’s beautiful fur that was like silk. Then he sighed in his heart because he could no longer comb out a lot of fur at once like he did in the beginning.

Qi Bai asked unwillingly, “Your fur is completely different from before. Does this prove that you are an adult?”

Lang Ze’s body suddenly stiffened. It was a stiffness that Qi Bai could feel. He stretched his head in front of the white wolf and asked, “What’s wrong? Can’t I ask about this?”

Lang Ze thought about his experiences over the past few days and felt that his whole body was starting to get hot. Fortunately, he was now in beast form. His thick fur covered everything, making it impossible for Qi Bai to see his expression.

The adults in the tribe had always said that adult beastmen were different from children. They would naturally know the change when they reached adulthood.

Lang Ze hadn’t believed it at first until he experienced it himself. Then he understood what the adult beastmen in the tribe meant.

It was precisely because of this that he had been unsure about how to get along with Qi Bai these days. He didn’t know how to explain this change to Qi Bai.

Qi Bai looked at Lang Ze, who remained motionless, neither nodding or shaking his head. It seemed that he would keep this posture as long as Qi Bai didn’t bring up the next topic.

Qi Bai was even more curious but didn’t want Lang Ze to feel worried, even though he didn’t quite understand why Lang Ze was worried.

Qi Bai put the large stone slab in front of the white wolf. “This is the final blueprint I drew. I have already gone to see the priest. Let’s start construction according to this tomorrow.”

This was also the important reason why Qi Bai came to find Lang Ze today. After all, the main force of digging the cave was still the beastmen. Telling Lang Ze the news of the start of the work would make it easier for him to arrange the work of the hunting team.

Lang Ze’s body finally relaxed. His dark blue eyes drooped slightly as he looked carefully at every line on Qi Bai’s blueprint. He listened to Qi Bai’s detailed description, nodding from time to time to indicate that he understood or shaking his head to ask Qi Bai to explain in more detail.

Even though he had already discussed with Lang Ze about digging the cave, the work that everyone needed to do still had to be done.

Early the next morning, Qi Bai carried a rattan basket full of wild vegetables on his back and led Chuan Chuan to the sheepfold.

He finished preparing the fodder and was carrying a small bamboo tube full of milk back home when he saw that the door of Lang Ze’s house was open.

At this time of year, the hunting team would normally be out there collecting firewood and clay, but this work was greatly reduced with the completion of the wall.

Lang Ze had already prepared all the tools for digging a cave. Once he saw Qi Bai coming back, he walked to the platform in front of the cave and blew a loud whistle toward the valley. Soon, someone in the valley stuck his head out to check.

Soon, the square was filled with horned beastmen who were also holding tools.

The children’s cave was to the right of the collective cave and was located on both sides of the angle of the mountain. Further to the right was the cave selected by Yang Luo that hadn’t been excavated yet. To the right of Yang Luo’s cave was Hou Yan’s cave.

Qi Bai drew the shape of a cave entrance on the stone wall. Everyone started digging directly according to the pattern drawn by Qi Bai.

More than a dozen horned beastmen of the tribe worked together to dig a cave. The progress could be described as leaps and bounds. In just a few days, the children’s cave was completed.

In the middle of the cave, a longer table was made according to the style of the stone table and stone bench made by Qi Bai. On the stone wall opposite the long table were rows of bunk beds carved into the stone wall.

Since the children’s cave was inhabited by children under the age of 14, each stone bed was only two meters long. Even if the children transformed into beasts, they could still sleep on the bed.

In order to prevent the children from sleeping restlessly, a shielding stone wall was left on the edge of each stone bed. Hooks were carved above the stone bed and could be used to hang bamboo curtains or animal skins to protect the privacy of the children.

Of course, for the children who now slept in the same bed almost every day, it was really unknown whether they would need this hook.

The three sides of the stone bed were carved into small cabinets where the children could place their belongings. The steps to the upper bunks were carved between the beds.

There were currently 17 children living in the collective cave. As the children grew up, the number of children who needed to live in the children’s cave would gradually decrease. Qi Bai only made 18 beds this time. There were five rows of ten beds on the left stone wall, and four rows of eight beds on the right stone wall.

The outside part on the right was made into a stove for cooking. The large stove made of clay bricks and mud could hold three ceramic pots at the same time. The chimney built along the outside of the stone wall would discharge the smoke produced by the fire.

Finally, a large bamboo door was added. The construction of the children’s cave seemed simple, but it was both beautiful and practical.

There were neatly made beds, a large stone table, and a stove that could hold clay pots.

The children cheered and rushed into their new home.

Zhu Ya was even happy that Yang Luo didn’t allow him to dig his own cave. How could he dig such a beautiful cave by himself? Even his father, the chief of the Pig Tribe, couldn’t live in such a beautiful cave.

The upper bunk, which no one had seen before, was loved by all the children. Just climbing up and down the stone stairs was enough for everyone to play. However, for the safety of the children, only the older children were allowed to live in the upper bunk.

Bao Xing and Bao Yue, the brother and sister, lived in the outermost bunk beds. Bao Yue’s long tail hung down from the upper bunk and deliberately swung in front of Bao Xing’s eyes.

Bao Xing, who was originally a bit depressed, was attracted by his sister’s tail. He was so focused on grabbing the flexible tail that he completely forgot about the grievance of being forced to live in the lower bunk.

Lu Xia stood by, waiting obediently for Lu Guo, who was helping Ta Yun spread hay on the bed.

Lu Xia was only three years old and was the youngest child in the tribe, but she had always lived with her mother Lu Guo. This meant there was no bed for her in the cave. At this moment, her little hand was touching the edge of Ta Yun’s bed, but she took her hand back after only a few touches.

For Lu Xia, being able to live with her mother was the most important thing, even if she was offered such a beautiful cave in exchange.

Today, there were quite a few sub-beastmen like Lu Guo who came to help. After these days, the tribe members’ ability to accept new things had long exceeded when they first came to the tribe. Everyone admired Qi Bai’s ideas while also silently thinking about transforming their own caves. At least, they really wanted to build a stove outside the cave.

The originally empty cave immediately became warm after it was filled with children.

Yang Luo discovered another function of the long table in the cave. He sat on the bench and silently counted the number of people in his mind. He found that the long table could accommodate all the people in the tribe!

Just as Yang Luo was thinking of asking everyone to come sit down and try it out, Tu Ya suddenly ran into the cave.

“Priest! Priest! Go and see Shu Lin!”