LSLFBW: Chapter 64

The small earthen slope next to Qi Bai’s cave had become a flat land almost as high as the stone platform after a winter of persistent transportation. However, this was the first year he was using the land. QI Bai still needed to do some simple reclaiming before he started farming.

It sounded simple to reclaim the land. It just involved picking out some gravel and plowing the soil into a regular shape and looseness. However, it wasn’t as easy as imagined when actually doing it.

Qi Bai squatted on the ground and used a wooden rake for a long time before he finally cleared out a small piece of land. He stood up and pounded his bent waist.

His vegetable garden was only half an acre. Even if he worked slowly like he was doing now, it would be finished in two days at most.

However, this wasn’t a long-term solution. If he found suitable crops to grow, he would inevitably face large-scale land reclamation. It seemed that improving tools must be put on the agenda as soon as possible.

The tied Chuan Chuan kept his head down and sniffed the thin snow. From time to time, he would dig a few times in the snow to find fresh green buds to chew.

Perhaps it was because Qi Bai often gave Chuan Chuan special treatment, but Chuan Chuan was obviously taller than the other lambs in the sheepfold. Even the two small horns on his head grew much faster than other sheep.

In time, Qi Bai believed that Chuan Chuan would definitely become the most handsome four-eared sheep in the Black Mountain Tribe.

As if aware of Qi Bai’s gaze, Chuan Chuan swallowed the wild grass and ran to Qi Bai’s side.

At this time, Hu Meng ran up and shouted to Qi Bai, “Bao Bai, Grandpa Priest wants you to go to his cave.”

“Yes, I’ll be right there.”

Qi Bai touched the pair of curly ears on Chuan Chuan’s head and held the straw rope. “Dad is going out. You have to go home first.”

The caves of Yang Luo and Zhu Zhu had already been dug. Yang Luo’s cave was in the middle between the children’s cave and Hou Yan’s cave, while Zhu Zhu’s cave was on the other side of the collective cave. This made it convenient to prepare food for the children every day.

Yang Luo’s cave was the largest and most ‘luxurious’ of all the caves in the tribe. The moment one entered through the door, they could see Yang Luo’s decorations hanging all over the wall. The most eye-catching one was the wolf king’s head in the middle.

The fur of the wolf king that Lang Ze killed during the wolf pack attack had already been distributed to Lang Ze. Yang Luo didn’t throw away the remaining wolf king’s head.

It wasn’t known what method he used, but he eventually made this head into a lifelike specimen. He also made some repairs to make the whole head look majestic.

In addition, surrounding the wolf king’s head were animal teeth, bones, feathers, straw, bamboo, and even stones. Anything that Yang Luo thought was meaningful would be decorated on his wall.

Not to mention the other members of the tribe, even Qi Bai felt that Yang Luo’s wall combined the beauty of art and the mystery of sacrifice. This made people feel at a glance that the person living in the cave had a superior status.

At this time, Yang Luo, Hou Yan and Lang Ze were sitting at the stone table in front of the wall and waiting for him.

Ever since the tribe members helped Yang Luo cave out a larger stone table in his cave, their small meeting room for four was moved to Yang Luo’s cave. Therefore, Qi Bai was familiar with this situation and sat down next to Lang Ze with familiarity.

Yang Luo got straight to the point. “There isn’t much salt left in the tribe. Once the weather gets hotter, we will need more salt to store food.”

“I have discussed with the tribe leader that while the snow outside the tribe hasn’t completely melted and it isn’t suitable for collective hunting, you should go to the beach and bring back some salt.”

Hou Yan added, “The last time the hunting team went to the sea, Lang Ze mentioned a shorter route.”

Qi Bai nodded. The first time the five of them went out to look for salt, they speculated that the coastline might extend all the way to the east of the tribe. This meant they would likely only need two days to reach the seaside.

“At that time, both Lang Ze and Xiang Yu couldn’t guarantee that we could reach the destination using this route, and we didn’t have much time. This meant we ended up taking the three day journey to the sea.” Hou Yan continued, “Now is the time to try and find that route.”

The main purpose of this trip was to explore the route, so there were only three people on the trip: Ma Shu, Ma Ling, and Lang Ze.

The beast forms of the three of them possessed speed and endurance, making them suitable for exploration. During the days when they were away, Hou Yan would organize the horned beastmen to protect the tribe.

However, Qi Bai raised his hand at this time. Yang Luo shook his head directly. “You can’t follow them. You can’t keep up with their speed.”

Qi Bai tried to straighten his back. “I can. I can run very quickly. I went with them the first time they went out. I won’t hold them back.”

Qi Bai didn’t deny that after hearing Yang Luo and Hou Yan mention going to the beach, his first thought was that he could finally eat seafood again.

Of course, eating seafood was just a byproduct. Qi Bai wanted to go out with the hunting team mainly to find some familiar plants.

As a modern person who was accustomed to Chinese food, what Qi Bai wanted to find the most was grain crops.

Many plants were still seedlings in spring. Qi Bai couldn’t guarantee that he could recognize them relying solely on his limited agricultural knowledge. Even so, he still needed to go out and try.

Lang Ze saw Qi Bai’s determined eyes and said, “You need to promise to follow my arrangements and not act alone.”

Yang Luo was about to refuse but swallowed the words down. He hesitated for a long time before deciding not to speak.

There was no way. He might be the priest and Hou Yan was the chief, but the person who could really make decisions in the tribe was Lang Ze. Moreover, Lang Ze was the most powerful warrior in the tribe. Qi Bai’s safety could be guaranteed with his protection.

Qi Bai nodded immediately. “I promise.”

At this time, QI Bai didn’t know what he would face tomorrow morning. He happily returned home and started to prepare supplies for the trip.

The most important thing was the arrangement of Chuan Chuan during these days.

After all, Chuan Chuan always followed Lang Ze when Qi Bai couldn’t take care of him. This time, both he and Lang Ze were going out. This meant it was very important to arrange Chuan Chuan.

Qi Bai squatted in front of Chuan Chuan and reached out his hand. “Now you have two choices. One is to go to the sheepfold and fight your brothers and sisters for food. The other is that I will find a temporary nanny for you. You choose.”

Chuan Chuan had no idea what his poop shoveler was saying. As a smart lamb, he would naturally choose the right hand with the sweet potato rather than the empty left hand.

“Okay.” Qi Bai withdrew his hand and said ruthlessly, “This is your own choice. Let’s go.”

Qi Bai led Chuan Chuan, who was still chewing food, outside the cave. He crossed the square of the tribe and walked towards the northernmost part of the Black Mountain.

The southernmost mountain wall where Qi Bai lived had been chiseled into evenly spaced stone steps for him and Lang Ze. In fact, no one quite understood why Qi Bai and Lang Ze had to work on these steps. It was only after they finished that people realized how beautiful and convenient these steps were.

The tribe members living in the northernmost part of the Black Mountain obviously hadn’t realized this. Since this side wasn’t connected to the dirt ground and it was more difficult to walk on, Qi Bai simply carried Chuan Chuan directly.

The moment Ci Yi in the cave saw QI Bai, he immediately stood up. His eyes were looking at the ground and he only dared to look up when Qi Bai spoke.

Qi Bai was a bit embarrassed as he said, “Ci Yi, I’m going to the beach with Lang Ze and the others to get salt tomorrow. Can you help me take care of Chuan Chuan for a few days?”

The temporary nanny that Qi Bai chose for Chuan Chuan was Ci Yi.

Ci Yi was a loner and didn’t have many friends. Chuan Chuan was just the right person to keep him company.

In addition, Ci Yi was one of the horned beastmen responsible for guarding the sheepfold. He was familiar with the sheep and knew how to take care of them. If he went to the sheepfold to guard, he could take Chuan Chuan with him to feed. This was very convenient.

“Of course, I won’t let you help me for nothing.” Qi Bai showed the jerky in his hand. “This is what I will exchange with you.”

Qi Bai actually liked the beastmen’s simple and straightforward style of doing things. How much reward was exchanged for how much help given? If they wanted to accept it, then they accepted it. If they didn’t want it, they could refuse at any time.

Qi Bai waited quietly. Then he saw Ci Yi nodding. “Okay.”

Qi Bai smiled. “These two are Chuan Chuan’s food bowls, and this is the hay he usually uses. I will just put them here with you today. If you have any questions, you can ask me before I leave tomorrow.”

“Okay.” Ci Yi still looked at the ground while nodding.

Qi Bai felt that his presence here made Ci Yi a bit uncomfortable, so he comforted Chuan Chuan a few times before leaving Ci Yi’s cave.

After returning to his cave, Qi Bai started to prepare his own supplies.

Compared to the belongings he moved out for Chuan Chuan, his own things were much simpler.

First, the food.

If everything went according to their original plan, they would be able to return in four or five days. In addition, there were more edible plants outside now. This meant there was no need to prepare a lot of food.

Qi Bai packed the jerky and sweet potatoes that he usually used as snacks into the animal skin backpack. Then he stuffed the sheathed bone knife that Lang Ze gave him into the backpack.

The second thing was the container.

He wasn’t sure if there would still be a bamboo forest by the beach this time, so they had to prepare bamboo tubes for salt in advance.

However, Qi Bai didn’t need to worry about this. His beast form was too small, and he couldn’t carry a large bamboo tube. He just needed to bring a water bottle for drinking water.

The next morning, Qi Bai was about to go out with his animal skin bad when Leather knocked on his door first.

Behind Lang Ze was a huge saddle.

After two salt transportation experiences, everyone had felt how useful the saddle Qi Bai wove with grass and vines that could be placed horizontally on the back. It not only saved effort, but most importantly, the horned beastmen could carry more supplies on their backs.

Therefore, almost every beastmen would make a sturdy saddle for themselves and tie the rattan baskets firmly on them. It was just that the shape and material of everyone’s saddle was different.

This was Lang Ze’s saddle. In order to suit his beast form, Qi Bai helped Lang Ze modify it carefully.

In terms of material, Qi Bai chose bamboo, which was tougher and smoother. He carefully wrapped every part that touched the body with animal skins.

The front of the bamboo saddle was in the shape of a teardrop. This way when Lang Ze put his head in, the saddle could be stuck on his body and wouldn’t fall off no matter how he moved.

Just when Qi Bai thought Lang Ze was going down the mountain with him, Lang Ze said, “Change into beast form.”

Qi Bai: “?”

By the time the white wolf with a bamboo saddle on his back appeared, many tribe members had already gathered in the square to see them off.

No one noticed that in addition to the two large rattan baskets filled with bamboo tubes, Lang Ze also had a slightly smaller exquisite basket.

Two tall horses, one black and one maroon, were standing in the middle of the crowd. They were Ma Shu and Ma Ling, who had transformed into beast form. Their beast forms were more suitable for wearing saddles, and they seemed to be at ease at this moment.

Ma Ling snorted when he saw Lang Ze while Ma Shu tilted his head and shook his long tail. Beside them, She Li and Tu Ya were combing their manes with a smile.

Yang Luo looked behind Lang Ze. “Where is Bao Bai?”

Everyone knew that Bao Bai was also going, and Ci Yi even brought Chuan Chuan with him.

After Yang Luo asked this question, everyone looked behind the giant wolf and found that Qi Bai was indeed not here.

“Meow.”

Then they saw the smaller bamboo basket on Lang Ze’s left side moving. A small snow leopard with a snow-white body pushed open the lid of the bamboo basket.

He seemed a bit shy. He stretched out his paws, waved to Ci Yi and Chuan Chuan, and slipped back into the bamboo basket.

Qi Bai couldn’t help thinking about what had just happened.

They had clearly agreed to travel together, but Lang Ze asked him to transform into his beast form.

However, Lang Ze only said, “You said you would listen to me.” The little snow leopard, who tried to struggle, could only quiet down and be steadily carried in the bamboo basket.

Lang Ze had obviously taken good care of the bamboo basket. There was soft animal skin at the bottom of the basket and a small animal skin bag next to it. Qi Bai could smell the aroma of the meat inside without even opening it.

The lid above his head was lifted, and Lang Ze put his water bottle in. “We might not stop while on the road. If you are hungry or thirsty, remember to eat by yourself and don’t worry about us.”

Until now, Lang Ze was still thinking of the scene where the snow leopard stared at him with confused eyes. He couldn’t help sweeping his big tail.

However, Qi Bai obviously didn’t think he was cute. He thought of everyone’s teasing expressions just now, and the snow leopard’s thick paw pads hugged his round head. Really, it was so embarrassing…

At the same time, he couldn’t help feeling that Lang Ze was really thoughtful. After all, only the partners of the beastmen could sit on their backs. He was currently in a bamboo basket, so he wasn’t sitting directly on Lang Ze’s back.

Qi Bai’s bamboo basket was right next to Lang Ze’s neck. The moment Lang Ze heard the voice of the little snow leopard, he raised his head and howled as a signal to set off.

Ma Shu and Ma Ling responded one after another.

The gate of the tribe slowly opened. The giant wolf ran out first, followed by two horses. The three figures quickly disappeared into the dense forest.