Chapter 198: Don’t Spoil It Too Much

After five days of exams, Jian Mo accepted a total of seventeen students.

Five were from the Riverside Tribe—sub-beastmen Ye Luo, Xi Lu, Min Dang, Chen Yi, and the beastman Yan Yun. The remaining twelve came from other tribes; among them was Bei Ya, whose face had been scarred.

Those twelve would need to live in Riverside for a while to study diligently under Jian Mo.

Riverside had no objection, and neither did the other tribes.

Yun Long even brought people over to deliver a pile of supplies to Riverside in thanks for looking after everyone.

Mengshui beastman Ya Zheng and sub-beastman Luan Feng made it into Jian Mo’s first cohort. Their chief Yun Long immediately sensed the advantages of this and had been walking with the wind in his step for days—if he weren’t chief himself, he might have signed up, too.

Jian Mo wanted to use late autumn and winter to cover as much of the foundational knowledge for witch-doctors as possible, build his students’ ability to treat minor ailments and handle emergencies, then send them back to their tribes to practice. Each winter thereafter, they would return for further training.

This training model wouldn’t disrupt their daily lives and would help them digest what they learned.

Lifespans here are long; they can improve year by year through study and practice.

They can also become teachers within their own tribes, spreading knowledge and helping the whole region develop.

Because the target “talent profile” was more like village barefoot doctors than PhD-level general practitioners, Jian Mo felt the task wouldn’t be too hard, and the pressure manageable.

He quite liked this model.

Teaching teaches the teacher; while teaching he could patch gaps in his own basics, note down what he didn’t yet understand, and either research it when he had time or, once he’d accumulated enough questions, go consult the Xingchu (Star-Store) tribe.

Once formal classes began, Jian Mo wasn’t so strict, and the students quickly grew close to him.

They had questions every day—some from angles that made Jian Mo feel like he was the one being examined.

“Why do we steam and sun wolf-blue grass three times?—Because wolf-blue is mildly toxic. Steaming drives off its toxicity; sun-drying prepares it for the next steaming. Repeating the cycle removes more toxin while retaining the medicinal effect.”

“Why use zhaomu root together with bright moss?—What we actually use are the tiny granules formed when zhaomu and bright moss coagulate. Noticed them? When you decoct the two together, there’s always some blackish stuff collecting at the bottom like grit.”

“Why mash the fruit of the ringing-leaf tree and steam it over water before adding it to other herbs?—Raw fruit is toxic and must be steamed, but if you simmer it long it breaks down and loses efficacy. So steam it first, then stir it into the decoction.”

“Why can clear-green blossom only be harvested in the morning and sun-dried at noon? Can’t we pick in the afternoon and dry it then?—I don’t actually know; that’s just what the formula says. But from what I’ve observed, a straight shot of noon sun dries it quickly without changing color or aroma. Afternoon drying leads to blackening and a dull scent—probably why the efficacy drops.”

…

That day, after answering “one hundred thousand whys,” and seeing no more hands raised, Jian Mo waved everyone off and headed home with his things.

Back home, he immediately spotted his cup on the table—filled with cooled leaf-tea, sweetened with honey chunks and other throat-soothing herbs, the liquid at body temperature.

He raised it, drank it down in one go, wiped his mouth, and slumped into a chair.

Bliss.

Wu Jiong had just finished feeding Jiujiu and Ying’ao. Coming in, he found Jian Mo sprawled on the bench and reached over to touch his cheek. “That tired?”

Jian Mo caught Wu Jiong’s hand and pressed it to his face with a sigh. “I’m okay. Just gotta push through.”

Wu Jiong looked worried. “Push through? Are the students hard to manage?”

Jian Mo shook his head. “It’s mostly that I realized my own basics aren’t that solid. While teaching I’m also filling my gaps, sorting out things I didn’t fully grasp—so it’s tiring—”

He sighed. “I slacked off a while back. Copied a bunch of formulas without thoroughly studying them. Now I’m paying it back.”

Wu Jiong used his other hand to massage his head. “You’ve worked hard. Anything I can do?”

Jian Mo: “You’ve already done it. You’ve handled all the housework lately. I feel a bit guilty.”

Hearing that, Wu Jiong squeezed both hands in and smushed Jian Mo’s cheeks so his lips puckered. “Being polite with me?”

Jian Mo hurriedly pried his hands away, laughing. “How am I being polite?”

Wu Jiong: “You’re not?”

Jian Mo clasped his hands. “I’m caring about you!”

Wu Jiong chuckled, bent to kiss him. “The chores aren’t heavy. Don’t worry. I’m just glad I’m here while you’re so busy.”

The students were adapting well to life in Riverside. They quickly got familiar with everyone—and with Jiujiu and Ying’ao.

Jiujiu has real talent for reading people. It can tell at a glance if someone likes it or not.

The students were grateful to Jian Mo and naturally fond of Jiujiu, too.

Sensing that, Jiujiu immediately sidled up and made itself part of the gang.

Lately it had been glued to Jian Mo’s students, playing with the kids less. The little ones even came to Jian Mo to complain in a huff—and were soothed and sent off.

Jian Mo had been busy; most of the time Wu Jiong looked after Jiujiu and Ying’ao, and Jian Mo only checked in now and then.

This day, Jian Mo gave the students a day off. With rare free time and the sun not yet down, he went to see Jiujiu.

Jiujiu wasn’t there, nor was Ying’ao, but both feed bowls were full—either Wu Jiong had stocked them, or the two had carried home a stash ahead of time.

One look in the bowls and Jian Mo’s attention was hijacked.

He stirred through with his hand—red millet fruit, antler greens, sweetroot, cones from the bigleaf pines… Good grief, we can’t always get this many delicacies together even for New Year’s.

He pounded up the path. “Wu Jiong—where did you go today?”

Wu Jiong had just come back and was changing. As he peeled off his hide robe, solid muscle came into view: narrow waist, long legs—pure hormone.

The moment Jian Mo saw him, his voice dropped and slowed; the urgency to get answers ebbed under sheer appreciation of the view.

Wu Jiong bent to pick up the robe. Passing by, he palmed Jian Mo’s head and turned it lightly. “What look is that?”

Jian Mo tilted his chin with a smile. “The look one uses for beautiful things. Come on—where did you go today? How’d you gather all that good stuff?”

Following his lead, Wu Jiong thought a moment and got it. “You mean what’s in Jiujiu’s bowl? Not me. Your students picked it.”

Jian Mo: “No way. On a rare day off they went foraging for Jiujiu?”

Wu Jiong: “Maybe because Jiujiu asked.”

Jian Mo blinked. “Asked how? Don’t tell me it ‘jiu-jiu-jiu’d’ at them about today’s menu and then sent them out?”

Wu Jiong: “It doesn’t need to talk. If it flies people to a place rich in food, they’ll pick it for it themselves. It’s been out every day lately, probably found a lot of good patches.”

Jian Mo still found it hard to picture. “That clever? And everyone just…goes along?”

Wu Jiong: “When I came back, it was leading people to pick ruby berries in the Mengshui lands. Probably still there. Want to take a look? We can pick some too.”

Ruby berries are like raspberries—bigger and sweeter though, and delicious. The only hassle is that their vines have short, stiff thorns. If you’re not careful, your hands get pricked.

Jian Mo didn’t hesitate. “Let’s go, let’s go!”

Wu Jiong laughed and reached for him. “Then let’s.”

He shifted into beast form and carried Jian Mo out the gate.

The great wolf ran fast. Jian Mo hugged his neck tight, wind in his face and a broad happiness in his chest.

They crossed forest and prairie in one stretch and reached Mengshui territory.

Normally they wouldn’t forage or hunt in another tribe’s lands, but grabbing a few wild berries was fine—once they met someone from Mengshui, they’d say a word.

Before they reached the spot, Jian Mo heard bright “jiu-jiu-jiu” calls up ahead—Jiujiu acting cute, pitching its voice.

He craned his neck for a long look and finally saw Jiujiu on the far side of the grove.

There were quite a few people over there as well.

Everyone had a back basket and was reaching carefully through the thorny gaps to pluck big, jewel-round crimson berries and drop them into their baskets.

The skins were delicate; now and then fingers squashed one and juice spattered out, sweet fragrance spreading on the air.

Catching the scent, Jiujiu got even more excited, bouncing: “Jiu-jiu!”

Someone, seeing it like that, tossed a berry high right into Jiujiu’s mouth.

It caught every throw perfectly—chomp, “jiu,” and people tossed more.

The wolf’s approach with Jian Mo on his back made enough of a racket that everyone turned to look.

Jiujiu turned too; seeing them, it hopped happily, eyes round and bright, trying to nuzzle Jian Mo and the wolf with its fluffy head.

Perched on the wolf, Jian Mo couldn’t take the impact of that heavy noggin and hurriedly pushed Jiujiu’s cheek away.

“Teacher, what brings you here?” people called.

“I heard you were picking here,” Jian Mo said, “and since I had a free moment I figured I’d come grab some too.”

At that, they pulled each other aside to make room, greeting them warmly. “Teacher, stand over here. This year’s ruby berries are perfect—no tartness at all.”

Someone handed them a big handful.

Jian Mo split it with Wu Jiong and popped one in his mouth. Sweet juice and berry fragrance bloomed across his tongue. “You’re right—no sourness.”

“It was Jiujiu who led us. No idea how it found such a great thicket in the brush.”

“Maybe because it loves to eat and watches for these things.”

“Could be,” Jian Mo said. “When it comes to food, it’s sharp.”

Everyone laughed. “For sure.”

Jian Mo smiled too. “On a rare rest day I thought you’d all relax in the tribe. Didn’t expect you to be out picking. Did Jiujiu round you up? Next time it does, ignore it.”

“Who could turn Jiujiu down? Those big round eyes, tugging your clothes, that soft, sweet, coy little voice…I can’t resist.”

“And the patches it finds are great. It’s nice to stretch our legs too.”

“Teacher, we’re not tired. If we were, we wouldn’t come out. Don’t worry.”

Seeing all the smiles, Jian Mo patted Jiujiu. “All right. As long as you’re having fun.”

Jiujiu showed not the slightest guilt at being caught, just cocked its head and acted cute. “Jiu-jiu!”

Ruby berry brambles are full of thorns, and with Jiujiu’s bulk and clumsy paws it can’t really pick them. Bringing people is much more efficient.

They picked while feeding Jiujiu between handfuls.

Every time it swallowed, it rubbed against the feeder and gave two falsetto “jiu-jius.”

The feeders grinned from ear to ear—like doting dads.

After watching a while and feeling he couldn’t bear to look, Jian Mo dragged Wu Jiong to another side to pick.

Once that patch was stripped clean, Jiujiu called again, took a running start, flew up, circled in the sky, and signaled for them to follow.

No one complained.

So everyone set off anew behind Jiujiu.

Curious what lay ahead, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong followed along.

Half an hour later, Jiujiu brought them to a clearing.

It was autumn; the shrubs and vines there had withered, the ground a tangle of pale, dry stems and leaves.

Jiujiu stopped, wiggled its butt left and right to open a path through the briars, then pawed at the mat.

Everyone watched—and soon saw that under the dry vines and twigs, fresh green shoots were pushing up.

Jiujiu puffed out its chest. “Jiu!”

Jian Mo peered closer. “Well now—an entire patch of jade-marrow grass shoots!”

These shoots are a bit like asparagus—very tender, a clean, sweet taste—great raw, cooked, even dipped in hotpot. The trouble is they’re hard to find.

Occasionally you see a few in the wild; at best you bring them home to stir-fry with cured meat as a side. Hardly ever enough for a main dish.

Who’d have thought Jiujiu would find a continuous stand?

With delicacies before them, no one stood on ceremony. They stepped into the litter, parted the dry cover, and used sticks to pry the shoots out carefully.

Only a third of the stem shows above ground; two-thirds are below. Just snapping the visible tips would be a waste.

No wonder Jiujiu didn’t pick them itself and brought people instead.

What a crafty bird-beast.

After they harvested the patch, Jiujiu did a quick sweep to confirm nothing was missed, then, satisfied, led everyone back.

The students originally wanted to give all the berries and shoots to Jiujiu, but Jian Mo firmly refused. “These ruby berries and shoots are delicious. Take them home and eat. Don’t give everything to Jiujiu—it already has more than enough.”

Jiujiu widened its big eyes beside him. Jian Mo patted its rump, and it could only give a call, meaning: don’t stand on ceremony.

“Thanks, Teacher. Thanks, Chief Wu Jiong—and thanks, Jiujiu,” everyone said, waving.

“Head on back,” Jian Mo said. “We will too.”

He and Wu Jiong took Jiujiu home, dropping off a portion of what they’d gathered at its nest.

At the den, Jian Mo checked the bowl again.

Jiujiu’s bowl was full of delicacies. By comparison, the food Ying’ao had just brought back was fairly ordinary.

For the finicky Jiujiu to outclass the big-shot Ying’ao in food quality—unbelievable.

Jian Mo looked a long while, then said to Wu Jiong with feeling, “Truly… some ‘Jius’ know how to use tools, and some ‘Jius’ know how to use tool-people.”