The first step in building the heated kang bed was quite simple.
First, they needed to construct the outer frame of the kang.
This being her first attempt, Lin Xi was rather clumsy in her movements, whether applying mud or placing stones.
Of course, Wu Chen, who was imitating her by her side, was even more of a mess.
Just then, Bai Nu, who had learned from the tiger Beastmen that Lin Xi and Wu Chen were building a kang, arrived swiftly!
As soon as he entered the cave, he saw the two of them squatting inside, heads bowed as they clattered away at something on the ground.
When Wu Chen heard Bai Nu enter, his ears twitched, and he turned his head. Recognizing Bai Nu, he stood up. “Chief Bai Nu.”
“Wu Chen, I heard from Jin Guang that you’re…”
Bai Nu paused, momentarily unable to recall the term Jin Guang had used, so he rephrased: “That you’re making some new kind of cold-resistant thing?”
“Mm.” Wu Chen nodded in acknowledgment. He glanced at Lin Xi beside him, then back at Bai Nu. “It was Xi Xi’s idea.”
Bai Nu wasn’t particularly surprised to hear this.
After all, Wu Chen had always lived in the tribe, where everyone shared the same habits and the same winter warming methods—layering more animal pelts, staying inside the cave, and blocking the entrance to retain heat.
So if Wu Chen suddenly had a new method, it must be because of his little Female beast.
Thus, Bai Nu turned to Lin Xi:
“Female beast Lin Xi, may I watch your kang-building method here? Of course, if it proves truly useful, this would be a great contribution to the tribe. I can reward you with thirty Giant Beasts!”
Thirty Giant Beasts!
Although Lin Xi had only been in the tribe for a few days, she had already gained a rough understanding of what qualified as a Giant Beast here. At the very least, these Giant Beasts had to be as large as an adult Russian brown bear to be counted as such.
Thirty of them would be enough to feed Wu Chen and her for at least a month and a half!
However,
Lin Xi fell silent for a moment, then looked at Bai Nu. “There’s no need for thirty Giant Beasts; ten will suffice. For the remainder, may I exchange it for another reward, and receive it now?”
Bai Nu hadn’t expected Lin Xi to bargain—this was the first time a Beastman had ever made a request regarding a chief’s reward.
He found it quite novel.
But he didn’t mind; in fact, he was somewhat curious about Lin Xi’s “other reward.”
Bai Nu suddenly had an intuition.
Perhaps this “mysterious” Female beast might bring earth-shaking changes to his tribe.
“Little Female beast, tell me what you have in mind.”
“I’d like to ask other Beastmen to help expand mine and Wu Chen’s cave a bit more.”
“That’s all?”
Bai Nu was surprised. He had thought Lin Xi would ask for something like exchanging the Giant Beasts for a hundred animal pelts or requesting enough fruit to last the entire winter.
Lin Xi nodded.
Bai Nu agreed readily. “That’s no problem. Tell me how large you want it, and I can have the Beastmen excavate it today.”
“Really?”
Lin Xi was delighted!
In truth, the idea to expand the cave had occurred to her as soon as she thought of building the kang. The main issue was that the cave’s layout had the entrance directly facing the sleeping area inside. It was fine for now, but it would likely still be very cold in winter.
Even if they installed a door then, cold wind blowing through the gaps would still make it chilly!
She certainly didn’t want to end up with facial paralysis from having cold wind blow on her face all night while she slept deeply in winter!
But if she wanted to dig a cave herself, she had no tools and couldn’t manage it. Having Wu Chen dig it alone also made her feel somewhat guilty.
After all, even though Beastmen were powerful, digging through stone still required considerable effort.
Moreover, Lin Xi was hoping to build a house on the hillside once the weather warmed up next year.
If the house turned out well, wouldn’t digging a cave now be a wasted effort?
But now things were better—with free labor available, she might as well make use of it!
So the work on building the Heated Kang Bed was put on hold. Lin Xi planned to move the kang to the innermost part of the cave after the Beastmen expanded it, where it would be sheltered from the cold wind blowing directly from the entrance.
Just then, several figures appeared outside the cave. Lin Xi, Wu Chen, and Bai Nu looked over and saw Jin Guang following behind Wu, with several other Beastmen trailing them.
Wu entered the cave first from outside.
Once inside, her gaze immediately fell on the scattered stones and pile of mud in the cave.
Seeing these, a flicker of surprise appeared in Wu’s usually calm green eyes, but she soon seemed to realize something and smiled.
She turned to Bai Nu: “Chieftain Bai Nu, I heard from Jin Guang that Lin Xi and the young Beastman Wu Chen have found a new way to keep warm?”
“Yes.”
Bai Nu acknowledged, then explained the deal he had just made with Lin Xi to Wu.
As she listened, Wu’s smile grew warmer. When Bai Nu finished, she looked gently at Lin Xi and nodded: “Young Lin Xi, don’t worry. I’ll call more Male beasts to help you. Your cave will be dug out by noon today.”
“So you should teach them how to build the heated kang. This way, more elders and young Beastmen can survive this winter!”
“Alright, Wu.”
Lin Xi had a very good impression of this young and beautiful Wu. Speaking with her felt much more relaxed than facing the stern Bai Nu.
Soon enough, Bai Nu indeed summoned more Male beasts.
Thanks to Jin Guang, the big-mouthed tiger tribesman, news that the Female beast Lin Xi was creating something new for warmth quickly spread throughout the entire tribe.
This resulted in Beastmen flocking to the hillside where Lin Xi and Wu Chen lived—ostensibly to help, but actually to watch the spectacle and be among the first to learn how to build the heated kang. The area was nearly packed!
For the first time in her life, Lin Xi experienced what it felt like to be a celebrity!
Since Beastmen in this world allowed Female beasts to form Mate-bonds with multiple Male beasts, some Beastmen even took the opportunity to bring her gifts.
From prey and Beast teeth to wild fruits and beautiful feathers, the empty space on one side of the cave was soon piled high with presents.
Initially, Lin Xi didn’t want to accept these gifts, but as more and more Beastmen came bearing offerings, she eventually lost track of who had given what!
Wu Chen noticed her dilemma and pulled her over to Xue Tian Ama and Xue Ying, who were slowly approaching, suggesting she stay with Xue Tian Ama:
“Xi Xi, don’t worry. Many of those things are gifts of gratitude, not courtship presents.”
“Many young Beastmen were born this year, but most wouldn’t survive the winter. Since Xi Xi said the heated kang can make caves warm, everyone is very happy.”
“Even if any Male beasts approach you, if you don’t like them, I’ll drive them away!”
Wu Chen spoke, and as he uttered the final sentence, he lifted his head and swept his gaze over the Beastmen in front of him. His sharp stare made some of the male beasts who had secretly clashed with him before silently retreat two steps.
However, soon after, the number of Beastmen on the hillside dwindled significantly.
Aside from a group of Beastmen who were enthusiastically and rapidly digging stones inside the cave, another portion had already heeded Wu Chen’s reminder and gone ahead to prepare the stone materials needed for their own homes!