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When Bai Wu awoke again, he felt a warm hand touch his forehead carrying a faint, bitter fragrance.
Bai Wu slowly opened his heavy eyelids.
Sitting beside him was a tall, stern-faced, unfamiliar beastman.
The beastman glanced down at him, then turned and said, “It’s nothing serious, just drink some medicine.”
Bai Wu’s eyelids twitched.
He knew who this beastman was.
It was their beastman priest—Nan Yao!
Mo stood up with Nan Yao. “What medicine do you want? I’ll go gather it for him.”
“I’ve already brewed some, wait a moment.”
Mo stood still.
Nan Yao stood up and left.
Bai Wu watched him go to another nest, and a moment later, he returned carrying a bowl in one hand and a pottery jar in the other.
Before Bai Wu could ask anything, Nan Yao placed the earthenware bowl on the ground, opened the lid of the earthenware jar, and poured out half a bowl of dark liquid with a “whoosh.”
A strange, bitter, fishy smell filled the air.
Bai Wu gagged from the smell of the medicine.
As Nan Yao picked up the bowl, he retched and scrambled two meters to the side, saying, “I’m fine, I don’t need to take medicine.”
Nan Yao turned to look at Mo.
Mo walked over, amused, and said, “You’re such a grown-up, and still afraid of taking medicine?”
“Really, I don’t need to!” Bai Wu forced a smile, then slipped past his father with a nimble movement, “I’m an adult, don’t I know my own body? Father, High Priest, I’ll go back first—”
With that, Bai Wu abandoned all manners, grabbed the railing, and tried to climb out of the nest.
“Got it! Beautiful!”
Bai Wu inwardly praised his own agility, pushing off with his feet to flip over.
Just then, a slightly rough hand grabbed his arm.
Bai Wu’s eyes widened.
The owner of the arm exerted force, the arm’s lines tightening slightly, and easily pulling him back from the railing.
“Damn it.”
Bai Wu flailing his arms and legs, failing to escape again, turned to glare angrily at the handsome priest before him.
The priest gently pushed a ceramic bowl containing half a bowl of medicine towards him.
The meaning was clear.
Bai Wu and Nan Yao stared at each other for a moment, then, before his father could urge him on, reluctantly reached for the bowl, opened his mouth, tilted his head back, and downed half the bowl in one gulp.
“Ugh—”
An indescribable taste rose in Bai Wu’s throat. He bent over, clutching his stomach, about to vomit.
Nan Yao reached out and swiftly shoved a dark, unpleasant object into his mouth.
The extremely sour and salty taste assaulted his taste buds, instantly suppressing the nausea.
It was candied fruit.
Bai Wu was startled, turning to look at the seemingly unapproachable priest.
Nan Yao turned to Mo and said, “Take this medicine back with you. Drink half a bowl each morning and evening.”
“Thank you, High Priest.”
Nan Yao nodded, indicating they could leave.
Bai Wu, with the candied fruit in his mouth, followed behind his father, weakly bowing to the priest in thanks.
The father and son left Nan Yao’s dwelling and headed down the mountain.
Bai Wu tucked the candied fruit in his mouth to the inside of his cheek, and turned back to look at Nan Yao’s dwelling.
Nan Yao’s nest was significantly larger than theirs. There were three connected together, somewhat like a suite, and looked quite exquisite.
It also had a thatched roof supported by pillars, but while the others’ nests looked like products of wilderness survival, Nan Yao’s nest resembled a special villa.
Mo said from the side, “Tired? You can fly once you’re out of the priest’s sight.”
Bai Wu hesitated, then shook his head, “I’m not tired.”
Bai Wu glanced back again, “Father, the priest’s nest is so beautiful.”
“The priest built it himself the year he took office. The old priest’s nest was a little lower down; it’s been demolished.”
The mountain path wound its way around, and as the father and son spoke, they happened to circle to the other side of the mountain.
There was a takeoff platform there, where most of the tribespeople who came to visit the priest took off.
The father and son reached the edge of the platform. Mo handed the pottery jar to Bai Wu and prepared to transform back into his beast form and take off.
“Father, wait!” Bai Wu took the pottery jar, his gaze falling on the foot of the mountain below the takeoff platform. “Where is that?”
At the foot of the mountain was a valley with a river flowing through it filled with small, purplish-red flowers.
On the other side of the valley was another mountain. Its slopes are gentle, and its summit almost a round platform also covered in small purple flowers.
Looking from this side, the mountains and forests were lush and green, the sky a clear blue, and the river gurgling; it looked like a resort.
It was as beautiful as a paradise.
“Hmm?” Mo turned to look at him.
“There!” Bai Wu’s heart pounded. He pointed ahead. “Look at that mountain!”
Mo turned and glanced at it. “That’s the residence of the priest two generations ago. So much time has passed; the place has completely fallen into ruin and is now overgrown with weeds.”
Bai Wu’s voice tightened. “Is it unclaimed now?”
“Why?”
“I want to build a house there!”
Mo hesitated. “This mountain belongs to the priest.”
“But that’s the neighboring mountain,” Bai Wu decided immediately. “Before we go far, I’ll go ask the priest if it’s permissible to build a house there!”
Bai Wu turned and strode up the mountain.
Before Mo could call out to him, he had already turned the corner and reached the other side of the mountain.
Mo quickly caught up with him. “Wu, we can’t disturb the priest!”
“I’ll ask. Father, don’t worry, they’re so far apart. I’ll be careful and won’t disturb the priest.”
“Don’t go yet. Let’s go back and discuss it with your dad.”
The father and son were arguing in hushed tones.
A voice came from afar on the mountain, “What is it?”
Bai Wu looked up and saw that Nan Yao had somehow appeared outside the nest, watching them.
Nan Yao’s aura was so strong that Bai Wu’s confidence vanished instantly.
He swallowed hard, bowed with Mo, and whispered, “Priest.”
Nan Yao stood there watching them, seemingly waiting for them to continue.
Bai Wu’s courage had almost completely dissipated. Meeting Nan Yao’s gaze, his scalp tingled.
Seeing that Nan Yao was getting impatient, Bai Wu gritted his teeth and called up, “Priest, I want to build a house on that little hill next door…”
Bai Wu’s voice trailed off, hesitant to continue.
He was about to give up.
Unexpectedly, seeing that he wasn’t going to continue, Nan Yao simply said, “Whatever.”
He actually agreed!
Bai Wu was utterly incredulous.
“Thank you, Priest!”
Nan Yao nodded slightly and turned to go back to his nest.
The father and son watched Nan Yao return to his den.
Bai Wu lowered his voice, “Father, you heard it too, right? The Priest agreed!”
“Building a nest is no small matter.”
“I know, I’ll take my time.”
Mo hesitated, “Once you have a beastman, you’ll know how troublesome it is when you actually build the nest.”
“I don’t need a beastman, I’ll build it myself!”
Mo shook his head, saying nothing.
Bai Wu, overjoyed by the good news, was in high spirits and returned home to announce the news to his dad and brother.
Chuan and An both looked somewhat puzzled.
An asked, “Why would you want to build your nest so far away? It’s so far from our tribe; you won’t be able to find anyone to play with.”
“It’s quiet and beautiful there, and the place is big. I couldn’t find a better place to build.”
Chuan asked, “Did the High Priest really agree?”
“Yes, Father heard it too!” Bai Wu turned to his father for confirmation, “Father, it’s true isn’t it?”
Mo said, “The High Priest has never cared about external things.”
An shook his head, “He doesn’t like the tribespeople getting close either. Why don’t you just forget it, Bai Wu? It would be much better to build your nest nearby. If you have children later, everyone can help look after them.”
Bai Wu said, “I won’t have children!”
The family all thought the place was too far, but Bai Wu actually wanted to build his house further away.
That way, he could avoid the tribespeople’s gaze.
Otherwise, being among everyone would make everything inconvenient.
No one in the family approved of this, but Bai Wu was determined.
He knew it wouldn’t be easy for them to break their established beliefs, so he didn’t say much. Every day after gathering materials, he would take stones and vines to the small hillside to measure.
He needed to calculate how many houses could be built here, how many houses he wanted to build, and how many materials he would need. Bai Wu went out early and returned late every day, more energetic than before his illness.
He had never encountered the priest, but every day he saw his tribesmen flying over to offer sacrifices. They landed at the foot of the mountain, and then carried the offerings up the mountain step by step.
With people coming every day, he figured that once the house was built, even if he lived there alone, his safety would be somewhat guaranteed.
An had accompanied Bai Wu for several days. Seeing how determined he was to build that oddly shaped little house, he grew bored and didn’t bother to keep him company.
Anyway, the priest was on the mountain; nothing could happen, so there was no need to worry.
Bai Wu was more comfortable alone.
He used a stone knife to cut a bundle of thin wood and drove stakes into the hillside to determine the locations of the bedroom, living room, guest room, kitchen, bathroom, storage room, and toilet.
After driving in the stakes and determining the locations, he measured again with vines, intending to go back and estimate the materials needed.
That evening, Bai Wu carried half a basket of wild vegetables and vines back to his nest. Before he even reached it, he saw several tall beastmen standing in front of their nest, gesturing wildly and talking to his father.
Upon closer inspection, Bai Wu recognized the leader as their young clan leader, Ya.
Bai Wu glanced at him a few more times but didn’t think much of it.
“Wu,” Chuan beckoned him to the hearth.
Bai Wu, thinking his dad was worried he might disturb his father’s conversation, was about to run over.
Unexpectedly, Ya turned around and said to him, “Wu, you’re back? We were just talking about your nest.”
“Hmm?” Bai Wu paused, seeing Chief Ya’s stern face, suddenly realizing the visitor’s hostility. “Chief, what happened to the nest?”
“We’re not comfortable with you, a sub-beastman, building a nest outside. Staying with the priest isn’t ideal either.”
They’ve come, after all.
Bai Wu’s heart skipped a beat. He explained earnestly, “I’m confident I can take care of myself, and the High Priest has agreed.”
“The High Priest is kind and hasn’t refused us. That’s precisely why we should be even more careful about our behavior and not disturb him.”
“The place where I want to build my house isn’t on the same mountain as the Priest’s dwelling. It’s quite a walk to the Priest’s dwelling, so it won’t disturb him.”
Ya frowned. “So, you’re unwilling to listen to the tribe’s advice?”
Ya’s words caused a moment of silence.
Mo said, “Wu has only recently regained consciousness and isn’t familiar with the tribe’s rules. I’ll talk to him about it later.”
Bai Wu said, “I appreciate everyone’s suggestions, but I’ve searched for so long nearby, and there’s no other place more suitable to build a house. I still want to try.”
Safety was indeed a concern.
To find a place far from the tribe and safe enough, the area near the mountain where the Priest resides was indeed the first choice.
The atmosphere became tense.
Mo gave Bai Wu a look, signaling his son to stop talking.
Ya paused for a moment, then said, “If you insist on building your nest there, don’t gather resources with the tribe in the future, and don’t go to the areas we’ve developed.”