Xi Yao picked up a Chinese yam as thick as her arm and snapped it in two.
The fibrous white flesh of the yam was revealed.
“See?
Just wash it, peel the skin, and you can eat it once it’s cooked.”
They didn’t ask if it tasted good.
As long as it could fill their stomachs during the cold season, the flavor didn’t matter.
“As long as you don’t break the skin or snap them, these will keep until the cold season without any problem.”
“R-really?”
“Of course.
Trust Mother.
I won’t let you go hungry this cold season.”
Xi Nan said nothing, running back to the spot he had been digging and starting again.
Through their combined efforts, one Chinese yam after another was dug up and piled to the side.
Xi Mo felt a pang of frustration seeing Xi Bei and Xi Nan so busy while he couldn’t help.
‘If only I weren’t injured.’
Suddenly, a fruit hit him on the head and rolled into the basket.
He let out a yelp of pain.
Already in a bad mood, he picked up the fruit and threw it.
As luck would have it, it hit the trunk of a tree next to Xi Yao before rolling to a stop at her feet.
Xi Yao’s gaze fell on the fist-sized, dark green fruit at her feet.
Three seconds later, the system automatically identified it:
Species detected: Wild Walnut.
Characteristics: Hard outer shell.
Kernel is rich in oils and various nutrients.
Edible.
Possesses extremely high energy replenishment value.
Xi Yao slowly looked up and discovered a massive walnut tree right above them.
It was laden with fruit.
Her eyes moved downward to the grass, where many fallen, half-rotten fruits lay scattered.
‘What a pleasant surprise.’
She called to Xi Mo to pick up the walnuts on the ground.
“Ah Mo, quick, look around and gather more of these fruits.
This is good stuff!”
Xi Mo rubbed his aching head, a flash of surprise in his eyes.
Forgetting his earlier despondence, he nodded eagerly.
He hopped out of the bamboo basket and picked up the walnuts that had rolled into the corners one by one, placing them inside.
“Get the half-rotten ones like this, too.”
“Can we still eat them if they’re spoiled?”
“They’re not spoiled.
This is a walnut.
Only its husk is rotten.
There’s another hard shell inside, and the meat is still good.”
Xi Bei and Xi Nan heard the commotion and came over curiously.
“Mother, what’s this?”
Xi Bei asked, blinking as he stared at the walnuts on the ground.
Xi Yao smiled and explained, “These are wild walnuts.
They’re edible, and eating more of them will make you smarter.”
Hearing this, the two little ones were immediately intrigued and wanted to join in gathering walnuts.
“You two finish digging up the Chinese yams first.
That’s the real food that will fill our stomachs.”
Xi Bei and Xi Nan were very interested in the walnuts, but upon hearing Xi Yao say that the Chinese yams were key to filling their bellies, they returned to the yam vines and continued digging with all their might.
She took a hoe-like fish fin from her Terminal Space and joined the digging.
The wild Chinese yams were huge, even bigger than her arm.
They had only dug up three plants, but a small pile had already formed on the ground—enough to feed them for a long time.
“Mother, why are these Chinese yams so long!” Xi Bei panted as he furiously pawed at the dirt.
His little claws were already covered in mud, and his body was spattered with it too.
“That’s right.
The longer they are, the more nutrients they’ve stored.
This way, we won’t go hungry during the cold season.”
Xi Yao replied while skillfully swinging the hoe-like tool in her hand.
In no time, she had dug up another one.
Not to be outdone, Xi Nan put all his strength into it, burying his entire body in the dirt.
Only a small, fluffy bottom was left sticking out as he vigorously dug away the soil around the Chinese yam.
Watching his little tail wag back and forth, Xi Yao’s hands started to itch.
‘I really want to give it a tug.’
Instead, she turned and grabbed Xi Bei.
“Hey!
Mother, why are you pulling my tail!” Xi Bei’s four limbs flailed as he tried to get away, but he couldn’t break free with his tail caught.
Xi Yao gave it a few good ruffles before putting him back in the hole.
…
A series of dull thuds echoed from the woods, like some large creature was running.
Xi Yao immediately stopped what she was doing, rose to her feet warily, and shielded the three little ones behind her.
“Mother, is there danger?” Xi Bei asked in a small, nervous voice.
Xi Yao didn’t answer.
She stared intently in the direction of the sound, her grip on the hoe tightening.
As the chaotic, heavy footsteps grew closer, a black shadow burst out of the woods.
It was a massive wild boar.
The boar was covered in coarse black bristles, and two long tusks protruded from the corners of its mouth.
One look was enough to know it was trouble.
“Be careful.
It’s a Thorny-toothed Pig from the mountains.
They’re very aggressive.”
Xi Yao warned in a low voice while rapidly considering how to deal with it.
‘The pig looks frightened and has scratches on its body.
It must have escaped from a Hunting Team.’
The Thorny-toothed Pig charged toward them, barreling recklessly and kicking up a cloud of dust and fallen leaves.
“Xi Bei, Xi Nan, take Xi Mo and hide back there.
Don’t come out, no matter what.”
Xi Yao stored the hoe in her Terminal Space and switched to her personal weapon—the Blood-tooth Vine Whip.
She held the vine whip, her eyes fixed on the Thorny-toothed Pig.
The Thorny-toothed Pig came at them furiously.
As it got closer and closer, the dust kicked up by its hooves almost obscured its massive body.
“Mother, be careful!”
Xi Bei shouted anxiously, but Xi Nan and Xi Mo held him back.
“Don’t talk, you’ll distract her.”
Xi Nan was anxious too, but they had no offensive power.
Going out there would only get in the way.
The three little ones hid behind a nearby bush, watching without so much as a blink.
The Thorny-toothed Pig charged close, leaped high, and pounced toward Xi Yao.
Unflustered, Xi Yao dodged to the side and swung her Blood-tooth Vine Whip at the same time.
With a loud CRACK, the whip landed squarely on the Thorny-toothed Pig’s back.
The Thorny-toothed Pig cried out in pain, a deep roar, and rolled on the ground before quickly scrambling back to its feet and charging at Xi Yao again.
But her movements didn’t pause for a second.
Seizing the opportunity, she struck again, this time hitting the Thorny-toothed Pig’s neck.
The Thorny-toothed Pig’s movements clearly slowed.
It shook its head and continued to lunge at Xi Yao.
Watching from the side, the three little ones were so nervous they didn’t dare to breathe.
Xi Bei tightly gripped Xi Nan’s tail and whispered, “Big brother, Mother will be okay, right?”
Xi Nan was scared too, but he pretended to be calm to comfort his little brother:
“She’ll be fine.
The bad female is very strong.
She’ll definitely beat it.”
The Thorny-toothed Pig’s steps became more and more staggered, and the ferocious light in its eyes gradually dimmed.
Finally, after taking another lash from Xi Yao’s whip, its enormous body crashed to the ground.
“Mother, you were amazing!”
Xi Bei cheered and ran out from behind the bushes, jumping and bouncing around Xi Yao.
Xi Yao let out a long breath and put away her vine whip.
“Alright, it’s over.”
“Your whip is poisoned!” Xi Nan stared at her now-empty hands.
“Xiao Nan is so smart.
But it’s not poison.
It’s an anesthetic that can knock out large beasts.”
“Mother, this pig is so big!
We can eat for a long time!” Xi Bei excitedly jumped onto the wild boar’s body and began to bounce.
“Mhm, we’ll go back and make a stew for Little Bei.”
“Yay, yay!”
Xi Yao packed the Chinese yams and walnuts into her space.
She stared at the wild boar for a long moment before tossing it into her space as well, deciding to process it by the river.
Their location wasn’t far from the river; it was only a ten-minute walk.
The sun was still out, and the two little ones were filthy.
Xi Yao couldn’t stand it any longer.
She carried Xi Bei to the riverbank to give him a bath, even using some body wash on him.
Xi Bei was very resistant at first, and only after she soothed him for a long time did he stand trembling in the shallow water by the riverbank.
The water came just over his limbs, so it wasn’t too frightening for him.
“Little Bei is so brave!” After washing him, she couldn’t resist planting a big kiss on his face.
Now Xi Bei was so embarrassed he forgot to be scared.
Xi Yao placed him on a large rock to dry in the sun.
She turned to look for Xi Nan, only to find he had already run up a tree.