Xue Tuan’s mind raced. Thinking of the dried-up spring he’d discovered earlier, and connecting it to the recent earthquake, could there be a volcano nearby?
The drying of the hot spring was related to underground heat sources, and Xue Tuan suspected the earthquake was connected to changes in nearby volcanic activity.
Settling near a volcano with the possibility of future tremors was practically a ticking time bomb.
However, Xue Tuan’s attention was quickly drawn to something else.
Most of the beastmen in this large-scale migration had transformed into their animal forms. Those too weak to revert to their animal forms were carried by other beastmen. At this moment, everyone was incredibly united.
Xue Tuan had only one thought: “My God! So many furry creatures!”
Xue Tuan was completely mesmerized and was especially vulnerable to the furry little cubs. During the rest period, he’d have a friendly chat with them and probably pet several!
There were also beastmen in the group specifically responsible for carrying goods, their forms resembled mammoths. These beast-like creatures could bind many things at once, yet remained remarkably stable while running. Presumably, their main task was to transport communal property that couldn’t be left behind.
Xue Tuan’s gaze shifted again, and landed on the little black lion running ahead beside another yellow lion—presumably Elder Mu Shi.
After becoming familiar with Qing Miao, Xue Tuan had learned quite a bit about the little black lion from him. As he was recalling Chong Yan’s pitiful past, he saw the little black lion not far ahead turn its head and glance in their direction before turning back.
Did the little black lion also notice that he never transformed into his beast form? Xue Tuan was currently the only cub in the tribe who couldn’t transform. But Xue Tuan was optimistic, perhaps he could transform once he fully recovered.
The little black lion truly considered him a friend. Xue Tuan was happy to be cared for by the fluffy creature and thought he should visit the little black lion more often.
Xue Tuan, who was prone to falling asleep easily, started to doze off in his swaying bundle, not knowing how long his father had been running.
When he woke up again, Xue Tuan found that the “great escape” had stopped.
The tribe had been running for most of the day before they felt the aftershocks subside.
The distant mountains were shrouded in a pale golden glow, and the sun was about to sink below the horizon.
Chief Shi Hu led the tribe to a stop on a large flat area.
Shi Hu said loudly, “Everyone, let’s rest here for a while.” So everyone spontaneously began preparing food to fill their stomachs.
“I’m exhausted. I haven’t been this tired in years.”
“I’m not eating. I need to take a nap.”
“We’re setting up our tent here. Please make way.”
…
Running with his father meant he didn’t have to worry about anything and could sleep soundly. Now that they needed to rest, Xue Tuan popped out of his pack, ready to put his small needs to use.
The first task was to start a fire. The tribe usually had a little fire-keeper, but things had happened so suddenly that there probably wasn’t time to preserve the fire.
However, it was unclear whether the tribe had even learned how to preserve fire.
Now that the tribe’s ever-burning fire was gone, everyone in the wild had to start their own fires or borrow fire from others. Once one person started a fire, it would spread quickly.
Bing Qiu and Feng Yan went to chop wood and gather wild vegetables, while Rong Shan prepared to build a fire pit. They had brought most of their fresh meat with them while the dried meat, wicker baskets, and other such items had to be left behind.
Xue Tuan took out his small bundle, from which he retrieved sulfur powder from his gourd and some resin he had collected—both flammable materials.
He took these to his mother who was starting a fire with flint and steel. He placed some resin on the straw pile he had set up, then picked up another spare flint and steel beside his mother, dipped it in the sulfur powder, and handed it to him.
“Mother, use this,” came Xue Tuan’s soft, sweet voice from beside Rong Shan.
They usually carried several flint and steel. They didn’t yet have high-purity iron ore, making starting a fire with flint and steel difficult. With luck, they might get a fire going quickly, with bad luck, it was hard to say.
Rong Shan, of course, also saw his cub’s actions. To be honest, ever since Bing Qiu told them that Xue Tuan’s strange behavior was a result of dreams, he and Feng Yan had often made some far-fetched guesses.
Xue Tuan’s health was gradually improving, and he was also much more obedient and intelligent than ordinary cubs. This made them wonder if their little one was truly the reincarnation of the beast god. After all, Xue Tuan’s behavior sometimes didn’t seem like that of an ordinary cub.
But whatever Xue Tuan might be, he and Feng Yan wouldn’t abandon their little one.
Now, seeing their beloved cub hand him a flint and steel smeared with pale yellow powder, he readily accepted it. Rong Shan was filled with doubt, but he still immediately started striking a fire.
With a “whoosh,” the sparks from the friction between the flint and steel ignited the pile of dry grass!
It worked on the first try!
Staring at the slowly burning fire before him, Rong Shan was stunned for a moment, then immediately picked up Xue Tuan and kissed him on the cheek: “My darling, you’re so amazing!”
Then Rong Shan launched into a barrage of praise, making Xue Tuan’s ears turn red, though his lips subtly pursed. He still wasn’t quite used to his family’s direct expressions.
“Wow, you started your fire so quickly! Can we borrow it?” Sitting next door was a family of leopard beastmen.
The leopards were having trouble getting a fire going with their flint and steel. Seeing that the snow foxes had already started, they wanted to borrow some.
Starting a fire by friction required tools, and many people preferred to try their luck with their flint and steel first.
“Of course,” Rong Shan put Xue Tuan down, picked up a burning piece of firewood, and helped the neighbors light their fire.
The leopards grew increasingly fond of the helpful snow fox family and thanked them profusely. Later, the leopard beastmen even shared some fruit with Bing Qiu and the others.
The clever Xue Tuan quietly followed his mother, and visited each family that needed help starting a fire. He even stroked the animal forms of some of the cubs, and felt quite pleased with himself.
The cubs were all very well-behaved around Xue Tuan, and did not make a fuss. Due to Xue Tuan’s harmless appearance, all the beast-like cubs couldn’t resist his affection.
The exhausted beastmen spontaneously helped each other, and soon a fire was lit in the area. Everyone busied themselves with starting fires for warmth and cooking to replenish their strength.
After helping the nearby beastman families start their fires, Rong Shan took Xue Tuan back to their own camp. Rong Shan picked up the small gourd, dipped it in some yellow powder, and experimented. Sure enough, he successfully started a fire again.
Rong Shan’s eyes flickered slightly, and he softly asked the little cub, “Xue Tuan, tell mother, what are these pale yellow things? Where did you find them?”
At this moment, Feng Yan and Bing Qiu also returned with firewood and wild vegetable leaves.
Bing Qiu naturally knew where Xue Tuan got these things, and explained for him, “We found them in a small cave.”
So, Xue Tuan discovered these things for flint and steel that could start a fire faster while playing, and then gave them to him? Rong Shan wondered. In a short moment, Rong Shan’s mind raced.
The fact that it could only be found in a cave meant it was hard to find, and hard-to-find items meant limited quantities.
It wasn’t that his family didn’t want to share the yellow powder, but such a useful item would naturally become a coveted prize.
Unless it was shared by the tribe or controlled by the chief or priest, and not everyone could have it, sooner or later, a fierce fight would break out over it.
Right now it was yellow powder, but what if there were other things later? Just thinking about his cubs being interrogated by malicious beastmen about the yellow powder’s whereabouts while he and Feng Yan weren’t around made Rong Shan’s heart ache. He simply couldn’t accept that happening.
Perhaps he was overthinking it, but until they were sure of their safety, he and Feng Yan would absolutely not reveal that it was their Xue Tuan who had found these things.
So Rong Shan lowered his voice, unusually serious, and said to his two children, “When you’re outside, don’t tell anyone that we have this yellow powder, understand?”
Bing Qiu and Xue Tuan were still a little confused, but both children obediently nodded.
Rong Shan knew his children were usually very well-behaved. If he gave them a stern warning in this matter, they could read his expression and would naturally be careful.
His two children were mostly childlike, but sometimes they also possessed a maturity beyond their years.
Bing Qiu: “Mother, don’t worry, I’ll definitely keep an eye on Xue Tuan’s mouth.”
Xue Tuan raised an eyebrow and kicked Bing Qiu’s heel: It’s clearly brother who loves to show off the most, why do I have to keep an eye on my mouth?