The Survival of the Wild Tribe

100

Compared to winter, spring in this world isn't very long. Luo Zhen counted the days, probably just over two months, and then it would be about to enter the hot and lengthy summer. After summer, various fruits from wild vegetation and plants would gradually ripen. During this time, some tribes would also send people to gather them from the wild. According to Lu Zhan, summer here is longer than winter, which is quite satisfactory to Luo Zhen. After all, he can still accept the warmer weather compared to the cold winter, although he won't be able to wear the animal skin clothes anymore.

In the last few days before the arrival of summer, the construction of a spring city wall was finally completed. The wall is quite large, with enough space to accommodate the tribe even if its population increases tenfold. Most of the open space within the walls is used for domesticated animals and various crops.

For safety reasons, only one door is opened in the city wall for entry and exit. The other three directions have dirt mounds on the wall that are easy to climb, along with rope ladders to prevent accidents. Everyone in the Riyao tribe, regardless of age or gender, except for the elderly and the very young, climbs the wall once a day to familiarize themselves with this skill.

Additionally, a small hole has been made in the city wall, accessible only by squatting, which can be used as an escape route in case the tribe encounters an unsolvable situation. The wooden door covering the hole is reinforced with two thick lines on the front and back, and is generally kept in a completely closed state, ensuring protection against powerful beasts breaking in.

Four watchtowers have been built at each corner of the city wall to shelter soldiers from wind and rain, eliminating the need for them to stay outside in the open air as before.

During this period, the training and work of the Riyao tribe somewhat resemble a simplified version of militarized life. Lu Zhan, in his beast form, communicates with the soldiers, ensuring that everything in the tribe runs smoothly. Luo Zhen occasionally worries about this setup.

Sometimes, the fighters engage in combat with Lu Zhan in his beast form. Initially, Lu Zhan was not very proficient, but after a few rounds, he became more comfortable, and Heifu couldn't match him.

The pheasant outside the house cawed twice, followed by a chorus of cuckoo birds not far away. This has become a daily routine in the tribe, more punctual than any alarm clock.

The pheasant was caught by Aqing and a few young soldiers while resting on the mountain. People from the Shanjia tribe have learned to set lasso traps and have been eager to try them out. They simply set the traps and wait for the prey to be caught on their own, which has become quite addictive for these young fighters.

Luo Zhen is still concerned that the small animals in the nearby mountains will be captured or scared away by the traps. He suggests changing locations every few days. However, the tribe now has quite a few domesticated animals of various kinds, including two big horned deer that were recently caught.

Fortunately, the antler horses in the tribe show no interest in these creatures with beautiful antlers similar to their own, and they do not perceive them as their own kind. Otherwise, Luo Zhen would worry that the antler horses might become agitated. They take special care to slaughter animals away from the antler horses and prevent them from coming near.

Luo Zhen felt uncomfortable with the weight on his neck. Since Lu Zhan transformed into a beast shape, he always gravitated towards Luo Zhen whenever they slept, and the stickiness made it difficult for Luo Zhen to move. Unlike the cold body temperature when Lu Zhan was in human form, the leopard-shaped Lu Zhan acted like a big heater, even in the cool spring, making an animal skin quilt unnecessary.

Today, Luo Zhen instinctively removed the large paw encircling him, but instead of feeling the expected warmth, he touched cold, smooth skin. Startled, he turned his head and widened his eyes. "A Zhan?"

Lu Zhan's ears twitched, indicating his sensitivity to Luo Zhen's voice even while asleep. He smacked his lips, stomach rumbling, but his eyes remained closed as he mumbled, "Luo Zhen, I'm hungry."

The beast-shaped Lu Zhan hadn't been eating as much as before. At first, Luo Zhen worried, but Heifu explained that Lu Zhan had absorbed too much energy, causing reduced appetite. As long as he ate a small amount, he would be fine. After observing for a few days and seeing that Lu Zhan remained active and healthy, Luo Zhen was relieved.

In reality, Lu Zhan doesn't need to eat at all, and he won't starve. His body's energy maintenance surpasses that of regular food. However, out of greed and a desire not to worry Luo Zhen, he still joins meals, maintaining his eating habits at every meal.

"A Zhan," Luo Zhen exclaimed, looking at the familiar face before him, his surprise evident. He reached out, squeezing Lu Zhan's face. Without the shaggy fur, the skin felt familiar and slightly rough. "You've changed back?"

Lu Zhan's long eyelashes trembled slightly as Luo Zhen's touch roused him. Slowly, he opened his eyes, devoid of the usual morning grogginess. To an outsider, it would seem as though he hadn't been asleep at all.

Blinking, Lu Zhan caught sight of his reflection in Luo Zhen's bright eyes. He reached out, pulling Luo Zhen closer until their noses almost touched, their warm breaths intertwining. This proximity stirred memories of less harmonious moments for Luo Zhen, though he couldn't recall the details due to being asleep for most of it. However, in the age of information, even the slightest recollection could unveil the specifics.

Flushed ears betrayed Luo Zhan's innocence as he innocently responded, "I just wanted to confirm if I'd truly changed back."

"And did you?" Luo Zhen inquired.

"No, but I could try again," Lu Zhan replied, reaching out.

Observing this, Luo Zhen instinctively kicked him in the face, though he refrained from exerting much force. Unexpectedly, Lu Zhan's well-cultivated cheeks grabbed hold of Luo Zhen's foot, resulting in a shallow tooth mark.

Indignant, Luo Zhen scolded, "Damn it, you're not getting any food today until you clean your mouth properly." With that, he stormed off in anger.

Lu Zhan rubbed his shrunken belly, feeling the hunger gnawing at him due to eating less in recent days. He underwent a series of transformations, shifting from a beast to a human and back again, then to a complete beast form. Despite this, his ability to transform seemed unaffected, easing Lu Zhan's worries. He happily got up and headed to wash up.

During this time, Tai Sui had grown considerably, providing enough for Shan Qi's needs. Although still thin, Shan Qi had gained more flesh since joining the tribe, and the abundance of wild fruits in the wilderness contributed to his improved health. Mountain pine collected fruits daily, mostly for Luo Zhen, but also for Shan Qi's nutrition. As a result, Shan Qi's complexion improved, bringing more smiles to A Jiao's face.

A Jiao now had more confidence than ever that her son would recover. Even if he couldn't become the powerful warrior he once was, there were plenty of tasks for ordinary tribe members to contribute to the community under the guidance of the tribe's leaders.

Da Wu imparted knowledge to them that they had never encountered before, broadening their horizons. Previously focused solely on survival, A Jiao now had the opportunity to engage with other aspects of life.

The tribe rejoiced at Lu Zhan's return to human form. To celebrate, Luo Zhen organized a bonfire gathering, marking not only Lu Zhan's transformation but also the completion of the city wall, a significant achievement for the tribe.

For the feast, Lu Zhan was naturally tasked with hunting, despite his earlier antics frustrating Luo Zhen. Despite this, Luo Zhen pondered if there were any lingering effects of Lu Zhan's total animalization, such as changes in personality or behavior.

As Luo Zhen prepared food for the celebration, he noticed something peculiar on the wooden shelf—a small, golden object resembling translucent amber. Intrigued by its sweet aroma and unique appearance, Luo Zhen wondered who had placed it there, considering it impossible for Lu Zhan to have done so in his animal form. With A Jiao unlikely to enter Lu Zhan's room without permission, the mystery of the object's origin puzzled Luo Zhen.