Xia assigned a few beastmen to escort Luo and his family home, instructing them to take turns keeping watch and report any changes until Luo regained consciousness.
Watching Xia efficiently organize tasks, Meng Yuqing couldn't help but admire how well-run this tribe seemed.
Back at home, Qiuye was still staring blankly at his hands, unable to process what had just happened.
He had just helped Meng Yuqing save Luo's life. Previously, any beastman suffering such severe injuries would have been beyond saving, bleeding out helplessly.
Xia, sensing Qiuye's thoughts, walked over and gently embraced him, silently patting his back to comfort him.
Meng Yuqing glanced at them and awkwardly stepped outside—better to avoid being a third wheel.
Xuan followed him out, carrying two large pieces of meat.
"You and my Yafu haven't eaten yet, right? I'll grill some meat for you."
Xuan expertly set up a fire and began roasting the meat. Meng Yuqing joined him, helping to prepare the meat, though he couldn't help but feel a bit concerned about his dwindling herb supply.
Xuan noticed his change in mood and asked,
"What's wrong? Why do you look upset all of a sudden?"
"It's not that I'm upset," Meng Yuqing replied. "It's just that my herb supply is running low. If another emergency like today happens, I won't have enough to use."
"I see," Xuan said thoughtfully. "I'll look for more herbs next time I go out."
"I already mentioned it to Qiuye earlier. I'll teach the hunting team to recognize these herbs so they can gather them when they're out."
"You're really willing to teach everyone to recognize these herbs?" Xuan asked, surprised.
"Why not? These herbs are essential for you beastmen who often go hunting. We need to stockpile as much as possible. If only I know them, we'll run into trouble. Imagine losing lives because we didn't have enough herbs—it would be such a waste. Besides, if you all know these herbs, you can treat wounds even while out in the wild."
Meng Yuqing repeated what he had told Qiuye earlier. He couldn't understand why everyone seemed surprised that he would share this knowledge. Could it be that healers in this world hoarded such information? Frowning, he reflected on how such secrecy might lead to lost knowledge—especially in a world without written records.
Knowledge hoarding had no place in a thriving tribe.
The meat finished grilling quickly. As Meng Yuqing chewed on his portion, he resolved to find ways to improve their meals once his house was ready. Grilled meat was tasty but could get monotonous.
"By the way, Xuan," Meng Yuqing said, "I need some Wu Thorn Grass. I plan to experiment with it, so I might need your help catching some live animals to test on."
"The one that causes paralysis and unconsciousness? Got it. I'll bring back a few tomorrow," Xuan agreed readily.
"They don't need to be large animals—smaller ones will do. But make sure to vary their sizes. I want to see how body size affects the grass's effects. Once I've got a sense of it, we can try larger beasts."
"Understood. Do you have enough Wu Thorn Grass? I'll grab more if I see it."
"If you find some, bring it back. I'll probably need a lot for the experiments."
"Alright."
By then, Qiuye had composed himself and emerged from the house with Xia. Xuan handed the other piece of grilled meat to Qiuye, who sat next to Meng Yuqing and began eating.
Xia turned to Meng Yuqing and asked,
"Qiuye told me you're planning to teach the hunting team to recognize these herbs, correct?"
"Yes," Meng Yuqing confirmed. "These herbs are incredibly useful, especially for hunters. Ideally, I'd like the entire tribe to learn about them."
"How about tonight? Once the hunters return, I'll call everyone to the plaza," Xia suggested.
"That works. The sooner everyone knows, the better prepared we'll be," Meng Yuqing agreed.
After their meal, Qiuye left for the foraging team, and Xia headed to the patrol team. This left Meng Yuqing and Xuan alone.
"How about I show you the spot where we'll build your house?" Xuan offered.
"Sure," Meng Yuqing said, following Xuan.
The site was near Qiuye's house, and they arrived quickly. Two young beastmen, Mu and Lie, were already waiting there. Meng Yuqing recognized them; they were helpers Xuan had called in. Nearby, stone and wood materials were piled, brought in earlier that morning.
"Hey! You're here too!" Mu greeted Meng Yuqing enthusiastically. "What's your name again?"
"I'm Meng Yuqing, but just call me Yuqing," Meng Yuqing replied with a smile. Over the past few days, he'd noticed that most sub-beastman names were only two syllables, which explained why Xuan always hesitated slightly when saying his name.
Xuan glanced at Meng Yuqing but said nothing. Lie nodded at Meng Yuqing in greeting, his demeanor noticeably quieter than before. Perhaps he still needed time to recover emotionally.
The entire afternoon was spent watching the house construction. Occasionally, Xuan asked Meng Yuqing for input on the house design.
By late afternoon, the foundation was complete—a testament to the beastmen's efficiency.
As they worked, a beastman ran over from the distance.
"Xuan, the hunting team is back. The chief wants everyone to gather at the plaza," the runner announced before dashing off to inform others.
Xuan and Meng Yuqing returned home briefly to gather the remaining herbs before heading to the plaza. By the time they arrived, a sizable crowd had already gathered.
They waited a bit longer as Xia's messengers gradually brought in the rest of the tribe.
Xia glanced at Meng Yuqing, who felt a wave of nerves. Taking a deep breath to suppress his anxiety, he nodded to indicate he was ready.
Xuan accompanied Meng Yuqing onto the platform as Xia began to address the crowd.
"Today, we've gathered to share something very important. Luo returned earlier with severe injuries, bleeding heavily and unconscious. Without the herbs that Meng Yuqing brought, Luo would not have survived," Xia said.
The crowd erupted into murmurs.
"Is Luo alright now? How did he get hurt so badly?"
"Herbs? This sub-beastman knows herbs?"
"He looked terrible when the beastmen carried him home—covered in blood. But his child didn't seem upset, so maybe he's okay now."
"Quiet!" Xia commanded, silencing the crowd. "Today, we'll introduce these herbs to everyone. Especially the hunting and patrol teams—you need to recognize these plants and bring them back whenever you find them."
"What? We're learning herbs too?" someone exclaimed, and the crowd buzzed again.
"Chief, show us the herbs!"
"Silence!" Xia ordered. "Meng Yuqing will explain the herbs. Stay quiet until he's finished, or you'll be escorted out and barred from hearing the explanation."
The crowd hushed as Xia stepped aside, revealing Meng Yuqing.
Every eye in the plaza focused on him, and Meng Yuqing felt the weight of their attention. Taking two stiff steps forward, he pulled out the three herbs and cleared his throat.
Starting with the hemostatic and blood-replenishing herbs, he described their uses and characteristics. The crowd was visibly excited but remained disciplined, covering their mouths to avoid interrupting.
Their discipline impressed Meng Yuqing.
Finally, he held up Wu Thorn Grass and said,
"This isn't a medicine—it's a mildly toxic plant. Called Wu Thorn Grass, it causes paralysis, weakness, or even unconsciousness. However, it's not fatal, and the effects wear off with no long-term harm."
He paused before continuing,
"It's not very useful for healing, but if you find it in the wild, avoid getting pricked by its thorns. I'm currently researching its potential applications."
Meng Yuqing concluded,
"I'll leave these herbs with the chief for display so you can study their appearances carefully."
With that, he handed the herbs to Xia and retreated behind Xuan, ignoring the excited murmurs from the crowd.
The overwhelming attention had left him drained. Rubbing his sweaty palms, Meng Yuqing thought to himself, Public speaking is definitely not my strong suit.