Chapter 13: Giant Beast Warrior

After taking a bath, a group of small carrot heads became white and tender, with one or two golden stripes on their faces, which was the blood inheritance of the Golden Centipede Tribe.

Zhuang Yu couldn’t help thinking of Shaohao again. The nine gold stripes on Shaohao’s face were painted by himself, which means that he is not a member of the Golden Centipede at all. Then how did he become the young patriarch of the tribe?

Can’t figure it out, but he now doesn’t want to get involved in these messy things. He just wants to live a down-to-earth life.

Looking at the dirty water in the pool, his mouth twitched. How long has it been since these little radish heads took a bath?

Even the little mushroom crawled ashore. Oh my god, they almost poisoned this young mushroom.

The little turnip heads were very shy. They quibbled for two sentences, “We are clean now. Really, Brother Yu, you see, there’s no mud to be scrubbed anymore.”

Zhuang Yu: “…”

The water in the pool was supposed to be replaced because the soil nearby flowed in. He asked these small carrot heads to get up from the pond and put on their animal skins that had been dried earlier.

Although the cleaned animal skins are still very shabby, they look particularly fluffy now. With a group of clean children, it is a world of difference from the original dirty appearance. They look very cute.

The small radish heads still held their animal skins and smelled them, “The smell of the sun, and nothing else.”

Before, their fur skirts were dirty and always smelled of mildew. This is because no one takes care of these children so they didn’t wash their fur skirts before.

The carrot heads are very happy, “We are as clean as the children living on the back of the ancestral beast.”

“No one will dislike us because we smell anymore.”

Their bitterness is unimaginable to those who have not experienced it.

These children looked at the water in the pool with shy faces. They still remember how clear the pool was at the beginning, “Brother Yu, we’ll help you water the ground.”

OMG, we’re too dirty before. We better destroy the evidence as soon as possible. It would be no good if Brother Yu didn’t like us anymore.

Zhuang Yu looked at the sky. The water in the pool must be cleaned up, so he nodded.

However, even if the heads of these small radishes are washed clean, the water in the pool will soon become dirty, because when playing in the water, the soil around the pool will definitely be brought back.

If you’re not a very particular person, maybe it would be alright for you if the pool is a little muddy. But he, who’s used to the clean and spotless swimming pool, can’t do it.

He looked at the flat ground in front of his cave. It could only be solved by paving stone slabs.

But now he’s too busy to start. Watching these little carrot heads who are happily watering his fields, he doesn’t want to tire these children out.

Truth be told, he provided food to these children, and they also helped him a lot in return. If he was alone, he wouldn’t be able to realize many ideas immediately.

He said that he wanted to reward these children, and now there’s a lot of meat that Shaohao sent over. After thinking about it, he got busy.

He’s going to cook a big pot of meat. It’ll be so fragrant when cooked well. These little carrot heads must like it.

He still has to boil some oil before cooking. It’s not always good without oil.

Zhuang Yu separated the fat from the lean meat. The fat meat is used to boil the oil, and the lean meat is put in the pot and simmered.

The turnip heads who had wiped out all the evidence in the pool gathered around and drooled at the pot of meat. How long have they not eaten meat?

“Brother Yu, you can’t finish cooking so much meat.”

“That’s right, you should hide it and cook a little every day later. It will last for a long time.”

Zhuang Yu smiled. These children didn’t know that these were cooked for them and still feel that this is a waste. It’s estimated that they never thought that someone would give them such delicious meat when everyone was short of food.

A little carrot head looked at the oil Zhuang Yu was boiling, “This water is not good, it’s greasy.”

“Yeah, yeah. An adult tricked me into eating this water dripped from the meat before. It was not delicious at all.”

Zhuang Yu: “…”

Drink the oil directly? It’s really…

Zhuang Yu thought for a while. He picked up the dried oil residue in the pan, sprinkled some salt, and handed it over, “Take the fat dregs aside and eat it. Don’t stand by the pot. Be careful of the oil splashing on you.”

The group of little carrots sat in a row with the oil residue, “What is this? It looks like burnt meat.” 

“It’s meat. We can still eat it even if it’s scorched.”

They’re not so particular about it. When it’s burnt, it’s burnt. This is still meat.

Grab one and put it in his mouth, and then his eyes straightened, “Wow, it’s…it’s fragrant.”

“I’ll have some, I’ll have some.”

Zhuang Yu looked at a group of lively little carrots and laughed. The oil residue sprinkled with a little salt did taste good.

The carrot heads were so happy they wanted to roll on the ground, “Brother Yu’s food is delicious.”

“I used to think that the meat roasted by adults was the best, but now it’s not at all.”

Zhuang Yu looked at a group of little carrots who were eating oil residue with half-squinted eyes. These children were really easy to satisfy.

He put the oil in the jar. This much oil is enough for them for a long time.

After looking at the meat that’s almost cooked in the pot, he picked out the meat and put them into the stone bowls chiseled by the children, “Hurry up and eat meat. It’s best to eat while it’s hot.”

The carrot heads who had just finished eating oil residue were stunned by the large bowls of meat in front of them, “Is such a big bowl of meat for us?”

Their eyes suddenly moistened. From the moment they were born, they’re a group of existences that no one cared about, no matter even if they live or die. No one had ever cared about them so much. “Brother Yu, you are so kind.”

Zhuang Yu also had a sore nose. It’s just a trivial matter but these little carrot heads were so moved that their tears were streaming out. This shows how their group was neglected in the past.

He said, “Not yet eating quickly? When the mushroom is finished, he will rob you.” 

The little mushroom is eating the meat in his small bowl. Hmph, I’m an unsentimental mushroom. I don’t recognize anyone except meat. When I’m finished eating, I will eat other people’s portions.

Frightened, the small carrot heads hugged their bowls. Brother Yu gave us food, no one else could grab them.

Some were holding their chopsticks in a daze and putting the meat in their mouths. It was delicious and fragrant. This must be the best meat they have ever eaten.

Feng Wen also held his bowl while looking at the other small carrot heads eating with enjoyment. He’s also very happy. His brother is the best.

“It’s delicious, and there are so many.”

“Yeah, they can’t fit in my bowl anymore. When people grilled meat before, I was already satisfied just by smelling it.”

Zhuang Yu smiled, “In the future, we will eat meat every day. Big mouthfuls of meat.”

A little turnip’s eyes lit up, “Really? Can children in the collective cave, like us, without mothers or fathers, have meat every day?”

Zhuang Yu looked at his chili field and the pool where he’s storing water and said in his heart that there will be such a day. Everything now is just the beginning. As long as he works hard bit by bit, it’ll gradually get better in the future.

Under the afterglow of the sky, a group of children carried large bowls of meat, their mouths greasy and their faces full of happiness.

In their little hearts, this remote little flat land is the happiest place in their difficult lives.

After eating, it was getting late and the weather just cooled down. Zhuang Yu taught these children to wash their bowls and chopsticks clean.

The small radish heads didn’t leave yet. They sighed comfortably that Zhuang Yu’s cooked meat was so delicious. Then they opened their small mouths and said in a voice unique to children, “Brother Yu, the weather is cool. Is there anything we need to do?”

The little turnips looked at Zhuang Yu, for fear that he wouldn’t give them anything to do. If they didn’t have anything to do, they would be embarrassed to come here again. And that’s something they couldn’t bear.

Zhuang Yu smiled, “It just so happens that I still need a lot of slabs. But it’s not as urgent as building the pool. You can move them slowly.”

Although he’s not in a hurry, the small carrots are very earnest. Alas, they started lifting the slates.

Zhuang Yu also got busy. He put the stone slabs into the ground in front of the cave one by one. Each piece was inlaid very flat without leaving a gap. If there are uneven places, just chisel it out bit by bit. He knows that once it’s uneven, it’s easy to cause water accumulation.

He gave priority to paving the stone slabs around the pool, so as to ensure that no mud will flow into the pool tomorrow.

They were so busy until the moon climbed into the middle of the sky, and Zhuang Yu’s breath and the others turned into white mist. The temperature difference between day and night is really prominent.

He asked the children to hurry and go back to sleep. As for him, he went back to the cave after working for a while.

Little Mushroom also ran out of Feng Wen’s blanket and got into his.

This is where it’s really nice and warm.

It’s too cold.

In the corner of the cave, there were two jars of pickled peppers and bamboo shoots lying quietly, a jar of salt, three jars of oil, and some unfinished meat. At the entrance of the cave, there was a beehive, which belonged to Feng Wen.

The meat will have to be smoked tomorrow, otherwise, it’ll be easy to deteriorate.

The conditions are very difficult, he’s exhausted and busy, but Zhuang Yu believes that life will get better in the end. Not only him, but he will also let Feng Wen and the simple and lovely children in the collective cave live a good life. 

The next day, early in the morning, Zhuang Yu was awakened by the noise outside the cave. When he went out to see, the small carrot heads had filled up the pool. Not only that, they also watered the chili field.

It’s really a group of industrious little bees.

“Brother Yu, your devil fruits are all dead.”

“We caught all the worms on the fruits just now.”

Zhuang Yu was taken aback. When he ran over to take a look, his mouth almost couldn’t close together. The plants were growing vigorously. The exuberant, knee-high peppers are really beginning to bear fruit, but this is too fast.

This pepper is really growing fast day by day. It’s unbelievable. At this speed, it won’t be long before it can be harvested.

Although he couldn’t figure it out, this is a good thing for Zhuang Yu.

“Brother Yu, why do you plant so many devil fruits? After eating this, you will have a stomach ache and roll on the ground.”

Zhuang Yu just smiled. They will learn the benefits of the “devil fruits” later.

The children began to move the slates again.

He looked around and found that the bamboo shoots he picked up in the mountain last time had been used up. Although he still had some meat, he couldn’t eat big bowls of meat like yesterday. The hard life forced him to make a plan carefully.

He’s going to take Feng Wen up the mountain to pick bamboo shoots again, and then use those to cook broth for the children who help him move the slabs. It’s also very good to eat bamboo shoots mixed with meat.

Before leaving, he said, “When the sun comes out, don’t move the slates. Play in the water by yourselves Remember not to go to the deep water area and don’t dirty the pool.”

The slabs around the pool were already laid out yesterday. As long as they pay attention, they can ensure that the pool water is clean.

It’s more comfortable to play in clean water.

Zhuang Yu took Feng Wen up the mountain, with the little mushroom walking at the front with his legs splayed1. It’s time for this2 mushroom to perform again. It’s a pity that all of my brothers were scorched to death by the sun in the past two days. Even if I wanted to break in the door, there is nowhere to go. But it doesn’t matter, I still have many good friends who are still alive. Today, I will raid my good friends’ homes.

When Zhuang Yu passed by the tribal land, the teenagers who were training still showed their arrogance and whispered, “What are they doing with the slabs we chopped up?”

“Who knows. I heard that Yu also planted many devil fruits in front of his cave. I don’t know for what. Even the giant beasts will be uncomfortable for a few days if they accidentally ate it.” 

“Yu is getting more and more hard to read. Have you seen his automatic water outlet pipe? Water is still coming out of it. It’s amazing.”

“Yes, it’s completely incomprehensible, but the water pipe is really easy to use. It’s impressive. I used to think he was useless. Unexpectedly…”

Among a group of training teenagers, one stood on the back of a deer wearing a small fur hat and holding a stone gun in his hand. His eyes turned around. Yu and the others have gone up the mountain? In other words, there’s no one guarding the cave. This is my chance.

Xiao Pimao sneaked away, but was immediately picked up by the neck by Shaohao and brought back, “Want to run again. You don’t know how to train well.” 

Xiao Pimao was in tears. Such a great opportunity.

Shaohao frowned, “Don’t bully the children in the collective cave in the future. They are pitiful enough.”

Xiao Pimao: “…”

Who is more pitiful? They have delicious food every day, while he can only peek from a distance.

Zhuang Yu and his companions went up the mountain to dig bamboo shoots the first time. Each of these shoots was at least close to a catty3, very fresh and tender.

The wind blew, causing the bamboo forest to rustle. This is such a nice place.

Zhuang Yu is going to chop some bamboo back. Whether it’s picking mushrooms or digging bamboo shoots, they use the animal skins around their waists to carry them back. In fact, they couldn’t hold much. Moreover, he saw that the people in the Golden Centipede Tribe collect berries directly with animal skin bags. The power development of this world really ignores skills and tools.

He is going to cut these bamboo and make some farm tools such as back baskets. Moreover, he’s about to harvest his chili field. It’ll be a lot more convenient to have a basket when picking. Maybe he can also use these things to exchange for some useful things with the tribespeople.

Little Mushroom is a little unhappy. The bamboo couldn’t be eaten at all. Last time, he thought Zhuang Yu chopped the bamboo to make it food, but it was turned into a water pipe.

Little Mushroom kept grabbing Zhuang Yu’s feet to drag him away. Quickly follow me to copy my good friend’s house.

Zhuang Yu was stunned. What is this little funny man doing?

Because Little Mushroom previously found mushrooms and peppers, he followed him.

On a mountain slope with a very hidden view, he was surprised. The small mushroom climbed on a tree and then took the stick in his hand and stabbed it up.

A fist-sized berry just fell off.

Zhuang Yu stepped forward and picked it up, with a face full of surprise. Isn’t this a pear? This is actually a pear tree.

Except for many trees that he didn’t recognize in this world, there are indeed many plants that are the same on earth.

Zhuang Yu is delighted. Pears are good things. They are rich in moisture and sweet. Definitely a good summer fruit.

The little mushroom really has a strange ability. He can find some vegetables and fruits that are very hidden. For example, in this position, it’s clearly in the blind spot of the viewing angle, and most people can never find it.

The little mushroom has a proud look. Did you know now how powerful this mushroom is? Then he picks up his small wooden stick and starts poking it on the branch, ransacking the house. He’s really a ruthless mushroom.

Zhuang Yu looked at the pear tree, which wasn’t too big, about three meters, and thought in his heart that his pool was short of a big tree for shading. He decided to dig it back and plant it on the edge of the pool.

As for it’s not big enough to achieve the effect of shading, he thought, just raise it slowly. Anyway, he has a long-term plan. Besides, if the tree is too big now, he can’t move it back. 

Just imagine, in the future, a pear tree full of pears in front of the cave is also good.

He excitedly began to dig the tree.

The little mushroom that had ransacked the house on the tree was floored. OMG, this brother is more ruthless than I am. I just searched the house, but this brother is going to cut the grass and get rid of the roots.

This time up the mountain, Zhuang Yu harvested some bamboo shoots, which were then carried by Feng Wen, while he struggled to drag the two bamboos and the pear tree.

Thank goodness for the awesome physique of the people in this world, otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to persist.

When Zhuang Yu returned to the cave, the carrot heads were still moving the stone slabs in full swing. There’s already a mound piled up in front of the cave.

He beckoned to one of the little boys, “Zhi, didn’t I let you stop working after the sun came out?”

Zhi raised his sweaty head, “We’re not tired at all. We can still move a lot. “

Zhuang Yu helplessly rubbed Zhi’s little head, “Go and ask them to take a break and play in the water, otherwise, I won’t boil bone soup for you today.” 

Zhi then wiped his sweat and ran to a bunch of children.

Zhuang Yu first raised the fire. He had to hang up the meat and smoke it. The chopped bamboo also had to be roasted. The insect eggs in the bamboo were roasted to death, and the moisture in the bamboo evaporated. Only in this way could the woven agricultural tools be durable.

Then while watching the fire, he planted his pear tree and sent Feng Wen to play in the water.

The tree is planted by the pool.

The small carrot heads have their mouths below the water, only exposing their nose and spitting bubbles.

Today’s pool is really clean. It can be said that it’s crystal clear, reflecting the sunlight on the surface.

Seeing Zhuang Yu planting a tree next to them, the radish heads lay on the edge of the pool and said, “Brother Yu, someone planted this berry tree before and its fruit is sour and astringent. It’s not delicious.”

Zhuang Yu was surprised and thought for a while. He probably knows the reason. If you transplant a berry tree by yourself, its fruit won’t be delicious if it’s not fertilized. However, the berry trees in the mountains, which are planted in the soil formed after the fermentation of the fallen leaves for unknown years, have the most natural fertilizer from dead leaves. It’s bound to be full of fertility.

It’s not that there is no way to solve it. At that time, he will go to the mountains to dig some black soil and bury it under the tree.

In the pool, the small mushroom kicked a small spray of water and climbed ashore. Even in the water, it’s uncomfortable to be directly exposed to the sun.

The little mushroom ran under the pear tree and was taken aback, because he happened to stand in the shade of the tree, with the mottled sunlight passing through. Because his body was so small, he couldn’t be exposed to the sun at all.

The little mushroom walked out of the shade, was exposed to the sun, and then backed away. He then tilted his head and looked at the pear tree, blinked his eyes, then shyly covered his little face, ran under the pear tree, and began to pee. I’ll give you some fertilizer, and you will be responsible for covering this young mushroom from the sun in the future.

Zhuang Yu looked at the bashful little mushroom. What is he doing?

Little Mushroom has shyly jumped into the pool again. This mushroom also knows how to be ashamed, okay?

Zhuang Yu looked at the sky. In such big weather, he’s a little worried about whether his pear tree could survive.

Looking at the tree, there are still some unripe fruits on it. He estimated that the fruit will fall soon, but it’s useless to worry. Just let the flow take its course.

He began to cook today’s bamboo shoot sliced meat soup. He casually cut the bamboo into strips and grilled it.

The meat on the fire also started to drip oil. It’s smeared with salt so that the smoked meat can be stored for a long time.

The smoke curls up. The children in the pool next to it are like a group of ducklings, which is a picture of the peacefulness of a farmhouse.

“Brother Yu, come and play in the water, too. The water is so comfortable and cool.” Cried a group of naked little guys.

Feng Wen also nodded. It’s a little cold, but it’s bearable.

Zhuang Yu of course knows that it’s relaxing. When he gets a beach chair out, he will put it under the pear tree, swim for a while, and then lie down. That would be a leisurely enjoyment.

But now, he has to cook the bamboo shoots and meat slices in the pot, roast the meat and bake the bamboo to the point where he can make farm tools out of it.

However, he found it interesting as he watched the children shouting at him. He said, “I’ll teach you how to sing.”

Sing? The children were stunned. What’s that?

In a remote mountain peak, in front of a leisurely cave, a unique song sounded.

“Under the bridge in front of the gate, a group of ducks swam by. Come and count them, two, four, six, seven, eight…”4 

The little turnip heads opened their mouths with front teeth missing and sang so happily. They don’t know why. Singing this song makes them very happy, especially with Brother Yu singing alongside them.

Even the little mushroom can hum the tune and kick a splash happily.

Zhuang Yu looked at these little guys in the pool. Don’t they look like a group of carefree little ducks in the pond?

In the distance, Xiao Pimao crawling on the ground to observe also hummed very cheerfully.

Zhuang Yu filled each stone bowl with bamboo shoots and sliced ​​pork soup, and then greeted the giddy little carrot heads to come up and eat. These little guys probably haven’t eaten anything from morning until now.

Happiness in a hard life is also very interesting.

Zhuang Yu walked to the pool himself. He had been by the fire just now. It was so hot that he was sweating all over. He had to cool off.

However, when he walked to the side and was about to soak in the water, his pupils contracted suddenly. He looked at the pear tree he had just transplanted next to the pool.

How can this be?

He saw the pear tree with lush green leaves stretched out. The fruit on the branches hung on it one by one, full of vitality, and new young leaves were drawn from the top of each branch.

He knows very well what the state of the newly transplanted tree should be in such a big sun. Not to mention that the leaves should be drooping and the fruit shriveled. What’s the matter with the new young leaves on the top of the tree?

He’s sure that when he brought back this tree, there were absolutely no such tender leaves. Moreover, no matter how he looked at it, he felt that the pear tree was a little bit taller than when he planted it.

Next to it, the little mushroom is drinking soup. Wait for me to fertilize you a few times and grow up to give me shade.

… 

At this moment, the witch of the White Pupil Tribe is dragging his old body and is seriously instructing the team that’s about to go to the Golden Centipede Tribe, “You are the most promising seeds of my White Pupil Tribe. This time, you’re the key to the survival of the tribe. No matter what the price is paid, you must complete your task. If… If it’s really impossible to achieve, just…escape. Leave the last kindling for the tribe.”

A group of people with sad faces replied, “Witch, we will definitely complete the task and won’t let the white pupils disappear.” 

On this day, a team of the White Pupil Tribe began to enter the territory of the Golden Centipede Tribe.

At the front is a big bronze rooster the size of a truck. Every piece of its feathers exudes a bronze luster. When its claws step on the ground, the stones directly crack. On the rooster’s back, there’s a middle-aged man with white pupils.

Behind it, there are three more giant beasts. There’s a huge toad in khaki color. Its whole back was pockmarked. When the toad jumped, the soil and rocks flew up. On its back stood a slender young man with white pupils.

Then there’s a seven-star ladybug, bigger than an elephant, just suspended in the air. When its thin wings beat, it forms a strange sound wave. On its back, there also stood a delicate white-eyed teenager.

In the end is a huge moth, sprinkling large tracts of scale powder. It looked very ferocious. There’s also a slender white-eyed boy standing on it.

The old witch looked at their backs, “My best giant beast warriors. I hope you can keep my White Pupil Tribe alive.”

No matter how you look at the people in the backs of the four giant beasts, they’re full of a sense of embracing death, never to return, with a heart-stirring solemnity.