Crossing to Live in the Wilderness Plains 173
Chapter 173
In the vast expanse of the snowfield, a group of beastmen dressed in various styles hurried forward. Each carried either another beastman or heavy luggage on their backs. Though their faces were drawn and weary from long days of travel, not a single one slowed their pace.
“Dad, the Chishui River is ahead,” reported Axu, who had gone ahead to scout, as he ran back to deliver the news to his dad, the tribe chief.
Soon after they set out toward Qi Ze City, they had noticed messenger eagles flying in the direction of the Lion-Wolf Tribe. They had occasionally encountered such birds before on their journey from the Salt-Water Tribe, but this time an ominous sense of danger weighed heavily in everyone’s heart — just like the night when the hyena-drakes surrounded the Salt-Water Tribe. Not only those who had fought the hyena-drakes directly, like Axu, but even the beastmen who had retreated early could vaguely sense that this pack of hyena-drakes was the same one that had besieged them that night.
Achu looked at the river ahead, completely frozen over, and for the first time in days, the tightness in his nerves eased slightly. Because of the messenger eagles, they had doubled their travel speed, marching through day and night. Since the night before, they had stopped only to eat, too afraid of being caught by the pursuing hyena-drakes to rest even for a moment.
However, once they had left the range of the Lion-Wolf Tribe, the messenger eagles did not follow.
“It seems we’re almost there. Everyone, hold on a little longer,” Achu said, comforting his mate behind him and encouraging the rest of the tribe.
In the past few days, several more beastmen had fallen ill — all with the same symptom: fever. Achu’s partner, Lu Se, was among them. It was one of the main reasons they had been traveling through the night. Now, their only hope was that Qi Ze City would have something to treat the illness.
A shadow passed over Achu’s eyes. Even through several layers of furs, he could feel the heat radiating from his mate’s body. He knew that if Lu Se’s fever did not go down soon, he might not survive.
“I’m fine. Don’t worry,” Lu Se murmured weakly, sensing his mate’s unease. He patted Achu’s back lightly in reassurance. He already knew that some of those who had first fallen into high fever had begun to lose consciousness.
Crossing to Live in the Wilderness Plains (CLWP) is translated by Betwixted Translations. The site you’re reading this chapter on stole our translation.
Axu stepped forward and carefully tucked the furs tighter around Lu Se, making sure not to leave even the smallest gap. Then he moved ahead of the group again — several females were already scattered around the perimeter, scouting for any signs of danger.
Their passage left a trail of messy footprints across the untouched snowfield, but by the next snowfall they would all be covered. The beastmen didn’t need to worry about leaving traces for the dragons of the plains to find.
“Ahxu, isn’t that Axu?” On a small snow-covered slope not far from the Chishui River, several females dressed in white fur cloaks lay quietly against the ground. The cloaks blended perfectly with the snow, serving as excellent camouflage.
“What nonsense are you spouting? The Salt-Water Tribe is nearly a month’s journey from here. How could Axu possibly be here now?” replied another female beside him before Ahxu could speak.
The one who had asked first had once belonged to the Salt-Water Tribe. Though he didn’t know Axu well, he still knew him better than the one who spoke. Even knowing it was impossible for anyone from the Salt-Water Tribe to appear here, he couldn’t shake the familiar feeling as he watched the figures draw nearer.
Ahxu followed their gaze and saw that familiar silhouette. His heart gave a sudden jolt — and in the next instant, his body moved on instinct, darting forward.
The others who had been lying in wait looked at one another, then quickly abandoned their hiding spots and followed after him.
The sudden appearance of several white figures startled Axu. He instinctively pulled the nearest beastman back a few steps and dropped into a defensive stance.
“Axu, why are you all here?”
The familiar voice reached his ears, and Axu froze. The figure he had longed to see for months stood right before him. The guarded light that had just risen in his blue eyes vanished as he lunged forward, wrapping that familiar figure tightly in his arms.
Even though he had forced himself to appear calm and strong over the past few months, deep down, he had been afraid every moment — afraid that he might never see this person again.
Ahxu, who was suddenly hugged, was momentarily stunned. Then he remembered that there were still people around. Fortunately, his head was covered by a large hooded cloak, hiding his flushed ears from view.
“You… how are you here?” Ahxu stammered slightly from the sudden embrace and asked again softly.
“Our tribe was attacked by hyena-drakes.” Perhaps from agitation, Axu’s voice trembled slightly.
Crossing to Live in the Wilderness Plains (CLWP) is translated by Betwixted Translations. The site you’re reading this chapter on stole our translation.
“What?” The beastman from the Salt-Water Tribe exclaimed in shock.
After calming himself, Axu briefly explained what had happened with the hyena-drakes. The beastmen of Qi Ze City grew grim upon hearing this. Although they already knew from Ajiu that many hyena-drakes had appeared on the plains after winter began, they hadn’t expected that even the distant Salt-Water Tribe had fallen within the attack range. Coupled with the messenger eagles already sighted near the Lion-Wolf tribe, they began to wonder—would the next target of the hyena-drakes be Qi Ze City?
While they were talking, Achu and his group caught up from behind. Because Ahxu had been to the Salt-Water Tribe before, Achu was not unfamiliar with them. Ahxu now also understood the Salt-Water Tribe’s situation. Since the patrol for the day was already completed, he led the weary Salt-Water Tribe beastmen back to Qi Ze City.
Taking advantage of the fairly good weather, Chen Qi gave the little wolf cub a bath. Now that the cub had no fur at all, cleaning him was much easier.
“I can’t help but think you’re getting uglier like this. When will your fur grow back?” Chen Qi said with a hint of distaste as he handed the freshly bathed wolf cub to Ajing, who was waiting nearby with a towel.
“Awoo.” The little wolf cub gave Chen Qi a pitiful look and then burrowed into Ajing’s arms.
“It’s okay. You’ll always be the best-looking one in my heart.” Ajing rubbed the little wolf cub’s head to comfort him and then carried him back to the fire so he wouldn’t catch cold.
Comforted by Ajing, the little wolf cub’s spirits quickly lifted. After being dried off, he obediently let Ajing help him into a new fur outfit. The outfit was specially designed by Chen Qi—complete with shoes, a hat, and even a tail wrapped in soft fur. If not for the strange bald face, one might almost think the little wolf cub had already grown his fur back.
Still, the outfit looked rather odd. Without a closer look, no one would recognize the little wolf cub as a giant wolf-god.
“Chen Qi! Chen Qi!” Just as Ajing finished tidying up the little wolf cub, a voice called from outside. The door to the hall was pushed open with a gust of cold wind, causing the flames in the hearth to sway toward the little wolf cub and nearly burn his new fur clothing. Startled, the cub scurried several steps away from the fire.
Chen Qi poked his head out from the washroom. The steam from the hot water hadn’t yet dissipated, and after staying inside for a while, even his hair felt damp. Seeing a large group of people crowding in, he was startled. “Axu, why are you all here?”
The newcomers were members of the Salt-Water Tribe who had just arrived in Qi Ze City. Many of them were burning with high fever. As it happened, Aze was on duty at the city wall that day. When he saw the unconscious beastmen, he immediately instructed Achu to bring them to his home without hesitation.
Crossing to Live in the Wilderness Plains (CLWP) is translated by Betwixted Translations. The site you’re reading this chapter on stole our translation.
Before the Salt-Water Tribe could respond to Chen Qi’s question, Aze stepped forward and explained the condition of the sick. Only then did Chen Qi notice that some of them were carrying others on their backs.
“Go and take out the rest of the heatgrass in the house.” Chen Qi briefly checked the others and was alarmed by the scorching heat radiating from their bodies. With fevers this high and no real medicine, could they even be saved?
Not daring to delay, Chen Qi had Ajing heat the kang bed in the hall while Aze fetched the heatgrass. Then he spread bamboo mats and animal hides around the hearth, making makeshift beds for Achu to settle the sick beastmen.
By then, other beastmen who heard the commotion had come over. Seeing the situation, Ali quickly came to assist Chen Qi. Achu, the Salt-Water Tribe’s chief, settled the sick and left a few females to tend to them, then took Axu outside to help Azhang, the chief of Qi Ze City, arrange lodging for the rest of their people.
Many beastmen had already fallen ill along the way; at this point, not a single one more could be allowed to collapse.
Aze had already washed the heatgrass and was boiling it in a large pottery bowl filled with water. Chen Qi walked to the wooden shelf by the window, which was lined with pottery trays of plants—mostly edible ones like scallions and garlic, though a few trays held freshly sprouted heatgrass.
Of the heatgrass Aze had brought back earlier, Chen Qi had managed to cultivate two plants that even produced seeds. He hadn’t expected anything to grow in the harsh winter, but after trying to plant some crops in the warm house, half of the heatgrass seeds he sowed actually sprouted.
Although the plants didn’t grow as well as they would in summer, a few trays of scallions and garlic were still enough for occasional meals during winter.
Without hesitation, Chen Qi dug up the heatgrass that hadn’t yet fully matured or bloomed. After washing off the dirt, he handed them to Aze to mix with the others for boiling.
Over a dozen members of the Salt-Water Tribe were feverish this time; the remaining few plants alone wouldn’t have enough medicinal strength.
“Chen Qi, is there anything I can help with?” After settling his feverish father, Ashu walked over to ask.
“You and Ali go get some wild ginger from the cellar and make ginger soup for your tribesman. There’s still sugar in the storeroom—add a little when you boil it. Make sure everyone drinks some and stays warm,” Chen Qi instructed while keeping busy.
Words from the Translation Crew
Miiya: 1 of 3 for the week.
Translator: Miiya
Editor: MushroomKnight73
Proofreader: Yume
Editor stepping into the realm of MTL translating, starting with CLWP. Support this translation with a Ko-fi. Three Ko-fis will add an extra chapter from the stockpile to the next weekly release.
So intense so sad for the cannon fodder small tribes😭🤧our little baldy providing relief for the sad parts