The Primitive Adventures of a Chipmunk 32

Chapter 32

The sky was a hazy gray, and the tribe was already bustling with activity.

Everyone had woken up early. Hua Shi’an, Mo Huaishan, and Yan Qiuyu, with dark circles under their eyes and back baskets on their backs, had just arrived at the camp when they were immediately surrounded by a group of people, and their back baskets were unceremoniously snatched away.

Pine nuts and chestnuts wrapped in coir sheets were placed in the back baskets, smoked dried fish from the past few days were placed in the back baskets, fresh purslane and dandelions, and dry firewood cut to the same length were all stuffed into the back baskets.

The tribe members were overly enthusiastic. Seeing that the empty back baskets were almost full, Hua Shi’an’s sleepiness finally cleared. He spread his arms and blocked the crowd. “Alright, alright, this is too much. We’re going to find things, not transport things.”

“But you’ll be gone for several days!” The beastman, who hadn’t had time to put the coir bag into the back basket, was unhappy. “Food, drink, and supplies, bring as much as you can. You’ll be spending the night in the wild, so you must bring more firewood.”

“That’s right, Lord Priest.”

Hong Yinglan chimed in and handed over three bamboo tubes. “This is the water I just fetched. You should take it with you. You can drink it when you’re thirsty on the way.”

“And, and, these two bamboo tubes are filled with blueberries. You like them, Lord Priest. Take them and eat them on the way.” Yan Zhile squeezed through the crowd, panting, and forcibly stuffed two wet bamboo tubes into Hua Shi’an’s hands, grinning. “I’ve washed them, you can eat them directly.”

The tribe members’ enthusiasm had become a sweet burden. The full back basket weighed several dozen pounds. He really couldn’t carry so many things. Hua Shi’an handed the bamboo tube in his hand to Mo Huaishan and waved to the crowd. “I appreciate everyone’s kindness. We are indeed leaving the tribe for a few days, but we’re not leaving the forest.”

“There’s a large river where we’re going, so we won’t bring water. One bamboo tube per person is enough. It hasn’t rained in the forest recently, so we don’t need to bring firewood either. There are withered branches and fallen leaves everywhere in the forest. We can just pick them up if we need to make a fire.”

“But, but picking firewood takes time. It’s more convenient to bring some dry firewood. That way, you might be able to come back earlier.”

“Exactly, bring the water too. It’s a hassle to go to the river to fetch it.”

“And stone knives, stone axes, bring two more, just in case you encounter wild beasts.”

“Why don’t you take a stone pot too? You can cook some wild vegetables at night!”

…

Few people ever traveled far. Even in the Clear Sky Forest, few people were away from the tribe for several days. The tribe members were really worried. They were like old mothers sending their children to school for the first time, nagging and reminding them, wanting them to take all the good things from home.

Their enthusiasm was overwhelming. Just as Hua Shi’an was at his wit’s end, a savior arrived.

“Alright, alright, that’s enough.”

Chief Mu, who had appeared from nowhere, squeezed into the crowd and waved his hand, calming the restless tribe members. “They’re only going for two or three days. It’s enough to bring some chestnuts and pine nuts to fill their stomachs. What’s with the firewood and stone pots? Aren’t those things heavy? If they carry a back basket full of things, they won’t be able to walk. Two or three days will turn into four or five.”

The crowd thought about it and realized it made sense. They finally calmed down and stopped trying to persuade them.

It was getting late. After calming the tribe members, Chief Mu turned to look at Hua Shi’an, then turned his gaze to the two tall beastmen and said earnestly, “It doesn’t matter if you find honey or not. Safety is the most important thing. You can’t be too far from the Lord Priest in the wild. You have to walk together and rest together. No matter what, you must protect him well.”

Mo Huaishan didn’t speak, just nodded vigorously.

Yan Qiuyu: “We know, Chief. We will.”

“It’s almost dawn. You should set off.” Chief Mu turned around, patted Hua Shi’an’s arm, and said solemnly, “Shi’an, don’t forget you’re the priest of the tribe. Don’t take any risks. Go and come back early.”

Hua Shi’an smiled and nodded. “Don’t worry, Chief.”

They had filled their stomachs in the tree hollow. After the tribe members took out the firewood and various wild vegetables from the back baskets, Hua Shi’an and the two beastmen put on their back baskets again, and under the gradually brightening sky, they walked towards the meadow and upstream along the river.

“Come back early, you guys. Be careful on the way!”

“Lord Priest, go and come back early.”

…

The tribe members were extremely reluctant to see them go and followed them for a long way.

After wading through the creek, passing through the jungle, and walking quickly along the winding and magnificent river, by noon, when the sun was high in the sky, Hua Shi’an and the two beastmen were already standing at the foot of the majestic and varied mountains.

It wasn’t close, but it wasn’t far either.

To keep up with the beastmen, Hua Shi’an’s legs were almost on fire, and he was drenched in sweat. However, the road to the foot of the mountain was just an appetizer. The real challenge was the mountain in front of them, which seemed to have no end in sight.

The rocky mountain was steep, and they were facing a nearly vertical, bare cliff.

Climbing the cliff directly seemed a bit too exciting, but taking a detour would take too much time. So after some discussion, they entered the woods next to it, one after the other, and walked towards the mountain adjacent to the rocky mountain.

The mountains were connected. After climbing up one, they could cross over by walking along the ridge.

Unlike the developed scenic spots in modern society, there were no cable cars, stone steps, or pavilions here, not even a road. There were only sky-blotting trees and grass and bushes taller than a person.

They had seen several plants that were not found around the tribe along the way, but Hua Shi’an had no heart to pick them. One reason was that they had just started climbing the mountain, and they could pick them on their way back. The other was that he was tired, dead tired.

They hadn’t stopped to rest since they set off. His stamina was almost exhausted, and his legs were almost not his own anymore. Every step felt like stepping on cotton, soft and weak. Especially the uncomfortable burning sensation in his throat, Hua Shi’an was not feeling well at all.

He once again experienced the difference between a sub-beastman and a beastman. The mountain road was rugged, and the higher they went, the more precipitous it became. The beastmen who were clearing the way and scouting the bushes in front were walking as if they were flying, without even panting.

Not only that, the two of them seemed to be secretly competing, each walking faster than the other. By the time they finally remembered that there was still a sub-beastman following behind them, Hua Shi’an was panting for breath, his whole body drenched in sweat as if he had just been pulled out of the water.

“Shi’an!”

Inadvertently looking back and seeing Hua Shi’an bent over, supporting himself on a large tree, almost exhausted, Mo Huaishan was so scared he jumped. He rushed forward in three big steps, quickly took out a bamboo tube from his back basket, and held it to his lips. “Shi’an, are you okay? Here, have some water.”

He had wanted to drink water just now but didn’t stop to get it for fear of falling behind. His mouth was as dry as a desert. Without being polite, Hua Shi’an took several large gulps from the beastman’s hand.

When the bamboo tube was moved away, the beastman’s handsome but guilt-ridden face came into view. Hua Shi’an pursed his lips and chuckled. “I’m, I’m fine. Just tired. I’ll be fine after a rest.”

His breathing was heavy, and his voice was hoarse. As soon as he spoke, the guilt in the beastman’s eyes deepened. Mo Huaishan lowered his head in shame and murmured, “S-Sorry, Shi’an. I, I was walking too fast. I almost forgot about you.”

“Sorry, Lord Priest. We usually go out with beastmen and rarely walk with sub-beastmen, so, so we walked a little faster.” Yan Qiuyu also walked back. In comparison, he was more composed.

After drinking some water, he slowly recovered. Hua Shi’an waved his hand. “Don’t say that. You guys were just trying to get up the mountain quickly. It’s me who hasn’t traveled far before. My stamina is not good. I’m holding you back.”

Forgetting his guilt, Mo Huaishan suddenly looked up. “No, you’re a sub-beastman. You’re already very capable. We’ll just walk slower later, or, or I’ll support you.”

His voice grew softer and softer, and the beastman’s ears gradually turned red.

Hua Shi’an smiled. Just as he was about to agree, Yan Qiuyu suddenly exclaimed and said first, “I’ve got it, I’ve got an idea! No need to support him. We can carry him, carry the Lord Priest up!”

Carry? How? He, an adult, sitting in a back basket? The smile in Hua Shi’an’s eyes turned to shock, and he quickly waved his hand in refusal. “No, no, I’m too heavy. No need to carry or support me. Just slow down a little.”

“Heavy?” Yan Qiuyu frowned. “Isn’t the Lord Priest’s beast form a chipmunk? It’s not even as big as a bamboo tube. How can it be heavy?”

Beast form? Hua Shi’an understood. To confirm, he asked again, “You mean, you want me to change back to my beast form?”

Yan Qiuyu nodded, his face filled with confusion. “What else?”

Mo Huaishan also understood and grinned foolishly. “That’s a good idea. Why didn’t I think of it! Shi’an, quick, change back to your beast form. I’ll carry you.”

It was indeed a good idea. His beast form was small, so it was perfect for him to hitch a ride in a back basket. It wouldn’t be a burden to the beastmen, he wouldn’t hold them back, and they could get up the mountain faster.

After a brief hesitation, Hua Shi’an agreed. “Alright then.”

He handed his back basket to Yan Qiuyu, letting him carry both back baskets stacked on top of each other. With mixed feelings, Hua Shi’an walked to Mo Huaishan’s back basket, took a deep breath, and then—”plop”—turned into a chipmunk.

Compared to other squirrels, the small chipmunk was more like a hamster, with a round head, puffed-out cheek pouches, and ears that stood high on its head like two petals, which was particularly cute.

And the most eye-catching feature was the five black stripes on its back. These long, thin stripes extended from its head to its tail, running down its entire back, forming a unique and beautiful pattern.

It wasn’t the first time he had seen his beast form. He had even touched it before, holding it tightly in his palm. But for some reason, seeing Hua Shi’an’s beast form again, Mo Huaishan’s heart beat faster, and he became inexplicably nervous.

The beastman’s palm rubbed against his coir skirt repeatedly until the sweat was wiped dry. Only then did he bend his knees and squat beside the back basket. He eagerly reached out and gently, carefully, picked up the brown-furred chipmunk.

His fingertips sank into the soft fur, and he felt the chipmunk’s body temperature. His breathing clearly stopped for a moment, his downcast eyes shining with an astonishing light, but his arms were trembling slightly.

Unaware of the beastman’s nervousness, Hua Shi’an sat comfortably in his palm, moving from the ground to the back basket. He had felt a little awkward at first, but once he was in the back basket, he suddenly felt it didn’t matter.

For a small chipmunk, the back basket was like a spacious room. Although there were some odds and ends inside, he was small. It wouldn’t be a problem for him to run around inside.

He could hitch a ride comfortably, without having to climb the mountain. He could even get some pine nuts from the coir bag next to him to crack when he was bored. And the back basket wasn’t completely enclosed. He could still see outside through the gaps in the bamboo splinters and take a look at the plants.

Comfortable. It’s actually quite nice to have a beast form.