Chapter 86 – A fighting chicken (1/2)

Translated by Sunyancai

Shao Xuan had no idea what the bird would be like after it grew up, or what habits it would have, or whether it could fly in the future. Perhaps it was something like a chicken, or perhaps it would turn out to be some kind of raptor. If it was a chicken-like bird, then there would be no other use but to eat it as food. But if it turned out to be the latter, it could be trained as a hunting falcon. Even if not for hunting, it could be used as a lookout.

Of course, it was too early for any of that now. Shao Xuan did not know the bird’s potential yet. If it was useless, other people would kill it before Shao Xuan needed to do anything himself. After all, it was not Caesar. Caesar had the Shaman’s marking plate since he was a young wolf. Even if he had lost all his instincts and became docile, no one in the tribe would dare to harm him.

There was an ice cave near the top of the mountain. A lot of people would store the unsalted meat inside the ice cave, but a part of the meat was handed in as remuneration.

Shao Xuan also stored some meat inside the ice cave. He could not cure all the meat he had brought back, for Caesar did not like the salted ones. Also, it was not good for Old Ke’s health if he kept eating the cured meat. Moreover, now he had a baby bird in his house, how could he feed them all with only salted meat?

“It’s so troublesome!” Shao Xuan sighed. He could just abandon the baby bird, or toss it to Caesar as food. However, he felt that he should at least try raising it.

Three days later, the baby bird opened its eyes.

It was much earlier than Shao Xuan’s expectation. Originally, he thought that perhaps the bird would be like most of the birds he saw in his last life, spending seven to ten days before opening their eyes. However, it only took the bird three days to open its eyes, and its body was much fluffier. But it could not walk yet. Once it felt hungry, it would open its beak wide while chirping loudly, as if it feared not being heard.

Within those same three days, Shao Xuan had been doing stone crafting work in his own cabin. Now that he had some basic tools for stone crafting, he could finish most of the normal tools by himself at home. Old Ke would occasionally drop by and check in on him. He told Shao Xuan to take a few days break, and make some tools while he had the time. Once he had replenished his stock, he could go to the training ground for more training.

It only took Shao Xuan one night’s sleep to restore his energy. During the three days, he had crafted quite a lot. Some tools could be used to set traps, while the others could be used for training. He even made a few more complicated sets to be saved for the next hunting trip. He had decided to join Mai’s hunting group for the next hunting mission.

“Ah-Xuan!” someone shouted his name outside the door.

Most people would never return to the cave once they came out of it. For example, Ku was managing the orphan cave before Shao Xuan, but he never came back to visit ever since. However, those who had awakened together with Shao Xuan would occasionally return. No matter whether they came back to show off their ability or kills, at the very least they did not cut their ties with the orphan cave. Of course, that was because Shao Xuan had brought along quite a few changes to the cave when he was in charge.

No matter how the others behaved after leaving the orphan cave, Shao Xuan would bring food every time after he returned from a hunting trip. He had enough food for himself anyway, so it didn’t hurt him to share with others. In return, the kids in the orphan cave were very grateful towards Shao Xuan. Their lives had changed a lot because of him, and they became much healthier.

Shao Xuan did not reject their goodwill. Although fish was far from sufficient now for Shao Xuan in regards to the amount of energy it contained, but it was not bad to change tastes once in awhile.

Every time Jie Ba and Tu came over, they could not hide their admiring gazes. It was indeed pretty awesome to have become a totem warrior. It meant owning one’s own cabin, and hunting down more food. Growing was also faster! Previously, Shao Xuan was shorter than them, but after a short period of time being a totem warrior, he was even taller than Jie Ba, who was the tallest kid in the cave.

“Don’t envy me, perhaps next year it will be your turn.” Shao Xuan handed a small chunk of salted meat to them, “As per the usual rules, every person in the cave should only have a small piece. Do not eat more, eating too much will harm you.”

Shao Xuan would give them the lowest grade animal meat, for they could not endure the high grade meat given their physiques. Also he would not give them much, for the kids could only absorb a little. In the past, the meat jerky that Mai and Lang Ga gave Shao Xuan was also made from the lowest grade meat. As for the meat from the Four-Fanged Wild Boar or the Thorn Black Wind, Shao Xuan would never let the kids in the orphan cave touch it. In the past, Shao Xuan didn’t know about the seriousness in this, but now that he knew, he would strictly regulate the quality and amount of meat given.

When Tu and Jie Ba had left, Shao Xuan lifted a fish and cut it into chunks. He tore some pieces and pressed them to the baby bird’s beak. Just a moment ago its beak was open wide, but once the fish pieces were placed in front of it, it snapped shut tightly. When the fish was replaced with animal meat, it opened its beak wide again.

“You are such a picky bastard!” Shao Xuan cursed.

Shao Xuan lifted the fish and looked at Caesar as he squatted in a corner.

Caesar looked at Shao Xuan and then at the fish he held in his hand. One moment later, he turned away and ignored both Shao Xuan and the fish in his hand.

“Shit! You both are picky bastards!”