Chapter 180 Darkness (2)
He points at the small cave where all their Tribesmen are filling up the cave with their things. "Half of the team will always guard the small cave where things are. After putting all the things there, they will disguise it using the bushes and vines. They will be divided into two, one will rest and sleep, while the other will guard. They will switch up after a little while. They will sleep near the caves to make sure no wild animals will mess or eat it up. However, wild animals are not the only thing we are guarding for. There are evil beastmen. I will tell you that later. "
Then pointed at the trees and other beastmen who were walking away. "Same with the other half. The other half will be divided into two. One will go out to scout and guard nearby while the other will rest."
"Of course, there is also an exception group. Those who joined the traders due to the responsibility that the Tribe gave us. We will either join any two of the group or harvest some herbs nearby. If we're going to harvest, the harvesting place must be within the scope of the scouts. This is for our protection. Even if you have the capability to go against larger wild animals, you must not go alone. The only one who can go farther is the scouts themselves. So you need to join them and follow their rules if you want to go for a hunt."
He then pointed at Shun Su and Hu Guo. "They mostly harvest herbs nearby based on what Ke Rin asked them to. Sometimes other beastmen who are occupied in the tribe and couldn't go out will ask others to gather something, look or trade. This is allowed as long as the beastmen working for them will have a part or will be given something as a working pay."
"Understood." Jiu Lin nodded. He immediately thought through what to do and planned to get as much as foreign food to Hu'er. But the only things he personally brought for trading were salt, salted meat cubes and salted fish, which wasn't really that many. That means he needs to either gather edible fruits and herbs on the way to the tribes or hunt meat.
Jia Ting gave Jiu Lin some time to think before asking, "What do you want to do now?"
Jiu Lin looked far, "I will go and explore the forest first to hunt something and try to see if there are any small wild animals nearby."
Jia Ting nodded. "Okay. You can join the group of Lee Ming first." He pointed at a group that is a bit far from where they are standing. Jiu Lin agreed.
He walked Jiu Lin over to Lee Ming's group. Lee Ming saw them immediately and walked towards them to meet midway. "Jia Ting," he greeted them with a smile.
Jia Ting nodded to greet him back and pointed at Jiu Lin. "This is Jiu Lin. He hasn't been joining the trading team for two and half seasons now and would only occasionally hunt nearby our Tribe. Take care of him."
If it is other beastmen they would think that Jia Ting is asserting his dominance and ordering them whatever he wants. Yet this is Lee Ming. Lee Ming has been with Jia Ting for most of his life, from being a patrol beastman to becoming a trader. He knew well that Jia Ting speaks like that but he is the most caring leader that would protect his team from being a food to wild animals.
Lee Ming grinned and nodded at him. "Sure. You are just in time. Our meat is quite lacking, so we need to go and hunt all the way on our journey. More beastman who can hunt will help us lessen the burden. If you hunt alone, the prey is yours, and if the team helped you or you helped the team, you can either keep the tab and get a whole wild animal after two to three prey or get a part of the hunted wild animal immediately," he explained.
Jiu Lin nodded. "Understood." That one is new to him. They mostly hunt and all the meat will be put in the storage of meat, to Hu'er's home. Sometimes their Dad's will just take little for themselves. Jiu Lin thinks that clear division is understandable. What they hunt are mostly for the Tribe, him, joining them is an extra hand.
"Great! I can take him with me." Lee Ming gave a reassuring glance at Jia Ting.
Jia Ting smiled, "Thank you." He then looks at Jiu Lin, "Just join with their team first. I will take you hunting when we are about to go home."
He knew why Jiu Lin wanted to go hunting. He would from time to time check on their household accounts, making sure that everything is in order. The meat Hu'er has is enough to last thru winter. However, Hu'er have always been very generous. She will definitely eat with her mates. Now, she has two mates to eat with. By then the meat will be gone half way through winter. He might as well help them stock up.
"Okay."
Jia Ting looked at Lee Ming, "I'll leave him to you."
"Sure. Don't worry, he is in good hands." Lee Ming tapped Jiu Lin's shoulder and grinned at Jia Ting. They actually planned to go far to hunt. It also means danger. Getting another beastman to help them is a big help.
Jia Ting warned him when he saw how playful Lee Ming is. "He is the first mate of Hu'er. Make sure not to get him killed."
Lee Ming gets stunned and looks at Jiu Lin. Due to not being at the tribe most of the time, Lee Ming never saw Jiu Lin. He has heard of him but never really keeps it in his mind. "Oh? Is it him? Then you really don't need to worry. My son came with us. They can hang out with each other." His attitude went from being playful to reassuring Jia Ting.
Lee Ming pointed at the beastmen huddling together. They all looked at it and Jiu Lin heard Jia Ting sighed with relief. "Alright. I still need to harvest some herbs for Ke Rin."
"Go on your way." Lee Ming shooed him away.
They watched Jia Ting go to the harvesting team before Lee Ming beckoned him. "Come with me."
They walked towards the team that Lee Ming pointed at earlier. "This is my team. We only consist of ten members, just as any other team. Right now, there are only 8 of us, including you. The three beastmen are on rest, they are either working in Tribe or just resting at home."
A tall robust beastman called out, "Dad."