twojebook Chapter 514 - 387: Sacrifice
Chapter 514 - 387: Sacrifice
As soon as she reached the gate, she heard the little ones playing inside the yard.
Stepping in, she saw Kael and Kael Shadowend chasing Barrett Arcanus around the whole yard.
Little fox Zora was squatting on the stone table licking her paw.
Two little dragon cubs dangled from the clothesline, swinging back and forth.
Three tiny phoenixes soared around the courtyard.
Eight snake cubs sprawled neatly across the roof, their tails swaying as if applauding and cheering on the fun below.
Luna Sutton chuckled, ignoring the romping cubs and heading straight to the kitchen to fix dinner.
With a few beast husbands not at home, it was naturally her turn to cook.
The next morning, sunlight just spilled into the yard.
Luna Sutton got up early, wolfed down breakfast, fed all the kids at home till they were full, and took her string of little tails out the door.
She went straight to find Mason Sutton, then led him around the edges of the tribe, picking out several fertile plots of flat land near water sources.
"Bro, all the land in this area will do. Bring some people and clear out the weeds and shrubs first, dig out all the tree roots and stones and pile them to the side. Try to make the ground as level as possible and break up the clumps of soil."
She explained, gesturing as she spoke, trying to make all the details of prepping farmland clear.
Mason listened until his head was spinning. "Weeds and shrubs are fine, but those tree roots and rocks... Sis, do we really have to make it so flat? It’s just planting stuff."
"Of course we do."
Luna’s voice was firm and decisive. "Bro, the smoother the land and the finer the soil, the better the harvest. Think about it—the roots of rice and corn need to dig into the earth. If the dirt clumps are too big and hard, how can the roots get in? If they can’t, they won’t absorb nutrients, and the crops won’t be plump."
She pointed to a little stream not far away. "Water’s close over there, so start with those bigger patches. Also, dig channels between each field to lead water in. If we’re short on hands, borrow people from the patrol or hunting reserve teams. Spring hunting just started, prey isn’t that plentiful yet—clearing land is the priority."
Mason looked at his sister’s serious little face, thought of last year’s fragrant steaming rice, and gritted his teeth: "Alright, whatever you say. I’ll go get people right now."
He dashed off without another word, ready to gather manpower.
Luna finally breathed a sigh of relief. Turning around, she was instantly caught between laughter and tears.
The string of little tails she’d brought was frolicking all over the fields.
Barrett Arcanus and Fintan Arcanus were chasing a butterfly around.
Their tiny paws jumped for it again and again, always coming up empty, then spun in frustrated circles, letting out little howls.
Their faces looked so fiercely cute, not the least bit threatening—just heartbreakingly adorable.
The rest of the kids rolled and tumbled in the dirt, darting everywhere.
"Alright, little ones, we’re heading home now."
Luna clapped her hands, gathering her pack of fluffy, slippery babies and led them back.
Babysitting was definitely not her thing—when those cubs clung to her, she couldn’t get anything done at all.
So she simply dumped them all with Lyle Sutton, using "I need to prepare for the spring festival" as her excuse.
Lyle had his own hands full, but still happily took over, leading the string of cubs with him everywhere without complaint.
The days that followed were frantic at the edges of the tribe.
Mason Sutton, along with a pack of burly beastmen, became hard-working farmers—scrub, thorns, weeds, all cleared away one by one.
Huge tree roots were dug out together, tough rocks levered and carried off.
After two days of solid labor, they finally transformed a huge stretch of wasteland, bit by bit.
Luna squeezed in a few visits, teaching them how to plow, dig channels for water, and lay out the fields roughly.
Mason felt the work was more exhausting than hunting—his back was killing him, and his arms were like jelly.
Still, looking at the tidy, leveled land where wasteland used to be, a real sense of accomplishment rose up inside him.
A few days later, Corbin Crowley, Rhys Blackwood, Kian Sterling, Zeke Veridian, Malachi Arcanus, Mael Valerius, and Soren Phoenix led their delivery crews back to the tribe in batches, hauling back loads of trade goods.
Mostly beast skins and game meat, but also all sorts of odds and ends.
Some useful, some... less so.
The Ox Tribe traded corn; the Rabbit Tribe sent carrots.
The Deer Tribe brought back a type of tuber called sweet potato.
Luna examined it carefully. Wasn’t this just the sweet potato from her past life?
Sweet potatoes yield a massive harvest, and can be eaten raw or cooked.
She preferred them roasted—the flavor was unbeatable—and best of all, they grew almost anywhere, just plant and go.
She looked for more, but saw Corbin had only brought back half a bag, at most not more than ten jin.
She was immediately speechless. The Wolf Tribe sent over a dozen carts of blue bricks and several carts of tiles in return.
So why only half a bag of sweet potatoes?
She turned to Corbin, "Why are there so few sweet potatoes?"
Corbin looked awkward, coughed twice, and said, "Um... The Deer Tribe said they only found these tubers by accident, and only in that one patch of land—once they dug it up, that’s all they had. They’re not even sure if you want them or if these are a worthwhile trade, but if you do, they’ll go look elsewhere."
"Of course I want them!"
Luna’s eyes sparkled at the sweet potatoes in her hand. "Tell them, the more the better! These can be staple food, and they yield a lot."
Corbin nodded, silver eyes glinting with a smile. "Alright, I’ll send someone right away."
Luna gleefully rummaged through her beast skin bag of sweet potatoes, already plotting how to start seedlings and planting.
Suddenly she remembered something, "By the way, did you run into any trouble on your delivery run?"
Corbin’s expression turned icy. "A few brainless stray beastmen tried to rob us, so I turned them into ice sculptures and left them by the road."
She burst out laughing, easily picturing the scene.
Rhys Blackwood hadn’t brought much, just a few lumps of pitch-black stones.
Luna hadn’t paid much attention, casually grabbing one to look—and then froze.
Wasn’t this coal?
She took a closer look—sure enough, it was coal.
"Rhys, which tribe did you get this from?"
Her voice trembled with excitement.
Coal was a gem—there was no natural gas or electricity in these times.
Firewood was all they had for winter warmth and cooking.
Sure, The Beast World Continent had plenty of wood, covering every mountain and plain.
But sometimes, firewood was just inconvenient to use.
Coal, on the other hand, burned longer, hotter, and gave off less smoke.
Just picture a coal stove in winter—steeping tea, eating hotpot, life was good.
Rhys didn’t know why she was so excited but answered honestly: "Bear Tribe. Their leader said these black rocks burn—they use them for heat in winter..."
"That’s perfect."
She smiled with delight, clutching the coal as if it were treasure. "How much does the Bear Tribe have?"
"Half a cave full,"
Rhys recalled. "They call it ’black stone.’ Occasionally they use it for lighting fires. Said if you want, they’ll bring it all over as trade goods. If that’s not enough, they’ll dig more—there’s plenty behind their tribe."
"Take as much as they have—bring all of it over!"
Luna’s heart was practically singing. What an unexpected windfall!
She’d never expected there’d be coal in this era—given how special the formation process for many minerals was.
But not only was there salt, there was coal in The Beast World Continent.
Among the goods Kian Sterling brought back was something rather unique—a type of mineral called "Starlight Stone."
They were no bigger than pigeon eggs, but could glow at night, similar to Luminous Pearl but not quite the same.
"Host, that’s a Moonstone from The Cultivation Realm,"
The System suddenly piped up in her mind. "Other than glowing for light like a lamp, it doesn’t really do much else."
She paused, then thought: so that’s what it is.
Probably just something that glows and looks pretty, which was why Kian would bring it back.
Foxes really have an eye for beauty, always picking up delicate and lovely things.
"This could be used for decoration,"
Luna smiled, handing the Starlight Stone to Kian. "Have a craftsman polish this and set it in wood for a lamp. Save us from using torches at night."
Kian held the Starlight Stone in his palm, the glow shimmering in his fox eyes. "Luna, you’re really smart. This is much classier than a torch."
Zeke Veridian and Mael Valerius also brought back some practical items.
She accepted them all, and if there wasn’t enough, had the tribes send more later on.
Three days later, the Spring Festival arrived as scheduled.
Sunlight pierced through the clouds at dawn, painting the Wolf Tribe’s altar in gold.
Luna Sutton stood in the center of the altar, feeling the burning gazes from all around—her face solemn.
The whole tribe was gathered at the altar, even the old, weak, women and children who rarely showed up had come.
All seven beast husbands stood in a row below the stage, eyes shining with pride as they looked up at her.
The Priest hobbled up slowly with his Bone Staff, leaned in and whispered, "Girl, don’t get nervous up there, this old man will remind you if you forget anything."
"Master, are you sure nothing will go wrong?"
Luna asked softly, eyes sweeping over the various offerings on the altar.
Fresh game, newly picked wild fruit, and jugs of newly brewed fruit liquor.
"Don’t worry, I’ve been doing this for decades—never messed up once. Just follow the routine."
The Priest patted her on the shoulder for reassurance.
She gave a tiny nod, seeing it was almost time.
She was about to begin reciting the ritual words.
Suddenly, she caught a flicker of movement out of the corner of her eye from under a beast skin covering a cage in the corner of the altar.
She frowned, quickly strode over and lifted the beast skin—immediately shocked.
Inside were two little ones—adorable wolf cubs—no idea whose they were.
They shrank into the corner, their eyes full of terror.
"What’s going on here?"
Luna’s face darkened, pointing at the two cubs in the cage, and fixed the Old Priest with an icy glare as she demanded sharply,