âThis is Green Moss, which you can plant inside your caves. It can be eaten once it has grown out. Although itâs not as filling as Pig-out Herb, itâs also good,â said Yun Jiuge, showing the Green Moss in her hands to everyone.
âLetâs quickly try it!â Aâze said in a hurry.
Letâs try it first here at Elder Baiâs. Go fill a bucket of clean water and two baskets of mud,â instructed Yun Jiuge. She thought that if Elder Bai could see food the moment he awakened everyday, he might be able to live a little longer.
âIâll go, Iâll go!â Aâze immediately flapped his wings and flew out. When the Eagle Clan members guarding the entrance heard that he was going to grow foodstuff, they excitedly followed him straightaway.
Soon, a large stone tank of water and two baskets of yellow colored mud were placed in front of Yun Jiuge.
âYou give instructions and Iâll plant it,â Zi Shang said, not wanting Yun Jiuge to touch the dirty-looking mud.
âFirst, spread a few layers of mud evenly on the walls of the cave,â Yun Jiuge directed, based on instructions given by Cute Little Baby.
âThis is easy. No need for Lord Ye Zi to do the job himself â I can do it. Miss Yun, just tell me what to do,â said Aâze. It was rare for him to be so quick-witted. One could tell that he was excited about personally planting the foodstuff.
âOkay, you do it!â Yun Jiuge nodded. The work was indeed simple and did not need Zi Shang to personally handle it.
Aâze quickly spread the mud on the wall right away. It looked very even.
âOkay, thatâs it,â Yun Jiuge quickly shouted for Aâze to stop when she saw that the thickness was enough.
She ground up the Green Moss into some powder and sprinkled it uniformly into the mud as she said, âKeep spreading.â
Aâze spread another two thick layers. The entire cave had a smell of moist mud.
âThatâs it. Once itâs dry tomorrow morning, just sprinkle some water. Itâll grow in two days at the latest,â said Yun Jiuge. She did not use Plant Power on the Green Moss as she needed to save some of it for planting the Pig-out Herb later on.
âTwo more days!â exclaimed Aâze, who was a little disappointed. He thought it would immediately grow like the Pig-out Herb!
âTwo daysâ time is already fast. Just leave the Green Moss aside for now. Weâll now go plant the Pig-out Herb,â said Yun Jiuge, who tried to divert Aâzeâs attention.
âGood, good, good!â Aâze nodded repeatedly. And then he asked a little hesitantly and nervously, âWill the Pig-out Herb grow right away, just like the human-snake hybrid clanâs?â
âAâze, will you shut up?â Elder Bai picked up a stone on the ground and threw at Aâze. He said angrily, âItâs already an enormous favor that Miss Yun is able to help us to grow food. How dare you ask for more?â
âIâm just asking,â said Aâze, who shrugged and dared not speak anymore. Foodstuff was too important. He would only feel at ease the sooner he saw the Pig-out Herb grow!
âDonât worry, itâll immediately grow like the human-snake hybrid clanâs,â replied Yun Jiuge. She only intended to use the Plant Power once for the Eagle Clan. In future, any tribes which pledged their allegiance would not receive such treatment.
âThatâs great, thank you, Miss Yun!â Aâze immediately collapsed with joy.
âLetâs go!â Yun Jiuge initially planned to let the Eagle Clan members carry her around the cliff. But this task was taken away by Zi Shang.
Yun Jiuge was now fragile in Zi Shangâs eyes. He did not want her to take any risks unless it was absolutely essential.
âSprinkle it evenly,â said Yun Jiuge as she handed the Pig-out Herb seeds to Zi Shang with unreserved trust.
Zi Shang did not say a word. This small matter was quite simple for him.
After making a circle, the powder of the Pig-out Herb was sprinkled all over the cliff. Yun Jiuge even tricked and cajoled Cute Little Baby for some Plant Power to use on the herb.
A large area of yellow herbs propagated over the gray cliff, bringing great surprise.
The Eagle Clan members shouted excitedly. Cries and laughter of happiness rang out repeatedly.
âGuoâer, do you see that? Weâll no longer have to worry about having no food in the future. Our child will be born safely,â Aâgu said happily, holding Guoâer.
âYes!â Guoâer gave a bashful smile and revealed two little rabbit teeth. Her eyes gazed at the long yellow herbs outside without blinking.
With so much food, the Eagle Clan would not be able to finish eating them. It would be good if she could bring some to her tribe. They would definitely love it.
As soon as Guoâerâs idea arose, she suppressed it.
She was already with Aâgu and should only think of the Eagle Clan. Otherwise it would only bring Aâgu trouble.
Yun Jiuge sowed all the Pig-out Herb and gave directions to the Eagle Clan on how to go about harvesting.
The Eagle Clan members soon made a rope ladder with Sisi Grass and animal skin. They tied it firmly to the large tree at the top of the cliff. Then they hung straw baskets woven from grass and leather bags across their chests while they hung on the rope ladder as they swished and cut to gather the crops.
After one group harvested, the other began to dig for the Potato Herbs. They were quite speedy at it.
While the Eagle Clan members were harvesting the Pig-out Herb, Yun Jiuge brought Feifei to draw out the Death Energy from Aâshui and a few young Eagle Clan members.
The Demon Qi in their bodies was lighter than that of the young human-snake hybrids. They quickly recovered right away after a part of it was drawn out. Aâshui even beat his small wings and flew at a low height inside the cave. He looked so happy that Feifei danced around him.
âYou must be tired from today. Letâs go back and rest!â Zi Shangâs attitude was gentle but firm as he spoke to Yun Jiuge.
âThatâs right. Miss Yun, Lord Ye Zi, youâd better hurry back to rest. You mustnât wear yourselves out,â Elder Bai urged and nodded repeatedly.
Yun Jiuge also felt her whole body ache, so she nodded and finally returned to Aâdaiâs nest, escorted by Aâze and Advisor Jun.
Although Aâze would have liked to stay at Eagle Cliff to cut the herbs together with everyone, he gave up the idea at the thought of Elder Baiâs advice.
The most important thing in the whole Secret Realm now was Yun Jiuge. Food was not a problem as long as she was around.
Without her, they, the human-beast hybrids, would return to their past impoverished state. Perhaps it would even be more difficult.
The moment Aâze thought of this, he wished he could even guard Yun Jiugeâs bedside at night.
âOkay, you can go back. Youâre not needed here anymore,â said Yun Jiuge as she waved to the over-zealous Aâze and Advisor Jun to send them away.
âVery well then, Iâm leaving. Miss Yun, you must call on us at any time if you need something. Weâll stand guard at the next cliff,â Aâze told her over and over again.
âBeat it.â In the end, it was Zi Shang who tossed him out with a kick.
Aâze flapped his wings and flew around the entrance of the cave once, feeling very aggrieved. He only dejectedly left with Advisor Jun when he saw Zi Shang looking like he was ready to kill him if he did not leave.
Yun Jiuge slumped and sat on the ground.
She did not feel it earlier but once she heaved a sigh of relief, she suddenly felt extremely tired. She could not even lift her arms.
âDo you want me to get you some water for a bath?â Zi Shang automatically walked behind Yun Jiuge to help massage her shoulders.
Yun Jiuge was a little tempted. But when she looked at the empty and completely open nest, she suddenly shook her head and said, âForget about it, we canât be too fussy at such a time now. Youâd better take Aâdai out for me to take a look first.â