The Primitive Tribe is about to rise (4): Mandarin duck bath (wrong)

As they were speaking, Si Qi suddenly felt something was amiss.  

Normally, when Si Qi interacted with the beastmen, they held a certain reverence for his cool, noble demeanor, treating him almost like a fragile treasure, afraid to get too close.  

There was always a certain distance between them, which was fine.  

But now, a group of beastmen eagerly crowded around Si Qi, pressing in on him from all sides. Their bodies brushed against his, and an overwhelming, inescapable scent flooded his nostrils—so strong it nearly knocked him out on the spot.  

Snakes naturally preferred cold, dry environments, and the original owner of this body, as the young leader of the snake tribe, had lived a pampered life, never exposed to anything foul or filthy. Now, Si Qi, who had inherited these habits, found himself squeezed between a group of warm, furry feline beastmen, utterly unprepared for such an… enthusiastic reception.  

Taking a closer look at the beastmen around him, he noticed that each had strikingly handsome, chiseled features with an exotic charm, their golden eyes particularly dazzling.  

Their well-defined muscles were on full display, their sculpted abs even more perfect than those of professional bodybuilders. Their sun-kissed skin was healthy and attractive—utterly pleasing to the eye.  

And yet…  

Every single one of them had messy, unkempt beards, wild manes of hair like savages, and wore nothing but crude animal pelts as loincloths. Their expressions were innocent, their demeanor simple and rustic, completely wasting those handsome faces.  

Not to mention, as feline beastmen, they had inherited cats’ habits—including their dislike for bathing…  

The mere thought of how rarely they must wash nearly made Si Qi faint on the spot.  

This—this absolutely had to be fixed!  

Especially Chu Feng!!!  

Si Qi turned to his lover with a darkened expression, his voice strained as he forced himself to remain calm. “Do you… like how clean I am?”  

Chu Feng’s eyes widened slightly before he lowered his head, ears reddening. “Y-yes, I do…”  

Si Qi nodded firmly. “Then lead by example and teach the tribe to be like me.”  

Chu Feng and the surrounding big cats all tilted their heads in unison, utterly confused by his words. Their adorably clueless expressions struck straight at Si Qi’s heart, nearly melting him on the spot.

He cleared his throat and led Chu Feng and the beastmen to a nearby stream. Rolling up his pant legs, he revealed two slender, jade-like calves before stepping into the crystal-clear water.  

The surrounding beastmen and sub-beastmen stared unblinkingly at those legs as if beholding some rare treasure. Chu Feng instinctively stepped in front of Si Qi, eyeing the crowd with wary suspicion—until Si Qi called out, “Feng, come here.”  

Only then did Chu Feng turn and wade into the stream, standing before Si Qi.  

Si Qi cupped a handful of water and gently splashed it over Chu Feng’s body, his hands boldly gliding over his lover’s chest before leisurely exploring further.  

Chu Feng’s eyes widened in shock, his gaze locked onto the stunning beastman before him. He wanted to retreat—but couldn’t bring himself to—so he just stood there, frozen under Si Qi’s touch.  

Thankfully, that troublemaker Elvin had been beaten so badly he couldn’t walk and had been carried back to his hut by the rabbit sub-beastman. Otherwise, seeing this scene, he’d surely have burst out screaming again, ruining Si Qi’s “good intentions.”  

But since Si Qi had framed this as a hygiene lesson, the guileless beastmen—who took everything at face value—watched without a hint of suspicion. In fact, aside from Si Qi, none of them would ever interpret this scene as anything improper.  

Even Chu Feng himself only felt a little flustered, dumbly letting Si Qi tease him without resistance.  

As Si Qi washed him, he lifted his striking phoenix-like eyes, gazing up at Chu Feng with an expression of pure innocence. “You have a great physique,” he remarked.  

Chu Feng flushed red. “Uh… thanks.”  

Si Qi took his muscular arm, scrubbing carefully while murmuring in a slow, appreciative tone, “Such long fingers, such powerful muscles… You really are the strongest and bravest warrior in the tribe. You must be incredible when… well, you know.”  

Chu Feng didn’t understand what Si Qi meant by “incredible,” but some instinct told him it wasn’t about combat. His face burned hotter, unsure how to respond.  

He let Si Qi handle him the entire time, watching as the other meticulously cleaned his body. Then, with a sharp stone seemingly conjured from nowhere, Si Qi shaved off Chu Feng’s once-prized beard, revealing a strikingly handsome face beneath. His shoulder-length golden hair was trimmed into a neat buzz cut, making him look sharp, decisive—unbelievably dashing.  

When Chu Feng turned around, the watching beastmen gasped in unison.  

“Who are you?!”  

“Where’s our chief?!”  

Chu Feng’s eyes twitched. He almost looked down to check what monstrous transformation Si Qi had subjected him to—only to meet the reflection of a coldly majestic, heroic face. The flicker of surprise in the other’s expression mirrored his own perfectly.

T-This handsome beastman was actually himself?!  

Chu Feng touched his now-smooth face, then couldn’t help but look up at Si Qi. The other’s cool, pristine appearance—just like his own now—was clean, neat, and not the least bit slovenly. It stirred an indescribable fondness in his beastly heart.  

No wonder he’d always felt Si Qi was different from the other beastmen. Just looking at him made Chu Feng think of sunlight and morning air—pure and refreshing. So this was why! He must do that “cleaning” thing often!  

This thing called “hygiene”? He liked it! Chu Feng decided then and there that he’d clean himself regularly too—just like Si Qi!  

The surrounding big cats, as if witnessing some divine miracle, eagerly splashed into the stream, circling Chu Feng in awe.  

Chu Feng puffed out his chest with pride, just like when he’d defeated all challengers to become tribe chief—overflowing with a sense of glory.  

When a sub-beastman tried to sneak a feel of his pecs amid the chaos, he smacked their paw away protectively, declaring with utmost seriousness, “Go touch your own beastman if you want to grope someone!”  

The sub-beast pouted, muttering, “But you let Si Qi touch you for ages just now!”  

Why was it fine for Si Qi but forbidden for anyone else?  

Chu Feng huffed, unshaken. “Si Qi was cleaning me! Setting an example! I don’t like others touching me!”  

Rolling their eyes, the sub-beastman ignored him and instead turned to Si Qi with flushed cheeks. “Si Qi, Si Qi! Clean me too! I wanna be as pretty as you!”  

Chu Feng nearly gnashed his teeth at that.  

Si Qi refused with perfect solemnity. “This isn’t about looks. Staying clean keeps us healthy and helps wounds heal faster. Think of the Grand Shaman—doesn’t he always wash his hands, feet, and face? This is wisdom passed down by the Beast God.”  

The beastmen gasped in collective epiphany.  

“So that’s why!”  

“No wonder the Grand Shaman cleanses himself before rituals!”  

“The Grand Shaman rarely gets sick!”  

Now understanding the benefits—and seeing how Chief Chu Feng had transformed into someone as striking as Si Qi—they itched to try it themselves. Without hesitation, they scattered along the stream, ripped off their pelts, and began scrubbing down right then and there.  

Si Qi: “…………”  

Fine. He absolutely wouldn’t admit he’d sneakily glanced at Chu Feng earlier, torn between disappointment and relief when the man hadn’t moved.  

At least in this world, both beastmen and sub-beastmen had male forms—otherwise, this scene would’ve been downright obscene.  

…Not that it wasn’t already.

After half an hour of washing in the cool river, everyone emerged looking fresher, cleaner, and handsomer than before—like a dazzling boy band making their grand debut.  

Si Qi nodded in satisfaction, instructing them to maintain this habit regularly to earn the Beast God’s favor. The beastmen solemnly promised they would remember, and even the laziest among them wouldn’t dare miss a chance to please the Beast God.  

Besides, their tastes were all quite similar—they’d always thought the original owner’s refined, delicate appearance seemed a bit weak, but undeniably beautiful!  

Now that they’d discovered cleanliness could make them as striking as Si Qi, each harbored their own little schemes, secretly deciding to wash often to keep up their good looks—the better to lure a fine beastman or sub-beastman into their hut!  

Cheerfully, they left the stream and slipped back into their discarded pelts. But glancing at Si Qi’s soft linen clothes—so different from their rough hides—they realized that even freshly scrubbed and clad in the fiercest beast pelts, they still couldn’t match the newcomer’s elegance.  

It wasn’t just the clothes…  

It was the aura—yes, that must be it.  

Who knew which great tribe Si Qi had come from? His fair, unblemished skin showed he’d never suffered hardship, and he carried so many fine things—he had to be someone important.  

Maybe he was the Grand Shaman’s apprentice! Or the chief’s son!  

How else would he know the benefits of cleanliness and be such a skilled fighter…?  

Lost in thought, they headed back to the village. Along the way, spotting fruit in the trees, the feline beastmen nimbly climbed up to pick some, eagerly offering them to Si Qi with flushed cheeks.  

From… the sub-beastmen.  

Though thirsty, Si Qi hesitated, wary of sending the wrong message.  

Just then—whether by coincidence or design—Chu Feng leaped up, scaling the tree in seconds. He plucked the largest, ripest fruit from the very top, where it had soaked up the most sunlight, and handed it to Si Qi with forced calm.  

While the other sub-beastmen’s offerings were small and underripe, his was plump, crimson, and undeniably juicy.  

This time, Si Qi didn’t hesitate. He took the fruit and—before the other sub-beasts could react—bit into the irresistibly tempting prize. Crisp! Sweet juice flooded his mouth, even more delicious than expected.  

“Thanks,” he said contentedly. “One’s enough for me.”

The sub-beastmen blinked in confusion but didn’t notice Si Qi’s preferential treatment at all. They simply assumed their fruits weren’t as good as Chu Feng’s, so of course Si Qi didn’t pick theirs. Cheerfully, they withdrew their hands and munched on the fruits themselves.

Meanwhile, the beastmen watched them with hopeful eyes, waiting in vain for the sub-beastmen to offer them anything. Dejected, they hung their heads like scolded puppies.

Remembering how the beastmen usually foraged for food, Si Qi pondered for a moment before saying, “From now on, we don’t have to wander the forest searching for fruit trees—we can plant them together in one place.”

The beastmen and sub-beastmen stared at him with wide, round eyes, utterly baffled.

“What does ‘plant’ mean?”

“Are the trees too heavy? I’m strong! I can carry trees no problem!” The muscular beastmen flexed their biceps proudly, looking adorably clueless. Si Qi almost laughed.

“Planting is… well, just like how sub-beastmen can have babies that grow into more sub-beastmen, fruits are the babies of trees. If we put them in the ground, they’ll grow into big trees too.”

The beastmen gasped in realization. “So we’ve been eating the trees’ babies all along?!”

“No wonder the fruits pop out of the trees!”

Si Qi: “…………” (Why does “eating tree babies” sound so wrong?)

Ignoring the weird phrasing, he pressed on. “So, we can gather the fruits and plant them near the tribe. That way, we won’t have to roam the forest—we can just pick them close by.”

The sub-beastmen’s eyes sparkled with awe. “Si Qi, you’re amazing! We never thought of that!”

Cough.

Si Qi was used to praise, but such earnest admiration from these adorable creatures actually made him a little flustered. Rubbing his nose, he said, “It’s nothing. Back in my old tribe, some sub-beastmen did this too.”

Though, to be fair, those sub-beastmen didn’t fully grasp the concept of “planting.” They’d just noticed that if they ate fruit near a tree and tossed the scraps around it, years later, more of the same trees would sprout nearby—like a miracle from the Beast God.

Right now, these primitive beastmen were barely beyond wild animals, their civilization still unformed. Si Qi had a lot to teach them. But he’d take it slow.

In the simplest terms, he explained how seeds become trees, how trees draw strength from the earth, and why “tree babies” needed soil to grow strong.

The group of big babies quickly understood Si Qi’s meaning and eagerly said that from now on, after eating fruits, they would bury the seeds near the fruit trees. That way, the beastmen wouldn’t have to roam all over the forest to check where the fruits had ripened—they could simply find them near the tribe.

Seeing how obedient everyone was, Si Qi felt pleased and decided to teach them something else. He told them that in the future, when catching prey, they shouldn’t immediately kill them. Instead, they could select some of the more docile, less troublesome beasts—ones with delicious meat and fast reproduction—build enclosures, and raise them.

This way, the beastmen would only need to gather grass that the animals liked (but the beastmen themselves didn’t eat) and toss it to them. Then, year after year, they could harvest batches of livestock without having to exhaust themselves hunting everywhere.

Even during the harshest winters, the beastmen could stay safely inside the tribe without worrying whether they had enough food to survive the cold season—because they would already have a steady supply of livestock right there, self-sufficient and ready.

As Si Qi spoke in his calm, gentle tone, the beastmen were utterly stunned. Their entire worldview was being reshaped right before their eyes. They gazed at Si Qi with boundless admiration, thinking how incredibly wise he was—far more than even the Grand Shaman! He must surely be the most intelligent beastman in the world!

Seeing their reactions—their thoughts so transparent on their faces, their goodwill toward him overflowing—Si Qi’s mood improved even further.

The lingering displeasure from earlier, caused by those two troublemakers, completely dissipated. His expression softened as he patiently explained, at a pace the beastmen could follow, the benefits of farming and animal husbandry. He also taught them about cleanliness and hygiene—not to be lazy and eat raw meat or drink untreated water. Fire was a gift from the Beast God, he said, and they should use it to purify their food, driving away the impurities that caused sickness…

The beastmen listened with rapt attention, following Si Qi obediently like never before—quiet, well-behaved, and utterly absorbed in his words.

Meanwhile, the Grand Shaman was resting in the sunniest spot of the tribe when he saw Si Qi returning with a group of beastmen who had gone out looking one way and come back completely changed. His normally unflappable, kindly expression nearly cracked.

Squinting his already-clouded eyes, he scrutinized them one by one before exclaiming in shock, “What happened to you all?!”

The beastmen beamed with pride, rushing over to explain to the Grand Shaman that they finally understood why he always urged them to wash their hands and faces. Cleanliness was such a good thing! From now on, they would keep themselves clean so the Beast God would favor them, bless them, and keep illness away.

The Grand Shaman was dumbfounded. As he listened to the once-stubborn big cats now enthusiastically praising the virtues of cleanliness, he didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh.

Before, getting these water-hating furballs to wash up had been like pulling teeth—they’d resist as if he were stealing their meat.

But now, after just a short time with Si Qi and a few simple words, they were overjoyed, completely transformed!

Chuckling helplessly, the Grand Shaman said, “Si Qi is right. This is the proper way. It is the precious wisdom bestowed upon us by the Beast God. Only by maintaining cleanliness can we live long and healthy lives.”

After speaking, the Grand Shaman looked at Si Qi with deep emotion, thinking that his earlier intuition had indeed been correct—he truly had sensed the presence of the Beast God in this young beastman.

Only a beastman beloved by the Beast God could be so mighty and wise, possessing such vast knowledge.

Then, the Grand Shaman—who had always been revered by the tribe—found himself surrounded by a crowd of eager beastmen and sub-beastmen. They couldn’t wait to share the incredible things they had just learned. They excitedly told him that not only could “tree babies” (seeds) be eaten, but they could also grow into big trees that bore countless fruits! They explained that the prey they caught didn’t have to be killed right away—if they kept them penned up and fed them grass that beastmen didn’t like, the animals would multiply, providing meat without the need for hunting! This was simply amazing!

The Grand Shaman listened in astonishment. Even in his youth, he had never heard such brilliant methods from the previous wise Grand Shaman. His deeply wrinkled face crinkled even further with joy, resembling a blooming chrysanthemum. Unable to contain his delight, he gazed at Si Qi with bright, affectionate eyes, his rough, bark-like hands clasping Si Qi’s slender, fair ones.

“You are a wise beastman,” the Grand Shaman said warmly. “The Beast God favors ones like you the most. Would you be willing to learn the knowledge of the Grand Shaman from me, so you can better help our tribe?”

Si Qi smiled faintly and nodded. “Of course. I am part of this tribe, and I would be honored to learn from you and help our people prosper.”

The Grand Shaman was overjoyed, holding onto Si Qi’s hand as if unwilling to let go.

Nearby, the sub-beastmen watched with envy. Despite having followed the Grand Shaman for so long, hoping to inherit his wisdom, none of them had ever received such praise or been chosen as his disciple. Yet Si Qi, who had only just recovered enough to move freely, had immediately caught the Grand Shaman’s eye.

It seemed their earlier instincts were right—Si Qi really was extraordinary. Even the Grand Shaman recognized his brilliance!

One beastman scratched his head in confusion. “But Si Qi is a beastman… Can a beastman even become a Grand Shaman?”

Traditionally, only sub-beastmen had ever taken on the role. They had always assumed only sub-beastmen could study under the Grand Shaman.

Chu Feng, the tribe’s chief, spoke up. “The Grand Shaman has never said only sub-beastmen can learn from him. It’s just that sub-beastmen don’t participate in hunts, so they have more time to study in the tribe. That’s why most Grand Shamans have been sub-beastmen. But if someone as wise as Si Qi becomes a Grand Shaman, he’ll only make our tribe stronger.”

The questioning beastman nodded in sudden understanding, grinning sheepishly. “Ah, that makes sense! The Grand Shaman always scolded me for being too dumb—I could never learn all that stuff even if I tried! But among our young beastmen, Si Qi is definitely the smartest. He’ll be an amazing Grand Shaman!”

The others all nodded in agreement, their expressions earnest.

This included the sub-beastmen who adored Si Qi—the ones who kept trying to sneak food into his arms.

They now deeply regretted not getting to know him sooner, letting that scoundrel Elvin take the lead. With Si Qi’s striking looks, his sky-broad wisdom, and his wealth (far surpassing even the tribe chief’s), he was undeniably the most outstanding young man in the tribe—prime courtship material!

If Si Qi were willing to bond with them, they’d never act as foolishly as Elvin, running off to flirt with others. They’d cherish Si Qi beyond measure, refusing to share him with anyone!

…Though they weren’t sure if Si Qi, after falling for someone like Elvin, would still be open to other sub-beastmen. They all wanted to bear his cubs—imagine offspring inheriting their father’s intelligence and strength! They’d grow into magnificent beastmen or sub-beastmen!

At this thought, the sub-beastmen shot wary glares at the nearby beastmen, their expressions prickly. The beastmen blinked back innocently, inwardly aggrieved.

If anything, they were the ones who wanted to win the sub-beastmen’s favor! Why were they being treated like rivals? This was so unfair…

Si Qi, unable to endure the sub-beastmen’s blazingly straightforward gazes any longer, quickly excused himself under the pretext of discussing farming and animal husbandry in detail with the Grand Shaman. The two retreated to the shaman’s hut to talk.

Chu Feng, leveraging his authority as tribe chief, shamelessly followed. His tail swished triumphantly in the air, his chin lifted with smug pride—like a victor flaunting his success. The sight made every watching beastman’s claws itch with the urge to challenge him to a fight.