Chapter 85: Holding His Hand
The black Cold-blooded Snake Beastman’s massive tail coiled protectively in front of the little female, his cold, intimidating eyes sweeping over the spears.
’These useless Red Fox Beastmen,’ he thought. ’Pointing these toothpick-like contraptions of wood and bone at his little female. They’re practically begging to die.’
Nan Zishi extended her hand, the one with the bow-tied bandage, and held it up in front of Xuan Jin, doing her best to express her friendly intentions.
"Yes, Qi Yingmei and I are from the same village. We’re from the same hometown."
As Nan Zishi spoke, she observed the other Beastmen present.
They were all Red Fox Beastmen. Most of them had red hair and red eyes, but there were a few scattered among them with black hair and black eyes.
The atmosphere suddenly grew tense.
The old female fox abruptly opened her eyes and spoke slowly, her voice carrying an oppressive weight. "Female from the outside, I ask you: in the stories of your homeland, what did Ma Liang possess?"
All the Red Fox Beastmen stared at Nan Zishi. If she answered incorrectly, she and the Cold-blooded Snake Beastman beside her would become their enemies!
At that moment, even the wind seemed to fall silent.
Nan Zishi hesitated for a moment before replying, "A magic brush?"
"Little swallow, in your flowery coat. What comes next?!"
All the Red Fox Beastmen glared at her again!
Nan Zishi pursed her lips. "You come here every spring? I ask you, Spring, why do you come? The swallow says, ’The spring here is the most beautiful’?"
The members of the Fox Clan raised their eyebrows, and the atmosphere seemed to relax.
"Let us row our oars."
Nan Zishi replied, "Our little boat pushes the waves, the sea reflects the beautiful white pagoda, surrounded by green trees and red walls?"
The old female fox’s eyes instantly lit up, and the whole den of Red Fox Beastmen lowered their spears one by one.
"You’re from my home!" Nan Zishi exclaimed excitedly.
"You’re the fellow villager my mother was waiting for!" the old female said, just as excited.
’The secret code Qi Yingmei came up with is absolutely brilliant!’ Nan Zishi couldn’t help but marvel.
The Fox Beastmen enthusiastically swarmed around Nan Zishi.
"What’s your name?"
"Are you from the same place as our great-grandmother?"
"Can you teach us more songs?"
"Do you know how to tell stories? Great-grandmother knew lots and lots of them."
Xuan Jin was very displeased. He used his large tail to block off these smelly Beastmen.
The old female fox pushed through the crowd of younger Beastmen. She stood before Nan Zishi and said politely, "My name is Hongxing. My mother gave me that name. My mother was Qi Yingmei.
"She said that when she named me, she was thinking of her country, her home."
Nan Zishi’s smile suddenly vanished, replaced by a deep, solemn respect that rose from within her.
’This is a people’s teacher. The descendant of a people’s teacher born in 1956.’
"Hello, Grandma Hongxing. My name is Nan Zishi."
Hongxing nodded at her. "As expected. Even your name sounds like it’s from your village."
The Red Fox Beastmen led Nan Zishi and Xuan Jin to their village.
Xuan Jin was a little uncomfortable. Having always been a loner, he wasn’t used to being in such close proximity to so many Beastmen.
Sensing this, and to prevent him from causing trouble, Nan Zishi grabbed his hand and squeezed it tightly.
Xuan Jin settled down almost immediately. He looked down at his hand, held tightly by the little female.
The corners of his devilishly charming eyes tilted up slightly.
Nan Zishi realized that although this Cold-blooded Snake Beastman could be obstinate and unreasonable, he was willing to suppress his temper and listen to her as long as she offered a little comfort.
One of the Red Fox Clan People brought a cup of water for Nan Zishi. Hongxing sat across from her.
"My mother said that if someone from her hometown ever came to our Red Fox Village, there were several things I had to tell them."
Nan Zishi led Xuan Jin to a seat and asked politely, "What things?"
The female fox spoke slowly. "She said to tell those who came after her. Although the Fertility Pill makes childbirth easier, it’s best not to take it. Don’t trust the Childbirth System. Trust in science."
Nan Zishi was speechless. ’Hearing the word "science" in the Beast World felt incredibly strange.’
The female fox produced a stone jar and handed it to Nan Zishi.
Nan Zishi asked, "Grandma Hongxing, what is this?"
"Open it and see."
Nan Zishi opened the stone jar, and what she saw inside made her freeze.
"This is..."
"Yes, those are Fertility Pills," the female fox said, picking up a piece of wood and starting to work on a Beast Skin. "In order to complete her mission and survive, my mother kept giving birth, and giving birth, until she died."
"She was only thirty-eight when she died."
"That was more than fifty years ago."
"She said that if there was a 001, there might be a 002... She told us to hold onto the Fertility Pills and wait for others who might come. We’ve waited for so many years. You’re the first one we’ve met."
"She said she didn’t know if these Fertility Pills would be useful to you, but she left them anyway. If they are, you should take them."
Nan Zishi’s hand tightened around the stone jar. "Did she say anything else?"
Hongxing thought for a moment. "She said she was always thinking of her family back in her hometown. Her husband and her son... and her parents. If you ever have a chance, please tell her family back there. She didn’t mean to abandon them and leave."
"I understand."
Nan Zishi spent some time playing with the children of the Red Fox Village.
She discovered that most of the Beastmen here knew basic addition and subtraction.
Even though Qi Yingmei was gone, the knowledge she left behind had been passed down.
Seeing so many people and things connected to her home, Nan Zishi was suddenly and inexplicably moved. As a Beast Doctor, she took the initiative to start treating the village’s elderly and children.
Nan Zishi said, "This is a skin condition. A fungal infection. Here, take this tube of ointment. Squeeze a little out and apply it to the affected area each time. It should clear up in a few days. And whatever you do, you absolutely cannot eat this. Oh, and make sure the affected area gets plenty of sun."
"Thank you, Sister Sui Sui."
Nan Zishi continued, "A cough, I see. Let me teach you about a few medicinal herbs. This is a loquat leaf. Boiling it in water is very good for a cough."
"*COUGH, COUGH*. I understand. Thank you."
Nan Zishi said, "This wound here... it’s an external injury, so it needs to be disinfected first. I’ll use some alcohol to disinfect it for you..."
...
She treated patients for the entire day, until the sun began to set in the west.
Nan Zishi had been busy all day, and Xuan Jin, his hand held by hers, had simply stood there and watched her the entire time.
The Cold-blooded Snake Beastman felt that it would be nice if time could just stop right here.
’What am I going to do?’
’It seems I’m becoming more and more greedy.’
However, this rare moment of peace didn’t last long. Suddenly, a flock of birds and beasts took flight in the sky, startled.
Xuan Jin looked up, his dark eyes narrowing slightly.
He said to her softly, "Little female, it’s time for us to go."
Nan Zishi looked at Xuan Jin, and for once, there was a sense of mutual understanding between them.
She turned to the villagers of Red Fox Village and said, "I have to go now."
The villagers of Red Fox Village were reluctant to see her leave. Many Beastmen brought Beast Skins and meat as parting gifts.
"Do you really have to go? Sister, you could stay here."
"That’s right, you’re very welcome here."
Seeing that Nan Zishi also had black hair and black eyes, many of the Beastmen here, who were of partial human descent, felt a strong affinity for her.
Nan Zishi shook her head.
Hongxing came to her rescue. "I know you all like her, but don’t make things difficult for her."
"Alright then. Nan Zishi, you have to come visit often."
"Remember to come back and see us."
"You’re always welcome here!"
As she left Red Fox Village with the Fertility Pills and Xuan Jin, the Red Fox Clan Beastmen were still bidding her a reluctant farewell.
Hongxing stood at the very front. She held Nan Zishi’s hand, and for a moment, her cloudy eyes seemed to clear. She spoke slowly:
"Nan Zishi, I just remembered something else my mother, Qi Yingmei, used to say."
"It is indeed a misfortune to be chosen and brought here.
"But having been born a human, you must always remember that you *are* human."