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Chapter 197: Let’s Run, Fox (XIII)

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    【附加任务2——5年内将狮族发展卡洛奇山第一部落，族众至少1000人。】

【Additional Mission 2—Make the lion tribe the best tribe of Kaloch Mountain within five years. There must be at least 1000 members.】

    第二个附加任务随之发布，难度比尚可预想中的要小。他的伴侣是狮族族长，而他也已经建立了一定的威望，接下来的五年，只需要专心发展部落即可。

The second mission was released and it was easier than Shang Ke had anticipated. His partner was the chief of the tribe while he had also established himself in the tribe. All he had to do was concentrate on the development of the tribe for the next five years.

    狮族目前只有两百多人，之所以一直没有发展壮大，一是食物给养问题，二是为了安全团结，三是狮子们本身没有扩充的意愿。

The lion tribe’s current population was around two hundred or so. What limited their expansion was first food, second was safety in controllable groups, and lastly it was because the lions themselves did not have much desire for expansion.

    大部分狮子都比较安于现状，只要有一个遮风挡雨的狮子窝，有充足的食物，有几个满意的交配对象，其他事情都不怎么关心。像西特这种企图靠阴谋诡计夺取族长之位的兽人，还是极少的。

Most of the lions were happy with the status quo, as long as they had a house that could keep them safe and warm, have food and a few potential targets for mating, they did not care much about the rest. Beastmen like Xite that actively tried to scheme and become the chief of the tribe were rather rare.

    直白点说，他们就是懒，懒得扩充地盘，懒得发展人口，懒得美化部落。

Frankly put, they were lazy. Too lazy to expand, too lazy to develop their population, too lazy to make the tribe more beautiful.

    这大概就是这个任务最困难的地方，收留几个外族没问题，但要收留七、八百个，即使有五年时间，也需要一番筹谋，必须先建立一个相对稳定的发展计划和治理方案，以确保狮族不会因为人口快速增长而陷入混乱。

This was probably the hardest part of the mission. Taking in a couple other tribes as immigrants was no problem, but to offer that to seven-eight hundred people would need a working strategy. They need to first set up a steady foundation for development and governing to ensure that the lion tribe doesn’t fall into chaos from growing too fast. This was decently hard enough even with five years.

    “走了！”一名兽人大声吆喝，然后带着一群兽人如同脱缰的野马一般，兴奋地冲出部落。

“Let’s go!” A beastmen shouted. With the other beastmen he called together, they all rushed out of the tribe excitedly like dogs off a lease.

    两个月的“监禁”生活，可把这群好动的狮子给憋坏了。寒季一过，他们立刻迫不及待地奔向山林，寻找新鲜的猎物。

Two months of ‘quarantine’ life almost suffocated these active lions. The moment winter left, they impatiently hurried for the forests to find fresh prey.

    不过他们这一趟估计要败兴而归了，大雪还没有融化，不少动物还在休养生息中，能够找到的食物，大概只有少量耐寒的野菜和山果。

But this trip of theirs would likely just end in disappointment. The snow had yet to melt, leaving most of the animals still hiding up and resting. The food they can find would probably just be some wild vegetables that were cold-resistant and some fruits.

    穆图没有跟过去，而是带着一部分族人去冰湖撒网捕鱼。虽然吃了半个寒季的鱼虾有些腻了，但这是目前最容易获得的食物，至少数量上有保障。

Mutu did not follow them, he led a group of beastment to the lake to throw down the net for fish. Although eating seafood for a good part of winter made them a bit tired of it, it was still the easiest food to get at the moment. Something was better than nothing to eat.

    尚可教兽人们编织的渔网，网口比较大，尽可能漏过小鱼仔，让它们继续生长繁殖。他甚至已经开始考虑如何将冰湖纳入狮族的领地，然后以此为中心，发展养殖畜牧业。

The net Shang Ke had other beastmen help him to weave had bigger gaps, so that smaller fishes could swim out as much as possible and let them grow and breed. He had even started to consider how to make the lake a part of the lion’s territory, then make it the core of the tribe and develop it into a place for cultivating livestock. 

    “狐狸！”正在思索间，突然听到那边传来穆图的呼喊声。

“Fox!” While he was immersed in his thoughts, Mutu’s shout broke through his concentration.

    尚可抬头望去，那家伙不知道从哪里捞到一条大鱼，此刻正抓着鱼尾巴在空中挥舞。

He looked over and saw that Mutu had somehow gotten a huge fish. He was currently grabbing it by the tail and brandishing it.

    可怜的大鱼，被挥得晕头转向，等尚可过去时，它已经死不瞑目地去了。

The pitiful fish was tossed all over the place and disoriented. By the time Shang Ke made his way over, it was already dead.

    “狐狸，今晚给我做烤鱼！”穆图将大鱼抱在怀里，笑得一脸阳光灿烂。

“Fox, make me grilled fish today!” Mutu hugged the large fish as he smiled brightly.

    尚可点点头，表示没有意见。

“Shang Ke nodded, showing he had no problem with that.

    随即就听旁边有人插话，要求尚可一展身手，造福族众。此言一出，立刻传来一片响应之声。

Then someone cut in, asking Shang Ke to showcase his talents and serve the tribe. The moment that request went out, cries of agreement rang out.

    于是，原本应该由穆图独享的美餐，马上变成了几十人的聚会。

As such, the dinner that should have belonged to Mutu became a banquet of dozens.

    事实上，兽人们更想来一场全族盛宴，可惜食物不足，只能等下次机会了。

In fact, the beastmen had wanted a full out tribe feast. But they did not have enough food so that could only be postponed for another day.

    当晚，所有贡献了食材的兽人，都如愿吃到了一顿美味大餐。烤鱼、煎鱼、鱼汤、鱼饺（饺子皮是用浆果油脂面粉制成）、生鱼片、醉虾、虾蒸蛋羹、炸蟹等等，再加上果酒，吃得众人满面春风，意犹未尽，一个个东倒西歪，不想动弹。

That night, all the beastmen that had contributed their food supplies all were able to eat a delicious meal. Roasted fish, pan-fried fish, fish soup, fish dumplings (the flour was made from nuts), sashimi, drunk shrimp, steamed shrimp egg soup, fried crab and so on. And with fruit wine as drinks, everyone ate until they were happy and sloppily expressing themselves. They all toddled unsteadily while refusing to leave.

    小小的院子，躺了一地鼾声如雷的“尸体”。今天的美食，让这些饿了许久的兽人，得到了莫大的满足。

A group of loudly snoring ‘corpses’ littered their courtyard that day. The delicious dinner greatly satisfied these beastmen that have hungered for so long.

    穆图难得没有赶人，反正睡到半夜，他们肯定会被冻醒，然后滚回自己的狮子窝去。

Mutu for once did not kick them all home. They would wake up halfway through the night from the chill and run home anyway. 

    这时，一根冰凌从屋檐边掉下来，砸在地上碎成一片。

At this moment, an icicle broke off from the roof and shattered on the group.

    大雪初融，又是新的一年。这个寒季，虽然经历了几次危机，但部落中没有一人饿死，以后，也不会有。

A new year was upon them as the snow melted. Although they went through some trouble this winter, no one had starved to death—and no one ever will in the future.

    穆图回头向厨房望去，他的狐狸正在炉灶前忙碌着，雪白的大尾巴随着他的动作轻轻摇曳。

Mutu turned his head to the kitchen, watching his fox busy himself in front of the stove as his tail flicked with his actions.

    他缓步走过去，从背后环住他，咬了咬他的耳朵，低声问：“需要帮忙吗？”

He slowly walked over and hugged him from behind. He nibbled on his ear and asked in a husky voice, “Do you need help?”

    尚可用尾巴嫌弃地拨开他的脸：一边去，别在这里碍手碍脚。

Shang Ke used his tail to push away his face exasperatingly: Go away, don’t be such a hindrance.

    “我帮你。”穆图一点不觉得自己碍手碍脚，身体紧紧贴在尚可后背，将自己的手覆在他的手上，和他“一起”洗碗。

“I’ll help.” Mutu did not find himself a hindrance. As he stuck tightly to Shang Ke, he overlapped his hands with Shang Ke’s and washed the dishes ‘with’ him.

    尚可无语：洗碗就洗碗，你晃什么腰？不知道你那根东西很膈人吗？

Shang Ke was speechless: If you’re going to wash the dishes then wash the dishes, why are you swaying your hip? Don’t you know that thing of yours is rather pointy?

    耳边传来低低的喘息声，一股炙人的热量将他包裹，鼻间充斥着强烈的雄性气息。

Soft panting tickled his ear as heat enveloped him. The strong scent of male pheromones overtook his nose.

    穆图洗碗的动作越来越慢，随后长臂一揽，突然将尚可压在灶台边的墙壁上，低头吻住他，同时用手抬起他的腿，将身体挤入期间。

Mutu washed the dishes slower and slower until finally, he trapped Shang Ke against the kitchen wall and kissed him. At the same time, he picked up his leg and thrusted in.

    动作快捷而迅猛，丝毫没有顾及那些正躺在院子中、只有一墙之隔的兽人们。

His actions were quick and forward. He did not give a care about those beastmen sleeping in the courtyard that were separated from them with just a wall.

    尚可双颊泛红，半眯的眼睛，朝那张虚掩的木门望去，想提醒身上的狮子换个地方。但下一秒，身体被侵入的感觉让他暂时失去了思考的能力。

Shang Ke flushed, his eyes narrowed as he looked toward the open door. He wanted to remind this lion to switch spots. But the sudden body intrusion the next second broke his train of thought.

    两人就在厨房狠狠缠绵了一番，情欲的气息，难以掩饰地向外扩散。不少兽人受到刺激，喉咙里发出躁动的低吼，相继从睡眠中醒来。

The two had a harsh tussle right there within the kitchen. The smell of lust couldn’t be hidden as it spread outside. Many beastmen were stimulated and started to make restless noises as they woke up from their sleep.

    穆图耳朵微动，托起尚可移到门口，用身体将虚掩的木门关住，然后继续深入。

Mutu’s ear flicked and he picked up Shang Ke until they were at the door and bumped the door closed with his body. Then he continued his activities. 

    事实上，他本人并不介意别人参观他与狐狸的交配过程，但他知道狐狸不喜欢，所以他从来没在人多的地方与狐狸野战过。

In reality, he did not care if anyone saw them during their activities. But he knew that his fox didn’t like that, so he never did it with his fox where there were a lot of observers.

    看着狐狸衣衫不整的模样，穆图突然觉得，这样的狐狸，理应只属于他一人。

The view of his fox all tussled up made him think to himself, a fox like this belonged to him and only him.

    简陋的木门在碰撞中发出咯吱咯吱的声音，虽然看不到，但媚外的兽人哪里不清楚里面的人在干什么。他们被刺激得浑身发热，也不打招呼，各自找对象泄火去了……

The simple door creaked from the sudden force closure. Although they couldn’t see what was happening, they clearly knew what was going on. After being stimulated by the scent, they were feeling hot all over. Without a word, they all went to find their own partners to deal with it… 

    冰雪融化，草木复苏，动物们纷纷从巢穴中钻出来，开始在山林中活动。兽人们的食物，也逐渐丰富起来。

As the ice and snow melted, the vegetation started to grow back. Animals started to come out of their homes and move about. The beastmen’s food also started to become more plentiful.

    尚可又新开垦了几块土地，打算作为试验田，培育不同的蔬果，然后进行推广。这些蔬果不能作为兽人的主食，但可以用来饲养家畜。很多家畜都是从野生动物驯养而来的，只要有充足的食料，兽人完全可以建立属于自己的养殖业。

Shang Ke plowed new fields again as experimental fields for growing different vegetables and fruits, which he then planned to expand. Although these could not be used as the main food source of lions, it can be used for domesticated animals. Many domesticated animals come from raising wild animals. As long as one has enough food, they can establish their own livestocks. 

    养殖计划得到了穆图的大力支持，在之后的捕猎中，兽人们每次都会带回一些活物，然后交给尚可饲养。尚可对这些动物进行筛选，优先选择性情温驯、繁殖力强的动物，比如蒙兔、野鸡、山根鸟（一种不会飞的鸟）等等。

The domestication project got Mutu’s full backing. During huntings later, the beastmen would bring back some live animals and have Shang Ke raise them. Shang Ke would start selective breeding by picking those that were more docile and had strong reproductive systems. Like rabbits, pheasant, ground bird (a bird that cannot fly) and so on.

    单调的部落，很快变得热闹起来，时不时能够听到动物的叫声。

The monotonous tribe quickly became bustling as the cries of various animals could be heard from time to time.

    穆图事先声明，部落中饲养的牲口属于公共财产，任何人不得随意威吓和伤害。吓死、抓死或者咬死一只，就必须赔偿两只。

Mutu had placed a rule in advance. The animals raised in the tribe are public property, no one can threaten or injure any. If they frighten any to death, claw or bite them to death, they must compensate with two.

    众人都知道尚可的养殖计划，所以并没有人手贱，只是偶尔吓吓这些牲口还是无法避免的。

Everyone knew of Shang Ke’s domestication plan so no one tried anything. But frightening some of these from time to time wasn’t something they could avoid.

    一个多月后，尚可的养殖场度过了最初的驯养期，终于开始走上正轨。虽然目前才三四十只动物，但是以它们的繁殖速度，相信不用两三个月，就能扩大一次规模。

A month later, Shang Ke’s domestication had successfully gone through one round and were on track. Although they only had thirty to forty animals, their populations would greatly expand in another two to three months with their breeding speed.

    这天，尚可约穆图去野外踏青。

On this day, Shang Ke made a date with Mutu to take a walk out in the wild.

    穆图很是打扮了一番，但是走出屋子后才发现尚可竟然还带上了其他雄性——那只被养得膘肥体壮的骡牛！

Mutu carefully dressed himself for the occasion, but found it for naught when he walked out to find Shang Ke leading along another male—that loch bull that had been raised plump and strong by Shang Ke.

    一个寒季过去，其他兽人或多或少都瘦了一圈，只有这家伙，身体噌噌往上长，如今差不多和穆图一般高了，尚可站在它身后几乎连根毛都看不到。

After a winter, all the beastmen had thinned a considerable amount while this guy grew stronger and bigger. Now he was about the same height as Mutu. When Shang Ke stood behind the bull one wouldn’t be able to make him out.

    穆图觉得这家伙觉得是变异品种，其他骡牛明明没有这么高壮，也不知道狐狸是怎么喂的。

Mutu felt that this bull must be a mutated breed. All the other loch bulls weren’t this tall, he really had no idea what his fox fed it.

    “为什么带它？”穆图不满地在骡牛背上拍了一下。

“Why are we bringing him along?” Mutu recently slapped the loch bull’s back.

    骡牛只是轻飘飘地瞥他一眼，不痛不痒。

The loch bull gave him a disinterest glance since the slap didn’t cause him any pain.

    尚可只是笑了小，没有回答。

Shang Ke merely smiled in response.

    待一行人来到一片视野开阔的草地，尚可才停下脚步。

When they made their way to a large meadow, Shang Ke stopped.

    穆图环视一周，说道：“这里似乎就是我们当初遇到这头骡牛的地方。”

Mutu looked around and spoke, “This looks like where we had first this bull.”

    尚可点点头，笑看着他，心道，这下不用他多说，也应该想到他们此行的目的了吧？

Shang Ke nodded with a smile as he mentally thought, by this point he should know what they were doing here without him saying it right?

    结果却听穆图疑惑道：“狐狸，你这是打算放生吗？”

Then he heard Mutu continue in confusion, “Fox, are you planning to free him?”

    也对，养了这么久，也处出感情了，舍不得吃掉是正常的。

Truth to be told, after raising this bull for so long they have some feelings for each other now. He couldn’t bear to eat the bull.

    尚可无语：你的智商被狗吃了吗？

Shang Ke looked at him speechlessly: Has your brain been eaten by a dog?

    他放下背上的背包，从里面取出皮绳、皮鞍等用具，一一装备在骡牛的背上。

He put down the bag he had been carrying and took out a leather rope, saddle and other riding equipment and equipped them on the loch bull.

    随着他的动作，穆图终于明白他的意图，双眼立刻闪亮，脸上随之露出跃跃欲试的表情。

With his actions, Mutu finally understood his intent. His eyes lit up as an eager expression overtook his face.

    骡牛对于尚可的动作并没有抗拒，乖巧地站在原地，时不时蹭蹭尚可的脸，转向穆图时，却是不客气地喷了一口气。

The loch bull did not resist Shang Ke as he obediently stood in place and nudged Shang Ke’s face from time to time. When he faced Mutu, he completely changed personality and rudely puffed in his face.

    穆图漠然：你丫还记得自己是一只骡牛吗？敢不敢有点被捕食者的自觉？

Mutu was indifferent: Do you still remember that you are a loch bull? At least have some awareness as prey would you?

    装备好了，尚可拍拍骡牛的背，示意穆图骑上去。

Once he was equipped, Shang Ke patted the bull’s back as a signal to Mutu to get on.

    穆图也没有犹豫，一手搭在牛背上，一个纵身便跳了上去。

Mutu did not hesitate as he agily climbed onto the bull with one hand and a leap.

    穆图原本以为会被骡牛掀下来，谁知它只是别扭地晃晃脑袋，然后撒娇似的往尚可怀里蹭了蹭，好像在说：为什么骑它的是这头金毛狮子，不是软绵绵的狐狸？

Mutu had thought he would be bucked off, but all the bull did was sway his head a bit uncomfortably, then rubbed his face against Shang Ke like a spoiled child. It was as if he was asking: Why is it this blond lion on my back and not a fluffy fox?

    尚可安抚地摸了摸骡牛的脑袋，然后在它背上拍了一下。

Shang Ke placatingly patted his head, then slapped him back.

    骡牛像是得到什么指令一般，驮着穆图慢悠悠地小跑起来。

Like the loch bull had gotten some kind of order, it started to trott unhurriedly. 

    穆图眼中闪过一丝诧异，随即尝试控制这只骡牛，虽然动作有些生疏，但在骡牛的配合下，竟然也骑得有模有样，并且逐渐找到了窍门。

Astonishment flashed through Mutu’s eyes, but he immediately got himself together and tried to control the loch bull. Although his actions were a bit sluggish from unfamiliarity, with the coordination of the bull, he rode rather smoothly and gradually found the knack for riding him. 

    以前他为了驯服一只骡牛，不知道花费了多少功夫，结果始终没有成功。但是如今，身下这只骡牛，就像他的左右手一般，驱使自如。

He had tried so hard in the past to tame a loch bull and it all ended in failure. But the loch bull he rode now was like his hands, free for him to control.

    当穆图骑着骡牛在草地上自由奔驰时，他终于明白尚可当初为什么坚持让他和骡牛朝夕相处。因为熟悉而亲近，因为亲近而认可，从最初的惧怕，变成如今的信任。

As Mutu rode the loch bull around freely, he finally understood all of Shang Ke’s past actions of forcing them together day and night. Because they became familiar with each other, they became close. Because they became close with each other, they acknowledged each other. From the initial fear it has now turned into trust.

    原来驯服一头野兽，不一定要依靠武力，还有一种力量，名为“感情”。

To tame a wild animal was not about force. It was another power, called ‘emotions’.

    穆图放缓速度，骑着骡牛慢慢向回踱去。

Mutu slowed their speed and rode the loch bull back to Shang Ke.

    远处，那道熟悉的身影，正静静伫立在树下，微笑着等待他的回归。

In the distance, that familiar figure was standing under a tree as he smiled and waited for their return.

    穆图想，他恐怕也是被他驯服的其中一个，但他，甘之如饴……

Mutu thought to himself, he was probably also one of those tamed by him. But he gladly allowed himself to be under his control… 

SnowTime: Lol, I tled the teaser wrong ’cause context wrong XDDD. Thank you guys for the donations~ Especially that super big one… I thought I was still lucid dreaming for a second in all honesty. Really helps with the bills. Love yall~

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