169: Start of reform

The long winter continued.

Bai Yao did not stop.

The title of Priestess and the gratitude of the clansmen were not a bed of rest for her.

She used this time when large-scale outdoor labor was impossible to sit at her desk in the stone house, using the dim light of an oil lamp to refine the blueprint in her mind into a feasible plan, bit by bit.

First was food, the foundation of survival.

The small-scale Wheat trial she had planted by the fields last time had shown tenacious vitality in the severe cold after careful tending.

She had personally gone to check; those green seedlings stood tall in the soil covered with withered grass for warmth, growing much better than ordinary crops under the same climate.

And those nurtured with Spring Water in her space were even more lush, foretelling an amazing yield.

This gave her great confidence.

"Once the snow melts in spring, the first priority is to promote Wheat cultivation."

She recorded on the ground, "Prioritize the reclamation of several slopes near the hot springs that are sheltered from the wind and face the sun. When sowing, mix a small amount of space Spring Water into the irrigation source..."

She pondered this plan repeatedly.

Using space Spring Water directly on a large scale was unrealistic and would easily arouse suspicion, but if a small amount of Spring Water was integrated into the Tribe's public irrigation streams or reservoirs...

It could subtly improve the crop growth environment, enhancing disease resistance and yield without consuming too much of her energy, and it would be harder to detect.

Besides Wheat, she also included "sweet potato" and "Potato"—two high-yield, storage-resistant, and filling staple crops—on her primary promotion list.

She remembered that in the world she lived in before transmigrating, these two crops had fed countless people in history.

Her space happened to have remaining tubers planted, which could serve as the initial seed source.

Once successfully planted on a large scale, the Tribe's food security would leap to a new level, completely breaking the cycle of "feasting during the hunting season and starving during the snow season."

"With sufficient and stable food, not only can we keep our own people from hunger, but it's also the most powerful bargaining chip to attract wandering beastmen and small families to join us."

Bai Yao knew very well that in this era, food was the hardest currency and the strongest cohesive force.

And when trading with Hundred Beasts City or other larger Tribes, these "optimized" food crops, which might be slightly superior in yield and quality...

...as well as the shelf-stable foods processed from them, would also become the Tribe's unique and advantageous commodities.

Second was health.

This plague had made her realize with heart-wrenching clarity that the root of many diseases in the beastman world lay in crude hygiene habits, especially water sources.

"Everyone must have clean water; we must promote drinking boiled water."

She wrote this down and planned to build several centralized water storage and collection points within the Tribe, attempting to use fired charcoal or sand and gravel to lay simple filtration layers.

At the same time, she would use her prestige as the "Priestess" to forcefully implement a new rule: "water must be boiled before drinking."

This would greatly reduce the occurrence of gastrointestinal diseases and parasitic infections.

Furthermore, there was the lack of a medical system.

For a whole Tribe of thousands, to rely solely on the Old Shaman's bitter struggle with only two or three apprentices was too dangerous.

"Medical care must be improved, and more people who understand Herbs and can handle common injuries and illnesses must be trained."

She intended to have a deep conversation with the Old Shaman, asking him to share more knowledge. Meanwhile, she would organize basic hygiene common sense, simple first-aid methods, and common herbal combinations from her past life's memories to systematically teach a group of patient young beastmen.

She wanted to establish a small "Medical Team," stockpile more common medicinal materials, and formulate epidemic warning and response procedures.

"This is the core of the first phase: ensuring the clansmen don't starve, get sick less often, and live more stably and with more dignity."

Bai Yao closed the animal hide scroll, her gaze resolute.

While other Tribes were still struggling in the aftermath of the plague or passively waiting in the cold winter, the Black Rock Tribe had to take the lead and seize the opportunity for development.

---

On this day, the Clan Leader gathered all the core members of the Tribe in the newly renovated Stone Council Hall.

Several braziers of charcoal fire burned in the hall, dispelling the chill, but the atmosphere was somewhat heavy and filled with confusion.

The Clan Leader stood at the front, looking around at the crowded clansmen, and spoke slowly.

"I have gathered everyone today to discuss a major matter concerning the Tribe's survival and its future prosperity."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across every face, some familiar and some slightly strange.

"After the last Beast Tide and the plague that just passed, I think everyone can see clearly and understand that our Tribe is too weak."

These words caused a burst of whispers.

Some looked dejected, some clenched their fists, while others looked up in confusion.

"Weakness means that when disaster strikes again, we might still have no power to fight back."

"We can only watch helplessly as our loved ones die and our homes are destroyed, waiting for a rescue that may or may not come."

The Clan Leader's voice rose slightly, "We cannot be like this forever! We cannot entrust the survival of the Tribe to luck or the kindness of others."

"We must become stronger. Only through self-reliance can we truly establish ourselves on this beastman continent and protect everything we want to protect!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the discussion below grew louder.

"Clan Leader, we understand the reasoning, but... how do we become stronger?"

A middle-aged Bear Clan beastman stood up, his face full of worry.

"Our Tribe's population isn't exactly flourishing, and high-level warriors are few and far between. Our ancestors lived like this for generations. It's easier said than done to talk about reform now."

"Yeah, hunting, gathering, having kids, building houses... we know how to do these jobs. How else can we change?"

"Could a few changes really produce more food and warriors out of thin air?"

Another Female also couldn't help but question, "Will it... just be a waste of effort for nothing?"

The Clan Leader did not immediately refute these doubts; he knew these were the most common concerns.

But different voices also rang out.

"I think the Clan Leader is right!"

A young Leopard Clan warrior who had lost an arm in the Beast Tide stood up, his eyes burning.

"If it weren't for Lord Xuan Mo and the reinforcements that arrived at the last minute, we would have all been dead long ago."

"But will reinforcements always arrive in time? If we aren't strong ourselves, what will we do next time? Wait to be wiped out?"

"Exactly. Look at the neighboring Gray Wolf Tribe; when the plague hit, they almost all died out. We were lucky this time because Priestess Bai Yao was here, but we can't rely on luck every time!"

An old Female who had lost her young child spoke with a choked voice, yet it carried a sense of determination, "Become stronger, we must become stronger—for the living and for the dead!"

In the council hall, the two voices intertwined, as anxiety and desire, conservatism and the quest for change constantly clashed.

Just then, the Clan Leader raised his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet.

His gaze turned to the shadows at the side, "Today, the one who will lead us onto this path of reform is not me, but our Tribe's Priestess."

Everyone's eyes turned in unison toward that direction.

Bai Yao stepped slowly out of the shadows. She was still wearing simple animal hide clothes. She walked step by step to the Clan Leader's side and faced the crowd.

She knew that reform was by no means easy; it couldn't be achieved overnight, nor could it win everyone's support from the start.

Doubts and resistance were the first hurdles she had to face.

She did not immediately explain her plan. Instead, she slowly scanned the crowd with her gaze and then asked questions that went straight to the bottom of everyone's hearts:

"In the last Beast Tide, when the roars of those beasts were right outside the door, when our lines of defense were being broken one after another... every one of you present, what were you thinking in your hearts?"

This question stunned many people. That bloody and terrifying memory was instantly awakened, and many people's faces turned slightly pale.

Without waiting for anyone to answer, Bai Yao immediately asked a second question, more direct and sharper:

"After that Beast Tide, is there any family in our Tribe that is truly unscathed, that hasn't lost a single loved one?"