Michael said in surprise:
"It really works, his complexion is much better!"
Luci and Joseph, who were still skeptical about cutting off the rotting flesh, also curiously gathered around, their eyes widening at the sight.
"I thought cutting off flesh would make the wound bigger..." Luci muttered, looking curiously at the visibly improving wound on the Horned Goat beastman.
After the rotting flesh was removed, the wound was no longer dark and smelly; instead, there was pink new skin, and no more bleeding.
Michael breathed a sigh of relief: "Luckily the wound is really healing; I was afraid it would get worse. Eric truly has many innovative ideas."
Evan had been exhausted both mentally and magically these past few days, his head throbbing like it was splitting, but he still tried to stand up to examine the wounds, then turned back, satisfied:
"Being able to cast the Green Leaf Healing Art, you can already be called an intermediate mage. Your talent can be said to be formidable."
Joseph had lived in the human world so he also had some understanding of mages; hearing this, he nodded in agreement:
"Intermediate mage! Eric is truly extraordinary. Ordinary mages have to start from apprentice level, leveling up very slowly. Someone who can use intermediate magic right from the start, this is my first time seeing it. Didn’t expect you to be a magic genius."
Scratching his head shyly, Eric’s understanding of mages was limited to comics and movies. And those anime or novels described characters so exaggeratedly that he had no concept of his own talent, nor did he find it anything remarkable.
By the time Max and Thomas led Asat back, the injured were breathing steadily, their complexions much better.
Michael waved the shiny dagger in his hand. Although just borrowed temporarily, coming from Dwarf hands, it was truly a good item. This knife didn’t get stained with blood at all; after use, it was still shiny as silver.
Even a Snow Wolf person who didn’t like using weapons like Michael couldn’t help praising: "This knife is really good!"
After continuously casting the Green Leaf Healing Art, Eric felt dizzy for the first time. He and Evan, like two companions in the same boat, sat side by side on chairs to rest.
Actually, after removing the rotting flesh, it would be best to stitch the wound; that would help it heal faster.
Unfortunately, conditions here were limited, and Eric was afraid the wound would get infected, causing more trouble. With his healing art, the Horned Goat people’s wounds were already in quite good condition, no need for further torment.
Max entered the door and saw Eric’s slightly pale face; his expression immediately tensed, striding quickly to scoop him up.
"What’s wrong?" He looked Eric up and down worriedly, his voice becoming stiff.
Already dizzy, being picked up suddenly made Eric feel the world spinning; he hurriedly reached out to stop him:
"Don’t move, don’t move anymore, I’m so dizzy, just used too much magic just now."
His condition was a bit better than Evan’s.
Evan had been consuming and meditating continuously for several days, probably suffering internal injuries. Eric only had temporary exhaustion; resting for a while would recover him.
Asat followed Max into the house, rushing to the grass mat in one step. Seeing his tribesmen’s complexions clearly better, he was overjoyed.
These past few days he had been constantly anxious; although the severely injured were saved by Evan, they showed no signs of waking up, barely hanging onto life.
Now it was good. He wiped away a tear of joy at the corner of his eye; the tribesmen’s wounds no longer smelled, and their faces were much rosier.
Finally saw hope of survival.
Asat thanked them ceaselessly. He had never cried before, but lately, his tears seemed about to run dry.
Luci couldn’t bear it, hurriedly helping him up: "Rest assured, we will take good care of them."
Leaning on Max’s shoulder, Eric felt his eyelids getting heavier, the surrounding light seeming to dim, and sounds becoming blurry.
"The kid is too tired." Michael leaned close to check Eric’s sleeping face: "Just now he used quite a bit of intermediate magic continuously. In the human world, that’s already a very formidable mage."
Thomas laughed:
"When I first learned Eric knew magic, I was so surprised I almost bit my tongue. Our Snow Wolf tribe will have a mage in the future too."
Knowing Eric wasn’t injured but just tired from casting magic, Max’s expression softened.
"Alright, no need to worry excessively. We are all here; how could we let Eric get hurt."
Luci slapped her son’s back hard, scolding.
The whole family burst out laughing. Evan’s eyes darted between the two, his eyebrows gradually knitting together.
Asat didn’t quite understand their smiles; his gaze followed everyone’s to look at the boy in the Snow Wolf person’s arms, then gradually dawned on him.
So that’s how it is!
This Snow Wolf person and their young chief turned out to have that kind of relationship. Asat felt he understood, but the young chief of the Hadu tribe was still a child; why...
New questions arose in his head. Asat didn’t quite understand, nor did he dare to ask, so he tried to suppress his curiosity.
"We came here to let you know, we’re leaving soon. Going a bit earlier, just in case there are survivors we can still save them; we can’t delay." Thomas put away his smile, stating their decision with a serious face.
This matter indeed should be done sooner rather than later. Although Luci understood clearly in her heart, she still couldn’t suppress her worry.
"Must be careful, don’t go near the Whirlwind Lizard, leave quickly after confirming."
She reminded the three of them once again.
Asat nodded solemnly: "I won’t let them take risks with me. If..."
He gritted his teeth: "If there are no survivors, we will leave immediately, absolutely won’t linger."
Max, having just been mocked by everyone, felt a bit unnatural, tightening the arm holding Eric: "We will return as soon as possible."
Even if not for Eric in his arms, he wouldn’t joke with his own life.
The Snow Wolf tribe, originally idle for half the winter, now became busy.
Besides patrolling and training time, warriors and other tribesmen started husking various grains like paddy, sorghum, glutinous rice, then grinding wheat into flour, storing them in cloth bags. When cloth bags weren’t enough, they cut bamboo to make tubes.
Bamboo tubes could also hold about thirty pounds. Afraid of moisture, Eric told everyone to make wooden lids for them, sealing the edges tightly with tree resin before storing them away.
Eric kept more than half of each type of grain for seeds. As for the vegetables transported from the Ox-Head tribe, he kept half the potatoes, corn, and peanuts, putting them deep in the cellar to wait for planting next year.
The Dwarves also started getting busy. Apart from Bruno and Joseph concentrating on researching gunpowder, the remaining Dwarves were busy digging cellars under the cafeteria to store food.
Luban, having been idle for a few days, also felt his hands itching, insisting on leading the Dwarves to dig a larger and deeper cellar for the tribe. Eric was really afraid they would dig through to the center of the earth.
This trade with the Ox-Head tribe yielded so much food, the tribesmen were overjoyed. It seemed this winter there would be no lack of food; they could eat freely and still not finish it.
It was just that having too much food also brought sweet troubles. That day they hurriedly moved the food into the cave the tribe used to store food, but there was too much to fit.
In a hurry, they had to stack food temporarily outside the cave, while vegetables, feared of freezing, were stuffed inside.
Waiting for Eric to recover his spirit, he remembered the food matter, hurriedly organizing everyone to work frantically.
Even his cellar was stuffed full of vegetables, so much so that going down to get a roll of toilet paper required navigating around piles of pumpkins.