Chapter 146: The Rongdi Tribe Runs Out of Water

Ji Nü saw the predatory glint in his eyes and knew this method would certainly be accepted by the Rongdi; indeed, her words delighted the Rongdi, who looked up, let out a loud laugh, then suddenly hesitated.

No, the Ying Tribe has strongmen; they are not easy to deal with.

The strongmen are hidden by Ying within the tribe; I've already located where they are. As long as we eliminate them, the Ying Tribe becomes the juicy meat in our mouths, chief—this is a good opportunity.

Rongdi was single‑minded in wanting to kill Ying and seize Nan Qinghuan; hearing this, he felt confident. He had wanted to invade the Ying Tribe for years, but the strongmen set by Ying were too terrifying. He once sent men to test them, yet none returned. Later he received heads sent from the Ying Tribe; those heads had been cleanly hacked off with stone axes, blood gushing.

Since that incident, he never dared to act against the Ying Tribe lightly.

But this time… he seized Nan Qinghuan and burned his own food storage; he deserves death!

Fine, this chief actually wants to see how they, busy with themselves, will help the wolf tribe. Men, withdraw all the people; we go to the Ying Tribe.

Leaving those words, he turned to leave, but unexpectedly, anxious voices of tribe members came from not far away.

Chief, something's wrong.

The newcomer is Abu, a capable officer of the Rongdi; Abu is a young lad in charge of the tribe's water supply.

Abu, what's happened?

Chief, we have run out of water; the elder chief wants you to return immediately.

Out of water? How could this be, aren't there stored waters?

His tribe had stored a lot of water, enough for many members, so how could it be cut off? Abu looked helpless. "It's gone; overnight someone drained it, and we can't draw water either. The elder chief sent me to tell you to return at once to investigate; without water we'll die of thirst."

A tribe without water is as serious as lacking food; a person can go a day without food but not a day without water. With so many people and so many tamed beasts, lack of water would cause disaster.

These words made the Rongdi extremely irritable; suddenly he seemed to recall something and said brightly, "Well done, Ying, you not only stole people but also cut off my water—how hateful. Go, return to the tribe first."

Ji Nü did not expect everything to have been settled, and the chief suddenly stopped. "Chief, are we no longer attacking the Ying Tribe?"

Rongdi sneered, "Attack what? With the tribe lacking water I have no mind for it. Moreover, we must never let those few tribes know we are short of water, understand?"

"Chief, chief"

Ji Nü did not expect the chief to abandon the attack on the Ying Tribe because of water shortage; she stamped her foot furiously. At that moment she also smelled the scent of roasted meat drifting from the wolf tribe, which further enraged her—it was a direct provocation to their Mountain Tribe.

Unbearable!

She had never seen the chief look so distressed.

Ji Nü glared fiercely, "Nan Qinghuan, enjoy a few days of happiness; wait for me, I will definitely kill you."

Within the wolf tribe, a blazing bonfire had already been lit; indeed, these ancient people love bonfires. It seems they light a bonfire for anything they do; even amid a great battle, as soon as there is a moment of calm, they ignite a bonfire in an open space, believing fire brings them good luck and light.

The wolf tribe, which moments ago was in chaos, now returned to peace. When Yao heard Asu's report, he laughed heartily, "Great, the Rongdi have all withdrawn."

Hearing this, the tribe erupted in cheers, "Great, the Rongdi have withdrawn!"

"Indeed, chief, this time the Rongdi won't come again; I also heard…"

"Heard what?"

Asu whispered beside Yao's ear, and Yao was startled, "You say the Rongdi Tribe lacks water?"

"Exactly, I heard it with my own ears, it can't be wrong; surely this is Ying Qian's doing."

Yao lifted his gaze toward Ying, who sat not far away, gave a low laugh, the vermilion mole at the corner of his eye deepening, "I knew Ying wouldn't easily let the Rongdi go; turns out he cut off their water source."

"Chief, this is our good opportunity."

Asu wanted to seize this chance to strike back, but Yao no longer wished to fight. Yet he also knew that if they didn't show the Rongdi a bit of resistance this time, the Rongdi would think the wolf tribe is easy to bully.

He whispered into Asu's ear, and Asu was delighted, "Fine, let's do it that way; let the Rongdi know our wolf tribe is not easy to provoke."

After Asu left, Yao strode over to Nan Qinghuan, who was roasting meat, and then, under the astonished gazes of everyone, he knelt on one knee before her.

That single kneel instantly silenced all the tribe members, and then they too knelt on the ground, kneeling alongside their chief.

"Heavenly Maiden, thank you; had it not been for you we would have died long ago."

Nan Qinghuan was stunned, never expecting Yao to kneel before her; the tribe also knelt to her. She glanced at Ying, who was watching like a spectator, sitting beside her, twirling her long hair.

"What are you doing? Get up!"

Yao and the tribe remained still, reverent and respectful.

Nan Qinghuan, a bit helpless, quickly grabbed her own hair, then handed the copper pin from the roasted meat to Ying, and only then rose to help Yao, "You get up quickly; you kneeling to me is improper—it shortens one's lifespan. By age, you would be my ancestors."

"Ancestors?"

Yao didn't quite understand; Ying squinted slightly, seeming displeased, "Qinghuan, what nonsense? How could the wolf tribe be your ancestors?"

Nan Qinghuan didn't want to engage; she was a modern person, and these ancient people were naturally her ancestors.

No problem.

She helped Yao up; once he stood, he was already tall, and she instantly became a little dwarf. "You needn't thank me; I'll leave those mirrors here. If the Rongdi ever try to launch an aerial assault on you, just do as I say—place the mirrors under the sun, and they won't dare send men to shoot you."

Hearing that she was willing to put down that divine artifact, Yao stared at her absentmindedly; he knew she was leaving and that he couldn't keep her.

"Thank you, I have already prepared corn seeds for you, carefully selected as you instructed."

After saying this, Yao hurried to have people deliver the corn seeds he had prepared into Nan Qinghuan's hands; they were corn seeds wrapped in lotus leaves, weighing several jin, all hand‑picked by Yao, each the finest.

Nan Qinghuan took them, clutching tightly; she had nearly risked her life for these seeds.

"Thank you. Since we have the seeds, Ying, should we return now?"

They had stayed in the wolf tribe too long; now the wolf tribe is fine, and they should return to tidy up their own affairs.

Thinking of the wounds Youchao Xuan had suffered, she almost wished she could step on the Wind-Fire Reincarnation right now to deal with Acai, daring to haunt under her nose to see how she would handle it. Ying had long wanted to leave; he stepped forward, grabbed her waist, and dominantly declared his authority, "Of course, Qinghuan, you may leave whenever you wish; I'm tired of staying here too, it's time to return to the tribe."

"Goddess, it's getting late, shall we leave at first light tomorrow?"

Youchao Xuan was much better, Jingang and his wife followed beside him, very loyal.

Nan Qinghuan looked at the sky, seeing it was late, "Alright, then we will follow Youchao Xuan and leave at first light tomorrow."

Just as those words finished, A Lei ran up from not far away, looking panicked as if frightened by something.

"Heaven's Daughter, the corn is finished."

What? The tribe gasped; they had just planted corn awaiting harvest—what does "finished" mean? Nan Qinghuan remained calm, "A Lei, take your time, what do you mean by the corn is finished?"