Chapter 147: Corn Stalks Beset by Worms
"Yeah, A Lei, quickly tell us what's happened to the corn?"
Upon hearing that, everyone instantly lost any desire to play; that corn was their lifeline.
The wolf tribe's corn cultivation is the hope they rely on to survive; nothing can go wrong. When the people arrived, they actually saw… the once tall and robust corn had been eaten bare, the slender corn stalk standing alone in the night wind.
A Lei looked very dejected, as if he had committed a grave mistake, "We watered it this afternoon and it was fine, but by night it was all eaten. We searched and found no beasts roaming nearby."
"Oh dear, what shall we do? We rely entirely on this to fill our bellies."
The tribe members were all worried about the corn disappearing, and Na Yao calmly went to inspect several corn stalks. He seemed to discern something, "It looks like they were eaten by Insect."
"Insect?"
"What insect?"
The wolf tribe people used to eat many insects; they also knew insects eat leaves, but they found no trace of insects here. Nan Qinghuan, unhurried, inspected several plots of land, and finally reached a conclusion.
The tribe members, seeing she wasn't worried, grew anxious, "Heaven's Daughter, speak quickly, what should we do?"
"It's a Corn Worm infestation, don't worry. I'll prepare some medicine; we'll have to work hard tonight, replenish the corn seeds, use the water I gave you, and they'll grow back quickly."
"Corn Worm?"
Na Yao grew increasingly admiring of Nan Qinghuan; she could always solve all his problems here. His gaze became more obsessed with her. He needed her help here; how wonderful it would be if she didn't have to return? Yet he knew he couldn't entertain such thoughts now; he could only keep those feelings hidden. His foremost priority now was to preserve the food the tribe eats.
That is the real issue.
Nan Qinghuan nodded, "Exactly, it's a Corn Worm. No need to worry; it's just a minor trouble encountered while farming. Wait for me; I'll go prepare the medicine."
Fortunately it's not a major issue; her space has already been upgraded, allowing her to retrieve a highly pure Pesticide from within, mix it with clear water, give it to the tribe to spray on the ground once, and once the seeds are replenished, the day will break.
In the fields, she continued her work, while atop the towering cliff, two men each stood at the edge, the biting wind whipping their hair about, making them look even wilder.
Ying straightened his posture and looked at the silent Na Yao, "Did you call me for something?"
He still couldn't let go of his grudge against Na Yao, so his tone toward him remained cool.
Na Yao let out a deep sigh, then took out an exquisite wooden box from beside him; it was the tribe's most precious treasure.
"This is what you've always wanted; I'm giving it to you."
Ying squinted slightly, "What is this?"
Na Yao said nothing more, merely gestured with his eyes for him to take the box. Ying thought for a moment, then reached out to accept it. When he opened it, his complexion darkened; he could hardly believe it.
Inside was a piece of Raw Iron.
It was the Raw Iron he had once dreamed of obtaining; although his tribe possessed the craft of Green Copper, they still lacked Iron Tool.
I must say, he was astonished, "You intend to hand me the secret of Iron Tool?"
Ying truly didn't expect Na Yao to give him this wolf tribe treasure; could he really part with it? Na Yao's sharp gaze turned to the distance, a hint of helplessness flashing in his peach‑blossom eyes, and the tear mole at the corner of his eye deepened.
"If it weren't for you and Qinghuan helping me this time, the wolf tribe might have perished. What use is it for me to guard these things alone?"
He sounded somewhat desolate as he spoke, but more so resigned.
Ying, however, took large strides to his side, "Don't you regret?"
Na Yao's gaze drifted toward the distant mountains; a crazy plan churned in his mind—perhaps only this way could there be a chance? "Soon we'll be one tribe; since we're one, we should share resources, what do you think?"
"What tribe? When did I, Ying, ever have anything to do with your wolf tribe?"
Ying didn't like him saying that; they could never become one tribe.
Na Yao curled his lip, a strange smile appearing at the corner of his mouth, let out a heavy sigh, and suddenly opened his mouth wide, releasing his first wolf howl toward the valley below.
"Wooo…"
The howl instantly reverberated through the valley, Ying stepped back as if guessing his intention, "You've gone mad; are you trying to lure the monsters from the Magic Cave?"
Na Yao stopped howling, and the surroundings gradually returned to calm. He slowly turned, looked behind him, pointed to a spot not far away, "Look, it's already gone."
Ying turned his head and saw a beast sprinting down the mountain; he suddenly understood Na Yao's intention, glared at him in anger, "You've gone mad, why do this? Do you even know what you're doing?"
Na Yao hadn't expected Ying to react so strongly, which only solidified his resolve; he let out a light laugh as if he saw the tribe's dawn and hope.
"Perhaps she is the person I've waited for all these years."
"You're dreaming."
The sun blazed over the cornfield; Nan Qinghuan was exhausted to the point of collapse, but when she saw the corn regrowing, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She plopped down onto a large stone to drink some water and rest. Behind her, Youchao Xuan came up low and said, "Goddess, we've done enough for the wolf tribe; it's time to return."
Youchao Xuan still bore wounds; he had been longing to go back to deal with Acai, to avenge himself and Jingang.
Nan Qinghuan lifted her eyes and glanced at him, "Wait for Ying, then leave. Rest assured, I know you want to go back to deal with Acai; it's not just her—you also can't let that damned Shiva go unpunished. Youchao Xuan, our tribe now has potatoes, sweet potatoes, and now corn seeds; we only lack a new house."
Her eyes were full of hopeful anticipation, a gaze toward a promising future. This time, returning meant building houses, and she intended to allocate land for the tribe so they could live self‑sufficiently.
Youchao Xuan had long wanted to start building houses, but… "Goddess, that tribal territory might not be suitable for construction?"
"Why?"
Nan Qinghuan didn't understand; hadn't they, last time, he and Ying examine the terrain and say they could rebuild on the original tribal land? Youchao Xuan was about to explain when suddenly the tribe members' gazes turned terrified toward behind them, then everyone cheered, "The Five‑colored Linglu has appeared, you see, it's the Five‑colored Linglu."
"The Five‑colored Linglu only follows the Spirit Woman; could the Heavenly Maiden be the Spirit Woman?"
When that was said, Nan Qinghuan naturally looked behind her, and indeed, behind her stood a deer she had never seen before; the deer's antlers had eight branches, slightly curled.
It also held a mysterious Five‑colored Stone in its mouth.
She instantly sprang to her feet, startled.
"What is this?"
How had she never seen such a wondrous creature? Jingang, who was working, saw his master startled and rushed to intervene; Jingang and his wife shielded Nan Qinghuan behind them, baring their teeth, ready to fight the Five‑colored Deer.
The Five‑colored Deer spewed white mist; Jingang and his wife, having never seen such a thing, were frightened and immediately crouched behind Nan Qinghuan. Nan Qinghuan was speechless; the couple were indeed cowards who feared strength.
If you can win, fight; if you can't, run.
It must be said, the deer showed no aggression toward her; she was about to examine it more closely when A Qi quickly tugged her sleeve, "Quick, quick, take the Five‑colored Stone."
"Five‑colored Stone?"
??
End of Chapter
