Chapter 167: The Aroma of Sheep Skewers Fills the Tribe

Dusk hung low, a bright moon hung high.

The Ancient Tribe was peaceful and remote.

The Ying Tribe's bonfire blazed, bright as daylight.

Suddenly, "Dong dong dong…"

The cheerful drumming rang especially loud through the tribe in the night, the joyous drumming carrying far away.

This night was a great day for the Ying Tribe; inside the forest, bonfires blazed amid laughter and cheerful voices. Because of Nan Qinghuan, several tribes were now closely linked together, everyone eating meat and drinking wine, exceedingly happy.

The Wolf Clan and the Cannibal Tribe had delivered Herbal Medicine, which resolved the Ying Tribe's urgent crisis. Ying, as Clan Leader, welcomed them tonight in the most grand manner.

Fragrant Roasted Meat, passionate dancing—the clansmen, though troubled by eczema, instantly felt their bodies stop itching when they heard that people from these tribes had brought Herbal Medicine.

Women wearing Hemp Robes danced around the bonfire; the aroma of fragrant Roasted Meat drifted far away, the Bronze Drum sounded unceasingly—this night, the Ying Tribe was paradise on earth.

The blazing bonfire dispelled the darkness. Yao and Ashu sat to one side, leisurely drinking Fruit Wine and watching the clansmen dance. In this moment, they finally understood what true joy was.

In the past, the Cannibal Tribe, the Wolf Clan, and the Ying Tribe had all been at odds and hateful toward one another; conflicts and fights often broke out between the tribes. But no one expected that a single Nan Qinghuan would link their three tribes together.

Moreover, they had now reconciled and even had the chance to sit here drinking wine together.

This feeling was truly wonderful.

Yao could not help but sigh with emotion—so this was how harmonious it could be when tribes did not fight or plunder each other.

He picked up a bowl of wine and clinked it with Ashu's. "Ashu, let us forget everything from the past. From today onward, I, Yao of the Wolf Clan, swear to you that my Wolf Clansmen will never harass your clansmen."

Ashu originally did not like the Wolf Clan, but now he saw that the Wolf Clan had also submitted to the Goddess. If that was the case, then he was willing to accept the Wolf Clan. The Goddess was right—one more friend was better than one more enemy. If they could live peacefully with the Wolf Clan, perhaps they could help each other in the future.

He did not ask for the tribe to grow as powerful as the Ying Tribe; he only wished for a flourishing population, for the clansmen to eat their fill and wear warm clothes, and to live the good life the Goddess spoke of.

Ashu also picked up his bowl and clinked it with Yao's. The Earthen Bowl gave off a dull sound that was exceptionally pleasant to hear.

"Good, Yao, I swear too—our clansmen will no longer be enemies of the Wolf Clansman. Together we will follow the Goddess, eat our fill, and wear warm clothes."

"Well said—eat our fill and wear warm clothes. Come, drink a bowl."

The two looked at each other and smiled; one smile erased all grudges. After drinking, Na Yao hurriedly stood up and looked at Ying, who sat to one side. "Ying, since the Wolf Clan and the Cannibal Tribe are both the Spirit Woman's tribes, and you are the Spirit Woman's male, I have a proposal. Why don't our three tribes swear a Blood Oath? What do you think?"

"A Blood Oath?"

Ying immediately stood up, picked up an Earthen Bowl, and walked toward Yao and Ashu. Ying could not help recalling that night when he and Rongdi had also sworn a Blood Oath, yet Rongdi had still come to harass his Qinghuan time and again.

A trace of gloom flashed through his eyes. He had to admit—Qinghuan had done so much for the Cannibal Tribe and the Wolf Clan, and tonight he finally saw the rewards of doing good deeds. So this was the meaning of peace.

Thinking of this, he admired Nan Qinghuan even more.

From now on, he would never again stop her from doing anything. Even if he could not understand the meanings behind her words, as long as Qinghuan believed it was right, then he too believed it was right.

As long as she did not leave him, anything was fine!

"Good, our three tribes shall swear a Blood Oath. From now on we are all brothers, helping each other and developing together."

"Developing?"

These words were what Nan Qinghuan had taught Ying. Ying had learned well now and could also use vocabulary appropriately.

Yao did not understand what "developing" meant. Nan Qinghuan hurried over from the side, holding fragrant grilled skewers. "What are you three talking about? The meat is ready—come taste my skewers and see how they are."

"I grilled these skewers. Why don't you all try them?"

A Mu had also come to help tonight. A Mu had now set aside all her dislike for Yao; she had finally forgiven Yao's mother.

"A Mu, thank you."

Yao reached out to take them and thanked her. A Mu only looked at him deeply. "Eat first—there's more."

A Mu went back to being busy, while Nan Qinghuan handed the several skewers of fragrant grilled meat in her hands to Yao and Ashu. Yao and Ashu had never seen grilled skewers before; they only smelled a very fragrant aroma.

"Grilled skewers?"

Yao reached out to take them but did not move. Seeing this small meat roasted on a copper skewer, he found it very novel—A Mu could make the Spirit Woman's food too? "Spirit Woman, what is this?"

"Sheep skewers. Taste them and see if they're good—you've definitely never had them before."

"Sheep meat? Skewers?"

Yao looked at Ying with a face full of suspicion. Seeing him looking so bewildered, Ying laughed heartily and reached out to wrap his arm around Nan Qinghuan's waist. "Haha, Yao is actually worried about these sheep skewers. Eat up—Qinghuan's cooking is delicious, and A Mu's will surely be good too."

Very good, surely good—Ying was getting better and better at speaking.

Seeing Ying and Nan Qinghuan so affectionate, a trace of disappointment flashed through Yao's eyes. He hurriedly tried some together with Ashu. Instantly… Yao and Ashu looked at each other, both almost speechless, just eating bite after bite, their appearance exceedingly comical.

No one could have imagined that Yao, chieftain of the Wolf Clan, would actually worry about a skewer of sheep meat. But after he finished eating, he could not help swallowing. "It's too delicious—I've never eaten anything this good before. Spirit Woman, how is this made?"

"Chieftain, I'm learning from the Spirit Woman. When I return to the tribe I'll make it for you too, all right?"

A Qi also held two skewers, wanting to let Yao try them, but Yao was very disdainful and insisted on eating the ones from Nan Qinghuan's hands. Soon, the sheep skewers were swept clean.

Ashu and Yao had never expected to eat something so delicious tonight. In Ying's words, this was a flavor found only in heaven, yet Nan Qinghuan had brought it to the tribe.

Benefiting all of their people.

After eating their fill and drinking their fill, Yao prepared to have the three swear a Blood Oath, but this time he wanted to include Nan Qinghuan.

"Let the Spirit Woman join us in swearing the Blood Oath."

Nan Qinghuan was bewildered. This Blood Oath was just like the ancient Peach Garden Oath—henceforth everyone would be Brother Tribes, no longer scheming against each other, nor doing anything to harm the Brother Tribes. But this was men's business—what did it have to do with her? "Me? I'm just a woman, I don't need to, right?"

When she said "woman," Yao and Ashu did not understand, but Ying knew it meant female. "Qinghuan is right—she's a woman, it's not appropriate."

Yao, however, was very insistent, his gaze burning as he looked at her. "It must be so. You are now the chieftain of both the Cannibal Tribe and the Wolf Tribe. By custom, you should join us. As long as you drink, Ashu and I will follow you for the rest of our lives."

These words carried the flavor of an oath. Nan Qinghuan felt her scalp tingle—follow her? She was somewhat startled, never expecting that in this patriarchal tribe, their respect for her had already exceeded all her understanding. She could not help doubting the history she had learned—were they simply too trusting of her, or would this tribe eventually develop toward a matriarchal society? Just what kind of Remote Antiquity Era had she transmigrated to? Was it the early stage, the middle stage, or… "Yao is right, Chieftain. You should join us in swearing the Blood Oath."

Nan Qinghuan looked at Ying and was about to refuse, but Ying shook his head and stopped the two of them. "No need—Qinghuan is my female. My drinking and her drinking are the same."

He knew what Yao was thinking—he wanted Qinghuan to drink the Blood Wine together, so that in the future he could… impossible!

"But if the chieftain doesn't drink, what kind of Blood Oath is that?"