Chapter 194: We Finally Have a Home

Morning light barely emerged, a golden sun broke through the clouds, illuminating the whole primeval earth.

The Ying Tribe's new foundation was especially busy.

The water carriers fetched water, the mud workers handled mud, and there were more helpers; Jingang, with his wife, helped haul wood. With the animals' aid, the schedule sped up.

Nan Qinghuan originally thought the tribe's superstitious people would fear living near so‑called monsters, but she heard the monsters were actually pets raised by the Heavenly God, so as long as they don't trespass on the monsters' territory, they aren't afraid.

The monsters are pets raised by the gods; this is also part of tribal culture.

In just a month, a massive tulou rose towering on the once‑flat foundation. The tulou reached great height and is ready for the roof; a good auspicious day will seal it. From afar it towers in the forest, and the tribe, seeing this great house, became even more motivated, working without rest even under the bright sun.

With the tribe's effort and Yao bringing people to help, the tulou is about to be finished.

Nan Qinghuan stood nearby, watching the astonishing scene, and truly echoed the saying "strength lies in numbers." She finally understood why the Great Wall could be built so long—human potential is indeed limitless.

Although ancient tools were primitive and they lacked modern construction equipment, they only used iron spades and hoes, and did most of the work by hand.

But thanks to the many people and the help of Youchao Xuan's tribe members, the first tulou is about to be completed.

Amid the dense thicket, the tulou stands like a giant. She seemed to foresee this place becoming a hub, with the tribe working their farmland, smoke curling from kitchens, laboring from sunrise to sunset.

Thinking of it, it's truly wonderful.

"Spirit Woman, does this outfit look good on me?"

From behind came Yao's voice; he walked toward her, a little shy. He had already put on the hemp robe and hemp trousers that Nan Qinghuan had arranged for him. Though they felt odd, they were far more comfortable than beast skin.

Cool.

Nan Qinghuan turned to look at him, almost not recognizing him; the Yao before her resembled a rugged mountain laborer, with disheveled hair and a coarse demeanor.

"Quite fitting for you. Do you like it?"

Yao heard her praise and was delighted; the vermilion mole at the corner of his eye deepened to a vivid red. "I like it, I like it."

"Yao, we are grateful that you could come to help; Ying and I are very thankful. I've already ordered Axi and the women to speed up the work. When you return, bring those hemp robes back so the tribe can wear them; from now on, no one should wear beast skin—it's too hot and uncomfortable."

Yao, hearing the tribe's gratitude, was even happier. "Thank you, Spirit Woman, Spirit Woman, I came to report on the corn. It has already yielded abundantly, and now I wish to plant again before the Rainy Season arrives. Do you think there's time?"

"Plant again?"

Nan Qinghuan looked up at the sky. "No, the Rainy Season is about to begin; if you plant now, the corn won't grow."

"Why?"

Yao naively thought that as long as one wishes to farm, one can do so anytime, even during the Rainy Season.

"You have no experience; you don't know that corn needs sunlight for pollination. If it keeps raining, even Growth Water won't help; the corn won't dehusk, and there will be no harvest."

"But corn alone won't fill our stomachs; when winter comes…"

"No problem, if we don't plant corn we can plant sweet potatoes. The people at Ashu's place are experts at sweet potatoes; they don't fear rain and like moisture, but they can't be flooded, otherwise they won't grow. I've never seen a tribe's Rainy Season like this—does it rain every day?"

If it rains every day, that's a trouble; not only Yao Tribe's people will have food issues, Ying Tribe might face the same. Corn, potatoes, and sweet potatoes all need ample sunlight.

"It's not raining every day; the sun does come out."

"Then it's fine; we'll plant sweet potatoes and potatoes. I've only been in the tribe for a few months, and I haven't experienced the Rainy Season, so I'm unclear about your situation."

"Only just arrived at the tribe?"

Yao slightly furrowed his brow, seeming to ponder the meaning, and asked, "Spirit Woman, where are you from?"

With so many tribe members aware of the Rainy Season, why couldn't she answer? Nan Qinghuan was about to speak when Ashu's voice came from not far away, "Chief, chief, you must arbitrate for us."

As soon as he said that, Ashu, angry and hurried, ran over. When he saw Yao also there, Ashu raised a fist to strike Yao.

"You still dare to come here, you owe my people, you owe me."

"Ashu, stop, don't hit. What's happening?"

Ying, hearing the commotion, rushed over to intervene. How did they start fighting as soon as they met? Yao grabbed Ashu's arm and asked, "Ashu, why are you hitting me?"

"Stop hitting."

"Ashu, cease, we can talk properly."

Nan Qinghuan didn't understand; what was happening? Didn't they just drink Blood Oath wine?

Ashu finally let out a cold snort, then looked at Ying and Nan Qinghuan. "Ying, we are bound by Blood Oath, yet this Yao has captured my people for planting sweet potatoes; several of my people have gone missing."

"What? Yao captured members of the Cannibal Tribe to plant sweet potatoes?"

Yao, hearing this, hurried to explain, "Ying, Spirit Woman, you believe me; I didn't do that. Ashu, how do you know it was my people who did it?"

"You still dare to make excuses. They disappeared in the fields; our place is so close to yours—if they aren't yours, then whose are they?"

Yao, hearing this, let out a cold laugh, "I've been here these days helping them build the tulou; the Wolf Tribe wouldn't capture your people. Don't wrong me."

"Wrong you? I knew you wouldn't admit it. In the fields where our people disappeared, we found your Wolf Tribe's iron spears, and the messengers brought them up."

Hearing this, Ying looked at Yao with a complex expression, "Yao, was it your subordinates who did it?"

"No, when I returned I already told them that our three tribes have formed an alliance; our people wouldn't harm members of the Cannibal Tribe."

Ashu glared at Ying, "Then look at this—this is the iron spear unique to your tribe. Yao, you are despicable, chief. Our people have been captured while farming; now no one dares to work the fields. You must arbitrate for them."

Ashu's leg was crippled, making walking difficult; he set out early this morning just to lodge a complaint.

Fearing Nan Qinghuan wouldn't arbitrate, he even knelt before her. Nan Qinghuan, seeing this, quickly helped him up: "Ashu, don't do that; stand up. I've heard everything and understand the situation. Look at this iron spear, Yao—does it belong to the Wolf Tribe?"

Yao looked at her uncomfortably, "Spirit Woman, you don't believe me?"

Why doesn't she believe him? Nan Qinghuan realized his misunderstanding. "Yao, of course I believe you; I just wanted you to confirm whether it's something from your tribe."

Ying also understood, "I fear this has been plotted against us."

Ying glanced at the familiar object, "No need to look further; this is indeed the Wolf Tribe's iron spear. But Ashu, I trust Yao and the Wolf Tribe people—they wouldn't do this. Breaking the Blood Oath would bring annihilation. Yao has been working here with the tribe these days; it couldn't be him."

Hearing Ying's words, Ashu finally calmed down; he had jumped to conclusions, assuming Yao was responsible, merely because he recognized the iron spear.

"But Ying, if it wasn't the Wolf Tribe who did it, how did this iron spear end up in the fields?"