Chapter 230: Preparing to Launch an Expedition to Reclaim the Stolen Land

Nan Qinghuan, seeing this situation, also knew that Yao and Ashu must know something; she kept silent and continued to help Youchao Xuan serve rice to the tribe members, having originally prepared wild vegetables—cold wood ear and mushrooms, and the most primitive fish mint—but the tribe members didn't know how to eat the side dishes and just ate the rice.

After Ying and Ashu left, Youchao Xuan and she were busy for a long time, only then did they stop to prepare a bowl of rice, but… the wooden bucket was empty.

He smiled helplessly and set down the bowl, but then suddenly saw… Nan Qinghuan hand over a steaming bowl of rice; she smiled faintly like a flower, "Youchao Xuan, come eat mine."

Youchao Xuan felt a bit embarrassed and hurriedly declined, "Goddess, how can this be? I'm not hungry."

"Take it, I'm not hungry; come taste the dishes I made."

The tribe members all went to eat rice; nobody seemed interested in the dishes she made, because they thought they were just grass, and grass isn't tasty, certainly not as fragrant as plain white rice.

Youchao Xuan was willing to try her wild vegetables: the first plate was cold wood ear, the second plate was cold fish mint, known in Sichuan as "Zhe Er Gen." Youchao Xuan had never seen this before, reached out to grab it, and Nan Qinghuan quickly tossed him a pair of chopsticks.

"Don't use your hands; try the chopsticks, use this, I'll teach you."

"Chopsticks?"

Youchao Xuan frowned; he truly didn't know how to use chopsticks.

They were bamboo rods shaved into sticks; Youchao Xuan found them naturally difficult to wield, but thanks to Nan Qinghuan's careful instruction, he managed to use them a little.

He no longer used his hands to grab food; he just picked the vegetables slowly, and they would still fall.

Nevertheless, for Nan Qinghuan this was also progress; she knew one couldn't rush, as chopsticks were a new gadget for them and required gradual adaptation.

"Try the wood ear, it's very tasty."

Youchao Xuan stared at the dark pieces, wanting to try, but the chopsticks wouldn't pick up the wood ear; Nan Qinghuan looked like she wanted to help him.

"Slow down, use fingertip force."

Youchao Xuan studied earnestly, and Axi also carried a bowl over, "Qinghuan, what is this?"

She didn't like those things, all black and what are they? "These are wood ear, want to try?"

Seeing Axi stay still, Youchao Xuan ate and thought the taste was good, "Delicious, Goddess's cooking is always the most flavorful, Axi, you try."

"Really?"

"Foolish girl, of course it's real!"

Then Nan Qinghuan tasted it herself, crisp and tender, the best wood ear in primitive society, a finest gift from nature.

After she ate, Axi finally approached it with a "try it" attitude, and that bite was something else.

"Qinghuan, this grass is really tasty, let me try this…"

When they found it delicious, the plates were quickly cleared; Axi almost licked the plate, "Qinghuan, next time teach me to make more, it's too good."

"Goddess, the flavor of these wild vegetables is truly good."

"If you like them, I'll teach you all later. Axi, where's Dashan?"

Speaking of Dashan, Axi's smile faded, "Qinghuan, he's been acting strange all day and didn't return home last night; what do you think they're up to?"

Axi worried they were going out to hunt; previously only hunting made them this busy, but now they had already domesticated beasts with kudzu, so why still hunt? This made Youchao Xuan's expression darken; he also felt that Ying had been odd these past couple of days—he was absent during the rice harvest, instead going out with Dashan and only returning at night.

Within the tribe, people were speculating what the Clan Leader intended; now the tribe had food and shelter, why had Ying become strange? Nan Qinghuan didn't know how to explain Ying's decision to them; most tribe members were unaware of the captured tribe members' situation.

"This…"

"Om, please save my father, I beg you."

Not far away, Aning suddenly ran over and knelt before her. Aning had once been a follower of A Yue's tribe, but later improved; she had personally witnessed Nan Qinghuan changing the tribe's life for the better.

Now Aning only has respect for Nan Qinghuan.

"Aning, why are you kneeling?"

Aning burst into tears, "My father was captured, and now a Ritual will kill them; Om, help us, many of our tribe are about to be slain."

"What?"

Youchao Xuan looked at Nan Qinghuan anxiously, "Goddess, have they all found out?"

Nan Qinghuan saw more tribe members gathering and realized the news had spread; indeed, this was Rongdi's purpose.

He has already achieved it.

"All of you stand up; Ying hasn't given up on them. He's already preparing to rescue them; you go home first."

In fact, she had already devised a plan.

Yes, she would help Ying retrieve the abducted tribe members and reclaim that land.

"Ying is going to rescue them, that's wonderful, wonderful."

The tribe, hearing that their relatives were still alive, came to Nan Qinghuan, asking her to plead with Ying to save their kin. They had been separated for years; now that they know they're alive, everyone hopes to bring them back.

After the tribe left, Nan Qinghuan sent Axi to comfort everyone, then she recounted the events to Youchao Xuan. Upon hearing her words, Youchao Xuan stood up in astonishment, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes, "Goddess, you said that place is called Huang Jin Chao?"

Seeing Youchao Xuan seemed to know the place, she was puzzled, "You know?"

Youchao Xuan curled his lips and smiled, "Of course I know. Not far from Huang Jin Chao is our Tribe, Youchao Tribe; I'm very familiar with that place."

"Youchao Xuan, is what you said true?"

From behind came Yao's voice; the two hurried to look back, and Ying and the other two walked over, their expressions suggesting the matter had already been settled.

Ying approached Youchao Xuan, scrutinizing him, "You just said you're very familiar with Huang Jin Chao's terrain; is that true?"

Youchao Xuan, seeing Ying's disbelief, replied, "Of course. Our tribe members have been to Huang Jin Chao to cut trees and build houses, but always secretly. That area belongs to the Dog Rong, yet few guard it. When I arrived, there was no Sacrificial Altar, and I didn't see any members of your tribe imprisoned there."

Hearing this, Ying was very pleased; it seemed the time had come.

Youchao Xuan truly proved to be a good aide to him and Qinghuan; his arrival helped them accomplish many tasks, and Youchao Xuan could become a powerful ally in his campaigns.

"The Dog Rong intend to kill the tribe there and perform a sky‑offering; once the offering reaches the gods, that land will be lost forever. I will launch an expedition to subdue the Dog Rong."

Hearing this, Youchao Xuan also understood he must go.

"Ying, you are going to launch an expedition to subdue?"

Yao hurriedly said, "Ashu and I have already decided. We just discussed and think Ying's words have merit; the tribe's foundation is development. If we stand by and do nothing, what kind of tribe are we? If Ying doesn't act to rescue them this time, the Dog Rong will think we are afraid and will attack the tribe even more next time. Ashu and I have been persuaded by Ying; let him go, I will return and prepare to join Ying in the expedition."

"Indeed, this battle must be fought. Goddess, rest assured; with so many of us, the Dog Rong are doomed to lose."

Ashu knew she was worried about Ying's safety and hurried to reassure her; they would all help Ying.

Nan Qinghuan was naturally very happy, Ying had persuaded Yao and Ashu, and having them help was obviously the best, but… she had never seen how this Tribe fought, and in this Remote Antiquity Era there were no powerful weapons, so how could they win? She wanted to hear what plan they had.

"How do you intend to deal with the Quan Rong? And how will you rescue the captured tribe members?"

PS: Little cuties, enjoy reading, muah.