Chapter 285: The Dominant Ying, Clan Leader Who Protects His Tribe

Here, the Tribe's main gate is heavily guarded.

Ashu's group had been waiting there for Ying. When Ying arrived, he saw Rongdi leading a dozen or so people, including Gu Lang and Xuan Feng; the others were bound with ropes—those were the tribe members captured years ago. He realized, if he remembered correctly, all those tribe members had disappeared.

He hadn't expected it to be Rongdi who took them.

Rongdi hides deep enough!

Behind Ying was the injured Dashan, whose hand was bandaged and whose missing finger left him very dejected; seeing Rongdi made his eyes turn blood‑red.

He almost wanted to rush up and beat someone.

"Ying, kill them. My finger was cut off by Gu Lang, they…"

"Shut up."

At his shout, Dashan immediately fell silent.

Ying gave Rongdi a deep look; he still didn't understand how he was rescued last time—after all, it was the sea, how he and Gu Lang escaped. But now was clearly not the time to probe those matters.

Nan Qinghuan wanted to help his senior brother gain a foothold with Rongdi; she knew he only didn't want to be exposed. Since Qinghuan wanted to help his senior brother, even if he disliked that man, he could only do so.

"Ying, Rongdi has brought our tribe's slaves; look at this…"

"Father, Father…"

Behind them, many tribe members rushed over to recognize relatives; the scene was chaotic, everyone weeping because those captured by Rongdi were their kin.

They had thought those relatives were eaten by wild wolves; they never imagined they were taken by Rongdi and turned into slaves.

Seeing his own tribe members wanting those relatives to return, Ying felt pain but kept his composure, "Rongdi, what are you doing here?"

Rongdi knew Ying disliked him, and he likewise disliked Ying, but the priest was right: now was not the time to argue, for his tribe to be able to eat rice.

He could endure Ying's provocation.

As long as he can get Grain Seed and the method of planting today, his suffering is nothing.

"Ying, I have brought Olive Branch and your tribe members; I come to seek peace, my sincerity is as vast as heaven and earth."

"Ying, don't trust him; we will kill Rongdi."

Ashu was already prepared, ready to act at any moment.

Ying squinted slightly, and for Nan Qinghuan's sake he glanced at Rongdi, "Since you come to seek peace, then come in."

This time Ying has really changed a lot; in the past he wouldn't have spoken so calmly with Rongdi—if three sentences didn't match, it would have turned into a brawl.

But now he must consider the bigger picture, and his child is due next year; he doesn't want war, he wants to wait calmly for his child's birth.

If war breaks out, not to mention Winter would be painful; once fighting starts, it would be hard to conclude, and he knows that well.

Therefore, he agreed with Nan Qinghuan's suggestion.

Rongdi was pleased to hear he was willing to seek peace, and then Ying led him into the Tribe; upon entering, Rongdi's eyes were drawn to the Tulou and the Farmland.

Now there is a home; the negotiation spot was moved beneath the Tulou's dam, and this is Rongdi's first time here, so everything looks fresh to him.

Before, they had only sneaked here to scout, never having come to a Tulou.

Every Tulou household had hung some cured meat, and there were pigpens for raising pigs; tribe members were working, Ying's tribe members wore clean clothes, each face beaming with smiles, children playing.

This is a scene his Tribe never sees.

Not only him, but even Gu Lang and Xuan Feng were attracted by the prosperity here; when will they be able to live in such fine houses? These houses are rain‑tight and wind‑tight, far better than the Treehouse they live in.

After entering the Tulou, a row of tribe members stood inside, watching them warily.

There was also a long table laden with many wild fruits and hot water!

It looked like a reception.

Seeing this, Rongdi was astonished by their change.

It seems Nan Qinghuan really helped him a lot.

"Arrived guests, sit down."

Rongdi and Ying each sat aside; Ying's aura was ample, while Rongdi, sitting there, seemed to have lost some momentum.

"My purpose is simple; the priest is right, we shouldn't fight. I only wish to secure a peaceful dwelling for my tribe. Today I have brought your tribe members, hoping to exchange for Grain Seed and planting techniques."

"On what grounds? Ou Mu has already given and will not give again."

Dashan had strong objections to Rongdi, but Rongdi ignored him and looked at Ying, "Ying, what do you think?"

Ying sneered, "Aren't you afraid I might have someone kill you? I can still save my tribe members."

"Hehe…"

Rongdi sneered, "I believe you can do it, but war is not the best choice. If I die, my tribe will come to attack you. You are now becoming a Father, you don't want war, right?"

Mentioning this, Ying's expression darkened; indeed Rongdi knew his thoughts. Yes, war would bring death. Though he is formidable in battle, no one knows what would happen. If something happens to him, what about Qinghuan and his child? That's something he must consider.

"I accept your terms, but…"

When he said "but", Rongdi was uncertain what Ying meant, "But what? I've already shown great sincerity."

For Grain Seed, he can endure anything.

Ying suddenly stood up, "Who cut off Dashan's finger? I need to settle that account first."

He could ignore that Rongdi sent men to throw sulfur to test his strongman, but Dashan's finger couldn't just be gone like that.

He wants to avenge him.

Otherwise he wouldn't agree to peace.

Rongdi was also angry; they had been fighting each other for so long that they couldn't tell who first provoked whom. Today Ying was determined to settle the score with him.

Originally he would rather die than come, but for the tribe's benefit, for them to be fed, this time he swallowed all his anger.

Li Xiang was right; a man must be flexible.

He learned that from Li Xiang.

Facing Ying's questioning, Rongdi sneered, "You want to settle accounts, fine. Then I ask you, shouldn't he die for attempting to assassinate my priest?"

"Now you have no right to negotiate with me; I ask you, who cut off Dashan's finger?"

Hearing that, Rongdi also knew that he was going to take a loss today.

Dashan was delighted to learn that Ying would avenge for him, "Ying, it was the lone wolf who did it."

He could still think of the pain of his finger being cut off; he would definitely avenge.

Upon hearing it was the lone wolf, Ying coldly said, "Rongdi, you may want my Grain Seed and technology, that's fine, but I want one arm of the lone wolf. If you agree to hand him over for me to deal with, then I will agree to cooperate, how about it?"

"Ying, don't bully the Beastman."

Rongdi suddenly stood up, his face showing fierce light, both sides were about to clash, the lone wolf knew the leader wanted to protect him, but if it continued like this they wouldn't obtain the Grain Seed and technology.

So many of their people were still waiting for them to go back and farm.

He gritted his teeth and stepped forward, "Ying, it was I who cut Dashan's finger; if you want revenge, take it out on me, don't trouble my leader."

The lone wolf was still quite righteous; he stepped forward and extended a hand.

"You cut my hand."

Ying squinted slightly, took the long sword from his waist, and when Rongdi saw that long sword, his face changed.

What kind of weapon is that? It looks formidable; the sharp blade glittered under the sunlight.

Ying walked to the lone wolf's side, sneered, "Fine, since you stepped forward, I'll cut off one of your arms; that will settle the matter."

The lone wolf also knew Ying wouldn't spare him, closed his eyes tightly, awaiting his hand being cut off!

Just as Ying was about to act, Rongdi suddenly shouted to stop, "Wait."

That "wait" made Ying squint slightly, "You want to backtrack?"

Rongdi gave the lone wolf a deep look, then stepped forward and pushed him aside, "It was my order; that kid lost two fingers, I, Rongdi, will give them back to him."

Those words left Ying a bit puzzled, he scoffed, "You will give them back to him? You want to cut off your own fingers?"