Chapter 385: Negotiating Cooperation with the You Su Tribe

"Caught them—just as expected, they were sent by the You Su Tribe. They didn't want to rescue Ma Ji, nor hand over the cotton, so they plotted to assassinate you."

Ying sneered, "Let's go take a look."

When he arrived, he truly didn't expect Nan Qinghuan to already be sitting inside the Tulou, and the person delivered by the lone wolf was already bound with grass rope, his upper body drenched in fresh red blood, clearly having been dealt with.

Ying arrived.

Outside, Ying hurried in and saw Nan Qinghuan, surprised, "Qinghuan, you're awake?"

Nan Qinghuan had slept for a long time but looked radiant; in fact she had been awake for a while. Upon hearing that the lone wolf had brought the person assassinated last night, she immediately ordered Dashan and his men to bring the captive here.

She wanted to see what the You Su Tribe people were really after—did they really have to go to war? "Ying…"

Ying strode forward to her side, "Qinghuan."

"Ying, this is the assassin from last night, a killer. The Clan Leader told me to send him to you; after interrogation we confirmed he's from the You Su Tribe, sent by Ma Tian."

Hearing this, Ying turned his gaze to the kneeling man—a scarred, battered fellow with Totem markings on his arms.

"It's the You Su Tribe's Totem!"

He glanced at the lone wolf.

"Thanks for your trouble; write about Rongdi for me."

"The leader says it's only proper. I'll leave this man to you to deal with as you wish. I'm off now."

The lone wolf never imagined this day would come—now he can swagger into the Tribe without the furtive sneaking of the past when he watched them eat meat and drink wine.

After the lone wolf left, Dashan rushed forward, "Ying, let me take him out and kill him. This man dared to assassinate you; he must have swallowed a leopard's gall for ambition."

Nan Qinghuan, however, stopped him, "Wait, listen to what he says. This was just one assassination—why target Ying? Who gave the order? We need to hear it clearly."

Dashan, hearing that, forced an awkward smile, "Yes, Oumu is right."

"Let me."

Ying's eyes fell on the kneeling man; he squinted slightly and asked, "Tell me, who ordered you to assassinate me?"

"Ying, why ask so many questions? You captured our leader, forced us to take that much cotton. If you do this, how will we survive the Winter?"

"So you're saying Ma Tian sent you because you didn't want to give us cotton?"

The man, his beard scruffy, pursed his lips, "We can't give that cotton."

"That's simple. If you won't give it, we'll have Yao kill Ma Ji. And don't forget, Ma Tian is clever—first he sent you to kill me, knowing you couldn't. Now that you refuse the cotton, I'll make sure someone kills Ma Ji, so…"

Ying sneered, "I know exactly what Ma Tian is thinking. Where is he? Tell him I want to meet him; perhaps we can cooperate."

"What are you saying?"

The man stared at him in astonishment, never having expected Ying to speak like that.

Ying couldn't see through Ma Tian's mind, trying to use his hand to eliminate Ma Ji; now the man is brought here, how can they not meet? "You know exactly what I said—where is he?"

The man never imagined Ying was so clever; it seems Ma Tian was right!

Ying is truly brilliant.

They'd been scheming all this time just to get Ying to meet Ma Tian? The man thought for a moment, then looked up at him, "He's waiting for you at Wolf Fang Mountain."

Hearing this, Dashan was stunned, staring at Ying, "Ying, what does that mean? I don't get it."

Dashan wasn't as sharp as to grasp the core of the issue, but Nan Qinghuan understood; the You Su Tribe people were indeed clever, trying to use Ying's hand to kill Ma Ji, and the one called Ma Tian was naturally the Clan Leader.

It seems Ying wants to cooperate with Ma Tian; Ma Ji went to Yao to cooperate against Rongdi and Ying, and this time Ying truly won't let him go.

Nan Qinghuan hurried to Ying's side, "Ying, you're going to meet Ma Tian—shall I go with you?"

Ying had originally worried about Nan Qinghuan's safety, but then thought that with her there, it would be fine.

Now they have a Carriage, so there's no problem.

However, this man still intends to kill him; he can't be kept.

Partnering with Ma Ji is only temporary; those who try to kill him won't be tolerated for long. He's already considered Ke Se; for Qinghuan and the kid, now it's mostly about endurance.

After next Spring, if Ma Tian still dares to provoke them, they'll follow Rongdi's words and wipe out the You Su!

"Alright, I'll take you there."

"Ying, since you know now, release me. You know I didn't intend to kill you last night; I only wanted to scare you."

"Scare me?"

Ying sneered, glanced at the man, "Hmph, scaring me also costs a price. Dashan, cut off his both hands."

Dashan, brandishing the iron Stone Axe, "You're tired of trying to assassinate Ying."

"No, don't, don't."

It was high noon, the sun blazing.

Now that deep Winter had arrived, Nan Qinghuan found the sunlight even more precious. They rode the Carriage to the summit of Wolf Fang Mountain, where the vegetation was lush and thriving.

On the road, Nan Qinghuan heard Ying discuss how to deal with Chun and A Tian; she merely comforted him. As the tribe's numbers grew, such matters would multiply.

The Tribe was huge; once the virtual market trade arrives, perhaps a town will emerge.

Then their true development will truly begin.

Bartering for goods is the first task; the second is to invent currency.

She realized the tribe now has deep needs for other things, but because values differ they keep miscalculating, so she must correct that.

For example, what can Salt be exchanged for? They need to understand the meaning of its value.

Soon, they stepped out.

To no one's surprise, three people emerged from the forest opposite them; the leading man was tall and thin, a Stone Axe hanging at his waist, his body covered in Totem markings.

It was deep autumn; he wore nothing above, and his lower half was only a Grass Skirt woven from straw for modesty.

Moreover, those Grass Skirts were surprisingly well made.

They provided some warmth, but winter would be hard to endure; near a fire they might catch fire, and people could be burned to death.

"Ying, I knew you'd come; no one can deceive you."

Ma Tian spoke first, his gaze appraising the Nan Qinghuan beside Ying, "So this female is the Tribe Goddess Nan Qinghuan?"

Ma Tian's eyes scanned Nan Qinghuan from all sides, which displeased Ying; he narrowed his eyes slightly and, with authority, declared, "She is my Ohm Nan Qinghuan."

"Ha ha, fine, I know your Ohm now."

Ma Tian got straight to the point, "Since you're here, you know what I mean. I don't want to send the Cotton anymore; my Tribe also needs Cotton."

"So, you want to watch your big brother die at the Wolf Tribe?"

"He isn't my big brother; I don't have such a big brother. Ying, last night I only sent people to deliberately scare you. I knew you'd come looking for me. Where are my people?"

"You're so bold, daring to have someone scare me—he's already dead."

"What did you say, dead?"

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