Chapter 77: Liberating the Tribe

Ying is in a good mood now; he reaches out and wraps his arms around Nan Qinghuan's slender waist, can't help planting a kiss on her forehead. After spending this time together, Nan Qinghuan has now gotten used to this man's domineering claim of sovereignty; he wishes he could tie her to his belt and take her everywhere.

Hearing that something went wrong, Ying squinted, a little wary, "What's the matter?"

The man immediately had someone bring over a massive porcupine; three green olive leaves were stuck on its head, inserted into the wild boar's snout, looking very odd.

"Ying, this was sent by the Rongdi of the Na Shan Tribe; they want to coexist peacefully with our Tribe."

Hearing this, the tribe members were terrified, "What, the Rongdi actually sent olive leaves? Ying, we can't meet them—they've killed so many of our females; we can't coexist peacefully."

"Yes, Ying, did you forget? Last time they almost had someone kill Qinghuan; if it weren't for you…"

"No need to say more."

Ying waved his hand, his sharp gaze scanning the porcupine, "The Rongdi want to flatter us, which shows our strength has already frightened them. Have they heard that we have boiled out Salt?"

The man didn't know how to answer; he only received gifts from those Beastmen and hadn't heard that they knew this place had precious Salt. Nan Qinghuan seemed to understand: in nature the strong prey on the weak, and that Rongdi must be after plunder.

She immediately stepped forward and grabbed Ying's arm, "Ying, it must be like this—you said the Rongdi Tribe has no Salt; they must now covet it. We can't let them come here; I'm worried…"

"Huaner, don't worry. Since they dared to come and even brought this porcupine and olive leaves, it's a sign of reconciliation between our Tribes. If I refused their arrival, wouldn't that make it look like I, Ying, am afraid of them?"

"But this…"

"Don't be afraid, I'm here."

That night, High Priest A Yu was taken to feed wolves after provoking the Heavenly Maiden, and the Na Shan Tribe's people were coming to visit the Ying Tribe as guests; as the Clan Leader, Ying naturally welcomed them, so in the dead of night he led people to make preparations.

The Tribe's banquet was naturally grand; although the tribe members feared the Na Shan Tribe's people and feared the Rongdi, they promised to bring the pottery‑making technique as tribute to the Ying Tribe, and because of that method Ying accepted.

He had long wanted to use those exquisite ceramic pots and no longer wanted to use clay pots; clay pots break easily and are inconvenient for storing things.

Because the Tribe had to welcome the ambiguous Rongdi, the tribe members began to bustle about; Ying naturally led people to work, and even though it's a Tribe, they had to do things properly so the Na Shan Tribe's people wouldn't look down on them.

In the middle of the night, Axi also arrived; Ying had Axi escort Nan Qinghuan back into the Cave. She lit a candle and saw the wolf Mos staring straight at her; she couldn't help recalling the A Yu who had been dragged away.

"Axi, where is the Wolf Pack?"

After lighting the candle, Axi looked at her reverently, "Qinghuan, don't ask. A Yu has surely been eaten; from now on no one in the Tribe will dare oppose you—you are the Heaven's Daughter after all."

Speaking of Heaven's Daughter, Nan Qinghuan was at a loss. Yes, she had coated herself with phosphorescent powder so that she could convince the tribe members to release those women who were on their periods, and they would never have to be isolated again.

But… that Rongdi made her very worried; Ying is a man who loves to compete and dominate, and the Rongdi coming to the Tribe means he won't shrink away like a turtle, but…

That Rongdi from the Na Shan Tribe surely has a plot.

"Axi, has the Rongdi ever come to the Tribe before?"

Axi didn't know why she asked, shook her head slightly, "No, they haven't. In the past they only sent their people to capture ours; A Tu's relatives were all eaten by the Rongdi people. Qinghuan, you should persuade Ying; everyone is terrified of the Rongdi's arrival and hates them—they sent subordinates to cause trouble and eat our people."

"Eat people? You actually saw members of the Rongdi Tribe eat people?"

This matter was too terrifying; if the Rongdi Tribe's people really ate humans, then she must find a way to deal with them, and must never let the tribe suffer harm.

Axi shook her head, "I've never seen it; I only heard the tribe members say it. Qinghuan, when Ying returns you…"

"Um, Ying is back."

Inside the Cave, Ying's mood brightened at the sight of Nan Qinghuan, especially when he saw the candles on the stone table; that light was, to him, illumination—a divine light.

"Huaner…"

"You're back?"

Ying seemed very tired, stepped forward, gave her a brief hug, then gently let go and went to lie lightly on the Stone Bed. Ying had returned, and Axi didn't dare stay longer; after Axi and Dashan left, Nan Qinghuan saw him looking exhausted, hurried to pour water and hand it to him, "Drink some water, it will soothe your gut."

Hearing her voice, Ying felt that any fatigue was worth it; he suddenly lifted her body up, then gently sat on his own lap, and under the candlelight his deep eyes gazed at Nan Qinghuan.

Both hands gently cradled her small face, "Huaner, you look truly beautiful today."

He had never seen such a beautiful female.

Nan Qinghuan was startled, then smiled and tried to push him away, "It's all just deceptive tricks, don't take it to heart. I do this only to save those females; you know they're pitiful. That old Shiva has harmed so many people. Ying, can you drive her out of the Tribe?"

Ying saw the hatred in her eyes and shook his head, "Huaner, Shiva is also a gift from the gods; she cannot be expelled."

"But she killed A Qing; before that she also killed so many women, you…"

"That's their fate. Huaner, stop worrying. The High Priest is gone now, and you are the Heaven's Daughter; Shiva dares not oppose you any longer. You have achieved your goal and have freed those females; from now on, don't meddle in these matters."

Ying seemed reluctant to let her meddle, because he knew that if she intervened too much it would bring danger, even though she is the Heaven's Daughter; some females might become bold enough to harm her, and he has many affairs, fearing that one day he would hear she was injured.

Hearing this, Nan Qinghuan felt a bit annoyed; she suddenly pushed him hard, stepped back a few paces, "I only want to save them; I have no fault. Ying, I know our values don't align, you think what I do is absurd, but I don't regret it. Even if danger awaits, I will still save those women. Look how pitiful they are, how sadly they die; you, as Clan Leader, also bear responsibility."

Hearing these words, Ying's heart tightened and he immediately stood up, "Huaner, what did you say?"

Nan Qinghuan turned her face away, "I promised you I would stay to help the Tribe, so I won't break my word. Ying, I'm not afraid of anyone harming me; I only do what I can be at peace with."

She suddenly felt that being with Ying was usually quite happy, but indeed their values clashed; whenever she tried to intervene in those women's affairs he would be displeased. She knew what he meant—he is a man who disregards those women; their deaths are as insignificant to him as a dead ant, but she is different; she received socialist education and cannot ignore people's lives.

Seeing her so stubborn, Ying's gaze grew cold; he suppressed his anger, his sharp eyes fixed on her every move, "Nan Qinghuan, I am your male, do you dare disobey me?"