Chapter 79: The Contest Between Tribes

"Alright Axi, don't ask about our marital matters."

"Qinghuan, don't be like that, Ying is good to you, you can't bully him."

"I bully him?"

Nan Qinghuan was speechless—who's bullying whom, after all? Axi realized she didn't want to talk about it, swiftly shifted the conversation and glanced outside, "Qinghuan, why am I a little scared?"

Seeing the little girl hesitating, Nan Qinghuan was puzzled, "What are you afraid of?"

Axi moved her mouth, worriedly saying, "When Rongdi last wanted Ying and your life, do you think he truly came to negotiate peace?"

Nan Qinghuan naturally didn't trust that Rongdi; after all, he's a Beastman—can someone with beast blood be easy to get along with? This time Rongdi came here must have ulterior motives, but she also knew Ying wasn't a fool; perhaps he was also scheming against Rongdi.

Although Ying is a wild man, he's very clever, so she wasn't worried about this.

"Fine, stop fretting over these matters; where have the Tribe's females gone?"

"They were all called by Ying to be food; Ying wants to let Rongdi see that our Tribe has many females, how strong we are?"

I have to admit, that's Ying's style.

More women mean stronger reproductive capacity; a Tribe's size depends on military strength, and secondly on population. The Ying Tribe has over a thousand people, making it the largest among the nearby Tribes, so Ying doesn't care about the lives of those women.

Hearing that, she hurriedly stood up, "Then I'll go see the excitement too."

Just as she turned to leave, Axi immediately called out, "Qinghuan, you can't go."

She was a bit puzzled by that, turned her head to Axi, "Why?"

Axi knew she wanted to look, but… "Ying said you must not show yourself; if the Rongdi Tribe sees you, they will…"

"What would happen if they see me?"

Axi didn't know how to explain, "Qinghuan, listen to Ying, don't go. When he's done with his business he'll come back to be with you, okay?"

Nan Qinghuan paused; so she can't go anywhere now? Fine, if she doesn't go, she won't, but she could investigate that matter.

"Alright Axi, stop staring at me like that; I won't go, so you go find Youchao Xuan for me."

"Youchao Xuan, what are you looking for him for?"

Nan Qinghuan fell silent for a moment, "Axi, does your Tribe have any resurrection incidents?"

Hearing that, Axi widened her eyes, looking at her with some terror, "Qinghuan, who died and came back to life?"

Nan Qinghuan fell silent for a moment, turned her head toward the cave entrance—she hadn't mistaken anyone last night—"Go find Youchao Xuan now, go right away."

Soon, Youchao Xuan arrived, stepped forward and respectfully bowed to Nan Qinghuan, "Heaven's Daughter, you summoned me?"

"Enough, Youchao Xuan, stop calling me Heaven's Daughter; just call me by my name. I am Nan Qinghuan."

Youchao Xuan felt it was improper, "You are Heaven's Daughter, I…"

"Cut the nonsense, come with me now to find someone."

Hearing that, Youchao Xuan was a bit puzzled, "Find someone?"

Just as the words finished, a voice from Dashan rang out outside, "Ohm, something's wrong."

Hearing "something's wrong," Nan Qinghuan's first reaction was to think of a fight, "What's happening, is it Rongdi…"

"No, it's A Tu who suddenly started coughing up blood. Ohm, could you go check?"

"A Tu is coughing up blood?"

She thought of that little child who always called her "Sister Qinghuan"; when she first arrived here and A Yue slandered her as the Plague God, that child defended her, "Come, let's go see."

In the deep forest, the Bonfire blazed as a grand welcoming ceremony took place; Rongdi brought ten of his Tribe's members to visit the Ying Tribe, and the two sides discussed coexisting peacefully.

Originally the Rongdi Tribe and the Ying Tribe were sworn enemies, bearing a life‑and‑death hatred, but Ying saw that the Rongdi Tribe was willing to offer beasts and olive leaves to seek peace. The dead could not return, and for the Tribe's development he accepted Rongdi's peace conditions, so this time he personally entertained them, hoping to secure peace with Rongdi, which would be advantageous for his future attacks on other Tribes.

A wild‑people gathering differs from modern ones; they're very rough, slaughtering sheep and butchering meat. This time, having learned Roasted Meat, the Rongdi Tribe members personally saw the Ying Tribe eating it.

But they were reluctant to try it, unable to grasp that the Roasted Meat truly tasted good. The Tribe's women, dressed revealingly, sang and danced to welcome the Rongdi Tribe's arrival. The Tribe held no grudges; seeing Rongdi bring so much food and the Herbal Medicine they needed, they welcomed them.

Under the blazing Bonfire, Ying sat high on a large stone with his legs crossed, surrounded by Tribe members; the stone table was laden with wild fruits. The Rongdi sat beside him, and the people on both sides stared at each other, neither yielding.

"Servants, bring the wine."

Rongdi still remembered the grudge from being sprayed with Pepper Water last time, but he was after big matters; today he came for the precious Salt and to probe whether the Tribe makes wine. Seeing the Clay pots now, he seemed to understand Ana's words—just as expected.

And… thinking of Nan Qinghuan's smiling face made Rongdi's heart race wildly.

"Yes, Chief."

Someone brought up a jar of wine and poured it for Ying and him; Rongdi tugged at his mouth corner, lifted the wooden bowl, and said, "Ying, drink this cup of peace wine; my Rongdi Tribe and your Ying Tribe will forever coexist peacefully. Let bygones be bygones. What do you think?"

Ying suddenly stood up, sneering, "Enough, Rongdi. Though you sent a peace envoy, I must ask: why did you send people to eat my Tribe members?"

"Eat our people?"

"Exactly, Rongdi, your people ate many of our Tribe members, and you won't admit it. We don't believe you're here to make peace; I will kill you to avenge our people."

Suddenly, an angry Tribe member brandishing a stone axe lunged at Rongdi. Rongdi's people tried to intervene, but Rongdi gave a signal, "Kill me, and you will never know the truth."

At that, Ying roared, "Stop!"

In an instant, both sides were about to clash; the angry tribe member was rebuked by Ying, and he glared fiercely at Ying, "Ying, have you forgotten your sister's grudge?"

"I haven't forgotten."

Ying stepped forward toward Rongdi; the two men were both imposing. Rongdi was tall, almost matching Ying. His wings folded back, his hostility subsided, as if he had indeed come today to seek peace.

Their gazes met; Ying's sharp eyes glared at Rongdi, "What did you just say?"

Rong chuckled briefly, then ordered those behind him, "Ji Nü, go tell our Ying Clan Leader what this is all about."

The one called Ji Nü was a female wild‑person, about 1.9 meters tall, her hair of the beast pack tied high, clearly of high status.

"Ying Clan Leader, this is a misunderstanding; everyone must not be deceived. The ones who killed your Tribe members were not from our Rongdi Tribe, but from the Cannibal Tribe."

"What, Cannibal Tribe?"