Chapter 370

Sir, sir, please let my child stay and work for you, please, we eat very little!

A male, his face full of panic, rushed out from the crowd and knelt before Wu Yue, his gaunt face full of pleading, knocking his head with a dong-dong-dong sound.

Wu Yue was somewhat stunned, what's going on?

The sturdy male, seeing this, hurried over from behind the crowd, repeatedly bowing and apologizing to Wu Yue: "Sorry, sir, he just wanted to stay with his child, that's why he rushed out; I'll take him away now."

Having said that, he reached out and grabbed the male's arm, preparing to drag him away.

Wu Yue furrowed her brows: "How old is his child?"

The male bowed: "His child has already survived five winters, and can still do some simple tasks."

While saying that, the sturdy male felt a bit embarrassed, after all, a child who has only survived five cold seasons really doesn't earn enough to exchange for food.

But, it can only be said that this male's luck was good; Changye also brought his child along, and Wu Yue didn't mind having one more child, which made no difference to her.

Even if these little ones were kept, the adults would work even harder.

She waved her hand indifferently: "It's fine, bring all these little ones; I'll take them all."

The little ones are good, the little ones are great; as long as they are trained well, these little ones will be no different from the tribe's native young, and their sense of belonging to the tribe will be even stronger.

Thinking this, the smile at the corner of Wu Yue's lips deepened further.

Because Wu Yue took all the able-bodied youths and their young, only some middle-aged and elderly pure humans remained.

"Uncle, why aren't you coming over?"

A little one, voice soft and childish, pulled at the grass vine around a relative's waist, looking at the remaining tribespeople.

The male beside him sighed, merely lightly stroking his sparse hair without speaking.

Wu Yue looked at the sturdy male: "Is that all that's left?"

The male gave a wry smile and nodded: "The elderly tribespeople lack the strength of the young."

Wu Yue frowned at the remaining thin, weak middle-aged and elderly tribespeople, sighed: "Forget it, let these remaining ones come with me too, but I can only give you two animal hides' worth of salt."

The sturdy male's mouth almost split to his ears, he kept bowing to thank Wu Yue.

The remaining middle-aged and elderly pure humans stood up somewhat incredulously, their gaze toward Wu Yue also gaining a bit more gratitude.

Being with one's own tribe is always better than going to a different tribe; everyone can still look after each other, and this sir appears quite merciful.

After bringing these small-tribe people back and handing them over to Changye, Wu Yue and Yuan Lang returned again to the trading site; the main event of this trading gathering was about to begin.

At this moment, the trading field no longer had the chaotic sight of stalls everywhere; at the very center of the trading ground stood a huge wooden platform, upon which were jar after jar of salt packed in bamboo containers.

Some small and medium tribes gazed eagerly at those bamboo jars; Wu Yue even saw, among those small tribes, the chieftain of her former tribe, that tall and sturdy male.

But it was obvious that this small-tribe chieftain did not recognize Wu Yue; in his view, that sickly Yue had probably already gone to meet the Beast God together with her father A Mu.

"This salt is what our four great tribes jointly produced, exchanged only with the small tribes of the Polar Forest; you all know the exchange rule: ten animal hides or some precious items for one bamboo jar of salt.

"Alright, those who want to exchange, bring your items and come forward."

Watching the small-tribe people swarm forward, and the tall, sturdy male rushing ahead in eager competition, Wu Yue felt a mixture of emotions.

The one organizing the salt exchange was indeed Shilin, this shy half-beast warrior still bore great-tribe dignity when facing these small-tribe people, his handsome face tense, indeed carrying an air of solemnity.

The one organizing the salt exchange is Shilin; this half‑beast warrior of shy disposition still bears the bearing of a great tribe when facing these small‑tribe folk, their delicate face drawn tight, indeed, they possess such a solemn vigor.

Wu Yue nodded, glanced once more at that tall, sturdy male, and walked toward the tribal altar together with Yuan Lang.

Meanwhile, the tall, sturdy male who was exchanging salt, after snatching a bamboo jar of salt, turned his head to look in the direction Yuan Lang and Wu Yue were leaving.

After a moment, he scratched his head in some doubt: "Could I have misheard?"

Just as he was scrambling for the salt, he seemed to have heard someone call 'Yue,' a name he hadn't heard in a long time.

That perpetually sick female, lacking family care in the Snow Tiger Tribe, likely had already gone to meet the Beast God.

Beside him, a small-tribe person grinned widely and rushed up: "Chieftain, did we get the salt?"

Holding the bamboo jar in his hand, the tall, sturdy male also exclaimed excitedly: "Yes, indeed, I never expected the Snow Tiger Tribe to actually accept our fruit this time; it's truly fortunate."

"As the half-beast sir just said, the next shaman of the Snow Tiger Tribe really likes tasty fruit and food."

"That truly is the Beast God's blessing; I thought we wouldn't be able to bring salt back this time."

The group chatted and laughed as they walked toward their assigned lodgings, arms clutching the bamboo jars to their chests, tense as if holding something exceedingly precious.

Meanwhile, Wu Yue and Yuan Lang came to the open space before the altar, where several tables had already been set up, and the beastfolk warriors from the great tribes attending the trade gathering sat behind their respective tables.

The shamans' seats were the most forward, but their expressions at this moment were somewhat grim.

Seeing Wu Yue and Yuan Lang approach, the Snow Tiger shaman waved her hand, signaling them to sit down,

while on the other side, the Scorpion Tribe beastfolk warrior and the Salt Rock Tribe beastfolk warrior wore faint smiles.

"What do the shamans think? The number of small and medium tribes on the Chiyan Plains has increased, so we also need to inform them individually, so that the beastfolk warriors of the Polar Forest's various tribes won't be attacked when they go out to exchange salt.

"Even several tribes with decent strength need us to concede a crystal core to placate them; these crystal cores surely can't come from our few tribes' hands, can they?"

The Scorpion Tribe beastfolk warrior put on an air of 'I'm doing this for your benefit.'

Beside her, the Salt Rock Tribe shamaness also spoke: 'The Scorpion Tribe is right; we can run to notify you, but we cannot provide the crystal cores for these medium tribes from our few tribes.'

"Therefore, the number of crystal cores must definitely be increased."

Hearing this, Wu Yue inwardly sneered: 'Just a mere medium tribe; if it were truly strong enough to threaten your several great tribes, it would have long been wiped out by you—how could you let them defecate and urinate on your heads?'

"Shaman, what's going on? Weren't we supposed to talk about the Scorpion Tribe's beastfolk? Why are we talking about salt exchange?"

"We aren't supposed to go out to exchange salt... mmm mmm mmm!"

Before Wu Yue could finish speaking, the Snow Tiger shaman seated above changed expression drastically; beside her, Yuan Lang quickly cooperated by reaching out to cover her mouth.

Wu Yue kept struggling, her thin little hands slapping at Yuan Lang's arm.

The Snow Tiger shaman's expression was somewhat grim; she had clearly told Wu Yue before that the matter of the salt crystal must be kept secret, so why did she say it in front of so many people?

Doesn't she realize this would bring danger to the Snow Tiger Tribe?

Wu Yue took the opportunity to give the beastfolk beside her a glance; Yuan Lang seemed to feel some pain as he loosened his hand covering hers.

Wu Yue took the opportunity to give the Beastfolk beside her a look, and Yuan Lang seemed to be in some pain and loosened the hand covering hers.

The Watershed Tribe's salt is purer than the seaside's; we can just trade with them later—why go all the way to such a distant place?

Moreover, the tribes of the Chiyan Plains always want more crystal cores from us each year; it's not worth it at all.

Wu Yue said somewhat angrily.

Watershed Tribe?

Xuehu Wu narrowed his old eyes, instantly reacting and suppressing the light in his gaze.

Feeling three scorching gazes suddenly converge on him, he gave a dry laugh and looked at his three old companions beside him.

"Well, this is just that I didn't have time to tell you— we also only met the Watershed Tribe people before the rainy season, hehe!"

Black Wolf Shaman, Eagle Shaman, and Fierce Lion Shaman had no time to go looking for Snow Tiger's affairs.

His eyes bright and sparkling, he looked at him: "You found a new place to trade for salt?"

Xuehu Wu gave a dry laugh and nodded: "It came from the other side of the Polar Forest; their salt is different from what we get trading with the seaside tribes—very clean, with no bitter taste at all."

Having said that, he waved his hand toward the half-beast warrior behind him: "Go fetch some of the salt we obtained from trading with the Watershed Tribe for the shamans to see."

Having long been beside the meticulous Xuehu Wu, the half-beast warrior naturally gained a bit more wit and cleverness.

He had never heard of the Watershed Tribe, but he knew about the new salt— the pure salt he had stolen from the Black Wolf Tribe's territory not long ago was plentiful.

The half-beast warrior moved quickly; in just a moment he brought over a bamboo container.

Xuehu Wu generously waved his hand: "Since you've brought it over, then pour this salt out for everyone to see— after all, I've never seen such pure salt."

Upon hearing that, the half-beast warrior cooperatively walked to each tribe's table, opened the bamboo container, and poured out a bit of the blue pure salt inside.

The crystalline blue sparkled with fine light under the sunlight, like the most beautiful gemstone.

But when everyone dipped a finger, took a bit, and put it in their mouths, that pure salty taste made them instantly widen their eyes.

The surprised smiles on the faces of Black Wolf Shaman, Eagle Shaman, and Fierce Lion Shaman could not be concealed.

However, the faces of the opposing Scorpion Tribe and Rock Salt Tribe people looked as if they had eaten feces—utterly awful.

With such pure salt, which tribe in the Polar Forest would still look at the seaside tribes' turbid, bitter-tasting salt? If the Polar Forest tribes stopped going to the seaside to trade for salt, what would happen to their crystal cores?

The tribespeople of both tribes couldn't help but grit their teeth, not knowing where this Watershed Tribe had come from— truly a case of causing harm while intending good.

"Such pure salt, and you, Tiger, actually traded it yourself without telling us!"

"Are you afraid we'll fight you over it?"

"Exactly, aren't we good brothers?"

Faced with the questioning of his three companions, even Xuehu Wu, whose skin is as thick as a snow tiger's, could hardly bear it; he immediately looked toward the Scorpion and Rock Salt tribes below: "Let's talk about the crystal cores another day; we few still have things to say—let's go first."

Having said that, he actually ignored them and dragged his three brothers away, running off.

The faces of the Scorpion Tribe and Rock Salt Tribe people turned completely black.

Seeing their angry appearance, Wu Yue almost laughed out loud like a pig's squeal.

"You're really greedy, each time increasing the number of crystal cores, truly thinking these crystal cores are just picked up from the ground?"

Since the roads of the Chiyan Plains are so difficult for you, the Polar Forest tribes will no longer go; let your beastfolk warriors drink shamanic elixir to level up on their own.

Wu Yue said that, gave a cold snort, and left together with Yuan Lang.

On the vast open space, only the Scorpion Tribe and Rock Salt Tribe people remained sitting here; several pitch-black faces looked as if dyed with a single pigment.

"What should we do now? The Polar Forest tribes have found a new place to trade for salt; how will we handle our crystal cores from now on?"

The Scorpion beastfolk pounded the table in front of him, resentfully saying.

The shamaness's expression was also unpleasant; proposing to increase the crystal core count was her idea—she wanted the Rock Salt Tribe's beastfolk warriors to become strong quickly, strong enough to support her ambition.

But the most reliable way for beastfolk warriors to become strong is to upgrade using the ferocious beast crystal cores obtained from trading with the Polar Forest.

She had thought everything would go smoothly, but she never expected that this detestable female would once again ruin her plans.

"Let's go back first; if the Polar Forest truly no longer needs to trade with our Chiyan Plains seaside tribes for salt..."

The rest of her words she did not utter, but the cold light continually flashing in her pair of eyes made those nearby feel a chill.

Seeing this, the Scorpion Tribe's beastfolk warrior nodded.

If we cannot peacefully obtain the ferocious beast crystal cores through trade, we can only resort to violent means.

No matter what, the tribe's strength is the most important.

Meanwhile, the three shamans solemnly surrounded Xuehu Wu: "Is that salt truly obtained from trading with the tribe called Watershed?"

Xuehu Wu gave a dry laugh: "Where is there any Watershed Tribe?"

"You old fool, at this time you're still lying to us— that salt is definitely not the coarse salt we got back from trading with the seaside."

Black Wolf Shaman angrily slapped the table in front of him: "Tell us the truth!"

Xuehu Wu felt bitter inside, but he couldn't say it— could it really be that he should admit these pure salts were taken by our Snow Tiger Tribe's beastfolk warriors stealing from your Black Wolf Tribe's territory?