Chapter 536: with translation of chapter title

Watching the Maji tribe chief running ahead, Big Stone tribe chief's Erkang hand still trembled in the wind, not yet retracted: "Chief... uh..."

Shouldn't we wait for them to come ask us for this?

A gust of wind blew past, a lone leaf fluttered down...

"Chief, wait for me!"

He was so anxious his hometown accent slipped out.

By now it was well past mealtime, because everyone was watching the excitement of the four great tribes and hadn't eaten.

Seeing the prey still lying on the ground unattended, Teng Qian, already starving to the point his intestines were knotted, hoisted it and headed toward the river: "I'll go prepare the prey; can we make some corn cakes today? Fragrant, crispy roasted meat with sweet corn cakes, and if we could also have a bowl of wild vegetable soup, that would be even better."

Wu Yue smiled at him: "Your little menu design isn't bad—protein, carbs, and dietary fiber, none missing."

Teng Qian scratched his head, bewildered: "I don't want any of those; just roasted meat, corn cakes, and wild vegetable soup will do."

Seeing Wu Yue nod, he happily went off to clean the prey.

"Any corn flour left?"

Yuan Lang asked.

Wu Yue nodded: "There's still some, in my storage space, but tomorrow when we hunt it'd be best to find some corn ears to bring back; I saw some in the forest when we came, though not many, but we still have enough food for these days."

Yuan Lang nodded, reaching out to take the beast-skin bag she handed him, which held a half-bag of golden corn flour.

As the Maji tribe chief, who had gone out halfway to catch a prey, arrived at the Snow Moon tribe's cave, his high nose bridge began to twitch continually.

"Drip—drip!"

A scent never before smelled kept swirling at the tip of his nose.

"Yue, the sun is so big out there, yet it's started to rain!"

"A sun shower, right?"

"I'll go check... Holy crap!"

Just as Teng Qian reached the cave mouth and almost stepped into a puddle, the Beastman Warrior standing at the edge, with unknown liquid continually dripping from the corner of his mouth, made him realize this wasn't a puddle at all—it was someone's saliva.

"He's quite a talent, after all—those soldiers' saying that a single mouthful of commoner's spit could drown a person actually turns out to be true."

Teng Qian wore an expression of having just learned something new.

The Maji, lost in the aroma, saw Teng Qian and snapped to attention; noticing the puddle as big as his own face, he hurriedly embarrassed, used his bare feet to dig dirt and bury it.

"Haha! Um, I have something important to discuss with Shaman Yue."

Teng Qian glanced at the buried puddle, then at the Maji tribe chief whose eyes were glazed with greed, and said with honest sincerity: "Shaman Yue just went out."

The Maji tribe chief tiptoed: "Then I'll go inside and wait for her."

Teng Qian sneered: "This guy is clearly salivating over our food, a damn thief!"

"It's not convenient; my big boss doesn't like others disturbing him when he's eating, and when he gets angry he doesn't even spare himself... argh!"

The instant his words fell, a thick arm‑sized bone struck his head with precise accuracy: "Let him in."

The low, magnetic voice was indifferent, yet it made Teng Qian, who had just been insisting on blocking the Maji tribe chief outside, pout and step aside.

"Heh heh, um, I'm going in first!"

Having said that, the Maji tribe chief dashed inside as if he'd just won a dozen wild boar beasts, hopping and jumping.

"That guy's sneaky silhouette is just like a weasel going to steal chickens."

"What's a weasel?"

"You know, that kind... why are you here too!"

Teng Qian looked with disdain at the Big Stone tribe chief peeking in beside him, feeling he might become depressed—having one freeloader is unlucky enough, now another shows up; can we even enjoy a proper meal?

"I'm here to find the Maji tribe chief."

The Half-Beast Big Stone tribe chief was still a little timid when facing the strong Beastman Warrior Teng Qian.

"That's really unfortunate; your chief just left."

As soon as Teng Qian's words fell, the cave echoed with the Maji tribe chief's excited shout: "Is this food called corn cake? It's absolutely delicious!"

The Big Stone tribe chief's beard‑covered face lifted slightly, his not‑so‑large eyes staring fixedly at Teng Qian: "..."

"I'm just quietly watching you; you feel it yourself."

Feeling awkward, Teng Qian waved his hand dismissively: "Come on, let's go, we're all in the cave."

Striding forward, he still muttered disparagingly, "A freeloader will never get to eat four dishes in a lifetime!"

"Well... this thing is really tasty!"

The Maji tribe chief held a corn cake in one hand and a piece of fragrant, crispy roasted meat in the other, taking a bite of cake then a bite of meat, occasionally slurping a bowl of soup—this pace was simply superb.

"Now I know why those shamans and Beastman Warriors are willing to go to the super tribe—this food is just too delicious."

Wu Yue glanced at him with a smile: "This method of making food is unique to our tribe; other tribes can't replicate this flavor. Maji tribe chief, if you get the chance, you can visit our tribe."

After swallowing the food in his mouth, the Maji chief waved his hand carelessly: "I'm not a shaman, so how could I go sightseeing? Besides, I have a tribe behind me, and I can't travel far."

But the next moment, his eyes lit up: "Shaman Yue, you haven't established a tribe here, have you? Can I often come eat your tribe's food?"

Saying that, he heartily slapped his chest: "Don't worry, you can take whatever beast pelts or food you want; I'll trade goods for them."

Wu Yue smiled and waved her hand: "It's not about trade; we're going to leave eventually, even the Snow Moon tribe's people I plan to bring with us—we can't stay here forever."

The Maji tribe chief sighed deeply, and at once the food in his hand seemed less fragrant than before.

"What a pity—such delicious food, and we won't be able to eat it anymore."

The food topic didn't last long; the few who had eaten and drunk their fill sat in the cave.

The Maji tribe chief then stated his purpose: "Our tribe doesn't need this year's quota, so I'm willing to support the Snow Moon tribe, but I hope Shaman Yue can help us secure next year's quota."

He stated his purpose bluntly; Wu Yue and Yuan Lang exchanged a glance, and both took a liking to this forthright Maji tribe chief.

"I don't know how many Beastman Warriors from the Maji tribe will need to be promoted next year."

Seeing Wu Yue not directly agree but instead ask him that, the Maji tribe chief, though doubtful inside, still gave a wry smile: "Naturally, it's me."

Wu Yue felt relieved in her heart, then she spoke solemnly: "We can support the Maji tribe next year and fully help you obtain the quota, but we hope you can give us the opportunity to exchange the totem pole."

"Of course, our tribe will gather the items needed for exchanging the totem pole."

Maji heard this and slightly furrowed his brow; in fact, after becoming a Golden-tier Beastman, he also wanted to obtain a totem pole for his tribe.

Although he said he came to fully support the Snowy Moon tribe in obtaining the quota, he actually intends to use this method to get the Snowy Moon tribe's help and thereby secure the competitive quota.

If it were the previous four great tribes, he naturally wouldn't have to worry; even if it were a contest of the tribes' own strength, the Maji tribe would still have a great chance to win.

But now things are different—the Wuke tribe has actually produced a poison shaman, a shaman capable of killing people unknowingly.

The Wuke tribe possessing a poison shaman is fundamentally not something they can challenge.

And since Shaman Yue Adult can make such a request, she must also be aware of his plan.

Maji gave a bitter smile: "You've also seen it; as long as that shaman of the Wuke tribe exists for a day, our three tribes have no hope of victory."

Wu Yue nodded: "I made that request not to make things difficult for you, but because our tribe indeed needs a totem pole."

Seeing Maji's doubtful gaze, Wu Yue furtively turned her eyes to the outside sky and began to lie: "Our tribe's great shaman has gone out to travel; he said he'll return in five years."

"But last year's beast tide destroyed our tribe's totem pole, so we few have come out to look for a new one."

Maji knew the terrible consequences of a failed beastman upgrade, and nodded in understanding: "Ah, that's how it is."

After a moment's thought, he firmly said: "Shaman Yue Adult, the opportunity to exchange the totem pole can be yielded to you, but after your tribe's great shaman returns, could you set up a totem pole for our tribe?"

Saying this, he looked full of anticipation at Wu Yue, whose expression was somewhat stiff.

Yuan Lang amusedly looked at a certain small-framed female whose expression was somewhat stiff, and said: "The great shaman is Yue's master, so when speaking of the great shaman she..."

Maji quickly nodded: "Oh, I see. Then what about the totem pole matter?"

"Shaman Yue Adult, I have no objection to your longing for your master, but could we wait until after we finish discussing the matter before continuing?"

"Of course, if the great shaman returns, I will certainly have him set up a totem pole for your tribe."

"Even if the great shaman doesn't make it back in time, I will still lead our people to help you seize the quota again."

"The great shaman is fabricated; even setting up a totem pole can only happen when she becomes the great shaman herself."

"But cultivating shamanic power is extremely difficult; she lacks full confidence that she can become a great shaman within five years, so she still wants to leave herself some leeway."

Maji happily nodded his head: "Good, let's settle it like that."

"No matter what, I won't suffer a loss; most importantly... hehe, their tribe will not have any beastman capable of advancing to Golden-tier for at least five years, so the totem pole isn't urgent for him."

"But being able to connect with a powerful super-tribe through this is what makes him most proud."

While Chief Maji and Wu Yue discussed tribal affairs, the Salted Fish Big Stone chief on the side occasionally broke off a piece of the freshly brushed sweet corn cake and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing with a munch-munch sound.

"Let alone, this flavor—he wouldn't trade it for a wild beast's leg."

"Of course, if it were a whole wild boar beast, then it wouldn't be certain."

"\"Yue, the chief of the Dong Sang tribe has come. \""

"Because the food had been brushed against, Teng Qian sat angrily at the cave entrance, gnawing on a sweet corn cake, when suddenly a line of very familiar figures appeared not far ahead."

"These were precisely the Dong Sang tribe chief, Bu Lun, and Ying Fei whom they had seen before at the gathering place."

"Seeing Teng Qian's unpleasant expression, the three felt somewhat embarrassed, especially Bu Lun, who knew why they had been given such looks; he felt his eyes had nowhere to rest and dared not lift his head to meet Teng Qian's gaze."

"\"Dong Sang tribe chief, please come in. \""

"Wu Yue's indifferent voice echoed in the cave; the Dong Sang tribe chief calmly stepped inside, while Ying Fei's eyes flickered with a hint of anger."

"Bu Lun furtively lifted his head to glance at Teng Qian's pitch-black face, then quickly shrank his neck and followed along."

"The cave still smelled of food, causing the Dong Sang tribe chief, who had just finished chewing a piece of tender beast meat, to suddenly start drooling uncontrollably."

"\"Shaman Yue Adult, I this time came... huh? \""

"Before the Dong Sang tribe chief could finish his sentence, he saw Maji tribe chief sitting aside, pinching a small wooden stick and poking his own teeth."

"\"How did you end up here? \""

"The Maji tribe chief bared a tooth still stained with vegetable leaves, tossed a rather flirtatious glance at the Dong Sang tribe chief, and said: \"Of course I'm here to find Shaman Yue Adult; why did you also come? Are you looking for me? \""

"The Dong Sang tribe chief was so startled by that glance that he nearly spat out the meat he had just swallowed; after much mental preparation, he decided to ignore the Maji tribe chief's foolishness."

"He once again forced a smile, looked at Wu Yue and Yuan Lang sitting there with calm expressions, and said: \"Shaman Yue Adult, Ying Fei stole your corn fruit without the Snowy Moon tribe's consent; I only just learned of this. \""

"\"Food is extremely important for every tribe; I hope you can forgive him. \""

"Saying this, he stepped forward and placed the two packages before Wu Yue."

"Yuan Lang raised an eyebrow, his slender fingers lightly picking up, one package contained the corn fruit that Ying Fei had secretly hoarded from the Snowy Moon tribe."

"The other package contained nothing but precious medicinal herbs."

"\"These precious medicinal herbs are only found in our tribe's territory; the shamans of the super-large tribes across the forest all like them very much. \""

"Wu Yue lifted her eyes to glance at him; her indifferent gaze then shifted to Ying Fei behind him, a hint of darkness flashing in her pupils."

"A strange arc curled at the corner of her lips: \"This matter ends here; next time... the Dong Sang tribe probably won't have any flying beastmen. \""

"This sentence carried a strong threat, yet the Dong Sang tribe chief's smile deepened a little: \"Thank you, Shaman Yue Adult. \""

"He then turned and gave Ying Fei a glance; the beastman's tightly clenched fist suddenly relaxed, he stepped forward and said: \"Thank you, Shaman Yue Adult. \""

"\"Chief Wu Yue, Bu Lun said you want to obtain this competition's quota? \""

"Since the conflict has been resolved, Wu Yue's indifferent expression faded, replaced by a slight smile: \"Hmm, our tribe's beastman warriors need to be upgraded. \""

"The Dong Sang tribe chief's eyes flashed with sharpness: \"Our Dong Sang tribe is willing to fully support the Snowy Moon tribe. \""

"Wu Yue nodded calmly: \"What do you want? \""