Chapter 34

The chieftain was discussing herbal supplies with the Witch Doctor when he said, "Fortunately, Leng Xiu and the others spotted the abnormality outside early; we sent the Hunting Squad with Nu to gather a lot of herbs outdoors, otherwise we would really be in trouble today."

The Witch Doctor also nodded slightly, saying, "Although that's the case, if earthquakes like last night's happen a few more times, the herbs we gathered a few days ago will still not be enough."

Hearing this, the chieftain's face changed slightly, and he spoke with some agitation:

"Witch Doctor, last night's earthquake was probably just an accident, after all our Black Mountain Tribe has been rooted in the Heiyan Shanmai for over two hundred years, and we have never encountered such a thing."

"It already happened once yesterday; how could it happen a second time?"

The Witch Doctor reminded him, "Last night was already the second occurrence, Mang, as the chieftain of the Tribe, you shouldn't be careless about such natural disasters."

"The lives of over four hundred beastmen of the Black Mountain Tribe all rest on your shoulders."

Upon hearing this, the chieftain let out a bitter laugh, saying, "After what happened last night, I truly wish I weren't the chieftain."

That would relieve him of such great pressure, but that's not possible; with his female injured last night, he not only cannot go keep her company, but must also suppress his worries about the river and his anxiety over this disaster, maintaining a calm facade while overseeing the Tribe's affairs.

The Witch Doctor patted his shoulder, about to say something comforting, but out of the corner of his eye he saw Mu Qing's female approaching them accompanied by Leng Xiao.

"Mu Qing's female has come; last night Mu Qing came to find you to talk about the earthquake, but it was his female who reminded him."

The chieftain understood the Witch Doctor's meaning: this was a hint for him to pay more attention to Mu Qing's female, as she could think of something that none of the many beastmen had considered.

Perhaps this time she has discovered something again.

Thus the chieftain and the Witch Doctor watched Yun Li and her group approach.

"Chieftain, Witch Doctor, I have some ideas I want to share with you, concerning last night's earthquake."

Yun Li didn't beat around the bush; she went straight to the point as soon as she arrived.

The chieftain and the Witch Doctor exchanged a glance, then he adopted a serious, earnest expression and said, "Speak, what else do you think about last night's earthquake?"

Yun Li repeated to the chieftain and the Witch Doctor what she had previously told Leng Xiao, adding a few more points.

"I don't think moving to the mountain caves now would be better; if this isn't the last earthquake, what if rocks start rolling down the mountain?"

"If the earthquake gets stronger, causing a landslide that affects the caves, the females and young ones inside wouldn't be able to escape immediately."

"It would be better to stay as we are now, avoiding areas with many trees and stone houses, and in this open space let the Tribe members spread out."

"We should carefully watch for underground fissures, or guard against wild beasts suddenly bursting into the Tribe."

"Wait, what do you mean by whether the ground will crack?"

The chieftain felt Yun Li was overthinking, which, while good, seemed impossible—how could the earth crack? That sounded like pure fantasy.

"Perhaps the earthquake is just some fierce beast turning over underground; we've never heard of such a beast crawling up from below to eat beastmen."

Yun Li also looked puzzled, saying, "Chieftain, you say there's some kind of fierce beast underground—who has ever seen it?"

"This is just our speculation."

The chieftain sighed helplessly, "On the contrary, you say the earthquake will make the earth split open..."

"That is even more terrifying than the idea of an underground beast; if the earth could really split open, where would these land-dwelling beastmen live in the future?"

Yun Li also knows this is hard to believe, but if they can believe there's a beast underground, why can't they believe the ground could crack?

"It's not that the earth splits open, but that some fissures appear. After all, as you say, there are fierce beasts underground; if that beast gets hungry and wants to forage..."

"... a beast that lives underground wouldn't dig its way out—would it fall from the sky instead?"

The chieftain was left speechless by her words, yet still wanted to find something to rebut her.

But the Witch Doctor then spoke up in support of Yun Li, "Mang, I think you should listen to A Li's opinion."

After all, even if we moved to the mountain, how would we get food? Could the supplies in the ice caves sustain the entire Tribe of beastmen until the earthquakes stop?

Furthermore, A Li also suggested sending people outside to check the situation; it would be better to wait a few more days, let things stabilize, then decide whether to move the Tribe up the mountain.

The Witch Doctor's words were still effective; even if the chieftain doubted Yun Li's words, simply following her suggestion to disperse the people, observe for a few days, then decide whether to move, would not be difficult for him, so he agreed and it would pose no major problem.

As for who to send outside to check the situation at Heifeng Ya, the chieftain had originally assigned two avian beastmen, but they hadn't even gone halfway before they ran back.

Those two beastmen said the wild beasts outside had gone mad; even if they transformed into their beast forms and could fly, they still couldn't venture far out.

Left with no choice, Mu Qing eventually volunteered to go out himself.

Yun Li tried to stop him but couldn't; Leng Xiao, standing beside her, advised her:

"Those Gong people now say they won't go out alone no matter what, and investigating Heifeng Ya was our idea; other beastmen summoned by the chieftain might not bring back the information we want."

"It would be better to let Mu Qing go; he is strong, a serpent beastman, and at his speed the trip from the Tribe to Heifeng Ya would take only four or five days."

"You also said before not to get close to Heifeng Ya, just to take a distant look; Mu Qing could probably return in two or three days."

"It's just two or three days; with me and Leng Xiao here, do you really doubt we can protect you adequately?"

He knew Yun Li relied on Mu Qing, but she couldn't trust only Mu Qing and not them.

Mu Qing would sacrifice his life to protect her, but they too would risk everything for her.

Yun Li clung to Mu Qing, tears streaming down, saying, "If only you can go, then we won't interfere. If a beast tide really comes, just take me with you."

"I'm not that kind-hearted; I simply don't want to bother with them."

Mu Qing is the first beastman she has trusted in this world; now that he is going to undertake a dangerous task, how could she not worry?

She not only worries, she is terrified to the point of being unable to bear it.

She fears that if something unexpected happens midway, she will never see him again.

Leng Xiao saw the female crying like that and felt heartbroken, saying, "A Li, don't cry; if you don't want Mu Qing to go, then I..."

Before he could finish speaking, Yun Li's gaze shifted to him, and her tears fell even more heavily.

"You're not allowed either, none of you are. Besides, they haven't treated me well before; if at this point someone must go on an adventure, why should it be you who go?"

"At worst, if we're gone, we're gone."

"If the Tribe is gone, it's gone."

"As long as those few of us remain alive, sooner or later we can find a new Tribe to take root in."