Chapter 2703: Take This Old Man's Crutch!

The clan chief had just issued the mobilization signal, and the entire Flame Martial Tribe erupted in a frenzy.

No need to say more; dealing with those lackeys of the Fire Spirit Tribe, everyone in the Flame Martial Tribe was extremely excited and had to come lend a hand.

In less than a quarter of an hour, all the elderly, weak, women, and children of the Flame Martial Tribe had gathered in the central square.

When the elder clan chief arrived, seeing the dark crowd filling the square, he was obviously stunned for a moment, then spoke with a helpless expression.

"How did everyone come?"

However, upon hearing this, the people of the Flame Martial Tribe instead wore strange looks and retorted.

"Wasn't it you, clan chief, who told us to come?"

"Exactly, are we going to war with the Fire Spirit Tribe? Then count me in."

"And me—I was slashed by that scum of the Fire Spirit Tribe in the previous battle; if I don't avenge this, I can barely stomach my food."

It was clear that the Flame Martial Tribe members truly loathed the Fire Spirit Tribe.

Now that there's a chance to deal with the Fire Spirit Tribe, nobody wants to miss it.

Seeing the crowd's fervent enthusiasm, the elder clan chief felt both relieved and helpless.

What relieved him was that the people's performance showed usable morale.

What helpless him was, how could you bring the children along?

He saw many women in the crowd bringing their own children, which left the elder clan chief completely baffled.

"You say you came, so you came—but why bring the children?"

"Others are fine, but why are you bringing the children along? Don't cause trouble—go back quickly."

"These kids are only three or four years old; bringing them to fight is utter nonsense."

As for these women, the elder clan chief showed no mercy at all, directly driving them back.

It was clear that, unable to join the battle, these women felt extremely resentful.

However, faced with the elder clan chief's stern attitude, they had no recourse.

The elder clan chief gave them no chance to explain at all.

He directly scolded them, sending them away in disgrace to take their children back.

Afterward, the elder clan chief's gaze turned to a group of people ahead of the formation.

These people were none other than Tianlin, Miao Qianqian, and the others temporarily residing in the Flame Martial Tribe.

Seeing them, the elder clan chief asked doubtfully.

"What do you mean by this?"

"The Flame Martial Tribe is going to war with the Fire Spirit Tribe and the Scale Stone Tribe; that's their business."

"These people aren't even members of the Flame Martial Tribe—why are they here?"

"What, are they now seeking death by grabbing a pole?"

The elder clan chief indicated he didn't understand, but the next second, Tianlin, standing before the crowd, spoke to him in halting, heavily accented language.

"Senior, our Changqing is also together with the young clan chief."

Tianlin could speak the Barbarian God Tribe's language, which the elder clan chief found unsurprising, since he knew Tianlin had been studying their language.

Still, he paid it no mind, as it posed no threat to the Flame Martial Tribe.

Moreover, if everyone could communicate face to face, it would obviously be more convenient.

The elder clan chief naturally supported this.

As for Miao Qianqian and Tianlin, their presence here is mainly because of Ye Zhangqing.

Ye Zhangqing is now with Qi Wu; if Qi Wu is in danger, then he naturally is as well.

If Ye Zhangqing is in danger, can Tianlin and Miao Qianqian just stand by and do nothing?

Impossible, so they naturally rushed over.

The reasoning is solid, leaving no room for rebuttal; at least the elder clan chief could find no fault.

So he said nothing more, instead turning his gaze to a group of elders in a corner of the tribe.

These elders were all old-timers of the Flame Martial Tribe, each having lived far too long.

Their qi and blood were already declining, although, given the Barbarian God Tribe's lifespan, barring accidents, living another few thousand years would pose no problem.

With some medicine to sustain them, they could live even longer.

But obviously, the time for them to engage in combat has passed.

If it ever came to the point where even these elders had to fight desperately against the enemy, the Flame Martial Tribe would likely be near death.

This group of elders wasn't large—just four people.

The leader among them, with white-flushed hair and an aged appearance, was the highest-ranking elder in the Flame Martial Tribe.

Even the elder clan chief had to respectfully address him as 'Third Uncle Grandfather' when in his presence.

Other tribe members simply called him 'Third Ancestor'.

But seeing the Third Uncle Grandfather still leaning on his cane, the elder clan chief couldn't help but twitch his mouth.

"I say, Third Uncle Grandfather, what are you doing now? At your age, why stir up trouble?"

"Huh??? You little brat, what are you saying? Who's causing trouble? I'm not even a member of the tribe."

Who would have thought that, as soon as the elder clan chief finished speaking, the Third Uncle Grandfather flew into a furious shout, giving him no face at all.

Within the entire Flame Martial Tribe, probably only the Third Uncle Grandfather would dare speak to the elder clan chief like that.

Yet, faced with the Third Uncle Grandfather's angry shout, the elder clan chief still had no recourse.

What could he do? Even he had been raised under the Third Uncle Grandfather's watch.

After being scolded, the elder clan chief still had to put on a smile and say to the Third Uncle Grandfather,

"Third Uncle Grandfather, that's not what I meant; I'm saying the matter hasn't yet reached the point where you, sir, need to act—these are just minor things we youngsters can handle ourselves."

Just rest easy in the tribe, old one.

The Elder Clan Chief could only smile and try to advise him, but Third Grand Uncle simply wouldn't listen to any of this nonsense.

His withered old body trembled as he stood.

That's normal, after all Third Grand Uncle has lived nearly a hundred thousand years—at that age, even across the whole Barbarian God Tribe, he'd definitely be considered long-lived.

These days, among the Barbarian God Tribe, there are probably no more than ten people of Third Grand Uncle's generation.

This shows how exalted Third Grand Uncle's generation is—such seniority makes him a true treasure, a living ancestor, for the Flame Martial Tribe.

Can he even be sent to the battlefield?

If he gets knocked around on the battlefield, what then—who would be held responsible?

So the Elder Clan Chief would absolutely not allow Third Grand Uncle to go to the battlefield.

But Third Grand Uncle paid no heed; facing the Elder Clan Chief's kindly advice, he gave no face and simply barked.

"This time I'm definitely going—if Ye Zhangqing meets with any mishap, what would I do? I have to go rescue him."

Huh???

Third Grand Uncle is also doing this for Ye Zhangqing?

The Elder Clan Chief stared, then quickly snapped to: yes, Third Grand Uncle is old, but his eating speed is certainly not slower than a youngster's—he really tucks in his food.

As for Ye Zhangqing, it's also a mix of fondness and exasperation; wanting to go save him is understandable.

Just………

"My Third Grand Uncle, living ancestor—we can handle this rescue; you just stay put and rest in the tribe. I'll definitely bring the person back safe and sound, not a single hair missing—won't you let me?"

"No, this old man must go."

"Right, we'll protect Third Grand Uncle—no problem."

Huh???