Chapter 907: Let Us Celebrate! (Part 1)

By the time it was nearly afternoon, most of the people in the camp had already eaten, and the few who hadn't finished were now gulping down the last of the food in their bowls, preparing to head over to Mr. Bafuer to get a bowl of local ale full of fruity aroma.

Jier ate a little something to pad his stomach; for him, this certainly wouldn't be enough to be full, but as long as he wasn't hungry, it was fine. He even took the time to return to his carriage to change into casual clothes.

He walked to the center of the camp, holding the paper with the program list in his hand, and shouted loudly to everyone: "The event to celebrate everyone settling down safely will begin in a moment. Everyone move toward the center of the camp, come quickly, and try to keep quiet, keep quiet."

Hearing Jier's summons, people gradually gathered from all parts of the camp, clearing the center space and sitting on the ground around the open area. People from the same village or hometown gathered together, whether they were couples, friends, or partners, forming small groups one after another, chatting in low voices, and everyone looked at Knight Jier, who had changed his clothes in the center.

Although Jier was now wearing proper and more relaxed casual clothes, not as easily distinguishable at a glance as when he wore his Metal Armor, as soon as Jier opened his mouth, that clear and loud voice still allowed everyone to easily recognize him.

The Knight's voice was too loud; with a casual opening, the whole camp could hear him speaking, so it was hard not to recognize him.

"Before we begin our lively event, let us first commemorate the companions who passed away along this journey for various reasons!"

"They died, some heroically, some silently, on this road covered in thorns. Sigh, they were all fresh, young lives just like you and me, and many of them died voluntarily for us, the living. This is something we all owe them. Without their heroic actions, without their hard fighting, many people would not have arrived here safely. Please firmly remember their names and appearances! Do not easily forget them. At the same time, let us bless them to have a peaceful and tranquil life in the world of the dead. May the great God of the Dead truly watch over them in the afterlife, granting them serenity, peace, and joy."

Many people sat quietly on the ground around, and some even took out bags containing the ashes of friends and partners they carried with them, whispering to the friends who died on the road about their current situation, and wishing the deceased friends and relatives well in the world of the dead.

For a time, the atmosphere was somewhat serious and dull, and even the ale in the bowls seemed to have become bitter.

At this moment, Jier spoke again.

"At the same time, as the living, we also have a responsibility, which is to work and live diligently in the future, not only for ourselves but also for the friends and relatives who died along the way. May the great Agricultural God always protect us, bring us coordinated weather, bring us a bountiful harvest, and keep us away from hunger and hardship. And we will also offer the highest reverence and hard labor to the great Agricultural God, and live and produce according to the doctrines of the Agricultural God Church all our lives."

Priest Bata'er nodded secretly upon hearing this, feeling that what Warrior Jier said here was really good; he himself couldn't say such instructive words. So the Priest whispered and recited this passage of Jier's repeatedly, hoping to remember it firmly so that in other similar formal occasions in the future, he could calmly say such perfectly appropriate words just like today.

After a while, the serious atmosphere passed, and Jier's words became playful. At this time, many people realized for the first time that Knight Jier was a young man younger than many people in the team.

"Next, let the celebration officially begin! Bobi, is Bobi here? Please stand up, and you shall be the first to perform for everyone, 'The Song of Spring Labor'. This is a ballad that is just right for spring, and just right for us at this very moment!"

Bobi, who was called by name, stood up immediately, at a loss, and two of Bobi's companions stood up with him.

Bobi scratched his hair and said nervously to Jier, feeling embarrassed: "Lord Jier, I am still a bit timid alone, so can these two companions of mine who also know this poem come out and perform with me?"

Jier laughed: "No problem, no problem. With so many of us, I was actually worried that one person's voice might be a bit too small. Three people performing together is just right. Please don't be nervous, please come out and perform boldly."

The three farmers still nervously rubbed their hands, and walked hurriedly in front of Jier amidst the cheers and teasing of the people around them.

"Relax a bit, please sing and recite boldly, but because there are no instruments or music, it doesn't matter if the tune goes off a bit. The most important point is that the voice must be loud so that all of us can hear it clearly."

Jier whispered his final instructions, and the three farmers nodded repeatedly. Afterward, Jier walked to the edge of the open space specially cleared in the center of the camp, took his wine cup handed over by Xueya Site, and slowly took a small sip of the special ale from Torito Village to moisten his throat.

In the center of the venue, the three of Bobi first coughed a few times to adjust their voices, then the three looked at each other, and with Bobi taking the lead, the three young and masculine voices sang out loudly.

This time, it was the complete version of "The Song of Spring Labor".

"The gods scattered rain in the sky, and the earth sent forth green new buds."

"When the spring breeze gradually diminished, we wrapped ourselves in fur coats, walked out of our homes, and went to create our new fields."

"Ah, that vast world is the grace of Mother Earth."

"Hey, those leaping animals are the miracle of warm life."

"Hmm, that warm breeze is the spring that has already arrived."

"Oh, we carry our farm tools, ah, let us travel together."

"Chatting and laughing, discussing the hard work of last year, imagining the hopes of this year."

"Hee-hee, ha-ha, bypassing the wide canals, then crossing the hills, what is revealed there, that is our new field."

"That is your new field, this is my share of a new field, and there is another one, it turns out to be our companion's new field."

"Ah, let us bend down to hoe the land, the first strike down, and today's home has added firewood."

"Ah, let us bend down to hoe the land, the second strike down, and tomorrow's home will be able to buy salt."

"Ah, let us bend down to hoe the land, the third strike down, and the day after tomorrow's home will have a new table."

"Ah, let us bend down to hoe the land, the fourth strike down, and the home has added a bleating lamb."

"Hey, let us work hard, a new life is beckoning ahead."

"Roar, every time the hoe is swung, the family adds joy."

"Ah, let us work hard, houses rise, fields expand, all because we are working hard."

"Ah, let us bend down to hoe the land, the first strike down, and today's home has added firewood."

"Ah, let us bend down to hoe the land, the second strike down, and tomorrow's home will be able to buy salt."

"Ah, let us bend down to hoe the land, the third strike down, and the day after tomorrow's home will have a new table."

"Ah, let us bend down to hoe the land, the fourth strike down, and the home has added a bleating lamb."

"Ah, let us work hard, a new life is beckoning ahead."

"Ah, let us work hard, a new life is beckoning to us ahead——————"

At the last sentence, the three farmers sang in unison, prompting most people to applaud and cheer for them, and some even whistled and shouted words of encouragement. It was hard to tell if they were saying it to Bobi and the others, or to themselves.

Jier also clapped hard. He hurriedly stood up and walked to the center of the open space, guiding the three farmers to bow and thank everyone, and then slowly retreated. The three farmers changed from their previous nervousness; at this moment, they were full of excitement, and their movements and steps became vigorous and lively. As soon as they returned to where they had just sat, they aroused a warm welcome from the people around them.

"Very good, thank you to Bobi and the three of them for bringing everyone such an uplifting labor ballad. Just as sung in the ballad just now, let us work hard in the future, a new life is beckoning to us!"

Jier said loudly, then he looked at the paper in his hand and said: "Next, welcome the lovely and beautiful girls in our team. They have brought a magical dance. Welcome the girls from Boer Village, led by big sister Lili, seven people in total, bringing us the dance—'Dance of Invitation'."

The one who left her name earlier was the oldest of the girls, a married sister in her twenties named Lili. At this moment, being called by Jier, they hurriedly sat up from the ground, nervously patting the grass clippings on their skirts, trying to crush red flowers between their fingers, and then hurriedly trying to smear the red juice on their own and their sisters' cheeks to add to their beauty.

Jier did not urge them; anyway, there was plenty of time today, so he waited peacefully for them to tidy up before coming over to perform.

At this moment, Jier glanced casually at the entrance of the camp and found that several Dwarfs were wandering outside the camp gate. His eyesight was very good, and he saw at a glance that the one standing at the very front among those Dwarfs was the old leader of the Dwarfs—Mr. 'Iron Fist' Aobosi.

Behind him followed a Wild Priest of the Dwarf God of Strength holding a Metal Box, and two Dwarf Warriors carrying heavy two-handed Metal Armor weapons on their shoulders. In addition, there was actually the Dwarf Soldier Captain whom Jier had released before.

"Oh, these people running over at this time, could it be..."

Jier guessed quickly in his heart. It was either about the matter of throwing weapons into the big pit; the negotiation did not include the personnel and weapons of the Armed Squad belonging to the newly arrived Refugee Team. This caused the negotiation conditions, which seemed balanced and stable during the negotiation, to appear extremely unfavorable to the Dwarfs at this time.

After all, if the Dwarfs honestly threw most of their own weapons into the newly appeared big pit along with the weapons of the Torito Village villagers, the Refugee Team on Jier's side outside the village still had weapons in their hands.

At that time, the Dwarfs would be in a very disadvantageous position.

Besides this, these Dwarfs coming over might also be related to the release of the Dwarf soldiers and Dwarf warriors captured last night. After all, that Dwarf Soldier Captain had been released and was following them at this time, so coming over together likely had requirements in this regard as well.

As for other things, Jier couldn't guess their specific intentions. The Dwarf Wild Priest, with whom he had only fought before and never spoken to, was also there. He couldn't understand why he was following as well; could it be for security in terms of force?

Then these Dwarfs were overthinking it. Except for that particularly powerful Dwarf who used a heavy two-handed sword, the skills of these other Dwarfs were still no match for him.

Just as the girls performing the dance came over, Jier took the opportunity to yield the center of the open space to them, while he himself slowly circled out of the crowd, walking toward the camp gate without drawing attention.

Perhaps someone noticed Jier walking toward the gate, but the young girls' dance was about to begin, and the attention of the vast majority of people quickly shifted to them.

In the short time since signing up, these girls had urgently borrowed the best-looking and most vibrant clothes from other young women in the group, so as soon as they stood out, the young people in the group cheered loudly.

The men either hooted or praised them loudly, while the women in the group chattered away, critiquing the girls who were preparing to perform—who was wearing the most vibrant colors, who was the prettiest, whose borrowed clothes were the best matched, and so on.

Although in Jier's view, these girls were all very average in appearance, and the clothes and skirts they wore were mostly focused on bright colors, with the fabric quality, overall style, and tailoring being nothing special—they were not even made for the purpose of beauty, but for the convenience of labor. On the whole, they were far from the beauties in the dance troupes of his past life, let alone the heavily made-up, haute-couture-wearing female celebrities.

There was no feeling of being dazzled.

To be honest, due to the generally backward standard of living, the appearance and figures of the common people were clearly inferior to those of his previous life; after all, the lives of ordinary people were focused on survival and maintaining their livelihood, and it was basically difficult to detach from labor and production to pursue personal beauty or the like.

Therefore, even now, Jier had not seen many beautiful women who truly made him feel dazzled.

A female Priest of the God of Agriculture he met in Montoka City some time ago was young and beautiful, but Jier knew it was just a chance encounter, so apart from taking a few extra looks, he did not feel anything more.

And the next most beautiful woman he felt he had seen was only the lady Apolifina, who was suspected to be an Elven deity.

But toward that lady, Jier only felt respect and fear.

"What are you doing?"

Jier, dressed brazenly in casual clothes, arrived at the camp gate and began to speak with the few Dwarves wandering outside the camp entrance.

The few Dwarves had not previously paid attention to this young Human walking over, thinking he was just an ordinary Human coming to greet them.

It was not until Jier opened his mouth to speak to them and they heard his voice that the few Dwarves realized that the young Human in ordinary clothes before them was the Knight Jier who had defeated and subdued them earlier.

Their expressions changed drastically because of this.

Jier shrugged: "Didn't expect that? I changed my clothes, and you actually didn't recognize me? Haha, no more jokes. Mr. Aobosi, you brought these few here at this time, hmm, are you here to attend our celebratory performance? Come, come on in. Unlike the villagers of Torito Village, the commoners under my command have no grudges against you, so if you come at this time, everyone will certainly welcome you."

With a smile on his face, Jier talked nonsense, testing these few.

Before Mr. Aobosi could speak, the two groups behind him each spoke up.

"We are here to talk about the other captured Dwarves," the Dwarf Soldier Captain, also dressed in casual clothes, said anxiously.

"Human Knight, dressed like this, are you not afraid that we might suddenly take action?" This was the Wild Power God Priest holding the Metal Box, who spoke with a cold face to question him.

The two spoke at the same time, and after they finished, the few people present all looked at that Wild Priest, and even the Wild Priest's two companions who used Heavy Weapons looked at him in surprise.

Realizing he had said the wrong thing, the Wild Priest hurriedly tried to make amends: "Of course, we Dwarves are a race that keeps promises and is worthy of trust. We will not really just take action as we please regarding the negotiation terms agreed upon with you."

Mr. Aobosi coughed heavily and added: "Yes, a promise is a promise, so for any modification to the promise, we will conduct another negotiation with the other party of the promise in advance."

Jier had a smile on his face, and while turning to the side to invite the few to enter the Refugee camp, he said: "Listening to you, are you intending to modify the promise we discussed earlier with me? Which one needs to be changed?"

Seeing the Human Knight make a gesture of invitation to enter, the few Dwarves followed suit and walked into the camp gate.

Calling it a camp gate, it was actually just two wooden posts set in the ground, with a string of simple wooden Fences extending from the wooden posts to both sides.

It made people see at a glance that this was the entrance to the camp.

Walking into the camp, the Dwarves followed Jier, talking while being critical, and at the same time, their eyes scrutinized the Human camp layout and the temporary tents that were easy for Humans to dismantle.

Mr. Aobosi looked around while saying to Jier: "Don't say you don't know; it's about the promise of temporary weapon control for both sides."

Jier responded with a grin: "You are being too professional; 'temporary weapon control for both sides' is a bit too high-level a term. To put it bluntly, it's just that everyone is holding weapons, and they are afraid that the conflicting parties will break out into conflict at any time in the future. Everyone throws their weapons into the big pit; it's easy to throw them in, but hard to take them out. This ensures that no one has any weapons in their hands, and the battle naturally becomes like damp firewood, not easy to ignite."

Mr. Aobosi nodded: "That is the explanation. But the problem is, when we negotiated this morning, the subjects of the promise between you and me were the Dwarf Warriors on my side, and you and the weapons in the hands of the Torito Village villagers on your side. Right?"

Jier put away his smile: "Yes. So where is the problem? Wasn't I the first to throw my Long Sword into the big pit? Or are you saying that the villagers over at Torito Village did not keep the promise?"

Waving his hand, Mr. Aobosi denied: "No, no, they kept the promise and indeed collected various farm tools, gradually throwing them into the big pit in the middle of the village along with the Dwarf weapons on my side."

Jier was playing dumb while knowing the truth; he spread his hands, expressing confusion: "Then I don't understand, do you have any questions about this point?"

The old Dwarf choked out: "Don't play dumb. I think I have been very clear. We Dwarves threw away our weapons, and the Humans in the village threw away their weapons. So now in the Valley, which other group is holding weapons on a large scale?"

Jier slapped his forehead, looking suddenly enlightened: "Hi, look at this kind of thing. It's just that when we were negotiating at the time, I completely didn't expect that these commoners under my command and the Armed Squad guarding the commoners would suddenly follow along."