Chapter 265: Beguilement

Baifeng simply pressed his hand down, and all the Soldiers lowered the Weapons in their hands. The people in the water also breathed a sigh of relief; they were merely gambling on whether the Baifeng Tribe was as kind as rumored and as they appeared on the surface. If the Baifeng Tribe were truly to attack, they would just dive back into the water to escape.

Hui did not know what Baifeng's opinion was, and the people of the Zisheng Tribe did not speak either, so he continued to speak according to his own status: "Since you have no intention of attacking the Baifeng Tribe, then hurry and leave. Go far away, and our Baifeng Tribe will not harm you."

However, the people of the Zisheng Tribe had no intention of leaving, as if they wanted to say something but found it difficult to open their mouths.

Hui told them directly to speak if they had something to say. Only then did the Tribal Chief of the Zisheng Tribe speak: "We have heard that the Baifeng Tribe is recruiting small tribes like ours. We wonder if we might be able to join the Baifeng Tribe? All of us are here, and the property we brought has been buried by us."

Of course, Zisheng did not say where all their property was. Their tribal territory was in a lake, and their houses were hidden in the dense Reed thickets on an island in the center of the lake. This made it difficult for them to be discovered by other tribes, but at the same time, it was also difficult for them to continue expanding their tribe.

Zisheng did not say it because he wanted to leave himself a way out. If he confessed everything, then there would be no retreat left at all.

In matters involving the annexation of tribes, only Baifeng could make the final decision, so Hui turned his head to ask for Baifeng's opinion.

Baifeng stood up and carefully watched this tribe drifting in the water. Even after being soaked in the water for a long time, they did not seem to have developed pale, bloated skin, and even the children were steady and secure in this Dahe.

Their skin also seemed to carry oil, possessing hydrophobic properties; they shone when they emerged from the water. Baifeng understood that this was a group of people who had lived in the water for a long time; he reckoned they lived more comfortably in the water than on land.

Baifeng very much wanted this kind of person, because to occupy the Dahe, having such a Large Ship was one aspect, but having Soldiers with exceptional swimming skills was also very important. And the swimming skills of this group were likely only a little worse than a fish.

He had never heard of the Suiren Clan conquering such a tribe, and the Suiren Clan did not seem to have the ability to conquer a tribe that lived in the water. To be honest, Baifeng was somewhat tempted, but he did not dare to agree just like that.

As things stood, they were indeed pitiful, but if they were brought onto the Boat, as time went on, no one could be sure if they would harbor any ulterior motives.

Baifeng decided to observe them for a while first, so he asked with a cold attitude: "Our Baifeng Tribe does recruit other tribes, but we also have requirements. It is impossible to take in people who have no use, coming to our tribe to eat our food and use our things."

"Other tribes either possess some skill, or they are strong enough to wield a Weapon. What can you people do?"

"We... we..."

Zisheng was instantly speechless. He felt that his tribesmen were very smart, and he felt that he was also very smart, able to judge danger in advance and lead his tribesmen to live better lives. But in front of the Baifeng Tribe, he did not dare to say such things, nor was he qualified to say such things.

Before he had thought of what to say, a child nearby interrupted directly: "We can catch fish!"

Having said that, regardless of the shocked Tribal Chief, the child dove into the water with a splash. Baifeng did not feel angry because of the child's interruption; instead, he leisurely changed the bait on his hook and threw a handful of secret groundbait into the river.

Soon, the child surfaced with a fish in his mouth. He took the fish off and held it high to show Baifeng, demonstrating their super-strong underwater prowess.

In reality, even Baifeng was somewhat shocked inside. This was indeed strong; being able to catch a fish in the water like this was truly not simple.

However, everyone remained expressionless, and the people of the Zisheng Tribe were all somewhat at a loss. At this moment, Baifeng felt the rod move and the float sink, so he hurriedly lifted the rod, and a large fish was pulled up by him forcefully, without even needing to tire the fish out.

Seeing the fish thrown onto the deck, the people of the Zisheng Tribe were completely speechless. The child also lowered his hand in disappointment, and the fish took the opportunity to slip away instantly.

"Knowing how to catch fish, here with us, really doesn't count for much. We don't even need to go into the water to catch fish. Your skills, here with me, I'm afraid won't work."

Zisheng did not know if his heart felt disappointed or relieved. If they joined the Baifeng Tribe, they would have a powerful backer. From then on, they would be people of the Baifeng Tribe, not needing to worry about having no food or salt, and not needing to worry about their homes being completely submerged by water during the rainy season.

However, if that happened, would he still be the Tribal Chief in the future? They would be under the jurisdiction of the Baifeng Tribe, and in the eyes of his tribesmen, would he still be the smartest and most capable one in the whole tribe?

It was just that most of the tribesmen were very disappointed, because they really wanted to join the Baifeng Tribe. Given the current state of the Suiren Clan, they would find their tribal territory sooner or later. Facing the Suiren Clan, they would have to abandon even their meager property, and even with excellent swimming skills, they had to use Reed stalks to reduce their frequency of surfacing for air. If this continued, he did not know how much longer the Zisheng Tribe could exist.

Seeing that the Baifeng Tribe was indeed not interested in them, Zisheng did not intend to beg them, so he began to move backward without a sound, intending to take his tribesmen and swim away directly.

Unexpectedly, at this moment, Baifeng started speaking again.

"Don't be in a hurry to leave yet. I still have some things I want to ask you. If I feel there is no problem, you can also join our Baifeng Tribe. Even if it doesn't work out in the end, I will still give you some salt as compensation."

The people of the Zisheng Tribe all stopped their movements; after all, the attraction of something like salt was simply too great for them. However, Zisheng thought much deeper than his tribesmen.

"Tribal Chief Baifeng, look, we are in the water now, how can we take the salt? A person as smart as you couldn't possibly not have thought of such a simple matter. Please don't think we are just a small tribe and try to trick us."

What Zisheng feared was that Baifeng would use salt to force them onto the shore. After all, once they had precious salt, they would really be reluctant to let it dissolve in the water. His tribesmen did not fear any tribe in the water, even the Baifeng Tribe; they were confident they could escape. But on land, they were a weak existence, as weak as could be.

Baifeng thought to himself that this Zisheng was still a useful person, seeing the problem so quickly. However, he had no such intentions. Using salt to win over or bribe the tribes of this river basin was the most common method of the Baifeng Tribe; after all, salt was really not considered a precious item to them.

But even if he didn't have that intention, he still had to explain what needed to be explained.

Actions speak louder than words. Baifeng directly had a Soldier bring the salt over. Because it was on a Boat, it was relatively humid, and salt easily became damp. Moreover, if it rained or something happened and water entered the cabin, the salt could also become damp. Therefore, the Baifeng Tribe's salt was all stored in tightly covered gourds.

The inside had been coated with beeswax to be waterproof, and the opening was sealed with wax, so water could not possibly enter.

With such a full gourd of salt, Baifeng threw it down directly to the Zisheng Tribe, letting them open it themselves to check and see if it was salt inside.

Zisheng received the gourd, which had already sunk halfway, but he did not understand how to open it. He struggled for a while and still did not figure it out. He knew clearly that this was definitely not a simple gourd, because their tribe had gourds too, but their weight would not be this heavy, and there would not be this rustling sound inside. He only felt that he did not understand how to open this thing.

Watching him struggling, the people of the Baifeng Tribe told him to first scrape off the layer of beeswax on the outside, and then he would be able to open it.

However, Zisheng did not know what beeswax was. Seeing the people of the Baifeng Tribe getting anxious, they finally couldn't watch anymore and shouted: "Just that shiny, smooth thing on the outside, you just scrape it off!"

Only then did Zisheng know that beeswax was this thing, so he used his fingernails to pick at it, but it had no effect.

Their tribe did not carry a Knife, mainly because there were no knives to carry. They usually used stones, but stones would affect their flexibility in the water, so when they needed one, they would just feel around on the riverbed or the shore for one.

Seeing that there was no handy tool in his hand, Zisheng was about to arrange for someone to go to the riverbed to feel for one. Baifeng saw that they were truly having a hard time, so he directly had someone throw down a bamboo knife he used for cutting paper.

This bamboo knife of Baifeng's was not an ordinary bamboo knife; it was made of Xiangfei Bamboo, with little spots that were very beautiful.

Back then, for the name of this bamboo, Baifeng had almost failed to justify it. After he saw it, he had casually blurted out the name Xiangfei Bamboo. His tribesmen, however, were people who liked to ask questions; as long as it was something they didn't know but the Tribal Chief did, they had to make the Tribal Chief give them a lesson to broaden their knowledge.

However, this Xiangfei was the two wives of Yushun, Ehuang and Nvying, who threw themselves into the water and became the Xiang River God. Their tears fell onto the bamboo, and only then did it get the name Xiangfei Bamboo. But now, let alone Shun, even Yao was still far off; where would a Xiangfei come from?

He had no choice but to adapt it slightly: the wife of a certain god, vaguely referred to as Xiangfei, with the two people becoming one, and splashing water droplets replacing tears. Mainly, the tribesmen felt that gods would never die; if he had said it was tears, they probably would have kept asking more questions.

The bamboo knife fell into the water. After Zisheng got it, he very easily removed the beeswax, and then when he pulled the stopper, he opened it very easily.

He saw the white stuff inside, and his heart immediately began to beat wildly. He felt his unusually nervous mood; so much salt was enough for their tribe to eat for a long time.

Of course, that little bit of salt, in Baifeng's view, was just their usage for a few days for so many people. The Baifeng Tribe used salt to the point where they could taste the saltiness; the flavor had to be obvious. But for small tribes like this, their concept was that no matter how many people there were, even if they put in a pinch of salt, it was still considered putting it in.

Salt, in their view, was one of the foundations of survival, not just a simple seasoning.

Zisheng poured a little onto his finger and then stuffed it into his mouth. It was extremely salty and flavorful; it was definitely salt. Sure enough, the Baifeng Tribe was exactly the same as the rumors: kind enough and very generous. So much salt, and they gave it away just like that. If it were at a gathering, it would probably take two great beauties to trade for it.

He hurriedly tightened the stopper again and then said to Baifeng: "Tribal Chief Baifeng, I don't know what you want to ask. Please ask, and I will answer you with all my might!"

Baifeng did not ask a question, but first let him pass the gourd up so they could seal it again; otherwise, once the wax on the outside was gone, it would definitely get water in it.

Zisheng was somewhat reluctant, but since the other party hadn't asked yet and he hadn't given anything in return, keeping it now didn't seem to follow the rules, so he obediently wanted to return the gourd.

Baifeng waved his hand, and immediately a Soldier lowered a Fishing Line to let Zisheng tie the gourd up.

Once the item was tied, they pulled it up, and then, in front of everyone from the Zisheng Tribe, they began to melt the beeswax and seal it onto the gourd again.

The salt was gone, and Baifeng didn't feel the heartache; it was mainly the beeswax. Their tribe's beeswax was not abundant. Although they had started collecting honey every year now, the beeswax boiled out was not much, so it had to be used sparingly.

Fortunately, Baifeng had already made up his mind to annex the Zisheng Tribe; otherwise, this would have been a pure giveaway.

The gourd was back in Zisheng's hands, and this time, no matter what, he would not let go.

Baifeng saw that the things had arrived, so he continued to ask about his confusion: "What is going on with this skin of yours? Did you specifically smear something on it, or has it been like this since you were born?"

Zisheng looked at his own arms, then looked at his tribesmen's; it was very normal, there was no problem, right?

Seeing that Zisheng seemed not to understand what he meant, Baifeng explained in detail: "Have you not noticed that other people, including the Baifeng Tribe, our skin will turn white and become wrinkled if soaked in water for a long time? But your skin is just like a lotus leaf. It doesn't get wet at all."

Hearing Baifeng's detailed explanation, Zisheng finally understood what Baifeng meant, and he did not hold back, saying directly: "Most of us have been like this since we were born, but we have to smear fish oil on our bodies every once in a while so that our skin can leave the water."

Baifeng nodded; it seemed that evolution was the main contributor, and just smearing fish oil probably didn't have much effect.

"As for your tribe, it's not that the Baifeng Tribe cannot take you in, but it still depends on how you perform."

Hearing the sudden reversal, Zisheng was incredulous, and the gourd in his hand even fell, but he quickly fished it back up.

"Tribal Chief Baifeng, what do you mean by this performance you speak of?"

"In our Baifeng Tribe, the tribes we took in before were not counted as true Baifeng Tribe Soldiers; they only went as Free Persons. As long as they contribute to the tribe, they can become true tribesmen of the Baifeng Tribe."

"However, even as Free Persons, our Baifeng Tribe can let them eat their fill. For example, salt in our tribe is used freely; there is no fear of having no salt to eat."