Becoming a Leader in a Primitive Otherworld - Chapter 18

Mid-Spring, the second month of spring, was a dry and windy time. Many tribespeople suffered from spring dryness, experiencing headaches and chills as common ailments. Fortunately, most had recently gone out hunting and gathering, so even after Yun Nai treated their illnesses and rested for a few days, there was still enough food.

After recuperating, they found themselves at the end of Mid-Spring.

The remaining meat wouldn’t last until Sacrifice Day, so two days before the event, Xie Yu led the tribespeople on another collective hunt.

Before setting out, she had improved the bow designs. Some of the bows crafted by individuals were poorly made, with terrible accuracy. The improved designs significantly increased hunting efficiency.

The arrows were similarly refined. The Tribe’s standardized arrows now featured meticulously sharpened tips, capable of piercing through an animal’s hide and flesh with sufficient force.

The benefits of collective hunting were immediately apparent. Within a short time, they had already bagged several small game animals.

“Hey, there are some hoofprints here! Wild boars might be nearby!” a tribesman shouted.

Xie Yu approached and examined the tracks. They were indeed wild boar prints, heading deeper into the forest.

“Chief, should we go after them?” someone asked eagerly.

Li shook his head in disagreement. The footprints indicated the presence of several wild boars. They might be able to handle one, but five or six would overwhelm them.

“No, there are too many wild boars,” Xie Yu said, leading them in another direction. “The Sacrifice Day is approaching, so we need to be careful.”

The group had set out full of enthusiasm and returned beaming with joy.

The larger game was carried on their shoulders, while smaller animals like rabbits and raccoon dogs were tossed into their back baskets. In addition to the meat, they had also caught a few birds—a small but unexpected bonus.

The tribespeople rarely managed to hunt birds. The birds flew too high and too fast, and humans couldn’t fly. So, unless they got lucky, they almost never tasted bird meat.

But since they had acquired bows and arrows, things had changed.

Xie Yu directed the group to divide the meat into three unequal portions: one for immediate consumption, one for stockpiling, and one for the Sacrifice Day.

After finishing their tasks, Xie Yu carried her back basket to her thatched hut. A damp fishing net lay drying in front of the door.

Inside, she pulled out two bird eggs. “Look,” she waved them at Yun Nai, “we’re having roasted bird eggs and bird meat today!”

“Just these two? No one else got any?” Yun Nai raised an eyebrow. “Well, I found them, and that’s our privilege.”

“Looks like a bountiful harvest,” Yun Nai said, her fingers flying as she wove another fishing net.

“Didn’t Gan and Zhi learn how to make them?” Xie Yu asked, setting down her back basket.

“They did,” Yun Nai replied, pausing her work to stretch her hands. “I’ll weave a new one as a sample for them.”

Puzzled, Xie Yu squatted down in front of Yun Nai. “But the original net was so beautiful. It must be tiring to weave another one.”

Yun Nai shook her head. “I don’t want to. That one’s mine.”

Fair enough, Xie Yu thought. Yun Nai had caught her first fish with that net, so it deserved to be treasured.

“Did you go fishing again today?”

Lately, Yun Nai had been fishing whenever she finished her other tasks. Her net caught so many fish at once that the two of them couldn’t possibly eat them all.

The other tribespeople could fish for themselves if they wanted, and as the Priest, Yun Nai shouldn’t give away her possessions too often. So whenever she caught too many fish, she would release them back into the river one by one.

As a result, the tribespeople occasionally witnessed a peculiar sight: their Priest, with nothing better to do, fishing by the riverbank, only to release her catch back into the water.

Yun Nai nodded. “I did.”

Sometimes Yun Nai was so childishly endearing. Xie Yu, in high spirits, went to prepare their roasted bird eggs and meat for dinner, leaving Yun Nai to continue weaving her fishing net alone.

The roasted bird eggs were as delicious as ever.

Xie Yu suddenly realized something: “No one was injured during today’s hunt.”

This was partly due to improvements in their bows and arrows, and partly because the tribespeople were physically stronger than before. What was particularly noticeable wasn’t the improved physique of the top warriors, but the fact that even the weakest members of the tribe rarely fell ill these days. The cubs, too, seemed to be growing taller since their nutrition had improved.

Yun Nai watched Xie Yu’s face light up with joy, and an urge to pinch her cheek surged through her. She resisted, but cautioned, “Still, we must be careful. Don’t forget the pain just because the wound has healed.”

“Oh, right! We also saw wild boar tracks,” Xie Yu remembered the hoofprints she’d spotted deep in the forest, and her brow furrowed. “Stay away from the forest for the next few days—even the edges.”

Yun Nai’s left eyelid twitched at the warning, and she nodded in agreement.

In the blink of an eye, Sacrifice Day arrived. For any tribe, this day was of paramount importance. Seemingly blessed by their Totem, even the weakest warriors would be invigorated, participating in the sacred rites.

On this matter, all tribes shared an unspoken agreement: their Sacrifice Days should not coincide.

Legend had it that long ago, the chiefs of all tribes had gathered to establish this pact. After all, if all tribes hunted simultaneously, the continent’s game animals would face mass slaughter at specific times, making replenishment difficult.

The Shadow Tribe silently adhered to this custom, setting their Sacrifice Day for the transition between Late Spring and Early Summer.

Tribespeople bustled about, carrying cleaned game meat to the perpetually burning bonfire at the heart of their settlement.

A deer’s head was placed at the center, facing north—toward the forest where they hunted.

Venison, chicken, rabbit… wolf pelts, fox furs, marmot hides… the tribe’s finest meats and furs were displayed. Wild vegetables and fruits were also included, along with the rare medicinal herbs Yun Nai had gathered on her last expedition.

“Ah, what a beautiful day!” Lian exclaimed, helping arrange the offerings. He prayed with childlike glee, “We’re sure to receive Apam’s blessing!”

Ping walked over and patted the back of his head. “Of course we will, but no talking while arranging the offerings. I doubt Apam wants to taste your spit.”

Lian glared at her over his shoulder, his ears flushing red as he clamped his mouth shut.

This kid’s getting more disrespectful by the day, Ping thought to herself, turning away to attend to other tasks.

“Yan, take a few men and bring all the bows, arrows, stone spears, and fishing nets here,” Xie Yu instructed.

“Chief, the Tribe has never offered these as gifts to Apam before,” Yan reminded her, thinking she might have forgotten.

Xie Yu shielded her eyes from the glaring sun. “I discussed this with Yun Nai yesterday, and it’s perfectly fine. When Apam sees how clever and hardworking we are, he’ll love us even more. Now go.”

Yan nodded thoughtfully and waved to a few men, heading to the Clan Hall to retrieve the items.

Lian was right—the day was exceptionally beautiful. The sky and mountains blended seamlessly, untouched by even the slightest wisp of cloud.

Once everything was prepared, Yun Nai approached the deer skull, holding the tortoise shell. Just as Luo had done before, she would lead the Sacrifice.

The turtle shell, the long divination stalks, the roaring bonfire, and the ancient-sounding language incomprehensible to the others—these four elements merged into one, burning for a time. Xie Yu watched Yun Nai reach into the flames, her heart clenching with sudden anxiety. Instinctively, she wanted to stop her.

But Yun Nai was faster, withdrawing her hand in the next instant.

Xie Yu secretly observed, relieved to see no burn marks.

The ritual was simple and ancient. Images of sacrifices she had attended as Yu flashed through her mind, the two scenes overlapping until she couldn’t distinguish past from present.

The tribespeople waited for Yun Nai to interpret the message on the turtle shell.

Yun Nai smiled brightly and announced, “Apam says she is pleased and will continue to bestow blessings upon us.”

With the ritual concluded, the tribespeople erupted into chatter. Xie Yu quieted them down, had the offerings collected, and resumed the Tribe gathering.

The offerings could be used after the Sacrifice. That evening, the Tribe divided the offerings, redistributing a portion to the tribespeople. The rest, those suitable for storage, were preserved for later use, while the perishable items became food for the next few days.

The following morning, a gentle spring rain began to fall outside.