Becoming a Leader in a Primitive Otherworld - Chapter 31

Summer was already more than halfway over. The journey from their camp to the Great Market would take approximately half a month.

They needed to time their departure carefully. Arriving early might secure them a good trading spot, while arriving late would mean other tribes would have already traded away all the goods, leaving nothing for them.

The best spots at the Great Market were always reserved for the major tribes, an unspoken rule. They would have to scramble for whatever remained.

The group consisted of only nine people, including Xie Yu. Ping hadn’t come along; she had accompanied Chief Song on two or three previous trips. This time, many people were clamoring to join Xie Yu and “see the world,” so Ping decided to stay behind and guard the tribe.

Xie Yu couldn’t possibly accommodate everyone. After careful consideration, she chose eight people, five of whom had never been to the Great Market before.

“Ke, aren’t you tired?” Lian circled Ke mockingly as they rested. “Tsk, tsk, so much stuff! Are you planning to buy the entire Great Market?”

Ke rolled her eyes. “Buying the market isn’t enough. I’d sell you to make up the difference.”

Unable to win the argument, Lian scurried over to Xie Yu. “Chief, how much longer until we get there?”

“You’ve asked that seven times already,” Xie Yu said, exasperated.

Lian asked almost daily, but considering it was his first time traveling so far, his excitement was understandable.

“Probably another five days,” Xie Yu replied. They had been traveling for five days since leaving the camp.

As they moved north, the temperature gradually cooled. The group donned soft tree-bark cloaks and animal-hide garments brought from their tribes, growing concerned about falling ill due to the chill.

The landscape had also transformed. Near the camp, the trees were relatively stout, but as they approached the Great Market, the trees grew taller, towering twenty to thirty meters high in dense groves.

Occasionally, monkeys swung through the branches. The group ignored them, knowing Xie Yu wouldn’t provoke them unless they caused trouble first.

Suddenly, two monkeys leaped to the ground while others remained perched in the trees, their coarse fur gleaming in the sunlight. With broad foreheads, small yet bright eyes, and powerful jaws, they bared their teeth at Xie Yu and her companions.

“Hey!” Yan shouted, stepping back. “What do they want?!”

A wise person wouldn’t pick a fight with monkeys.

Xie Yu retrieved some fruit from her back basket and tossed it to the monkeys.

Ke also threw some fruit. “Naughty things want food.”

The monkeys stirred restlessly, snatching up the fruit with their paws but refusing to retreat, their eyes still fixed menacingly on the remaining travelers.

“These stinking monkeys!” one of the tribespeople cursed, tossing a few more fruits.

“Everyone has to give some to pass,” Ke said, patting Lian’s shoulder. “They count heads. Give them a few.”

This path, worn into a major thoroughfare by countless tribes, had turned the monkeys into cunning highway robbers, demanding tolls from travelers.

“If we’d brought Lei and the others, these monkeys wouldn’t be so cheeky,” Lian grumbled, watching the monkeys swing away on vines. “Hmph, one day I’ll snatch all their fruit back!”

Xie Yu patted his head. “Then go flatten them.”

Apart from the monkeys, no other animals emerged to cause trouble. Perhaps the few low-ranking scouts had reported back to their monkey king, ensuring smooth passage for the rest of the journey.

After five or six days of hurried travel, they encountered a small tribe along the way.

Though some eyed the baskets on the tribespeople’s backs with curiosity, no one dared ask. They knew the Shadow Tribe would never reveal such secrets.

“Would you trade these?” the small tribe’s chief asked Xie Yu.

“We brought some baskets to sell, but we won’t trade them now,” Xie Yu replied. “If fate allows, we’ll see you at the Great Market.”

The chief looked disappointed. While roadside robberies weren’t unheard of, their tribe’s numbers were roughly equal to Xie Yu’s group, and a fight would likely end poorly for them. Moreover, Xie Yu’s group seemed to possess other types of weapons.

The chief then pointed to the bow in Lian’s hand. “Would you trade this?”

“No,” Xie Yu refused firmly.

“Very well, what a pity.” After exchanging polite farewells, the two groups parted ways, their paths diverging without further interaction.

“He’s a bit shady,” Yan remarked. “He wanted to steal our things.”

“He won’t get away with it,” Xie Yu assured him.

A few days later, Xie Yu pointed to a mountain ahead and said to Lian, who was pestering her again, “Once we cross this mountain, we’ll be there.”

“Great! Let’s go!” Lian practically flew ahead in his eagerness.

The mountain path was winding, but fortunately, the recent dry weather had kept it from becoming slippery or muddy.

Rounding a bend, they suddenly emerged into an open plain, no longer surrounded by dense jungle. The flat expanse was dotted with towering trees spaced evenly apart.

Although Xie Yu and her group had arrived early, two days before the Great Market officially began, they counted roughly seventeen or eighteen tribes already gathered, busy setting up their stalls.

The group moved forward and found a spot near a tree to settle down.

“We were over there last year,” Ke said, pointing to a small corner in the distance.

While the best spots had already been claimed, their current location was still significantly better than the previous year’s.

Some tribes didn’t care about location. Regardless of where they set up, other tribes would actively seek them out. The Fish Tribe was a prime example; even the three smaller Fish Tribes, if they tried to flee, would be dragged back by others eager to trade salt.

Thus, no matter how small their tribe, they were always treated with respect.

“Everyone, keep a close eye on your belongings and move them closer,” the Tribespeople said, unloading their packs and tightening their clothes against the chilly wind.

After setting up, the Tribespeople sat in small groups around the area, their eyes scanning the bustling Great Market. The entire area was a hive of activity, filled with people hurrying back and forth, their voices blending into an indistinct murmur.

“The end of summer came so quickly,” Yan sighed, then grinned at Xie Yu. “Chief, can we go look around?”

“Don’t go together. If you really want to, go in pairs and leave someone here to watch the goods,” Xie Yu instructed as she stood up to browse the other tribes’ stalls.

While traveling to the Great Market, there was a risk of being robbed. At the market itself, openly stealing would draw the wrath of the crowd, but preventing covert theft was a challenge.

While the others guarded their stall, Xie Yu began inspecting the already-arranged stalls of other tribes.

A nearby stall displayed a pile of small objects wrapped in grass mats. Xie Yu crouched down. “What are these?”

Four people tending the stall leaned forward, their faces beaming. “These are honey candies!”

“Honey? Are you from the Bee Tribe?”

Before they could answer, someone from the adjacent stall interjected, “No, be careful. I saw members of the Fox Tribe with them last year.”

Xie Yu nodded. Honey was precious, and judging by the group’s threadbare clothing and meager equipment, they didn’t seem like the type to spend a fortune trading with the Bee Tribe.

That was probably… swindled.

Apart from the Bee Tribe, few others would risk being stung into swollen dumplings to obtain honey. Even if they did, they wouldn’t get this much.

After all, bee stings leave venom in the body, and without timely treatment, they could be fatal. Most people just swallow their saliva when they see a honeycomb.

“I’ll come back when I have the chance,” Xie Yu said, rising to leave.

“Don’t go!” the four called after her. As Xie Yu walked away, they turned to glare at the person who had interrupted earlier. “It’s all your fault!”

They quickly packed up, planning to move to another spot.

Xie Yu wandered aimlessly until her gaze fixed on a small, hill-like pile of red stones. She approached, crouched down, and touched them. “What would you want in exchange for these?”

The red stones varied in size and were surprisingly soft, unlike ordinary rocks. To Xie Yu, they appeared to be red copper.

Their softness was likely due to their natural state. Refining and alloying them with other materials would be necessary to increase their hardness.

“Someone actually wants to buy these stones?” a woman exclaimed in surprise. She had casually dug them up because she found them pretty, never expecting anyone would actually want to buy them.

She paused, her eyes flickering to the bamboo flute tied at Xie Yu’s waist. “If you want it, trade me that little stick you’re wearing.”

Though the stick wasn’t much for fighting, it would make a decent decoration.

“No trade for the stick,” Xie Yu replied warily.

“Is that for blowing?” the woman asked, studying the holes in the flute.

“Yes.”

“Then let me play with it. I’ll give you the pebbles.”

Dream on, Xie Yu thought, gripping the flute and stroking its smooth, patterned surface.

What is she doing right now?

I miss her so much.

“No deal. I’ll trade you half a piece of animal hide. Deal or no deal?”

“Deal,” the woman said, recognizing a good bargain.

“I want to know where you dug up these pretty stones.”

“I forgot. Just dug them up randomly,” the woman answered casually. Seeing Xie Yu’s disappointment, she added softly, “Around my tribe. I’m Xing from the Deer Tribe. If you come visit, I’ll be your host.”

After chatting a while longer, Xie Yu thanked her and asked, “Where exactly is the Deer Tribe?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Xing realized she had made a mistake. Fortunately, during their conversation, she had mentioned that the Shadow Tribe was a small, obscure tribe without the strength to conquer the Deer Tribe. “I forgot,” she said. “I’ll go ask the Chief.”

When she returned, Xing scratched her head and smiled apologetically. “Our Chief says she forgot too.”

“Then let’s go get the animal hide,” Xie Yu replied with a smile. “I didn’t bring it with me.” What a clumsy excuse, she thought.

She would formally approach the Deer Tribe two days later when the inter-tribal trade began.

Xing squeaked to her Chief, who nodded. The red stones Xing had brought were hers to dispose of as she saw fit; the tribe had no right to interfere.

“What will you do with these red stones?”

“I’ll make pretty little things out of them when I get back,” Xie Yu replied, choosing not to reveal her true intentions.

The two carried a pile of red copper to the Shadow Tribe’s designated area. Ke immediately ran over to Xie Yu, excitedly reporting that she had just seen the Snake Tribe and wanted to go find her little slave right away.

Xie Yu nodded once, and Ke vanished in a flash.

Xing retrieved her animal hide and left.

Seeing the Chief return, a couple of young tribespeople also expressed their desire to go explore.

Ke returned with the young slave she had purchased, followed by two other Tribespeople.

The young slave trailed closely behind Ke, clutching the corner of her beast hide. Xie Yu glanced at them from a distance, marveling at how Ke could claim the slave had stolen her eyes.

As the group approached, they greeted Xie Yu. Ke tossed the two bundles of goods used to buy the slave to the others. “Take these away.”

A man from the Snake Tribe raised an eyebrow. “So much? You’re really willing to part with all this?” He glanced pointedly at Xie Yu, clearly disapproving of a small tribe agreeing to trade so much for a single slave. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”

Ke urged them to leave quickly. “Your tribe is busy. Hurry back and help.”

Her polite tone was purely for show, a nod to the Snake Tribe’s power. Her true meaning was a curt “Get lost.”

“Alright, here’s the Slave Token. She’s yours now.” The man shrugged and handed her a small wooden tag stained with dark red bl00d.

The other Tribespeople eyed the newcomer curiously. Lian asked, “What’s your name?”

“I’m Yuan,” she replied, standing behind Ke. The others understood—Ke was now her master.

Over the next two days, the Tribespeople individually traded for small gifts for Yuan. Their politeness stemmed entirely from Ke’s attitude toward her; otherwise, they would never have been so friendly.

The Bee Tribe and the four foxes indeed clashed, ending in the Fox Tribe’s defeat.

“Only four members of the Fox Tribe came?” Yan asked, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes as he watched the foxes flee. “To dare travel here with so few people… they’re incredibly bold.”

Another tribesman chuckled at Yan’s naivety. “Even ten people would be tricked out of everything by them.”

“Do you know why so few have ever seen them?” he continued. “Because the foxes deceive people every year. To ensure their schemes run smoothly, an elder brings a new face each time to test their deception skills. This year’s batch is in for a scolding.”

“What about the elder?”

“Probably waiting outside. If he were recognized here, he’d be beaten flat.”

Xie Yu traded animal hides and the retrieved sugar cubes with the still-furious Bee Tribe for thirteen large sugar cubes.

Two days passed in a blur, and before long, the trading day arrived.

Although all five Fish Tribes were treated as honored guests by other tribes, most sought salt from the two larger Fish Tribes. Xie Yu, however, targeted the middle-sized of the three smaller Fish Tribes.

One reason for this choice was that her mother, Song, had traded with this chief many times before.

“What do you want to trade?” the woman asked, her face freckled from years at sea. “You’re the first to approach us. It’s too soon, but we’re glad.”

We’ve been waiting for you all day, Lian thought to himself, standing behind Xie Yu. Of course we’re here early.

“These pottery jars. I think you’ll find them very useful,” Xie Yu said, gesturing for her men to bring out the jars from the large baskets and display them before Feng. “Feng, take a look.”

Feng glanced at the unfamiliar face, yet felt a strange sense of familiarity. “Have we met before?”

“I’m Song’s child, the former Chief of the Shadow Tribe. Don’t you remember?” Xie Yu smiled.

“You’re her child? I remember now. You came to the Great Market before.”

Feng picked up a pottery jar and examined it, then glanced at the baskets on the ground, suppressing her surprise. “Is this all you have? It’s not enough for ten bags of salt.”

“I think three large baskets is a fair amount,” Xie Yu countered, gesturing to the jars to indicate the quantity they were willing to trade.

“Let me consider it. If we trade away so much, what will we have left to trade with others?” Feng raised her chin, a seasoned leader who wouldn’t be led by the nose by a child.

“Are you saying—you like our pottery jars so much that you don’t want to trade them with other tribes?” Xie Yu countered.

“Chief Yu, you understand me better than your Amu,” Feng said, her words carrying a deeper meaning.

“I think so too.”

Their verbal sparring continued until the other tribes grew impatient.

Feng tilted her head, studying Xie Yu with amusement, and raised an eyebrow. “You have too many competitors. Would you like to give us more pottery jars?”

“If you’re willing to trade, we can give you a few of these carrying baskets for the jars,” Xie Yu said, picking up a basket and waving it in front of Feng. “Actually, you want this too.”

Feng signaled to her tribespeople, who then left to reject the other tribes’ trade requests.

“It’s refreshing talking to you,” Feng said, instructing her people to bring ten bundles of coarse salt wrapped in bark to Xie Yu.

“I hope we can establish a long-term, stable partnership,” Xie Yu stated plainly.

After a moment’s thought, Feng agreed. “I hope you’ll come to us first when you have something good to trade.”

The two leaders settled on the exchange ratio.

Lian, carrying the salt bundles, asked, “What else should we trade for, Chief?”

“Let’s head back first and see what we have to offer.”

As they returned to the vicinity, they noticed Ke standing awkwardly in the center of the tribe, forcing a smile. Her expression was strange.

Xie Yu immediately understood: Ke was in a bad mood but didn’t want to disrupt the tribe’s trade negotiations.

The other tribespeople were discussing trade items with members of other tribes. Xie Yu surveyed the area and noticed several rough flax ropes and other goods.

“What’s wrong?” Xie Yu patted Ke on the shoulder and pulled her aside.

A tribesperson who had been speaking with someone leaned back and explained, “Yuan has returned to the Snake Tribe.” He immediately resumed his discussion.

“Huh?” Xie Yu was surprised to find Yuan’s figure missing. “What happened?”

“She said she needed to return something and hasn’t come back yet,” Ke said, her head drooping miserably. “Do you think she’ll abandon me?”

Lian chuckled from the side. “You’re the master, and she’s the slave. It’s you who would abandon her, not the other way around. If you’re worried, just go reclaim her. You have the Slave Token, after all. The Snake Tribe wouldn’t risk their reputation over a single slave.”

“She’ll come back,” Xie Yu reassured Ke. “Maybe she has good friends there, just like you and me. Good friends always talk longer.” Yuan would return; in every sense, she wouldn’t run.

Ke was just being foolish.

Seeing Ke finally calm down, Xie Yu shook her head helplessly, picked up a flax rope, and asked, “Which tribe traded this?”

Perhaps she could trade for some flax seeds.