Becoming a Leader in a Primitive Otherworld - Chapter 36

After finishing the bamboo fire cage, Xie Yu eagerly carried the still-warm cage to find Yun Nai.

The fire cage warmed Xie Yu’s hands and her heart.

At that moment, Yun Nai was at the camp instructing several Tribespeople to gather Kudzu Vine. When she looked up, she saw someone approaching like a puppy wagging its tail, carrying a new toy in its mouth. She couldn’t help but smile.

Xie Yu pulled Yun Nai aside and handed her the bamboo fire cage.

“Is it warm?” Xie Yu asked, blinking her eyes.

The bamboo fire cage was uniquely woven. Yun Nai held it up to examine it closely. “Your hands are truly skilled,” she remarked.

This bamboo fire cage would be perfect for those traveling to find tung tree seeds, providing warmth on their journey and preventing them from falling ill during the trip. Without timely medical care, severe illness could not only reduce efficiency but also prove fatal.

Xie Yu raised an eyebrow and stretched out her slender fingers. “My hands are very, very skilled. It’s all thanks to the Priest’s excellent teaching.”

She added, “Once they’re done with their tasks, we’ll teach them how to make these bamboo fire cages themselves.”

With further practice, she could refine her technique and create even better ones.

The Tribespeople gathering Kudzu Vine appeared to be diligently working, but their minds had long drifted to the pair nearby.

Xie Yu, with remarkable restraint, lowered her head to brush her shoulder against Yun Nai’s before turning back to the charcoal kiln to check on the finished charcoal.

Yuan, who was helping inside, noticed the small item Xie Yu had brought now in Yun Nai’s hands and felt a surge of warmth.

The bamboo fire cage warmed Yun Nai’s body considerably, especially during the chilly autumn season. Her animal hide clothing wasn’t providing adequate insulation, and she felt a cold coming on. She worried about the other tribespeople, whose hides were of even poorer quality.

Xie Yu dismissed her concerns, pointing out that Yun Nai, unlike the other tribespeople, didn’t participate in hunting or physical training. The others were far more physically robust.

Hunting was too dangerous; the Tribe hadn’t yet fallen so low as to require their Priest to hunt.

“You all keep working here for now. Yuan, come with me,” Yun Nai said, turning to other tasks. The Kudzu Vine work wasn’t particularly difficult, and losing one helper wouldn’t cause chaos.

Yuan, unlike the chatty Lin Lian and Wu, never pestered Yun Nai with questions. Even curious about where Yun Nai was taking her, she simply followed quietly.

Wu had recently been secretly “intimidated” by Gan and Zhi, who urged her to settle her debts for the hut construction quickly. They warned that the longer she delayed, the harsher her punishment would be. This had kept her too busy to “harass” Yun Nai lately.

Of course, Gan and Zhi wouldn’t “scare” people for no reason. It was all Xie Yu’s subtle prodding behind the scenes.

“Yuan, you’re leaving soon. Prepare well these next few days. If you need anything, just let me know.”

Yun Nai and Xie Yu both understood the importance of Tung Oil.

Although flax seeds could also be pressed for oil, flax was too precious and versatile for their current needs. With such limited quantities, they couldn’t afford to waste flax seeds on oil extraction. They would have to wait until next year’s planting season to experiment.

Yuan followed behind Yun Nai, offering a quiet thank you.

To ensure the mission’s success, Yuan needed to lead the team safely. All Yun Nai could do was check Yuan for any hidden illnesses and treat them before departure.

Yun Nai’s body was merely weak, not frail—fundamentally healthy. But Yuan, formerly a slave in the Snake Tribe, lacked any physical impairments yet her complexion was far from robust.

Yun Nai didn’t intend to ask about Yuan’s experiences as a slave. She imagined it couldn’t have been pleasant.

Yuan’s health was likely worse than anyone else in the Tribe, even the cubs.

After all, the cubs were well-fed, cared for by the community, and always full of energy.

Batch after batch of charcoal emerged from the kiln, some of high quality, others of lesser grade. Xie Yu separated the two, stockpiling as much of the high-quality charcoal as possible for winter warmth and smelting.

Since charcoal required vast quantities of wood, and bamboo fire cages demanded abundant bamboo, the original small storage sheds proved insufficient to hold such massive supplies.

Various wild vegetables and plant seeds were piled in the cellar. Though spacious, accessing the cellar was more cumbersome than using the above-ground granaries.

Therefore, only easily accessible, lightweight items were stored there; firewood and other heavy objects were kept out.

Xie Yu beckoned a Tribesperson over. “Tell Gan and Zhi to build three more storage sheds within the next few days, near the existing ones.”

“Yes, Chief,” the Tribesperson replied, hurrying off to find Gan and Zhi.

Using bamboo tongs, Xie Yu picked up two pieces of charcoal and tapped them together, producing a crisp, ringing sound. The charcoal emitted a natural woody fragrance.

“Chief, what are you doing?” Lian and Ping approached, hoes slung over their shoulders. When Lian saw Xie Yu’s actions, she tugged urgently at her sleeve. “Chief, you can’t eat that!”

She had just watched Xie Yu pick up a piece of charcoal, hold it under her nose, and sniff repeatedly, making Lian think she was so hungry she wanted to eat charcoal.

But the Chief knows charcoal isn’t edible, right? She hasn’t gone mad from hunger, has she?

Startled by Lian’s reminder, Xie Yu coughed lightly. “Lian, you’re overthinking this.”

In the past, the Tribe had always roasted food directly over open flames. While they now had other methods, open-flame cooking would never be abandoned.

When roasting over open flames, burning wood produced bright flames, thick smoke, and even toxic substances. Charcoal grilling, on the other hand, was safer, easier to control the heat, and, most importantly, imparted a more delicate aroma to the food.

For future bonfire gatherings, they could occasionally use charcoal grilling for a change.

“You finished so quickly?”

Lian dramatically tossed her hoe aside, the tool clanging against the ground. She planted her hands on her hips, tilted her head back, and declared, “All done! We cleared everything on the other side and even fertilized the soil.”

Xie Yu turned to Ping. “Good. Ping, you’ll lead the next group in a few days. You and Yuan will be in charge.”

Ping, who was picking up Lian’s carelessly discarded hoe, nodded in agreement.

Lian, however, sidled up to Xie Yu, her brow furrowed. “Chief, why not have Ke lead the group? Isn’t she coming? Can I go too?”

Xie Yu shifted aside, placing the charcoal back in its place. At her gesture, two other tribespeople came to carry the charcoal into the storage shed.

“Ke went along,” Xie Yu explained. “I was worried she’d focus too much on Yuan and not do her job properly.” She then asked, “Why do you want to go too?”

“The next time we go out won’t be for a long time,” Lian pleaded, circling around her. “I’ll help properly.”

Xie Yu considered it. Letting the child get out and explore wouldn’t be a bad thing, so she agreed.

“Then you can go with Ping. Take Li and Yan too—they’re strong. And bring extra carrying baskets.”

After giving these instructions, Xie Yu carefully reviewed the tribespeople’s schedules, urging them to hurry with shaving bamboo strips to make baskets and carrying frames.

The original carrying frames were woven from thin strips of softwood. While comfortable to carry, they weren’t very sturdy. Bamboo strips, being more resilient, would make better frames capable of carrying more tung tree fruit—and thus more seeds.

Most of the tribespeople were familiar with basket-weaving techniques. Each person could weave one or two frames, ensuring they’d have enough before Ping’s group set out.

The departure time had already been set.

Ke, upon learning that her young slave was going on a long journey away from her and the tribe, had no choice but to accept it, despite her worries.

“Take these with you when you go,” Ke said, huffing and puffing as she lugged a large pile of supplies and stuffed them into Yuan’s arms.

Animal hides, food, a small stone knife for self-defense, and various other odds and ends.

“I can’t carry all this, Master,” Yuan protested.

Ke fell silent, realizing she had forgotten to consider her slave’s small frame when preparing the supplies.

“Then wear all these hides,” Ke said sternly, brooking no argument. “The tribespeople are kind. The strong ones will carry most of the weight, so you won’t have to carry anything too heavy.”

The words “weak little thing” stung Yuan’s heart.

“The Priest said I could talk to her if I had any difficulties,” Yuan said softly. “I asked her for a blessing.”

“Oh, the Priest’s blessing,” Ke replied. “She blesses everyone in the group, including you, even though you’re just my slave. So next time, don’t worry about that.”

“When you return, will you tell me about your experiences in the Snake Tribe?” Ke asked, her hands clasped behind her back, nervously twisting her fingers. She remembered how she used to urge the Chief to be bolder, yet now she was as timid as a mouse when it came to her own slave.

Yuan lowered her head. “If Master wants to know, I will tell her.”

Ke felt a pang of bitterness. “No, that’s not what I meant. I just wanted to know if you were willing to tell me.”

“If Master wishes to know, I am willing.”

This response suddenly infuriated Ke. “That’s not what I meant! You being willing doesn’t matter. If I want to know, you’ll tell me. If you don’t want to, I don’t want to hear it either.”

She suppressed her seething anger, forcing herself to remain calm. The object in her hand felt awkward to hold, yet she couldn’t bring herself to put it down.

Ke took two steps away, then retreated to Yuan’s side, shoving the object into her hand. “Keep this. Cook some meat for yourself at noon. I have urgent business to attend to.”

The sudden shift left Yuan stunned. As a slave, her words had always been crafted this way. Her previous masters had often been pleased by her flattery, allowing her to avoid punishment.

So when Ke grew angry, Yuan couldn’t immediately understand what had offended her.

Ke dashed off to find Ping and Lian. She found Lian perched on Ping’s shoulders, massaging her head. Admiring Ping’s strength, Ke exclaimed, “Ping, you spoil her too much!”

Ping patted Lian’s bottom, signaling her to dismount. “What’s wrong, Ke?”

“Look after my slave on the way back. I’ll bring you something nice when I return.”

The two women readily agreed, wanting to say it was a small matter and they didn’t need anything in return.

Before they could speak, Ke had already dashed off, eager to shake off her pent-up frustration.

Ke crept back to her thatched hut to retrieve her stone spear and bow and arrows. Only when she was sure Yuan hadn’t noticed did she pat her wildly thumping heart. All she wanted now was to hide from her slave, even though this was her own hut.

Grasping her bow and arrows and slinging the stone spear over her shoulder, she fled into the forest. Along the way, she called out “Chief!” to Xie Yu before immediately bidding her farewell and disappearing into the trees.

Xie Yu had only heard someone call out behind her. By the time she turned to her right, Ke had already darted past her left side. She vaguely recognized Ke’s voice, but by the time she caught a glimpse of her, only Ke’s retreating figure remained.

It was lunchtime, and Xie Yu was about to head to the pottery kiln to find Yun Nai.

Recently, the tribe’s pottery kiln had seen a surge of creativity, with tribespeople crafting their own cups and other utensils.

Yun Nai was currently working on a zeng, a pot-like vessel with a deep, flat-bottomed body and small holes in the base, designed for steaming food.

The wooden hut near the pottery kiln was right in front of her. Xie Yu pursed her lips. Yun Nai always forgot to eat when she got busy.

The door wasn’t even closed. Which tribesperson would leave their door open?

She had to teach the tribespeople to develop the habit of closing doors. Now that the weather was getting colder, a draft could easily freeze them.

She tiptoed inside, her footsteps as light as a thief’s.

The hut was empty except for one person who hadn’t noticed Xie Yu.

The figure stood ramrod straight, focused intently on their work.

Not wanting to startle her, Xie Yu retreated slowly to the door, making a deliberate noise as she walked, and pulled the door shut.

Yun Nai had already heard the movement behind her but didn’t turn around. She was using a small stick to poke holes in the bottom of the steamer.

Xie Yu stood resentfully behind her, patiently waiting for Yun Nai to put down her tools.

As she waited, she gradually closed the distance, timing her approach perfectly. The moment Yun Nai set down the stick, Xie Yu wrapped her arms around her from behind.

“Come back and eat with me,” Xie Yu said, biting Yun Nai’s shoulder as if marking her territory. She nuzzled Yun Nai’s neck and kissed her cheek.

She wasn’t wrong last time. This person really is just a little puppy, Yun Nai thought to herself.

Xie Yu reached out to take her hand, but Yun Nai pulled away.

“My hands are dirty. I need to wash them,” Yun Nai said, shaking her clay-covered hand.

But as soon as she finished speaking, Xie Yu mischievously grabbed Yun Nai’s hand, raising an eyebrow as if to say, “I’m holding your hand, and what are you going to do about it?”

“It’s fine. We’ll wash them together,” Xie Yu said, nodding to herself as she repeated, “Wash them together.”

Yun Nai’s heart fluttered slightly, and she let Xie Yu lead her to the water’s edge.

They were supposed to wash their hands properly, but Xie Yu turned it into a game.

She cupped water and poured it over Yun Nai’s hand, personally washing it slowly and thoroughly.

Someone who uses the pretense of serving to indulge in playfulness deserves punishment, Yun Nai thought.

Yet she couldn’t bring herself to interrupt. Only when Xie Yu stopped did she gently pat the back of her hand. “Come back and eat with me.”

Xie Yu obediently stood up and walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Yun Nai. “They’re leaving tomorrow. We’re having a gathering tonight to see them off.”

After returning home for a meal, they saw tribespeople already organizing supplies for the journey: back baskets, bamboo fire cages, and torches for illumination.

The bamboo fire cages contained charcoal, which could be held for warmth during breaks or stowed in back baskets while traveling. The torches, which Xie Yu had crafted in recent days, featured handles carved into comfortable shapes.

If the torches ran out, they could simply chop down a branch along the way and make a new one.

The remaining supplies consisted of roasted meat, fruits, and wild vegetables. A one-way trip would consume half of these provisions, but eating on the return journey wouldn’t take up much space.

Xie Yu led Yun Nai around the busy tribespeople and back to their hut. They rarely ate outside anymore, partly because of the cold weather and partly because they cherished their privacy.

After the meal, Xie Yu went to check on the newly constructed warehouse, while Yun Nai visited Yuan to inquire about her health.

Yuan thanked her. “I’m feeling much better now, thank you, Priest.”

“But I sense a deep unease in your heart,” Yun Nai said. “Is something troubling you?” Holding too much in could lead to illness.

Yuan didn’t hesitate long before telling Yun Nai about her relationship with Ke, adding, “Master hasn’t spoken to me these past few days.”

“While she may be your master in name, she doesn’t see you as a slave in her heart. You don’t need to treat her the same way you treat others.”

Yuan nodded sadly in agreement, and Yun Nai dismissed her to rest.

Time flew by, and evening arrived, bringing with it the communal gathering. Xie Yu tried grilling meat over charcoal for the first time, a novelty that intrigued everyone.

The makeshift grill, constructed from stone rods and clay shards, was simple yet effective. The grilled meat tasted distinctly different from meat roasted directly over an open fire.

Ke stood beside the grill, her face serious as she cooked the meat. Once done, she handed it to Yuan before solemnly resuming her grilling.

Yun Nai leaned her head against Xie Yu’s shoulder, glancing up at the night stars. “I’ve checked the omens. This journey will be smooth.”

“Good. Eat,” Xie Yu said with a suppressed smile, bringing the meat to Yun Nai’s lips.

The next morning, Ping led a group of people on their journey.

With seven fewer people at the camp, manpower wasn’t strained. The five newcomers—Lei, Wu, and the others—adapted quickly, integrating into the Tribe and mastering their tasks with ease.

As a result, the Tribe continued to function smoothly and efficiently.