Becoming a Leader in a Primitive Otherworld - Chapter 7

“Look, the flowers are blooming!” Lian and the others who had kept watch all night shouted excitedly.

As the crimson sun rose, its light pierced through the snow-covered landscape. Xie Yu saw new buds sprouting on the branches and flowers blooming in the grass.

White began to give way to pinks, purples, greens, and yellows, transforming the landscape into a vibrant tapestry. This exuberant vitality stood in stark contrast to the cold, desolate winter.

The others resting in the cave had already woken up. Lian’s excited shout jolted them fully awake, and they couldn’t resist rushing out of the cave to see for themselves.

Xie Yu opened her drowsy eyes and glanced to the side. Yun Nai was already gone; her figure was nowhere to be seen inside the cave.

She must be outside.

The white mist from Xie Yu’s breath dissipated more quickly, indicating the weather was warming up.

The branches shifted, letting the spring breeze sweep through.

Xie Yu caught sight of Yun Nai standing beside the cave, her back to her. Her long, glossy black hair cascaded down her shoulders, and the tips of her slightly flushed ears peeked out from beneath the strands.

Yun Nai was looking down at the ground, where even the snow had begun to melt, leaving the earth damp and the snowpack noticeably thinner.

“Spring has arrived,” Yun Nai murmured softly.

Xie Yu shielded her eyes and gazed at the crimson sun. “How wonderful.”

Winter had passed unnoticed, the days stretching like years, yet fleeting as sunlight through a crack. As time flowed and the world changed, life flourished, and Xie Yu’s mind unconsciously drifted to visions of millennia hence.

Two figures stood side by side, their silhouettes visible to the tribe members below, who waved up at them.

After the tribe’s brief celebration, Xie Yu began inventorying their current supplies. They still had wolf and deer meat left, and with animals becoming more active in spring, food shortages like those during winter were unlikely.

Breakfast consisted of dry, roasted meat and wild fruits and vegetables, which Xie Yu barely managed to swallow with water. “We can’t stay in this cave any longer,” she declared.

Before hunting time arrived, Xie Yu announced her decision to the tribe.

Some agreed, while others voiced their confusion.

Eagle-Nosed Man Wu, who had previously questioned Xie Yu’s plan to organize a hunting expedition, spoke up again. “Why move? This place is perfectly fine.”

Yun Nai replied, “It’s too small, and climbing up and down the mountain is too dangerous.”

The Priest’s endorsement, evident to the tribe members, undoubtedly reduced much of the resistance Xie Yu might have faced.

Xie Yu nodded. They had discussed this plan thoroughly.

With increased rainfall during the summer months, Mount Li’s terrain prone to sediment accumulation, and the presence of loose soil and rock debris, there was a high risk of mudslides and landslides.

Although the last mudslide had occurred two years prior, prevention was paramount. It was best to relocate before summer arrived.

The recent cold weather and the Tribe’s focus on stockpiling food had delayed scouting for a new settlement.

Now that food was no longer as scarce as during the winter, they had time to carefully consider their relocation options.

Using force when necessary and explaining thoroughly when required—this was one of Xie Yu’s guiding principles.

After briefly outlining the drawbacks, she made it clear that this was not a gentle suggestion but a firm decision.

Once the Tribe settled into their new home and thrived, their perspectives would naturally shift.

The objections of a few were insignificant. How could ants shake an elephant?

“Ke and Li, you’ll accompany me this time.”

Relocation was no small matter. Yun Nai needed to assess the environment of the new settlement firsthand, so she would join the expedition.

When the Tribe learned that their Chief and Priest would personally lead the search for a new home, their hunting enthusiasm surged.

“Ping, stay here and manage the Tribe,” Xie Yu instructed. “Continue organizing hunting and gathering parties.” Ping was reliable and efficient, a capable assistant who could handle assigned tasks and respond appropriately to unexpected situations.

Stockpiling food remained their top priority, as relocating would take time. They also needed to consider their future settlement, which would depend on the food they stockpiled during this period.

Xie Yu had a rough mental map of the Azure Feather Continent’s terrain, so they had identified two potential locations: the southwestern edge of the forest near Mount Li and a plains area farther east. They might discover more suitable campsites along the way, but that would depend on luck.

After giving her instructions, Xie Yu returned to the cave and wrapped their essential tools in large, soft pieces of turf and bark. The bundle was light and easy for her to carry. However, considering they would be traveling to at least two locations and detouring around dangerous areas, the journey was expected to last at least a full season.

The Tribe members watched as the four travelers set off. Xie Yu casually slung the bundle over her shoulder. While convenient for now, this method wouldn’t be sustainable long-term. If only they had a proper carrying basket…

Although Xie Yu theoretically understood how to weave a basket, her manual dexterity had always been lacking. With this in mind, she glanced at Yun Nai’s hands—slender, elegant, and seemingly incredibly nimble.

“Priest, can you weave baskets?” Xie Yu asked, her voice filled with anticipation.

Yun Nai nodded. “Yes. Once we’ve settled in and found suitable materials, I’ll teach the Tribe.”

“What’s a basket?” Ke asked.

“Something the Priest can do but the Chief can’t,” Li quipped.

Ke rolled her eyes.

Their travel pace was swift, and the journey itself didn’t consume much time. In less than two days, they reached the forest southwest of Mount Li. The location was relatively close to the mountain, making relocation convenient, but the terrain was too uneven, and the nearest water source was quite a distance away.

The group immediately set off for their second potential site, a journey that took approximately four days.

“There’s water!” Ke exclaimed the moment they arrived.

Xie Yu felt as if they had stumbled upon a sacred haven. The entire area shimmered with golden light under the evening sun, even the tender green shoots glowing with a golden hue. The trees were scattered rather than dense, forming a small grove. Even more astonishing was the discovery of a small river that had formed here, flowing gently down from an unnamed mountain in the distance.

The riverbank was piled high with stones of various shapes and sizes, washed down from the mountains.

Further north, another forest stretched out, its connection to the one near Mount Li uncertain.

This place seemed ideal for settlement.

“Priest!” Xie Yu called out. “I love it here.”

Though they had known each other for some time, this was the first time Xie Yu had expressed her feelings so openly. Sensing her excitement, Yun Nai smiled.

“There’s water here, and fish can be a food source. The ground is also relatively flat,” Xie Yu mused. “What do you think about adding this to our list of potential sites, Priest?”

“It’s better than the previous two, though moving here would be more difficult,” Yun Nai replied, her gaze following the stream into the distance. “But spending a few extra days to secure a good settlement is well worth it, in my opinion.”

Ke and Li went to scout the riverbanks for signs of predators, while Yun Nai began divining on the spot. The Tribe’s relocation was a major decision, and regardless of the destination, they needed to consult the Totem for guidance.

Although the Totem rarely provided clear answers, requiring the Priest to interpret its signs, this was precisely where the Priest’s role lay.

“How did it go?” Xie Yu asked, confident that Apam wouldn’t object.

Yun Nai carefully gathered the animal bones and divination shards. “Excellent.”

Ke and Li returned. “Chief, this area doesn’t seem to be the territory of fierce beasts like lions.”

Xie Yu’s heart swelled with joy. If all went well, this place would become the Tribe’s new settlement.

“Then how about we cook fish for dinner tonight?” Fish leaped from the river with a splash, and Xie Yu’s eyes lit up.

Ke and Li’s lips twitched. They found fish too fishy and disliked it.

But since their journey began, they had been subsisting on wild fruits and meager portions of dried meat. An occasional fish meal would be a welcome change. Besides, it was the Chief’s decision, so they nodded in agreement. If they still couldn’t stomach the fish later, they simply wouldn’t eat it. They were confident that wild fruits alone could keep them full.

“I’ll go gather some herbs,” Yun Nai said, rising to her feet.

“Chief,” Ke whispered, sidling up to Xie Yu, “why don’t you go with the Priest?”

“Let the Chief go fishing. She’s an excellent fisher,” Yun Nai said as she walked away. “Ke, come with me.”

Ke eagerly dashed after Yun Nai. “Priest, what are we going to do?”

Xie Yu blinked, watching the figure disappear into the grove of small trees. Feeling somewhat lost, she called out to Li, who was standing beside her, equally stunned, to go fishing in the river.

This river hardly qualified as one. It was shallow and narrow, the water barely reaching their knees, yet remarkably clear. From above, they could see fish swimming below, some species Xie Yu had never encountered before.

In truth, the tribe rarely ate fish. The fishy taste and numerous bones made them unappealing; some species were even poisonous. Fish in this era differed greatly from those of millennia later, which had undergone extensive evolution. Here, a fishbone lodged in one’s throat could prove fatal.

Xie Yu brandished her spear, using it as a harpoon to stab at the riverbed. Li followed suit.

When she speared a fish, Xie Yu tossed it onto the bank. Li mimicked her actions, and soon five fish lay flopping on the shore.

She mentally calculated that this had taken about twenty minutes. If only we had a fish basket, she thought.

The stream had carved out numerous hollowed stones, and the riverbank was littered with oddly shaped rocks. Xie Yu quickly spotted two concave stones resembling pots and instructed Li to build a stone hearth. They gathered a pile of dry branches from the nearby ground.

Li retrieved two stones from his pouch and started a fire.

This was a fire-starting technique the tribe had perfected over generations: striking stone against stone. Besides this, the most common method was friction-based fire-making using wood.

Xie Yu walked to the riverbank to prepare the fish and shrimp. Gripping a stone knife, she scraped off the scales, removed the entrails, and casually laid the cleaned fish on a washed stone slab.

Li filled a concave stone with water, placed it over the fire, and began to boil it.

After about five fish had been prepared, Yun Nai and Ke returned. Xie Yu glanced up and saw Ke carrying a bundle of branches, likely for adding to the fire at Yun Nai’s instruction. Yun Nai, meanwhile, held a collection of plants Xie Yu didn’t recognize.

“What are these?” Xie Yu asked, staring curiously at the plants in Yun Nai’s arms.

“Flavor enhancers,” Yun Nai explained. “Violet Leaf and Green Vine Vegetable. The Chief wants to boil the fish, and these will improve the taste.” She walked to the riverbank to wash the plants.

Xie Yu’s eyes lit up. Spices were hard to come by in winter, and she had been secretly craving them for a long time. Yun Nai knew many medicinal and edible plants; she could ask her more about them later.

It seemed there was hope for escaping the monotony of dry, roasted meat after all.

Xie Yu hurried over to Yun Nai, taking two steps at a time. “So these can be used as seasoning?”

“Not much,” Yun Nai replied, understanding her thoughts. “I just accidentally tasted them once.”

Xie Yu nodded, realizing there were only these two seasonings available.

“There are still a few plants left in that small grove I just visited. If we move them here, we could grow more.”

“I’ll help.”

The clear stream water flowed around Yun Nai’s hands, its coolness seeping from her skin into her heart. She shifted over, making room for Xie Yu.

Ke and Li, tending the fire, secretly discussed the two figures by the stream.

Li accidentally made eye contact with Xie Yu as she turned back, grinning sheepishly.

The washed Violet Leaves and Green Vine Vegetables were added to the stone pot, mixing with the other ingredients and the snow-white fish. A delicate fragrance rose with the curling smoke that drifted above them.

Ke stirred the fish soup with a slender stone stick, exclaiming in surprise, “It doesn’t smell fishy anymore!”

Li stared intently. Ke was right—the aroma had improved dramatically. He could easily finish the whole pot himself.

After working so long, they were all ravenously hungry.

Ke and Li looked up at Xie Yu. The Chief moved first, then the Priest, and finally it was their turn.

Xie Yu ladled the fish soup into Yun Nai’s stone bowl and handed it over.

Seeing this, Ke raised her eyebrows triumphantly at Li, as if to say, “I told you so.”

Li, with his honest and straightforward nature, pretended not to notice Ke’s gloating.

“Thank you, Chief,” Yun Nai said politely, as she always did, whether in public or private. The only difference was that she was even more formal in public. She accepted the bowl with both hands and walked over to a large rock by the stream to sit down.

Ke was satisfied. The thick broth, rich with fish meat, was indeed fragrant now that the fish’s stench had dissipated.

Xie Yu didn’t follow. She sat down beside Ke, finished her own portion, and then approached Yun Nai.

“Priest, the herbs you gathered are wonderful,” Yun Nai said, casually picking up a few stones and skipping them across the water.

Ping, ping, ping—

Three days later, as the sun began to set, the four returned to the tribe just as Ping led the hunting party back. The villagers cheered at their return.

Lian and Yan, in the middle of the group, each carried a wild goose and excitedly waved them at the others. “Look what we hunted today!”

“Excellent work,” Xie Yu praised. Yan and Lian were the tribe’s young and promising members, and she never hesitated to commend them. “Hide these away. We have more important news: we’ve found a new settlement.”

Inside the cave.

“We must leave this place and move down the mountain,” Xie Yu declared. “There’s a place perfectly suited for us.”

“Chief, there’s water and animals there. Could it be dangerous?”

Ke shook her head. “No, we’ve already scouted the area thoroughly.”

“Wild beasts fear fire. Until we’re strong enough to defend ourselves, we’ll use fire to keep them at bay. Besides, this area isn’t teeming with predators like tigers and lions. The truly powerful beasts remain deep in the forest.”

They needed to claim that prime location as soon as possible. If another tribe expanded into the area first, it would be a loss for the Shadow Tribe.

“But Chief,” Yan asked, chewing on a sour fruit, “without caves, where will we live?”

Xie Yu and Yun Nai exchanged a glance. That’s exactly what we need to address next, Xie Yu thought. If there are no caves, we won’t live in caves. “Our tribe will build our own houses.”