The Survival of the Wild Tribe

Chapter 28

Luo Zhen hadn't expected the evacuation day to come so soon. The wind and rain had suddenly intensified that night, causing even the reinforced tents to be battered and torn. Cold wind and rain continued pouring in through the gaps. The stakes that weren't used to fix the tent were buried too shallow. There was a fear the tent might be overturned.

"Everything is packed," Lu Zhan announced, glancing at the sky from the door before grabbing the newly made backpack. As he stuffed dried meat and wild fruits into it, he said to Luo Zhen.

Soon, the roar of a beast came from the direction of the tribe, signaling the tribe's evacuation.

"Shall we go now?" Luo Zhen asked, holding a wooden bowl with bone knives and the like, and finally putting two cuckoo birds in it. The cuckoo birds were obviously not content in such a narrow space and were very restless.

Upon seeing this, Lu Zhan reached out and pinched the necks of the two cuckoo birds, and the two little guys instantly became quiet.

"Did you squeeze them to death?" Luo Zhen asked, concerned. Although these two little guys had not yet begun to lay eggs, they had been raising them for a few days. When it was not a last resort, he didn't want to harm them.

"No, they're too noisy. They're just unconscious. They'll wake up in about half a day," Lu Zhan reassured.

Luo Zhen nodded.

The rainwater flowed into the tent against the ground, and the fire in the room was extinguished. Even though the ground was paved with a layer of stones, the rainwater had already soaked the stones and reached Luo Zhen's feet.

Lu Zhan glanced at Luo Zhen’s feet, probably wanting to ease his nervousness. He smiled and said, “This method of tying your feet with animal skins is good. At least you don’t have to worry about being scratched by weeds or dead branches, but you shouldn’t tie them for too long, or your feet will rot."

"It's okay. I will take them off when we reach the resting place," Luo Zhen replied, offering animal skins for Lu Zhan's feet, which he declined.

"Why are you still here? Didn't you hear the evacuation signal? Leave quickly, the water in Heihe has risen," a rough male voice interrupted them.

Luo Zhen looked at Lu Zhan, seeking confirmation to leave.

Lu Zhan squeezed Luo Zhen's hand reassuringly, saying, "Wait a second, Heiya and the others haven't arrived yet."

"Okay."

The waiting time didn’t take long. There was a sound of footsteps at the door of the tent. Horn Bamboo was carrying A Shui, still holding a huge animal skin package in his arms.

"Why are you still here? Hurry up, the water in the Heihe is coming," Heiya said urgently.

Lu Zhan saw Heiya's family coming and carried the animal skin backpack behind him. "I'm not worried you'll leave without seeing us," he said, with a tone that was not rushed.

"Now is not the time to speak, the people of the tribe are almost evacuated. We won't be too late if we don't leave," Kadotake urged from the side.

As they set off, the wind and rain made progress difficult. A group of people ran forward, surrounded by weeds and vines softened by days of rain. "Follow me," Lu Zhan said, leading the way and guiding Luo Zhen through the obstacles.

On the way, they met other people from neighboring tribes, exchanging information about the flooding.

Luo Zhen heard a thump in his heart and turned to look at Lu Zhan, wondering about his thoughts.

Seeing the people around him looking at him, Lu Zhan smiled reassuringly and said, "Be patient. We'll be there soon."

The wind and rain were too heavy, and it took them more time than before to reach the destination. Early soldiers had already set up several tents, and Heishan was arranging people to go to the tents to shelter from the rain. There weren't many tents, so Lu Zhan took Luo Zhen and hid under a banyan tree, which provided some shelter from the rain.

"Can we only seek refuge here?" Luo Zhen asked, looking at the faint lightning on the horizon, feeling worried.

Since Ah Shui arrived late, Horn Zhu took him under his care. Lu Zhan handed the last piece of animal skins to Luo Zhen, comforting him: "It's very safe here. No matter how heavy the rain is, it won't flood here."

Before Luo Zhen reached out to take the animal skin, a huge lightning and thunder exploded nearby without warning.