The Survival of the Wild Tribe

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The antler horse ran much faster in the snow than the orc warriors. Lu Zhan returned after only five days this time. As usual, Luo Zhen greeted them at the city gate. When the wind-chaser saw Luo Zhen, it let out a whinny, trotting up eagerly. Luo Zhen smiled, patting its head and offering the straw cakes he had prepared for it.

"How was it? Did you encounter any trouble or fierce beasts?" Luo Zhen couldn't help but feel a bit concerned seeing that the returning group was somewhat injured.

He first checked Lu Zhan’s injuries and found that, aside from a slight abrasion on his palm and face, there were no other noticeable wounds. The others' conditions mirrored Lu Zhan’s. The injuries didn't require herbal treatment; they would heal on their own in a few days, which relieved Luo Zhen.

Glancing at where Hei Yuan had been lying before, Lu Zhan didn't see the figure lying dead in the snow. He wondered if the other party had quietly left while he was away from the tribe. A trace of melancholy flickered in Lu Zhan's heart, but he concealed it well, unnoticed by the others.

"The leader of the Great Lakes tribe intends to send someone to monitor us. We ambushed their scouting party on the way back, and a few managed to flee. They'll think twice before attempting it again," one of the orc warriors reported. Lu Zhan doubted the Dahu tribe's leader would risk sending more after this encounter. Due to past experiences from his childhood, Lu Zhan detested living under constant surveillance. His eyes darkened at the thought of any further sneaky incursions.

Lu Zhan briefed Luo Zhen on the past few days. Besides ambushing the Dahu tribe's scouts on their return journey, the trip had been relatively smooth. After a brief exchange with Heifu, Lu Zhan followed Luo Zhen back home.

Chaifeng bounded ahead joyfully. Each time they returned, Luo Zhen would have bathwater ready for him, despite Chaifeng's dislike for bathing in cold weather. Yet, if it meant getting closer to Luo Zhen and enjoying the comforting white foam that kept parasites away, Chaifeng deemed it worthwhile.

As the wind-chaser pushed the door open with its hoof, it froze in place, staring incredulously inside. What did it see? It had eagerly anticipated its warm sleeping nest, only to find it occupied by a man sprawled out, limbs akimbo, snoring loudly. The soft animal skins were stained with his scent.

"Why don't you go in?" Lu Zhan noticed the wind-chaser at the door and patted its back, urging it to enter.

"Yeah," that's my bed. Chasing the wind walked over with heavy steps, lifting its forefoot and lightly pressing on the sleeping figure's face. It remembered this was Luo Zhen's home, so it didn't apply too much force, but enough to wake the person up.

Lu Zhan, entering behind, paused at the sight of the person under the wind-chaser's hoof. He glanced at Luo Zhen, who touched his nose and said, "I was just about to tell you about this."

As the wind-chaser headed to the washroom, Luo Zhen gestured for Zhan to help set the fire, taking the opportunity to recount recent events in the tribe and Hei Yuan's revelations about Alu.

Lu Zhan listened silently, his expression softening a few times, especially when Alu's scaling disease was mentioned. After helping Luo Zhen bathe the wind-chaser and drying it by the fire outside, he shed his animal skins and immersed himself in the tub.

Luo Zhen scooped some cold water from a nearby bucket, adjusting the water temperature before wetting Zhan's black hair and carefully applying soap.

The saponaria tree was located five or six mountains away from their tribe. After discovering it, Luo Zhen spent a considerable time perfecting the soap-making process. With Axue's assistance, they managed to add some spices to the soap, enhancing its fragrance. Axue, despite her somewhat carefree demeanor, diligently followed Luo Zhen's instructions and documented their experiences, ensuring they avoided repeating mistakes.