The Survival of the Wild Tribe

127

In less than a day, Hei Yuan dug the foundation for the house. However, due to the slow drying of the mud, which served as a binder, most of the time had to be spent waiting, even though Hei Yuan was quick to work.

The arrival of Black Abyss brought much excitement to the Sun Yao tribe, especially his daily sparring matches with Lu Zhan, which had become a must-watch entertainment program in the tribe. However, due to the significant gap in strength, Hei Yuan and Lu Zhan had never unleashed their full beastly power in their bouts. Despite Lu Zhan's efforts, he seemed more like he was playing with a massive domesticated dog. Of course, the domestic dog's ferocity was undeniable, and it wouldn't be long before it overturned its master. The tribe didn't even need to dig specifically; they could simply add a ready-made fish pond.

Apart from sparring with Lu Zhan, other orc warriors in the tribe also enjoyed fighting with Hei Yuan, driven by their resilient mentality. Although they all recognized Lu Zhan's strength as their leader, many couldn't last long against Hei Yuan's prowess. However, this failure didn't dampen their spirits; instead, it fueled their fighting spirit.

However, Hei Yuan treated others differently from Lu Zhan, showing no mercy in his fights. He seemed to enjoy subduing the warriors, leaving them meowing and barking like a group of defeated cats, much to Luo Zhen's bemusement.

The dynamics among the men were established through combat. If one fight didn't suffice, then two would. After Black Abyss defeated all the orc warriors in the tribe, he lost interest in fighting and preferred to engage in various activities with Hei Ya in the house.

Drawing on his memory, Luo Zhen provided Hei Yuan with interior decoration designs, which Hei Yuan eagerly brought to life. Despite having seen rough equivalents in the Wizard’s Palace, Hei Yuan appreciated Luo Zhen's detailed drawings, which enabled him to distinguish between beauty and ugliness in furnishings.

However, Black Cliff found it challenging to keep up with Hei Yuan's demands for perfection. He would redo any piece with even the slightest flaw, adding to his stress. In addition to helping Hei Yuan build the house and create various furnishings, Black Cliff also assisted in studying weapon weights and crossbows, which Luo Zhen had explained to Hei Yuan. This work, coupled with the demands of building and furnishing, added a few more white hairs to his head.

"Are these windows pasted with paper? They'll easily break in the rain and won't provide warmth in winter," Hei Ya remarked, pointing to the window design.

Hei Yuan considered it. "Paper-pasted windows offer better light transmission. We can cover them with animal skins and wrap a layer of giant anaconda membrane on the outside." He had discussed this with Luo Zhen two days prior, planning to experiment with the materials available for the house Hei Yuan was building. Hei Ya, however, was puzzled by the mention of membrane, associating it only with the giant anaconda used to make a greenhouse. As for the materials, Hei Ya wasn't too concerned; Hei Yuan would always manage to acquire them. Seeing the piles of stones on the tribe's clearing, Hei Ya speculated whether Hei Yuan had moved most of the mountains back himself.

Moreover, Hei Yuan can also shape those large stones into suitable square shapes according to Luo Zhen's requirements. Although the pits might seem severe on the surface, it must be acknowledged that such large, thick stones provide much better protection from the cold or defense than their mud-brick houses, and their sheer size alone enhances their defensive capabilities.

Luo Zhen deliberately made the house much bigger. Once completed, Hei Yuan's house would likely become the largest in the Riyao tribe.

While Hei Ya continued to assist Hei Yuan with furniture-making, Hei Yuan suddenly disappeared from the tribe for several days, leaving with Chasing Wind laden with bedclothes. When Hei Yuan asked Luo Zhen about his absence, Luo Zhen simply mentioned that he went out to gather materials for building the house. However, upon Hei Yuan's return, Hei Ya discovered the materials he had actually hunted down: several giant anacondas, caught even on a snowy day.

Severely subdued by the giant anacondas, Hei Yuan and Chasing Wind returned to the tribe, almost mistaken for invading enemies by the guard warriors if not for recognizing Hei Yuan's voice.

After the giant anacondas were removed from Chasing wind with the collective effort, Chasing wind's legs trembled incessantly. He ran over to Luo Zhen, seemingly complaining about being taken away by Hei Yuan without consent and waking up in the wilderness one day.

For Chasing Wind's safety, he had to stick close to Hei Yuan, enduring being used as a laborer by the human. Since following Luo Zhen, Chasing Wind had never experienced such misery before, feeling increasingly aggrieved and shedding tears.

Luo Zhen remained silent, comforting Chasing Wind with a gentle pat on the head. However, Chasing Wind continued to express its distress, prompting Luo Zhen to admit his lack of understanding. This revelation puzzled Chasing Wind, accustomed to understanding the words of flame ants but now unable to comprehend those of its fellow staghorn horses.

Observing Hei Yuan's return with the captive man, Lu Zhan inquired about the person being carried. Hei Yuan casually dropped the man to the ground, suggesting he was intercepted while attempting to raid their tribe. He then proposed the man could be saved and put to work for them. Lu Zhan remained silent, inspecting the man wrapped in animal skin, while Luo Zhen offered Chasing Wind a grass cake to eat before approaching.

Although the man's face was bruised, and even more bruises appeared as Hei Yuan carried him, Lu Zhan still recognized him as He Zhan, the new leader of the Dahu tribe.

Having played against He Zhan, Lu Zhan knew his strength and quick reaction well. Despite seeming intimidating to others, such resilience was crucial in the savage land, where survival depended on more than just strength.

"These injuries..."

"It's from a monster," Hei Ya interjected, startled by the wounds.

"Have you encountered the monster?" Lu Zhan inquired of Hei Yuan.

Hei Yuan nodded, "Encountered a few. They're cowards, fleeing at the sight of me."

Shrugging, Hei Yuan expressed disdain for orcs who dared to threaten his tribe's cubs. Observing the half-dead man, he decided to let the cub handle him.

"Should we save him?" Luo Zhen examined the blood-stained animal skin, concerned that the injuries extended beyond what was visible.

"Yes," Lu Zhan ordered the soldiers to move He Zhan to their home for treatment, as the tribe lacked a designated medical facility.

Uninterested in the stranger, Hei Yuan happily turned to dissect the giant anacondas, seeking the transparent film needed for windows.

"Keep the hearts of those giant anacondas for me," Luo Zhen requested before departing.

Curious, Hei Ya inquired about Hei Yuan's relationship with the two children.

Kicking a stone, Hei Yuan dismissed the question, lamenting Alu's lack of initiative in formalizing their relationship. Reflecting on his own past with Alu, Hei Yuan felt proud and vowed to counsel him on being a better partner.

"Indeed, a powerful wizard like the Great Witch needs a confirmed relationship to avoid being taken," Hei Ya agreed.