The Survival of the Wild Tribe

130

"Benefits?" He Zhan clearly didn't anticipate such a response after offering to surrender.

To be honest, over the years, He Zhan had often found himself in other tribes, sometimes alone, and later accompanied by a group of skilled fighters who rallied around him. Whenever he expressed a desire to join a tribe, whether as a leader or a warrior, he was always welcomed with open arms. After all, a powerful orc warrior was an invaluable asset for tribal safety and defense against annexation by rival tribes. Merging with another tribe always offered more security than remaining with a tribe where warriors were slain and ordinary people seized.

For a time, He Zhan had roamed among the smaller tribes like a wandering beast, but he had never fully committed to joining them. He valued his life greatly; while he wasn't afraid of battle, he feared death. This internal conflict was what ultimately led him to stay behind when others moved on.

However, now he had pledged to integrate his current tribe into the Sun Yao tribe. Although their current Dahe tribe, with its few warriors but many ordinary people, could boost the Sun Yao tribe's ranking within the tribes.

He Zhan couldn't fathom why Lu Zhan refused. "Yes," Lu Zhan reclined lazily in his chair, addressing He Zhan. "If we're to save your people, we must confront the monsters. You know how greedy they are. Once alerted, they pose a significant threat. If they discover our tribe, it could bring unforeseeable losses."

Pausing, Lu Zhan's narrowed eyes seemed to exert an invisible pressure on He Zhan, who felt a chill run down his spine despite the lack of any visible change in Lu Zhan's demeanor. This unsettling sensation made He Zhan wonder if Lu Zhan had somehow grown stronger in such a short time. The strength of an orc warrior was typically determined by their animal type and remained relatively fixed from birth. Improving strength post-birth was rare and challenging. He Zhan, having endured hardships beyond imagination, knew better than anyone the difficulty of increasing strength. The fact that he felt a power gap with Lu Zhan in such a short time left him shocked.

"And you're saying that if we go to save your tribe, you promise to merge your tribe into ours?" Lu Zhan continued, regardless of what He Zhan might be thinking. "Your proposition sounds enticing—you give nothing, yet expect our warriors to die for you?"

"I don't expect that," He Zhan retorted. "We have a sizable population, and joining us would make your tribe larger."

"What's in it for us?" Lu Zhan remained firm. "You've seen it yourself. Our tribe has sturdy walls for defense and an abundance of food even in winter. Weren't you eyeing these benefits before? Now you want to claim our Sun Tribe as your own?"

He Zhan fell silent.

"You've simply moved from a lesser place to a safer one, expecting the warriors of our tribe to pay the price of their lives to accommodate you. All the benefits are taken by you, leaving us with what?"

Luo Zhen glanced at Lu Zhan in mild surprise, noting his clenched fists. Without saying a word, he observed how Lu Zhan would handle the situation. While their tribe lacked manpower, it wasn't desperate enough to accept just anyone. Moreover, the Dahu tribe remained adversarial. Mishandling this could have dire consequences, and Luo Zhen had no room for error.

He Zhan pursed his lips, struggling to find a rebuttal. He wasn't one to engage in verbal sparring; when actions could speak louder than words, he preferred silence. Now, immobilized on the bed, he couldn't argue with Lu Zhan, his eyes dimming.

After a moment, He Zhan struggled to sit up. "Thank you for saving me. If your tribe faces trouble in the future, come to me. If I can help, I won't refuse."

Lu Zhan lifted his foot, then paused as Luo Zhen discreetly signaled him to watch He Zhan's wound.

With a reluctant sigh, Lu Zhan asked, "With your injury still healing, what do you plan to do?"