The Survival of the Wild Tribe

146

Just before dawn, in a world devoid of electric illumination, darkness shrouds the landscape. Even the moon has retreated from the mountains, leaving only a few stubborn stars casting faint glimmers upon the earth.

Yet, in the current Riyao tribe, each house is adorned with glowing lamp grass, softly dispersing the darkness throughout the entire settlement.

The pathways, neatly paved with large flat stones, are lined with uniform green fruit trees. The newly constructed houses boast gray-tiled mud brick walls, each enclosed by a tidy fence, presenting an orderly appearance.

Between the houses, gravel-paved pathways are adorned with medicinal and edible herbs, now in full bloom during the flowering season. As the breeze gently sways the small flower clusters of the thistle, passersby hurry along their way, the leaves dancing joyously in response.

A series of knocks echo on a lacquer-coated wooden door, swiftly followed by its opening. Lu Zhan peers at Ah Shui, whose disheveled hair betrays his recent awakening. Observing the makeshift water clock at the corner of the house, Lu Zhan notes the early hour, nearly four o'clock in the morning. While the water clock's accuracy is debatable, it serves as their only means of telling time during the night.

"What brings you here so early?" Lu Zhan inquires, his lips downturned upon realizing the time.

Unperturbed by Lu Zhan's displeasure, Ah Shui, now as tall as Lu Zhan's chest, confidently strides past him, clay pot in hand. Within the hall, a beautifully crafted dining table displays a pot of Dengcao, its lush foliage illuminated by three thumb-sized fruits emitting a soft glow.

Ah Shui proceeds to unveil a clay pot, releasing a tantalizing aroma of wine. Lu Zhan eagerly leans in to sniff the fragrance, as Ah Shui pours the wine into two cups, crafted from the innards of a fierce beast.

The fruit wine, discovered by the tribe in the previous summer, boasts a sweet aroma and moderate alcohol content. While children are strictly prohibited from indulging, adults savor it as a delicacy. In addition to fruit wine, Luo Zhen annually harvests wildflowers in spring, creating scented tea that, when sweetened with beet sugar, becomes a beloved treat among the tribe.

With a portion of wine poured, Ah Shui departs momentarily, returning with the remainder of the fruit wine to complete the cups.

As Lu Zhan reclines on a sofa, anticipating further rest, others begin to arrive, bearing various supplies for the journey ahead. Even Hei Ji, a toddler, joins his mother, eventually approaching Lu Zhan with a curious inquiry about Luo Zhen's whereabouts.

In response, Lu Zhan, still reclined with eyes closed, advises Hei Ji to let Luo Zhen rest undisturbed.

Gradually, more visitors trickle in, disrupting Lu Zhan's attempt to return to sleep. Eventually, even the staghorn horses Zhanfeng and Zhanear are drawn into the commotion.

Zhanear, now showing signs of age, bears battle scars and a bent ear. Zhe Er, on the other hand, displays a lively demeanor, exhibiting intelligence beyond its years. Despite lacking life energy absorption, Zhe Er surpasses ordinary staghorn horses in wit and agility, often besting even Zhanfeng in their encounters.

Even the name Zhe Er was self-appointed. When Luo Zhen inquired about the reason, Zhe Er explained that his name stemmed from the fact that his ears were folded off.

Though Luo Zhen had begun to grasp the staghorn horses' language by the end of spring, unlike the emotionally bonded flame ants, he could only discern their expressions. The staghorn horses' vocalizations were limited to high and low pitches, lacking the complexity of human language, leaving Luo Zhen to interpret their meanings based on intuition.