The Survival of the Wild Tribe

148

The four antler horses stepped out of the city gate of the Riyao tribe in an orderly manner, drawing the attention of the crowded gate and city wall. Everyone watched as they gradually disappeared into the distance, becoming tiny dots on the horizon. Heiji watched intently, his small mouth downturned, but his mother, holding him, was preoccupied and didn't notice his emotions.

As the figures of the four faded from view, a sense of emptiness settled in the hearts of those left behind, leaving them feeling slightly uncomfortable.

Luo Zhen adjusted the straw hat on his head. Despite the summer sun beating down, he felt a refreshing coolness as he walked through the woods. Although the antler horses initially galloped freely upon leaving the tribe, they soon slowed their pace, mindful of the need to spend the night in the forest.

Upon exiting the rolling mountains, the group's pace slowed even further. They passed through a small forest and caught sight of the abandoned residence of the Panther Tribe in the distance. Overgrown with weeds and showing signs of decay, it was a stark reminder of the passage of time.

For safety, the group followed the Panther Tribe's established route for exchanging stone and salt with the Tiger Lion Tribe. Heifu had briefed them on the markings along the way, ensuring they wouldn't lose their path. Before entering the Nanlu Plain, they camped near the Heihe River, preparing to enter the plain in the morning.

They filled water sacs with boiled and cooled water, extinguished the night's fire, packed their belongings, and replenished their food supplies. The flame ants returned to their wooden box, unable to match the speed of the antler horses. They would only be released at the resting place.

This time, Luo Zhen brought out strong soldier ants, including some older ants who had been with him from the beginning and new ants bred from new queens. Though Ah Er and Ah San wanted to join, they couldn't leave their unhatched eggs unattended. Concerned for their safety, Luo Zhen fed the new eggs with a bit of his blood, ensuring their protection.

As they traveled, Shanqi, the most powerful warrior of the Shanjia tribe, inquired about navigating around the territory of the hyena group, drawing on his previous experience with the tiger and lion tribe. Despite the passage of time, he still retained some knowledge of the general direction. With their luggage packed, he sought Lu Zhan's opinion on the matter.

"No," Lu Zhan spat out the bitter weeds from his mouth, baring his teeth as he strode toward the Nanlu Plain.
The others exchanged glances; Shan Qi and Ah Qing both displayed a hint of eagerness for battle in their eyes. Helplessly, Luo Zhen observed the three orc warriors. The Riyao tribe, nestled deep in the mountains and forests, rarely encountered fierce monsters; even the fiercest beasts were nothing more than wild wolves. Consequently, the warriors of the tribe seldom faced external foes, aside from their own internal skirmishes.

With winter approaching, it had been decided that Shan Qi and Ah Qing would accompany them on this journey. In addition to the crystal fruit typically distributed as a reward in the tribe, Luo Zhen also gave the two of them some of the newly cultivated crystal fruit. Over the past few months, their strength had noticeably improved. Unless they encountered a particularly powerful beast, one that even Lu Zhan couldn't handle, this journey would offer valuable experience for all involved.

Though the hyenas could be formidable, they didn't rank among the beasts. Perhaps their leader was strong enough to match beasts, but hyenas were primarily opportunistic, cowardly, and greedy. When they realized they couldn't win, they fled faster than anyone else. And once they detected weakness, they patiently wore down their prey until it became a meal in their bellies.

For the former black panther tribe, the hyena group posed a significant threat. With many ordinary members, and their territory bordering the hyenas', they often traded animal remains for the superficial peace between them.

Groups of hyenas patrolled the edge of the southern plain, ready to deal with any sudden threats. As there were no other large predators in the hyena territory, the four of them progressed relatively unimpeded. Excited at the prospect of a potential fight, Lu Yi and Ah Si peeked out from their collars, with Lu Yi even climbing onto Luo Zhen's head for a better vantage point.

Having been well cared for by Luo Zhen over the past few years, Lu Yi's senses had sharpened significantly. Despite being a flame ant, he could now express clear emotions without relying solely on physical contact. However, being still in a childlike state, reasoning with him proved challenging, although he obediently followed Luo Zhen's instructions, refraining from any behavior that might upset him.

As they traversed the grassy plain, startled hares darted by, but with ample provisions still left in their luggage, they saw no need to hunt. With no tall trees to obscure their view, Lu Zhan used a wooden stick to clear a path ahead, wary of potential ambushes by lurking snakes—a danger that had claimed the lives of many travelers bound for the stone salt exchange.

Luo Zhen has always been puzzled by the geographical quirks of this world. For instance, the mountains surrounding their tribe endure long winters, yet tropical plants thrive. Similarly, the Nanlu Plain, despite its ample sunshine and rainfall, lacks a single tall tree, even with a massive black river flowing nearby.

Upon entering the South Piedmont Plain, Luo Zhen felt as though he had stepped into the African Plain; the temperature seemed noticeably warmer than outside.

"Strange, have the hyenas already migrated?" A Qing couldn't help but voice his thoughts after walking for a while without encountering any of the creatures.

"We used to see those hyenas hunting near the small forest. Perhaps our ancestors retaliated and drove them out," Luo Zhen replied, recalling that Heiyuan had not encountered any hyenas on his way over.

"It's not like I've never faced challenges before. Besides, hyena meat isn't exactly appetizing," Shan Qi joked, earning a playful pout from A Qing, who promptly dismounted from the antlers and joined Lu Zhan in clearing the surrounding grass with wooden sticks to deter lurking insects and ants.

Their movements attracted the attention of some scavengers, which resembled vultures and preferred to scavenge rather than hunt. Spotting the travelers and their loaded staghorn horses, these scavengers circled overhead, signaling nearby beasts that prey was nearby.

These scavengers occasionally led beasts to prey, as they had keen eyesight and could spot prey from the air. After passing through the grassland, they would reach a beast path leading to the center of the southern plain. However, without the hyena group nearby, navigating this territory would be more challenging.

Despite the presence of a large fierce bird overhead, the three orc warriors seemed unperturbed. Only Luo Zhen gazed up at it curiously, recalling its previous appearance above the Riyao tribe alongside the human-faced bird, which had disappeared after being incinerated by Heiyuan.

With a wingspan of nearly three meters, the fierce bird had once carried Heiyuan into the sky, sparking Luo Zhen's curiosity about whether such birds could be ridden like mounts.

Of course, these thoughts only crossed Luo Zhen's mind fleetingly. He recalled that this beast was so ferocious that it hunted humans for food directly. Unlike flame ants and staghorn horses, communicating with such beasts was out of the question. Luo Zhen didn't want to entertain this dangerous idea.

Despite his reservations, he couldn't help stealing a few more glances at the fierce birds eyeing them. Quickly, though, he averted his gaze. By then, Lu Zhan and A Qing had halted, and A Qing had even readied the longbow on his back, assuming a defensive stance as he rejoined Luo Zhen.

Following their line of sight, Luo Zhen felt a pang of frustration as he spotted a massive leopard several hundred meters away. It had a sleek coat and an equally wary demeanor, observing them and their group intently.