The Survival of the Wild Tribe

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Except for the dwarf peanut that Lu Yi found, Luo Zhen wasn't interested in any other plants. There were a few berry trees, but their mature fruits had been devoured by small animals and birds, leaving only bitter, astringent green fruits hanging sparsely on the branches. Luo Zhen tasted one but found it unpalatable, so he abandoned the idea of picking them.

These berry trees were also found in the mountains near the tribe, making it unnecessary to bring them back all the way. As Luo Zhen and Shan Qi returned to their resting place, Lu Zhan hurried back with water sacs, drenched from head to toe. They had changed into linen clothes, cooler than animal skins.

Upon hearing Lu Zhan's news about dire wolves, Luo Zhen was alarmed. Dire wolves, stronger and larger than ordinary wolves, were fearsome beasts known for their group combat skills. Not wanting to confront them, the group quickly left the area.

As night fell, they navigated through the unfamiliar grassland with lanterns, attracting the attention of many wild beasts hiding in the grass. Fortunately, the staghorn horses were fast, and they managed to evade any potential threats.

Finally reaching the foot of Changfeng Mountain before dawn, they stopped by a small stream. A Qing set up a fire while Shan Qi boiled water and cooked dried meat and wild vegetables they had gathered along the way.

Ahead lay a dense primitive jungle, its tall trees blocking most sunlight, casting mottled shadows on the ground. Amidst occasional bird chirps, an eerie silence prevailed. Luo Zhen briefly glanced at the jungle before washing his face in the stream.

After a day and night of running, even the sturdy antler horses were exhausted. Luo Zhen released the flame ants to guard while he helped the horses unload their luggage, allowing them to rest. He fed them grass cakes made of bamboo leaves infused with a bit of life energy to help them regain their strength.

A Qing offered Luo Zhen a bowl of vegetable broth and a place to rest on a large animal skin mat. Though the soup was bland and the wild vegetables gave it a green flavor, Luo Zhen, feeling hungry after a night of running, gratefully accepted it.

Lu Zhan returned after searching for the marker, demonstrating his superior stamina. He joined Luo Zhen by the creek, soaking his feet in the cold water as he enjoyed the broth. He confirmed finding the marker, a sign left by the Black Panther tribe indicating a safe route through Changfeng Mountain.

A Qing suggested they continue after eating. Lu Zhan agreed, mentioning they needed to reach the next resting place before nightfall. Shan Qi expressed concern for Luo Zhen's well-being, noticing his fatigue, but Luo Zhen reassured them, promising to rest well once they stopped for the night.

Lu Zhan offered to carry Luo Zhen on his back for a while to allow him to rest. Grateful for the offer, Luo Zhen accepted, knowing Lu Zhan's strength could handle the additional weight.

Lu Zhan finished the broth and headed to the stream for a bath, the cool water revitalizing him and washing away the heat from his body.

After breakfast and a brief rest for the antler horses, they resumed their journey. Luo Zhen climbed onto Lu Zhan's back, who, having just bathed, carried a faint scent of soapwort. Despite his speed, his movements were steady. Exhausted, Luo Zhen leaned against Lu Zhan's shoulder and soon drifted off to sleep.

On Lu Zhan's back, Luo Zhen felt completely safe, sleeping deeper than he had in the wild a few days ago.

Lu Yi's distant call interrupted his slumber, alerting him to a nearby source of food.

Thanks to the staghorn horses, they reached the first resting place early. A cave nestled into the mountain wall, surrounded by thick vines, provided ample concealment. The area was fragrant with grasses that masked their scent from predators.

Although the cave wasn't spacious, it comfortably accommodated the group and their horses. Inside, they found remnants of past travelers: dry firewood, sawdust, and decayed animal skins, suggesting it had been used before but had been abandoned for some time.

After unloading the luggage, Chaifeng eagerly led the other three companions outside to find fresh weeds to eat. They had arrived very early that day, and even after a leisurely dinner, it was still not yet dark. Chasing the Wind had perhaps experienced the toughest time since arriving at the Sun Yao tribe. Luo Zhen felt a twinge of sadness, resolving not to let them run too far and to pay more attention to their needs.

With some rare free time, Luo Zhen, feeling refreshed after his long rest, planned to cook a hearty meal to reward the three hardworking orc warriors. However, just as he lit the fire, Lu Yi's voice caught his attention.

"What's wrong?" Lu Zhan asked, noticing Luo Zhen's gaze towards the cave entrance as he prepared the cooking utensils.

"Lu Yi found some new food," Luo Zhen explained. The fact that even Lu Yi considered it new suggested that they hadn't encountered it before, but if it was edible, Luo Zhen was eager to investigate. One of the purposes of their journey was to collect new food for the tribe.

Similar to the peanuts they found in the Nanlu Plain, if successfully cultivated, they could provide a new source of cooking oil and a variety of snack options to enhance their current dishes.

"Then let's go take a look," Luo Zhen suggested. Although the cave was situated three to four meters above the ground, a thin fig tree nearby provided a means to climb up and down. However, Lu Zhan insisted on assisting Luo Zhen, unwilling to let him climb alone without support.

"I'll start boiling the soup," Luo Zhen said, pouring water into the pottery pot and adding diced onions, dried wild pork, and wild mushrooms. He stirred the ingredients and placed two sticks of wood in the fire to maintain the broth's temperature while they were away.

Shan Qi and A Qing ventured out to hunt and gather firewood, leaving the cave deserted. Before Luo Zhen and the others left, they covered the cave entrance with vines and descended to the ground using the fig tree.

Lu Yi's spot was a bit distant from the cave entrance. Ah Si perched on top of Feng Feng's head, emerging from nearby bushes. Feng Feng refrained from making noise to communicate with Luo Zhen, unlike the flame ants, as excessive movement could attract predators' attention.

Chasing the Wind tapped its hooves twice before retreating into the bushes. Seeing that the two of them didn't follow, another large head appeared, gesturing for them to follow. Luo Zhen and Lu Zhan exchanged glances, surprised that even Chasing the Wind was intrigued by the new discovery. This only heightened Luo Zhen's curiosity about what Lu Yi had found.

A line of flame ants scurried under Luo Zhen's feet, having heard Lu Yi's call. However, constrained by their duty to protect Luo Zhen's safety, they couldn't wander far like Lu Yi. Seeing Luo Zhen's actions, they wanted to approach and take a look.

Since Lu Yi didn't relay the news to Luo Zhen verbally, the distance over which they could communicate was not much closer than when the staghorn horse called out loudly. After traversing the bushes, they traveled a short distance, losing sight of their settled hole. It was puzzling how Lu Yi reached this spot in such a short time.

Clearing away the obstructing weeds, Luo Zhen was astonished to see the plants before him. On a sloping area, a vast expanse of wild banana trees thrived. These wild banana trees dwarfed any wild fruit Luo Zhen had seen before. The staghorn horses poked their heads out, munching on the ripe yellow banana fruits.

With Lu Zhan's assistance, Luo Zhen descended from the high ground. The terrain here was lower, and the soil much wetter than elsewhere. With each step, his boots sank into the mud. Upon closer inspection, Luo Zhen discovered that these were wild bananas. Although the staghorn horses were already enjoying them, Luo Zhen double-checked for safety before plucking a ripe banana fruit.

After peeling the banana, he found the flesh much sweeter than any banana he had tasted before. It was no wonder Lu Yi was so fond of it.