The Survival of the Wild Tribe

156

Due to Chasing Wind's injuries, the luggage it originally carried was redistributed among the three staghorn horses and three other orc warriors. As a wizard, Luo Zhen only carried a backpack and a wooden box, along with a bow and quiver.

In the rugged mountain and forest terrain, it wasn't conducive for the staghorn horses to maintain full speed, especially Chasing wind. Even though Lu Zhan lent Zhan Er to Luo Zhen, the injury of chasing wind slowed their journey. They couldn't rush to the next resting place as before and had to find a suitable spot before nightfall.

Having spent the previous night in the forest, the orc warriors were adept at finding safe resting places. Their journey was mostly uneventful, save for a few sightings of human-faced birds hovering in the sky, seemingly searching for something but showing no inclination to attack.

After over a month, when Luo Zhen emerged from dense tall grass and beheld the open plain ahead, he was taken aback. The hilly terrain was scattered with peaceful hills, and a big river flowed along the foot of the mountains. Unfamiliar animals roamed about, retreating at the sound of their group's approach, either fleeing into the distance or hiding in caves.

Despite the vibrant summer scenery with blooming wildflowers and fruit-laden trees, the absence of human activity in such a vast open area struck them as peculiar.

"Great Witch, this way," Shan Qi, who had been here before, signaled to the group from behind a camphor tree, prompting Luo Zhen to lead the way.

With healing herbs and Tai Sui, Chasing wind's leg wound had long since healed, leaving no trace of the hyena bite. After consuming the fruits and meat they gathered along the way, their luggage was lighter, though they still carried fur, dried feathers, and bones from their hunts.

Lu Zhan, sensing something amiss, couldn't shake off the feeling of unease about their surroundings.

Shan Qi nodded and explained, "This is the territory of the apes. As long as we refrain from picking wild fruits nearby, they won't attack us."

During Shan Qi's previous visit with the tribe members, a young soldier, tempted by the abundance of wild fruits, attempted to pick them. However, he was swiftly reprimanded by older soldiers before he could even reach the trees. Despite feeling wronged, the soldier learned a valuable lesson on their return journey.

Although Shan Qi hadn't encountered the apes himself, his brief visit left a lasting impression on the veteran warriors, who advised against provoking them.

After hearing Shan Qi's explanation, Luo Zhen glanced at the nearby wild fruits, but refrained from approaching. Despite not recognizing some of the plants, their harvest along the way had been sufficient, and they had no desire to provoke trouble over unknown fruits.

During their last week on Changfeng Mountain, they hadn't found any rivers or springs for replenishing water. Consequently, they relied on collecting dew and using various wild fruit plants to stay hydrated. Their parched lips and tired faces spoke volumes about their predicament. Seeing the nearby river, even the staghorn horses longed to quench their thirst, rendering the wild fruits unappealing.

While the river was home to ferocious snapping turtles, they posed little threat compared to crocodiles. Even Shan Qi's vigilance didn't waver as he stood by the river, ready to alert the group to any danger.

The sultry mountain air caused sweat to saturate their animal skins, resulting in a sour smell. However, given their shared circumstances, no one was in a position to judge.

Several staghorn horses found a spot upstream and happily drank from the water. Despite carrying luggage, they couldn't soak in the water, except for Chasing Wind, who often bathed with Luo Zhen. Other beasts, instinctively resistant to deep water, were content to drink and graze on the dense weeds along the shore.

"Mama, I want to bathe too!" Lu Yi protested from the shore, hopping up and down on a blade of grass to get Luo Zhen's attention.

Not daring to immerse the tiny flame ant directly in the river, Luo Zhen filled a wooden bowl with a shallow layer of water and placed it where he could keep an eye on Lu Yi. Seeing this, Lu Yi happily crawled into the bowl's edge.

Though flame ants typically disliked water, Lu Yi's fondness for water play stemmed from watching Luo Zhen bathe in the river. A Si, less adventurous than Lu Yi, hesitated at the bowl's edge, reluctant to dip into the water.

With only a thin layer of water in the bowl, A Si cautiously approached but refrained from submerging completely.

Lu Yi, finding A Si's hesitance dull, playfully nudged him into the water with a surprise maneuver, sending A Si tumbling in with a splash. Watching their antics, Luo Zhen couldn't help but smile, though he couldn't see the bottom of the bowl where the two tiny creatures were tangled.

After their refreshing bath, Lu Zhan skillfully hunted a snapping turtle. Despite its tough shell, he managed to kill it without damaging the shell too severely.

I'm not sure if the snapping turtle's shell differs from ordinary tortoise shells. Since it's not a plant, Luo Zhen's ability to identify the shell isn't very helpful, and there's no way to confirm its medicinal value. Without further information, Luo Zhen hesitated to use it indiscriminately, relying solely on his memory.

However, the shell's hardness makes it suitable as a shield. Unfortunately, the orc warriors in their group prefer using beast-type weapons in battle, so apart from ordinary fighters, others aren't suited to wield a shield.

Despite its current awkwardness, Luo Zhen didn't want to discard the shell. He saw it as potential new luggage.

After leaving Changfeng Mountain, they neared the trade location of the Tiger and Lion tribe. Outsiders weren't permitted direct entry into the tribe, instead being directed to a safe flat land several hills away, where a makeshift trading site had been established. Over time, it had evolved into a semi-permanent settlement, active only during spring and summer.

This settlement served as a primitive bazaar, where people exchanged goods. After about five days of travel through hilly terrain, Luo Zhen's party spotted signs of movement. They soon encountered orc warriors carrying various items in the same direction. While their staghorn horses attracted curious and wary glances, no one approached to greet them.

Visitors to the settlement typically displayed their goods for direct selection, avoiding potential conflicts with unfamiliar tribes. Given the risk of offending a powerful tribe, no one wanted trouble.