Chapter 080: Back into the Dark Forest

"Put your backs into it, brothers!" Luo Chong encouraged the men with rhythmic calls as they rowed upstream.

"We're off to mine!" they chanted in unison, aligning their strokes with each row.

"Mining for copper!" the cadence continued, lifting their spirits with the promise of what the metal could bring.

"Copper for arrows!"

"Arrows for hunting!"

"Hunting for meat!" The lively work songs echoed through the mountains, providing a beat to their oar strokes and a reminder of the chain of survival in their primitive world.

Rowing with inexperienced tribesmen meant Luo Chong had to keep a strict rhythm, as any lack of synchronization could send their wooden boat spinning in circles rather than moving forward. The river, a natural highway through the forested mountains, was their best route despite the slow progress against the current.

A journey by foot from the Han tribe to the Dark Forest took half a day, but by boat, they managed it in just over three hours, reaching the spot where Luo Chong had first encountered Da Shu. The return trip, with the current's aid, would likely take only an hour.

Once they reached the edge of the Dark Forest and disembarked, the value of their sturdy wooden boat was not lost on them. "Chief, what about the boat? It's too valuable to leave unguarded," Da Shu inquired immediately upon landing.

"Let's rest and eat first. After our meal, we'll hide the boat in the forest. Mu Tong and four young men from the Hei Shu tribe will stay behind to guard it," Luo Chong planned, knowing the importance of securing their means of transport.

"Mu Tong, I'll leave some provisions with you. You'll need to guard this spot for about seven sunsets. If enemies appear and you're outnumbered, abandon the boat and head towards Bao Bao Mountain to rendezvous with us. Don't lead them back to the tribe," Luo Chong instructed solemnly, emphasizing the safety of his people over the vessel.

"Understood, Chief. We'll keep the boat safe, and if trouble comes, we'll head to Bao Bao Mountain," Mu Tong affirmed, grasping the gravity of his task.

After their meal, the men camouflaged the boat with branches and foliage before Mu Tong and the youths found a nearby tree hollow to use as a makeshift camp. This location was chosen for its familiarity to the members of the original tree tribe and its proximity to their hidden boat.

With the boat secured, Luo Chong and the remaining twenty men, along with two terror elephants and twenty oxen, resumed their journey. Da Shu and Luo Chong led the way on the backs of their respective beasts, navigating by marks Luo Chong had left on his previous trip pointing towards the eastern Bao Bao Mountain.

"Chief," Da Shu called out as they marched, "Do you suspect there are still enemies around here?"

"It's always possible, but preparation is key. And you know this area well. Have you noticed anything unusual lately?" Luo Chong asked, keeping his voice low as they discussed their safety.

Da Shu looked around, taking in their surroundings. "Nothing seems different. But remember the bodies from our fight with the cannibal tribe? We never cleaned up after that battle; we just took their pelts and weapons. Where did all those bodies go? I remember where we left them, but I didn't see them earlier."

"Could wild animals have taken them?" Da Shu speculated.

"Are there any creatures around here known to scavenge bodies?" Luo Chong questioned.

Da Shu thought for a moment before replying, "Not really. We have rabbits, pythons, and wood rats, and there's a creature that cries like a child at night. Could it be that creature?"

"Something that cries like a child? That sounds like a cat in heat; maybe some small feline predator," Luo Chong mused.

"I'm not sure what a cat in heat sounds like, but yes, that creature only cries in spring," Da Shu responded.

"Let's just hope all goes well and my concerns are unfounded," Luo Chong concluded, focusing back on their path.

As dusk approached, Da Shu found a small stream wide enough to camp by. Water sources could be dangerous due to predators, but their well-armed group was not typical prey. They prepared their evening meal with ice-cold stream water, which Da Shu explained was from spring thaws and would dry up within a month, a testament to the seasonal changes they had to navigate.

The oxen were corralled nearby, and provisions were set out for Luo Chong's terror elephants, which roamed freely. After a long day's march, everyone was ready to rest. Luo Chong organized a rotating night watch among the men, ensuring someone was always alert to potential dangers.

Late into the night, a rustling noise in the leaves reached Luo Chong's ears. He scanned the dark forest around them, his instincts on high alert. What was out there in the shadows?