Chapter 100: This Could Work

Oil… It made sense that these primitive people wouldn't know what it was. Without plant-based oils, the only way to obtain fat was by rendering animal lard—but how could they render it without pots? No wonder they had never seen it before.

A long procession of torches stretched eastward, finally reaching the Han Tribe's settlement just before the last rays of sunlight vanished.

"Great Elder! The chief has returned! I can see their torches!" a child standing atop the wall shouted excitedly.

"Open the gates! Let them in!" the elder ordered immediately.

Several women hurried to remove the wooden barricades at the entrance, standing at the gates to welcome the returning men.

In Luo Chong's group, You Fu gazed at the towering flagpole in the open space ahead, where a large leather banner fluttered in the evening breeze.

"Is that your tribe's totem? Do you have a shaman now?" You Fu pointed at the banner curiously. He distinctly remembered that the last time he visited, this flag had not been there.

"That's not a totem. It's a Han character—a symbol far more powerful than a totem. It's the name of our tribe," Luo Chong explained.

"Han character…" You Fu murmured, committing the term to memory as they approached the settlement walls.

Several members of the Wandering Tribe stared in astonishment at the massive stone walls surrounding the Han Tribe. The sheer number of meticulously carved stone blocks required to construct such a fortification was staggering. The effort alone… even in a lifetime, they couldn't hope to build something like this.

"Big Brother Chief! Did you get the salt? I heard that thunder in the afternoon—Elder said it was the sound of you breaking the mountain!" A seven-year-old girl leaned over the wall and called out to Luo Chong.

"Of course we got it! We'll never run out of salt again. Now get down from there before you fall," Luo Chong replied with a smile.

You Fu didn't understand Luo Chong's words, but he did notice the little girl perched atop the wall. So that's its purpose…His sharp mind immediately grasped the advantage of such a fortification. Enemies wouldn't be able to scale it easily, and guards stationed atop with spears could repel any attack. A truly formidable stronghold.

As they reached the main gate, the Great Elder was already waiting.

"Elder, these are people from the Wandering Tribe. They've come to inform the tribes about the Spring Gathering, and they claim to know you. They're also demanding food for a day—is this true? Why don't I have any memory of this?" Luo Chong asked, introducing You Fu while seeking an explanation.

"This… Chief, perhaps we should discuss this later," the elder replied hesitantly, stealing a glance at the Wandering Tribe. He shot Luo Chong a look of exasperation.

No memory? Of course not. We were too poor to afford even a day's worth of food for them. We haven't been able to attend the Spring Gathering for years. And now, Luo Chong was bringing this up in front of outsiders—how humiliating.

"Fine. Then let's prepare dinner first. Make extra—we have guests tonight," Luo Chong said, oblivious to the elder's frustration.

Once inside the walls, the Wandering Tribe members helped their children down from the oxen while the Han Tribe's men unloaded their cargo. Large blocks of mined salt were stacked neatly along the walls, and the oxen were led to their pens for food and water.

Meanwhile, the llamas and giant-horned deer were bleating noisily, drawing the curious eyes of the Wandering Tribe.

"Brother, why does this tribe have so many wild beasts? And they even built shelters for them, feeding them grass and water. Why aren't the animals running away?" You Ye, You Fu's younger brother, asked in astonishment.

"How should I know? Didn't you see how those horned beasts carried all that weight earlier? They even let people ride them. They must be using them for labor," You Fu reasoned.

He let out a sigh. "It's only been two years since we were last here… How did this tribe grow so powerful? Their stone walls alone must have taken an incredible amount of effort to build, and now they even have beasts working for them. They've grown in numbers too. When we first came, their population was similar to ours. Now, even their animals outnumber us."

"You're right, Brother. We travel all the time—if we had animals to ride, it'd be much easier. Why don't we trade for some? They have so many; they're bound to part with a few," You Ye suggested.

"Having beasts to ride would be great, but what could we offer in exchange?" You Fu pondered.

"The Spring Gathering information. With so many people, they're definitely going, right?" You Ye smirked.

Luo Chong, having finished inspecting the settlement, returned to the Wandering Tribe. "Your food is being prepared. Now, do you want to tell me the Spring Gathering date before or after you eat?" he asked, his tone hinting at impatience.

You Fu exchanged glances with You Ye before responding. "Actually… can we trade this information for one of your horned beasts instead? We don't need the food."

The translator blinked in surprise. "Uh… Chief, he said they don't want food. They want to trade the Spring Gathering information for our oxen."

Luo Chong stared at the man, dumbfounded. Then, he burst into laughter.

"You're trying to extort me?" He scoffed. "First, you ask for food. Now, you want an ox? You think your information is that valuable?"

The translator hesitated. "Should I… tell them that?"

"Tell them: No deal. They can take the food and share the information, or they can get lost," Luo Chong said coldly.

You Fu and You Ye exchanged looks. They hadn't expected Luo Chong's reaction to be so firm. Clearly, these horned beasts were of great importance to the Han Tribe. They weren't something that could be easily bargained for.

"Then we'll take the food," You Fu conceded. "The Spring Gathering will take place three sunsets after the next full moon. The location is Dream Valley, five and a half days southwest from here."

"Good choice. Prepare food and shelter for them," Luo Chong ordered, now satisfied with the deal.

Dinner was set up in the open space inside the walls. With over 400 people from both tribes, there simply wasn't enough room indoors.

Women gathered in groups, stacking bricks and stones to create makeshift stoves. Large clay pots were placed atop, with fires kindled beneath.

Men carried wooden buckets back and forth, filling the pots with water. Others brought in preserved fish and cured meat, adding wild vegetables to the simmering broth. Children clutched bowls, waiting for their turn.

The Wandering Tribe watched in amazement at the abundance of supplies, the strange boiling meat dish, and the sheer number of clay containers the Han Tribe possessed. They stared at the ceramic bowls in their hands, puzzled. What kind of stone was this made from?

You Fu, still holding his bowl, approached Luo Chong with his translator. He sat down beside him, tapping his chopsticks against the bowl before pointing to the ceramic pot in front of them, and finally to the oxen in the pen.

"Chief Luo, we didn't mean to offend you earlier. But we truly need those horned beasts. We're willing to trade—name your terms. Our tribe constantly moves across the land. If there's anything you need, we can find it. If there's work to be done, we can do it. But we need this…"

Luo Chong's eyes gleamed with interest.

Now this… this could work.