Chapter 565, Dao Ba

Translator: Silavin

 

Yan Hua and the others were arranged in a small wooden house. The entire wooden house was very low in height, making them feel claustrophobic.

 

Yan Hua sat on a stone, feeling very uneasy, constantly looking around at the surrounding environment.

 

It was not that she was worried something might happen, but rather this short house just naturally made her feel uncomfortable.

 

She had slept in the tall Yong’an Building and had previously slept in Teepees and wooden houses as well. However, none had made her feel this way. She believes it was because the height for all those buildings was still roughly the same, not like now where a person standing would have their head directly touching the ceiling.

 

People who were slightly taller would have to duck their heads when entering, giving an overall oppressive feeling.

 

“Why do they build their houses so short? It is really uncomfortable.” Yan Hua said, looking up at the ceiling.

 

The furnishings inside the wooden house were all very simple. A large stone was placed in the middle to serve as a table.

 

Many small stones were also placed around the large stone, most likely serving as chairs. There were no other superfluous items, and every wooden house had the standard fire pit as well.

 

The overall environment looked very simple and plain, with the dim firelight from the fire pit swaying back and forth on the walls of the wooden house.

 

Perhaps because the wooden house was built so low, the light from the fire pit appeared quite bright in the middle.

 

But it was only limited to the middle area. The surrounding areas were still quite dark. Although the wooden house was built very low, its width was still quite wide.

 

“Yes, doesn’t this make movement very difficult?” Sha Lan also found it incomprehensible.

 

Although Sha Lan and her companion were females, they were not short. So, they could always feel the ceiling when inside this house.

 

It made them unable to straighten their backs properly, and sitting down did not really help much.

 

“They probably do this to save wood. This is what my Grandfather told me,” Ah Liv explained.

 

Although she had heard of the Grey Rabbit Tribe before, this was her first time coming to see it herself. Even so, experiencing it first hand was truly different from verbal description. The overall feeling it gave was extremely oppressive. Even she felt uncomfortable sitting inside.

 

“But aren’t there many trees around the Grey Rabbit Tribe? They have plenty of wood. Why would they need to conserve wood to this extent?” Yan Hua asked in confusion.

 

When she was walking from the great river towards the Grey Rabbit Tribe, she had seen many trees along the way. Although those trees were all pressed down by thick snow and had lost their usual green lustre, after the snow season passed, this area would certainly be densely packed with lush trees.

 

So, the Grey Rabbit Tribe fundamentally had no shortage of trees, which made this rather incomprehensible to her.

 

“I don’t know about this either. Grandfather didn’t tell me. Perhaps many of the Tribe’s people have to be arranged for hunting, so they don’t have time to construct houses. They can only build these short wooden houses in a short time, which also saves a lot of time.”

 

Ah Liv rotated her green eyes and continued, “That’s probably my guess. Otherwise, there’s no other reason.”

 

After thinking about it, this was the only reason that made sense.

 

Just like their own Tribe, although there were many people, the number of wooden houses was not enough, and they had more Teepees than wooden houses.

 

“Is it the same for your Tribe? Most of the time is spent hunting?” Sha Lan asked.

 

Sha Lan recalled the environment of the Green Vine Tribe. That Tribe simply did not have many wooden houses, with most concentrated in the central area, while the surrounding areas were entirely Teepees.

 

“Yes, all the Tribe’s Totem Warriors go hunting to stockpile food. They have no spare time to fell trees to construct wooden houses.” Ah Liv helplessly said.

 

Although besides those Warriors, the Tribe still had many other people, their strength was ultimately not as great as the Warriors’, and they also had many daily tasks to attend to.

 

For instance, processing Animal Hides, crafting weapons, bearing and raising children, and a whole series of other matters. They fundamentally had no time to fell trees either, at most collecting some firewood for burning in the fire pits.

 

“So that’s how it is.” Sha Lan suddenly realised how it was done in the Flame Dragon Tribe.

 

The Tribe’s Warriors would still go hunting, but the others, the regular people, could help construct houses. The divisions of labour were made very clear and efficient, with everyone having something to do, unlike these two Tribes.

 

*Step step step…*

 

A series of footsteps sounded, beginning to slowly approach the wooden house where Sha Lan and the others were staying.

 

*Creak!*

*Whoosh whoosh whoosh…*

 

A low and harsh sound of a door opening rang out, with gusts of wind and snow surging in accordingly.

 

The person outside closed the door, and the wind and snow immediately stopped. The whooshing sounds from outside were instantly isolated, leaving only the crackling sound of burning firewood in the fire pit.

 

Yan Hua and the others’ attention was completely drawn to the main door, all looking to see who had come.

 

That person’s silhouette gradually became visible. It was a male about 1.78 metres tall.

 

The mottled patterns on his face were very obvious. He clearly looked quite aged. His original height should have been somewhat taller, but his figure was somewhat hunched, so he did not appear to have his original height.

 

He had shoulder-length grey hair, and there was a very deep scar on the right side of his lower lip, causing his mouth to be somewhat deformed. His eyebrows were also very sparse, making him look like a middle-aged man who had experienced many things.

 

The Animal Hide he wore was also very thick, and his head was also wrapped in thick Animal Hide. From his clothing and bearing, one could tell this person’s identity was not simple.

 

*Cough cough cough…* That person coughed several times, walked to a seat and sat down, then continued, “I am the Chieftain of the Grey Rabbit Tribe. I’m called Dao Ba (Scar).”

 

He was this Tribe’s Chieftain. Originally his name was not Dao Ba, but because of the deformed scar on his mouth, he decided to change his name to make himself forever remember this injury.

 

“Uncle Dao Ba, I am the Granddaughter of the Green Vine Tribe’s Shaman, and also the Chieftain’s Daughter, Ah Liv.” Ah Liv introduced herself first.

 

She was thinking of letting the Grey Rabbit Tribe know her identity, so that the subsequent conversation would be somewhat easier. Otherwise, who knew what expression the other party might put on.

 

“We are from the Flame Dragon Tribe. We are our Shaman’s Shaman Priestess.” Sha Lan also said accordingly.

 

Sha Lan also thought she needed to make her identity clear, to let the other party know who she was.

 

“I’ve already heard from the person who reported. What are you here for this time?” Dao Ba asked directly.

 

If it were not for the sake of the Green Vine Tribe, he definitely would not have made this trip.

 

“The Flame Dragon Tribe has many good things. Uncle Dao Ba, would you like to go and have a look?” Ah Liv asked.