Chapter 1108, The Half-Snakes, Born for Battle

Translator: Silavin

 

“Shaman, the third Tribe is the Green Snake Tribe. They are not particularly large.”

 

Sha Lan flicked her cat tail, thinking it over, then continued. “They are also a Medium Tribe, but every single person in it is extraordinarily fierce. Even if their number of Warriors is not great.”

 

“Oh? Now you have made me curious. How many Warriors does the Green Snake Tribe have?” Su Bai picked up his teacup and shifted his posture.

 

“Their Warrior count is roughly around one hundred, and that figure includes Warrior Trainees.” Sha Lan said it at once.

 

She had been startled when she heard it from Hu Shi. That number was genuinely small. Especially for a Medium Tribe. You would expect something like three hundred Totem Warriors at a minimum.

 

“It seems this Tribe is truly born for battle. To protect a Tribe of over a thousand with that few Warriors, they would make for fine partners.” Su Bai took a quiet sip of tea.

 

He found himself genuinely interested in those who were strong. Particularly given how few Totem Warriors a Medium Tribe like this had managed to field.

 

“I am not sure why, but the people of the Green Snake Tribe did not say very much. Though they seemed very curious about our Tribe.” Sha Lan shook her head.

 

“Perhaps they have certain thoughts regarding our Tribe. What are their main specialty products?” Su Bai asked.

 

He could not yet make out exactly what the Green Snake Tribe intended, but he felt the matter was not as simple as it appeared.

 

“Our Tribe does not seem to have anything particularly remarkable that caught their eye. We offered them things and they gave nothing back in return. They only said they wished to come and have a look.” Sha Lan shook her head.

 

“Interesting. It seems like this Tribe really has formed some kind of idea about us.” Su Bai’s lips curved faintly upward.

 

He had not been entirely certain at first. It was only after hearing that this Tribe had nothing especially valuable to bring to the table that it clicked.

 

Su Bai was now quite sure the Tribe had intentions. Intentions that concerned the Flame Dragon Tribe specifically.

 

It was not so surprising. Who could blame them, when Qing Yan and Hu Shi had brought out so many fine goods from the Flame Dragon Tribe.

 

Any Tribe with real strength, seeing goods like those, would naturally be tempted.

 

And he had just heard from Sha Lan that every person in this Tribe was a fierce fighter, Warrior Trainees included. Their numbers were thin but each one counted for more.

 

On top of that, they had nothing of their own to bring for trade, yet had still boarded the Flame Dragon Sail to come and have a look. That sounded less like curiosity and more like scouting.

 

There might well be a war at the end of this. That was what Su Bai was quietly turning over in his mind.

 

“Shaman, should we not simply seize the two people from the Green Snake Tribe now? There are only two of them.” Sha Lan asked straightaway.

 

Sha Lan’s expression had gotten quite serious. She was only just holding herself back from acting.

 

She would not allow anyone to harbour ideas about the Flame Dragon Tribe. Such people did not deserve the consideration.

 

“Not yet. We do not yet know what exactly they intend to do. Besides, we have already arranged for people to watch over them, have we not? Whatever they are up to, we will know.” Su Bai considered a moment, then added. “The one thing we do not know is their individual strength. But when facing firearms, even the strongest will find it difficult to hold out.”

 

The reason he could stay this calm was simple. The Flame Dragon Tribe held its trump cards. And if things truly came to it, he could step in himself. Two Totem Warriors were easier to deal with than breathing for him.

 

“Yes. People have already been set to watch them. The moment they make any suspicious movement, we will know at once.” Sha Lan nodded several times.

 

“Are the two who came Mid-Stage Totem Warriors?” Su Bai asked.

 

“One is. The other is an Early-Stage Totem Warrior.” Sha Lan replied softly.

 

“By the way, if my guess is correct, the people of the Green Snake Tribe are Half-Snake Demi-Humans, right?” Su Bai continued.

 

He had come to understand this pattern. Most Tribes took their names from their own Bloodlines.

 

Like the Spotted Deer Tribe, or the Soft Rabbit Tribe. Deer Demi-Humans, Rabbit Demi-Humans.

 

“Seems to be the case. Most of them are Half-Snake Demi-Humans. Their eyes look just like a snake’s, and their tongues are long enough to give one a fright.” Sha Lan gave a small shudder at the thought.

 

Su Bai pursed his lips in sympathy, his mind going at once to the image of a head shaped like a snake’s.

 

Then he gave his own head a shake and put the thought aside. [They should not look like that in person, right? Well, we will see when the time comes.]

 

“Perhaps Shaman should not meet with them at all. I worry they might… do something rash.” Sha Lan said, her voice uncertain.

 

“No need to worry about that. They cannot stir up much trouble. In fact, I now want to see what a Half-Snake Demi-Human actually looks like.” Su Bai laughed.

 

He had been in this world long enough now to have encountered many different peoples. The first few times had been astonishing. After that, things had started to feel rather ordinary. Half-Snake Demi-Humans, though, that was enough to pique his interest again.

 

“I have seen them already. I did not think they looked very different from us. The only thing is their tongues are longer than ours. That’s about it.” Sha Lan blinked her blue eyes.

 

She could not quite work out why the Shaman had suddenly become so expectant, that warm gleam in his gaze. She felt almost reluctant to say it.

 

“Really? That’s it?” Su Bai deflated all at once.

 

His hopes, quietly built, had just collapsed. He had expected something noticeably different. Something that sets them apart from ordinary people at a glance.

 

Never mind a snake’s tail in place of legs. At least a proper snake’s head?

 

He had seen it that way in countless works of fiction. Why were the Half-Snake Demi-Humans of the Primitive Era not like that?

 

“I saw them with my own eyes. They really look just like any of us. Though, they do have a kind of coldness about them, and an air that says they should not be provoked.” Sha Lan flicked her cat tail.

 

“Well, all right. Still, I am curious to see how they look, who are said to be naturally born for battle. If it can be arranged, they might even join our Flame Dragon Tribe.” Su Bai said mildly.

 

Since the curiosity could not be satisfied, the practical thought moved in to take its place. May as well recruit them into the Tribe.

 

“Shaman wants to take in people from the Green Snake Tribe? I doubt they would submit so easily.” Sha Lan said with a slight pout.

 

“That will not be up to them. As long as I have enough leverage, they will have no choice but to join our Tribe.” Su Bai suddenly felt a strong premonition of it.

 

“I wonder what they might get up to. In all likelihood they would not dare do much, given that they are here in our Tribe.” Sha Lan straightforwardly said.

 

“Wait and see. Their Tribe has nothing to trade with us, and no way to sustain a long-term partnership. That is when the thought of taking by force tends to creep in.” Su Bai showed a flash of white teeth and smiled. “The moment something like that happens, we will make a trip to the Green Snake Tribe.”

 

“To the Green Snake Tribe?” Sha Lan’s blue eyes went wide in an instant.

 

“That’s right.” Su Bai drank his tea with perfect ease.