Chapter 1208, The Whole Tribe Sets Out

Translator: Silavin

 

Night fell. Inside the Dark Scorpion Tribe’s main hall.

 

Shaman Chen Shao and a gathering of Totem Warriors had assembled together. They were deliberating over something.

 

Specifically, they were planning the attack on the Flame Dragon Tribe. After a long period of gathering intelligence, they had accumulated a considerable amount of information regarding Su Bai.

 

Of course, the intelligence they held was the sort that would cause no real discomfort to the Flame Dragon Tribe whatsoever. All they had was the kind of information that was already common knowledge.

 

“Shaman, all the Warriors are ready. We can depart the moment you give the order.” Li Ya said, his expression serious.

 

The past several days had kept him occupied with two things: training the Totem Warriors and mustering the fighters.

 

Warriors who had been out hunting or attending to other matters had all been recalled. A great undertaking was at hand.

 

The plan was to invade the Flame Dragon Tribe and relocate their base of operations. It was something they had done before. After all, the very place they currently occupied had been seized from another Tribe in the same manner years ago.

 

“How many Warriors have been assembled in total?” Shaman Chen Shao asked.

 

He had spent a long while deliberating before arriving at this decision. In the end, he had relied upon the intelligence gathered.

 

What Chen Shao understood from that intelligence was that the Flame Dragon Tribe was a Medium Tribe, known primarily as a Market Tribe built around its Central Market.

 

The number of Warriors within it was not large. The reason so many people were drawn there was simply that the goods were excellent. In terms of actual fighting strength, however, the Tribe was nothing remarkable.

 

“The total count of Totem Warriors stands at nine hundred. Two-thirds of these are Early-Stage Totem Warriors. The remainder are all Mid-Stage Totem Warriors, with six Late-Stage Totem Warriors among them.”

 

Li Ya’s expression remained solemn. Standing straight, he continued, “The number of Warrior Trainees is one thousand and two hundred. All have been equipped with weapons. The will to fight among every one of them is strong.”

 

He had been promoted to Late-Stage Totem Warrior some time ago. Previously, the Dark Scorpion Tribe had only three Late-Stage Totem Warriors. But following the most recent Totem Awakening Ceremony, that number had grown.

 

He was one of the newly advanced. The others were likewise senior figures within the Dark Scorpion Tribe.

 

The Tribe’s Totem Warrior count had originally stood at eight hundred. This year’s Totem Awakening Ceremony had added a hundred more. It was, by any measure, a respectable gain.

 

“Based on the intelligence I have gathered, the Flame Dragon Tribe’s Totem Warriors number three hundred at most. That is the ceiling of their fighting strength. They cannot possibly be a match for us.” Li Ya said, wearing an expression of fawning confidence.

 

He had spent much of the snow season mobilising people to gather intelligence on the Flame Dragon Tribe, all in preparation for today’s meeting.

 

Many of Li Ya’s subordinates had died at the Flame Dragon Tribe’s hands. His resentment toward that Tribe ran deep.

 

Looking at the intelligence before him now, he could barely keep himself from grinning. Yet at the same time, something nagged at him. How had a Tribe with such unremarkable fighting strength managed to avoid being invaded by others?

 

“Let the Warriors rest well. We set out in three days. Have the Tribe’s people prepare to move out with us. Before the rainy season this year, we are changing locations.” Shaman Chen Shao gave the order in a low, steady voice.

 

He had grown tired of the current site as well. Sending so many people out had always been aimed at dealing with the Flame Dragon Tribe. They would clear that obstacle before he could extend his control over other Tribes without interference.

 

What he had not expected was how resilient that Tribe had proven to be. Almost none of the people dispatched to deal with them had ever returned. Even the Black Snake Tribe, of which he had been rather proud, had been destroyed.

 

Chen Shao had been forced to take the Tribe seriously. He had heard the location was an exceptionally good one, and so he had resolved simply to take it for himself.

 

“Shaman, does that mean we are abandoning everything here?” Li Ya asked.

 

He still held some feelings for this place. It had been rather rough when they first seized it.

 

The elevation was high enough that it did not flood when the rains came, but there had been few wooden houses to speak of.

 

The fact that everyone in the Tribe now had a wooden house to live in was the result of work done with their own hands. Or rather, the work of the slaves they had set to the task. That distinction did not stop Chen Shao from feeling a twinge of sentiment about leaving it, though.

 

“Leave all of it. What great things can come from clinging to such things? Our new and proper home is the Flame Dragon Tribe. Haven’t you heard that their houses are made of stone? They are far more comfortable to live in than anything here.”

 

Shaman Chen Shao’s tone was flat and cold. He lifted a cup and took a long, deep drink.

 

It was the last jar of his wine. All of it had been plundered from other Tribes over the years.

 

Their practice was simple enough: whenever intelligence reached them that someone had traded with the Flame Dragon Tribe or exchanged goods there, the Dark Scorpion Tribe would go and take what they had brought back.

 

“Yes, Shaman. You are right. I will have people begin packing tomorrow. Only the essentials need to come with us.” Li Ya gave a firm nod.

 

He thought it better not to bring too much. Excess weight would only slow them down. As for food, they could simply seize what they needed from other Tribes along the road.

 

The Dark Scorpion Tribe had always operated this way. When they had moved against other Tribes in the past, they never prepared much in advance. Food was gathered from whatever Tribe they passed through.

 

“Everyone comes with us. Particularly the elderly, the women, and the children. They march with us as well.” Shaman Chen Shao added.

 

He had other calculations running in the back of his mind. No one could know what dangers the road might hold.

 

Running into other Tribes would be manageable enough. The Dark Scorpion Tribe had never feared other Tribes.

 

But encountering particularly dangerous Ferocious Beasts was another matter entirely. The reason for bringing the elderly, women, and children was precisely that they made useful targets. They were slow, unable to fight back, and would inevitably become something else’s meal.

 

In this way, the Dark Scorpion Tribe’s Warriors could conserve their strength. Their numbers would not be depleted. That was the summary of Chen Shao’s thinking.

 

“I understand your meaning, Shaman. The whole Tribe moves together this time. You may rest easy.” Li Ya allowed a sly smile to cross his face.

 

He thought it a truly excellent arrangement. Preserving fighting strength before the clash with the Flame Dragon Tribe was everything.

 

Losing Warriors to Ferocious Beasts along the road would be pointless. The elderly and the children were the most fitting bait available.

 

“Good. All of you, go and rest. Better days are ahead of us. Save the celebration for when the Flame Dragon Tribe is ours.” Shaman Chen Shao allowed one of his rare smiles.

 

Every one of his teeth was a deep, inky black. Looking at them was enough to set anyone’s nerves on edge, especially beneath that sunken, grim expression.

 

“Yes, Shaman.” Li Ya gave a nod and turned to leave.

 

The other Li Ya turned to leave as well. He still needed to send intelligence agents ahead to scout the route, making preparations for the journey set to begin in three days.

 

Every move the Dark Scorpion Tribe made was watched from a short distance away by Ban Ye.

 

He furrowed his brow slightly and reached for his sound-recording shell, committing all the intelligence to record.