Chapter 1042, The Flame Dragon Tribe Has Something Again?

Translator: Silavin

 

Ever since the rainy season ended, the Flame Dragon Tribe had become even more lively.

 

Su Bai checked in as usual that day, receiving a pack of face masks, which he promptly had sent over to Shan Qiu. After all, the stonemason worked in an environment thick with dust every day, so wearing a face mask was a far more hygienic and sensible arrangement.

 

“Shaman, the people from the Wild Fox Tribe will be coming to see  you this afternoon.” Yu Ying said quietly.

 

There was no particular reason for her to mention it other than the fact that she had classes to attend in the afternoon, so she would not be in the Yong’an Building then.

 

“Understood.” Su Bai gave a nod and said, “Now that the rainy season has ended, we can start recruiting teachers. Keep an eye out for candidates.”

 

That was right. He had decided to expand the school’s teaching staff, as relying solely on Yu Ying and Lu Zi simply would not do.

 

“Understood. I will recruit teachers according to your requirements, Shaman.” Yu Ying nodded firmly.

 

Su Bai had mentioned recruiting teachers before and had already set the criteria.

 

For instance, arts and craft teachers, physical education teachers, agriculture teachers, and moral education teachers. These were all experiences essential for the little ones’ growth.

 

One could not simply focus on having the children learn Chinese Characters and nothing else. In the long run, that would lead to stagnation.

 

Only by properly scheduling classes each week with a balance of work and rest would the children’s enthusiasm for learning remain high, allowing them to progress more swiftly.

 

“Go on and do what you need to do first.” Su Bai had a great pile of work on his hands as well.

 

“Alright.” Yu Ying turned around and threw herself into her tasks.

 

Time slipped by minute by minute, and in the blink of an eye, afternoon had arrived.

 

Su Bai glanced at the time and saw it was already past eleven, so he had Ye Jiu bring the guests up.

 

He put away the more important items first, then began leafing through his books.

 

Ye Jiu escorted the party, who had already been waiting downstairs, up to the room, and took her place guarding beside Su Bai.

 

“We have finally met the esteemed Shaman of the Flame Dragon Tribe. Please allow us to pay our respects.” Ye Tu immediately offered a grand bow.

 

Primitive Tribes had their own ceremonies. Perhaps a reverent tribute dance of peculiar steps, or a display of all manner of strange and unusual movements.

 

In short, one simply had to stay rooted to the spot and watch as though observing a play.

 

Su Bai suddenly found himself thinking that the old customs of kneeling and cupping one’s fists were actually quite agreeable by comparison. At the very least, they looked normal and were convenient.

 

“I have heard of your Tribe for quite some time. What brings you to our Tribe so suddenly?” Su Bai asked.

 

He had a ton of work ahead of him and no spare time for idle pleasantries.

 

“The Wild Fox Tribe wishes to enter into a partnership with the Flame Dragon Tribe, with the hope of exchanging the fewest possible goods for yours.” Seeing that the other party was extremely forthcoming, Ye Tu quickly added, “Of course, we will also offer something as a show of good Will. We hope the Shaman will not begrudge us the time it takes to hear out my proposal.”

 

His attitude towards Su Bai was one of profound respect, tempered by a considerable measure of fear.

 

There was no other reason for it. He had watched the Flame Dragon Tribe flourish to such an extent, and word had it that everything was owed entirely to their Shaman, Su Bai.

 

So, his reverence for Su Bai at that moment was immense, terrified that a single wrong word might cost him his life.

 

He understood perfectly well the capabilities of a Shaman, and thus he hardly dared to lift his head at all.

 

From the moment Ye Tu had been received and shown inside, he had kept his gaze fixed downward. One could say he had no clear picture of what Su Bai actually looked like.

 

“Go on.” Su Bai rather appreciated the other party’s directness. Everyone was busy, and there was no need to waste time.

 

“Our Tribe is different from the others in one particular respect, we possess a rather exceptional material.” Ye Tu reached into the Animal Hide Bag at his side and rummaged around. “This is a type of stone our Tribe discovered. Weapons forged from it are extraordinarily hard, more than capable of holding their own against Ferocious Beasts.”

 

Since Ye Jiu was standing at the forefront, she had no idea what he would produce from the bag. She took the stone he offered, examined it thoroughly, and once satisfied that it posed no threat, turned and presented it to Su Bai.

 

Su Bai studied the stone for a long while, thinking to himself. “Isn’t this just iron ore?”

 

The Flame Dragon Tribe had no shortage of iron ore right now. Thanks to Qing Yan, they had already located a reliable source of this ore.

 

In other words, the Tribe now had iron ore in sufficient supply for both weapon-forging and any other purpose they might need it for.

 

“We have no need for this. You may take it back.” Su Bai tossed the stone back in a neat arc.

 

Had it been earlier, he might have considered striking a deal. In the past, the Tribe had been genuinely desperate for iron ore then.

 

But the Wild Fox Tribe had simply come a step too late. Su Bai believes there must be an iron ore deposit somewhere near their territory as well. Otherwise, they would never have been so generous as to directly produce it as a trade offering, that kind of boldness only came when one had far more than one could use.

 

Ye Tu snatched the tossed iron ore from the air and stood rooted to the spot in a daze.

 

It took him a good while to recover, before asking with some uncertainty, “Shaman, would you perhaps like to see the weapons we have crafted from it? You might change your mind.”

 

Ye Tu was convinced that Su Bai had simply not appreciated the stone’s value, which was why he had declined so readily.

 

He was hoping to display the weapons they had brought along, thinking the sight of them might prompt a change of heart.

 

“There is no need. Our Tribe has superior weapons.” Su Bai declined just as directly as before.

 

“Shaman, many Tribes have sought to trade with us for this material, and yet we refused them all. This is the Wild Fox Tribe’s trump card.” Ye Tu grew agitated in an instant. After all, they had travelled an enormous distance to reach the Flame Dragon Tribe. Moreover, he had made solemn assurances to the Chieftain, swearing that he would secure a partnership with the Flame Dragon Tribe without fail.

 

He had already envisioned trading a few pieces of iron ore for fine goods to bring back. It would have made every bit of the perilous journey worthwhile.

 

“Our Tribe also has many people competing for such material, and what’s more, we are not the least bit short of it.”

 

Su Bai spread his hands with a helpless shrug. “We have it too. If you are the ones that wants it, I could even exchange some for you.”

 

His only genuine curiosity at that moment was how much iron ore the other party actually possessed, and whether they had already developed a refined process for forging it into weapons.

 

Naturally, he had no intention of asking them directly. As for the quality of their weapons, he only needed to ask whoever was minding the gates at the Tribe’s entrance.

 

Su Bai exchanged a glance with the wolf eared girl beside him, signalling her to send someone to check at the entrance.

 

Ye Jiu understood at once and slipped away to the entrance to make the arrangements.

 

“The Flame Dragon Tribe has this stone as well? That cannot be!” Ye Tu was struck dumb with astonishment once again.

 

“Of course, and we have it in great quantities.” Su Bai replied with complete composure.

 

“…” Ye Tu was instantly at a loss for words.