Chapter 1096, The Inclusivity of the Flame Dragon Tribe

Translator: Silavin

 

*Whoosh whoosh whoosh…*

 

The Flame Dragon glided along the wide surface of the river, its destination the Flame Dragon Tribe.

 

Hu Shi and the others had been away for quite some time now. Nearly a month, and It was time to head home.

 

In that stretch, they had visited seven or eight Tribes, and every one of them had agreed to trade with the Flame Dragon Tribe.

 

The boat was loaded with specialty products from those other Tribes. This trip, it was fair to say, they were returning with a full haul.

 

And it had not taken as long as one might have expected. A few days to travel from the Flame Dragon Tribe to the next destination, then barely a day’s stay before moving on to the one after that.

 

Copy and paste. Four or five days per Tribe. Some even shorter than that.

 

Hu Shi stood on the deck and looked out at the distance. He was in a good mood mainly because he had completed the task the Shaman had given him.

 

“Looks like you are quite pleased with the result.” Qing Yan stepped up onto the deck beside him.

 

“Of course. Completing the Shaman’s task is reason enough to be happy. And we get to go back to our Tribe.” Hu Shi said it plainly, with a broad smile.

 

“There’s just over thirty days until the snow season. Finishing the task is what matters.” Qing Yan gave a small nod.

 

“Once we’re back, the people from those Tribes can formalise their cooperation with us. Our Tribe will develop even better from here.” Hu Shi smiled as he said it.

 

And it was true. The boat now carried quite a few people from other Tribes.

 

Ever since Hu Shi had spoken with their Chieftains about trade, those Tribes had grown intensely curious about the Flame Dragon Tribe.

 

Then there was the Flame Dragon itself, which fascinated them. And Hu Shi had personally invited them to come and see the Tribe for themselves. Between one thing and another, they had agreed.

 

They were gathered around the deck now, watching the great river go by, genuinely astonished that an object this large could move on its own and float on water.

 

“Exactly. Once they actually visit the Flame Dragon Tribe, I’m confident they’ll fall in love with it.”

 

Qing Yan’s gaze was certain. “That way our Tribe’s reputation will spread even further. And they’ll be able to trade for more things in return.”

 

The two of them drifted into quiet contemplation of that pleasant future. Standing on the great Flame Dragon, the feeling of pride came naturally.

 

“Is the Flame Dragon Tribe really as you’ve described?” Ai Ma came out from inside the cabin and stepped onto the deck.

 

She had come from the Red Horse Tribe. The Chieftain had sent her out as his representative.

 

A Chieftain, naturally, could not leave the Tribe. So the trusted Team Leader, Ai Ma, had been dispatched instead.

 

“No matter how dramatically I describe it, you’d still have your doubts. Since your heart is uncertain, it’s better to witness it for yourself.” Hu Shi said.

 

He had been asked this question several times over the past few days. No matter how many times he explained, that group of people held onto their half-believing, half-doubting stance.

 

Though, to be fair, these stories did indeed seem far-fetched. Still, the goods were right there in front of their eyes. And the Flame Dragon Sail beneath their feet was shocking enough on its own.

 

Still, not having seen the place themselves, they could not fully believe such a place exist.

 

“It’s just that you’ve brought so many people from different Tribes all at once. Can your people really host all of us properly?” Ai Ma asked, puzzled.

 

It was a fair question. The Flame Dragon currently carried people from several Tribes. There were around a dozen or so people coming from eight Tribes, all of which had sent someone as a representative.

 

“Don’t worry. The Flame Dragon Tribe has no shortage of anything, and space least of all. No matter how many people your Tribe sent, we could house them all.” Hu Shi said it with pride.

 

His mind had already jumped to the Restful Night Building back in the Flame Dragon Tribe. It was a wonderful place, though it did cost money to stay there.

 

Everyone who had ever visited the Flame Dragon Tribe and stayed at the Restful Night Building had left full of admiration for it.

 

“We’d actually have somewhere to stay when we get there? They won’t just put us outside the Tribe?” Ai Ma asked, genuinely curious.

 

“What kind of nonsense are you talking about? That is not how our Flame Dragon Tribe receives its guests.” Hu Shi raised a finger and wagged it lightly. “As long as you provide the appropriate payment, you can stay in a fine room in our Tribe. I guarantee you’ll love it from your very first night.”

 

He was quite confident in this. He had already begun looking forward to watching their expressions.

 

“What does receiving guests mean?” Ai Ma had never heard the phrase before.

 

“It’s the way we welcome people from other Tribes. Our Tribe values inclusivity. As long as you have the money, you’re welcome to stay.” Hu Shi explained.

 

“Inclusivity? You really do seem like an inclusive group, from what I can tell. So many different types of people here.” Ai Ma spread her hands. “And what do you mean by money?”

 

She was thinking that the Flame Dragon Tribe had come all the way to their Tribe with extraordinary things, and had even invited them onto this boat and back to their home. Was that not already proof enough of the Flame Dragon Tribe’s inclusivity?

 

“Money is a form of currency. It comes from our Flame Dragon Tribe. It’s a bit like when you bring food to exchange for our animal hides. In that exchange, the food is acting as currency.”

 

Hu Shi repeated what Su Bai had once explained to him. “By that same logic, anything that can be used in an exchange can be called currency. But the Flame Dragon Tribe has only one form of currency, and that is our currency note.”

 

It was a blunt explanation, but it was the simplest way Su Bai had been able to put it. And it was the version people understood most readily.

 

“What does a currency note look like? If what you’re saying is true, does that mean when we go to the Flame Dragon Tribe, we can only use currency notes to exchange for things?” Ai Ma’s brow furrowed slightly. “But we don’t have any currency notes. And didn’t you say we could use Arrow Root Fruit and other things to trade with you? Why has that changed now?”

 

She felt a flash of irritation. A feeling like she had been tricked and had stepped onto the wrong boat.

 

Especially since, right now, on this wide river, there was nowhere to go. The feeling of having been deceived was unbearable.

 

“Of course that still stands. Your Tribe’s Arrow Root Fruit and everything else is fine. You’d just need to stop by the bank first and make an exchange.”

 

Hu Shi lifted a hand to settle her down. “You can still use your goods to get currency notes and then buy what you need with the currency note. It’s only a small extra step.”

 

“Why does it have to be done that way? Why not just exchange our things directly with you? Why must there be this extra step?” Ai Ma could not see the logic.

 

“Once you get to our Tribe, you’ll understand. You might even find yourself fond of currency notes soon enough.” Hu Shi’s tone held the same easy confidence it always did.

 

There was never any trace of worry in his expression. That was what Ai Ma had noticed.

 

She did not push it further. She only frowned a little, then turned and went back into the cabin.

 

The representatives from the other Tribes were much the same. Every one of them growing more and more deeply curious about the Flame Dragon Tribe.