Chapter 1104, A Show of Force

Translator: Silavin

 

The Flame Dragon slowly drew near the harbour. One full month had passed since the departure from the Tribe.

 

Hu Shi stood at the prow with particular excitement now, his gaze fixed in the direction of the Tribe.

 

The main thing was that they had been away too long. Nostalgia for home had set in long ago.

 

“Is this the Flame Dragon Tribe?” Ai Ma was also studying the direction of the Tribe carefully.

 

“This is our Tribe. Go in and you’ll see for yourself.” Hu Shi said plainly.

 

He had been asked far too many questions along the way. Now at last the time had come to let the evidence speak.

 

Ai Ma said nothing more and smoothed down her hair, which the wind had blown into disarray.

 

“Drop anchor! Drop anchor!”

 

“Pull in! Pull in!”

 

“Prepare to unload! Lay down the board!”

 

The captain called out from the ship in a loud voice. The crew moved at once, some to the anchor, some to the unloading. The harbour grew lively in an instant. People were everywhere, on and off the ship. Those inside the Tribe had also all come running out.

 

They had all come to welcome the Flame Dragon’s first docking. They wanted to know what Hu Shi had brought back from the other Tribes.

 

Of course, it was simple curiosity. The Flame Dragon Tribe already had more than enough fine things of their own.

 

They were not after the good things of other Tribes. They were simply curious about what other Tribes had.

 

“Uncle Hu Shi is back?” Sha Lan walked over with a group of Totem Warriors.

 

“Why have you come, Ah’Lan? Did the Shaman send you?” Hu Shi had still been directing the unloading.

 

“Yes. The Shaman wanted me to come and see what you’d brought back. And since there are people from other Tribes arriving this time, he sent me specifically to have a look.” Sha Lan nodded.

 

Sha Lan glanced naturally toward the several unfamiliar figures below the great ship and noticed that their dress and appearance were not those of the Flame Dragon Tribe.

 

Ai Ma noticed the other girl’s gaze and spoke first: “I’m from the Red Horse Tribe.”

 

She had seen the way Hu Shi showed such respect to this young girl who was, somehow, extraordinarily beautiful. She reasoned that her status must be quite high.

 

If the Red Horse Tribe was truly to work alongside the Flame Dragon Tribe in future, building good relations with them was the right thing to do. That was why Ai Ma took the initiative to greet her.

 

“My name is Sha Lan. Everyone calls me Ah’Lan. I am a Shaman Priestess. Thank you all for making the journey.” Sha Lan introduced herself with great courtesy.

 

The Flame Dragon Tribe was in the midst of development and needed the help of people from other Tribes.

 

That was precisely why Su Bai had specifically sent Sha Lan here. The purpose was to let those other Tribes’ people feel like they were being valued.

 

“So Hu Shi had a good time after all.” Yan Jiao’s voice came from the direction of the gate.

 

The Chieftain walked over toward the great ship with bold, unhurried strides. His main purpose was also to get a look at the representatives from those several Tribes.

 

“A very good time. It’s a real shame you couldn’t leave the Tribe.” Hu Shi replied just as boldly.

 

“Well then, you all carry on chatting. I’ll just have the goods unloaded. After that they need to be brought inside the Tribe and counted, and some of the more particular items need to go to the Shaman first.” Sha Lan smiled as she spoke, and without waiting for anyone to respond she was already gone.

 

“Chieftain, not one person was lost. I’ve brought everyone back safely.” Qing Yan let out a breath of relief.

 

He had been on guard the whole way, even if he seemed usually relaxed. After all, before the Flame Dragon Sail had even left the Tribe, he had already given his word: however many people he took from the Tribe, he would bring back that same number, safe and whole.

 

“I knew I could trust you. You’ve truly worked hard this whole time. Travelling the great river is no easy task, and on top of that you had to negotiate with so many Tribes.” Yan Jiao clapped the other man on the shoulder heartily and said with a grin. “Tonight, we celebrate. Good meat, good drink, and plenty of both.”

 

“Naturally.” Qing Yan nodded.

 

“Chieftain, this visit brings representatives from eight Tribes in total, each one present.” Hu Shi felt this was not the moment for pleasantries. He gestured toward the assembled group and continued. “They are the representatives from each Tribe. All Totem Warriors.”

 

Yan Jiao followed the gesture and looked them over, nodding with satisfaction. He was very pleased with the number of Tribes that had come.

 

He had assumed this mission would be rather difficult. The challenge lay in convincing those Tribes to make the journey here.

 

Those Tribes being interested in the Flame Dragon Tribe’s goods was never in question. Yan Jiao’s concern was simply that they might not come.

 

If those Tribes had not sent out their representatives, it would have hindered Su Bai’s next step.

 

And indeed, the entire purpose of having other Tribes send representatives to the Flame Dragon Tribe was to carry out the next step of the plan.

 

“Chieftain.” The representatives of the eight Tribes spoke as one.

 

Their main motivation was the goods aboard the great ship. But the deeper reason was that they wanted to see what the Flame Dragon Tribe was like for themselves.

 

After all, having come all this way, it would be a shame not to go in. And facing the Chieftain of the Flame Dragon Tribe, one naturally lowered one’s guard a little.

 

“The Flame Dragon Tribe is a fine Tribe. I won’t say too much more. If you are willing, leave all your weapons behind and then come in.” Yan Jiao clasped his hands behind his back and continued. “If you are not willing, we can arrange for you to be sent back.”

 

This was the Tribe’s rule. He had no wish to break it on account of these people.

 

Not even for guests who had come to observe the Flame Dragon Tribe’s condition and goods, and whose visit might prove useful to the Tribe’s development.

 

In Yan Jiao’s view, there was no reason to set these people on a pedestal. They needed to understand that entering the Flame Dragon Tribe was not something one simply did.

 

“That’s fine.” Ai Ma was the first to speak, nodding in agreement.

 

She reasoned that they had already made it all the way here. And the Chieftain and Shaman Priestess had both come out to meet them. This clearly not them deliberately obstructing the representatives.

 

The main thing was that she wanted to see what was inside the Flame Dragon Tribe. Just standing outside, she could already make out the cement houses, and the sight had set her curiosity alight.

 

“I agree as well.”

 

“Just give our weapons back when we leave.”

 

“We’ll trust the Flame Dragon Tribe for now.”

 

“…”

 

The other Tribes followed suit, one by one. The main reason was that none of them sensed any real danger.

 

After all, if the Flame Dragon Tribe had any scheme in mind, they surely would not risk making enemies of so many Tribes at once.

 

And besides, none of the Tribes had sent that many people. If they ended up unable to leave, or if something went wrong, the Flame Dragon Tribe would have every Tribe holding them to account, and that would be very difficult to handle.

 

That was the reasoning behind their agreement, which was quite different from Ai Ma’s thinking.

 

Of course, they had all noticed the cement houses inside the Flame Dragon Tribe. Their eyes had been drawn there long ago.

 

“Great. Once the goods are unloaded, you may come in.” Yan Jiao nodded with satisfaction.