Chapter 1115, Three Confident Sisters

Translator: Silavin

 

Inside a guest room at the Restful Night Building, the three Sisters of the Soft Rabbit Tribe shared a single room together.

 

They had been arranged together in one room. The bed inside was large enough for three of them, and sleeping together was no trouble at all.

 

“I never imagined the people of the Flame Dragon Tribe would be this generous. They didn’t ask us for any dried meat or anything.” The Youngest Sister, Yin Rong, blinked her bluish green eyes with the simple astonishment of someone who genuinely had not expected it.

 

“Don’t let your guard down around the people of the Flame Dragon Tribe. This is simply what they ought to do.” The Oldest Sister, Yin An, spoke up at once.

 

She remained wary toward the Flame Dragon Tribe. Even now, with all three of them inside the room, her long rabbit ears stayed alert to every sound and movement from outside.

 

She was confident that if anything unusual happened, she would be the first to know and the first to get her Sisters out.

 

“Relax a little. They were very clear about it. Only tonight is free. If we want to stay on tomorrow, we’ll need to give something.” The Second Sister, Yin Lu, was somewhat gentler. She continued, “Let’s just enjoy the experience of living in the Flame Dragon Tribe tonight and make our decision tomorrow.”

 

That was indeed the decision Su Bai had made. The first night was free for all the visiting Tribes’ members.

 

After that, continued accommodation would cost something. Su Bai was confident in this. He knew well enough that those people would not be content with a single night.

 

“En. I wonder what conditions the Flame Dragon Tribe will want to discuss with us.” Yin An said, suddenly curious.

 

“I don’t know. I only know that what our Tribe has is quite good. I’d say we’re the ones with the advantage?” The Second Sister, Yin Lu, offered.

 

“I think so too. Our fire stones, ground into powder, ignite immediately. Plenty of Tribes would scramble to get their hands on them.” The Youngest Sister, Yin Rong, spoke with quiet confidence.

 

The Soft Rabbit Tribe’s specialty was what they called fire stones, which were actually saltpetre. They had traded with many Tribes with this as their advantage.

 

“The question is how we put it to them so they feel our goods are genuinely valuable.” The Second Sister, Yin Lu, suddenly asked.

 

“I think we can approach it from three directions. Once they’ve heard us out, I don’t think they’ll have much to say against it.” Yin An, said with assurance.

 

“Oh Older Sister, what are you planning? What are these three directions?” The youngest, Yin Rong, asked with curiosity.

 

“Surely it’s not just saying how other Tribes all come to trade with us? Because if that’s one of the points, the Flame Dragon Tribe will just say their own goods are popular too.” Yin Lu frowned slightly and continued, “I’m afraid that won’t be much of an advantage. I don’t think it will persuade the people of the Flame Dragon Tribe.”

 

“That is one of the directions, and you’re right that it’s limited. But the other two are where we genuinely have the upper hand.” Yin An said, working through it as she went, “Our Tribe’s fire stones are convenient. Ground into powder, they burn immediately, and the burn lasts for a long time. That’s far superior to firewood.”

 

“That is a genuine advantage. It can serve as one of our conditions for negotiating. What’s the third?” Yin Rong, the youngest, asked.

 

“The third is the rainy season. When the rains come, every tree and every piece of firewood gets soaked through and becomes precious because of it. That’s when our fire stones truly show their worth.” Yin An said with confidence.

 

“Oh, of course! How did we forget that? That is a really strong point. That’s our trump card, without question.” The Second Sister, Yin Lu’s eyes lit up.

 

“You’re right, but we should probably think of a few more. In case the people of the Flame Dragon Tribe push back against all of these points, and we end up embarrassed.” The Youngest Sister, Yin Rong, was a little cautious. This trip mattered greatly, and she had no intention of coming out worse for it.

 

After all, it was the Soft Rabbit Tribe who had chosen to come of their own accord, even if it was the Flame Dragon Tribe who came to their Tribe first.

 

But the latter had not forced them to make the journey. So, in the end. it had been their own decision.

 

“I think those two negotiating points are enough. Do you have something better to suggest?” Yin An asked with patience. She was rather fond of her Youngest Sister. The girl was playful by nature, but she had a well-known attentiveness to detail.

 

Yin Rong was careful and thorough in everything she did. Tasks given to her almost never went wrong.

 

“Could we use the fact that fire stones can only be found in our Tribe? Other Tribes can’t get them anywhere else.” The Second Sister, Yin Lu, suggested.

 

“We don’t really know. No one knows for sure whether other Tribes truly lack them. We’ve just not encountered any other source yet.” Yin Rong shook her head and continued, “We should mention that fire stones can be used for lighting. That might be another direction worth pursuing.”

 

“For lighting?” Yin An, seemed to think of something. She walked to the window and looked outside.

 

“I see it now. You mean those things standing upright all along the paths in the Flame Dragon Tribe, don’t you?” Yin Lu, ran over to the window as well.

 

She and the Oldest looked out at the street lamps lining the Flame Dragon Tribe’s roads, and saw that both sides of every main path had them standing at intervals.

 

But they could not make out what was actually burning at the top of each lamp. They could only see flames burning there. These were the Flame Dragon Tribe’s means of illuminating the night.

 

“Exactly. Whatever they’re using up there is surely just them burning wood. That’s what our fire stones could be used to replace.” Yin Rong, nodded.

 

“Indeed. That’s a good suggestion. You’ve done our Tribe a real service.” The Second Sister, Yin Lu, was genuinely pleased.

 

“You can rest easy now, can’t you? This negotiation won’t go wrong for us.” Yin An reached over and ruffled the Youngest Sister’s head.

 

“Then, let’s work out what terms we want from them. What’s one fire stone worth in goods?” Yin Rong was not about to leave any detail to chance.

 

“I think one fire stone should fetch several bags of dried meat. Or several barrels of wine. Or several bolts of linen. They’ll be willing, I’m certain of it.” The Eldest Sister, Yin An, said with full confidence.

 

“Only that much? I think we could push the numbers higher. Our fire stones are precious and useful. We’re entitled to ask for more.” Yin Lu suggested.

 

“We need to agree on a figure. Otherwise, we won’t be able to present a unified position when the time comes, and that makes us easy to argue down.” The Youngest Sister, Yin Rong, said, thinking it through carefully.

 

“Then let’s think about what our Tribe needs most right now and focus on getting that.” Yin An steadied herself.

 

“We need wine. Father, the Shaman, and some of the Totem Warriors will want that. And then linen. A lot of the women in the Tribe are fond of it.” Yin Lu began working through it slowly.

 

“I think there’s good news ahead.” Yin Rong finally allowed herself to smile.