Chapter 1140, Cannot Help But Be Impressed

Translator: Silavin

 

“Shaman, I really did not expect the Green Snake Tribe to come to us like that.” Sha Lan found the whole thing remarkable.

 

She had been quite curious about what that Tribe might offer, and in the end they had opened up an entirely new way of doing trade.

 

It could not be denied that this new approach had its appeal. At the very least, no other Tribe had anything like it.

 

“As long as they do not regret what they said today, since they have chosen to use it as their bargaining chip.” Su Bai’s mouth curved slightly.

 

“Does the Shaman have something in mind already?” Sha Lan asked with open curiosity.

 

“You will all see soon enough. They will be made to answer for what they promised today.” Su Bai said it lightly, as though it were nothing at all.

 

“Which Tribe shall we receive next?” Sha Lan knew better than to press for more. She understood clearly that the Shaman always knew what he was doing, and always knew how to accomplish his goals.

 

“I had thought to see those two splintered Tribes, but on reflection, I would rather leave them for last.”

 

Su Bai tapped his index finger against the surface of the table. “Let us see the Pheasant Tribe next, then. I want to get a look at their konjac.”

 

“Very well.” Sha Lan turned and gave a nod to the Totem Warrior at the door.

 

*Step step step…*

 

A short while later, two people from the Pheasant Tribe were brought in. Both bowed politely the moment they entered.

 

The two who had come were male Totem Warriors, one Mid-Stage and one Early-Stage. They were privately marvelling at how grand the Yong’an Building was. The Restful Night Building could not compare to it, let alone their own Pheasant Tribe’s own buildings.

 

“Esteemed Shaman of the Flame Dragon Tribe, the specialty product we have brought is the grey-brown fruit. It is edible.” The Mid-Stage Totem Warrior was the first to speak, Qi, standing at roughly one and nine tenths of a meter, which put him on the taller end of ordinary Human males.

 

The weight of his presence was considerable too. Most ordinary people would have lowered their gaze and changed course upon seeing him.

 

“Grey-brown fruit? Do you know what this fruit is actually called? Is that truly the name you gave it?” Su Bai’s voice rang out, full of quiet authority.

 

He was deliberately projecting that pressure, making certain that the other party understood clearly who held the upper hand here.

 

After all, the Flame Dragon Tribe was the one seeking to build docks in other Tribes, so it was essential that he set the tone from the start.

 

He could not allow the other party to seize control and drag him along by the nose. That was something he simply would not permit.

 

“Ah? Shaman, we have always called it the grey-brown fruit. Does it have another name?” He was momentarily lost.

 

He also noticed the heavy aura Su Bai was emitting. He had assumed, looking at how young the Shaman was, that his strength would not be all that impressive.

 

A person this young taking up the position of Shaman must have done so because something happened to the previous one.

 

Otherwise, there was no reason for someone so young to have ascended to that position. In everyone’s estimation, a Shaman this young must be nothing more than a Successor, the equivalent of an Disciple who had only just been recognized for having the aptitude.

 

Which meant, in his view, that whoever this was had barely stepped onto the path and had a great stretch of time ahead before truly earning the title of Shaman.

 

And so he had not paid particularly close attention at first. He had even been slightly casual about the whole affair.

 

If not for the need to maintain proper manners and not disgrace the Pheasant Tribe, and if not for the Flame Dragon Tribe’s goods being something he genuinely wanted, he would never have bowed so deeply to someone who was only a Successor in his eyes.

 

But the feeling now was entirely different. The atmosphere coming off this young Shaman was stifling.

 

This was not the kind of presence a Shaman so young should have been able to produce. It felt like being pinned under the combined gaze of five or six High Grade Totem Warriors.

 

It raised the hair all over his body. The snow season had not even arrived yet, and already he felt a chill he could not shake.

 

“This fruit’s proper name is konjac. When you cut it open, the flesh is white. When cooked, it becomes soft and yielding, with very little taste of its own. Am I correct?” Su Bai asked in return.

 

He was perfectly familiar with konjac. He had eaten dishes made from it before, and knew it well.

 

“That is correct, but did we not already send the Shaman a sample? Surely the Shaman tried it beforehand?” The man said, and immediately lowered his head after.

 

He was beginning to wonder if what he had sensed a moment ago had only been imagined. Because when Su Bai spoke just now, that overwhelming weight of presence was gone.

 

He told himself, inwardly, that youth was youth after all. A young Shaman simply could not maintain that level of crushing authority the way a seasoned one could.

 

Beyond that, Qi recalled that he had previously given Hu Shi one grey-brown fruit, with the specific intention of encouraging trade between the two Tribes.

 

Now, hearing Su Bai describe the konjac’s appearance and taste, it struck him in an instant. That must have been it.

 

The Shaman had clearly tasted it, otherwise there was no way the description could be so precise.

 

He turned it over in his mind and found no other explanation that made sense. So he let himself feel a little bolder.

 

“Is this what you mean?” Sha Lan, reading Su Bai’s intent without needing to be told, produced a konjac from beside her.

 

The previous time she had pulled a konjac from her bag, Su Bai had only glanced at it and named it at once, without cutting it open or eating any.

 

“How can this be?” Qi’s eyes went wide. A look of disbelief crossed his face.

 

This was definitely the fruit they had given. He could not be mistaken, because this particular specimen had an unusual shape that stuck in the memory.

 

“So then, is there anything else you would like to say?” Sha Lan followed up at once.

 

Sha Lan had caught the moment of stunned confusion and pressed forward while the opening was there.

 

In truth, now that the Flame Dragon Tribe had this one konjac, they could eventually produce as much as they needed on their own. There was no real necessity in cooperating with the Pheasant Tribe.

 

But their permission was still needed, otherwise building a dock at their settlement simply would not be possible.

 

“Does the Flame Dragon Tribe actually have grey-brown… no, does the Flame Dragon Tribe actually have konjac?” The shock did not leave Qi’s face for a long moment.

 

“The Flame Dragon Tribe does have it, though our supply is limited. If you were hoping to trade with us using this as your offering, however, I am afraid that will not do.” Su Bai shook his head slowly.

 

This was the same approach as with the Tribes before: break their confidence, knock the ground out from under them completely.

 

Then let them be led along by his hand, rather than the other way around. Only by doing things in this order could he properly set the stage for what came next.

 

“What does the Shaman wish our Tribe to bring? We are very sincere in wanting to cooperate with your alliance.” Qi promptly asked.

 

That grey-brown fruit was genuinely the one he had given. The Shaman had neither eaten it nor opened it, and yet he had described both its appearance and its taste with complete accuracy.

 

Qi could not help it. He was impressed.