Chapter 1167, One Wrong Step and Every Step Goes Wrong

Translator: Silavin

 

“What do we do though? Those insects can’t talk, right?” Yan Hua asked, genuinely curious.

 

The insects from the Coiled Goat Tribe were ordinary insects. They were simply obedient. But they could not speak.

 

“Don’t they communicate through formations? One formation for danger and another for none?” Sha Lan thought it over, then continued. “And if they’re asking about whether to set out, is that another formation? It seems difficult to work with.”

 

After all, they could not speak. At most they could check whether there was danger ahead. Using them to track every movement of the Dark Scorpion Tribe was another matter. That was what Sha Lan thought, at least.

 

“It’s not as though I’m relying entirely on them. Whether they can even cross that kind of distance is uncertain. A proper plan is needed.” Su Bai considered it, then continued: “But for small-scale reconnaissance over a short stretch, they’ll do fine. We’d still need our own people stationed in between.”

 

“You mean post our people at intervals in the middle, then send the insects in closer to the Dark Scorpion Tribe?” Yan Hua guessed.

 

“Exactly. Getting too close to the Dark Scorpion Tribe is far too dangerous. But a midpoint position works well. Let the insects take the risk of going in close. Those people won’t know the insects are any threat.”

 

Su Bai blinked, eyes thoughtful. “If the Dark Scorpion Tribe makes any move, the insects can alert us. That way our Warriors can be kept safe.”

 

Until they had a fuller picture of the Dark Scorpion Tribe, caution was always the right call.

 

“That does make sense. It would cut down the risk. Has the Shaman already decided who to send?” Sha Lan asked.

 

So much time had passed. The Dark Scorpion Tribe was nearly due to make their move.

 

By rough calculation it would be sometime next year. So even during the snow season, next year’s concerns needed to be weighed.

 

But this was not a simple matter. The safety of the whole Tribe depended on it.

 

The choice of person was critical. Whoever went needed both the composure and the personal ability to hold steady when it counted. There was absolutely no room for failure at the crucial moment.

 

If someone let things go wrong, the entire Tribe would be placed in danger. All the advantages they had worked so hard to build would vanish.

 

“That’s right, I’ve been thinking about exactly this. The choice of scouts is extremely important.” Su Bai said, his expression serious.

 

He had been turning this over in his mind for a long time. He had been thinking about it for days and still hadn’t landed on the right person.

 

“I guess Yan Jiao could go. He’s as reliable as anyone. But if he leaves, there’s no one watching over the Tribe, and the Shaman’s own workload would grow.” Yan Hua frowned, thinking it through. “And sending Aunt Sha Hong doesn’t quite work either. She’s one of the Tribe’s top fighters. If she’s away, our overall security would falter.”

 

Yan Hua could not decide on anyone. Whoever she landed on seemed slightly wrong, slightly risky for the Tribe.

 

“What about Uncle Qing Yan? No, he’s tied up with the ship fleet, he can’t leave.” Sha Lan shook her head immediately. “Uncle Cang Shi is the same, he’s needed to lead the Patrol Department. And just like that, I don’t know who’s left.”

 

Sha Lan was beginning to understand Su Bai’s difficulty. Looking at it this way, there really was no obvious candidate.

 

This mission carried real danger. The person chosen had to be calm and steady, no exceptions. But the calm, steady people all had essential duties and simply couldn’t be pulled away. And watching the Dark Scorpion Tribe was not a matter of a day or two.

 

It could be ten days at the shortest, a month or two at the longest. If one of the Tribe’s steadiest people was away for that long, everything in the Flame Dragon Tribe would have to be handled with extreme care.

 

“Now you understand why this has been so difficult for me.” Su Bai spread his hands, resigned.

 

He did want to send one of the more reliable people. But those very people held positions of great importance within the Flame Dragon Tribe.

 

He couldn’t simply move any one of them without first finding someone equally capable to take their place. And right now, there was nobody within the Tribe quite suited to step into any of their roles. That was exactly what made this so hard.

 

“We’ve hit a wall. But we still have the snow season to think it over. We’ll find someone suitable.” Yan Hua said quickly.

 

Privately, she very much wanted to take this mission herself. But she was worried she would make a mess of it. After all, she had always been told not to act recklessly. To be orderly and proper. Not to be too hasty. To rein herself in.

 

With a mission this important, Yan Hua did not dare to volunteer.

 

“You’re right, Shaman. Perhaps in a few days an answer will come. Don’t worry about it for now.” Sha Lan added promptly.

 

She was even less inclined to volunteer. She knew she was not good enough, and this matter was too important. She was afraid of being the one to ruin things.

 

The Tribe had come so far. Sha Lan truly did not want it all to come undone through her.

 

“I’ve already more or less settled on someone in my mind. I just want to watch a little longer and see whether they’re an even better fit.” Su Bai said mildly.

 

He had finally narrowed it down after much deliberation. But for the sake of caution, he wasn’t ready to commit just yet.

 

“Shaman, who is it?” Yan Hua asked, curious.

 

“Don’t be so nosy. It definitely won’t be either of you two. I still need you both here in the Tribe doing things for me.” Su Bai smiled.

 

“We wouldn’t dare take this mission. It’s far too important.” Yan Hua shook her head straight away.

 

This time she did not give in to curiosity. She did not dare to simply step forward and say she wanted to go. She was still too young for that, even if she had become a Mid-Stage Totem Warrior.

 

“Same for me. I’m relieved the Shaman didn’t choose us, to be honest.” Sha Lan laughed despite herself.

 

“Though you’ll both have very important tasks when the time comes. Be ready for that.” Su Bai gave them fair warning in advance.

 

“Don’t worry, Shaman. Whatever the task, we’ll see it through.” Yan Hua said at once.

 

“Same for me.” Sha Lan said, flicking her cat’s tail.

 

“Don’t celebrate too early. What if it turns out to be very hard?” Su Bai asked, smiling.

 

“Doesn’t matter.” Yan Hua and Sha Lan answered without a moment’s hesitation.