Chapter 1195, Making Shaman Bone Tablets Is the Most Tiring Work of All

Translator: Silavin

 

The eternal night arrived as expected. The whole Flame Dragon Tribe, and indeed the entire continent, was swallowed by darkness.

 

But the Flame Dragon Tribe was different from the rest. The moment the eternal night settled in, the whole Tribe lit its bonfires.

 

The streetlamps lining both sides of the main road and at the Tribe’s entrance stayed lit from morning till night without pause. There was always someone responsible for climbing up to add more Kerosene Fruit.

 

The Tribe’s Warriors were patrolling with great urgency, not daring to relax for even a moment.

 

The soldiers in the watchtowers were the same. Every one of them clutched their hand-cranked rifles tightly, eyes fixed on the dark spaces all around.

 

The Ferocious Beasts always attacked under cover of darkness. Those shadowed places were exactly where they moved.

 

Su Bai stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, watching over the whole Tribe. The view of everything laid out before him was rather good.

 

“Shaman, Uncle Qing Yan has returned.” Sha Lan came in from outside and hung her cloak on the rack by the door.

 

“Let him in.” Su Bai turned and walked back to his seat.

 

Qing Yan came in looking travel-worn and likewise hung his cloak on the rack.

 

He bowed respectfully and said, “Shaman, all the missions you assigned have been completed.”

 

“The Coiled Goat and Horned Goat Tribes agreed to sign the Contract?” Su Bai asked.

 

He needed to keep expanding the Tribe’s territory before he could carry out his plan to urbanise the Tribe.

 

“Everyone from both Tribes has already signed the Contract. Since a few days ago, those two Tribes belong to our Flame Dragon Tribe.” Qing Yan said, visibly moved.

 

They said the whole Tribe was willing to place itself under the Flame Dragon Tribe, so long as their safety and food needs were guaranteed going forward. No other conditions were raised.

 

The Horned Goat Tribe was the same. Faced with such overwhelming strength, they had no room for deliberation. The whole Tribe had directly placed itself under the Flame Dragon Tribe.

 

“Good. Once the eternal night is over, we can begin planning for development. Our Flame Dragon Tribe will only grow stronger.” Su Bai said with a smile.

 

The situation was advancing step by step the way he had envisioned. He was confident it would not take long for the Flame Dragon Tribe to unite this entire continent.

 

“Shaman, the matter of spreading word amongst the other Tribes that you mentioned, I have also seen to it. I believe that come next spring, those Tribes should make their move.” Qing Yan said at once.

 

Su Bai had asked him, on this trip delivering goods to other Tribes, to begin spreading certain information.

 

Namely, that the Flame Dragon Tribe was willing to accept people from any other Tribe. So long as they were willing to work, it did not matter which Tribe they came from.

 

Furthermore, once they joined the Flame Dragon Tribe, they would no longer need to worry about safety. The snow season, the eternal night, and the rainy season could all be weathered in comfort.

 

“If they are sensible, then next year, our territory will double. Of course, it is too much to hope that every Tribe joins us. A third would be enough.” Su Bai said quietly.

 

He understood they were still in the phase of expansion. It was impossible to have everything at once.

 

Other Tribes joining the Flame Dragon Tribe was something that had to happen gradually. The faster it was forced, the worse it would go.

 

“Shaman, we do have great methods to cultivate our people, but is it truly wise to take in so many Tribes?” Qing Yan voiced the doubt in his mind.

 

He felt the Flame Dragon Tribe should simply focus on its own development. Why worry about other Tribes at all?

 

Shouldn’t the ideal outcome be that other Tribes fared worse, while the Flame Dragon Tribe fared better?

 

“That is a good question. If only one Tribe develops well, do you think that is healthy?” Su Bai asked in return.

 

“Shaman, I don’t know.” Qing Yan shook his head, somewhat nervous.

 

“What truly benefits our Tribe is for other Tribes to develop as well. A hundred flowers blooming together is always preferable to one standing alone. Our Tribe only needs to remain the very best at all times.”

 

Su Bai took a slow sip of tea and continued, “Only when other Tribes also develop well will our Tribe’s own development continue to thrive. If other Tribes fare poorly and can no longer afford to buy what we produce, how can we speak of development ourselves? And also…”

 

He began patiently explaining the reasoning, going into what was, at its root, a question of economics.

 

Su Bai had read about economics back on Earth. He knew that quietly developing alone was not the right path at this moment.

 

For sustainable development going forward, the other Tribes would need to rise alongside them.

 

That said, it was not a matter of having them develop as well as the Flame Dragon Tribe. Only that they could not be left completely behind.

 

“This all sounds so complicated, but I do understand a little now. In short, if other Tribes do well, our Tribe does even better. Really, it is all for our own sake.” Qing Yan nodded firmly.

 

He had no idea what economics was. He only knew that whatever the Shaman said was right. Following the Shaman’s words, life would not go wrong.

 

“Just wait. Next spring, the Flame Dragon Tribe will see great changes.” Su Bai said with a smile.

 

Things that had been set in motion since last year were slowly beginning to bear fruit.

 

So, it was only a matter of waiting for spring to arrive, then slowly seeing those matters through to their close, before turning to plan the next move.

 

“Yes.” Qing Yan replied seriously.

 

“You have worked hard this while. Go and rest properly for today. Tomorrow the Tribe’s Warriors will still need you to lead them.” Su Bai said.

 

The eternal night lasted only three days, and every day was extremely dangerous. He could only give the other man this one day of rest.

 

Tomorrow, there will be much more awaiting him. Real rest would have to wait until the eternal night was over.

 

“Shaman, I am not tired. I will go and lead the Warriors on patrol shortly. I will protect our Tribe.” Qing Yan answered without hesitation.

 

“Listen to me. Rest properly today. Balancing work and rest is important.” Su Bai urged.

 

Pushing without rest made it easy to make mistakes. Simply charging forward without pause was just silly.

 

“Alright.” Qing Yan bowed and turned to leave.

 

He was indeed a little tired. He planned to go back to his room and close his eyes for a while, then check on the situation when he woke up.

 

“Shaman, taking in so many Tribes all at once, will our Tribe be able to manage the strain?” Sha Lan asked, worried.

 

“Don’t worry. Over these next few days, I will work faster to make more Contract Shaman Bone Tablets. So long as the Contract is signed, those Tribes will pose no threat to our Tribe.” Su Bai said plainly.

 

The one thing he actually felt tired from right now was making Shaman Bone Tablets. Nothing else could quite wear him out the same way.

 

“Shaman must rest properly.” Sha Lan said, her worry plain.