Chapter 1206, A Progress Bar Leaping Forward

Translator: Silavin

 

“Shaman, many people from other Tribes have arrived at our Tribe today.” Sha Lan swept her hair back over one shoulder.

 

She had just come in from outside. Aside from training, she had been coordinating things with the others.

 

As the Shaman Priestess, she was extremely close to Su Bai. Sha Lan handled plenty of the smaller, day-to-day matters.

 

Sha Lan also carried considerable standing within the Tribe. Most people greeted her when they crossed paths.

 

“How many Tribes came?” Su Bai asked.

 

It had been around ten days since the snow season ended. That was roughly the right time for other Tribes to begin arriving.

 

“A rough count puts it at more than ten Tribes.” Sha Lan said.

 

She had gone to check the registration point at the entrance and could see at a glance which Tribes had come and how many had arrived with each.

 

“Have the Tribes we spoke with about cooperation last year come?” Su Bai continued.

 

“They are all here. They have settled into the Restful Night Building and will be resting up. They can meet with the Shaman tomorrow.” Sha Lan’s clear voice rang out.

 

The Red Horse Tribe, the Black Bull Tribe, and the others who had come to the Flame Dragon Tribe last year had all returned this time, bringing their goods with them.

 

“They already agreed to a long-term cooperation with our Tribe last time. Why are they coming to see me again?” Su Bai lifted his cup of tea.

 

When Qing Yan had seen those Tribes off last year, he had already given them time to deliberate amongst themselves. By the time Qing Yan made his way back, their answers had come in. Every one of those Tribes had agreed to cooperate with the Flame Dragon Tribe.

 

They had come this time bringing their Tribe’s specialty products for trade. Su Bai simply did not know why they wanted to see him in person on top of that.

 

“They say they have something else they wish to discuss with the Shaman. When asked, they would not say what.” Sha Lan gave a small shrug.

 

As the Shaman Priestess at Su Bai’s side, she had the standing to find out the nature of a visit before arranging it.

 

But those Tribes had all said the matter was very important and insisted on speaking directly with the Shaman of the Flame Dragon Tribe. Sha Lan had not pressed further.

 

“I can probably guess what they generally want to talk about. Most likely they want to join our Tribe.” Su Bai said calmly, taking another sip of tea.

 

Ever since the Flame Dragon Tribe had been spreading word of other Tribes joining them, a number of Small Tribes had been growing restless.

 

All of them wanted to join the Flame Dragon Tribe, to find shelter under it, and to see their own Tribes develop properly.

 

Especially after seeing what had happened with the Sea Fish Tribe, the Horned Goat Tribe, and the Coiled Goat Tribe. Those others had grown even more eager.

 

“They actually want to join our Tribe? But aren’t quite a few of them Large Tribes?” Sha Lan’s blue eyes went wide. Furthermore, it had only been just over half a month.

 

“If your own Tribe has been standing still and going nowhere, and a chance comes along that could let it grow and thrive properly, what would you do?” Su Bai replied with a question.

 

Some things were not about what was in front of them. They had to see further ahead.

 

“You would hold onto that chance with everything you had. I understand what the Shaman means. Even if those Tribes look large right now, once certain Tribes begin to develop, there will be no place left for them.”

 

Sha Lan’s mind worked quickly. She continued, “When it comes to a Tribe’s long-term growth, how large it is at this moment does not count for much. That is also why those people want to join our Tribe.”

 

“Exactly. The cement houses and the cement roads of the Flame Dragon Tribe alone are enough to draw many people in, to say nothing of our food and specialty products.” Su Bai said evenly.

 

“Understood.” Sha Lan nodded firmly.

 

“By the way, how is the road-laying through the forest coming along?” Su Bai asked.

 

He had arranged some time back for the road-laying to begin. The main route, the largest one, ran straight through to the Spotted Deer Tribe.

 

The reason was simple. The Flame Dragon Tribe had cooperated with the Spotted Deer Tribe from the very beginning. Since the Flame Dragon Tribe was laying its first road, the destination would naturally be the Tribe it had built good relations with from the start.

 

“It is progressing steadily. Other Tribes have also joined in to help. Much of the path ground has already been paved.” Sha Lan’s hands moved with excitement as she spoke.

 

“Roughly how far? I taught you all units of measurement at some point, did I not?” Su Bai’s brow lifted slightly.

 

He had long ago explained millimetres, centimetres, meters, and so on to the Tribe. Everyone, young and old, had learned them.

 

As his own Shaman Priestess, Sha Lan had naturally learned these things even earlier than most.

 

Old habits were slow to change, though. And at the start, the units had not been used very widely.

 

“It has gone several thousand meters already.” Sha Lan turned the figure over in her mind before saying it.

 

The Flame Dragon Tribe had begun laying the road from the moment the snow season ended. Many other Tribes had joined the effort along the way. The important secrets behind the cement, naturally, had not been let slip.

 

Those people were at most helping to spread the cement across the road surface and prepare the stone materials.

 

“Several thousand meters in just over half a month?” Su Bai asked, surprised.

 

He had been staying inside the Yong’an Building the entire time and had not gone to see the construction. Hearing that figure, it was genuinely striking.

 

“Yes. The workers are full of drive. The moment they heard that everyone who sees the full work period through will be given a house, they could not have been happier.” Sha Lan laughed and nodded.

 

That was right. Every worker who participated in the road-laying and completed the full work period would receive a house in the Flame Dragon Tribe.

 

It was the benefit Su Bai had promised everyone from the very start. Road-laying was no simple matter. The entire project could stretch on for several years.

 

Because it was not only one road that needed to be laid. Starting from the Flame Dragon Tribe as the centre point, roads were to radiate out to several Tribes in all directions. It was a tremendous undertaking.

 

Promising them a house was not so difficult a thing to deliver, either. The Flame Dragon Tribe was already building houses now, and once they were finished, there would be many vacant ones.

 

The same applied to those who were building the houses. They had that same benefit. Su Bai had made it very clear from the beginning. The houses they were given to live in were for temporary residence only.

 

In time, there would need to be payment or other forms of exchange to make them truly one’s own. And the promised benefit was the best opportunity for that.

 

“Great.” Su Bai nodded with satisfaction.

 

He began calculating quietly in his mind, trying to work out roughly when everything might be completed.