Downstream from the waters, so distance from the slave huts of Jinguancheng, a group led by the older woman of the tribe was busy gathering the delicious little fruits.
As they worked, many of the fruits fell onto the animal skins they had laid out.
“@#4SDR!”
The elder woman straightened up, rubbed her rough hands on her waist, and looked around.
With their continuous effort, a significant number of fruits had already been collected.
So clever won, to carry more at once, had even placed the skins inside beautifully woven containers found in the peculiar cave, then filled them with the fruits.
This way, they didn’t have to worry about the fruits falling through gaps.
Yet many fruits still remained uncollected nearby.
She estimated roughly that, using the sa number of days as she had fingers on one hand, they could collect the rest.
This thought brought her great joy.
Because this discovery ant not only could they gather plenty of delicious fruits this year, but in future seasons, the tribe could consistently co here to collect roughly the sa amount!
Seeing the containers now full of fruits, the elder woman raised her voice to give instructions.
Everyone responded and busied themselves further.
Soon, they were carrying the bundles of fruit on their backs, heading back to their peculiar cave.
Under the elder woman’s lead, the group moved quickly.
The faster they went, the sooner they could return to gather more fruits that day.
In particularly good spirits, so even shouted, letting out what they considered pleasant sounds…
As they neared their peculiar cave, the distance decreased, and when it finally ca into view, many couldn’t help but cheer and quicken their pace.
Back at the cave, they could unload their burdens and rest before returning to collect more fruits.
Han Cheng, squatting in the grass in a rather stealthy position, was delighted by the sounds.
Wearing a straw hat for so disguise, he quietly lifted his head and carefully peered toward the source of the noise.
Through the fragnted view broken by weeds, he saw people hurrying toward them.
Roughly counting, the number closely matched his earlier estimate based on the gourds used to serve rice in the hut—about twenty-sothing.
Previously, the estimate from the gourds was twenty-nine, and now he counted twenty-seven.
After looking at the approaching people, Han Cheng quietly glanced around and into the opposite grass.
Apart from those by his side, there was no one else in sight.
Even those near him, though hearing the distant calls, stayed crouched and still.
Other than expressions of barely contained excitent, they were otherwise unchanged—or even more cautious than before, before hearing these incomprehensible shouts.
Though not professionally trained, experience had made them experts in crouching in the grass.
Their patience rivaled cats waiting in front of a mouse hole for a mouse to appear.
Seeing this, Han Cheng nodded in quiet satisfaction.
Indeed, people tend to learn by example.
Under the guidance of this unscrupulous “divine child,” the entire Green Sparrow Tribe had beco sowhat stealthy.
Yet seeing the tribe behave shalessly in this way, Han Cheng felt deeply gratified.
From his concealed spot, he observed the group drawing closer.
They carried bundles of skins or sticks.
So, particularly hardy and unbothered by the cold, even walked shirtless.
They were joyful, heading straight toward them, without glancing at the surrounding grass.
The group arrived at the open area in front of the slave huts, where rice was dried. They placed their bundles or fish traps down, emptied the rice, and spread it by hand.
Each of them was visibly happy.
Not only did this an more food to eat, but they could also trade it for the precious white delicacy.
Han Cheng, crouched in the grass, was equally delighted—there was more rice than he had anticipated.
With this rice, next year, as long as the paddies were properly prepared, a sizable area could be planted.
He picked up a copper gong and a mallet wrapped in hemp cloth, striking the center.
“Clang! Clang! Clang!”
The sudden sound startled the crouching Green Sparrow Tribe mbers, who had been waiting patiently in the grass. They imdiately surged forward, weapons in hand, running toward the slave huts, forming a semi-circle.
At the sa ti, the tightly shut door of the slave hut was yanked open from within.
The hidden Green Sparrow Tribe mbers stread out.
Those who exited first didn’t charge directly at the others but quickly moved to the side.
Once all were out, they ford a line and, holding their weapons, advanced toward the elder won at a asured pace.
The elder woman was stunned.
The sudden piercing noise startled them;
so dropped the weapons they held.
Instinctively, they turned toward the sound, only to witness an unforgettable scene—countless people erging from the previously calm grass!
And they were rushing straight at them!
“#￥￥WWEE!”
Frozen for a mont, the elder woman scread sharply, abandoning the fruits they had just gathered, and ran toward the peculiar cave.
It was instinct to flee into a cave when faced with overwhelming danger.
But just as they turned, they froze again.
From inside their peculiar cave, just as many strange-looking people erged, advancing toward them!
The scene left them utterly bewildered. Even the most composed elder woman stood in terror, unsure what to do.
While the woman froze, the Green Sparrow Tribe mbers showed no hesitation. With a preditated strategy, they surged forward, quickly forming a complete encirclent, surrounding those drying rice and rapidly closing the distance.
Once encircled, even if the elder woman realized what was happening, escape was impossible.
Frightened, they watched the advancing Green Sparrow Tribe mbers—and more specifically, the bronze weapons glinting in the sunlight—eyes wide with fear and confusion.
“#￥5WEe!”
Seeing the strange people approaching with dazzling weapons, the elder woman scread, dropped her weapons, and crouched.
Following their lead, the others also dropped weapons and crouched, staring fearfully at the advancing Green Sparrow Tribe.
Han Cheng, running protected by vine shields studded with bronze spikes, was stunned.
What was going on?
Why were the enemies they’d recently encountered so easy to topple?
The nose-ring and earring tribe had at least fought one round before surrendering. Now this tribe surrendered without a fight?
And they hadn’t even set traps or beaten war drums this ti.
How could they surrender so easily?
Had he sohow gained a Liu Da’er–style commanding ability: shout on horseback, and the other side obediently surrenders like Zhao Zilong of Shijiazhuang?
But so far, he had only struck the gong;
he hadn’t said a word.
And even if he had spoken, they wouldn’t have understood!
Han Cheng was baffled, as were the prepared mbers of the Green Sparrow Tribe.
Why not resist? Why surrender so easily?
How could they fight a proper battle if surrendering was the trend?
Amid murmurs and complaints, the hundred-plus Green Sparrow Tribe mbers fully encircled the crouching, weaponless elder won.
The previously timid woman now feared even more.
They huddled together, leaving almost no gaps.
Looking at the gleaming weapons of the Green Sparrow Tribe, they felt awe.
They had seen such dazzling weapons before—from the tribe that traded fine, usable pottery and exquisite white delicacies.
These weapons were truly sharp, far superior to wooden, bone, or stone weapons.
Though the Green Sparrow Tribe’s weapons looked different, they were made from similarly precious, dazzling materials—just as deadly, impossible for the won to resist.
This was the main reason for their imdiate surrender.
Otherwise, even if surprised, with their numbers, they might have tried to flee…
“Ask where they ca from and why they’re occupying our huts.”
Han Cheng had no intention of unleashing a massacre. With the enemy surrendering so readily, there was no need for extre asures.
After waiting a mont and having soone clear the dropped weapons away, Han Cheng spoke to Mao.
Mao stepped forward, conveying the aning to the terrified woman through gestures—awkward and elaborate as if performing a dance.
Han Cheng had two shield-bearers accompany Mao to ensure his safety.
Everyone else remained tense, ready to strike if the woman attempted anything dangerous.
Mao, a self-taught genius of the tribe, tried several gesture sequences. When the first wasn’t understood, he switched to a second, then a third.
The elder woman froze—not because they thought Mao was courting them, or because they understood his aning—but because…
Through the gaps between the Green Sparrow Tribe mbers’ legs, she glimpsed part of the slave hut.
This peculiar cave wasn’t originally theirs—how had it beco theirs?
Reviews
All reviews (0)