24: Chapter 22 Finding Salt 24: Chapter 22 Finding Salt Editor: Atlas Studios Five days later, three bamboo huts rose from the ground, finally giving those wanderers a place to stay, no longer like before, holess and living in daily fear.
This was also thanks to Jiang Xuan and the others becoming warriors, which increased their strength.
It only took burning off the bamboo’s outer skin before quickly chopping it down with a stone axe, saving a lot of ti.
These three bamboo huts were built a little farther from the bamboo forest because Jiang Xuan temporarily didn’t trust these wanderers and didn’t want to live too close.
Additionally, Jiang Xuan also built them a bathroom and toilet, and insisted they refrain from defecating or urinating anywhere, and must bathe regularly, otherwise they’d be covered in lice, which was too terrible.
Since they had co to the Vine Tribe, they must follow the rules of the Vine Tribe.
Jiang Xuan didn’t want to leave these wanderers with the impression that he was easy to talk to.
A leader who is too easygoing will cause his tribesn to lose reverence, and when executing orders, they will likely cut corners.
Using a combination of firmness and kindness is a necessary ans for a leader.
After solving the housing problem, Jiang Xuan started to make them work.
By the creek, on the broad flatland, Jiang Xuan said to Gan Song, “You don’t need to hunt or gather.
Your task is to clear this whole large area thoroughly and then turn it over with the bone plow.”
Gan Song said anxiously, “There are so many of us, we consu a lot of food daily…”
Jiang Xuan understood what he ant; he was worried about starvation due to insufficient food.
“Don’t worry about food; since you are in our Vine Tribe, you definitely won’t starve.”
Gan Song was resigned and could only nod, “Alright, we’ll follow the chief’s orders.”
“By the way, did you encounter any other tribeses on your way here?”
Jiang Xuan hadn’t forgotten the smoke he saw earlier in the jungle, nor the sounds of hunting he heard.
Initially, he thought it was caused by these wanderers, but upon further thought, he realized it was unlikely since these wanderers lacked the ability for large-scale hunting.
Gan Song thought for a mont and then affirmatively replied, “Yes.”
“What kind of tribe is it?
Where are they located?”
Gan Song replied, “It’s a migrating tribe that raises many terrifying large mosquitoes with wings that spread this wide.”
Gan Song gestured, and Jiang Xuan estimated it to be about thirty centiters wide.
Considering that mosquitoes usually appear in groups, even a wild cattle could be drained dry by these large mosquitoes in an instant…
Thinking of this scene, Jiang Xuan drew in a cold breath; it was truly too terrifying.
“This tribe is very fierce; we had dozens of clansn who wanted to join them but were killed, so we fled here.”
Gan Song’s face showed a clear expression of lingering fear.
“Do you know where they are residing?” Jiang Xuan asked again.
Gan Song shook his head and said, “When we encountered this tribe, they were still migrating; later we fled for our lives and don’t know where they went.”
Tribes that rely on hunting and gathering move periodically to obtain more sufficient food resources, rarely settling in one place.
Jiang Xuan felt a lot of pressure because he didn’t know where exactly this tribe had migrated or how far they were from the Vine Tribe.
“How many people do they roughly have?”
“At least a few hundred people; I’m not sure of the exact number.”
“I understand.
You go ahead and work.”
“Okay.”
Gan Song took the bone plow to do his work.
They needed to remove and burn the grass, shrubs, and thorns in the wasteland, then turn over the soil and pick up the grass roots, tree roots, and stones.
Land clearing is very labor-intensive work.
Fortunately, the tribe people are always hardworking and dedicated; as long as there is food to eat, they have no complaints.
Standing by the creek, Jiang Xuan felt heavy-hearted.
A fierce tribe with hundreds of people presents a huge threat to the small Vine Tribe, easily destroying everything they’ve painstakingly built.
Currently, there’s no solution to this issue; Jiang Xuan only hopes that the tribe doesn’t co here anyti soon or that the Ancient Vine is strong enough to protect the Vine Tribe.
“We must expand the tribe as soon as possible, or we’re too vulnerable!”
Jiang Xuan clenched his fist, believing that given a few years, with his efforts, he could definitely grow this small tribe and not need to act so cautiously then.
“Gou Teng, take Nan Xing with you, continue to fish using traps by the creek after clearing the grass and bushes, and keep an eye on these wanderers.”
“Rember, only dig a pond on open ground; don’t go into places with dense vegetation or into waters that are too deep to avoid danger.”
Gou Teng solemnly said, “Rest assured, chief.
We will be cautious.”
Gou Teng took Nan Xing and walked toward the creek; now, a section of the creekside had been cleared of vegetation, unlike before when it was overgrown.
Jiang Xuan nodded and said to Chi Shao and Shi Qiu, “Let’s go into the mountains to find sothing.”
“Find what?” Chi Shao asked curiously.
“Salt!”
“Salt?” Chi Shao’s eyes widened, “Can you find salt?”
Shi Qiu also looked shocked because salt is incredibly precious to tribal people.
Jiang Xuan said, “The witch in my dreams told of a thod to find salt; I want to try and see if it works.”
Upon hearing this, Chi Shao promptly stopped asking further questions, and Shi Qiu was the sa.
Tribal people have great reverence for the mysterious witch.
No matter how incomprehensible a matter is, if the witch says it, it’s acceptable.
There is a reason Jiang Xuan chose this ti to search for salt.
Previously, they just arrived here and lived by hunting and gathering, supplenting salt by drinking animal blood and eating at.
When the tribe’s population increases, relying solely on hunting and gathering is not feasible due to extrely unstable food sources, often dependent on luck.
Farming and raising livestock are better and more stable ways to obtain food.
But large-scale farming and raising livestock also face a major problem, which is the lack of salt.
Though farming provides a lot of food, reduced at consumption inevitably results in insufficient salt intake.
Moreover, hard work involves profuse sweating, which accelerates salt loss.
The eventual outco would surely be the tribesn falling ill en masse due to salt deficiency, making the tribe’s developnt a pipe dream.
Thus, Jiang Xuan must obtain enough salt to better promote agriculture and livestock.
If living by the seaside, obtaining salt is relatively easy; you might even find so dried-up salt on the rocks.
But in the Southern Wilderness, in the Primitive Jungle, finding salt is not an easy task.
However, Jiang Xuan knew that large herbivores would actively seek salt in the wild.
The larger the herbivore, the more salt it needs, thus they would look for salt more frequently.
Having lived here for more than half a year, Jiang Xuan was familiar with the surroundings and had so understanding of the jungle and its prey.
He knew that in the southern jungle, there was a herd of large wild cattle whose range of activities was relatively stable.
By following these wild cattle, maybe he could find where they acquire salt!
Jiang Xuan had pondered this thod for a long ti, often paying attention to this herd of wild cattle’s movents while hunting.
Whether he could find salt by following the wild cattle, Jiang Xuan didn’t know, but he had to at least give it a try.
Jiang Xuan thought for a mont, then went to the creek to share his idea with Gou Teng and Nan Xing.
Tracking the wild cattle takes ti, and if night falls before they return, Gou Teng and Nan Xing would surely worry.
By telling them in advance, they wouldn’t worry so much.
Afterward, Jiang Xuan, Chi Shao, and Shi Qiu returned to the bamboo huts to take their weapons, bringing so jerky along, before stepping into the vast Primitive Jungle.
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