Chapter 433: Flying Snake Tribe’s nightThe slanting evening sun cast its glow on the ground, elongating shadows. Even the stoutest individuals appeared leaner in this light.
Deer Lord, the leader, returned with the deer herd from outside, accompanied by a few hounds led by Fu Jiang.
Han Cheng, hopeful, scanned the deer herd, hoping to catch sight of Xiao Fu among them. However, his hope turned to disappointment.
There were only five dogs; Xiao Fu, who had been missing for eleven days now, still hadn't returned.
Han Cheng sighed, delegating tasks to those already proficient, and approached the deer herd.
At the exact moment, somewhere not far from Green Sparrow Tribe, in a direction unknown, Xiao Fu looked up helplessly towards the setting sun.
He was genuinely anxious now. It had only been playing recklessly with several she-wolves during this period, not knowing where it had wandered off to.
Now, wanting to return home, he couldn't find the way or direction.
The heavy autumn rain not long ago had washed away its scent from the ground.With the slanting evening sun, at this time in previous days, it would have been returning home with the deer herd and siblings, regardless of whether they had found something to eat outside. Upon returning, it would always receive a share of abundant food.But now, it could only roam the wilderness and forests with the wolf pack, catching and eating only what it could find. Sometimes, it would have the misfortune of not finding food for the day.
"Wu wu wu..."
The evening wind blew through the woods, rustling some leaves. Xiao Fu whimpered in loneliness and helplessness in the crimson glow of the setting sun, like a lost child. Its cries echoed far and wide, eventually fading into the gradually dimming twilight.
At the same time, in the Flying Snake Tribe, the campfire flickered irregularly.
Steam rose from two clay pots on the fire, filling the air with a fragrant aroma.
The shaman of the Flying Snake Tribe, along with several leaders, squatted around the clay pots, waiting for the food inside to cook.
In the quiet anticipation, their gazes kept returning to the clay pots. Even though they had used such utensils to cook food many times before, they couldn't help but marvel at their craftsmanship and utility each time.
After waiting for a while and seeing that the food in the clay pots was ready, the shaman of the Flying Snake Tribe took dry grass from the large leader beside him, wedged it under the edge of the clay pot, and lifted the steaming pot down.
Then, he began to ladle soup and meat into bowls.
After serving, the shaman of the Flying Snake Tribe took some white salt from a nearby pot and sprinkled it into the soup bowls.
One bowl had more, and the other two had less.
The soup in the bowl with more was for him to drink, while the other two were for preparing the prominent leader and the second leader.
The second leader of the Flying Snake Tribe at this time was not the original one.
The original one had suffered a setback outside Green Sparrow Tribe, causing significant casualties, and had not achieved much merit since then, so his position had not been restored.
The current second leader used to be the third leader, and the third leader used to be the fourth.
As for the Fourth Leader, he was newly selected from among the others.
The shaman of the Flying Snake Tribe carefully and solemnly placed the jar with some salt, then picked up his rice bowl and began to eat slowly. The First and Second Leaders did the same.
They enjoyed their meal so much that it was a taste they had never experienced.
The Third and Fourth Leaders watched on, swallowing their saliva, hoping that the Big Leader and Second Leader would finish quickly so they could also taste this incredibly nostalgic food.
The First Leader of Flying Snake Tribe took a sip of soup and felt unusually comfortable.
The taste was already so delightful with just a bit of salt in his bowl. The food in the shaman's bowl was probably even more delicious.
Of course, he only thought this in his heart; he wouldn't act on it.
There was no objection to the Shaman having the best food.
Setting aside the Shaman's exceptionally high status in the tribe for the time being, just what he had accomplished recently was enough to warrant such treatment.
Raising the singular-horned monsters, easily raiding other tribes, killing the people of other tribes, and strengthening his tribe.
And he had brought back these exquisite utensils and things that made food taste even better.
With these things in hand, it was only natural for the Shaman to eat the best.
In the dim light of the campfire, Cao Geng looked at the fire while drooling and put some fruits into his mouth.
His crooked nose had straightened quite a bit but would never return to its original straightness.
Cao Geng was treated much better than other members of the same tribe who had been captured together.
When sleeping at night, he could lie closer to the campfire, with some dry grass under him and some animal skin to cover him.
This was almost indistinguishable from the old people of the Flying Snake Tribe.
He received such treatment because, through his actions, he had shown the Shaman of this tribe how to use this clay pot and how to add salt to it.
Seeing those from the same tribe who received very little food and slept directly on the ground at night, Cao Geng felt that what he had done before was correct and wise.
Cao Geng was not the only one drooling while putting fruits into his mouth; not far from him, the original Second Leader of the Flying Snake Tribe also stared greedily at the campfire and the food eaten by several people around the campfire.
If it were before, he would also be able to eat such delicious food, not just salivating like now.
All of this was because of that damn tribe.
Cursing the Green Sparrow Tribe that failed to attack and instead was turned back, the former Second Leader of the Flying Snake Tribe often did this. Especially when encountering good things without his share, he cursed even more fiercely.
Because of that encounter, he suffered great harm and remembered the Green Sparrow Tribe particularly clearly.
By the campfire, the Shaman of the Flying Snake Tribe had finished eating.
He held the still-warm clay bowl momentarily and then set it down.
He searched the crowd for a while, finally fixing his gaze on Cao Geng.
Through several difficult conversations with this person, he had learned some things.
For example, these precious and exquisite utensils, including the tasty salt, were not produced by the tribe he had newly conquered.
Instead, they were obtained through trade with an external tribe.
They gave animal skins to that tribe from elsewhere, and in return, they could get exquisite pottery and delicious salt.
Moreover, it was said that the tribe trading with them from elsewhere still had many such things.
Initially understanding Cao Geng's intentions, the Shaman of the Flying Snake Tribe was extremely surprised. He felt very fortunate with so many precious things, but he had not expected that there could be more for the tribe.
Such good things should all belong to their Flying Snake Tribe.