TPWBI Chapter 100

Moonlit: Happy 100th chapter, everyone!!!

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The Spark Tribe needed a large number of people to support the development of agriculture and light industry. This was also the reason why they had always wanted to absorb people crazily.

However, the larger the corresponding population grew, the greater the pressure in all aspects became.

Previously, the sudden intake of twenty thousand people had already caused tremendous pressure on the tribe.

Fortunately, the trade fair eased things. In addition, Yang Yi had emptied the grain he had purchased earlier from the marketplace. Now, aside from leaving behind some samples, all the edible items in his space had been taken out.

In order to expand and accelerate production, Yang Yi had also basically taken out many machines, tools, and so on.

This was so that more items could be produced for exchange with other tribes or caravans, as well as to make it easier for Hei Lie to lead everyone in large-scale hunting.

Right now, the area near the Spark Tribe is extremely safe because the nearby prey has been hunted almost completely, which in turn led to the mass migration of animals.

If not for the fact that the Spark Tribe was still able to plant and raise livestock, such plundering would very quickly cause resources to be exhausted, forcing them to live elsewhere.

For primitive tribes, a population of more than twenty thousand was an extremely large number.

At least on the Eastern Continent, tribes gathering in such numbers were very rare.

Although the Green Python Tribe had a similar population size, they occupied a much larger area. They also had to sacrifice the interests of a portion of their people.

The Spark Tribe’s food and treatment in all aspects were the very best across the entire Eastern Continent.

Generally speaking, the ones who could obtain so much food were only a portion of the tribe—absolutely never the entire tribe.

But the Spark Tribe had achieved it. Even in the resource-scarce winter, they could still let everyone fill their stomachs, basically ensuring that people could eat at least two meals a day.

During the winter, the Spark Tribe did not rest either. They still labored in order to obtain more food and more goods to exchange with the outside.

At present, with the tribe’s current numbers, they could still barely manage to hold on.

As long as they waited until next year, when the tribe expanded planting and breeding, and with the development of light industry, the situation would gradually stabilize.

But if more people were to come now, it would be hard to say how the tribe’s operations would hold up.

So when Yang Yi and Hei Lie heard that a large number of people were flooding in this direction, whether they were enemies or those coming to seek refuge, both of them felt a sense of vigilance.

“What kind of people are they?” Hei Lie asked.

The guard replied, “For now, they all look like a group of those seeking refuge. They don’t seem like enemies.”

“Refuge seekers?” Yang Yi furrowed his brows. “To travel in weather this cold, don’t they want their lives anymore?”

Winter in the wilderness was extremely dangerous. Beasts came and went unpredictably. Because of the scarcity of resources, they became even fiercer.

And that was not even the most crucial part. The wilderness was freezing cold. If one couldn’t find a suitable place to stay, they could very likely fall asleep and never wake up again.

In winter, everything was covered by snow. It was also very easy to get lost.

Generally speaking, those still able to travel around in winter were basically either extremely powerful or simply unable to survive any longer in their original place.

Otherwise, most tribes, even if they didn’t have enough food, would rather huddle in place, conserving physical strength and avoiding the risks of going out.

Hei Lie: “About how many of them are there?”

“At present, it’s still uncertain. According to the information, it shouldn’t be just one wave of people. Right now, it’s said that just the first wave alone may already number over ten thousand.”

Hei Lie and Yang Yi exchanged a glance. Their brows involuntarily furrowed even tighter.

“How could there be so many people?” Yang Yi found it hard to believe.

Though they had previously taken in twenty thousand people all at once, that had been because there were people specially sent out to gather them, and part of them were from the Beastfolk. Only then could such a number be reached.

Back then, Jing and the others had gone very far, spending no small amount of effort, before they managed to bring back so many people.

That number was extremely large, the kind that only when many tribes converged together would it add up to.

What exactly could have happened to cause so many people to migrate collectively?

The guard shook his head. “As of now, no definite news has been received.”

Hei Lie said in a deep voice, “Have the communications team investigate thoroughly. We must find out exactly what is going on.”

“Yes!”

After the guard left, the plans that Yang Yi and Hei Lie had originally wanted to carry out were completely set aside, leaving them without any mood for it.

“This matter goes against common sense.”

Yang Yi looked at the snowflakes outside the window, feeling more and more that this matter was anything but ordinary.

“There had already been news before, saying that many places had suffered disasters. Other than the drought at the original site of the Banshan Tribe, there were also places where earthquakes occurred,” Hei Lie said.

If not for that reason back then, Jing and the others wouldn’t have been able to bring people here so smoothly.

Yang Yi had also heard about this information during the trade fair.

“Have we ever encountered something like this before? Do they also migrate in winter?”

“Very rarely, especially with a group this enormous.” Hei Lie shook his head.

“Our tribe is still this far away. Even if they wanted to seek refuge, they wouldn’t choose this time. They would choose somewhere closer. Besides, with so many people, while having more numbers in this season means greater safety, it also means that finding food would be extremely difficult.”

“If they really come, and it’s only purely to seek refuge, what should we do?”

“Refuse.” Hei Lie answered without the slightest hesitation. “I will not let them set foot in the Spark Tribe.”

Don’t be fooled by how good life in the Spark Tribe seemed at present. In reality, supplies were still very tight.

Accepting a few hundred people was fine, but if it was suddenly ten thousand or more, they absolutely could not bear such enormous pressure.

The tribe’s rapid development and the swift expansion of its population had already caused quite a few disputes within.

Some departments’ management was still in a state of chaos, not yet properly straightened out.

To truly make these twenty thousand people play their proper role, it still required time to digest and adapt.

Some rules and regulations, because of the increase in numbers, had also become unsuitable.

Right now, Yang Yi and Hei Lie’s main focus of work is on mediation, which leaves far less energy and time for production.

As a result, most industries were still only expanding upon their original foundations, without undergoing any real upgrading.

If so many more people came again, it was likely that their internal affairs would descend into chaos first.

Not only had Yang Yi never led this many people, but even Hei Lie, as chieftain, was managing such a vast number for the very first time.

Everyone was still a novice. In many areas, things were immature.

Not to mention, among so many people, who could know whether some of them harbored other intentions?

“It’s just that I’m afraid it won’t be that easy.”

At this time, Yang Yi also would not soften his heart. He could not possibly cut off the interests of the current tribe members in order to pity others.

The resources they had now were all the result of their own labor. If, because of helping outsiders, their own people went hungry, it would only bring a great deal of dissatisfaction and, in turn, cause them to lose the people’s support.

But these people had traveled from so far away to come here. If they were not accepted, with their stomachs empty, who knew what kind of things they might do.

Once conflicts between the two sides escalated into fighting, the Spark Tribe would not lose, but the losses would surely be very great.

Hei Lie understood this as well. With so many people, resolving matters by force was the very last resort.

“Let’s first see what the situation is. Hopefully, they won’t be that foolish.”

As it turned out, those people had indeed come harboring naïve thoughts.

The reason they chose to migrate even in such a cold season was because they thought that as long as they arrived at the Spark Tribe, they could live a life free from worries of food and clothing.

They could live in warm houses, eat all sorts of delicious foods, and own very beautiful pottery.

Every day, even without doing anything, they could still have everything.

Because the tribe was favored by the gods.

The gods had sent an envoy to the Spark Tribe, bringing them food, clothing, and so on.

That was a sacred land people longed for. So long as one revered the gods, one could have all of it.

“Who on earth is spreading such ridiculous rumors!”

When Hong heard this news, he exploded on the spot.

Although he hadn’t been here for very long, he was already completely a member of the Spark Tribe.

Even though life in the Spark Tribe was joyful for everyone, it did not mean that survival came easily.

Everything people had now was earned through hard labor, while also requiring constant learning and self-improvement.

The only difference was that, compared to before, when it was just brute labor, now they also had to use their minds.

Neither was easy!

And now someone was actually spreading rumors like this. Having already been tormented by the pains of study, Hong was the first to refuse to tolerate it.

Jiao tightened her grip on the cane in her hand, her expression also extremely grave:

“Divine Envoy, Chieftain, I think this matter isn’t simple. It isn’t just a misunderstanding caused by exaggerated rumors.”

Others also echoed one after another, feeling that this matter was not as simple as it seemed on the surface.

“But who would do such a thing? Bringing so many people to the Spark Tribe… What could they possibly gain from it?” Tu Meng asked in puzzlement.

Everyone began discussing, not understanding the meaning of such an act, and also marveling at the boldness of these people.

In weather this cold, it took tremendous courage to make it all the way here.

Hei Lie narrowed his eyes slightly. “If you were extremely hungry, and someone told you there was a place with food. After all your hardships, you arrived there only to find that the food was real, but guarded by people who would not give it to you. What would you do?”

“Rob it! Do you even need to ask?” Hu Wen answered without hesitation.

In this world, the weak are prey to the strong. No one feels guilty about robbing others.

All transactions are built on mutual strength. This trade fair was able to satisfy many tribes precisely because the Spark Tribe maintained order.

That safeguarded the rights and interests of many tribes.

Although some people weren’t that happy, overall it was a success.

When those words fell, everyone suddenly understood.

“That’s the phrase. What was it called again…” Hong scratched his head and thought hard. Then, after a long moment, he remembered, “Borrow a knife to kill. Yes, that idiom!”

Everyone burst out laughing. The originally tense atmosphere eased considerably.

“Hong, you finally learned a decent phrase.”

“Anyway, it’s roughly that meaning!” Hong glared back grumpily.

“If we can’t properly arrange these people, they’ll definitely turn into bandits.”

“The first wave already has ten thousand people. There are probably many more behind them. Even if we have a strong force, wiping them out would cost us greatly.”

“Our tribe’s fields and everywhere could be attacked. If they damage the farmland, that’s another huge loss.”

“Not only that,” Jiao furrowed her brow tightly, “if we kill them all, next year’s trade fair might see no tribe daring to come.”

The room grew even livelier. The trade fair was now extremely important to the tribe.

Through the trade fair, the Spark Tribe could exchange for many things. Much of their production existed for the purpose of trade. If the trade fair were not held within the tribe, having to take goods out to trade would increase costs and prevent them from holding the initiative.

Yang Yi, who had been silent the whole time, spoke up:

“These are secondary. If, after being attacked repeatedly by these refugees, someone takes advantage of the gap and slips in, then the tribe will fall into danger.”

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