TPWBI Chapter 101

The conference room erupted instantly. Everyone was furious.

Hu Wen gripped his chair so hard that he accidentally crushed the armrest.

“Who would do something like this? So insidious! So hateful! How can there be people like that in the world? If you’ve got the guts, fight us directly!”

“If they could beat us, they wouldn’t be doing this.”

“This makes me so angry. What are we supposed to do? Are we just going to let their plot succeed?”

“With so many people, driving them away won’t be easy.”

“In weather this cold, leaving here is death for them, too. If it were me, I’d take a gamble. Right now, there’s no other tribe except the Green Python Tribe, but they can’t get in. We’re the only target.”

Clouds of worry covered everyone’s faces. Life was so good now. No one wanted war to destroy it all.

They weren’t afraid of war, but they hated being tricked. They didn’t want to see their people suffer.

Hu Wen couldn’t stand the heavy mood and boomed out:

“So what if there are many? We have the best weapons. They’re just a group of exhausted, starving people. If these people really overestimate themselves and try to attack us, we won’t need much force to defeat them.”

Tu Meng shot him an exasperated glance. “Didn’t you hear what the shaman just said?”

Hu Wen fell silent, sitting there puffing with anger, already wanting to tear the mastermind to pieces in his mind.

“But if we’re going to take responsibility for these people, we simply don’t have that much food.”

“Yes. We ourselves are calculating and planning every day. If anything changes, not having stored grain will be a huge problem.”

“You people are always complaining. Why don’t you say what we should do!”

Hu Wen couldn’t stand it and shouted, chattering and fussing for a long while. What use was complaining without a plan?

Everyone’s gaze turned to Yang Yi, placing their hopes on him.

Being relied upon and trusted gave Yang Yi a great sense of accomplishment and presence.

He pondered for a moment and said, “What ideas do you have? Everyone can pool their thoughts.”

“Fight.” Tu’s voice was clangorous and strong. “I only need a thousand troops, and they won’t be able to get close to the tribe.”

Tu was now in charge of the border defense unit, with a thousand elite soldiers under his command.

These men were fully armed and carried the tribe’s most advanced and best weapons.

Moreover, every soldier had been carefully selected. Among them, one hundred were the elite of the elite, with extreme combat power.

The last surprise raid had given these soldiers real combat experience dealing with crowds and coordinated attacks, so they understood how to respond.

“I agree. I don’t believe they’d really keep charging recklessly.”

Hu Wen was the first to voice agreement, even beginning to crack his knuckles.

“Opposing us will surely mean death. Leaving gives them a slim chance at survival. Maybe the situation isn’t as bad as we think.”

There were those who agreed. Those who opposed said, “If we do that, wouldn’t we be falling into the mastermind’s trap? Step one succeeds, then there’s step two and step three.”

“That doesn’t mean we can avoid fighting! Our Spark Tribe isn’t that timid!”

“That’s not what I mean. I just think there should be a better solution.”

Everyone was talking over each other. Most opinions leaned toward showing their strength to intimidate everyone.

If people feared them, they wouldn’t dare scheme against them lightly.

Yang Yi waited until the discussion had mostly settled before speaking:

“Showing our strength is necessary. Everyone must know that no one can scheme against us.

At the same time, we must also appease these people, turning them into our own strength. Only then can the mastermind’s plot truly fail.”

The room fell silent. Someone couldn’t help but say, “But we don’t have the capacity to absorb so many people right now.”

Hei Lie, who hadn’t spoken before, finally spoke: “Who said we have to make them members of the Spark Tribe?”

Everyone looked at each other, unsure what Hei Lie meant.

“Speak clearly!” Chi urged impatiently.

Hei Lie glanced at Yang Yi, who nodded at him.

Then he explained, “Those seeking refuge don’t mean we have to accept them. No tribe has such a rule.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. A typical example was the Green Python Tribe.

Although other tribes weren’t as strict, they didn’t accept just anyone either.

“We won’t just watch them starve, but everything must be exchanged for their labor.”

Those quick to understand immediately realized: “Like the Green Python Tribe?”

“Right. But we don’t provide food or lodging. We’ll issue them vouchers to collect food based on the work they actually do.

We also won’t let them move into the tribe, but we can allow them to settle in the wasteland within our sphere of influence. We can help build housing as well, but that too won’t be free. It must be exchanged for labor.”

“But even so, we still have to provide food, right?”

Hei Lie laughed. That laugh made everyone inexplicably feel a chill in their hearts.

“Who said we have to hire everyone? We’ll hire as many people as we can afford to feed. As for who is capable of getting those work opportunities, that depends on each person’s own ability.”

There was silence for a few seconds.

Chi gave Hei Lie a thumbs-up. “You really are heartless. You’re making them fight among themselves.”

Shift the contradiction onto others and reap the benefits.

“Order still has to be maintained.”

Yang Yi still didn’t want to see a brutal ending. His upbringing kept him from being that cold-blooded.

“If these people want to join the Spark Tribe to enjoy the same treatment as tribe members, then they must follow the tribe’s rules. Wanton killing of innocents, victimizing men and women, and other illegal acts, such people have no qualification to join. Competence isn’t the first criterion. What matters is a person’s character.”

Hei Lie added, “When hiring workers, obeying the law is also a criterion for acceptance.”

Yang Yi nodded. “We can also extend credit for some tools and seeds, even provide manpower to help them rebuild their homes, and offer some humanitarian aid. As long as there is hope in their hearts, we won’t abandon them completely.”

Yang Yi and Hei Lie had already agreed on this approach: if the character of these people proved problematic, they would use certain schemes to make them consume each other from within.

These people came from different tribes, so accomplishing that wasn’t difficult.

With just a little temptation, they could be driven to slaughter one another for profit.

If some of them didn’t just want to come and be freeloaders but had the will to stand on their own feet, then they could be given some help within their capabilities to get through this crisis.

Overall, the wasteland’s resources were still relatively abundant. Even in winter, there were ways to obtain food.

It was just more dangerous, and at best, you could only barely keep people from starving. Some attrition was unavoidable.

With a little assistance from the Spark Tribe, this group would still have something to strive for.

“This plan’s not bad!”

The low pressure in the meeting room dissipated, and everyone relaxed a good deal.

Although some were warlike, that didn’t mean they enjoyed slaughter.

Everyone had a hard life. There was still some empathy.

“The pay we give them can’t be based on our tribe’s standards,” Jiao said.

“Of course.” Hei Lie smiled and nodded. “But even so, it’ll inevitably put pressure on the tribe’s food supply.”

“Didn’t we make ceramics? We produced a lot of things recently. We can use them to trade for food.” Yang Yi said. “We can’t rely on that too much. I’m sure people will sense our predicament and try to drive prices down. If we can’t hold out, prices will easily fall into a disadvantageous state.”

“Ah?!”

Everyone’s eyes widened again. For people who had only just finished calculating how many things they could trade for how many others, these commercial maneuvers were way over their heads.

“If I’m not mistaken, the Western Continent caravan is definitely behind this,” Yang Yi said.

Yang Yi didn’t believe that the Western Continent merchants had gone quiet after the Maple Leaf City incident.

These people were used to being the profiteers, accustomed to exchanging cheap goods for large amounts of supplies and controlling the market.

Especially since the Spark Tribe had so many desirable things. Even if they couldn’t launch a direct raid now, they’d think of other ways to get what they wanted.

“How is it those people again!”

“That’s true. Western Continent people are especially crafty. For something this big to happen, it would be strange if they weren’t involved.”

“We Eastern Continent people are straightforward. We don’t like playing those dirty little tricks.”

“Naïve.” Hei Lie snorted coldly. “If there weren’t Eastern Continent people behind this as well, it would be hard to stir up such a commotion.”

“Who on earth would do this?! Colluding with Western Continent people!”

There were still clear rifts between Eastern and Western Continent people. They often fought among themselves, but against outsiders, they unconsciously took sides.

“Our tribe is so easy to deal with. Who looks down on us enough to do this?”

“Let me catch them and I’ll tear them to pieces!”

“Which tribe is bold enough to do this?!”

Jiao then spoke slowly, her eyes darkening: “The Blackstone Tribe.”

The meeting room fell quiet again. Many had almost forgotten about that tribe.

Hu Wen, who didn’t know much about matters outside the beastfolk, was baffled: “What kind of tribe is the Blackstone Tribe? Why would they do this?”

Tu Meng quietly explained to Hu Wen’s ear. A gossip by nature, he had long ago learned these things.

“Really a disgusting tribe!” Hu Wen said with revulsion.

Hei Lie and the former members of the Blackstone Tribe both looked unpleasant. After all, it had once been their tribe, and they still felt some attachment.

Although they had been betrayed before, they still remembered the friends who had been there.

But repeatedly provoking them like this, how much could one endure?

“Hei Lie, I request that after this crisis, we lead troops to attack the Blackstone Tribe.”

Tu, usually steady, no longer wanted to keep suppressing his anger. Did people think the Spark Tribe had no temper?

Chi also eagerly agreed: “I want to go, too. I can’t take it! We didn’t seek revenge for what happened with the Fang Tribe before. That was us being merciful. Now they dare to come again. Do they really think we’re easy to mess with?”

“That’s right. The Blackstone Tribe is too treacherous. If we don’t eliminate them, there will be more firsts and seconds of this.”

The person in charge of commerce also spoke up: “The Blackstone Tribe has used force to seize many places, making travel difficult for some tribes. If we remove them, more tribes will be able to come trade.”

The Blackstone Tribe had always been very powerful, dominating their area with Blackstone weapons.

They possessed many warriors. Even if they drove Hei Lie and his group away, their strength would soon recover.

Unlike the Spark Tribe, which continuously expanded production and took in a great deal of labor, they only wanted brave and fierce warriors. Only then could they gain more through plunder.

Plunder was a shortcut, one that could easily drive some people mad.

This also caused more and more deranged individuals to flood into the Blackstone Tribe. Their combat power rose as a result.

Hei Lie’s eyes darkened, his gaze filled with hostility:

“If the investigation shows they truly have a major hand in this, then we’ll let everyone see the fate of those who make themselves our enemy!”

———

Snow fell heavily. A group of people pressed forward against the wind and blizzard.

They shivered from the cold, dragging heavy steps as they walked, their faces etched with hardship.

“We’re almost there. That’s the Black Forest up ahead. Once we pass through, we’ll reach the place where the gods reside!”

Someone cheered into the wind, rallying the weary crowd.

“Everyone, hurry! Once we get there, there’ll be endless food, warm houses, and we’ll live a blessed life where meals come to us with our eyes closed!”

“Oh God, please bless us, your faithful followers!”

“Is there really such a place? Can we really survive?”

Everyone was swept up in excitement, their once heavy steps now lightened considerably.

Hope was right before their eyes. They no longer had to fear collapsing unnoticed by the roadside from hunger or starving to death alive.

As long as they crossed this land of death, on the other side was the paradise blessed by the gods.

“An, is there really such a place? A place where you can truly have endless food?”

Kumu wasn’t so optimistic. He always felt this was too unbelievable, too hard to trust.

But someone had sworn up and down that it truly existed, even producing strange items no one had ever seen before, as proof that it was a land where gods resided.

An looked at the frenzied people around him and sneered: “Whoever believes it is a fool.”

“Then why did you come, too?” Kumu asked, puzzled.

An rolled his eyes at him impatiently: “What else? Wait around to starve to death? That place has more hope than where we came from.”

The Spark Tribe was now famous throughout the Eastern Continent. Everyone knew of a place that, in such a short time, had undergone earth-shaking changes.

It was magnificent. Everyone there had enough to eat and drink, without fear of freezing.

They were unlike any other tribe. With no water, they knew to dig underground to find it themselves.

Without caves, they used earth to build sturdy houses on their own.

They planted crops and raised animals, so no one needed to go out hunting. Even ordinary people could obtain more food.

“But will they take us in? In winter, no tribe accepts outsiders. And we have so many people.”

An was deeply worried. At first, there hadn’t been too many of them, but the number kept growing until they had become the massive group they were now.

At first, An had felt fortunate to have so many people traveling together, since it made their journey much safer.

Because the group was so large, most beasts avoided them. At most, the beasts attempt a sneak attack, but not daring to confront them head-on.

Though a few unlucky ones lost their lives, overall, the survival rate was relatively high.

“Let’s wait and see,” An said, his expression also grim.

If they’d had any other choice, they wouldn’t have come here.

Besides, since they were willing to head to the Spark Tribe, and there were people providing food and supplies, of course, they couldn’t pass that up.

That was also one of the so-called proofs that those people used to claim the divine domain existed. Otherwise, who would be so generous as to hand out precious food and supplies in the middle of winter?

But in reality, such a beautiful thing didn’t exist.

Before they even got close to the Spark Tribe, a group blocked their way.

“My god, are those the guards of the gods?”

Those men rode on tall, unknown giant birds. They wore gleaming metal armor, held metal spears in their hands, and had bows and arrows slung across their backs.

They appeared in perfect formation, looking down from above, radiating awe-inspiring might.

When someone tried to approach, a fire-ability wielder swept out a wall of towering flames.

“Heavens, what kind of power is that?!”

Even a level three warrior with fire abilities would struggle to unleash such a blaze.

Yet the man before them did it with ease. Such strength was terrifying.

“This is the territory of the Spark Tribe! All unrelated persons, get out. Otherwise, you will be killed without mercy!” The deep, booming voice of the tall man in the lead resounded.

His voice seemed to burst forth from all directions, so clear that even those at the very back of the crowd could hear him distinctly.

“We came here in search of the divine domain. We are children of the gods, and should also be blessed by them!”

Tu sneered: “Should? You’re saying should to the gods?”

“We only hope the gods will let us live. Why is it that you can receive the gods’ blessings, but we cannot?!”

“That’s right!”

The crowd began to clamor, voices rising in protest.

“Everyone, charge forward! Beyond them lies the divine domain, the land of endless food! If we rush through, we’ll be the same as them!”

“Charge! As long as we break through, everything will be ours!”

Whipped into frenzy, the group surged forward.

Tu’s face darkened. With a wave of his hand, the archers behind him raised their bows in unison. A volley of arrows hissed through the air, raining down and cutting down everyone who rushed ahead.

The arrows flew so fast there was no time to react.

“This is the Spark Tribe’s territory. Intruders die, provokers die!”

The overwhelming momentum froze everyone in place. Someone tried to voice their dissatisfaction, but an arrow swiftly pierced him through.

Row after row of archers lifted their bows. The sight of those sharp, gleaming arrows struck terror into everyone’s hearts.

Not only that. A group appeared carrying iron shields, forming them into a tall defensive wall, making it impossible for anyone attempting a sneak attack to break through.

The faith that had kept everyone struggling bitterly all the way here was shattered by the Spark Tribe’s open rejection and their overwhelming military might.

They were starving, while the people opposite them were clearly at peak strength. And looking at the dense, black mass of them, their numbers were by no means small.

“God, are you truly going to abandon us like this?”

“Stop crying! There are so many of us. If we all go together, their arrows will eventually run out… ah!”

The agitator was once again shot dead by the archers, the arrow striking with pinpoint precision.

“Anyone who wants to live, shut your mouths!” Tu roared.

At once, everyone fell silent.

While Tu was speaking, anyone who dared utter a single disrespectful word was immediately shot dead with deadly accuracy.

No matter how deeply they tried to hide, they would be dragged out and struck down.

“This is the Spark Tribe’s territory. You had better remember that. Whatever rumors you may have heard, here there is only the Spark Tribe!”

The crowd began to stir restlessly again, the atmosphere turning heavy and bleak.

Retreat meant death, yet they couldn’t advance either. Were they simply waiting to die?

“The gods’ blessing is for those who can survive by their own hands. If you can understand that, then there is still a path to life.”

An and Kumu followed along with the mass of people, still being driven onward. No one knew where they were being taken. Their hearts were filled with fear.

“An, do you think what the Spark Tribe people said is true? Could we have been deceived?”

Kumu was deeply worried. The others were no better. The future was full of uncertainty.

An was comparatively calmer: “Compared to those rumors, I believe them more. I don’t believe there’s really some divine domain in this world.”

That was what he said, but his heart was still uneasy. Yet when they stood on a high ground and saw the Spark Tribe in the distance, his state of mind changed completely.

“There really is such a place. It really exists!”

A Spark Tribe soldier said, “As long as you’re willing to work hard, one day you too can build a tribe like this. If you’re loyal enough, you may even enter the Spark Tribe.”

“Is the Spark Tribe really like the rumors say?”

Along the way, the Spark Tribe soldiers kept explaining things to everyone. They also took the chance to educate them on the tribe’s rules:  What should be done, and what must never be done.

The group was settled about a five-hour journey from the Spark Tribe itself, in a place that had already been cleared in advance. Large clay pots had even been set up there, filled with thick ginger soup.

“This is for you. Our tribe’s welcome gift.”

The hot ginger soup warmed them from within as they drank. It even had a bit of sugar in it, helping to restore their strength.

“I finally feel alive again!”

Just one bowl of ginger soup moved many to tears. Their stomachs were still empty, but it was far better than before.

Next, everyone began setting up their own tents. After all, anyone who made it here had at least enough things to keep out the cold.

The Spark Tribe didn’t bother interfering with that. Their only requirement at the moment was that anyone who wanted to relieve themselves had to go to designated places.

They also told everyone: every time the pits filled up ten times, there would be a free serving of brown-sugar ginger soup, and the sweetness would be stronger than what they had just tasted.

The Spark Tribe’s enthusiasm in building toilets for free was actually for preparing fertilizer for next year. With so many people, if they followed their old habits, all that waste would be wasted for nothing.

By offering a bit of reward, they made sure people wouldn’t feel it was troublesome and get lazy.

The “price” was also very fair. Even when collecting from the Green Python Tribe, they charged more than this, and that tribe was much farther away.

As the tribe’s farming tasks grew heavier, and the land was used more and more continuously, the demand for fertilizer also kept increasing.

Now, even the youngest children, just learning to walk, already knew they had to save fertilizer. No matter how far they ran, they would hold it in until they reached a toilet.

“What a strange tribe… they actually trade food for shit? Are they crazy? That’s sugar we’re talking about. Precious sugar!”

Kumu still couldn’t believe it. At first, he thought he’d misheard.

The others were the same. Many asked several times, yet still found it unbelievable.

An was also at a loss for words. Looking at the brand-new toilets, sturdier than any tent when it came to blocking wind and rain, he couldn’t help but wonder: Was this tribe really reliable?

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