Alliance Setback

The Jijiao Chief of the Bison Tribe was greatly encouraged when he learned that the Zongmao of the White Pig Tribe had readily agreed to the alliance proposal. The gloom that had been hanging over him in recent days due to the rise of the Fire Tribe and the unresolved threat of the Wolf Tribe seemed to have been dispelled considerably.

"Good! Zongmao is a wise man indeed!" Jijiao paced back and forth in the council chamber, a long-lost smile finally appearing on his face. "I knew it! Not all tribes are willing to live under someone else's roof! Large tribes have their own backbone and traditions; how can they easily give up the foundation and freedom left by their ancestors?"

He seemed to see a glimmer of hope. The combined population of the four tribes— the Bison, the White Pig, the Deer, and the Blue Green Sheep —though each individual tribe was less than a fraction of the current Fire Tribe, still numbered a thousand. If they gathered their able-bodied warriors, they could easily exceed two hundred. This united force, working together as one, while still not matching the Fire Tribe's overwhelming power, should be more than capable of self-defense. After all, the Fish Tribe downstream, he'd heard, had fewer than two thousand people!

"There's no time to lose!" Jijiao immediately summoned his confidant. "Send more men to the Deer Tribe and the Green Sheep Tribe immediately, clearly informing them of our decision to form an alliance with the White Pig Tribe to jointly fight the wolf threat and help each other! Invite their leaders to choose a date as soon as possible to meet in a place among our tribes to discuss our important plans!"

He believed that, faced with the potential threat from the Wolf Tribe and the invisible pressure from the Fire Tribe, the leaders of the Deer Tribe and Green Sheep Tribe, unless they were fools, would make the same choice as them.

However, a few days later, when the messengers sent to the Deer Tribe and Green Sheep Tribe returned exhausted and dejected, the smile on Jijiao's face froze.

"What did the Lu Ming leader of the Deer Tribe say?" Jijiao asked eagerly.

The envoy lowered his head, his voice somewhat hoarse. "Chief Lu Ming... he listened to our proposal, but only said that it was a matter of great importance and needed to be discussed carefully with the elders of the tribe, and that he could not give an immediate answer. His attitude... was somewhat ambiguous."

Where is Wenshi, the chieftain of the Green Sheep Tribe?

"Chief Wenshi gave a similar response, saying that he needed to consider the tribe's actual situation and the people's thoughts. He also... asked many questions about the current state of the Fire Tribe, as well as the specific circumstances of the smaller tribes that had joined them."

Think about it? Ambiguous attitude?

Jijiao's heart sank. This was not the reaction he expected. With the Wolf Tribe still posing a threat and the Fire Tribe rising powerfully, uniting for self-preservation should have been an urgent and logical matter. What was there to "consider"?

"Did you notice anything unusual on your journey? Is something happening within the Deer Tribe and the Green Sheep Tribe?" Jijiao keenly sensed that something was amiss.

The two envoys exchanged a glance, and one of them, forcing a smile, replied, "Chief, on our way back, we did see something... On the edge of the Deer Tribe and Green Sheep Tribe's territory, several groups, with families in tow, are slowly migrating towards the Fire Tribe. The number... probably adds up to four or five hundred people. We inquired and learned they are from small tribes and settlements that rely on the Deer Tribe and Green Sheep Tribe for survival. They... they seem to be heading to join the Fire Tribe."

"What?!" Jijiao Man suddenly stood up, his expression changing drastically. "Four or five hundred people? Joining the Fire Tribe?"

He instantly understood why Lu Ming and Wenshi's attitudes were ambiguous! Their own "affiliated" tribes were all flocking to the Fire Tribe, and the tribes themselves were probably in turmoil. Under these circumstances, how could they have the mind and confidence to talk about an "alliance"? Perhaps they themselves were even hesitating whether to join the Fire Tribe as well!

A profound sense of defeat and a deeper chill crept into Jijiao heart. The allure of the Fire Tribe... was it really that great? Even the Deer and Green Sheep tribes, known for their docility and peaceful nature, were seeing their people abandon them en masse and flock to the Fire Tribe?

In fact, the hesitation of the leaders of the Deer Tribe and the Green Sheep Tribe, as well as the migration of their subordinate tribes, were driven by more complex mentality and more realistic considerations.

When news of the Wolf Tribe's extortion of the Bison and White Pig Tribe reached them, the Deer Tribe and Green Sheep Tribe were also quite frightened. They lived in remote mountain forests and grasslands, and their tribes were similar in size to the Bison and White Pig, but they mainly made a living by raising deer and sheep and gathering mountain forest products. Their food reserves were already small, and there was hardly any "profit" to be made. They had long heard of the Wolf Tribe's insatiable greed.

"What if the Wolf Tribe isn't satisfied after plundering the Bison and White Pig, and they come this way?"

"Our meager grain and deer and sheep probably won't be enough to satisfy the wolf cubs' appetites. If they think it's not enough, they might get angry and..."

"The tragic situation of the Little Stone Creek Tribe is a bloody example!"

Fear spread through the tribe. Many tribesmen and leaders of smaller, dependent tribes had already secretly prepared for the worst: if they spotted any signs of the Wolf Tribe approaching, they would immediately abandon their camp, take the deer and sheep they could carry, and a small amount of food, and hide deeper into the mountains. They could abandon their homes and their food, but they could not die.

In this tense atmosphere, news of the great victory at Wild Boar Gully exploded like Startling Thunder!

"The Wolf Tribe has been defeated by the Fire Tribe! They suffered heavy casualties!"

"Xueya was severely injured by Jianshi, the leader of the Fire Tribe, and his fate is unknown!"

"The wolf cubs fled back to the mountains like stray dogs!"

After the initial shock came immense joy and relief! The death threat that had been looming over them had been eliminated by another tribe in such a thunderous manner! The people of the Deer Tribe and Green Sheep Tribe spread the news, clapping and cheering, and a sense of gratitude and awe for the Fire Tribe arose spontaneously.

This sense of awe quickly transformed into more practical ideas.

The small tribes that clung to the Deer Tribe and Green Sheep Tribe had always struggled to make ends meet. Forest gathering and limited animal husbandry were barely enough to survive; a year of famine or a wild animal attack meant certain death. They had heard rumors of the Fire Tribe's wealth and power over the past two years. The rosy complexions, sturdy physiques, and even better tools and clothing worn by those who had joined the Fire Tribe early on, when occasionally encountered in shared hunting grounds, were the best proof. It wasn't just talk; it was a tangible, visible "good life."

Previously, they had remained hesitant or held back due to distance or attachment to their homeland. But the threat from the Wolf Tribe this time completely shattered their illusions. Even large tribes like the Bison and White Pig tribes couldn't protect their possessions; these small fry were lambs to the slaughter in the face of real danger!

The power of the Fire Tribe shone brightly and seemed so reliable at this moment. When they saw the small tribes of the Bison and White Pig tribes beginning to flock to the Fire Tribe in large numbers, the leaders of the small tribes of the Deer and Green Sheep tribes could no longer sit still.

"We can't wait any longer! The people from the Bison and White Pig tribes are quick. We're already far away, so our news comes late. If we don't go now, what if the Fire Tribe has already filled their quota and doesn't want us anymore?"

"Yes, I heard that the Fire Tribe also needs to spend food and space to accommodate new recruits. If we go too late, there might not be any places left for us!"

"Following the Fire Tribe, at least we won't have to fear the Wolf Tribe anymore, and we won't go hungry anymore!"

This anxiety of "being too late and missing out on a spot" spread like Yehuo. So, while the two leaders, Lu Ming and Wenshi, were still immersed in the joy of the Wolf Tribe's retreat, the small tribes under their rule had already begun to spontaneously and orderly (or rather, scramble to get there) pack their belongings, help the old and bring the young, and embark on the migration to join the Fire Tribe.

When the envoy from the Bison Tribe brought an invitation to form an alliance, Lu Ming and Wenshi's inner turmoil reached its peak.

An alliance? Sounds good; teaming up with the Bison and White Pig tribes would certainly increase security. But... their own small tribes are all deserting, morale is low, and the tribe is hard to manage. Within the tribe, many probably envy the Fire Tribe's wealth and stability. Forcibly joining an alliance to counter (or balance) the Fire Tribe's influence at this point, wouldn't it trigger even greater internal divisions? What if the Fire Tribe develops resentment towards the Deer/ Green Sheep Tribe? That's a behemoth that could easily defeat even the Wolf Tribe!

To not form an alliance would mean facing potential future threats alone, whether it be retaliation from the remnants of the Wolf Tribe or other unknown risks. Meanwhile, it would mean watching helplessly as the population dwindles and the tribe's strength declines...

Caught in this dilemma, torn between gains and losses, they could only give a vague answer, "We need to consider it." Meanwhile, the migrating caravans of the small tribes within their territory were unexpectedly intercepted by the envoys of the Bison Tribe.

When the news reached the Bison Tribe, the Jijiao Chieftain was shocked and felt a deep sense of powerlessness. He had originally thought that he could unite the other three tribes to form a regional power that could somewhat rival the Fire Tribe. Now it seemed that this plan was already facing the possibility of falling apart before it even took shape.

The invisible yet powerful attraction of the Fire Tribe, like a giant magnet, is irresistibly drawing all forces in the vicinity that yearn for security and abundance towards it.