The Fire Tribe's Hero
Since the great victory at Wild Boar Gully, the Fire Tribe Valley has been like a pot of boiling water that has been constantly being fueled, never truly calming down. However, the initial tense atmosphere of preparation for battle has gradually been replaced by a spirit of high morale, confidence, and even a touch of fanaticism.
Wang Yan moved through the increasingly crowded yet more orderly camp, sensing this change. He noticed that the busiest person was none other than his father, Jianshi.
Jianshi was almost constantly on the ground, handling everything from settling new tribespeople, allocating resources, and planning expansions, to receiving leaders of small tribes who came to seek refuge, mediating internal disputes, and presiding over sacrificial rites to thank the ancestors for their protection... all the big and small matters weighed heavily on his shoulders. But Wang Yan keenly noticed that although his father was busy, there was no sign of fatigue in his brows; on the contrary, he was full of energy, his eyes seemed to burn with two inextinguishable flames, and he had inexhaustible strength.
What struck Wang Yan even more was the way the tribesmen looked at his father. It was no longer a simple obedience to their leader or respect for their elders, but rather a mixture of almost blind worship, fanatical trust, and a sense of pride in sharing in their glory. All of this stemmed from that brief but awe-inspiring duel outside Wild Boar Gully.
The warriors who fought that day became the most popular "storytellers" within the Fire Tribe. Whenever they had free time, whether by the campfire where they rested, on the edge of the field where they worked, or on the construction site where they built houses, they could always find several warriors surrounded by others, spitting and gesturing wildly as they recounted that thrilling battle. And the core and climax of it all was always the duel between the chief, Jianshi, and the wolf king Xueya.
"You didn't see it! Xueya's axe was bigger than a millstone, it came crashing down on the chief with a whoosh! Anyone else would have been terrified!" A scarred warrior exclaimed, gesturing wildly. "But our chief just stood there, completely unfazed! And when the axe was almost above his head, hey! He just swung his spear upwards with a 'whoosh!' There was a loud 'clang!' that made my ears ring! Guess what? Xueya's axe was sent flying! It flew a long way!"
"Yes, yes, yes! Then the chief took a step forward, faster than lightning! And kicked Xueya right in the chest!" another warrior chimed in, his face flushed with excitement. "I was close enough to see it clearly! Xueya coughed up a mouthful of blood, and flew out like a kite with a broken string, lying on the ground convulsing, unable to get up for a long time! The Wolf Tribe's faces turned green!"
These descriptions were constantly embellished and exaggerated in each retelling, becoming increasingly rich in detail and more and more legendary in plot. Jianshi was portrayed as a war god with unparalleled strength, lightning-fast reflexes, and overwhelming courage, while Xueya became a clown who overestimated his abilities and was easily crushed. There were dozens, if not more, of derivative versions, but no matter which version, they all made the audience's blood boil and their breath quicken, as if they were standing in the middle of the battlefield, witnessing the hero's victory over the enemy.
What's amazing is that even after listening to it dozens of times a day, the tribespeople still enjoy it immensely. Each retelling reignites their passion and pride. This collective emotional release and the shaping of their worship have greatly strengthened the tribe's cohesion and sense of identity.
Wang Yan witnessed several times that when his father, Jianshi, passed by, the soldiers who were engaged in loud conversation would immediately stop, straighten their backs, and look at him with utmost respect, even a little awkwardness. When Jianshi nodded to them or said "Thank you for your hard work," these men would beam with excitement, their chests puffed out even higher, as if they had received the highest honor. Not only the soldiers, but even the teenagers in the Youth Team looked at Jianshi with undisguised admiration and longing, regarding him as their future role model.
What surprised Wang Yan even more was that many women in the tribe also showed extraordinary attention and affection for her father. They would steal glances at him as they passed by the Jianshi path, whispering about the chief's bravery and charisma, their eyes sparkling with admiration. Strangely, their husbands or partners didn't seem to mind at all, and even felt proud of it—after all, being attracted to such a powerful, godlike chief was, in their eyes, perfectly normal, and it only proved how remarkable the person they were following was.
Jianshi is no longer just the leader of the Fire Tribe. He has become a hero of the tribe, a spiritual totem for all the tribe members, and a super core that unites more than three thousand people.
Wang Yan was initially worried about this atmosphere that bordered on personality cult, but he quickly became relieved. In this primitive era, surrounded by powerful enemies and struggling to survive, a strong, brave leader capable of leading the tribe to glorious victories played an irreplaceable role in boosting morale and consolidating unity. The Fire Tribe needed such a "super idol," especially after absorbing so many new tribesmen from diverse backgrounds in such a short period of time. His father, through his bravery and victories, had forged an unbreakable spiritual core for the Fire Tribe.
That evening, after settling the last group of about four hundred members of the small tribe who had migrated from the direction of the Deer Tribe and the Green Sheep Tribe, Jianshi had a rare moment of leisure and sat with Wang Yan on a newly leveled earthen platform overlooking most of the valley to rest.
The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the bustling valley in a golden-red hue, and the outlines of newly built houses, crisscrossing ridges, and wisps of smoke from chimneys created a vibrant and picturesque scene.
"Father, with everyone settled today, the recent large-scale influx of people should have come to a temporary halt." Wang Yan handed his father a bamboo tube filled with water.
Jianshi took the drink, took a big gulp, and let out a long sigh. His face showed fatigue, but even more so, satisfaction and exhilaration. "Yes, I never expected this, truly never expected it. Driving away the wolf cubs and seizing some things was expected. But these more than a thousand people who have come to join us... that's a tremendous gain! More precious than any cow or pig!"
Wang Yan nodded, took out the results of the statistics he and Uncle Jianya had compiled over the past few days, and used a twig to draw simple symbols and numbers on a relatively flat patch of mud. "Father, I've done a rough count. Our original tribesmen numbered about 1,400. After defeating the Wolf Tribe, about 300 came from the vicinity of the White Pig. About 900 came from the vicinity of the Bison and from the east and north. Today's group from the vicinity of the Deer and Green Sheep tribes numbered about 400. Adding the remnants of the Little Stone Creek tribe that we took in earlier... Currently, the total population of our Fire Tribe should be around 3,300."
He paused, then continued, "Moreover, there have been quite a few newborns in the tribe this year, plus pregnant women and infants in the newly joined tribes. If all goes well, our population will likely reach 3,500 before the first snowfall of the year."
Three thousand five hundred people!
This number made even the seasoned and experienced Jian Shi Jianshi for breath, his eyes gleaming with astonishment. Just a few years ago, he was worrying day and night about feeding two hundred people! Now, he was the leader of a large tribe with three thousand five hundred subjects!
Wang Yan continued his analysis, "If we gather all the healthy men between the ages of fifteen and forty who are capable of wielding weapons from these people... Father, we could form a Warrior Team of at least seven hundred men! This doesn't even include the strong women who are also trained or capable of fighting. As for the boys between the ages of eight and fifteen, if we train them collectively as a reserve force, we could probably have over three hundred."
"Seven hundred warriors... three hundred youths..." Jianshi repeated in a low voice, his chest rising and falling slightly. He gripped the Shimao in his hand tightly—the weapon that had accompanied him in battle and drunk the Xueya, now seemed to have become heavier and more stable.
An unprecedented surge of pride welled up within him. Seven hundred well-trained, well-equipped warriors! What did that mean? Looking across the entire upper reaches of the river, aside from the unfathomable but seemingly more trade-focused Fish Tribe (whom he recalled probably numbered only four hundred Fish Tribe?), what other tribe possessed such formidable strength? The Wolf Tribe? A thing of the past! Bison White Pig? Even combined, they wouldn't amount to much! Deer and Green Sheep? Insignificant!
With such power, the Fire Tribe can truly be considered a powerful force, truly control its own destiny, and fear no external threats!
"Good! Good! Good!" Jianshi Shi exclaimed three times, patting his son's shoulder heavily, his voice hoarse with excitement. "Yan, this is all thanks to your and everyone's hard work! Clearing land for farming, making pottery, training soldiers, building ships... without all that foundation laid, even if I had just killed one Xueya, we wouldn't be where we are today!"
He gazed at the campfire burning in the valley, at the figures of his people still busy in the twilight, his eyes firm and full of strength.
"Pass down the order," Jianshi said to Wang Yan, and also to himself, "Starting tomorrow, according to this statistic, begin the formal reorganization of the troops! The seven hundred soldiers will be divided into different teams, with designated leaders, and their training will be strengthened! The three hundred teenagers will have their training intensity gradually increased so they can grow up as quickly as possible! We must firmly hold this force in our hands!"
"Yes, Father!" Wang Yan replied, his heart filled with the same sense of pride.