The youth squad's morning

After leaving his father Jianshi's hut, Wang Yan did not go straight back to rest. He stood alone at the edge of the tribe, gazing at the faint outlines of the mountains in the darkness, his thoughts surging like a tide.

If everything went smoothly with the proposal he had made, the Fire Tribe's population could very well more than double within the next year or two, breaking straight past five hundred! That explosive growth would bring strength, but also more challenges-more mouths to feed, more relationships to coordinate, and more dwellings to build.

He counted on his fingers. There were roughly twenty boys between eight and fifteen in the tribe. Those twenty were the seeds of the tribe's future fighting force! They had to be properly trained.

But he also knew that rushing things would only backfire. Life in the tribe had only begun to improve less than a month ago. Though everyone was full of hope and drive, their foundations were still very weak. Long-term malnutrition could not be completely remedied in a few short weeks. That was even more true of these half-grown boys. Making the training too intense right away would not produce results; instead, it might injure them.

I can't rush this... Wang Yan repeatedly reminded himself. Food has to be eaten one mouthful at a time, and a road has to be walked one step at a time.

He settled on a preliminary plan: training would start with the very basics and progress gradually. It also could not take up their mornings. After all, many of the older children already served as little workers for their families, helping process game, look after younger siblings, and even take part in simple gathering and crafting tasks. Training would be held in the afternoon, with only a little each day to let them adjust first.

The next day, not long after sunrise.

Wang Yan sent Gubang and Shouchai to tell all the boys between eight and fifteen to gather in the clearing at the center of the tribe after lunch.

As word spread, the half-grown boys reacted in different ways. Some were excited, like Shibang and Gubang, who had long yearned to become mighty hunters like their fathers; hearing that their training would begin early, they rubbed their fists and flexed their arms in anticipation. Some were curious, like Daya, who wanted to see what new tricks Yan could come up with this time. Others were less willing, feeling that it would eat into their playtime, but after learning that this was a joint decision by the chief and all the team leaders, and having already received stern instructions from the adults in their families the night before, they obediently said they would arrive on time.

It seemed his father Jianshi and the other uncles had acted quickly, already getting the parents on board in advance. That saved Wang Yan a great deal of talking.

Twenty boys of varying ages gathered in a loose scattering in the middle of the clearing. Most were thin, but their eyes were bright. Compared with a month ago, their faces had visibly filled out, and they were much more energetic. This was the most immediately apparent change brought by having enough food.

Wang Yan stood before them, his gaze sweeping over their still-childish faces. Shibang and Gubang stood right at the front with their chests thrust out; Daya studied Wang Yan with lively eyes. Some of the younger boys at the back, such as Shouchai, looked a little nervous.

"You all know why you were called here, right?" Wang Yan began. His voice was not loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.

"Yes! Training!" Shibang answered loudly.

"Mm." Wang Yan nodded. "Starting today, we'll gather here every afternoon for training, unless something special comes up. The goal is to make your bodies stronger, help you run faster, and give you more strength, so that when you join the hunting teams in the future, you can hunt better and better protect our tribe and your families!"

He did not dwell on grand principles, explaining the purpose of training in the plainest terms-to hunt and to become strong. That was easy for these half-grown children, who admired bravery and martial prowess, to accept.

"But!" Wang Yan shifted his tone, growing stern. "Training isn't play. It'll be exhausting! And you can't let training interfere with your work at home, much less slack off! Anyone who can't endure hardship can quit right now! But if you quit, don't regret it later when you see others growing stronger and becoming heroes of the tribe!"

These half-grown boys were at their most competitive age. Who would admit in front of so many people that he could not endure hardship? Every one of them thrust his chest out even farther. Even those who had been somewhat unwilling before pressed their lips together, refusing to show weakness.

"Good! Since no one's quitting, let's begin today's training!" Seeing that he had achieved the desired effect, Wang Yan wasted no more words. "Today, we're only doing two things! First, running around the tribe! Second, practicing how to use your strength!"

The training was simple, even somewhat monotonous.

Wang Yan personally led the twenty youths as they began jogging around the tribe's settlement. The Fire Tribe's settlement was not particularly large, but one lap was still seven or eight hundred meters. Though these children often ran around wildly, this was their first time running in such an organized fashion.

At first, everyone found it novel and ran with enthusiasm. But after two laps, some of the younger, weaker children began panting, their legs growing unsteady.

"Keep going! Control your breathing! Don't stop!" Wang Yan ran alongside the group, encouraging them loudly. "Think about chasing prey in the future! What does this little distance amount to?"

Seeing Shouchai turn pale and begin to fall behind, he slowed down and ran beside him. "Shouchai, match my steps. Take deep breaths. Yes, just like that!"

In the end, everyone persevered and finished three laps. Though they were all staggering with exhaustion and drenched in sweat, no one gave up halfway. Wang Yan nodded inwardly. Their foundations were weak, but their willpower was quite good.

After a short rest, Wang Yan taught them some simple strength exercises, such as leaning down and pushing against the ground with both hands (basic push-ups), or pairing up to practice grappling (wrestling). The main aim was to help them get a feel for how to exert force and use the strength of their waist, abdomen, and legs.

The entire training session lasted less than an hour.

"You all did well today!" Wang Yan said in closing. "Eat a little more after you get back! Starting today, on training days, you can each collect an extra grilled fish or an equivalent portion of meat every afternoon!"

This was a privilege Wang Yan had secured from his father Jianshi. More training required more nourishment. Jianshi understood the importance of strong warriors and was very supportive. Hearing that training would also earn them extra meat, the youths immediately burst into cheers, their fatigue seemingly swept away! In this era, food held tremendous allure. Watching these exhausted yet excited youths, Wang Yan seemed to see the future backbone of the Fire Tribe.