A Horse Bolts at the Dock, Wang Yan Saves a Life
Leading the massive fleet, guided by the Valley Tribe's ships, Jianshi and Yan slowly adjusted their course, heading towards the wider dock on the opposite bank. The ships broke through the calm river water, stirring up layers of waves. Many Valley Tribe members had already stopped to watch on the dock, pointing and commenting on this unusually large fleet.
Yan stood at the Chuantou, his gaze already captivated by the scene on the opposite bank. Compared to the Little Valley Camp, the prosperity of the western bank, where the Valley Tribe headquarters was located, was more than double. As far as the eye could see, the flat and fertile paddy fields stretched as far as the eye could see, crisscrossed by paths, with waves of rice rippling in the water. He roughly estimated that the area of paddy fields here was at least three times that of the stronghold on the eastern bank! This did not even include the vast vegetable fields that were neatly planned and planted with all kinds of vegetables and fruits, as well as the orchards and mulberry and hemp fields that could be vaguely seen in the distance.
On the river, besides the boats that travel back and forth for transport, there are also many small fishing boats casting their nets to catch fish, creating a busy and bountiful scene. The houses on the banks are densely packed, mostly built with large logs and thick thatch, and they look much more sturdy and orderly than the dwellings of the Fire Tribe, and their arrangement is also more systematic.
"This Valley Tribe really does have nearly 20,000 people!" Yan exclaimed softly to his father beside him.
Jianshi Shi nodded solemnly. Canglan had previously mentioned that the Valley Tribe had a total population of around 18,000, with about 3,600 warriors. The main camp alone had a permanent population of about 12,000, with approximately 2,400 warriors. The Little Valley Camp had about 6,000 people, with an estimated 1,200 warriors. What alarmed Jianshi even more was that a significant portion of the warriors responsible for guarding and maintaining order at the docks were not carrying ordinary Shimao or bone knives, but weapons that gleamed with a unique dark blue luster in the sunlight—bronze weapons! Although they were mostly spearheads and short swords, the quantity was considerable. Yan roughly estimated that the proportion of warriors equipped with bronze weapons might reach around 20%. For a tribe that didn't smelt bronze themselves, this was undoubtedly a direct reflection of decades of accumulated wealth and trading power.
Canglan clearly noticed the shock in the eyes of the Fire Tribe father and son. With the superiority of an experienced person and "introducer," he continued to show off the inside information he knew, "Brother Jianshi, Yan'er, don't be fooled by the Valley Tribe's current large scale. Fifty years ago, they weren't much different from our tribes. Their main force only had about a thousand people."
He lowered his voice, as if sharing a secret. "I heard that their great-great-grandfather once drifted downstream on the Fish River in a small boat, and somehow ended up at the very bottom where he met the Tiger Tribe. That was a truly powerful tribe, capable of forging their own bronze! The old chief used the precious furs and medicinal herbs he brought with him, and after much persuasion, he managed to exchange them for a few bronze artifacts. Subsequent generations of chiefs devoted themselves to trading with the Tiger Tribe, accumulating more and more bronze artifacts, and the tribe grew stronger and stronger."
He paused, his tone becoming somewhat subtle. "However, the Valley Tribe's main body doesn't actually have that many people, maybe around four thousand. The remaining ten thousand or so are from seven other tribes, large and small, that gradually merged in for various reasons—some were defeated, some couldn't survive, and some thought that following the Valley Tribe would bring them wealth. So you see, the Valley Tribe is more like a large alliance, and even the leader, Daiyue, sometimes has to consider the opinions of those seven elders."
These words gave Jianshi and Yan a deeper understanding of the Valley Tribe's strength. It was not just a tribe that had expanded simply through force or technology, but a complex political alliance formed through long-term trade accumulation, military intimidation, and the binding of interests. Its internal relationships were probably far more subtle than they appeared on the surface.
The fleet finally docked smoothly at the pier. The pier of the Valley Tribe was wider and sturdier than that of the Fish Tribe, large enough to accommodate multiple large ships at the same time. Under the direction of the pier staff, the ships were moored in an orderly manner.
Canglan, Jianshi, and Yan, carrying valuable gifts they had prepared—including exquisite pottery and fine linen from the Fire Tribe, as well as some specialties from the Fish Tribe —set foot on the land of the Valley Tribe, accompanied by several capable subordinates. Leading the way was Fengren, the former head of the guards. Although his attitude was polite, it revealed a strictness of official business.
The group had just left the bustling dock area and entered a relatively wide dirt road when suddenly a series of panicked screams and a commotion erupted!
"Get out of the way! Get out of the way now!"
"The horse is startled! Hold it back!"
"Watch out!"
The crowd gasped and scattered. Around the corner, a brown pony was galloping wildly towards the dock! A slender "boy" clung tightly to its neck, nearly thrown into the air, on the horse's back – a truly perilous situation. The horse was clearly terrified, completely disoriented, charging straight into the crowd. If it were to crash into the throng at the dock, the consequences would be unimaginable!
"Not good!" Yan's pupils contracted. He was currently standing directly in front of the galloping horse, the closest possible position. In a flash, without thinking, he shouted to Jianshi beside him, "Father, watch out!" He then suddenly turned to the side, and just as the horse was about to reach him, he leaped out in a flash!
His movements were as swift as Liebao, and he precisely grabbed the horse's Jiangsheng that were swinging wildly in the air! As soon as the Jiangsheng were in his hand, the rough hemp rope dug into his palm, causing a burning pain and a tremendous pulling force. Yan grunted, but his feet didn't stop at all. He followed the momentum of the horse's forward charge and started running, pulling backward with both arms as he ran!
"Heave--!" The horse's head was pulled to one side by the Jiangsheng, and its running speed was obviously slowed down, but it was still struggling. Its hooves pounded wildly, raising a cloud of dust.
"Let go! Jump down!" Yan shouted at the terrified "boy" on horseback while wrestling with him.
Perhaps hearing the loud shout, or perhaps unable to hold on any longer, the "boy" subconsciously loosened his grip on the horse's neck. The instant he let go, Yan seized the opportunity, his left hand still tightly gripping the Jiangsheng to control the horse, while his right hand darted out and grabbed the "boy's" collar from behind, pulling him sharply towards himself!
"Ah!" the "boy" exclaimed, his entire body being pulled from the horse's back by a tremendous force. Losing his balance, he clung to Yan in a hug. Yan was also pulled backward by the inertia, but he braced himself against the horse, taking seven or eight steps back before managing to regain his footing. The "boy" who had rushed over hugged Yan tightly around the waist, burying his face in Yan's chest, his whole body trembling violently.
The scene fell silent for a moment, leaving only the ponies that had finally stopped snorting and pawing the ground restlessly.
Yan felt the person in his arms trembling violently, like a leaf in the wind. He breathed a sigh of relief and gently patted the other's shoulder, "It's alright, the horse has stopped."
The "boy" in her arms seemed to recover from his extreme shock. His body stiffened, and he slowly raised his head. It was an exceptionally handsome face with fair skin and delicate features, but at this moment, it was completely bloodless, and his eyes were somewhat unfocused. He (or she?) seemed to finally realize that he (or she?) was tightly holding a strange man. His face and neck flushed red instantly, like a boiled shrimp. He hurriedly let go, took two steps back like a startled rabbit, and lowered his head, not daring to look at Yan again.
Yan only then had time to examine the other person closely. His build was tall and well-proportioned for a "young man," probably around 1.7 meters, and his frame felt slender when he hugged him. His appearance... was far too delicate; his skin was too pale for a tribal man who often worked outdoors, and his earlier panicked and shy reaction... seemed rather awkward?
"Are you alright?" Yan asked, her voice filled with concern, noticing his (or her?) strange behavior and fluctuating expression.
"No... it's nothing." The other person finally raised their head, their voice trembling slightly, but it was clear they were deliberately lowering their voice. "Thank you... thank you." Their gaze swept quickly across Yan's face before swiftly looking down, the blush on their ears still lingering.
At this moment, Jianshi, Canglan, and Fengren, who had led the way, quickly surrounded them. Jianshi looked his son up and down and asked anxiously, "Yan, are you alright? Are you hurt?"
Yan moved his right hand, which was aching from the Jiangsheng; his palm was already bleeding, but he smiled unconcernedly, "Father, I'm fine, just a superficial wound."
Fengren rushed to the "boy's" side, his face filled with anxiety and lingering fear. He bombarded him with questions. "Qingsui! Are you... are you alright? How could you secretly ride your father's horse? That horse is wild; even your Uncle Daiyan doesn't dare to ride it easily! What if it got startled and hurt you? Look at this place, so many people. What if it had rushed into the dock and hit someone, or you had fallen off and been trampled? What would have happened then!"
The "boy" called "Qingsui" shrank back. Facing Fengren's reprimand, the shyness and panic she had shown when facing Yan Shi earlier had faded somewhat, replaced by a guilty and naive feeling of being caught doing something wrong. She tugged at Fengren's sleeve and whispered, "Uncle Fengren, I... I know I was wrong. I won't do it again next time. I... I'll go find my father to receive my punishment right away."
Seeing that she was indeed quite frightened and had taken the initiative to admit her mistake, Fengren's tone softened, but he still kept a stern face. "It's good that you know you were wrong! I'll settle the score with you when we get back!" After saying that, he turned around, solemnly clasped his hands and bowed to Yan, his attitude completely different from his previous businesslike manner, full of gratitude. "Young brother! We really owe you a lot just now! If you hadn't acted in time and subdued the frightened horse, the consequences would have been unimaginable! Fengren is here, on behalf of our chief and our Valley Tribe, to thank you for saving our lives!"
Yan quickly stepped aside and offered a hand in a gesture of support. "Fengren, you're too kind. It was just a small favor; anyone would have done the same in this situation. There's no need for such formality."
Fengren shook his head repeatedly, his expression earnest. "No, no, no, this is no small matter! You saved our chief's only daughter!" As he spoke, he glanced at Qingsui, who had lowered her head again, and then turned to Jianshi and Canglan, "This must be Chief Jianshi of the Fire Tribe? Like father, like son! Your son is skilled, and even more commendable is his chivalrous heart! I must report this to our Chief Daiyue and express my sincere gratitude!"
He then looked at Canglan, his tone becoming much warmer and more friendly. "Chief Canglan, the friends you brought this time are truly distinguished guests of our Valley Tribe!"
Canglan beamed with joy, repeatedly saying, "It's my duty, it's my duty! Yan'er has always been kind and brave!" In his heart, however, he was secretly relieved. Now that he had this "life-saving grace," the subsequent transaction negotiations would probably go much more smoothly.
Fengren's enthusiasm made the rest of the journey much more pleasant. He led the way while chatting with Yan. It was then that Yan learned from their conversation that the "young man" from earlier was actually Qingsui, the only daughter of Daiyue, the chief of the Valley Tribe. She sometimes dressed up as a boy. No wonder he thought her appearance and behavior were a bit strange. Recalling how she had hugged him tightly earlier and how embarrassed and flustered she was afterwards, Yan couldn't help but find it a little funny and also a little touching—this young lady of the Valley Tribe was quite different from ordinary tribal women.
Qingsui kept her head down, following Fengren closely, occasionally stealing a quick glance at Yan's profile. Her heart was still pounding. The terror of that moment, the feeling of being pulled into that strong embrace after being rescued, and the scent emanating from him—different from the men of the Valley Tribe, carrying the aroma of the mountains and rivers—all left her in turmoil. This was the first time in her life she had been so close to a man other than her father, and in such a disheveled way... Thinking of this, the heat that had just subsided on her face seemed to be rising again. She quickly shook her head, forcing herself not to think about it anymore, but her eyes kept drifting unconsciously to the tall, upright figure of the Fire Tribe boy who had saved her.
Each with their own thoughts, the group, led by Fengren, steadily made their way towards the largest wooden house in the center of the Valley Tribe —the residence and council hall of Chief Daiyue.