Alarming News Travels West

Inside the council hall of the Beast Taming Tribe, the atmosphere was lively. It was more of a slightly larger wooden house than a council hall, with a thick thatched roof and log walls. In the center of the house was a fire pit, and a bonfire was burning brightly. The firelight shone on the faces of the people sitting around it, revealing their excited expressions.

The chief of the Beast Taming Tribe Muye, sat in the main seat. He was a middle-aged man in his forties, and at this moment, he was holding a bowl of hot soup with a smile on his face.

"In about ten more days," he said, "Our rice will be ready for harvest. Once the harvest is complete, we can join the Fire Tribe."

The Liequan leader sitting to his left nodded repeatedly. He was the bravest warrior in the Beast Taming Tribe. He had participated in the battle at Yellow Leaf Camp last year and personally killed several members of the Wolf Tribe. After returning, he became the most steadfast supporter of joining the Fire Tribe.

"The Fire Tribe is desperately lacking our tribe's Beast Taming skills," the Liequan said, his eyes gleaming. "If our people go there, they'll definitely be put to good use!"

The Jiangsheng leader echoed this sentiment. He was slightly older and more composed. He had also participated in the battle at Yellow Leaf Camp last year and witnessed firsthand the bravery and discipline of the Fire Tribe warriors.

"The Fire Tribe's strength is truly astounding," he said, his tone tinged with emotion. "I've heard their population has exceeded fifty thousand, with at least ten thousand warriors."

"Ten thousand people!" another leader gasped.

Muye nodded, his smile widening.

"Not only that," he said. "I heard from Jia Li, the chief of the Pottery Salt Tribe, that the Fire Tribe can now not only make pottery, but also produce coarse salt, weave linen, and build large ships. With so many technologies at their disposal, it's hard for them not to become powerful."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.

"So the sooner we join, the better. As long as we follow the rules and work hard, we won't have to worry about food."

Everyone nodded, their faces showing longing. Just as they were chatting happily, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside, and then a patrolling warrior from the Beast Taming Tribe rushed in.

"Chief!" he gasped, "The Pottery Salt Tribe has arrived! It's urgent!"

The room fell silent instantly.

Muye frowned and stood up. "Please come in quickly!"

As soon as he finished speaking, two men strode in. The one in the lead was lean and dark-skinned, clearly someone who spent a lot of time traveling. He wore an old leather armor, with a bone knife hanging at his waist. His face showed signs of weariness from the journey, but his eyes were exceptionally sharp.

It was Tao Liu, the scout of the Pottery Salt Tribe. Behind him was a young man, his deputy. As soon as Tao Liu entered, his eyes quickly swept over the people in the room. When he saw Muye, he quickly stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and bowed.

"Chief of Muye! Tao Liu has urgent news to report!"

Muye's heart sank, and he quickly asked, "What is it?"

Tao Liu took a deep breath and tried to keep his voice steady.

Two days ago, we discovered the Wolf Tribe's forces four days' distance from the Beast Taming Tribe.

The room fell silent instantly; everyone was stunned. Wolf Tribe? Four days away?

Tao Liu continued, "They came with about nine hundred men, including about six hundred cavalry, followed by a support team of over a thousand men with carts and horses. They're probably here to plunder."

Nine hundred men, including six hundred cavalry. This number hit everyone like a Jushi. Muye's face changed. He opened his mouth, wanting to ask something, but found his throat was dry. The Liequan was the first to react and stood up abruptly.

"Wolf Tribe? Which direction are they coming from?"

Tao Liu looked at him. "Going west, they should be heading towards the Fish Tribe, but the Beast Taming Tribe is nearby on this route, so they will definitely pass by the vicinity of the Beast Taming Tribe."

The Liequan's face turned ashen, and he clenched his fists. Muye took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

"Have you... have you notified the Fire Tribe?"

Tao Liu nodded. "We've already sent people to the Stone Creek River Mouth Outpost. The news should arrive tomorrow. The Fire Tribe has six hundred cavalry and four hundred infantry there. Once they receive the news, they will definitely send cavalry to support us."

He paused, then added, "The Fire Tribe has also set up beacon towers over there. Messages are transmitted back through the beacon fires, and reinforcements will arrive continuously."

The people inside relaxed slightly upon hearing this, but Tao Liu's next words made them tense again.

"However, the Wolf Tribe arrived too quickly," he said. "They are now at most two days' journey from the Beast Taming Tribe. Chief Muye, our chief said when we came out to scout the Wolf Tribe that if there was any unusual activity from the Wolf Tribe, we should immediately ask the Beast Taming Tribe to evacuate to the Pottery Salt Tribe. Our camp there has been fortified, and as long as we have enough people, we can definitely hold it. Once the Fire Tribe's reinforcements arrive, we will have nothing to fear."

Evacuate? The people inside looked at each other in bewilderment.

The Jiangsheng couldn't help but say, "But our rice will be ripe in ten days! If we retreat now..."

Tao Liu looked at him earnestly and said, "Jiangsheng leader, life is more important than food. Those people in the Wolf Tribe are fierce and brutal. They not only rob us of our food but also kill us. As long as we are alive, we still have a chance to take revenge, and we can grow more food later."

The Jiangsheng opened their mouths but couldn't speak, while the Liequan had already stood up.

"Chief," he looked at Muye, his eyes gleaming with determination, "Let's retreat. Last year we fought the Wolf Tribe alongside the Fire Tribe; we know how ruthless they are. Staying here is just waiting to die."

The other leaders nodded in agreement.

"Let's retreat, Chief."

"Life is more important; we can worry about food later."

Muye was silent for a moment. He looked at Tao Liu, then at his leaders, and then suddenly stood up.

"Pass down the order!" His voice was decisive and firm. "Everyone, pack your things immediately! Forget about the unharvested grain. Have everyone take what they can and evacuate to the Pottery Salt Tribe before nightfall!"

"Yes!" the leaders replied in unison, then turned and ran outside.

The room emptied out almost instantly. Muye walked up to Tao Liu and took his hand.

"Brother Tao Liu, thank you for bringing the news!"

Tao Liu shook his head. "Of course. Our four tribes will soon become one family, so it's only right that we look after each other."

Muye nodded and then asked, "Have you notified the Marsh Tribe yet?"

"We've notified them," Tao Liu said. "We sent people there at the same time, and Chief Cangbo should have received the message as well."

"Okay." Muye breathed a sigh of relief. "Then we'll meet at the Pottery Salt Tribe tribe."

Tao Liu clasped his hands in a fist salute. "Alright, Chief Muye, take care. I must hurry back to report."

After saying that, he turned and left with his deputy. Muye stood at the door, watching their backs disappear into the camp. He took a deep breath, then turned around and strode towards the center of the camp. The entire Beast Taming Tribe was in complete chaos.

People ran out of their thatched huts, some packing their belongings, some calling for their children, and some driving livestock. Footsteps, shouts, and the neighing of animals filled the air, and Liequan directed the able-bodied men to carry grain.

"Hurry, hurry! Take as much as you can! Bury the rest!"

The Jiangsheng were being used to guide the men as they prepared the horses.

"Bring out those good horses! And bring plenty of hay too!"

The other leaders were also busy with their respective duties.

Standing on a high point, Muye shouted, "Listen up! We must set off before dark! The elderly and children go first, the able-bodied follow behind! No one is allowed to fall behind!"

His voice was loud and clear, echoing throughout the camp. Hearing their leader's voice, the people moved even faster. As the sun gradually set, the Beast Taming Tribe's camp was bustling with activity. An hour later, the first group set off.

The elderly, children, and women, carrying bundles and leading cattle and sheep, slowly made their way along the path leading to the Pottery Salt Tribe. They didn't walk fast, but every step was firm. The second group consisted of supplies: food, tools, animal hides, and coarse pottery. Everything they could carry was loaded onto the wooden carts left behind by the Fire Tribe, pushed by the able-bodied men, following behind the first group.

The last group consisted of warriors, led by Liequan and able-bodied men, weapons in hand, vigilantly scanning their surroundings, ready to fight any pursuing enemies. Muye rode at the head of the group on a ponies. He glanced back at the group behind him, then at the increasingly distant Beast Taming Tribe's camp. There, they lived in their thatched huts for decades, cultivated their fields with painstaking effort, and harvested rice that they hadn't yet had time to harvest...

"Chief," the Liequan rode up and said softly, "Let's go."

Muye nodded, turned around, and spurred his horse forward. Under the setting sun, the long procession slowly moved westward. Behind him, the camp of the Beast Taming Tribe grew farther and farther away, smaller and smaller, until it finally disappeared into the twilight. Muye looked ahead and thought to himself.

The Pottery Salt Tribe is almost here, and the Fire Tribe's reinforcements are almost here too. As long as we can get through these few days, everything will be alright. He gripped the Jiangsheng tightly, a determined light flashing in his eyes. The next day, as darkness fell, the Beast Taming Tribe finally saw the Pottery Salt Tribe's camp. In the distance, several bonfires were burning at the camp entrance, illuminating the surroundings. In the firelight, many figures could be vaguely seen busily working.

"We've arrived!" someone cheered.

A sigh of relief rippled through the ranks. Mu Ye spurred Muye horse forward a few steps to the camp entrance, where Jia Li was already waiting. Behind him stood several people—the leaders of the Pottery Salt Tribe, and...

"Cangbo?" Muye was taken aback. "You're here too?"

Cangbo, the chief of the Marsh Tribe, gave a wry smile, "I arrived half a day earlier than you on horseback."

Muye dismounted and walked up to Jia Li.

"Chief Jia Li, the people of the Beast Taming Tribe are in your hands now."

Jia Li grasped his hand and said earnestly, "Brother Muye, what are you asking me for? From today onwards, we're family. Family doesn't need to be so formal."

He turned to the people behind him and said, "Quickly, arrange for the brothers of the Beast Taming Tribe to stay. Make some thatched huts, and build new ones if needed. Take some food from the warehouse so that everyone can have enough to eat."

The people of the Pottery Salt Tribe immediately sprang into action, and the people of the Beast Taming Tribe were guided into the camp, where they were arranged to stay and food was distributed, making the entire camp even more lively.

Muye and Cangbo followed Jia Li into the council hall. The three of them sat down, and the atmosphere was heavy.

Jia Li spoke up, "Now, the people from the Marsh Tribe and the Beast Taming Tribe have arrived. Our three tribes can muster more than seven hundred warriors."

With over seven hundred warriors, everyone silently calculated that the Wolf Tribe had nine hundred people, including six hundred cavalry. Seven hundred against nine hundred, guarding the camp, should be able to hold out for a few days.

Jia Li continued, "The Fire Tribe's reinforcements will arrive in a day or two. As long as we hold out for a day or two, we'll be fine."

He looked at Muye and Cangbo and said earnestly, "You've all worked hard these past couple of days. Let's work together to hold this place."

Muye nodded. "Okay."

Cangbo nodded. "Let's guard together."

The three looked at each other, their eyes shining with determination. Outside the window, the night deepened, and in the distance, the faint howls of wolves echoed from the direction of the Wolf Tribe.