Abandoning the Lair and Fleeing North

At the foot of High Pointed Mountain, dusk was falling, the sun had already set behind the mountain, and only a dark red afterglow remained on the horizon. The color was like congealed blood, hanging on the western sky and lingering for a long time. Xueya, riding on his black ponies, looked at the familiar mountain path in front of him and let out a long breath.

Finally, he returned. For four days, a full four days, he led these few dozen remaining soldiers, hiding and dodging along the way, choosing only remote and difficult routes, fearing that they would be caught by the Fire Tribe's pursuers. They dared not take the main roads, dared not light fires, dared not speak loudly, and when they were hungry, they ate dry rations, when they were thirsty, they drank mountain spring water, and when they were tired, they would take a nap on horseback.

Those four days were the most difficult four days of his life, but now, he's finally back.

"Chief," Yexiao Owl rode up and whispered, "Our stables outpost at the foot of the mountain is just ahead."

Xueya nodded and waved. The group spurred their horses forward and soon arrived at a secluded mountain hollow. There were several simple wooden huts built of tree trunks and thatch, surrounded by a wooden fence. Inside the fence were dozens of ponies. This was the Wolf Tribe's secret stable, used to store warhorses for emergencies. The stable was guarded by several old and weak warriors, who rushed to greet Xueya and his group when they saw them return.

"Chief! You're back!"

Xueya dismounted and threw the Jiangsheng to them.

"Take good care of the horse; we need it first thing tomorrow morning."

The soldiers nodded quickly.

Xueya glanced at them again and said in a deep voice, "Don't tell anyone about what happened tonight. Anyone who dares to utter a word knows what will happen to them."

The soldiers trembled in fright and nodded repeatedly. Xueya said no more, leaving twenty men to guard the place, and led Yexiao and the remaining dozens of men up the mountain along the path. The mountain path was steep and winding, with dense forests on both sides, and the occasional bird call made it seem particularly desolate in the twilight.

After walking for a long time, the view suddenly opened up, and a camp appeared halfway up the mountain. It was the Wolf Tribe's lair. Many wooden houses were scattered on the mountainside, surrounded by high wooden fences. Inside the camp, you could vaguely see firelight and figures, and hear bursts of laughter.

Xueya stopped and looked at the camp. A complex emotion welled up in his heart. When they went out, there were nine hundred soldiers and fifteen hundred support personnel. They were a mighty and arrogant force. When they returned, there were only a few dozen people left, and they were in a sorry state, like stray dogs.

He took a deep breath and strode toward the camp. At the camp entrance, several people were standing there waiting. The one in the lead was burly and had a face that resembled Xueya's; he was his younger brother Xueshou.

Beside Xueshou stood a woman with a cold expression; she was none other than the Wolf Tribe's only female leader— Duzhu.

When the two men saw Xueya and the others return, their expressions changed. They recognized most of the people who had gone out, but only a few dozen had returned, and none of them had Shichui or One -Duyan. The two men exchanged a glance, both seeing shock and fear in each other's eyes.

But they kept quiet. Xueya had given instructions to come and pick them up quietly, without alerting anyone else. Xueshou waved and led a few trusted men to meet them.

"Big brother..." He had just started to speak when Xueya interrupted him.

"Let's talk about it back in the council chamber."

Xueshou nodded and asked no more questions. The group silently walked into the camp, passed through the relatively lively wooden houses, and arrived at the largest wooden house deep in the camp. It was the council hall of the Wolf Tribe. Xueya stopped and turned to look at the warriors who had followed him back.

"You all stay outside and keep watch. Eat something, get some rest, and don't tell anyone about tonight's events."

The warriors nodded and dispersed. Xueya, along with Xueshou, Yexiao, and Duzhu, entered the council hall. The door closed, and the room instantly fell silent. The fire in the hearth was burning brightly, crackling and popping. The firelight reflected on the four men's faces, revealing a range of uncertain expressions.

Xueya walked to the main seat, slowly sat down, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and Xueshou couldn't hold back any longer.

"Brother!" He stepped forward, his voice urgent, "What happened? Nine hundred soldiers and fifteen hundred support personnel went out, how come only a few dozen have returned after more than ten days?"

Xueya opened his eyes and looked at him, his gaze filled with exhaustion and despair.

"It's over," he said. "It's all over."

Xueshou was stunned, and so was the Duzhu.

"What... is it all over?" Xueshou asked with difficulty.

Yexiao sighed and answered for him.

"The Fire Tribe is here! Seven hundred cavalry and over a thousand infantry, attacking from both sides. Our men... only a few dozen escaped!"

Xueshou gasped.

"The Fire Tribe? How did they get here so quickly?"

The Yexiao gave a wry smile and briefly recounted what had happened.

From the discovery of them by the scouts of the Pottery Salt Tribe, to the early withdrawal of the Shuize and Beast Taming Tribe, to the arrival of the Fire Tribe's cavalry at the Fish Tribe, and finally, their crushing defeat...

Xueshou and Duzhu listened, their faces growing paler and paler. By the time Yexiao finished speaking, they were completely stunned: seven hundred cavalry and over a thousand infantry.

In the attack on the Wolf Tribe, over four hundred warriors were killed, a thousand support personnel were captured, Shichui died, and Duyan is likely in grave danger as well! Of the nine hundred warriors, only a few dozen remain!

"Fire Tribe... how can there be so many people?" the Duzhu murmured.

Yexiao shook his head. "I don't know, but they do have it, and..."

He paused, then looked at Xueya.

Xueya continued, his voice low. "Moreover, almost every one of their warriors carries bronze weapons—spears, sabers, daggers, and powerful bows. I saw it with my own eyes!"

"Bronze weapons?" Xueshou exclaimed in surprise.

That kind of thing is said to be possessed only by the large tribes downstream of the Fish River, and a single piece is priceless. How come everyone in the Fire Tribe has it?

How is that possible?

"The Fire Tribe has risen too quickly," Xueya sighed. "Our Wolf Tribe has no place left in this region!"

He glanced at Xueshou and the Duzhu, a resolute glint in his eyes.

"I've called you here today to discuss the relocation."

"Migration?" The Duzhu was stunned.

Xueshou panicked. "Brother, where should we move to?"

Xueya stood up, walked to the wall, and looked at the rough animal hide map.

"To the east is a primeval forest; once you go in, you'll never come out. To the south is the Fire Tribe, which we can't afford to offend. To the west..." He paused, "After this battle, those tribes will definitely all side with the Fire Tribe. If we go there now, we'll be courting death!"

He turned around and looked at the three of them.

"Only the north."

"The north?" The Duzhu frowned. "We just fought a battle with the Horse Tribe a few months ago. They hate us to the core. Going north would be like walking into a trap."

Xueya shook his head.

"Let's not linger near the Horse Tribe. Let's go further north, far away from them. The land there is vast, so we can sneak over there, hide first, and wait until things calm down."

Xueshou hesitated, "But... there are so many of us, we'll be too conspicuous, we won't run fast, and what if we get caught..."

Xueya interrupted him, "No, we're not bringing that many people."

The three of them were taken aback.

Xueya said, "This time, I'm only bringing about a hundred veteran soldiers, all of whom are elites who have followed us for many years and have no family burdens. The remaining hundred will stay at the base to provide cover."

He looked at the three of them, his eyes cold.

"We can't control those subordinate tribes at the foot of High Pointed Mountain anymore; let them fend for themselves."

Xueshou opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but couldn't utter a word. Those subordinate tribes, although they were forced to submit, had provided them with food, horses, and labor over the years. They were all resources and wealth. Xueshou was very reluctant to just throw them away. Duzhu also looked reluctant. Those grains, those supplies, those people were all the hard work of the Wolf Tribe over the years.

Xueya saw through their thoughts and shouted sternly, "If you can't bear to give it up now, you'll lose your lives! Escaping is the priority!"

He stood up, walked to the three of them, and spoke slowly and deliberately.

"Once we reach the north, we'll have all these people, all this food, all these supplies! And even more! And better!"

The three remained silent for a while, then finally gritted their teeth and nodded.

"Okay! Let's do it that way!"

Xueya breathed a sigh of relief and began making arrangements.

"Xueshou, go and select a hundred men, the most elite, without any family burdens. Tell them to assemble at the foot of the mountain first thing tomorrow morning."

Xueshou nodded. "Understood!"

"Yexiao, go prepare supplies: food, weapons, leather armor—take as much as you can. Remember, keep it light and don't slow us down."

Yexiao nodded. "Yes!"

"Duzhu, go and choose a reliable person to stay and guard the lair. Give him a hundred men and have him select three to five hundred capable young women from the foot of the mountain to strengthen the defenses."

The Duzhu paused for a moment. "Leader, you mean to..."

Xueya sneered, "Before we leave, kill all the sheep, pigs, and chickens we can't take with us to reward them. Tell them we won a great victory in the Fish Tribe and will be bringing back supplies in three to five days. Let them celebrate and remember to guard their lair well."

The Duzhu's eyes lit up as it understood Xueya's intention: to use those left behind as scapegoats to hold off the Fire Tribe's pursuers.

"Understood!" she nodded.

Xueya looked at the three of them one last time and said solemnly.

"Start preparing tonight. We'll meet at the foot of the mountain first thing tomorrow morning. Remember, it must be done secretly; not a word of it can be leaked."

The three men responded in unison, turned and left. The door closed, leaving only Xueya alone in the room. He stood by the fire pit, watching the flickering flames, motionless for a long time. Countless images flashed through his mind: the youthful exuberance, the joy of leading his brothers to plunder everywhere; the battle at Yellow Leaf Camp last year, where almost all of the four hundred main force members were wiped out; the successful northern raid a few months ago, which took thousands of people with it and looted countless supplies; and then, the disastrous defeat in this western invasion, where only a few dozen of the nine hundred warriors remained.

Shichui is dead, Duyan is probably dead too. The Wolf Tribe is finished! He sighed deeply, walked to the wall, and took down the rough animal hide map. Looking at the familiar place names on the map, his eyes were filled with reluctance: High Pointed Mountain, Pottery Salt Tribe, Fish Tribe...

And then there's the Fire Tribe, the tribe that repeatedly defeated him, terrified him, and forced him to abandon his stronghold.

"Just wait," he said softly. "Once I reach the north, rebuild my forces, and return one day..."

He rolled up the simple map, tucked it into his pocket, then turned and walked out of the council hall. Outside, night had fallen, and in the camp, the campfire was burning brightly, and the soldiers who remained behind were celebrating, eating meat, drinking wine, and laughing loudly.

No one knew that their leader was already preparing to abandon them. Xueya stood in the darkness, watching the firelight and the laughing figures, a cold smile appearing on his lips. "Laugh, laugh," he thought, "When the Fire Tribe arrives, you'll have your turn to cry." He turned and disappeared into the night.

The next morning, before dawn, Xueya led a hundred elite troops and quietly left High Pointed Mountain. The group consisted of one hundred men, seventy or eighty cavalrymen, twenty or thirty men riding oxen, and fifty or sixty oxen carrying grain and supplies.

The group was small but moved at a fast pace. They deliberately chose remote and difficult routes, heading north and further and further away. Behind them, High Pointed Mountain grew smaller and smaller until it disappeared into the morning mist. Xueya glanced back, then turned around and whipped his horse hard.

"Drive!"

The sound of horses' hooves faded into the distance.