Following the River

After the small market ended, the valley gradually returned to its former peace, though the air still seemed to hold the heat of trade and a breath of hope. More than half the Fire Tribe's camp stood empty. Jianya had already set out for the Fire Tribe with nearly two hundred new tribespeople, along with the first few women from the Deer Tribe and Green Sheep Tribe willing to follow them. What remained was a leaner team with a clear objective.

Early that morning, the trading party led by Jianshi had finished assembling for its journey to the Fish Tribe. Its core consisted of twenty elite hunters from the Fire Tribe, under the direct command of the two captains, Dali and Dazhuang. Wang Yan was among them, along with the two young team members he had selected, Shibang and Yingmu. In addition, there were twenty-five warriors from four allied tribes: ten burly men from the Bison Tribe led by Juti himself, five keen-witted hunters from the White Pig Tribe, and five guides each from the Deer Tribe and Green Sheep Tribe who knew the mountain forests well.

The entire party numbered fifty, all brimming with energy. Several strong bison carried the heaviest large pottery vessels and some dried fish. The other team members worked in pairs, using sturdy bamboo carrying poles to shoulder baskets filled with supplies: small and medium-sized pottery vessels, hemp clothing, and more dried fish intended for trade. Other nimble members scouted and kept watch at the front and rear of the party.

"Move out!" At Jianshi's command, the party slowly left the valley like a giant python awakening, winding toward the Fish Tribe along the banks of the waterway that led to the great river in the distance-the Fish River.

It would be a journey of seven or eight days. The party wound along the riverbank, sometimes crossing soft mudflats, sometimes passing through dense forest where they had to cut away shrubs to get through. Autumn deepened, painting the mountain forests in richer colors but bringing a sharper chill as well.

Wang Yan walked among the party. This was his first trek over such a long distance. He carefully observed the terrain, vegetation, and changes in the flow of water along the way, silently committing everything to memory. Shibang and Yingmu followed close behind him, both guarding him and learning. Though the two youths had plenty of stamina, the hardships of the long march still left them looking somewhat tired, but their eyes remained excited and watchful throughout.

The Bison Tribe warriors led by Juti displayed astonishing endurance. They shared the heaviest hauling duties, their heavy footsteps thudding against the ground. The White Pig Tribe's hunters had a particular sensitivity to edible plants and potential dangers along the way. The guides from the Deer Tribe and Green Sheep Tribe proved especially useful. They knew which stretches could be crossed safely and where clean water could be found, effectively avoiding several areas where large predators might lurk.

Throughout the journey, the party maintained strict discipline, traveling by day and camping at night. As they sat around the campfire in the evenings and shared their food, the warriors from different tribes gradually became acquainted, their initial unfamiliarity slowly melting away during the shared journey. Dali and Dazhuang exchanged hunting and fighting experience with Juti and the others, while Wang Yan listened quietly, absorbing this valuable practical knowledge.

After seven or eight days of monotonous, cautious trekking, the party crossed a low ridge, and the view before them suddenly opened wide!

A broad, mighty river stretched across the distance like a jade sash, its surface glittering with countless points of golden light beneath the autumn sun. Its volume of water was far beyond that of the stream beside the Fire Tribe. And on a fertile alluvial plain at a bend in the great river, an immense settlement appeared before their eyes!

That was the Fish Tribe!

Even from afar, the Fish Tribe's scale was staggering. Densely packed huts and wooden houses stood row upon row, far beyond anything in the Fire Tribe or even the small market's valley. More striking still were the dozens of boats of varying sizes moored along the riverbank. Some were simple dugout canoes, while others were larger fishing boats pieced together from timber, capable of holding a dozen or more people! More boats dotted the river, casting nets to catch fish-a scene bustling with activity.

"So that's the Fish Tribe..." Shibang murmured, his eyes filled with astonishment. Yingmu also clenched his fists, feeling the gap between them and this powerful tribe.

The party's arrival soon drew the attention of the Fish Tribe's outer sentries. Several dark-skinned, lean and muscular warriors carrying fishing spears approached, warily sizing up the unfamiliar party.

Jianshi stepped forward and stated their identity and purpose. "We're a trading party from the Fire Tribe upstream. We've come specifically to visit the Fish Tribe's chief and conduct friendly trade."

Upon learning that they came from an upstream tribe, and seeing that the party was sizable and uniformly equipped, the Fish Tribe's warriors did not dare treat them lightly. They sent someone hurrying back to report to the tribe while guiding Jianshi and the others toward a designated temporary camping area.

Walking through the Fish Tribe, Wang Yan gained a more direct sense of the prosperity and accumulated strength of this large tribe of over a thousand people. The air was thick with the smell of fish and moisture. Most people wore animal hides, but their complexions looked much better than those of the tribespeople at the small market earlier. He saw a dedicated area for drying fishing nets, people repairing boats, and others processing the catch.

At the same time, however, he keenly noticed a faint trace of scrutiny and superiority in the way the Fish Tribe's people looked at their party. In particular, they showed little surprise at the supplies carried by the bison and shouldered by the porters.

It seems the Fish Tribe really is wealthy. Ordinary trade goods probably won't tempt them, Wang Yan mused. The pottery and hemp clothing we brought must demonstrate enough advantages if we're to exchange them for the food crop seeds we want most.

The party settled into the riverside clearing designated by the Fish Tribe. Jianshi told the team members to remain vigilant, organize their supplies, and wait for an audience with the Fish Tribe's leaders. He knew that the real challenge was only just beginning.