The Wolf Pack Expands

In the evening, at the camp of the Cowhide Tribe, the young men newly recruited by the Wolf Tribe sat around the fire, chewing on roasted meat. Many of them had empty eyes, and some of their hands were still trembling. The bloodstains on their blades gleamed dark red in the firelight.

Some people looked down at their hands, hands that had just killed the elderly and children, with blood still embedded in their fingernails. Some people chewed their meat mechanically, unable to swallow even after chewing for a long time. Some people huddled in a corner, hugging their knees, burying their faces in them, their shoulders trembling.

But the veterans of the Wolf Tribe were different. They ate meat and drank wine heartily, laughing and talking loudly, as if the massacre during the day was just an ordinary hunt. One veteran raised his wine bowl and shouted to the newcomers, "Drink! Forget about it after you've finished drinking!" No one responded to the newcomers, so they clinked their bowls together and drank until their faces were red.

In the largest wooden hut in the center of the camp, Xueya, Xueshou, and Yexiao sat around the fire pit. The firelight shone on their faces, flickering in and out. Xueshou was the first to speak. He was an impatient man who couldn't keep his thoughts to himself. At this moment, his face was full of excitement, and his eyes were shining.

"Brother, we now have people from five tribes under our control, doubling our strength! After we wiped out the Cowhide Tribe today, many of the new recruits are starting to resemble the Wolf Tribe. These young men now have some fighting ability."

He paused, a greedy glint in his eyes, and said, "If we take a few more tribes of a hundred or so people hostage, we can then target those tribes of around two hundred people."

Yexiao shook his head. He was a cautious man, more thorough in his thinking than Xueshou. He frowned and slowly said, "Chief, we've been using these small tribes too much, it's too slow. If word gets out, and the larger tribes are prepared, it will be harder for us to act later."

Xueya didn't speak immediately. He stared at the flickering flames in the fire pit, the firelight dancing on the hideous scar on his face like a living centipede. He picked up his wine bowl, took a sip, and then put it down.

"What you say makes sense," he finally spoke, his voice hoarse but Chenwen. "Now that our Wolf Tribe has greatly increased its manpower, I plan to take over five more tribes of about a hundred people each, and then target those tribes with around two hundred people each."

He looked at Xueshou and said, "Xueshou, you take twenty men first thing tomorrow morning and bring the supplies you looted from the Cowhide Tribe back to the Mound Tribe. The Mound Tribe is now our Wolf Tribe's base camp. You keep a close eye on the supplies. Those grains, horses, cattle, and sheep are our Wolf Tribe's future capital. If even a single grain is missing, I'll hold you responsible!"

Xueshou stood up, patted his chest, and assured him, "Don't worry, brother! If even one item is missing, you can cut off my head!" He turned and strode out of the wooden house, and soon his voice calling for reinforcements could be heard outside.

Xueya then looked at Yexiao and said, "Yexiao, we'll take the rest of the men and set off tonight. Our next target is the Quanshui Tribe; they also have about a hundred people and aren't far from here."

Yexiao Owl nodded and got up to prepare. Xueya sat alone by the fire pit and took another sip of wine. He thought of the eyes of some of the new recruits during the day—empty, fearful, and numb. Xueya had seen too many eyes like that. He knew that it wouldn't be long before those eyes would change, become greedy, become fierce, become the eyes of wolves.

He stood up, walked out of the wooden house, and saw that more than a hundred people were already fully prepared to go. The veterans were on horseback with their swords drawn, while the newcomers stood on the ground, some still trembling and others trying to appear calm. Xueya mounted his horse and waved his hand.

"Walk!"

The group set off under the cover of night. The horses' hooves were light, and the footsteps were soft. No one spoke; only the sound of the wind and the occasional snort of the horses could be heard. The newcomers walked a little slowly, but the veterans did not urge them on. They simply followed behind, like herding sheep. When the night was deep, Xueya led his men to a place not far from the Quanshui Tribe. He first told everyone to rest and hide.

Early the next morning, before dawn, Wolf Xueya led his men to a spot not far from the entrance of the Quanshui Tribe camp. The Quanshui Tribe camp was built at the foot of a mountain, next to a clear spring, hence the name. Dozens of thatched huts were scattered on the hillside, and before any smoke rose, the camp was quiet, with only the occasional bark of a dog.

Xueya reined in his horse and observed for a while. The camp fence was low, and the gate wasn't closed properly. The guards were probably asleep, as he couldn't see anyone. He waved his hand, and Yexiao led the veterans to flank from both sides, while Xueya led his men to sneak in from the front.

The gate was gently pushed open, and a young guard leaned against the gatepost, dozing off, a wooden stick still clutched in his hand. Xueya walked up to him, but he was still asleep. Xueya quickly ordered his men to subdue him.

"Charge!" Xueya shouted.

The warriors of the Wolf Tribe stormed into the camp, kicking open the doors of the thatched huts. Screams, cries, and shouts shattered the morning's tranquility. The people of the Quanshui Tribe were awakened from their sleep, some being pinned to the ground before they could even react. The entire camp was quickly brought under control.

Quanbo, the chief of the Quanshui Tribe, was brought before Xueya. He was an old man in his fifties with gray hair and deep wrinkles on his face. He was forced to kneel on the ground by two Wolf Tribe warriors, trembling all over. His lips quivered as he tried to say something, but could not utter a word.

Xueya crouched down, met his gaze, and said, "Quanbo, we are Wolf Tribe from the south. We have a way to make money and would like to invite you to join us. I know the brothers of the Quanshui Tribe are having a hard time, but as long as you work with our Wolf Tribe, you'll have meat to eat."

Looking at the scar on Xueya's face and the dried blood on his body, Quanbo understood everything. He lowered his head, his voice hoarse, "I... our Quanshui Tribe is small, we can't be of much help..."

Xueya laughed, a smile that appeared particularly sinister in the morning light. "You can help. Your tribe has over twenty able-bodied men; that should be enough."

With a wave of his hand, more than twenty able-bodied young men from the Quanshui Tribe were driven out of the thatched hut and stood with the newcomers. They were disheveled, some even barefoot, and looked around in fear.

Xueya stood up and said to Yexiao, "Let's rest at the Quanshui Tribe for a bit, then head to our next destination tonight."

Around noon, meat and wine were laid out in the camp of the Quanshui Tribe. The newlyweds were forced to sit down and eat. At first, they dared not move, but when they smelled the aroma of the meat and their stomachs rumbled, they couldn't help but start eating. After taking a bite of meat, some people shed tears. Many of them had not eaten such good food for a long time.

Xueya sat to the side, watching these people wolf down their food, a smile playing on his lips. That night, the Wolf Tribe's group set off again, this time with even more people. The group marched in a grand procession toward their next target, the Dewdrop Tribe, also numbering around a hundred. Using the same methods and the same process, the Dewdrop Tribe members were still asleep when Xueya and his men subdued them. More than twenty able-bodied men were forcibly taken and joined the Wolf Tribe's ranks.

Then came the Gale Tribe, the Mountain Valley Tribe, the Rainwater Tribe, and the Mountain Stone Tribe. Xueya used the same methods in every tribe he visited—ambush, control, and coerce. As the number of people and their strength increased, Xueya became too lazy to talk much. He left these matters to Yexiao, Yexiao was more patient and knew how to talk and coax. He would first give the newcomers a good meal and some wine, and then tell them that following the Wolf Tribe would ensure they had enough to eat and wear. Some believed him, some didn't, but no one dared to resist.

In five days, the Wolf Tribe's force, consisting of five tribes and over a hundred able-bodied men, grew from over a hundred to over two hundred. Including those left behind in the Mound Tribe, the Wolf Tribe's warriors were approaching three hundred. That evening, Xueya led his team back to the Mound Tribe. From afar, they could see the camp brightly lit. Xueshou and his men greeted them at the entrance of the Mound Tribe, his face beaming with smiles.

"Big brother! You're back!" He hurried to greet them. "I've checked all our supplies; not a single grain of food is missing!"

Xueya dismounted, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "You guys did a good job!"