Training the Troops in Blood

Before dawn, the camp of the Great Sun Tribe was already bustling with activity. The campfire was relit, and the aroma of roasted meat wafted through the morning mist. Xueya stood in the center of the Great Sun Tribe camp, watching the Wolf Tribe warriors packing their gear. More than a thousand people stood there in a dark mass. The four hundred new members of the Wolf Tribe stood at the very back, their eyes still showing some confusion, but the initial fear was gone.

Xueshou strode over, his face beaming with excitement, and said, "Big Brother, we're all ready and can head to our next target at any time."

Xueya nodded, mounted his horse, and shouted, "Let's go!"

The Wolf Tribe's procession set off in a grand procession, with over a thousand horses on horseback. The thunderous sound of their hooves carried far through the morning Xueya. The newcomers followed closely behind on the Wolf Tribe. As evening approached, the Bone Tooth Tribe Bone Tooth Tribe's camp came into view. The camp, nestled in a mountain valley, was quite large, surrounded by a wooden fence with rows of thorny bushes growing outside. Xueya reined in his horse and gestured for everyone to stop.

He gave the order, "Let's hide and rest for the night. Don't light a fire yet. Let's eat some dry rations and make our move at daybreak tomorrow."

The Wolf Tribe's forces silently disappeared into the nearby woods. Before dawn the next day, Xueya awoke, and the Bone Tooth Tribe's camp lay quietly ahead.

Yexiao approached and said in a low voice, "Chief, the brothers are all ready."

Xueya nodded and ordered, "Do it! Chop off all the able-bodied men of the Bone Tooth Tribe. Hold the elderly, weak, women, and children under control and wait for me to deal with them."

Yexiao turned and waved his hand, and over six hundred veteran warriors of the Wolf Tribe surged out of the forest, rushing towards the Bone Tooth Tribe's camp. Xueshou led the charge, waking some of the Bone Tooth Tribe members from their sleep. Most of the hundred or so young men were still asleep when the Wolf Tribe warriors cut them down. A few young men who tried to resist were instantly killed by the Wolf Tribe warriors. Yexiao stood in the center of the camp, directing the veterans of the Wolf Tribe to clear the battlefield. Xueya led the four hundred or so new recruits, forming an encirclement around the Bone Tooth Tribe 'Bone Tooth Tribe camp. They rode on horseback, circling the camp to prevent anyone from escaping. The new recruits, sitting on their horses, watched the sounds of battle from the camp, their faces pale. Some had trembling hands, some had trembling legs, and some gripped the Jiangsheng so tightly that their knuckles turned white.

Half an hour later, the Bone Tooth Tribe 'Bone Tooth Tribe camp fell silent. Xueya Fang rode into the camp, where corpses littered the ground. The elderly, women, and children were huddled together by the Wolf Tribe, trembling in fear. Young women were dragged from the crowd by veteran Wolf Tribe soldiers, their cries and screams filling the air. Bone Tooth Tribe's leader, Chiya and kneeling in the center of the camp. He was a burly man in his forties, now covered in blood, his eyes wide open as if he wanted to devour someone.

Xueya dismounted and walked up to him. Chiya glared at Xueya, cursing incessantly, "You beasts! What grudge has our Bone Tooth Tribe ever against you? Why did you commit such a heinous act!"

Xueya laughed, his laughter echoing through the camp in the early morning. Then he said, "Scream, scream loudly. You won't have the chance to scream anymore soon."

Chiya cursed even more fiercely, spitting as he yelled, "Aren't you people afraid of retribution?! We are a subordinate tribe of the Great Luwei Tribe, and the Great Luwei Tribe will not let you get away with this!"

Xueya crouched down, looked him in the eyes, and said, "What are the Great Luwei Tribe? Let them come after us if they dare."

He stood up, turned away, and stopped looking at Chiya. Chiya was still cursing, his voice growing hoarseer, but Xueya could no longer hear him.

"Summon those five new leaders who joined the Wolf Tribe," Xueya said.

Xueshou immediately went to summon them, and soon, the five tribal chiefs were brought before Chiya. They stood there, their legs and hands trembling. In the past few days, they had eaten meat and drunk wine with the Wolf Tribe, but their hands had not yet been stained with blood.

Xueshou picked up five Shifu from the ground, threw them at their feet, and shouted, "Each of you take one and chop him down!"

The five men looked at each other, none daring to move. Xueshou's face darkened, and he gripped his knife hilt, shouting, "Hurry up and do it! Whoever doesn't will die in his place!"

Quanbo was the first to bend down and pick up the Shifu. He closed his eyes, gritted his Chiya. Chiya screamed in agony, and blood splattered all over the ground. The others also picked up Shifu and followed suit. One axe, two axes, three axes... Chiya's curses grew weaker and weaker, finally turning into groans, and then into silence. He fell into a pool of blood, his eyes still open.

The five leaders slumped to the ground, their Shifu lying beside them, their hands covered in blood. Quanbo was the first to vomit, retching on the ground. The other minor leaders were also pale-faced and unable to utter a word.

Xueya ignored them, turned to the four hundred new recruits, and ordered, "Tell them to attack too!"

Yexiao led the veterans and drove the four hundred or so new recruits in front of the controlled elderly, women and children. Some closed their eyes and slashed wildly, some vomited after slashing, and some trembled so much that they couldn't hold their knives. Xueya stood aside, watching all this, a slight smile on his lips.

The Bone Tooth Tribe's camp had become a living hell. Cries, screams, and pleas for mercy echoed in the air, but gradually the sounds subsided. Xueya turned away, no longer looking. He walked to the largest wooden house in the center of the camp, pushed open the door, and went inside.

Around noon, the massacre ended. Xueya ordered that all the food and meat from the Bone Tooth Tribe be brought out so everyone could have a good meal. Fires were lit, meat was roasted, and wine was poured. Xueya and his men rested in the Bone Tooth Tribe for two days. Early on the third day, Xueya left fifty men to guard the food and supplies, and he led the rest of his men on their way. The group marched in a grand procession toward the Stone Pillar Tribe. The newcomers rode their horses closely behind the group, their eyes no longer filled with confusion.

The Stone Pillar Tribe was also a semi-subordinate tribe of the Great Luwei, with a population of only about five hundred, of which about a hundred were able-bodied. Xueya used the same old trick—rushing in before dawn. The people of the Stone Pillar Tribe were awakened from their sleep. Some grabbed their weapons to resist, but were immediately cut down by the warriors of the Wolf Tribe. More than a hundred able-bodied men, most of whom were still asleep, were cut down. The old, weak, women and children were herded together, and the young women were dragged out.

This time, the new recruits didn't need to be forced by the veterans. They took up knives on their own and went to the elderly, weak, women, and children who had been herded together, killing them one by one with swift and decisive strokes. Some even started vying to do it themselves, eager to show off. The fate of the young women was even more tragic; they were dragged directly into the straw hut and became tools for the Wolf Tribe to vent their anger. Cries, screams, and savage laughter mingled together.

Xueya stood in the center of the camp, watching everything unfold. He nodded in satisfaction. After resting for a day at the Stone Pillar Tribe, Xueya left fifty men to guard the supplies and continued with the rest of his men. Over the next few days, they swept through the area.

The Dark Cloud Tribe, the Icicle Tribe, and the Great Wind Tribe, each with 500 members, were all conquered by the Wolf Tribe.

Every tribe used the same method: they would rush in before dawn, slaughtering all the able-bodied men and women, leaving no one alive, including the elderly, women, and children. The young women were dragged away. The new recruits no longer needed to be forced by the veterans; they would take the initiative to rush to the front, eager to fight and show off. Some even started competing to see who could kill the most and who could act the fastest.

Xueshou stood beside Xueya, watching the new recruits cleaning up the battlefield, his eyes filled with pride. "Big brother," he said, "After these five operations, these men have become true Wolf Tribe warriors. Although their physical condition is still a bit lacking, they dare to fight. With a little more training, they'll all be elite!"

Yexiao walked over, a smile on his face, and said, "Chief, our Wolf Tribe now has not only 1,200 warriors, but also more than 1,500 ponies. We are stronger than before!"

Xueya nodded, watching the warriors carrying supplies. The Wolf Tribe now had 1,200 warriors and 1,500 horses, which was indeed stronger than before. However, he knew in his heart that these people were still far from being up to par. Not only were they physically weak, but they had also never fought a tough battle. If they were to encounter the regular armies of those large tribes, it was hard to say what would happen. They would need to rest for a while, get their bodies in good shape, and be trained before they could be called true warriors.

"We've basically achieved our objective this time." He turned to Xueshou and Yexiao Wolf Tribe. "There's not much we can gain from further Wolf Tribe; in fact, it will only cause widespread panic among the neighboring tribes. Let's take our people and supplies back to the Mound Tribe and let them recuperate there. After the autumn harvest, I'll lead the brothers out to make our mark again."

Xueshou and Yexiao exchanged a glance and nodded. The Wolf Tribe's team began packing their belongings, preparing to return to the Mound Tribe. The newcomers were no longer newcomers; they skillfully loaded supplies onto horses, herded prisoners into the ranks, and cleaned the camp. Some shouted loudly, some joked with each other, and some were already calculating how much they would get back.

Xueya, riding on his horse, watched all this with a calm heart. The Wolf Tribe now had 1,200 people, which was enough. He would first raise and train them well, and then let them out to roam after the autumn harvest. At that time, whether it was the Great Rock or the Great Luwei Tribe, they would be made to know the power of the Wolf Tribe!