The Wolf Pack Strikes Again

During this time, while the Fire Tribe was developing and building on a large scale, the situation in the lower reaches of the Fish River was also quietly changing. On the mountainside of Stone Ridge Mountain, in the Wolf Tribe's camp, the campfire was burning brightly, like a giant red flower blooming in the night. Xueya sat in the largest wooden house, a bowl of hot wine in front of him, steaming and fragrant, boiled with ginger slices, to dispel the cold and warm the stomach. He picked up the bowl and took a big gulp. The wine burned as it went down his throat, like a fiery snake swimming in his stomach, dispelling the chill of autumn. His face showed a mixture of satisfaction, smugness, and calculation. The corners of his mouth were slightly upturned, and his eyes were half-closed, like a wolf that had eaten its fill.

Duzhu, Xueshou, and Yexiao sat opposite him, each with a bowl of wine, drinking and chatting, taking turns sips. The firewood in the hearth crackled and popped, making the room warm and cozy. Several animal hide maps hung on the wall, with charcoal drawings of the distribution of the Great Rock and Great Luwei Tribe. The drawings were crooked and crooked, like earthworms crawling, but their approximate locations were clear—where the mountains were, where the rivers were, and where the tribes were, all marked out.

Xueya put down his wine bowl, wiped his mouth, and then wiped it with his sleeve. He said, "Last time, our Wolf Tribe Wolf Tribe did a great job on the battlefield. We not only expanded our forces to over three thousand, but we also destroyed two core subordinate tribes of the Great Boulder Tribe. Now, the Great Boulder Tribe only has two core subordinate tribes left. With those two gone, the Great Rock has become a toothless tiger, at the mercy of our Wolf Tribe Wolf Tribe. We can eat it however we want."

Xueshou, in a rough voice, chimed in, "Yes, the Great Boulder Tribe is extremely cunning. Last time, they actually tried to join forces with the Great Luwei Tribe to attack our Wolf Tribe. If it weren't for our Wolf Tribe's swift attack last time, catching them off guard and quickly annihilating two of Great Rock's core subordinate tribes, which frightened the Great Luwei Tribe Great Luwei Tribe Tribe's forces—who were terrified by our Wolf Tribe's ferocity, like tigers descending from the mountain—they all retreated and dared not move. Otherwise, our Wolf Tribe might have faced attacks from two major tribes simultaneously. One against two, while our Wolf Tribe isn't afraid, it's still more troublesome."

The Yexiao's voice was deep and resonant, as if squeezed from its chest or rolled across the Shitou. It spoke up, "Even if we face attacks from both tribes simultaneously, our Wolf Tribe is not afraid. We'll fight them to the death. Who's afraid of whom? We have over three thousand Wolf Tribe now, swift as the wind, but they are still a problem. Now that the Great Luwei Tribe sees that we're focusing our attacks on the Great Luwei Tribe Great Boulder Tribe and not provoking them, they've chosen to watch from the sidelines. That's fine; it saves our Wolf Tribe Wolf Tribe being distracted and from fighting on two fronts."

Xueya's gaze turned cold and sharp, like two knives. He nodded and said, "It's good that the Great Luwei Tribe Great Luwei Tribe. As long as they hesitate and dare not move, it will be our Wolf Tribe's opportunity. We must take advantage of this hesitation to quickly seize the Great Luwei Tribe Great Boulder Tribe's territory. We cannot give them time to react, nor can we let them come to their senses. By the time they react and understand, we will have already devoured the Great Luwei Tribe Great Luwei Tribe Great Boulder Tribe. At that time, our Wolf Tribe will be strong and well-equipped, and the Great Luwei Tribe will not dare to fight, nor will they be able to defeat us."

Yexiao frowned, his voice tinged with worry. His brow furrowed as he said, "While the warriors of the Great Boulder Tribe Great Boulder Tribe n't particularly strong in combat, having seen little hard battle or bloodshed, they have accumulated considerable resources over the years. They've used these resources to recruit many able-bodied men, drawing people from surrounding smaller tribes, and even purchasing bronze weapons from the Tiger Tribe at the lower reaches of the Fish River. Now, as long as the Great Boulder Tribe maintains tight defenses, patrolling day and night, and setting up defenses everywhere, our Wolf Tribe Wolf Tribe still can't take them down head-on. Great Boulder Tribe direct confrontation won't give us any advantage; it's not worth it."

Xueya spoke up, "Yes, the Great Boulder Tribe is even tougher than I expected, as hard as a bone. But don't worry, while our Wolf Tribe Wolf Tribe n't swallow Great Boulder Tribe, cutting off their limbs and gouging out their eyes. If we continue like this, no matter how powerful or wealthy the Great Rock Great Boulder Tribe Great Boulder Tribe, they won't be ours." The Wolf Tribe's rivals will eventually be worn down by our Wolf Tribe, like a tree hollowed out by ants. This time, after the autumn harvest, we're not going to wipe out any of the Great Boulder Tribe Great Boulder Tribe's core and subordinate tribes. We'll leave none alive. We'll also increase our Wolf Tribe's strength to five thousand men, five thousand cavalry, one horse per man. Next year, if we win one or two battles against the Great Boulder Tribe Great Boulder Tribe, they'll be meat on the Wolf Tribe table. Then we can slaughter Wolf Tribe as we please, eat them however we want, chop them up however we want."

Xueshou laughed loudly, "This is great! This territory of the Great Boulder Tribe is indeed excellent. The land is fertile, the water source is abundant, and it can be used for planting, raising livestock, grazing, and hunting. Once our Wolf Tribe takes it over, it will definitely be very enjoyable. Life will be very comfortable. We can eat meat whenever we want, drink wine whenever we want, and do whatever we want."

The next day, they set off with their men. The three of them talked and chatted as they led two thousand Wolf Tribe cavalrymen away from their old lair in Stone Ridge Mountain, heading out along the mountain road. The two thousand-plus cavalrymen marched in a mighty procession, their hooves thundering. The cavalrymen wore leather armor, some even leather helmets, their faces filled with excitement and anticipation, their eyes gleaming with a bloodthirsty light, like a pack of wolves waiting for their prey.

Xueya rode at the head of the black ponies, his gaze sharp and cold, like an eagle waiting for its prey, or a tiger surveying its territory. His hand rested on the bronze sword at his waist, the hilt fitting comfortably in his grasp. The hideous scar on his face was particularly striking in the sunlight, like a centipede crawling across his cheek, or the mark left by a lightning bolt.

Xueshou rode beside him, holding the broad bronze sword in his hand. The blade was wide and sharp, gleaming coldly in the sunlight, almost blinding. He grinned, revealing a set of yellow teeth, with bits of meat stuck between them. His eyes were wide like copper bells, bloodshot. He patted the blade, making a crisp sound.

Yexiao rode on the other side, carrying a longbow on his back. The bow was made of Niujiao, and the bowstring was twisted from ox sinew, making it very elastic. His quiver was full of arrows, with bamboo shafts and bronze arrowheads. Each arrow was sharpened to a gleaming edge in the sunlight. His eyes were long and narrow, like a fox's, and his pupils darted around, as if he were observing something or plotting something, occasionally scanning the surrounding mountains and forests.

The column marched along the winding mountain path, flanked by dense forests. The leaves were already turning yellow, some had fallen and carpeted the ground, rustling underfoot. The soldiers rode on horseback, some talking in hushed tones, others checking their weapons. No one knew what awaited them ahead, but their eyes gleamed like a pack of wolves waiting for their prey, or a group of sharks that had caught the scent of blood.