A Stroll Back to Camp

Yan and Qingsui walked side by side on the path leading to the Fire Tribe's temporary camp. The moonlight was like water, its silvery glow spreading across the entire path. The chirping of insects rose and fell from the grass on both sides of the road, like a lively concert. The night breeze carried the moist scent of the Fish River, the fragrance of rice from the distant fields, mixed with the aroma of grass and the sweetness of unknown wildflowers, refreshing and invigorating, making one want to take a deep breath.

The two walked slowly, neither in a hurry nor urging the other. There was a fist's distance between Yan and Qingsui's shoulders. Sometimes, when Qingsui stepped on a loose Shitou and her body swayed slightly, Yan would subconsciously reach out to steady her. Their hands would unconsciously clasp together. The moonlight stretched their shadows very long, spreading them diagonally across the road, overlapping and separating, then overlapping again.

Neither of them spoke during this distance. It wasn't that they had nothing to say; rather, they had too much to say, yet they didn't know where to begin. The great battle of the Valley Tribe had come and gone too suddenly. It had only lasted two days, yet it felt like an eternity, like a century.

Finally, Yan spoke first, his voice very soft, as if he were whispering, "Qingsui, were you frightened by the sudden attack on the Valley Tribe by the Tiger Tribe and Bear Tribe?"

He turned his head to look at Qingsui. The moonlight fell on her profile, outlining a soft contour. She had long eyelashes, a delicate nose, and slightly pursed lips with a faint smile at the corners.

Qingsui shook her head, her tied-up hair swaying gently with her movement. A few stray strands slipped out from the wooden hairpin, falling beside her ears, gleaming silver in the moonlight. She replied, "No."

Her voice held a touch of girlish clarity, yet also a Chenwen that no longer belonged to a young girl, as she said, "I am, after all, the chief's daughter. How could I be afraid so easily? I am not a coward."

She paused, turned to look at Yan, her eyes sparkling, and said, "This time, the main damage to our Valley Tribe was at the Little Valley Camp Outpost. The Valley Tribe headquarters suffered almost no losses. I've been staying by my father's side lately, helping him handle tribe affairs. I've been so busy that I haven't even had time to be afraid. I have to lead people to take stock of the losses, to take care of the wounded, to bandage their wounds, to comfort those tribespeople who have lost loved ones, to talk to them, to deliver food to them, and to discuss countermeasures with my father and the elders, to discuss what to do tomorrow, and to discuss what to do in the future. I'm so busy all day long that I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow, and I'm even dreaming about working."

As she spoke, she laughed first, revealing a set of neat Baiya that gleamed in the moonlight, and said, "This time, it's fortunate that your Fire Tribe arrived in time to help us. Otherwise, not only would our Valley Tribe have lost its Little Valley Camp Outpost, but the Valley Tribe headquarters might have also suffered huge losses."

Her voice lowered, her smile faded, and her eyes became more somber as she said, "Although we won this time, we also suffered huge losses. Our Valley Tribe lost nearly half of its naval strength alone. Five of our large ships, each weighing 50,000 jin, sank. Those were the assets our Valley Tribe had accumulated over decades. Dozens of our smaller boats also sank. Although those boats were not large, they represented the hard work and sweat of our Valley Tribe."

She looked up at Yan, her eyes slightly red, but she held back her tears and said, "If it weren't for your Fire Tribe's willingness to give us some boats on credit at half price, our Valley Tribe would probably have had a hard time suppressing the Bear Tribe's power on the water after this crisis."

Yan listened quietly without speaking immediately. He looked into Qingsui's eyes, which held a stubbornness and an indomitable spirit, like plum blossoms in winter, blooming more beautifully in the cold. Yan felt a slight tremor in his heart, as if a string had been plucked.

After a long pause, Yan spoke in Chenwen voice, "Our two tribes are in a military cooperation alliance and are also important trading partners. Helping your Valley Tribe is also helping our Fire Tribe."

He paused, his brow furrowing slightly, and said, "The Tiger Tribe's arrival this time is very suspicious. I suspect it's likely the Bear Tribe's doing. It's highly probable they spread the message, sowing discord and adding fuel to the fire."

He looked into Qingsui's eyes and said in a more serious tone, "Your Valley Tribe has lost nearly half of its water strength this time, and you do need some boats to recover. Otherwise, it will be difficult to deter the Bear Tribe. That's why I offered to give you boats at half price on credit at the banquet today. It's not charity, it's not pity, it's what allies should do, it's what brothers should do."

Qingsui listened, nodded, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she swallowed it back. She lowered her head, looking at the road beneath her feet, walking step by step, as if digesting her words or lost in her own thoughts. After a while, she raised her head, a smile returning to her face, but this time it held a more serious and determined quality. "Yes," she said, "Our Valley Tribe does indeed need to restore some of its waterborne strength before we can feel at ease."

Her brows furrowed slightly, and her gaze sharpened as she spoke, "The Tiger Tribe's arrival with their forces this time is indeed very suspicious. I will persuade Father to utilize our Valley Tribe's spies to investigate the Tiger Tribe's situation. Although our Valley Tribe has been operating in the middle and lower reaches of the Fish River for decades, we still have some manpower and informants within the Tiger Tribe's territory. It's time to put them to use."

She looked at Yan, her eyes shining with confidence, decisiveness, and an undeniable firmness. She said, "With clear information, we won't be so passive. When the Tiger Tribe makes any move, we'll know in advance and be able to prepare. We won't be caught off guard like this time, like the blind and deaf."

Yan nodded, his eyes filled with approval, and said, "That's for the best. But you don't need to worry too much about the Tiger Tribe. After this defeat, they shouldn't be able to attack again so quickly. Our Fire Tribe will also speed up shipbuilding during this period. Large ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin will be launched one after another. Our Fire Tribe's manufacturing plan this year is to increase the number of ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin to 20 and the number of ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin to 100. As long as the Tiger Tribe doesn't come out in full force, our Fire Tribe can handle it. If they send three ships, we'll fight three; if they send ten, we still have a fighting chance."

He turned to look at Qingsui, his eyes filled with solemnity, and said, "But your Valley Tribe still needs to be careful of the Bear Tribe and the Wolf Tribe. These two tribes are closer to you and have a deep-seated grudge against your Valley Tribe. If the two tribes unite, it will be a big problem for your Valley Tribe."

Qingsui nodded and said, "Yan, I feel much more at ease knowing that you said that. The stronger your Fire Tribe is, the safer our Valley Tribe will be. Right now, our Valley Tribe is mainly worried about the Tiger Tribe. We can handle the Bear Tribe Bear Tribe the Wolf Tribe Wolf Tribe, but our Valley Tribe will also increase our attention to them and won't give them any opportunities or loopholes."

Yan smiled upon hearing this and said, "That's good. This time, our Fire Tribe will transport six million catties of grain back from the Valley Tribe's headquarters. We'll stay here for three days. After loading the grain, we'll head upstream along the Fish River back to the Fire Tribe. It will probably be a while before our Fire Tribe's fleet comes to transport grain again."

Upon hearing this, Qingsui paused slightly before continuing on her way. She kept her head down, looking at the path beneath her feet, so her expression was obscured, only her slightly pursed lips and gently trembling eyelashes were visible. After a long while, she spoke in a very soft voice, "I understand that your Fire Tribe will be very busy these next few years. Just remember to think of me when you have some free time."

Yan's heart tightened. He looked into Qingsui's eyes, and there was something in them that he had never seen before. His lips moved, as if he wanted to say something, but he swallowed the words back. Finally, he said softly, "I will definitely miss you, like I miss home."

Qingsui's eyes lit up instantly. She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but her lips trembled and no sound came out. She simply nodded, nodding vigorously, as if to say, "I understand," or perhaps, "Me too."

Yan's voice softened slightly as he continued, "Our Fire Tribe is getting closer and closer to your Valley Tribe. Our newest stronghold is already on the Clothing River South Bank. If you have time, you can come and visit. I sometimes patrol the Clothing River South Bank Outpost, and you can find me there at specific times."

He paused, then continued, "If other smaller tribes want to join our Fire Tribe Fire Tribe, our territory can be moved a little further north, bringing it even closer to your Fire Tribe Valley Tribe."

Qingsui's eyes brightened, and a smile appeared on her face as she happily said, "That's good. This time, the Tiger Tribe and Bear Tribe's invasion has basically meant a complete break with our Valley Tribe. Our Valley Tribe Valley Tribe will also be looking for ways to increase our strength. We also hope that your Fire Tribe will become stronger. If you can extend your territory to border our Valley Tribe, our two tribes will be able to support each other much faster. In the future, when your Fire Tribe absorbs smaller tribes, as long as they are not affiliated with our Valley Tribe, our Valley Tribe will not interfere."

Yan felt a warmth in his heart upon hearing this, and he nodded, saying, "That's good. If your Valley Tribe can think this way, then our Fire Tribe can act freely. Don't worry, our Fire Tribe will not touch any of your Valley Tribe's subordinate tribes. You can rest assured about that; I, Yan, keep my word."

Upon hearing this, Qingsui's smile deepened. She stopped and stood at the entrance of the Fire Tribe Tribe's temporary camp. The warm yellow light of the campfire shone through the entrance, making it especially comforting in the night.

People were walking around the camp, talking in low, intermittent voices, as if chatting or discussing something. Someone was singing, their voices rough and bold, a tune often sung by the Fire Tribe.

Qingsui turned to Yan and said, "These past few days, our Valley Tribe has been busy assessing losses, comforting our people, and taking stock of supplies. I probably won't have time to come to the dock to visit you. I guess I'll have to wait until the afternoon after you finish loading the grain to come and see you. After your fleet finishes loading the grain that day, you probably won't leave immediately, but will wait until the next morning to set off, right?"

Yan nodded and said, "It's alright. Your Valley Tribe has suffered a great calamity, so you must have a lot to do. We'll see each other again in a few days. You should also go back and rest early, don't overwork yourself."

Qingsui nodded, turned and left. Her steps were light and quick, like a gust of wind. After a few steps, she turned back, waved to Yan, and smiled. That smile was bright and unreserved.

Yan waved, smiled, then turned and walked away quickly without looking back. Her figure grew smaller and smaller in the moonlight until it disappeared into the night.

Yan stood at the camp entrance, gazing in that direction for a very long time.

The night wind blew, rustling his clothes and ruffling his hair, obscuring his eyes. He didn't move, just stood there, the moonlight casting a long, long shadow that stretched into the camp. A few barks came from afar, followed by silence. The sound of the flowing river drifted over from a distance, gurgling and splashing.

Yan took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. A surge of warmth welled up in his chest, an emotion he couldn't quite describe—excitement or emotion, joy or sorrow, anticipation or unease. All he knew was that at this moment, he remembered: Qingsui's beautiful smile under the moonlight, the light in her eyes, and the wave she made as she turned to leave.

He turned around and walked into the Fire Tribe's temporary camp. The light of the campfire was warm and comforting. The warriors sat around the fire, some sharpening their knives, some mending their clothes, and some chatting. When they saw him come in, several warriors stood up and called out, "Young Chief." He nodded and walked towards his tent.

Entering the tent, he sat on the straw mat, unfastened the bronze sword from his waist, and placed it aside. Outside the tent, the light from the campfire shone through, casting shimmering shadows on the ground. In the distance, the laughter and chatter of warriors drifted over. Yan lay down, his hands behind his head, staring at the tent ceiling. Images from the day flashed through his mind—the scene of the fleet's charge, the sinking of the Tiger Tribe's warship, Daiyue raising a toast at the banquet, and Qingsui's glance back as she turned to leave.

A slight smile played on his lips, then he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.