Returning to Camp in Triumph

The sun had set, and the firelight illuminated the battlefield outside Wild Boar Gully. The Fire Tribe's Hunting Team was cleaning up the battlefield. Silently and efficiently, they collected the weapons abandoned by the Wolf Tribe and piled them aside. Most of the fallen Wolf Tribe warriors were already lifeless, and the few seriously wounded were being treated after being finished off. The air was thick with the stench of blood and dust, but for these forest hunters who had just experienced a fierce battle, the smell didn't seem so unbearable; instead, it stirred something within them that hadn't yet subsided.

The seized supplies were tallied up: the ten fat pigs extorted from the White Pig Tribe, several cattle stolen from the Bison Tribe, several thousand kilograms of food, and even some scattered animal hides, bone tools, and several prisoners who were terrified out of their wits—most of whom were people from other small tribes who had been kidnapped by the Wolf Tribe before.

"We won!"

Someone shouted first, and the shout was like a spark thrown into a pot of oil, instantly igniting long-suppressed, boiling emotions.

"We won! We defeated the Wolf Tribe!"

"Haha! What a load of bull Wolf Tribe is utterly pathetic!"

Look at the pathetic way they ran! They were so scared they practically peed their pants!

Cheers, laughter, and excited shouts rose and fell. The tense nerves suddenly relaxed, and the great sense of victory and the excitement after the adrenaline subsided intertwined, making these men, most of whom were experiencing large-scale battles for the first time, flush with excitement. They waved their weapons and pounded each other's shoulders and chests.

"See that? I took one down with one spear! That guy tried to block with his axe, but I stabbed him through with the axe too!" A young soldier with a few drops of blood splattered on his face gestured to his companion, his face full of pride.

"That's nothing! The Shichui I threw knocked two people down with it! Like hunting rabbits!"

"Hey, those Wolf Tribe's Shimao can't even pierce our rattan armor! Our gear is so effective!"

They discussed the details of the battle with great enthusiasm, compared the results, and boasted about their bravery. The initial tension and fear had long been washed away by the ecstasy of victory, replaced by a pride and excitement of being a strong person that they had never experienced before.

The hunters from the smaller tribes that later merged into the Fire Tribe felt particularly complex and profound emotions at this moment. They had personally experienced going from the brink of starvation or being swallowed up, to joining the Fire Tribe and having enough to eat and wear, to participating in training, and now, as members of the Fire Tribe, they had directly defeated the infamous Wolf Tribe!

Previously, they felt gratitude and relief to have found a powerful ally in the Jianshi Fire Tribe, enabling them to survive. Today, they witnessed the Jianshi Tribe leader's godlike performance in crushing the Wolf Tribe leader, Xueya, and personally participated in this overwhelming victory. They wore the same rattan armor as the veteran members of the Fire Tribe, wielded the same weapons, fought side by side, and shared the glory.

This feeling quickly evolved from "gratitude for being taken in" into a strong, almost fanatical sense of identity and belonging, as well as a deep pride in this powerful group.

"With Chief Jianshi Stone and the Fire Tribe, what is there to fear?"

"Who will dare to bully us now?"

"Fire Tribe! Fire Tribe!"

Someone took the lead in shouting the tribe's name, and soon all the warriors present, regardless of age, joined in the shout. The voices rose higher and higher, echoing through the valley, filled with power and conviction. At this moment, they were no longer a motley crew from different tribes, but a truly unified whole, sharing the same breath and destiny—the warriors of the Fire Tribe.

As the core and soul of this victory, Jianshi appeared remarkably calm. He stood atop a high rock, watching his jubilant tribesmen below. His resolute face showed little expression, but a hint of satisfaction flickered deep in his eyes as his gaze swept over the excited new faces.

A burly figure parted the crowd and strode over; it was Dali, who had returned from the chase. His face was covered in sweat and dust, and a hint of frustration.

"Brother, Xueya got away!" Dali stepped forward, lowered his voice, and said unwillingly, "That guy is very cunning. Even though he was injured, he didn't take the easy escape route by the river. He led the remaining soldiers straight into the old forest. The forest was too dense, and it was getting dark. I was afraid of an ambush, so I chased for a while but couldn't catch up, so I brought the men back."

Jianshi patted his younger brother on the shoulder, his tone calm. "Let him go. After this battle, he should be terrified. He won't dare to provoke our Fire Tribe again anytime soon."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the dark, dense forest, his voice turning cold. "However, this Xueya is indeed no ordinary being. It remained vigilant even at the valley entrance, detecting something amiss beforehand. If it weren't for the resources our tribe has painstakingly accumulated over the past few years, the outcome today would truly be uncertain."

He nodded Dali, deeply agreeing, "Yes, brother. If it were two years ago, and we encountered these hundred-odd wolf cubs, we'd probably be in grave danger. That Xueya... it'll be a menace sooner or later."

"We'll get rid of him sooner or later, and wipe out this cancerous growth of the Wolf Tribe." Jianshi's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable determination. "But not now. Let's consolidate our gains and strengthen ourselves first. When we're stronger, there will be plenty of opportunities. Pass down the order: once we've finished cleaning up, take the spoils and the wounded back to camp!"

"Yes!"

The Fire Tribe's team lit torches, carried a small number of lightly injured companions—mostly grazes or sprains from falling rocks, but thanks to the protection of their rattan armor, none were seriously injured or killed—and drove their captured livestock and carried their grain on their way home in a grand procession.

They arrived stealthily and returned full of vigor. The long torches snaked through the night, and the soldiers' laughter and boasts echoed along the mountain path. Excitement washed away their fatigue, and everyone felt their steps were much lighter.

Upon returning to their settlement, the tribesmen who had already received the news of their victory lit even more bonfires, illuminating the entire valley as if it were daytime. Men, women, and children all poured out to welcome the triumphant warriors.

"They're back! The warriors are back!"

"We won! We drove the Wolf Tribe away!"

"Look! So many pigs! So many cows! And grain!"

Cheers, inquiries, and children's screams mingled together, creating a lively scene. Women rushed forward to help (even though no one needed help), checking if their men were injured, while children excitedly ran around the captured pigs and cattle. The elderly beamed with joy, murmuring their gratitude to their ancestors and the fire god.

The celebratory bonfire feast began immediately. Several of the captured pigs were slaughtered on the spot, and large chunks of meat sizzled and dripped with oil over the fire, filling the air with a wonderful aroma. The rice porridge was cooked until thick and rich, mixed with fresh wild vegetables. Goat's milk was also generously served.

The entire tribe erupted in celebration. The details of the battle were recounted, embellished, and celebrated again and again. Every warrior who participated in the battle became the center of attention, surrounded by relatives, friends, and curious young people, listening to their descriptions of that thrilling battle.

"... In the blink of an eye, Xueya's axe was about to strike the chieftain! But the chieftain, unperturbed, simply swung his Shimao upwards! A loud 'clang' rang out, and guess what? Xueya's axe was sent flying! He spun around, axe and all!"

"Then the leader darted forward and delivered a flying kick, right to Xueya's heart! I was close enough to hear it clearly; with a 'poof,' Xueya was sent flying, spitting blood! He couldn't even get up!"

"Hey, you guys didn't see how cowardly those Wolf Tribe were later! One shower of our Shichui and they were crying for their parents! The moment we charged, they turned tail and ran faster than rabbits!"

The details of Jianshi's duel with Xueya are described with particular brilliance, bordering on mythology. Jianshi's bravery, strength, and composure are magnified to an extreme. In these simple narratives, he is not merely a leader who leads the tribe to prosperity, but a war god who can personally destroy powerful enemies and protect his people. The newly joined tribespeople listened with rapt attention, their eyes overflowing with reverence as they looked at Jianshi, surrounded by the crowd and receiving toasts.

"With a leader like this, what do we have to fear?"

"The Fire Tribe will definitely be the strongest tribe in the future!"

Such whispers circulated among the crowd, and everyone who heard them nodded vigorously in agreement. An unprecedented sense of cohesion, unity, and pride in being a member of the Fire Tribe was deeply ingrained in the hearts of every tribesman during the post-victory celebrations. This was more effective than any preaching or system in truly uniting these people from different backgrounds.

Wang Yan sat a little further away from his father, listening and observing quietly. He could clearly sense the change in the tribe's atmosphere. If the previous development was an accumulation of material and institutional resources, then this victory was a crucial tempering and forging of their spirit. This team had seen blood and won glorious victories; from then on, they had a soul and an indomitable spirit.

Jianshi drank another bowl of the offered goat milk, his face glowing. He listened to the tribespeople's boasting without stopping them, only occasionally shaking his head with a smile or patting the shoulder of the person offering the goat milk.

At this moment, Dabang walked over and shouted, "Chief! That was a great battle! From now on, the name of our Fire Tribe is truly famous! I bet all the surrounding tribes will have to treat us with utmost respect from now on!"

Jianshi took the bowl but didn't drink immediately. His gaze swept over the reveling crowd, then turned to the dark silhouette of the mountains in the distance. His voice Chenwen and powerful. "Reputation is earned through battle, but also through defense. Winning today is a good thing. But don't forget, the Wolf Tribe isn't extinct. There are tribes outside that are even larger than the Wolf Tribe."

He paused, then raised his voice so more people could hear. "What enabled us to win today? It's the grain we've accumulated from clearing land and farming over the past two years! It's the weapons and armor we've forged and improved time and time again! It's everyone's tireless training and teamwork! And most importantly, it's the unity and concerted effort of the entire Fire Tribe!"

The lively scene quieted down a bit, and everyone looked at their leader. "Victory is worth celebrating! But we mustn't let it go to our heads!" Jianshi downed the bowl of goat's milk in one gulp. "From tomorrow on, those who need to farm, farm; those who need to hunt, hunt; those who need to train, train! We must make our walls stronger! We must grow more grain! We must train our troops to be even stronger! Only in this way can victories like today continue! Only in this way can our Fire Tribe remain strong! Only in this way can we ensure that no one dares to bully our parents, wives, and children!"

"Well said!"

"I'll listen to the leader!"

"May the Fire Tribe remain strong!"

After a brief silence, the response and shouts grew even more enthusiastic. The revelry continued, but in the hearts of many warriors, the leader's words were like a bucket of cold water, adding a touch of sobriety and a heavy sense of responsibility to their excitement.

As night deepened and the campfires died down, the tribespeople, who had been excited all day, gradually returned to their respective wooden huts to rest. The valley gradually quieted down, with only the Chenwen footsteps of the sentries patrolling the walls.

The firelight still shone in the council chamber. Jianshi, Jianya, Mighty Dali, Dazhuang, Wang Yan, and other core members gathered again to make a final summary.

"The casualty count is complete," Jianya reported. "On our side, seven people sustained minor injuries, all abrasions or sprains; they'll recover in a few days. No one was killed, and no one was seriously injured."

This result brought a sigh of relief to everyone, and also made them more aware of the enormous advantages brought by the rattan armor and excellent training.

"On the Wolf Tribe's side, a rough count shows fifty-seven corpses left on the battlefield, and about twenty killed during the pursuit. Five were captured, all of whom were previously captured. Nearly a hundred weapons, ten pigs, four cows, food... estimated to weigh several thousand kilograms. There were also some odds and ends they brought with them."

"A considerable haul." Jianshi nodded. "Replenish the warehouse with grain and livestock. Keep only the usable weapons. As for the prisoners... check them separately, inquire about their backgrounds. Those willing to stay will be recruited after investigation according to regulations. Those who want to leave will be given some rations and allowed to depart once things have calmed down."

"Yes."

"After this battle," Wang Yan began, "The morale and cohesion of our tribe have reached a new level. Especially the new members, their sense of belonging has become much stronger. Next, I think we can strike while the iron is hot, further standardize the organization of the Hunting Team and Youth Team, clarify rewards and punishments, and promote those who performed outstandingly in this battle as role models."

"Yan is right," Jianshi agreed. "Jianya, you and Yan should discuss this matter. Also, the construction of the wall cannot stop; it must be accelerated. The number of shifts and hidden sentries at the sentry posts on both sides of the tribal valley needs to be increased. The Wolf Tribe suffered a great loss and may well retaliate. Even if they dare not, we must guard against other Chaigou might hear the news and have designs on the area."

"Clear!"

The meeting ended, and everyone dispersed. Wang Yan walked out of the council hall. The cool night breeze brushed against his face, clearing his excited and somewhat feverish mind. He looked up at the starry sky, his heart filled with emotion. He had been in this world for more than two years, starting from solving the problem of getting a full meal, and step by step, he had come to where he was today, with a tribe of over a thousand people, a rudimentary form of civilization, and who had just proven their military strength.