Chapter 40

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

When it was over, the vines slowly retracted, leaving only more than 50 pale skeletons on the ground. Their flesh and blood had disappeared.

“Thank you, Vine God, for destroying the enemy!”

Jiang Xuan thanked the ancient vine sincerely.

If not for the Ancient Vine Clan, the people lying on the ground would be from the Vine Tribe.

“Thank you, Vine God.”

The others also kowtowed to the ancient vine.

Those vagabonds had witnessed the miracle of the ancient vine with their own eyes and developed a fanatical belief in the ancient vines. They also had a greater sense of belonging to the vine tribe.

On the ancient vine, the green light flashed, then gradually faded and returned to its usual appearance. Only the green leaves rustled in the wind.

Under the sunlight, the giant cricket clung to one of the vines of the ancient vine as if nothing had happened. Its wings were closed, and it was resting under the green leaves.

After a long time, everyone stood up.

Hook Vine asked, “Chief, what should we do with these bones?”

Jiang Xuan thought for a moment and said, “Hang all the skulls on the trees in the southern forest. Dig a hole and bury the other bones.

In addition, collect all the weapons they left behind and move them back to the bamboo house.”

The skull hanging on the tree outside the tribe was a powerful deterrent to outsiders who came to the Vine Tribe in the future.

However, the Vine Tribe was too weak now. They could only use this method to scare people.

Those weapons were good. They could greatly replenish the weapons and equipment of the Vine Tribe.

After all, it took a lot of time to make primitive weapons.

After receiving Jiang Xuan’s instructions, everyone in the Vine Tribe immediately got busy.

They first dug a large pit and buried all the bones except the skulls. Then, they separated a portion of the people and hung more than 50 skulls on the branches of the forest south of the tribe.

As for the weapons, clothes, and personal belongings left behind by the Mosquito Tribe’s hunting team, they were all moved into the bamboo house. When the time came, Jiang Xuan would distribute them.

By the time they were done, it was almost evening.

In the forest south of the Vine Tribe, more than 50 pale skulls hung from branches and swayed in the wind. At first glance, they looked very scary.

At night, Jiang Xuan and the others gathered by the fire pit in the bamboo house to discuss the distribution of the weapons.

Jiang Xuan said, “Today, although we killed all those people with the help of the Vine God, no one knows how many people are left in this tribe, or when they will attack again.”

Jiang Xuan looked around and said, “Therefore, I suggest that we give each of those vagabonds a weapon and let them protect themselves.”

Chi Shao nodded. “I agree. These vagabonds were quite brave today.”

The tribesmen advocated martial strength. Brave people would always be respected by others. If those vagabonds had begged for mercy today, Chi Shao would look down on them.

“I agree too.”

“Agreed.”

“I’ll listen to the Chief.”

The three teenagers agreed.

Jiang Xuan said, “Alright, since everyone agrees, Hook Vine, call those vagabonds over to collect their weapons.”

“I’m on it.”

Hook Vine immediately got up, lit a torch, and walked to the bamboo house where the vagabonds were. He conveyed his Chief’s words to them.

Sweet Pine was rather excited because this meant that they had officially obtained the recognition of the Vine Tribe. The other vagabonds were also very excited.

Under the lead of Hook Vine, the 11 vagabonds followed him to the big bamboo house.

In the bamboo house, Jiang Xuan stood up and said to the vagabonds, “I said before that as long as you are loyal to the tribe, the tribe will definitely not mistreat you.”

“Today, you all performed very bravely. The tribe has decided to reward each of you with a weapon.”

Sweet Pine said excitedly, “Thank you, Chief.”

The vagabonds looked at the pile of weapons on the ground, their eyes shining.

Jiang Xuan pointed at the weapons on the ground and said, “If you want any weapons, choose them yourself. Remember, you can only choose one each.”

The Mosquito Tribe hunting team had left behind more than a hundred weapons, because most warriors had two or three weapons, such as spears, short spears, stone knives or bone knives, and bows and arrows.

Jiang Xuan and the others had already picked out these weapons. The best ones had been taken away because they were warriors who could use better weapons.

The remaining weapons were mostly intact. After all, they were weapons used by the hunting team. Be it the material or the workmanship, they were all relatively good.

When the vagabonds saw that there were so many weapons to choose from, they immediately beamed.

Some people liked to use spears, some liked to use knives, and some liked to use bows and arrows. Choosing a weapon they liked could also bring out stronger combat power.

“One by one!”

Jiang Xuan did not let the vagabonds fight over them. He got them to line up and choose, one after another.

Under Jiang Xuan’s intimidation, the vagabonds could only suppress their excitement and go over to choose.

Sweet Pine chose a bone knife. Since he only had one arm, he wasn’t very good with stone spears. The shorter, more flexible knife was a good choice for him.

The other vagabonds also chose their favorite weapons and were overjoyed.

“Alright, since everyone has chosen, go back and sleep. Work hard in the future. The tribe will definitely not mistreat you.”

“Thank you, Chief.”

Sweet Pine thanked him again and led the vagabonds back to bed.

Many of the vagabonds did not sleep well that night. Too much had happened that day, and it had a huge impact on their minds.

However, there was one thing they agreed on: staying in the Vine tribe was the right choice.

After the vagabonds left, Jiang Xuan thought for a while and said to the four of them, “I’ve decided to dig another tunnel in the bamboo house where the vagabonds live. This way, once danger descends, they can quickly escape to the foot of the stone mountain.”

“In addition, it’s best to set up some traps in the forest on both sides of the tribe. Even if we can’t hurt the enemy, it can give us a reminder. We won’t be rushed like today.”

Chi Shao said, “We’ll listen to the chief.”

The three youths nodded. After so many things, not only did they trust Jiang Xuan, but they also admired him.

They would do whatever their chief said.

“Alright, it’s decided then. Tomorrow, Hook Vine, take the vagabonds to dig the tunnel. The rest of you, follow me to set up the trap.”

After these things were confirmed, Jiang Xuan finally heaved a sigh of relief.

The food in the pottery cauldron was already cooked. The five of them filled their stomachs with their bowls and chopsticks and chatted for a while before going to sleep.

…

In a mountain range about three days away from the Vine Tribe, there was a tribe that had just settled down. This tribe was the Mosquito Tribe.

There was also a swamp where the Mosquito Tribe was located. However, this swamp was wider and larger than the swamp where Jiang Xuan encountered the whipping tree.

Mosquitoes liked humid environments. The Mosquito Tribe with the bird beak mosquito as their totem naturally liked such places.

This was because the food in the swamp was more abundant. With the bird beak mosquitoes guarding it, they did not have to worry about the mosquitoes. Such a place was very suitable for them to live in.

The houses of the Mosquito Tribe were different from the houses of other tribes.

Because the environment they were in was very humid, and the ground was uninhabitable, they created a kind of building on stilts.

This kind of building was built against the mountain. On one side, it was against the mountain and could accommodate a fire pit. The other three sides were suspended in the air. The house was supported by pillars and stones. It was away from the damp ground and made people more comfortable.

Of course, the house built by the Mosquito Tribe was very primitive and simple. It could not compare to those exquisite buildings on stilts, but its function was similar.

At this moment, in a wooden hut in the middle of the Mosquito Tribe, the atmosphere became very oppressive because of the three bird beak mosquitoes that had escaped from the Vine Tribe!