They had never heard of a subordinate tribe defending a larger tribe from an attack, and then the larger tribe sharing meat with the subordinate tribe in the end.
Even the orc warriors from the beast cities that had entered the Wood Tribe were incredibly surprised when they learned that Shen Nong was distributing meat to the subordinate tribes. They knew very well that tribes that submitted to a large tribe were, to put it nicely, subordinate tribes of the large tribe, but to put it bluntly, they were just loyal meat shields.
No tribe would care about the life or death of a tank, let alone reward one.
At least in Beast City, they had never heard of the High Priest rewarding any of the affiliated tribes; it was always the affiliated tribes that sent things to Beast City.
The small tribes that received the giant beast meat couldn't help but sob as they looked at the pile of meat in front of them.
They had thought many orcs would starve or freeze to death this winter, but now, with this meat, their people would surely be able to eat their fill. They could also trade with the Wood Tribe for enough animal hides to keep warm. They no longer feared their people freezing or starving to death.
If they eat sparingly and work hard, they might be able to send a few more children to the Mu tribe to learn their writing system.
This sounds wonderful.
Chapter 105
Beast City Faction
During this beast tide turmoil, the high-level orc warriors of the Wood Tribe's military guard intentionally lured away the giant beasts in order to allow the lower-level orcs to escape, and as a result, they all suffered serious injuries.
Hu Xiao was the most seriously injured, and Shen Nong and Ze each used their abilities to heal him, barely managing to save his life.
Perhaps it was the orc's body's protective mechanisms that caused Tiger Roar to remain unconscious for two days before waking up. However, he still needed proper rest and recuperation to get his malfunctioning organs functioning again.
The other seriously wounded orcs from the military guard were all in the medical team's ward. After enduring the pain of the first two days, they started to feel they had enough of lying down and wanted to get up and move around. In the end, the orcs from the medical team pressed them back into bed and sternly declared that they were not allowed to get out of bed and move around at will.
While they were unable to move despite wanting to, the other orcs of the Wood Tribe were extremely busy with the Autumn Trade Fair.
The most traded items among the large and small tribes are cured meat and animal hides, with salt, which used to be the most popular commodity, now ranking last in terms of trade volume. This is because eating cured meat eliminates the need for additional salt. More importantly, cured meat can be preserved for a long time and has a very good taste, making it delicious whether stewed, boiled, or stir-fried.
None of the tribes knew how to cure meat, so they brought their processed giant beast meat to the Mu tribe's market to trade for cured meat, cured fish, and other seafood.
The Mountain Tribe and the Wind Tribe have plenty of meat, and they even traded oyster sauce, chili powder, and other seasonings.
The beastmen from the outskirts of the tribes did not travel a long way this time; instead, the Feather Tribe beastmen transported the goods between the two sides.
The Stone Tribe brought over several more high-quality jade and gemstones, significantly replenishing Shen Nong's depleted infrastructure points. This allowed him to purchase more Marrow Cleansing Pills, enabling more orcs to undergo marrow cleansing and purification. This recent beast tide also exposed the Wood Tribe's current weaknesses.
The level gap among the orc warriors is quite severe. Although the number of orc warriors at level five and above is the largest among the surrounding tribes, there are also a lot of orc warriors below level five, especially level three.
When the beast tide surges, only orcs of level six and above are truly capable of escaping. Even if level four or five orcs have mastered the best fighting techniques, they have no chance to fight back against overwhelming power.
Even if they did, they wouldn't have the power to deliver a fatal blow to the behemoth. If they didn't seize the hard-won opportunity to attack, waiting for the next one would be difficult.
Moreover, Shen Nong had previously asked Fox Mountain and Wolf Wood, who came from Beast City, how many level six or higher orc warriors were there in Beast City.
Fox Mountain and the others' answer made Shen Nong somewhat uneasy; the strength of Beast City was greater than he had imagined.
A level 6 orc in Beast City can only be considered a mid-level orc.
Beast City divides orcs into three classes: upper, middle, and lower. Orc warriors are the upper class. Orc warriors are further divided into four classes: level four to five orc warriors are lower class, level six to seven orc warriors are middle class, level eight to nine orc warriors are high class, and level ten orc warriors are top class.
The Beast City Hunting Team consists of ten teams. The hunting captains of teams one to three are level ten orc warriors, the hunting captains of teams four to eight are level nine orc warriors, and the hunting captains of teams nine and ten are level eight orc warriors.
A hunting party consists of at least twenty orcs, and all members are level seven orc warriors. Level six orc warriors can only join the guard; they are not qualified to join the hunting party.
The Beast City has no clan leader, only a high priest and his twelve children, whom they call the Young Master.
Their eldest son is a divine beast warrior.
Shen Nong knew that Ze was a divine beast warrior and understood how powerful divine beast warriors were. Hu Xiao was an eighth-level orc warrior, and he also knew how much power an eighth-level orc warrior represented. Not to mention ninth or tenth levels.
If Beast City hadn't noticed them, that would have been fine; the problem now is that Beast City has noticed them.
When the orcs from Beast City were first captured, they said that an orc named Snake Forest had brought them there. Shen Nong knew that Snake Forest had escaped, but he hadn't expected him to end up in Beast City. He wondered how Snake Forest would manage to convince the Ninth Young Master of Beast City to believe him and trick him into entering Beast City from the Wood Tribe.
He caused the destruction of the Salt Department, and Snake Forest wouldn't speak well of him to the Ninth Young Master. If he really went, it's uncertain whether he'll return alive.
In any case, improving the military strength of the Wood Tribe is of paramount importance. If a conflict occurs, even if victory is impossible, being able to escape and survive would be a good outcome.
——
The autumn market was open for three days and then closed. The priests and chieftains of the Vine Tribe were also imprisoned for many days.
The orcs of the Vine Tribe dared not get too close to the Wood Tribe, and spent their days wandering around the Wood Tribe.
Now that the autumn market trading season is over, Shen Nong wants to resolve this matter quickly. Otherwise, being locked up like this means he'll have to eat, live, and drink whatever he needs.
Although the food given was of poor quality, this person wanted the orcs of the Wood Tribe to die, so Shen Nong felt it wasn't worth it even if he gave them an extra sip of water.
Because Catvine was a level 5 orc warrior, ordinary orc guards couldn't keep an eye on them, so the two of them were locked up in an empty dormitory of the military guard.
When Shen Nong entered, she saw that the room was empty, with people sitting in two corners on the left and right.
The sound of the door opening naturally attracted their attention. They thought it was the orcs from the Wood Tribe bringing them food, but when they looked up, they found it was the young priest from the Wood Tribe.
The orc who had come with Shen Nong placed the chair he was carrying on the ground. Shen Nong leaned back in the chair, resting his elbows on the side armrests and supporting his head with his hands. He looked directly at the hunched-over vine-wood figure sitting on the ground to his left. "Did you cause the sudden agitation of the beast tide?"
Fujiki didn't argue. Although he had considered denying it when he was first arrested and had thought of countless excuses, after several days without anyone coming to ask him anything and not being able to leave the house, all his excuses were worn away by his anxiety and became useless.
Besides, the priest of the Wood Tribe clearly knew he was the one who did it. If he didn't admit it, the other party would definitely find a way to make him confess. It was better to just agree and save himself from suffering later.
"So what if I did it?" Fujiki stared straight at Shen Nong, his eyes filled with unyielding resentment. "I just didn't expect that even giant beasts wouldn't be a match for you."
"Although no one in my tribe was injured, you really wanted to harm us." Shen Nong didn't want to waste words and said bluntly, "I won't let this go so easily, but I'm not unreasonable either. I have a saying for the old priest: an eye for an eye."
The meaning is simple: I'll use your methods against you. The beast tide has passed, so I can't throw your vine tribe's orcs in, but beast tides happen every year. Each person takes responsibility for their actions; I won't implicate your entire vine tribe. Therefore, during the next autumn beast tide, I'd like to have you, Old Priest, spend some time in it.
"And I hope that you, old priest, won't forget to repay the debt to my Wood Tribe."
He actually wanted to throw me into the beast tide!! Fujiki stared at Shen Nong with bloodshot eyes, his usually numb expression twisting in horror. He excitedly stood up, wanting to pounce on Shen Nong, but because he had been sitting for too long, he couldn't get up for a moment.
The Wood Tribe orc who was standing by rushed forward and forced the man back to sit on the ground.
"You! You are more terrifying than cannibals! You actually wanted to throw me into the beast tide! Those foolish tribes actually worship such a terrifying person as your high priest!" Fujiki muttered incoherently. He struggled to stand up, but the hand on his shoulder was like a boulder weighing a thousand pounds, making him unable to move.
Fujiki angrily looked up at the orc controlling him, but when he saw who it was, he froze, forgetting to struggle. Fujiki was incredulous, his voice low and hoarse, as if squeezed from his throat, "Fox Five?"
Fox Five did not respond. His movements did not lessen at all; on the contrary, he intensified them for fear that the vines might suddenly become violent.
When Tengmu felt a sharp pain in his shoulder and came to his senses, he completely gave up the idea of getting up. He was panting heavily and said fiercely, "You are a member of my Tengman tribe, how dare you lay a hand on a priest!"
Fox Five, who had been silent until now, spoke up after hearing Teng Mu's words, saying, "I am Fox Five, the ninth orc warrior of the third squad of the Wood Tribe's military guard."
After announcing his name, Fox Five didn't say another word. Teng Mu, however, seemed to have gone mad, grabbing Fox Five and repeatedly saying, "You are an orc warrior of my Tengmu tribe!"
Fox Five didn't even glance at Teng Mu again.
“Priest, he is not an orc from the Vine Tribe, and he does not have our Vine Tribe’s totem.” Cat Vine, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. He said wearily to Shen Nong, “Priest of the Wood Tribe, I agree to your suggestion that the Vine Tribe orcs be sent into the beast tide next autumn.”
Tengmu immediately stopped speaking, glaring at Maoteng and demanding, "You dare let me into the beast tide! I'm a priest, without your permission, who would dare listen to you!"
Catvine scoffed, "Oh? Then I'd like to ask the priest, what can you do if you disagree? Didn't you use the Bewitching Leaf Powder to drive the giant beast mad? Did you think you could move the tribe right under the Wood Tribe's nose? Even if you could, where could you go? Or does the priest want the entire Vine Tribe to be wiped out because of you?"
Fujiki was speechless when asked the question. He just lowered his head and muttered to himself, "I did nothing wrong. I did it for the good of the tribe."
"For the good of the tribe..." Catvine gave a wry smile. He really didn't know how he could possibly be doing something for the tribe's benefit.
But what could they do? This man was the priest of their vine tribe.
Catvine rubbed his face, then earnestly pleaded with Shen Nong, "Priest of the Wood Tribe, during the beast tide, it was the Wood Tribe's beastmen who were caught up in the turmoil. So I want to lead the Vine Tribe's hunting team into the beast tide during the next one. This also aligns with your idea of using their own methods against them. Don't worry, I'll use the Bewitching Leaf Powder to make the giant beasts agitated as well."
"Old priest, let it go. He'll die if he goes into the beast tide..."
"He might die in the beast tide, but what about the people of my Wood Tribe? If it weren't for your good priest, how could all the orc warriors of my Wood Tribe's guard have been so badly injured? How could my Wood Tribe's chieftain have been unconscious for two days and almost died?" Shen Nong laughed in anger. He said coldly, "You should be thankful that none of the Wood Tribe's orcs have actually died, since you're all here unharmed talking to me now. What makes you think you can negotiate with me?"
Mao Teng opened his mouth, but in the end, he said nothing. He didn't know what else he could say, or how things had turned out this way.
Meanwhile, Fujiki, who was huddled in the corner, seemed not to have heard the conversation between the two. Ever since Cat Vine asked him those questions, he had been lost in his own world, repeating the same sentence over and over again: "I'm doing this all for the good of the tribe."
Shen Nong took a deep breath, not wanting to stay any longer. As she got up to leave, a muffled thud came from behind her. Shen Nong turned around and saw Mao Teng kneeling on the ground, making a gesture as if swearing an oath to the Beast God, "Beast God, I am willing to take the blame for the priest of the Wood Tribe. I will exchange my life for his."
Cat Vine crawled two steps on his knees and pleaded with Shen Nong, "The tribe... cannot be without a priest."
Shen Nong was about to speak when she was interrupted by the messenger outside the door, "Priest, all the orcs from the Vine Tribe have arrived."
"How did they get in?" Shen Nong asked curiously.
The orc replied, "Wolf Leaf brought it in."
Shen Nong observed that the beastman who replied was a member of the Wood Tribe. He showed no anger at the moment, but rather an excitement.
The reason Langye brought people here was definitely not because he had betrayed the Mu tribe.
When Catvine heard that the orcs from the Vine Tribe had arrived, he didn't dare ask any questions and listened intently. Vinewood also shut up, ceasing its muttering and waiting to hear what followed.
Shen Nong knew that the two people inside were eager to hear what would happen next, so she followed up by asking, "Did you come at this time because you couldn't wait any longer and wanted to save people?"
The orc glanced at the vines and cat vines in the room, scratched his head, and deliberately lowered his voice, "They came to join the Wood Tribe."
Chapter 106
martial arts competition
Have all the orcs from the Vine Tribe come to join the Wood Tribe? Shen Nong didn't doubt that the orcs were lying, but rather found it strange.
These people tirelessly take turns circling around the Wood Tribe, not to find a way to save their chieftain and priest, but to join the Wood Tribe.
Even though the Wood Tribe orc's voice was kept low, it wasn't completely silent, and the two people still heard it. Cat Vine didn't react in any particular way, as if it had been expected, and wasn't surprised at all.
Fujiki was completely out of control, determined to rush out and get to the bottom of things. He shouted, "Impossible!" Fox Five held him down tightly, but Fujiki was determined to get out this time. He didn't care about the pain and pulled himself forward.
Fox Five used his strength to press the person to the ground, then sat on the vine's back and pressed the person down with his legs.
Tengmu lay motionless on the ground, as if a mountain was pressing down on him. No matter how he moved, the other man remained firmly seated without swaying. He couldn't help but curse, "You heartless bastard! I am your priest! How dare you treat your priest like this! The Beast God will not let you get away with this!"
Fox Five frowned and retorted, "I already said that I am a beastman from the Wood Tribe and have no relation to the Vine Tribe. You are a priest of the Vine Tribe, so why can't you let me off the hook for what I did to your Beast God?"
Mentioning Shen Nong only made Teng Mu more agitated. He craned his neck to look at Shen Nong. Because of the angle, his eyes hurt from straining, but Teng Mu didn't care about the pain. He wished he could be like those cannibals and eat Shen Nong's flesh raw. "It's all your fault! If it weren't for you, the beastmen of my Vine Tribe would never have treated me like this!"
Shen Nong didn't want to deal with the old man anymore, but he wasn't willing to be taken advantage of. What did the current state of the Vine Tribe have to do with him? Did he hold a knife to those orcs' necks and force them to submit?
"Old man, if it weren't for the fact that your Vine Tribe has someone willing to risk their life to protect you, I would feel sorry for him. He misjudged people and is now on the verge of losing his life. Do you think you would still be able to talk to me?" Shen Nong said coldly with a serious expression.
Tengmu spat and said viciously, "If you hadn't gone to the Tengman Tribe to stop the fire ritual, my Tengman Tribe would still be doing just fine as before! Even if you kill me today, I will still say the same thing! It's because of you that the beastmen of the Tengman Tribe have changed!"
After listening to Fujiki's words, Shen Nong suddenly felt less angry. There was nothing to be angry about; one cannot discuss ice with a summer insect.
“I was still hesitant about whether to accept the orcs who came to join the Vine Tribe.” Although Shen Nong wasn’t angry, it didn’t mean he was going to suffer in silence. He smiled and looked at Teng Mu, “Since you care so much about the Vine Tribe, then I’ll agree.”