Chapter 332: Sense of Belonging
Some of them even subtly told them to stay in the Primitive Tribe and not to stir up trouble, as it would be useless.
Lin Ye was well aware of their objectives and their thoughts. He already knew what they were doing before they even returned to their dwellings.
However, Lin Ye had never said anything. Now was the time to test them. If they were to conceal what they knew during this critical period when the Primitive Tribe was about to engage in a great battle, then Lin Ye would have no intention of keeping them.
Keeping them would only be a source of trouble. Lin Ye was not a kind and benevolent person. He had kept them before because they had not committed any major offenses, and he harbored the thought of recruiting them for his own use.
But now, two years had passed. If they still harbored other intentions, it would mean they were no longer worth recruiting. When people’s hearts turn away, keeping them is useless.
Lin Ye had not done anything to them before, not because he was afraid or unwilling, but because he was giving them a chance. After all, Lin Ye was from modern times and not a native of this land.
He valued human life greatly. But if they continued to be disloyal to the Primitive Tribe in this manner, Lin Ye would have to eliminate them.
Fatty lowered his head, his eyes darting between the other three. Lin Ye’s eyes narrowed again, a hint of killing intent seeping out. Lin Ye detested such ungrateful wolves.
How could Lin Ye not know Fatty’s plan? He intended to follow their lead. Lin Ye had let him live in the Primitive Tribe for two years, eating and drinking for free, yet he still lacked any sense of belonging.
To Lin Ye, he had done his best to be benevolent. But from their perspective, Lin Ye was their sworn enemy who had destroyed their tribe. Fortunately, their tribesmen did not think so, only these four did. Black Mountain seemed to sense Lin Ye’s killing intent and looked up, then slowly said, “There are no people dressed like that in the Yiwu Mountain area. I heard there are people south of Yiwu Mountain, while those to the west are dressed like this.” The team slowly set off again. However, the formation had changed.
Lin Ye sat in the ox cart, driven by Yaokang, who had become the driver for the Tribe Leader. This was Yaokang’s proudest achievement.
In the Primitive Tribe, Yaokang’s ox cart was the steadiest. Many people often came to Yaokang to learn how to drive oxen. Driving ox carts had become a profession in the Primitive Tribe.
As the team advanced, Yaokang’s ox cart whip cracked loudly. Listening to the similar sounds from the front, he felt proud. Those were the people he had led, those who had followed him to learn how to drive oxen.
Lin Ye had some insight into the art of observing people. In his past life, he had read “Fan Jing,” which contained a passage like this.
The Primitive Tribe’s formation was no longer like before, with ox carts in the middle and people walking on the sides. Instead, the ox carts were at the rear, and the team marched forward in one or two formations.
If anyone in the world could see this now, they would be greatly astonished that such military discipline existed in this era.
It was the warm March, with a gentle breeze that made one feel sleepy.
At this time, the ground vegetation was excellent. The mountains had not been destroyed by the tribesmen, so trees were sprouting everywhere, and the scent of flowers was carried by the wind to people’s noses.
Lin Ye, however, had no mind to savor this beautiful scenery. He was thinking about who these people were.
He had thought that the expedition would be a simple matter, but he didn’t expect such a change, that people from another place had already arrived.
He didn’t know if they had only occupied the Caoqian Tribe or if this entire area had fallen.
The person who had returned to report earlier had not mentioned the enemy’s numbers. It was estimated that they had not yet gathered accurate information.
It seemed the Caoqian Tribe members had become captives. This was understandable, as they would surely lose if attacked at this time.
Lin Ye was considering when these people had appeared, or if they had been watching the war from the shadows two years ago.
As expected, after a while, another report came. It said that there were fifty people guarding the captives outside, and their weapons were all bronze.
As darkness fell, the Primitive Tribe people set up camp at the foot of a mountain about five miles from the Caoqian Tribe.
As soon as they stopped, the Nanqiangren (Female) dispatched a group to scout, and Lin Ye accompanied the Nanqiangren (Female) to inspect the Caoqian Tribe.
“Know yourself and your enemy, and you can fight a hundred battles with no danger of defeat.” While this is an exaggeration, not knowing yourself or your enemy will surely lead to defeat.
Lin Ye and the Nanqiangren (Female), along with about a dozen people, followed the messenger back to inspect the Caoqian Tribe. The news of the Primitive Tribe’s expedition was not known to anyone.
There were no satellites in this era. Even if the Primitive Tribe moved slowly, the enemy would not know they were coming until they arrived before their eyes.
The Caoqian Tribe was not a large tribe, only a small one. But that was in comparison to the current Primitive Tribe. Judging by the fifty guards, their numbers should be considerable.
When Lin Ye and the Nanqiangren (Female) arrived at the area where they were being monitored, it was already dark. The weather at this time was not like summer.
So visibility was not high.
As the local chief had said, in a field, about thirty to thirty-four people were working, and only a dozen or so were guarding them.
Lin Ye was puzzled.
In the darkness, Lin Ye could not see very clearly, but he could immediately tell that they did not belong to the local people. They had a row of bird feathers on their heads, and their hats were made of something unknown.
Especially in the dim light of the night, he stood on higher ground at a vital pass, holding a bronze sword, proudly patrolling and watching the laborers.
Those people were still working in the fields. Lin Ye knew that working in the fields at this time was the most uncomfortable.
Some might think that it was not hot or cold at this time, so how could it be the most uncomfortable? But at this time, there were the most mosquitoes and insects.
On their faces, feet, and hands, they were everywhere. Their hands were covered in mud, so they couldn’t scratch. If they scratched, mud would stick to their bodies, attracting more mosquitoes and insects, which would itch even more, making people feel like they were going crazy.
Lin Ye had personally experienced this feeling before. From then on, Lin Ye vowed to himself that he would never live such a life again.
The people who had been working in the distance began to be summoned to rise. Lin Ye, the Nanqiangren (Female), and Yaokang hid in the mountains.
