Chapter 754: “Female Shaman, What on Earth Just Happened?!” (Double Chapter): The chief of the Bear Tribe was in low spirits—and for good reason. Under ordinary circumstances, returning with these few captives to his tribe would have been a blessing. After all, by adding several new people to the tribe in this way, they could quickly increase their numbers—far faster than waiting for children to be born and raised. But now it was winter. With deep snows blanketing the mountains and forests, it was the worst season for foraging for food. Moreover, the snowfall had only begun recently, and it would be a long time before it melted. Bringing these people back now meant his tribe would have to subsist on “free” food for an extended period. The food they received might be devoured completely, which could leave them short in the long run. Under such conditions, it was no wonder the Bear Tribe chief felt gloomy. Furthermore, among the captives allocated to his tribe were two adult males—individuals who, being as unruly as they were, would be even harder to control than their female counterparts. To mix them into the tribe meant confining them together in a cave. While here in the Green Sparrow Tribe, with so many people and the overwhelming power of the Green Sparrow force, the captives dared not cause trouble. But once they were returned to his tribe, the situation could not be predicted. After all, these very captives had been seized during an attack that not only shattered an evil tribe but also saw their people killed, their food looted, and their strange dwellings burned to the ground. This was an act of blooded enmity. To bring all these people back to his cave and live together with his folk—if any of them were to pick up a stone at night or at any other time—it was a risk that weighed heavily on his mind. Yet discarding them altogether was unthinkable, because if these captives could eventually integrate into his tribe, it would indeed be a valuable asset. Amid his inner conflict, the Divine Child—who had just finished dividing the spoils equally among all the tribes—suddenly spoke up. Like all the other tribal leaders, the Bear Tribe chief paid close attention, even though he couldn’t understand the Divine Child’s words. Fortunately, after the Divine Child had uttered a few sentences, Mao—the man who often conducted trades for them—stepped in and began interpreting his words. After a short while, the Bear Tribe chief’s eyes suddenly lit up. As he looked at the Divine Child and listened to Mao’s translation, his face broke into an expression of delighted surprise. Yes! If he didn’t want to take these captives into his tribe, they could still be used to barter with the Green Sparrow Tribe! Now that these captives had been allocated to his tribe, things were entirely different from before. Like a bright ray of sunlight, the gloom that had weighed on the Bear Tribe chief’s heart instantly vanished. It wasn’t only the Bear Tribe chief who had these concerns. The leaders of many other tribes shared similar worries. Thus, once Mao conveyed Han Cheng’s intentions, the surprised expressions quickly turned into excitement among many. Even the shaman, who not long ago had received preliminary news from the Divine Child, couldn’t help but have his eyes brighten at the announcement. In particular, when he saw the delighted reactions among his fellow tribesmen, the shaman’s eyes shone even more brilliantly than the moment yesterday when Yuan had tugged his hand inside her clothes for warmth! Among all, the most pronounced reaction came from the chief of the River Tribe. After the River chief performed his trademark forehead-patting gesture (the origins of which he never quite revealed), he first showed surprise upon understanding Han Cheng’s message. Then, overcome with exasperation, he began patting his forehead repeatedly—“smack, smack, smack”—with such force that it made Han Cheng wince sympathetically from the sidelines. The River Tribe chief was indeed upset—ever since the Green Sparrow people had been moving stones around his territory, he had repeatedly suggested exchanging goods for his tribe’s people. At that time, the two tribal leaders with whom his tribe often traded had rejected him. But since then, during subsequent trade discussions, an additional bargaining chip had emerged: using captive people for exchange. As an early advocate of this method, he had been so intent on exchanging his people that he had neglected the fact that the captives in his possession could also be used for trade. This oversight would cost him dearly. Seeing this, Han Cheng smiled and ordered his senior eldest brother to bring forward items such as salt, various styles of pottery, hats, gloves, and clothes made of well-prepared tanned hides, all in the distinctive Green Sparrow style. He also had hulled grains, dried fish, cured meats, even canned fruits and wine brought out. His message was clear: except weapons—which were not to be exchanged—everything else could be traded for the captives in hand. If there weren’t enough captives to go around, even the donkeys that had just been divided out, as well as the dull-colored fruits, would serve as acceptable barter. The Bear Tribe chief and the other tribal leaders widened their eyes at the dazzling array of items laid out before them. At that moment, the Half-Farming Tribe captives—who had been separated and were about to be taken away—forgot their fear as they watched the glittering goods. Their eyes grew even wider. This tribe was truly wealthy! What they had seen yesterday and today was astonishing enough—but who could have imagined that this tribe possessed such an abundance of wonders that it defied belief? At this moment, two traders, Shang and Mao—who frequently accompanied trading caravans to deal with these tribes—stepped forward enthusiastically to welcome the overexcited coalition forces from the various tribes. Flush from a recent windfall, these allied tribesmen, shedding their usual stinginess, became extraordinarily generous. Even the items they had once hesitated to trade, once they received enough salt, now suddenly appeared irresistible. “That hat is excellent,” one remarked; “not only will it keep my head warm, but it even covers most of my ears and face—so comfortable.” “And these high-waisted socks look great, and would keep my feet so toasty,” another added. “I must also snag some of that white ‘snow flower cream’—with it, I won’t have to worry about my face cracking from the biting wind.” Canned food, too, was deemed essential. Previously, they had only traded for salt or pottery when bargaining, but now that their tribe had plenty, they were willing to exchange for a little extra here and there. One could only imagine the joy of the tribe’s minors upon seeing canned goods for the first time. And as for the wine… that too was a prized commodity; not only did it warm the body, but after a few cups, one became delightfully tipsy—a must-have for the trade. Under the dazzling stimulus of the Green Sparrow Tribe’s myriad goods, these tribes began an enthusiastic buying frenzy. The Half-Farming captives—who were to be taken away—watched on, their fear momentarily replaced by amazement. Their wide eyes dwarfed even those they had seen earlier when all the precious items were collectively displayed. At that moment, Two-Worms’ mother—gazing at her child with the two persistent “worms” nearly reaching his mouth—slowly turned her head to scan the assembled tribespeople. She found that their wide eyes were no smaller than her own. “Female Shaman, what just happened?” she thought in disbelief. These outsiders—demons who had shattered her tribe, burned their dwellings, and dragged her people here—now dared to offer so many precious items in exchange for preventing them from being separated! The exquisite, delicate pottery that no one dared to touch; the salt as white as snow that could make food taste divine; and so many other treasures—all given to these external tribes merely to ensure that the captives would not be divided. No matter how one looked at it, it all seemed too unreal! Yet here it was—something as unbelievable as it was real, unfolding right before everyone’s eyes! Not only were the Half-Farming captives taken in, but even Yuan—the former Female Shaman of that tribe, now always seen trying to warm the shaman’s hand—stood there in stunned silence. If she were to be asked to exchange places, she knew she could never have done anything herself. This tribe was indeed extraordinarily wealthy and utterly peculiar! Yuan, the shaman’s constant “hand-warmer,” could only exclaim in genuine astonishment. Yet after her initial shock faded, a feeling of happiness began to well up within her. After all, no matter what had happened, those people had once been her kin. Even if her tribe were now in ruins and she no longer served as their Female Shaman, it warmed her heart to see them living together, unseparated. “Go back! Go back—all of you return! Stop standing outside; the rooms are warm…” Under Han Cheng’s direction, the ever-creative Mao began conveying this message to the Half-Farming captives. As the Green Sparrow tribespeople urged and guided them, the captives gradually began moving toward the slave courtyard and into the houses that had become vacant after the Green Sparrow coalition had departed. Along the way, the Half-Farming captives would occasionally glance back toward the imposing “demon” chief, whose smiling face now exuded a kindly aura. In that moment, the fear that had once gripped them was replaced by a sense of safety and gratitude. Witnessing this scene, Han Cheng felt a deep satisfaction at the success of his plan. Over the years he had spent in these primitive times, interacting daily with these people, he had come to understand both the commonalities of human nature and the distinct characteristics of these tribal folk. That is why, when it came time to allocate the captives, he deliberately separated mothers from their sons and daughters from their mothers. By doing so, their anxiety and fear would intensify. And when that tension eventually peaked, he planned to have his senior eldest brother retrieve the tribe’s salt, pottery, and other treasures from the Green Sparrow coalition in exchange for the captives. With that emotional buildup, when these people later witnessed such a retrieval, their positive feelings would soar—as if a drowning person took in a lungful of fresh air and realized its priceless value. After having recently endured the painful separation from their people, the captives would come to cherish togetherness even more. For the Green Sparrow Tribe, the idea of exchanging a bounty of precious items to win back the captives was a masterstroke. It not only alleviated the shaman’s concerns but also resolved the coalition’s worries, leaving them all cheerfully confident in and loyal to the Green Sparrow Tribe. At the same time, this move satisfied Green Sparrow’s desire to keep the captives as slaves, while also earning a vast wave of goodwill among the Half-Farming captives—binding them more tightly to Green Sparrow, and making them easier to manage. “How ingenious—I am truly a genius for coming up with such an idea!” Han Cheng, or rather the revered Divine Child, lavished unreserved praise on himself as he watched the Half-Farming captives, now glancing back repeatedly, unaware of any embarrassment, with eyes as wide as saucers. Inside the room, the Half-Farming captives sat and silently reflected on the recent events, each of them feeling a mix of bewilderment and conflicting emotions. Many, recalling how they had been treated when their tribe captured members of the Sheep Tribe in the past, felt their emotions intensify. Somehow, living here in this tribe—despite everything—seemed not too bad. With their chief dead, the Female Shaman long gone, and their tribe having lost not only its power and wisdom but also nearly all of its food and livestock, there appeared to be no other path forward… Naturally, the Half-Farming captives could not simply be allowed to huddle together without being divided—it was necessary to settle the division. Yet compared with the previous division, this round was less severe. Not only would they continue to live together in one tribe, but during the reallocation of living quarters, mothers and their children were not separated. They were merely scattered among various groups, cohabitating with the original slaves of the Green Sparrow Tribe. Newest update provided by novel fire.net Through days of contact—last night, and yesterday—the Half-Farming captives came to realize that the Green Sparrow people were very congenial and unlikely to bully them. Overseeing the post-war arrangements, Han Cheng—the great Divine Child—watched as events steadily moved in a positive direction, and his mood soared. That evening, after sneaking in a nap while little Pea slept and cradling the soft, gentle Bai Xue, Han Cheng’s spirits rose even higher. The spoils had been thoroughly distributed and the captives given preliminary shelter; now, another important matter was about to begin…