I am a Primitive Man
Chapter 889 – The Leader is Dead
The tribe, reduced to a ruin of Shu Pi, welcomed new visitors once again today.
Eldest Senior Brother and the others planned to rest here for the night.
This place marked the southernmost extent of the Black Stone Tribe’s allied territories.
Looking at the slightly blackened cave and the rough, crude low wall surrounding it, the Green Sparrow Tribe members could not help but smile.
Their smiles carried pride for their own tribe and a subtle mockery of the Shu Pi tribe’s former inhabitant.
What the Divine Child had provided them could never be easily imitated by others.
And the Green Sparrow Tribe itself was not something anyone could copy.
Any forced imitation could only produce something like the Shu Pi’s wall—a construction worse than their tribe’s pigsty.
Night fell, and within the cave where Shu Pi once lived, a fire burned.
After traveling all day, everyone quickly fell asleep after dinner and soaking their feet in hot water, except for two people assigned to keep watch.
They did not keep watch together; one stayed at the stone-blocked entrance, the other sat in the middle of the cave tending the fire, occasionally adding wood to keep it alive.
In fact, besides these two, there was one more person who had not slept—the leader of the Grass Tribe.
Worried and overthinking people often suffer from insomnia, and the Grass Tribe leader was no exception.
Though her eyes were closed, her mind raced as she replayed thoughts she had considered many times before.
Her sleeplessness was not only because the task she contemplated was immensely significant, with potentially grave consequences if it failed.
Another reason was that she had returned to a familiar place; soon she would be back in her original tribe.
Yet another reason was that she still had no idea how to fully leave the Green Sparrow Tribe.
Initially, she thought that by traveling north with the Green Sparrow Tribe, she could find a way to break free once back in her home territory.
But traveling with the group, she realized her prior ideas were wildly unrealistic.
Along the journey, under the Eldest Senior Brother’s command, the Green Sparrow Tribe members maintained strict vigilance.
They had left no opportunity for her to escape.
For example, living in a cave with its entrance blocked by stones should have been perfectly safe.
No wild animal could enter, even if one tried. Yet this leader still assigned two people to keep watch all night.
Just thinking about it frustrated the Grass Tribe leader.
Ever since meeting the Green Sparrow Tribe, she felt as though she was constantly being pressed down.
In battle, she could not compete. Her intelligence, once a source of pride, was meaningless before the tribe’s Divine Child.
And beyond the Divine Child, there were many others with great wisdom.
The seemingly old shaman, the round and attractive Yuan, and Shi Tou were all far wiser than her.
But in this northbound expedition, none of these people were present, and suddenly she felt her intelligence had a place to shine.
Yet, when back in her own tribe, a leader who didn’t appear especially clever easily suppressed her.
This realization often made her question life itself.
She could not understand how the Green Sparrow Tribe had amassed so many wise individuals.
Eventually, after thinking endlessly without a solution, the Grass Tribe leader finally slept.
The next morning, after breakfast, the sizable group set off directly toward the Black Stone Tribe.
They did not visit each tribe individually for a reason.
Firstly, in this era, tribes were not connected by existing roads.
Due to terrain and lifestyle, a tribe’s daily range was small, usually limited to a one-day round-trip from its center.
Thus, tribes often did not know how to reach other tribes beyond their immediate vicinity.
For instance, the Black Stone allies mostly knew only routes from their tribe to neighboring tribes, and no further.
Secondly, the Black Stone Tribe possessed meteorite iron—a material Eldest Senior Brother and the others had learned was extremely useful.
Naturally, they wanted to acquire it as soon as possible.
So, leaving the Shu Pi tribe, they headed straight for the Black Stone Tribe.
The sun beat down on the Black Stone Tribe’s cave. Under the trees, some members lounged lazily, enjoying the breeze.
Song Zhen, who had remained behind after the leader and others left, sat up and yawned, habitually glancing south.
As usual, nothing appeared there.
Had it not been for previous encounters with the fierce leader wielding black stone weapons and the tribe’s warriors, Song Zhen might have worried for them.
Song Zhen, one of the strongest remaining members, had become the temporary leader in the chief’s absence.
A rumble in his stomach brought him back to reality.
He looked down, touched his belly, and called out:
“#￥R%…”
Moments later, he pointed to a nearby river.
Several not-so-strong adults lazily got up, brought a few minors, and went fishing.
After some time, they returned, carrying fish strung on branches.
Song Zhen muttered in frustration. These fish traps, once reliable, now yield fewer catches each day.
The fish were insufficient for all, but Song Zhen did not order hunting.
Though bows and arrows existed, people had grown lazy, relying on food from conquered tribes and fish traps over the years.
The fish guts were fed to minors taken from the Blue Flower Tribe, while the rest were roasted for the core Black Stone members.
After eating one and a half fish, Song Zhen lazily lay down under a tree, imagining the leader returning victorious with abundant supplies.
This was the mindset of most remaining Black Stone members—survive using fish traps, then feast once the leaders returned.
Eventually, Song Zhen dozed off, dreaming of the leaders returning with plentiful food.
He woke laughing, only to see disappointment—still no sign of them.
Lying back, he thought sleep was better; dreams brought delights, especially endless, delicious food.
But this time, he did not dream.
Before he could fully sleep, the commotion from others awakened him:
“#￥WY!”
Song Zhen shot upright. South of the cave, he saw many people approaching—the leaders had returned with abundant food!
He bolted forward, but after a few steps, stopped, uncertain.
These newcomers looked strange—not like his own tribe.
Quickly, he grabbed black stone weapons and shouted to the others to arm themselves.
Armed, Song Zhen felt brave.
No tribe could challenge them with black stone weapons in hand, and they did not consider fleeing.
Seeing the animals—deer, larger creatures, and wolves—accompanying the strangers, Song Zhen realized they were bringing food.
Though he could not remember attacking such a tribe before, experience told him these people were delivering supplies.
Song Zhen shouted joyfully, and the rest of the tribe followed.
They had gone hungry for too long—they would eat their fill this time.
Soon, Song Zhen noticed something strange: he could understand the strange people, and they even called out his name.
One ran forward, shouting. Song Zhen realized it was Song Guo.
His appearance had changed—shorter hair, paler face—but he was unmistakable.
Song Guo had accompanied the leaders to attack the wealthy Green Sparrow Tribe. Now his return meant they had conquered the prosperous Green Sparrow Tribe.
Song Zhen excitedly asked if they had found it.
The others gathered, eager for news.
Song Guo replied that the Green Sparrow Tribe was even richer and better than the Shu Pi had described, full of treasures that made leaving difficult.
Hearing this, the remaining Black Stone members rejoiced—they would finally eat well after surviving hunger while waiting for the leaders.
(For clarity, the following dialogue has been translated and edited by the author.)
After a moment, Song Zhen realized only Song Guo had returned—no leaders yet.
He looked toward the group of strange-looking individuals with Song Guo’s attire and appearance, assuming the leaders were among them.
“Where are the leaders?” he asked excitedly.
“The leader is dead,” Song Guo replied.
Song Zhen echoed, surprise and excitement undiminished.
However, as the meaning sank in, his expression froze.
“What did you say?”
He grabbed Song Guo and asked again.
“Leader is dead,” Song Guo replied calmly, still excited.
Song Zhen’s mind spun—leader dead? Shouldn’t this be sad? Why the excitement?
Another stunned Black Stone member asked:
“How did the leader die?”
“Shu Pi killed the leader with black stone weapons. Head was cut off,” Song Guo replied, still excited.
“Wh—”
Song Zhen and the remaining members gasped in shock.
The Shu Pi they had once bullied had killed the leader and decapitated him?
Then Song Guo added:
“The Green Sparrow Tribe killed Shu Pi.”
“Green Sparrow Tribe?”
“Yes! These are the Green Sparrow Tribe!”
Pointing at the surrounding Green Sparrow Tribe members who had encircled them, Song Guo proclaimed, excitement radiating.
Song Zhen, still stunned and initially thinking these newcomers were Black Stone Tribe members, mechanically turned to see the strangers with strange weapons surrounding them—a sensation like thousands of stampeding animals.
“Are you still Black Stone Tribe people?!” Song Zhen finally shouted at Song Guo.
Song Guo remained unfazed, pride and joy on his face.
“No! I am Green Sparrow Tribe!”
He proudly proclaimed to his former tribe members.
“The leaders were evil! They deserved death! The Green Sparrow Tribe is kind, wealthy, and strong. Join Green Sparrow Tribe, eat delicious food every day, and gorge yourself!”
Song Guo loudly advertised the Green Sparrow Tribe’s virtues, inviting them to join.
Join Green Sparrow Tribe? Impossible!
Black Stone Tribe members could not imagine joining another tribe.
Song Zhen, furious, wanted to thrust his black stone weapon into Song Guo.
The traitor!
“Look! There’s another black rock here!”
Meanwhile, the Black Stone Tribe, once quiet due to the leaders’ absence, became lively again with the arrival of Eldest Senior Brother and others.
Not far from the cave, Song Zhen unearthed a small, muddy meteorite, holding it up and shouting excitedly for Eldest Senior Brother.
The eldest senior brother approached, scrutinized it, confirmed it was an iron meteorite, and rewarded Song Zhen with a lollipop.
Overjoyed, Song Zhen immediately ate it, savoring the sweetness.
After enjoying a moment, he returned to digging, hoping to find more black stones.