I am a Primitive Man
Chapter 891 – Two Hundred Forty-Six People!
Flames flickered inside the cave, and the aroma of food spread throughout the space.
The minors of the Grass Tribe, tasting food for the first time that had been salted and cooked in pottery, rubbed their slightly bloated bellies, each filled with novelty and anticipation.
After dinner, they did not go to bed early as before; instead, they gathered around the Grass Tribe leader, constantly asking about the Green Sparrow Tribe, their small faces full of longing and curiosity.
Everything the leader spoke about regarding the Green Sparrow Tribe fascinated them deeply.
Even those who initially looked strange but were kind, smiling at them and preparing delicious food, no longer inspired fear. On the contrary, each felt warmth, as if they had always belonged to the same tribe.
After some time, the full and satisfied minors finally felt fatigue and began to fall asleep one by one, carrying unprecedented contentment and peace.
Yet not everyone could sleep. The Grass Tribe leader, for instance, remained awake.
She approached Cao Gen, lying on the ground layered with straw and animal hides, and leaned close…
By the aesthetic standards of this era, the Grass Tribe leader was considered very attractive.
This was evident from her position as the tribe’s leader.
For a woman to become a tribal chief, wisdom alone was insufficient; she also needed a strong body.
In this era, strength symbolized power—and beauty.
Cao Gen did not hesitate, and soon the cave resonated with a captivating, primitive melody.
When the melody ended, Cao Gen quickly fell asleep.
However, the Grass Tribe leader remained alert, moving instead toward a male citizen of the Green Sparrow Tribe…
Night had deepened, and the cave was finally silent.
The Grass Tribe leader had gone to five male Green Sparrow Tribe citizens, an elderly male slave, and a new male slave, and they all slept deeply.
Since departing from their original tribe, none had slept this soundly.
The night watch consisted of a female Green Sparrow Tribe citizen and an elderly Green Sparrow slave paired with the Grass Tribe leader.
Yet both were also drowsy, frequently nodding off.
This weariness stemmed partly from nearly twenty consecutive days of travel and partly from having recently joined the leader in softly humming primitive tunes.
Though not as persistent as the Grass Tribe leader, they felt sleepy.
Despite appearing exhausted, the Grass Tribe leader had not slept. Lying there with her eyes slightly open, she observed the cave.
Initially, she had planned to secretly take some tribe members and leave quietly after these events.
She was intimately familiar with the surrounding area. With night as cover, she could lead them to hide, and those searching would not find them.
The Green Sparrow Tribe was far away; they would not travel specifically to retrieve these people.
She only needed to hide temporarily outside, wait for the Green Sparrow Tribe to depart, and then return to her cave to continue life without fear of the Black Stone Tribe’s oppression.
During her time in the Green Sparrow Tribe, she had learned many skills and had confidence in leading her tribe toward a better life.
Yet now, lying there, she realized her earlier plan might not be correct.
The children of the Grass Tribe, joyfully savoring fruit candies, flashed before her eyes.
This scene filled her with both happiness and heartache.
In the Green Sparrow Tribe, children regularly enjoyed fruit candies, eggs, or steamed egg custard made by mixing eggs with water and salt in a pottery vessel.
They often drank deer or goat milk, sometimes requiring adult coaxing to finish it.
Beyond food, their clothing was enviable.
Green Sparrow Tribe children had shoes and comfortable garments, unlike fur, which did not cause itching or sunburn, and spent half their days in spacious houses learning various subjects.
The Grass Tribe leader did not fully understand what they were taught, but knew it was important, as these children appeared much more innovative and more agile than her own tribe’s children.
Though she had learned some things in the Green Sparrow Tribe, there were more she had not learned, and some skills were useless outside the tribe—like fieldwork: plowing and hoeing.
Even though such labor could yield food, she realized that without sharp, practical tools and delicious seeds, it was futile.
Similarly, she could not use plows or carts pulled by deer or donkeys, nor produce candy, salt, pottery, or comfortable clothing, nor provide the same education in spacious houses.
Thus, even if she led her tribe back home, the life they could attain would still be far below that of the Green Sparrow Tribe.
The children of her tribe would continue to work hard for little gain and risk the harsh cold yet again.
Lying there, squinting, she watched the cave’s activity and pondered deeply.
After a while, she rose quietly, moving strangely toward the blocked cave entrance.
She carefully removed the obstruction and stepped outside.
The Green Sparrow female citizen on watch glanced briefly at the entrance, tightened her grip on her weapon, and returned to drowsiness.
The Grass Tribe leader remained unnoticed.
Outside, she crouched, looking up at the stars as the sound of flowing water accompanied her vigil.
When the water’s sound faded, she stood and scanned the surroundings.
The night enveloped the land in vast emptiness, like a giant beast ready to swallow anyone whole.
She smiled.
After a moment, she returned to the cave, quietly sealing the entrance and lying down. Soon, she fell into a deep and peaceful sleep—the deepest since being captured by the Green Sparrow Tribe.
The night watch glanced at her briefly before returning to their nap.
Unconsciously, dawn arrived. The aroma of food spread through the Grass Tribe’s cave, filling it with laughter and joy.
After breakfast, with the sun rising in the east and morning dew still fresh, a group emerged from the cave, heading into the distance.
The minors ran, curious and excited, their laughter ringing out.
After some walking, Cao Gen bent to lift a tired child onto a deer’s back.
The child, initially fearful, soon overcame it, replaced by joy and excitement.
Other minors watched enviously and soon took turns riding deer or donkeys, delighted beyond measure.
The Grass Tribe leader’s smile never faded.
After climbing a small, sparsely treed hill, they rested briefly. The leader glanced back toward their old cave, now invisible, merged with the hill.
“Move out!” Cao Gen shouted, and the group continued, the leader leading them without looking back.
Upon returning to the Black Stone Tribe area, they waited two days for all outgoing groups to return.
The Grass Tribe had the largest contingent—twenty-nine, including adults and children.
Other tribes had between ten and twenty people.
Last winter’s harsh cold had caused heavy losses, especially among minors and the weak.
The eldest senior brother’s group did not retrieve anyone, as the cave they had passed was empty, containing only decayed carcass remains.
Once gathered, they rested half a day and night at the Black Stone Tribe before splitting into seven groups to reach the remaining seven tribes.
Those already rescued remained at the Black Stone Tribe, awaiting Eldest Senior Brother’s return.
Since they had already been informed that they were now Green Sparrow Tribe members destined for a better life, the seven tribes coexisted peacefully.
Even former Black Stone Tribe members, like Songzhen, were now friendly and no longer bullied others.
After six more days, all seven groups returned to the Black Stone Tribe.
No one resisted; all were eager to leave their former homes and join the Green Sparrow Tribe.
The Black Stone Tribe was lively, even more so than when its original leaders were present.
This time, Eldest Senior Brother’s group, along with members from thirteen other tribes, had gathered 246 people.
Had some tribes not suffered deadly attacks by beasts or past winter losses, even more could have been brought.
Including forty-five Green Sparrow Tribe citizens and thirty-four new and old slaves, the total number reached 335 people.
After resting for one night, Eldest Senior Brother led the group toward the Green Sparrow Tribe.
This urgency stemmed partly from a desire to return quickly and partly from the sheer number of people.
It wasn’t that the 246—mostly elderly and children—posed trouble. Even without the slaves’ help, the Green Sparrow Tribe citizens could easily maintain order.
The real issue was food.
Such a large group consumed a frightening amount daily.
Though they had brought ample supplies, replenished at Copper Mountain, and supplemented along the way, by the time they reached the Black Stone Tribe, nearly half the food had been consumed.
During their thirteen-and-a-half-day stay, further supplies were eaten, leaving roughly half remaining.
Yet the number of mouths had increased.
Without hurrying, food would be depleted before reaching the tribe.
Even hurrying, supplies were insufficient.
Thus, Eldest Senior Brother reduced daily rations while explaining to the new slaves how to reassure the returning members: the scarcity was temporary due to long travel, not a lack of wealth or food.
This calmed most of the worried.
A few, like Songzhen, remained anxious, but Eldest Senior Brother paid little attention.
Those who caused trouble would face the Green Sparrow Tribe’s strength.
In addition to rationing, the Eldest Senior Brother’s group gathered food along the way—hunting animals, collecting edible plants and fruits, and fishing in local waters.
Despite familiarity with the route, progress was slower than before due to the large number of minors with limited stamina.
Some were carried on donkeys, deer, or even by adults.
Rain caused further delay, illness, and three deaths, yet morale remained high.
The high survival rate—nineteen sick but only three dead—was astounding, almost miraculous to those unfamiliar with herbal remedies.
After seventeen days, Eldest Senior Brother’s somewhat disheveled group reached Eight-Character Ridge north of the Copper Mountain residential area.
Descending the slope, they saw vast farmland, with the distinctive Copper Mountain to the southwest and the nearby Copper Mountain residential area.
The sight of ripe crops and the residential area made everyone sigh with relief and joy.
Some Green Sparrow Tribe members working in the fields noticed the large group, initially mistaking them for an attacking Black Stone coalition.
Seeing the raised Green Sparrow flag, excitement surged.
“Chief! The chief has returned!”
With this call, Copper Mountain came to life.
Those who had traveled long distances were awestruck by the size of the group, the massive cave, and the strange captive animals within.
They realized this was the Green Sparrow Tribe—and that such a mighty tribe truly existed.
That night, after enjoying a lavish meal, they gained a concrete understanding of the tribe’s wealth.
Three days later, following the Bronze Highway, they reached the main Green Sparrow Tribe and discovered the branch they had first seen was just one of many.
The main Green Sparrow Tribe was even larger and more magnificent…