Kays Translations

Chapter 105: Secret Preparations

It was well known that originally there were five tribes scattered across the lizardmen settlement: the Sinking Sank, Bloodfang, Black wind, Claw, and Witchwood tribes.

After the Sinking Sand tribe had been forced into large-scale migration, only four tribes remained living there.

Through Xilong’s scouting, it was discovered that ever since the Blackwind tribe conquered all the others, their chieftain, Zar, had enforced a strict caste system upon all lizardmen.

The Black wind lizardmen were deemed the upper class, while the other three tribes were relegated to the status of lower class.

Not only that, but the defeated tribes were forced to hand over all their weapons, and private weapon-making was strictly forbidden.

If anyone was caught, they would be executed publicly as a warning to the discontented.

This way, the defeated tribes were stripped of any real fighting capability and reduced to nothing more than sheep waiting for the Black wind tribe to slaughter.

Even more importantly, the Black wind tribe monopolized the lizardmen’s main source of food—fish.

As mentioned before, for generations the lizardmen tribes had survived by catching fish from the Wen River. Whenever their numbers grew too large, wars would break out between tribes to cull the population and survive food shortages.

Now, however, every fish caught by the defeated tribes from the Wen River had to be handed over to the Black wind tribe, who then distributed it as they pleased.

Naturally, the Black wind tribe prioritized their own needs first, leaving the other three tribes with only meager scraps.

As long as the lower-class lizardmen were kept hungry—but not to the point of starvation—it was enough.

Even if they wanted to resist, how could starving lizardmen have the strength to fight well-fed Black wind warriors?

On top of that, the Black wind tribe stationed three garrisons within the villages of the defeated tribes.

These soldiers acted as overlords, outranking even the tribal chiefs, running rampant, and even violating young female lizardmen at will.

As for the defeated tribes, without weapons, all they could do was swallow their anger in silence.

To stand up and resist would only bring down harsher reprisals.

Learning about the tragic state of the Bloodfang, Claw, and Witch wood tribes, Xilong felt both sympathy and saw a chance to take advantage.

Thus, with Lusha’s approval, he began making secret contact with the defeated tribes on behalf of the Sinking Sand.

Deep in the heart of the Mysterious Forest, Xilong and five companions arrived at the eastern bank of the Wen River ahead of Lusha’s main force. Each of them carried a large bundle of spears on their backs.

At the agreed-upon hiding place, they met with four lizardmen representatives from the Bloodfang tribe.

In appearance, Bloodfang lizardmen were similar to those of the Sinking Sand, except their scales carried a darker red hue, and their teeth were sharper and more numerous.

Signaling two of his companions to set down the weapon bundles, Xilong turned to the Bloodfang representative, Chi’en.

“This is the last batch of weapons we can give you.”

Glancing at the spears, Chi’en remarked with suspicion:

“These are finely made. They don’t look like weapons our kind could forge.”

To restore some fighting power to the defeated tribes, Xilong had already provided them with three batches of weapons.

The first two were sinking sand’s own spears, but this time he had brought human-forged pikes once used by their militia.

“You’re right. These were crafted by humans.” 

Xilong admitted without hesitation.

There was no need to hide it. From the moment Chi’en had seen the clothes on Xilong’s body, he had probably guessed as much but chosen not to say it aloud.

“As I thought. The once-proud Sinking Sand tribe has truly fallen, begging for help from humans.”

Chi’en’s disdain wasn’t unfounded. The lizardmen of the Mysterious Forest had always believed humans to be cunning and untrustworthy.

For sinking sand to possess human weapons, surely it meant they had humbled themselves, pleading for aid and agreeing to exploitative demands.

“Say what you will about us.” 

Xilong’s face darkened, his voice laced with mockery.

“But isn’t your Bloodfang tribe the same? Half of your winter food stores were seized by the Black wind. If not for the human provisions we smuggled to you, how many of your people would’ve starved last winter?”

“You… hmph!”

Chi’en gave a cold snort, at a loss for words.

Indeed, just as Xilong had said, without the secret help of the Sinking Sand Tribe, many of the Bloodfang Tribe might have starved to death during the winter.

The fact that the sinking sand tribe had been defeated and forced to migrate was something the other three tribes all knew about.

No one expected that with winter only just past, they were already preparing to return here to take revenge on the Black wind Tribe. To the defeated tribes, this seemed unbelievable and puzzling.

Where did they get such courage? They had already lost once before. Could it really be possible for the Sinking Sand Tribe to recover from decline in just a single winter? Impossible!

Then they recalled the food and weapons provided by the Sinking Sand Tribe—all of it originating from humans.

Within the defeated tribes, a suspicion arose: perhaps humans intended to use the Chen Sha Tribe as a proxy to control the entire lizardman settlement, enslaving all lizardmen to work for them.

Whether enslaved by the Blackwind Tribe or by humans, it was something they did not wish to see.

“To be the running dogs of humans would plunge all lizardmen into endless hell.” 

Chi’en said coldly.

“How much do you actually know about humans? You’ve never even had contact with them, yet you draw such conclusions solely from the words our ancestors left behind.”

In truth, lizardmen had lived in seclusion deep within the Mysterious Forest for a long time.

Now, none of the elders of the tribes had ever had contact with humans, relying only on the information handed down by their ancestors.

“The words of the ancestors were meant to protect us from harm. How could we not heed them?” 

Chi’en replied with self-righteous certainty.

“At first, we didn’t trust humans either.”

Since that was the case, Xilong had no choice but to share his own view: 

“But as time went by, we discovered there were also good people among humans, and we built a basic trust with them. Perhaps the ancestors’ warnings were meant to protect us, but we cannot follow them blindly. Rest assured, the humans we’ve allied with have no intention of enslaving lizardmen.”

“Really? You’d better not be deceived by them.”

Unwilling to continue debating, Chi’en switched topics.

“Sinking Sand Tribe, then—are you planning to use the strength of human knights to destroy the Black wind Tribe?”

“No…” 

Xilong shook his head. 

“We only received weapons from the humans.”

Then he added.

“After an entire winter of preparation, we are confident we can defeat the Black wind Tribe by our own strength.”

“Pfft! Hahaha—!”

Hearing this, Chi’en burst out laughing. 

“With just you lot? You were beaten by the Black wind Tribe and forced to migrate just to survive. You probably don’t even have many tribesmen left. How much fighting power could you possibly muster?”

“That’s none of your concern.”

Xilong had no interest in explaining the power of firearms. Once they defeated the Black wind Tribe, the others would naturally understand the source of the Tribe’s confidence.

“Our forces are already on the move, heading this way. In about three days, we’ll launch an attack on the Black wind Tribe’s village. When the time comes, you only need to cooperate with our action. Do not go back on your word.”

“We will honor what we’ve promised.”

Chi’en gave a glance to the tribesmen beside him.

The two accompanying tribesmen nodded, walked over, and hoisted up two bundles of spears onto their backs.

“We’ve had enough of the Black wind Tribe’s oppression. We would have resisted sooner or later. Hopefully, this time our efforts will succeed.”

With that, Chi’en turned and left with his tribesmen.

Having delivered the weapons, Xilong did not linger either. He and his companions set off toward their next meeting point.

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