TPWBI Chapter 15

Hei Lie. Yang Yi was not unfamiliar with this name. In the Spark Tribe, he often heard people mention this man.

In the hearts of the people in Spark Tribe, this man held immense prestige.

He was a brave and battle-hardened warrior, as well as a respected leader. Many had once been under his protection.

The fact that this group of elderly, weak, sick, and disabled could travel such a long distance to arrive here had a great deal to do with this man.

Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been warriors who dared to defy the chieftain’s orders just to escort them.

If not for that, hardly any of them would have survived the journey here with barely any clothing, little food, and no weapons.

The reason the hunting team now worked together so seamlessly, especially those ordinary people who joined later and managed to adapt so quickly, was also a result of the training they had received from this man back then.

Otherwise, relying on weapons alone, without tactics, it would’ve been nearly impossible to catch so much prey in such a short time.

From the conversations of the others, Yang Yi had formed a vague idea of what this man was like.

His thinking surpassed the common jungle law that dominated this world. He believed in and could bring out the potential of the weak. This was an exceptionally rare and admirable quality and ability.

Yang Yi’s ability to allow everyone to contribute as best they could was, in fact, built upon the foundation laid by this predecessor. Whether it was the belief that “everyone is born with their own value”, or the tools and knowledge that surpassed this world’s civilization.

Yang Yi held deep respect for such a powerful figure, but at the same time, he also had his own worries and concerns.

Two tigers cannot share one mountain.

He was now the leader of the Spark Tribe. So what kind of impact would that man’s arrival have on him?

What was his purpose in coming?

Was it to take this group of people back to the Blackstone Tribe, or did he have other plans?

No matter which it was, it would be a challenge for Yang Yi either way.

Yang Yi had no certainty in his heart, but now that things had reached this critical point. He could only face it head-on.

“Divine Envoy, it really is Hei Lie! It’s really him!”

Mao darted to Yang Yi’s side, hopping up and down with an excited look on his face.

Yang Yi rubbed Mao’s round, freshly shaven head. “That happy?”

“Of course! Hei Lie is the greatest warrior in the world!”

Mao’s eyes were filled with adoration. It was a longing for strength, a kind of reverence for the powerful that was different from the respect he held for Yang Yi.

Jiao could hardly hide her excitement either, her eyes shining with anticipation. “With him, our tribe will become even stronger.”

Thanks to Yang Yi’s arrival, life in the tribe had been going quite well lately. But everyone knew deep down that they were still too weak, still living in danger.

Jiao had always felt distressed about using precious fine salt every day. She longed to trade it for more coarse salt, but didn’t even dare to entertain the thought.

Because although they had excellent weapons, their strength was lacking, and their numbers were too few. Holding onto such valuable items would only make them a tempting target in the eyes of others.

There was a high chance they wouldn’t get what they wanted. Instead, they might lose their fine salt, or even their lives.

“What if he’s come to take you all back to your former tribe?” Yang Yi asked.

Jiao froze.

“I’m not going back to the Blackstone Tribe! We’re the Spark Tribe!” Mao’s young voice was filled with firmness.

Jiao immediately came to her senses. “Yes, yes, we’re the Spark Tribe. We will never leave our tribe.”

This was their home now. Even Hei Lie couldn’t make them leave this place.

There was a time when they dreamed of returning to the Blackstone Tribe. But after everything they had been through, they had long since lost hope in a place that couldn’t accept them.

Now, with everything starting anew, this was truly their tribe, their home.

When Yang Yi heard these words, he felt a deep sense of relief.

This was his tribe, too. No one wants the people of their tribe to turn their backs and leave.

Meanwhile, under Hei Lie’s lead, the large group had traveled tirelessly and finally arrived at the Black Forest, where they found traces of the Abandoned.

Following the trail, the sharp-eyed warriors spotted a human settlement in the distance.

“What is that?! It’s actually transparent!” Xi Hou cried out in disbelief.

All the warriors who saw it were stunned. Was that really something built by humans? Could it be a divine miracle?

Hei Lie’s eyesight surpassed the others. He could see the strange building more clearly. All the materials used were like nothing they had ever seen before.

Nearby, there were also huts built with thatched grass, but even the construction methods differed from what they knew. It was more spacious, more capable of shielding against wind and rain.

“On guard!” Hei Lie narrowed his eyes slightly and raised his hand to give a loud order.

There was no way that group of people under Jing could’ve built something like this. Whether these people were friends or foes was still unknown!

To be capable of building something like that—such a miraculous structure—their strength was certainly not weak.

Everyone moved swiftly, forming a well-organized defensive formation.

Though the group numbered nearly a thousand, including the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled, their movements were unified and full of presence.

At that moment, they were no longer merely a collection of individuals but a formidable team, possessing a combat strength far greater than the sum of their parts.

“Hei Lie! It’s me!”

Someone was running toward them from afar, swift and light-footed.

“Why do I feel like that’s Feng?” Xi Hou rubbed his eyes. The figure looked more and more familiar the longer he stared.

Chi immediately denied it. “No way. Feng lost a leg. There’s no way he could run like that.”

Every time this came up, it brought them deep sorrow.

Feng had been very young and was close to breaking through to become a second-level warrior. Everyone had high hopes for him.

Unfortunately, during a hunt, he lost a leg.

Though he had survived through sheer will, he was now like a cripple, no longer able to go hunting.

Hei Lie widened his eyes and saw the person running toward them in the distance. His face filled with disbelief. “It’s Feng! It’s that guy!”

“How is that possible?” Everyone was shocked and rushed forward.

It really was Feng!

Wasn’t he missing a leg? How could he still run?

Wait a minute. His leg… what was that?

“Hei Lie, you finally came! I knew you would come!”

Feng ran excitedly up to Hei Lie and struck him with his fist just above the heart.

It was a way men greeted each other. Hei Lie returned the gesture in kind. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Feng, you have a new leg? Oh my god, what is that?” Xi Hou crouched down to examine it, even reaching out to touch it.

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Feng’s new leg, filled with disbelief.

Was that… metal? It looked like extremely solid, razor-sharp metal!

Feng grinned and proudly showed off his new metal leg. “This is my new leg. I’m no longer a damned cripple. I’m still a fearsome warrior!”

The group that had voluntarily separated from the Blackstone Tribe had always believed that those who had been exiled were now living in misery. Some had even mentally prepared themselves for the possibility that they were all dead.

Some people had even deliberately brought along some of their own rations, thinking that if they came across the exiles, they could share a bit with them.

Never in their wildest dreams did they expect that when they finally reunited, everything would be completely different from what they imagined!

Their faces were all lit with smiles, their bodies healthy, with no signs of starvation. Even someone like Feng, once disabled, had been given a new lease on life.

After leaving the Blackstone Tribe, they hadn’t lived in misery. In fact, they seemed to be doing even better than before.

This became even more apparent when they saw the settlement the group had built.

Everything looked so orderly and organized. The houses, unlike anything they had ever seen, appeared sturdy and weatherproof. The ground all around had been turned over and divided neatly into square plots.

Though they didn’t understand why things were done that way, it all felt deeply human, so much so that it couldn’t be underestimated.

The warriors took particular note of the tall buildings. Even though it was their first time seeing such structures, they quickly understood their purpose.

On a plain like this, having tall towers meant they could see far into the distance! They’d be able to detect approaching beasts or enemies in advance.

Most striking of all were the various tools in their hands. It was all made of extremely hard metal.

Such precious metal, and they were using it to dig soil?!

The warriors didn’t even know what to say. It felt as if they were dreaming.

This group, who were supposed to be living in hardship, were so well-off that it sparked envy.

Everyone looked stunned. They had prepared for the worst, but never imagined they would witness something like this.

And all of it… came from one person.

“That’s the Divine Envoy! He was sent by the gods to help us!” Feng said excitedly, leading Hei Lie and his group over to Yang Yi.

From afar, Hei Lie saw the man whom Feng and the others had praised so endlessly—the one they called the Divine Envoy. He stood out strikingly among the crowd, so eye-catching that one could spot him at a glance.

His clothing, his appearance, everything about him was distinctly different.

Unlike the lavish and extravagant attire of the Western Continent’s caravan leaders, this man’s clothes, though made from rare and intricate materials, were designed in a minimalist, practical style. Perfectly suited for survival in the wild.

His features were even more delicate than a woman’s. His build wasn’t strong or muscular, yet he exuded an air of mystery that kept anyone from underestimating him.

He didn’t belong to this world.

That was Hei Lie’s first impression of Yang Yi.

Yang Yi felt as though he were being watched by a fierce, predatory beast—a sharp, piercing gaze that was cold and intimidating, as if the man might pounce at any moment and tear open his throat.

The long-rumored man was indeed just as everyone described—strong, formidable, and incredibly keen. Every step he took forward felt like a war god descending.

Though he wasn’t as tall and broad as Yan Shi, the aura surrounding him crushed everyone present. His presence carried a powerful intimidation, an invisible pressure.

This man was not to be trifled with.

That was Yang Yi’s first impression of Hei Lie.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done,” Hei Lie spoke first.

His voice was low and calm, far less aggressive than the aura surrounding him.

Yang Yi suppressed the surge of emotions in his heart. “No need to thank me. I did it for myself, too.”

The two locked eyes, each trying to read something from the other’s gaze.

“Hei Lie, Hei Lie! Are you here to take us away this time, or are you staying here for good?”

Mao couldn’t hold back any longer and leaned in to ask, breaking the tense atmosphere.

Jiao also looked over. “What does the Blackstone chieftain say about this?”

She had already noticed something unusual about Hei Lie’s group, but still wanted to hear a clear answer.

“We’ve already separated from the Blackstone Tribe,” Hei Lie replied calmly, as if it were nothing worth dwelling on.

“From now on, we’re all the same. No more ties to the Blackstone Tribe.”

The people of the Spark Tribe all burst into cheers. None of them wanted to return to Blackstone Tribe, even with all the current dangers. They still refused to go back to that place that once tried to sell them like meat.

Mao asked excitedly, “Then does that mean you can stay with us from now on? We have a new tribe now! It’s called the Spark Tribe. Isn’t that a great name?”

Everyone turned to look at Hei Lie. Though they had once all belonged to the same tribe, and Hei Lie had come here specifically to find the people of Spark Tribe, things were no longer so simple now that Spark Tribe had officially formed and become its own independent existence.

Hei Lie didn’t rush to respond. Instead, he turned to Yang Yi.

“What do you think?”

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