The Green Python Tribe this time did not agree as readily as before. They only promised to consider it. For now, there was no follow-up.
This left Yang Yi quite disappointed, but he could also understand their concerns.
The previous incident had already touched the bottom line of the Green Python Tribe. The two tribes had not fallen out because of it, nor had they held the Spark Tribe members accountable. It was already very difficult.
It should be known that, according to the Green Python Tribe’s tribe rules, whether it was one of their own people or outsiders, punishment was required.
Now, not long after the incident, asking them to mobilize so many people again was indeed not easy.
Yang Yi could only find another way, hoping to secure more labor.
In fact, during the poultry banquet a couple of days ago, he realized that, because of his previous impressions, he had overlooked potential sources of labor within the tribe. If successful, this would bring enormous convenience to the tribe.
“Divine Envoy, Goose King has already led the earliest batch of ostriches, waiting for you.”
The person in charge of the farm hurriedly came forward upon seeing Yang Yi.
Little White ran happily all over the farm. Yang Yi didn’t need anyone to guide him. Where Little White went, he could find Goose King.
Little White was now twice as big as before. Though compared to the other geese, he still hadn’t grown much, just like geese on Earth that were still in their juvenile stage.
However, Little White’s strength and speed were increasing more and more, especially in speed. It was improving particularly quickly. Now, Mao could no longer catch up with him.
And he was becoming increasingly self-sufficient. Yang Yi no longer needed to take care of him. Little White could make sure he ate well on his own.
The usual feeding was just adding a little snack. His main meals were all things he found himself.
Without Little White around, back when Yang Yi still lived in the thatched hut, he would have encountered a single reptile.
Although the tribe had been cleaned up, small reptiles and flying insects still appeared. As long as you didn’t use anything to repel them, they would show up, causing endless annoyance for Yang Yi.
But with Little White now, this no longer happened. He ate them all.
“Gwa-gaa—gwa-gaa—”
Little White ran ahead at top speed, calling out as he went, rushing toward the distant Goose King. Just as the two were about to collide, Goose King calmly shifted to the side. Little White flew past, crashing flat on his belly.
Yang Yi could only laugh and cry at the same time. Every time Little White came to see Goose King, this scene would repeat, yet Little White remained thoroughly entertained.
Goose King had grown larger than before. If it were as tall as a horse, it would be about the same size as the ostriches beside it.
These ostriches were the very first batch to be hatched. They had just passed their juvenile stage, yet they were one or two times larger than the adult ostriches commonly found on Earth.
They were still growing. No one knew how big they would eventually become.
“Goose King, you’re getting braver and braver.”
Yang Yi smiled at Goose King and handed it its favorite candy.
He didn’t know whether geese on Earth could eat candy, but Goose King absolutely loved it.
At first, he had worried that eating candy might be bad for it, but Goose King stubbornly wanted it, even causing trouble in the tribe just to get some.
Yang Yi had no choice but to give in. Only after seeing that it was fine after eating some did he feel reassured, though he still exercised some control.
This time, the candy Yang Yi brought was different from before. These candies were made from sugarcane grown by the tribe itself.
The sweetness was very high, and the quality was excellent.
Goose King was clearly very satisfied. Its little expressions were becoming increasingly human-like.
“I want these ostriches to help me pile something up. Can you help me?”
Goose King didn’t answer but flew off directly. After a short while, a scream could be heard.
“Goose King, what are you doing? Don’t poke me! What’s gotten into you today? Stop poking me! I’m still working!”
Yang Yi saw Goose King poking someone’s backside, forcing him to run over here.
Qiu Yuan was at a loss and wanted to cry, but couldn’t. He had been working perfectly fine, yet inexplicably, Goose King had nudged him over here with its beak.
Goose King was the undisputed ruler of the farm, or even the entire tribe. Like Little White by the Divine Envoy’s side, it was a creature of almost divine status.
If he offended Goose King, there was no way he could stay in the farm. Several people before him had already been replaced for exactly that reason.
Qiu Yuan really liked working at the farm. Even though it was hard to see the small animals he raised eventually eaten, he still enjoyed staying there.
When those animals had been killed before, he cried the entire night and didn’t eat a single bite, yet he still wanted to remain there.
“D-Divine… Divine Envoy.”
Goose King finally stopped poking his backside. But when Qiu Yuan looked up, he saw the Divine Envoy, completely different from ordinary people.
Yang Yi also looked at Goose King with curiosity, not understanding what it meant.
Goose King kicked Qiu Yuan over to Yang Yi’s side and let out a few low calls.
“Are you saying he can train those ostriches?”
Goose King, however, ignored him and charged into the ostrich flock, letting out a few loud calls before running off again.
This time, Little White didn’t stick close to Yang Yi but followed Goose King.
Its speed was now fully able to keep up with Goose King. But every time it got close, Goose King either kicked it or swatted it away.
Still, Little White persistently followed, learning from each encounter so that next time it could avoid the attacks.
If Little White and Mao had rational battles every day, with Goose King, it was a typical case of admiring strength—following the stronger, learning from the stronger.
“You’re the one who came here with Ye Huo before?”
Yang Yi had some impression of this person. He wasn’t good-looking. His nose was slightly crooked, and his eyes somewhat deformed.
By either Earth’s or local standards of beauty, he could even be called ugly. He was also very short.
At most, he was barely 1.7 meters tall, which in this world would definitely count as a Level three disability.
That was why, among the hundreds of people in the Banshan Tribe, Yang Yi had managed to remember him.
When Ye Huo left, he had specifically requested that Qiu Yuan be placed somewhere he didn’t have to interact with many people, so he had been assigned here.
“Y-Yes, I, my name is… Qiu Yuan.”
Qiu Yuan lowered his head as far as he could, afraid that if Yang Yi saw his face, he might scare someone who looked so beautiful.
His voice grew increasingly quiet. If it weren’t for Yang Yi having some impression of him, it would have been impossible to hear what he was saying.
“Am I really that scary?” Yang Yi asked with a smile.
“N-No, it’s… it’s just—”
Qiu Yuan shook his head like a rattle, yet still didn’t dare to look up.
Ye Huo had mentioned before that Qiu Yuan, because of his appearance, was extremely self-conscious and didn’t interact well with others.
In reality, he was very smart and capable. The fact that the Banshan Tribe members could arrive here safely had a lot to do with him.
He could keenly sense where wild beasts were and help the others avoid them.
It was just that his special abilities made him feel different from everyone else. Combined with his personality, this made him seem somewhat odd.
Yang Yi didn’t push him, speaking in as gentle a tone as possible.
“Do you get along better with animals?”
Qiu Yuan nodded, then quickly shook his head again.
Yang Yi looked puzzled and smiled, asking, “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
“It’s good, but… but I… I didn’t let them go, them,” Qiu Yuan said, extremely nervous. His already small frame seemed like it wanted to curl into a ball and disappear on the spot.
It took Yang Yi a moment to react, but he roughly understood what he meant.
Qiu Yuan had a very good relationship with the animals. A few days ago, during the slaughter of the poultry, he must have been the one who found it hardest to watch, even wanting to let them go.
Yang Yi’s question made him feel guilty.
A person like him really wasn’t suited to stay in the farm. Even after only a short time together, he reacted this way. If he had been raised here from a young age, it would have been far too cruel for him.
Yang Yi also couldn’t stop consuming meat just because of this.
“Do you want to continue staying at the farm? There are actually many other jobs in the tribe that might suit you better.”
At this, Qiu Yuan suddenly looked up. “Divine Envoy, I want to stay!”
“This could very well be a form of torment for you. Most of these animals are raised for food. If you get attached, you’ll surely feel sorrow later. Sometimes, out of sight is truly out of mind.”
“I want to stay.” Qiu Yuan’s tone was firm, completely free of the previous shyness and timidity.
Yang Yi was silent for a moment, then asked, “Can you sense the emotions of these animals?”
Qiu Yuan didn’t quite understand what he meant.
“You know, can you communicate well with them, understand what they’re thinking? Can they understand what you’re saying?”
Only then did Qiu Yuan murmur, “They’re actually very smart. As long as you listen carefully, you can understand what they’re thinking.”
“How do you get along with the ostriches?”
A smile appeared on Qiu Yuan’s face. His distorted features weren’t conventionally attractive, yet Yang Yi still found him extremely pleasant to look at.
“I really like those big fellows. They’re all very cute, and they’re also the smartest.”
“Can you train them, make them follow your instructions, and do things according to our requirements?”
Qiu Yuan blinked, momentarily caught off guard.
“I want these ostriches to work for the tribe, just like humans—carrying goods. Can you make them do it?”
“I can! Divine Envoy, I can!” Qiu Yuan suddenly understood and sensed the hidden opportunity within the request.
“These ostriches are very strong. They can carry loads equal to a level one warrior! And they run extremely fast. Sometimes they even carry me while running, though it’s easy to fall off.”
Yang Yi was very pleased. He could be sure that Qiu Yuan wouldn’t speak in such a confident tone about something he wasn’t capable of handling.
The tribe had previously had people with animal-related talents, who could better understand what these animals needed. But no one was as powerful as Qiu Yuan—able to get this close to them.
No wonder Goose King had pushed this person forward. It clearly recognized his abilities.
“I want to hire you as the coach for the Ostrich Transport Team. Would you be willing?”
Qiu Yuan was overjoyed. “Yes! Of course, I’m willing!”
After a brief pause, he spoke again. “Divine Envoy, does this mean that if these ostriches can work, we won’t be eating them in the near future?”
“Of course. If they can work, raising them won’t be for food anymore.”
“Divine Envoy, I promise to complete the task! I will make sure they serve the tribe as soon as possible!”
Just as Qiu Yuan had said, he needed only ten days to train a team of fifty ostriches and lead them to Yang Yi.
The ostriches were lined up in pairs, forming a very orderly formation.
Qiu Yuan had them stop and then move again on command. They were extremely obedient and disciplined. None of them ran off or broke formation.
“Divine Envoy, the task you entrusted to me is complete. The Ostrich Transport Team is now ready to officially start work!”
