“Hong, are we really going to do this? Isn’t it too risky? That… Spark Tribe, will they really take us in?”
The closer they got to the Black Forest, the more anxious Fei Niao felt, worried that this step might be a mistake.
The man in Hong’s place wasn’t particularly tall and could even be considered small and thin.
His whole body was covered in mud, his face so dark it was impossible to make out his original features. Only a pair of eyes shone brightly.
In the summer jungle, the mosquitoes were both numerous and fierce. Covering their bodies in dirty mud was a way to prevent being bitten.
“What are you talking about!” Hong was clearly dissatisfied. “We’ve already come this far. Do you want to back down now?”
“N-no, it’s not that. I’m just a little worried,” Fei Niao hurriedly shook his head, denying it.
Hong shot him a glance full of exasperation. “What’s there to worry about? At worst, we die. Even if we don’t come, we’ll starve. At least by coming, there’s a chance we might survive.”
They were a group of wanderers who had lost their tribes, gradually gathering together while roaming, now forming a team of several hundred people.
They couldn’t really be called a tribe. It was just a group of people clinging together to survive.
Their former settlement had been taken over by other tribes. The places where they could hunt and gather were shrinking, unable to meet their needs at all.
Or perhaps some places were simply too dangerous. They had no ability to go there at all.
At this time, they heard of a tribe whose territory was near the Black Forest, wealthy and powerful, and willing to take people in.
Hong gritted his teeth and finally made up his mind to come here. Many others responded, following him.
In reality, they had no confidence at all. They simply had nowhere else to go and were forced to take the risk.
“If you’re scared, you can leave now.”
Seeing Fei Niao hesitate, Hong said this bluntly.
Fei Niao immediately fell silent. The others also kept quiet.
Hong was the strongest warrior among them. Though never formally appointed, he had everyone submit to him by force, tacitly acknowledging him as their leader.
In truth, Hong himself was also very uneasy. Coming here outright was like handing their lives over to someone else. No one could know what the future held.
But if they wanted to survive, they had to take the risk.
It wasn’t until they arrived at the Spark Tribe that this worry completely vanished.
Everyone was stunned by the sight before them. Along the way, their mouths hung open, unable to believe this was a place built by humans.
That very day, without making things difficult, they were taken in by the Spark Tribe. Although they were asked many puzzling questions, the comfortable houses and delicious food made them long to stay.
“I feel like I’m dreaming,” Fei Niao voiced what was in everyone’s heart.
Hong gave a cold snort, his gaze sweeping toward the rows of tall, neatly lined dormitory buildings in the distance.
“You’re satisfied just living in a thatched hut? I’m going to live there! I want to get the green card for this place!”
Although the Spark Tribe was eager to recruit people, not just anyone could easily become one of them. One had to undergo investigation and trials.
Before officially entering, they were only considered reserves in the assessment stage.
Only by passing the assessment could one become a true member of the Spark Tribe.
During the trial period, the benefits and treatment of reserve members were different from those of Spark people. They could only live in the old mud-and-thatch huts, go to the cafeteria for meals, and the food was only half of what Spark people received.
The green card was the tribe’s identity card. Only those who possessed one could enjoy the rights of the Spark people.
This was also what Hong and the other outsiders most longed for.
All of this sounded far inferior to the treatment of Spark people, yet for those who had come seeking refuge, it was already something they had never dared to dream of before.
“Let’s hope we can all pass the assessment,” Fei Niao said with anticipation. Ever since arriving here, he no longer wanted to leave. Everything here was so novel and enticing.
“Not hope. We must!” Hong declared firmly.
Fei Niao nodded repeatedly, then, remembering something, spoke with a trace of worry:
“They took all the children away. I don’t know what they’re going to do.”
Some tribes liked to eat children, thinking their flesh was tender.
The children in their group were one after another thin and small, not looking at all like they would ever become strong in the future, which made Fei Niao deeply worried.
Hong’s eyes flickered. “I just went and secretly checked.”
Fei Niao’s eyes widened. “Didn’t the instructor say we’re not allowed to wander around? If you get caught, you’ll be thrown out!”
“What’s there to be afraid of? No one will ever notice me!” Hong said with great confidence.
His gift was concealing himself, which made it easy for him to slip away from danger.
“B-but…”
Hong waved his hand impatiently. “I already did it, and look. I’m perfectly fine now, aren’t I? Stop worrying so much.
I just wanted to see what they were doing with the children. Once I figured it out, I stopped. Anyway, they can’t detect me!”
“And how are those kids? They weren’t… eaten, were they?”
Fei Niao knew that no matter how much he said now, it would be useless. But he still wanted to know what had happened to the children.
After all, they had spent some time together. Sometimes he had disliked them as burdens, but there were still feelings there.
“Those little brats are far luckier than we are!” Hong’s eyes were full of envy and longing.
“They’ve all changed into soft, clean clothes, and they’re eating better than us!”
Fei Niao’s eyes widened. “Like the clothes the instructor wears?”
“That’s right! Those kids are living the good life. Their housing is in those big buildings too, with yards that even have things to play with. They’ve already blended right in with the people here.”
Hong didn’t mention that while no one was around, he had tried out every piece of equipment himself.
Those playthings called swings, seesaws, slides, and the like came in so many varieties that he almost couldn’t bear to come back.
Seeing all this only made Hong more determined that he had to stay here.
Hearing this, Fei Niao was filled with envy as well. “What about the injured people? They were taken into that house with the strange sign at the entrance. Were they really treated?”
“Mm. The Spark people didn’t lie. There was a very beautiful yet fierce woman treating them. Their condition looked like it was getting better and better.”
When their group had entered the Spark Tribe, the injured and frail were carried away by people dressed in strange white clothes, with most of their faces covered.
The Spark guide said they were doctors, capable of healing them.
At the time, Hong and Fei Niao hadn’t really believed it. Those people were so weak. Treating them would be difficult and unnecessary.
Not only would it take great effort to save them, but for a long time afterward, they wouldn’t be able to work.
The only reason those people had been brought along was because their family, friends, or former tribemates had refused to abandon them. So the group hadn’t interfered.
Unexpectedly, the Spark people had treated them all, even letting them live in beautiful, large houses and eat plenty of delicious food.
When Hong saw this, he no longer regretted not being a child. Instead, he began regretting why he hadn’t pretended to be sick earlier.
“Wow, the Spark Tribe is really amazing.”
The more Fei Niao heard, the more he felt that coming here was the wisest decision of his life.
But Hong’s eyes grew dark. Could such a merciful tribe truly exist?
——
In the main hall of the temple, Hei Lie was mentioning Hong to Yang Yi.
“The new kid is actually that strong?” Yang Yi was surprised.
The group that had come seeking refuge looked utterly wretched—skinny to the bone, covered in filth, and reeking so badly you could smell them from far away.
Whether it was Jiao’s expelled group or Qing Tian’s survivors, though they had also been in rough condition, none of them had been this bad.
So filthy that even the natives despised them and could hardly bear it.
But after all, they were the very first group to come seeking refuge upon hearing of the tribe’s reputation. Everyone was delighted. This meant that the name of the Spark Tribe had already spread!
Who would have thought that among such people, there would be someone with this kind of talent.
Hei Lie gave a cold snort, his tone tinged with dissatisfaction. “So what if he’s strong? Wasn’t he still discovered by us?”
Yang Yi chuckled. “In front of our Lord Hei Lie, of course, it’s nothing at all. You are the fiercest warrior!”
Hei Lie’s gaze wavered slightly.
“Th-that’s only natural!”
Yang Yi’s smile deepened, but he didn’t tease him any further.
“What do you plan to do with him?”
Hei Lie quickly composed himself. “Follow the rules.”
“You didn’t catch him on the spot. I’m afraid he won’t admit to it, will he?”
Hong had appeared in several places, but he bore no malice and hadn’t tried to spy on the tribe’s secrets. His only purpose was to check on those who had been taken away. For this reason, after discovering him, they hadn’t stirred up alarm.
For these several hundred people to have gathered together and survived until now, they might look weak, but in truth, they possessed no small amount of strength.
If they sincerely joined, they would become a tremendous support.
Gaining trust was the fastest way to help them integrate.
Thus, after the guards noticed something was wrong, they did not do anything.
But their leniency did not mean Hong’s actions were correct.
“Such a person isn’t worth keeping.”
Making mistakes right after arriving was forgivable. If one knew their fault and corrected it, they could still join the Spark Tribe.
But if they stubbornly refused to admit it, then that person’s character had to be reevaluated.
Hong’s talent was extremely unique, which meant his character had to come first. Otherwise, the consequences would be endless.
Yang Yi nodded. “Bring him over and question him first. If he admits it, given the special circumstances this time, the punishment will be light. It will be just a warning. If he refuses to admit it, then we’ll have to handle it according to procedure.”
Someone like Hong being expelled would certainly make some people afraid and cause them to leave, but even so, they would not compromise.
Without rules, nothing can be properly established.
“I’ve already had someone bring him over.”
When Hong was taken away, he was completely bewildered.
Especially when he was brought to the main hall of the temple that he had always looked up to. He could not hide the excitement surging within him.
Stepping onto the tall stone steps, a wave of heat rushed straight to his head, making his whole body burn.
Entering the temple, he was awestruck by the towering, majestic architecture and the exquisite decorations. Everything was so extraordinary, unlike anything he had ever seen.
When he was finally led into a certain room, the scene was something he would never forget for the rest of his life.
Inside sat two men, each so radiant that one could not ignore either of them.
One was powerful and full of intimidating presence, while the other was gentle, as though he could embrace everything.
A most curious pairing, yet somehow it felt perfectly harmonious.
“They are the Chieftain and the Divine Envoy,” the person escorting Hong introduced.
Only then did Hong come back to his senses, murmuring, “Chieftain… Di-Divine Envoy.”
His gaze fell on Yang Yi, who gave him a gentle smile.
Hong’s ears flushed red in an instant. He swallowed hard, his heartbeat pounding wildly.
In that moment, Hong felt that his life had gained a new meaning.
