Hei Lie emerged from the depths of the jungle. Xi Hou was gnawing on a large chunk of meat while greeting him.
“Hei Lie, where have you been for so long? If you don’t hurry, there won’t be any left for you!”
A mouthwatering aroma wafted from the camp. They were roasting the prey they had just caught.
Their team even had a cook from the culinary squad, along with a generous supply of seasonings gifted by the divine envoy, allowing them to enjoy gourmet meals even in the wild.
Hei Lie instinctively sniffed the air and curled his lips into a smile. “Eat and drink your fill now. Soon, we’ll need to prepare to welcome our guests.”
“Guests?”
“If my guess is right, we should be seeing people from the Green Python Tribe tonight.”
Xi Hou’s mouth dropped open. “Huh?”
“I knew you must’ve been up to something when you left earlier,” Tu said, looking at Xi Hou with disdain. “And to think we just praised you for being the sharpest, yet you couldn’t even figure that out.”
Xi Hou bared his teeth at him in frustration.
Just as Hei Lie had predicted, when the group began to grow tired and prepare for sleep, someone suddenly appeared in the camp.
It was sudden because the person emerged straight from the ground. But as soon as he surfaced, he was captured.
“I’m from the Green Python Tribe!” the man shouted.
Hei Lie had already warned the others in advance, so they didn’t harm him.
“How did you come out of the ground like that?” Xi Hou was astonished. He had never imagined such a method.
The man lifted his chin proudly. “That’s the skill of our Green Python Tribe.”
“Tch, you still got caught by us,” Xi Hou scoffed dismissively.
“That’s because I came to deliver a message. I let you catch me on purpose,” the man retorted, stiffening his neck. But as he sniffed the air, his attention was quickly diverted.
“What’s that smell around here? What are you cooking?”
Hei Lie didn’t answer. Instead, he asked, “Are you a messenger from the Green Python Tribe? Did your chief send you?”
The man pulled his focus back, remembering his mission.
“Yes. The chief said she sensed your sincerity and is willing to meet with you. However—”
His voice dropped, and his gaze turned sharp:
“If you’re harboring any ill intentions, you won’t make it out of this forest.”
“We of the Spark Tribe don’t seek war. We only wish to make peace. You can rest assured,” Hei Lie promised, while subtly signaling to Xi Hou.
The messenger muttered, “It better be that way.”
At that moment, Xi Hou brought out the midnight snack—roasted meat marinated with carefully prepared spices. It was even more flavorful than what they’d eaten earlier in the day.
Its aroma was so rich that even the dense jungle couldn’t contain it. Just one whiff made mouths water uncontrollably.
“Hope you can handle the kind of spiciness only warriors can endure.”
“Of course I can!” the messenger said confidently, grabbing the meat without hesitation. He didn’t care what “spiciness” meant and took a huge bite.
The moment it hit his tongue, he felt like his mouth was about to explode. What kind of magical flavor was this?!
So intense. So good!
Just like every member of the Spark Tribe who first encountered chili peppers, the messenger initially felt like he was about to explode, but quickly adapted.
Delicious! Absolutely delicious!
He didn’t care about appearances anymore and devoured the large chunk of meat, even licking his fingers afterward with lingering satisfaction.
His gaze toward the Spark Tribe members had completely changed. This fascinating tribe… Not only did they dig around in the dirt, but they also made such incredible food!
His own tribe had always taken pride in their cuisine, believing themselves superior to those who simply cooked food haphazardly and swallowed it whole.
They knew how to appreciate beauty, and that included culinary beauty.
“If you truly bear no ill will toward us, then our tribe will gladly welcome you,” the messenger said sincerely this time.
The dense forest at night was full of danger. The messenger led Hei Lie’s group zigzagging through it.
They didn’t know the destination, nor how long this journey would last.
The Spark Tribe members couldn’t help but feel uneasy, staying on high alert in case this seemingly friendly messenger tried anything suspicious.
“Lie, are you sure this is okay? We’ve been walking for ages, and this place is crawling with danger.”
“This is the Green Python Tribe’s caution. It’s in line with their nature.”
Even Hei Lie couldn’t guarantee everything was fine. But based on his judgment, if the Green Python Tribe was willing to engage with them, this kind of process was to be expected.
It was also the reason why outsiders rarely ventured deep into Green Python territory or established relations with them.
The Green Python Tribe is powerful and well-resourced. But that doesn’t mean they’re willing to put themselves in danger to achieve their goals.
“We stay alert and ready to counterattack at any moment,” Hei Lie instructed.
The entire group remained vigilant, each person also keeping an eye on those around them to prevent anyone from getting lost.
The warriors had night vision capabilities, but it still couldn’t compare to daylight.
This kind of environment made ambushes easy. Picking them off one by one could eventually lead to the collapse of the entire team.
Before setting out, Yang Yi had already analyzed the possible tactics the Green Python Tribe might use and gave targeted instructions on how to respond.
Just when everyone began to wonder if this journey would last until dawn, a faint light appeared ahead.
“Welcome, my neighbors.”
A melodious voice rang out, tinged with a hint of seduction. The men of the Spark Tribe couldn’t help but gape when they saw the Green Python chieftain.
She was stunning. So beautiful, it was hard to look away.
Ting was beautiful, too, but the woman before them possessed a completely different kind of beauty.
Ting’s beauty was gentle and soft, while this woman’s was bold and dazzling, far more likely to draw attention.
Jin Huan didn’t find their stares disrespectful; on the contrary, she saw them as an affirmation of her allure and was even more generous in radiating her charm.
“You truly are as beautiful as the legends say,” Hei Lie stepped forward to show goodwill. “I am Hei Lie, chieftain of the Spark Tribe.”
“You and your tribe are very strong.”
Jin Huan praised sincerely. A level-four warrior. No wonder he dared to bring such a small group into their territory. She glanced at the others, narrowed her eyes slightly, then returned to her usual expression.
“And you don’t look like those filthy men. I like that about you.”
Hei Lie remained composed and dignified. The others, who had been momentarily distracted, quickly regained their focus and stood as a disciplined, orderly unit.
Their presence was imposing, radiating a strong sense of pressure.
“Thank you for the compliment. You’ll find that the people of the Spark Tribe are just as trustworthy as they appear.”
“But more than that, I prefer the gift you brought. It shows your sincerity,” Jin Huan said, her voice lowering with a hint of menace.
“I hope that beneath this beauty, there isn’t something ugly.”
Hei Lie smiled calmly. “Time will prove that.”
“Tell me your purpose. If it’s just to form an alliance, forget it. The Green Python Tribe doesn’t get involved in other tribes’ affairs.”
Upon hearing this, Hei Lie’s ears twitched slightly. “You’ve heard something, haven’t you?”
“In light of the gift you gave me, I’ll share a piece of information. A man-eating beast is not far away, charging straight toward you.”
The Spark Tribe members’ expressions darkened immediately. They had already suspected this possibility.
“Come to think of it, you should be grateful to us,” Jin Huan said, as if recalling something amusing.
“If it hadn’t been for the Green Python Tribe’s protection back then, your earliest members would’ve been nothing but bones by now.”
Jin Huan gently stroked the serpent head on her golden bracelet, gazing at Hei Lie with a half-smile.
“So few of you—easy to crush with a single squeeze—yet you possess so many desirable things. It’s enough to make one envious. If you hadn’t been on your way here, and if our Green Python Tribe weren’t so wary of trouble, those things would’ve long been ours.”
She picked up a mirror and looked at her reflection, a trace of regret flickering in her heart.
If she hadn’t been so cautious back then, merely observing from the shadows without taking action, that person would’ve already belonged to them.
The Green Python Tribe’s strength also lay in their intelligence network. Even though they lived deep in the forest, seemingly cut off from the world, it didn’t mean they were ignorant.
On the contrary, they were acutely aware of what happened beyond their borders. That awareness was key to their sustained power.
Whenever something new and formidable appeared in the outside world, it wouldn’t be long before it showed up in the Green Python Tribe as well.
When the earliest outcasts appeared near their territory, they were well aware. But simply couldn’t be bothered with such weak ants.
Until one day, they noticed those people had changed. That’s when their attention returned.
Chi leaned in close to Hei Lie and whispered:
“After the Blackstone Tribe drove out Jing and the others, they didn’t let it go completely. That’s why we insisted on escorting them for so long. Along the way, we were ambushed more than once.”
Those who had been abandoned and returned to the fearsome Black Forest had considered this carefully.
It was a path of death, but also a chance for rebirth.
Although the area near the Black Forest wasn’t officially Green Python territory, it still fell within their sphere of influence. They would never allow hostile groups to approach.
Even if the threat wasn’t directly aimed at them, it would still trigger a crisis in their ever-vigilant minds, prompting them to act and assert their strength.
Hei Lie didn’t beat around the bush and asked directly, “Is the crisis facing our tribe coming from the Blackstone Tribe?”
Jin Huan didn’t respond. She remained absorbed in her reflection, holding the mirror and admiring her beauty.
Hei Lie wasn’t in a hurry. He reached into an inner pocket and pulled out a small, oddly textured item and handed it to her.
It was only slightly larger than a thumb and looked completely unremarkable.
“What is this?” Jin Huan didn’t ignore it. She set down her mirror.
Hei Lie popped off the cap and twisted the base, revealing a red, paste-like substance. It was lipstick, beloved by women on Earth.
An item adored by many Earth women had now captivated primitive humans as well.
Jin Huan’s eyes lit up instantly. Her instinctive love of beauty told her this was definitely something special.
“This is lipstick. You apply it to your lips to make them look redder and more beautiful. It can also be used as blush or eyeshadow, depending on your technique.”
The last sentence came out flat—clearly something Hei Lie had memorized without much understanding.
“Blush? Eyeshadow?” Jin Huan repeated the unfamiliar words. Before Hei Lie could explain, she had already grasped their meaning.
She eagerly took the lipstick and, without instruction, intuitively knew how to apply it.
The color was stunning, like it had been created by the gods to match her beauty.
The vivid hue on her face made her look even more enchanting and radiant, impossible to look away from.
Natural pigments had already appeared in this region. The Green Python Tribe loved using them to decorate their bodies.
The weather was still cold, so for now, decorations were only applied to the face.
However, the people of the Green Python Tribe didn’t like painting their faces in large, garish patterns like outsiders did. Instead, they preferred intricate designs, refined and elegant.
While adorning themselves with pigments, they made sure not to overshadow their natural beauty.
No pigment matched the lipstick in her hand. Its color was so pure and beautiful. When applied to the lips, it felt smooth and comfortable, incredibly moisturizing!
“I truly love this gift of yours,” Jin Huan praised without reservation. “It must have come from that messenger from the Black Forest, right? You’re lucky to have received his help.”
Hei Lie neither confirmed nor denied.
Jin Huan didn’t expect a clear answer from this tall, imposing man who clearly wasn’t easy to deal with.
From the moment he arrived, it was obvious that obtaining that mysterious figure would come at a steep price.
“It’s not the Blackstone Tribe. They’re too far from here. Attacking you would only drain their own strength. It’s the Fang Tribe.”
As Jin Huan mentioned the name of that tribe, her expression involuntarily twisted into a grimace.
The people of the Spark Tribe also looked uneasy. The Fang Tribe, an infamous cannibal tribe.
They were the most shameless, vicious, and brutal group. Some tribes also practiced cannibalism, but usually only toward war slaves or outsiders, and often only in times of famine. The Fang Tribe, however, had no such reservations.
They were cruel not only to outsiders but also to their own people.
Even the Blackstone Tribe’s policy of eliminating the weak paled in comparison to the Fang Tribe’s ruthlessness.
Like the Blackstone Tribe, the Fang Tribe thrived on plundering and occupying other tribes. They rarely hunted. No, they loved hunting, but their prey was humans, not beasts.
Back then, many of the abandoned were meant to be sold to the Fang Tribe as food.
The Fang Tribe had no fixed settlement. They were wanderers, appearing wherever there was “food”.
“Fang Tribe,” Hei Lie murmured, frowning slightly. “Our numbers aren’t large, but our combat strength is solid. Why would they target us?”
Even without Yang Yi, the thousand people Hei Lie had led away were enough to form a formidable tribe.
Among them, three hundred were warriors—a notably high ratio.
And the non-warriors weren’t weak either. Under Hei Lie’s leadership, they had learned to divide tasks and cooperate, forming a cohesive and powerful force.
They had taken many Blackstone weapons, furs, salt, and other supplies. If not for the mission to retrieve Jing and the others, they wouldn’t have come to this region.
The climate here was vastly different from that of the Blackstone Tribe—drier, with distinct flora, fauna, and overall environment.
Whether gathering or hunting, they needed new knowledge and tactics.
For a newly formed tribe, a new environment meant greater challenges and dangers.
Even without knowing about Yang Yi, the Fang Tribe wouldn’t normally provoke them easily, based on their usual behavior.
Hei Lie was a rare level-four warrior, possessing a fearsome talent. His followers were strong as well. Tangling with them could easily backfire.
Most importantly, he was notoriously difficult to deal with—relentless and vengeful. Once provoked, he would pursue the conflict to the bitter end.
The fact that Hei Lie broke ties with the Blackstone tribe chief and left the tribe was already astonishing to many, but it also revealed his principles.
He would never harm his own people. Many who followed the chief were once his comrades, which is why he chose to step back.
But if anyone dared to harm his tribe, he would show no mercy.
The Fang Tribe usually avoided provoking troublesome tribes or individuals, especially if it meant chasing them to this remote corner of the Eastern Continent, a place considered wild and untamed. It made no sense.
After all, that would mean a long journey with no other tribes to serve as “supply stations”.
“Take a guess,” Jin Huan said, winking at Hei Lie.
“Because of the Blackstone Tribe.”
Hei Lie spoke with certainty.
The expressions on the Spark Tribe members’ faces went beyond grim. “What?!”
“What is the Blackstone chief trying to do? Does he want to destroy his own tribe? How could he associate with a tribe like the Fang Tribe?”
“Hah, haven’t they been associating for a while now? They’ve been trading with them for some time.”
“He wants to kill us all? We were once part of the same tribe!”
“…”
Though Hei Lie and his followers had left the Blackstone Tribe and founded a new one, it was still the place they had lived for many years. Deep down, they couldn’t help but feel a lingering connection.
After all, many of them had grown up together, fought side by side.
Everyone was connected in some way. Though blood relations weren’t strictly emphasized here, there was still a subconscious belief in shared lineage, something more common in later generations.
Some people in the Blackstone Tribe hadn’t left with them, but the emotional bonds remained. They simply couldn’t bear to part with the place they’d grown up in.
Leaving one’s tribe was considered highly rebellious and unorthodox. Most people wouldn’t make that choice, but that didn’t mean they stood against Hei Lie and his group.
Hei Lie had earned great respect over the years in the Blackstone Tribe. Everyone admired him.
No one expected the Blackstone chief to be so ruthless, not letting them go even after they’d fled so far, still determined to wipe them out.
“Why?”
It was a question the Spark Tribe members couldn’t comprehend.
“I left and took so many people with me. That challenged his authority. By using someone else’s hand to eliminate me, he avoids making others feel disillusioned because of past bonds.”
Hei Lie sneered. When he left with a large group and a stockpile of supplies, he had sensed something was off. It all felt too easy. And sure enough, there was a hidden scheme.
“You’re a clever leader. I’m almost tempted to have a child with you. Our child would be strong and smart. And most importantly, undeniably good-looking.”
Jin Huan looked at Hei Lie up and down, her gaze full of admiration. She smiled with seductive charm.
Hei Lie remained calm and composed, not because he was oblivious to flirtation, but because the Green Python Tribe valued pure bloodlines and didn’t accept outsiders.
Jin Huan’s words were just playful teasing.
Xi Hou also understood now: “If we’re wiped out, people in the Blackstone Tribe will believe that leaving the tribe leads only to death. If even Hei Lie couldn’t survive, no one else would dare defy the chief again.”
Those who stayed behind didn’t necessarily fully submit to the chief. In fact, Hei Lie’s departure had stirred other thoughts in their hearts.
If something were to happen to Hei Lie and his group, those unstable sentiments would vanish completely, perhaps replaced by an even deeper fear of rebellion.
“Thank you for the information. You’ve helped us tremendously.”
Hei Lie expressed sincere gratitude. They weren’t afraid of the Fang Tribe; with their current strength, they were more than capable of defending themselves.
But the Fang Tribe was notoriously despicable, often resorting to underhanded tactics. Receiving advance warning allowed them to prepare and minimize unnecessary losses.
Especially when it came to Yang Yi. He was likely to become a prime target.
If the Fang Tribe reached this area, they would easily notice Yang Yi’s uniqueness and would definitely go after him.
The Spark Tribe had claimed a vast territory through cultivation and expansion, and Yang Yi often roamed freely. That made him vulnerable to ambush.
In the past, the Fang Tribe had used a child to gain sympathy and infiltrate a tribe, then stole a treasured item while no one was watching.
“That’s all?” Jin Huan raised an eyebrow. “We went to great lengths to restrain ourselves from snatching that extraordinary mystery man during your internal chaos. I heard he’s a divine envoy? Said to bring many divine gifts.”
Her gaze swept toward those holding metal weapons.
“He is the divine envoy of the Spark Tribe,” Hei Lie stated firmly, his voice steady and resolute. “Our current strength is enough to protect all our people, including our divine envoy.”
Then, not forgetting courtesy, he added, “Of course, the information you’ve provided has helped us avoid many troubles. We will express our deepest gratitude.”
Hei Lie had someone place the contents of the rattan basket before Jin Huan. “We originally intended to trade these items for your salt. Now, we offer them all to you as a token of gratitude.”
The Green Python Tribe was self-sufficient. They only ventured out occasionally to exchange for exquisite and rare items because they could mine their own salt.
No one knew where that salt came from. A tribe once tried to attack the Green Python Tribe to seize the precious resource.
The result was devastating: heavy casualties. Even in death, they never discovered the source of the salt.
The Green Python Tribe proved their strength through sheer force. Since then, no one dared provoke them.
This was also why the Green Python Tribe preferred limited contact with outsiders—to avoid excessive scrutiny and prevent potential threats to their tribe.
They used the forest as a perfect shield. If they left it, or if someone became familiar with its terrain, their military advantage would diminish.
Hei Lie knew of the Green Python Tribe from previous salt trades.
However, the Green Python Tribe had always been capricious in their dealings—sometimes willing to trade, sometimes not. It all depended on whether the offered goods piqued their interest. That’s why they never became a regular salt supplier for the Blackstone Tribe.
“What is it?” Jin Huan’s eyelids drooped, clearly uninterested. She suspected these items weren’t brought by the mysterious divine envoy.
But when the dry grass was pulled aside to reveal what lay beneath, Jin Huan’s eyes widened instantly.
“This is… pottery?”
How could there be such smooth ceramic? And in such a beautiful, mysterious black! Just like the black of her raven hair.
“Black pottery—a specialty of our Spark Tribe.”
Jin Huan picked up a piece of black pottery, completely captivated by it.
It was even more exquisite than the ceramics brought by the Western Continent trading caravans!
Her tribe had begun making pottery too, but theirs was much rougher—nothing like this color or texture.
So light, so smooth. Beautiful. Absolutely stunning!
Just like her raven-black hair—utterly enchanting.
“Your painting is absolutely terrible,” Jin Huan remarked, even as she admired the piece.
“It’ll be more beautiful in the future,” Hei Lie promised. “I wonder if pottery like this could be used to trade for your salt?”
“Deal!” Jin Huan agreed without hesitation and accepted the generous gift without reservation.
Hei Lie then brought out another basket. “I know the Green Python Tribe loves beautiful things, including delicious food. These are chili peppers. They’re amazing for grilling meat. The messenger just tried them.”
The messenger, who had tasted the dish, swallowed hard and gave an honest review: “The flavor is incredible! And in winter, it helps drive away the cold.”
But Jin Huan didn’t accept it right away. She narrowed her eyes slightly. “What do you want in exchange?”
“Manpower.”
Jin Huan’s expression turned furious. She hurled the golden-ringed snake in her hand. “You’ve got a death wish!”
![After I Transmigrated as a Mermaid, I Transmigrated Back [GL]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/mermaidtransmigrate2.jpg "After I Transmigrated as a Mermaid, I Transmigrated Back [GL]")
