The Spark Tribe remained as usual, showing no obvious changes despite the impending threat from the Fang Tribe.
Everyone continued to perform their duties diligently. There was no sense of tension within the tribe.
Yang Yi was deeply impressed by their psychological resilience. After all, the Fang Tribe was powerful and fearsome, yet these people remained remarkably composed, completely different from their previously passionate and frenzied demeanor.
“You must live in a very safe place,” Hei Lie remarked sincerely upon hearing Yang Yi’s doubts.
“No matter which tribe it is, we must always be prepared for battle. No one knows when disaster might strike.”
The Fang Tribe posed a significant threat and impact. Even with Hei Lie’s methods, it was hard to guarantee there would be no casualties.
Even so, aside from the initial stir when the news broke, most people simply carried on with their lives as usual.
That’s because, in ordinary times, everyone maintained a state of vigilance no matter where they were.
This mindset left a deep impression on Yang Yi.
And precisely because no one seemed overly concerned, he didn’t feel as panicked either. Otherwise, he might have been just like when he first arrived, unable to sleep peacefully at night.
“I used to hear this saying a lot: ‘We don’t live in a peaceful world, we live in a peaceful country’. I watch the news every day and know the outside world is dangerous, but it was hard to truly grasp that because of how comfortable life was. Only now do I realize how precious the word ‘safety’ really is.”
“When we build the city you envisioned, everyone will be able to enjoy that same sense of safety,” Hei Lie said with conviction, his eyes burning with confidence in the future.
Yang Yi smiled. After spending time together and working through challenges, he, too, was growing more confident.
A city of a million might be hard to achieve, but building one that’s difficult to conquer was within reach.
The people here are stronger and more capable than those on Earth, also incredibly intelligent and hardworking. In just a short time, their efficiency has already surpassed that of ordinary Earthlings by several times.
Not only that, some individuals’ talents have begun to emerge, talents that were previously overlooked due to the limited range of occupations.
Now, with the various construction projects underway, these hidden gifts are finally being recognized.
The most notable example is Qing. She’s gained a new understanding of her abilities. Her skills have improved significantly compared to before.
According to Hei Lie, at the rate she’s progressing, she could very well become the tribe’s second Level Four warrior.
“Is it really okay for you to stay here?” Yang Yi asked. “I’m safe in the tribe. You don’t need to stay by my side.”
The tribe had already assembled a group to lie in ambush at a designated location, waiting for the Fang Tribe’s arrival.
Xi Hou had even led a small team to scout ahead and was officially appointed as the captain of the scout unit.
Traditionally, the chief, being the tribe’s foremost warrior, would lead the charge at the front lines.
But this time, Hei Lie didn’t go.
“Tu is an outstanding warrior. His abilities are more than enough to lead the guard unit and drive out the invaders. We have the best tools and weapons, along with a meticulous plan. There’s no need for me to intervene.”
“But this is the first time our tribe has faced an external enemy. It’s a significant moment. It could elevate your reputation even further.”
“Protecting you is more important than anything else,” Hei Lie said seriously. “Besides, I think it’s time we consider making some changes.”
Yang Yi raised an eyebrow. “Changes?”
“According to our plan, the tribe’s development will differ greatly from that of other tribes. As more and more people pour in, things will become increasingly complex. A great chief may no longer be the warrior with the highest combat power. Likewise, defending the tribe won’t necessarily require the chief to personally take the field every time.”
Yang Yi understood. He hadn’t expected this man to be thinking so far ahead, already laying the groundwork for the future.
He had no objections. This was an inevitable historical progression. His arrival would only accelerate the process.
A city isn’t something that can be managed solely by someone with brute strength.
Each field requires its own expertise. As divisions of labor become more refined, the demands on leadership will naturally evolve.
The gradual emergence of specialized departments makes someone like Hei Lie the ideal leader.
He possesses formidable combat strength and can establish his authority through battle at any time.
His decision to step back wouldn’t make anyone question his capabilities or fitness for leadership.
“You’re a very bold man.”
“I wouldn’t do this unless I was absolutely confident,” Hei Lie replied with a self-assured smile. “I wouldn’t gamble with the fate of the entire tribe.”
“And you truly do need my personal protection. A large-scale assault from the Fang Tribe isn’t what’s most frightening. They excel at ambushes and assassinations.”
The Fang Tribe was cunning and knew exactly how to sow chaos.
When they devoured stronger tribes, they always started with assassinations. They were highly experienced in this tactic, and it’s very likely some of them could sneak in.
Even a one-in-ten-thousand chance is too risky to take.
If it were someone else, maybe it wouldn’t matter. But Yang Yi was simply too weak!
A single nut hitting him could probably kill him.
Yang Yi wanted to argue, but when he saw Mao, who could easily win an Olympic sprint medal on Earth, racing past him while pushing a cart with Lan Jian inside, he decided to keep his mouth shut.
“Trust my judgment. Trust Tu. If anything really happens, with the artifact you gave me, I’ll be able to get there in time.”
The “artifact” Hei Lie referred to was a wireless walkie-talkie, used for communication between them.
However, it was only to be used in emergencies. Otherwise, they still relied on traditional methods to relay information.
Very few people knew about the walkie-talkies. Only Tu, Hei Lie, and Xi Hou had one each, reserved strictly for critical moments.
Yang Yi had this attitude toward anything he felt was too difficult to recreate.
Not for everyday use. Only for saving lives.
When he privately brought out such a device, Hei Lie remained relatively calm, but the other two nearly screamed from excitement, though they couldn’t. They just jumped around in place, spinning in circles.
Especially Xi Hou, who loved to show off. When he stepped out of the tent, he smiled foolishly at everyone he saw.
With a look that screamed, “I’ve got a big secret, but I’m not telling”, he annoyed the crowd so much they pinned him down and beat him up.
“We should raise some pigeons and train them as carrier pigeons.”
Relying solely on shouting for communication was just too miserable. If modern tech wasn’t practical, then ancient methods were still worth considering.
“Pigeons?”
Yang Yi had previously dismissed pigeons as too small, barely enough for the locals to get a bite, so he hadn’t bothered to hatch any.
Later, they discovered that eggs hatched here seemed to be affected by this world. When significant changes occurred, they decided to play it safe by only using eggs of the same species as the first batch. As a result, Hei Lie didn’t know what kind of bird it was.
“It’s a type of bird with a natural homing instinct. It can be trained to deliver messages. Back in my world, it served as a messenger for a long time. But it requires specialized training.”
Yang Yi didn’t know much about this, but he did have some related books.
“Li told me there’s a child with a gift for bonding with animals. He could be put in charge.”
“Really?!”
“That child hasn’t truly awakened, and he’s not a warrior. He just has a natural affinity.”
Yang Yi thought for a moment. “There are more and more people like that. It seems the distinction between ordinary people and warriors is different from what we used to believe.”
In the past, the definition of a warrior was narrow—someone whose body could be enhanced, clearly distinct from ordinary people.
And it was believed that only warriors could awaken special gifts. But now, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
“Every person created by the gods has their own value and purpose,” Hei Lie said, a proud smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Back then, he refused to abandon those ordinary people, even leaving his former tribe because of it. Looking back now, it was clearly the right decision.
