TPWBI Chapter 118

Yang Yi and Hei Lie exchanged a glance, a smile flickering in their eyes. Heaven itself seemed to be lending them a hand.

“Divine Envoy, is there something wrong with these stones?”

Morri was a bit nervous. His heart had been uneasy all along. After all, he had taken so much without being able to guarantee anything in return. Even now, he still couldn’t be sure that all of this was real.

“Morri, I think we may need to redraft our trade agreement,” Hei Lie said, his face serious, unreadable.

Morri’s whole body instantly tensed up.

Although Morri was quite capable, he was still young. At crucial moments, it was difficult for him to stay calm.

“No need to be nervous,” Yang Yi said with a reassuring smile. “The stones you brought us are exactly what we’ve been searching for. Before, it was a matter of sponsorship and loans. Now, it will become an official, fair trade.”

Morri’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected such good fortune.

Well, maybe he had thought of it. But he simply couldn’t believe that the random stones he’d picked up could actually have any real value!

“Y-you… you mean that’s true?”

Hei Lie and Yang Yi only smiled. Morri quickly caught on.

“Divine Envoy, I’m very glad that these stones are useful to you. It puts my heart at ease. But there’s no need to make a new deal with me. Let’s just keep the original agreement.”

Morri had no idea of the true value of the natural soda ash. But judging from Yang Yi and Hei Lie’s expressions, they were probably quite precious.

Even so, he would never use them as bargaining chips. After all, the Spark Tribe had already helped him far too much. In this entire world, there was no tribe like them, one willing to provide him with so many resources without any guarantees at all.

Now that those stones actually had some use, the uneasiness in his heart eased a little. But he still wouldn’t treat them as payment.

“There’s no need for that. Our Spark Tribe can afford this price. But of course, there are conditions. You’ll need to maintain a steady supply. Someone will discuss the exact pricing with you later,” Hei Lie said, his tone commanding, leaving no room for refusal.

Morri understood perfectly well that this was the Spark Tribe’s generosity. Otherwise, they could have simply asked him where he’d gathered the stones. They definitely had the ability to mine and transport them on their own, with no need for a long-term trade agreement.

“Thank you… Thank you both! I—I’m really too lucky!” Morri was deeply moved.

Yang Yi chuckled. “We’re just as grateful to you. You have to know that we’ve been searching for this stuff for a very long time. Are there many of these stones where you found them?”

“Tons! It’s just not along the paths people usually take. We only found them because we went the long way around to avoid some wild beasts.”

Having calmed down now, Morri felt incredibly fortunate.

Honestly, although the supplies the Spark Tribe had given him this time were quite substantial, they would still be used up before long.

He couldn’t keep trading piles of useless stones forever. He’d have to find other ways to sustain things in the long run.

For now, these materials were only for emergencies and to build connections. In the end, maintaining stability would depend on himself.

Now that he could use the stones for trade, it meant his future path would stretch farther ahead. He wouldn’t need to do anything immoral or illegal just to accumulate wealth.

“Divine Envoy, Chief, no matter how many you want, we’ll bring them all to you. And I promise, we won’t trade with anyone else!”

Murray promised earnestly. He wasn’t willing to give up this deal now, but he could still do things that would benefit the Spark Tribe.

This was exactly what Yang Yi and Hei Lie wanted to hear. Though trading with Morri increased their costs, it also prevented their own people from being drawn away. There was no need for them to get involved in everything themselves.

As long as the price was reasonable, they could easily afford this bit of expense.

Once they managed to produce glass, earning back their investment would be no trouble at all.

Every glass item Yang Yi brought had amazed and delighted everyone. However, since these items didn’t last very long, Yang Yi hadn’t taken them out for trade.

On the few occasions he did, he made sure to clearly warn people that the objects would deteriorate quickly.

Even so, many were still fanatically eager to buy them, willing to pay high prices.

The chess set Yang Yi had brought earlier was practically snatched away by Qiao through a mix of persistence and half-begging. He’d paid quite a hefty sum for it.

At the time, Yang Yi had even felt like he’d taken advantage of Qiao. Although he had explained everything clearly, the price was so high that he couldn’t help feeling a little guilty.

But Qiao had been overjoyed, convinced that he’d made a great deal, and left in high spirits.

With that as precedent, there was no need to worry about not making the money back.

So in the end, the deal with Morri offered him a very fair price, enough to greatly ease his financial strain.

When signing the contract, Morri had even nervously tried to remind them that they were overpaying.

After all, they were just a pile of stones, neither containing any metal nor possessing the beauty of gemstones. What could they possibly be good for?

In the end, it was Lan Jian, now officially appointed as a military adviser, who reassured Morri enough to sign the contract. The Spark Tribe never engaged in losing trades.

Having witnessed the capabilities of this young girl, Morri had great trust in the Spark Tribe. Though still somewhat doubtful, he eventually signed the contract.

Originally, to ensure Morri’s safety and because the deal itself had to remain unseen, they had conducted things with utmost secrecy.

Although their efforts at concealment were meticulous, it was difficult to keep something completely hidden when so many supplies were being exchanged. There were plenty of clever people around. Suspicion was inevitable, even if no one had concrete proof.

Now that everything had become a fair trade, the atmosphere completely changed.

What had once been secretive and cautious dealings had turned into something open and legitimate. They would still keep things confidential, of course, but this kind of secrecy was entirely different from before.

Everyone now knew that Morri had brought something remarkable. Something the Spark Tribe had long been seeking.

No one could find out exactly what it was, but neither did anyone suspect foul play.

Especially after seeing the Spark Tribe openly exchange large quantities of goods with Morri, most people simply assumed that the young man had stumbled upon something that greatly pleased them. That was why they were being so generous.

The Spark Tribe had always been a bit mysterious, producing strange and wondrous things from time to time. People had almost grown used to it by now.

Some even began to inquire whether something special would be released again soon.

Members of the Spark Tribe dropped a few hints, advising everyone to be early for the next round of trade. There would indeed be good things available then.

Morri’s look of quiet pride only reinforced everyone’s impression that this newcomer was truly capable. It wasn’t strange that he refused to say what he’d found. After all, if he told everyone, how could he maintain an exclusive deal?

And as for those who still harbored doubts, once the glass appeared before their eyes, any lingering suspicion would naturally vanish.

After obtaining the natural soda ash, Hei Lie immediately organized a specialized team for glassmaking, transferring all the best technicians to that project.

The urgency wasn’t only because of the enormous profits that glass could bring, but it was also because the glass in their rooms had begun to age and deteriorate, and needed to be replaced as soon as possible.

Winter was approaching. If they replaced the windows with wooden ones, the rooms would be dark all day long, forcing them to keep the lamps burning constantly.

Hei Lie didn’t want Yang Yi living in such a gloomy house, so he was especially proactive.

Yang Yi, on the other hand, remained fairly calm. From the beginning, he hadn’t intended to use advanced technology right away. Instead, he wanted to start with the most primitive firing methods. There was no need to focus on refining techniques immediately.

It would be better for everyone to first understand and master the fundamentals of the craft, then gradually improve upon them. That way, the entire tribe could truly grasp the process.

Besides, although the ancient firing methods produced glass that wasn’t transparent because of the many impurities, they could create beautifully colored, decorative glass instead.

These colors were vivid, distinctive, and deeply charming. On Earth, people in some regions had once used such glass as architectural decoration, making buildings uniquely beautiful and full of character.

“It’s really beautiful,” Yang Yi sighed in admiration as he looked at the glass beads. “It’s practically no different from gemstones.”

“The research progress is still too slow. We can only produce small pieces of glass for now,” Hei Lie said, clearly dissatisfied.

Window panes required large sheets of glass. With their current techniques, that was still impossible to achieve. The glass would easily crack.

Yang Yi smiled. “No need to rush. Let everyone have time to learn. If they get used to having everything handed to them right away, they’ll grow dependent. You’re the one who told me that, remember?”

Hei Lie twitched his mouth. That was something he’d said. But he still felt this situation was different.

“Besides, small pieces of glass can still be made into windows. Just use frames to join them together. It’ll even add more color as decoration.”

Yang Yi gazed at the glass in his hands, feeling that they looked even more beautiful than the ones he’d seen on Earth.

“I can’t wait to see how they’ll look once they’re pieced together into windows. It’s going to be stunning.”

When the temple had first been built, the focus had been more on strength and practicality. Back then, everyone had only just begun learning how to construct houses, so they didn’t have much experience and naturally hadn’t paid much attention to exterior decoration.

As the tribe developed, however, people’s sense of aesthetics had grown more refined. Though the temple was imposing and magnificent, it now seemed a bit lacking in delicacy. Its exterior was almost completely undecorated, unlike the later buildings that balanced beauty and structure.

In the new city, which was still under gradual construction, the designs clearly showed the influence of aesthetic principles built upon the old city’s foundation.

Just a few days ago, they had sent over some design blueprints, including sketches of building exteriors, which Yang Yi found very appealing.

He never interfered with the tribe’s sense of beauty, allowing them to develop their own artistic preferences freely.

As a result, their architecture had its own distinctive character. It was uniquely local, yet subtly influenced by the Earth books they’d studied.

The Spark Tribe’s style had become something truly special: a blend of native essence and foreign inspiration, harmonious and unique.

Yang Yi had always loved it. Aside from his own study, which he kept in the traditional Chinese style as a way of remembrance, he let everyone else design as they pleased.

Now that they had glass, they could use it to add color to the temple.

If every window could be replaced with glass, shimmering with light under the sun, it would give the temple a distinct and radiant beauty.

Seeing that Yang Yi wasn’t forcing himself, the tension in Hei Lie’s expression finally eased slightly.

“In a few days, we’ll be able to replace the windows in our house, too. They’ve been due for a change.”

Ever since they began producing glass, the windows in their house had seemed even more fragile. Yang Yi didn’t even dare to open them anymore, afraid that a single touch might make them shatter.

Looking at the windows, Yang Yi sighed softly. “Without realizing it, I’ve already been here for more than three years.”

“From now on, it’s up to everyone to build our home together. Bit by bit, we’ll fill your world once more.” Black Hunt said confidently.

Yang Yi smiled. He is no longer obsessed with the future. Instead, he cherished the present more than ever.

“Together.”

Hei Lie smiled and drew him into his arms. “Together.”

———

Soon, all the windows in the temple were replaced with dazzling glass. Though the glass wasn’t perfectly clear, its beautiful colors made it all the more enchanting.

Yang Yi had always liked spacious, bright designs, so the temple had many windows. Previously, most of them had been made of wood or paper, but now they were all replaced with glass, instantly transforming the temple’s entire appearance.

Under the sunlight, it looked as if countless gemstones were embedded in the walls, sparkling with brilliant hues.

In addition to replacing the windows, they also used some of the glass to decorate various parts of the temple, making it even more magnificent.

It was like seeing someone who had once been plain and bare now dressed in splendid clothes. The temple, too, seemed to have gained a deeper sense of mystery.

The Green Python Tribe, as always, was the first to receive the news. They immediately sent people over. The moment they saw the temple’s radiant transformation, they made their decision without hesitation. Buy, buy, buy!

“You people from the Spark Tribe are really trying to empty our pockets. You always manage to come up with something new and fascinating!”

Xiang Zhang sighed, the person in charge of trading with the Spark Tribe. Every time he came to the Spark Tribe, there was always some new surprise waiting for him.

Just when he thought the previous miracle had to be the last, before long, another marvel would appear to captivate them all over again.

If not for their large stores of salt, they wouldn’t have been able to satisfy their endless desire to trade for these goods.

Still, he had to admit. Ever since the Spark Tribe appeared, life in his own tribe had become far more colorful and interesting.

Hei Lie chuckled. “That’s exactly what you wanted to see, isn’t it?”

Xiang Zhang looked at the dazzling stained glass windows and had to concede that Hei Lie was right.

At the moment, they still couldn’t produce glass in large sheets, so each window was divided into several equal sections framed with wood, with each section holding a piece of glass.

The wooden frames were intricately carved, and their arrangement carefully designed, making them not merely a compromise born of limitation, but a beautiful decoration in themselves.

These colored glass panes, with their rich texture and glow, were in many ways even more charming than clear glass. It was hard for anyone to dislike.

“If you hadn’t told me what they were, I would’ve sworn they were gemstones.”

Xiang Zhang said in wonder. He could already imagine how others, those who hadn’t seen them yet, would react when they traveled all the way here and laid eyes on these windows for the first time.

Even the wealthiest tribes or city-states could never afford to decorate their walls and windows with that many real gems.

The arrival of glass once again sparked a frenzy. No one could resist something so brilliant and beautiful.

However, the Western Continent’s merchant caravans were destined for disappointment, because they couldn’t buy goods directly from the Spark Tribe.

“Oh, my most respected Divine Envoy, aren’t we the best of partners? Why won’t you even trade such beautiful glass with us?”

Qiao looked utterly heartbroken, unable to accept such a reality.

Yang Yi looked helpless. “This is a trade agreement between our tribe and Morri. For at least three years, we can only trade through him. There’s nothing we can do. He controls the key raw materials.”

Since they had decided to support Morri, both Yang Yi and Hei Lie were determined to make things as convenient for him as possible.

Morri’s rapid growth was, after all, highly beneficial to the Spark Tribe.

Besides, the excuse was perfectly reasonable. No one could question it. Controlling the supply of raw materials was, after all, an overwhelmingly powerful position.

And by doing this, it also made it far less likely that anyone would suspect any secret connection between Morri and the Spark Tribe.

Because of Morri’s monopoly, the Spark Tribe would appear to be losing quite a bit of profit.

For a supplier, conducting exclusive trade was actually disadvantageous, since monopolies affected pricing. Everyone was willing to pay high prices to acquire glass, yet the Spark Tribe turned them all down. While for the buyer, it seemed the opposite was true.

To maintain the glass’s value, they publicly claimed that the raw material was extremely rare.

In truth, it wasn’t exactly a lie. On Earth, natural soda ash wasn’t considered a rare mineral, but in this world, it was indeed difficult to find.

Yang Yi had long wanted to produce glass. But even after Han Bing had searched many places, he hadn’t been able to locate any.

Morri had stumbled upon it purely by chance. Though there was a large quantity where he’d found it, it was still something quite difficult to come across overall.

“Can’t you make an exception, just this once?”

Qiao’s eyes were practically glued to the glass. His envy was obvious. To him, it was no different from decorating with gemstones!

The chess set he had traded with Yang Yi before had attracted countless admirers. Even though those who obtained it could only possess it for a short time, it had still brought Qiao tremendous profit.

In fact, that very transience had turned it into a kind of mystical treasure. There were now all sorts of beautiful legends surrounding it.

Some said the marbles were like the tears of the most beautiful woman. Tears that vanished once she found happiness. Others told stories even more tragic and poetic.

Once an object was given such meaning, it became all the more mesmerizing and irresistible.

“I’m truly sorry,” Yang Yi said apologetically.

Qiao looked utterly crushed. The moment he’d received the news, he had dropped everything and rushed here, cutting his usual travel time nearly in half. Only to be met with this outcome.

Leaving empty-handed was more than he could bear.

“However, although we must follow the rules and can’t trade directly, gifts are still allowed.”

He took out a small wooden box. “This is a gift from me to you. A set of checkers. The last one must have been damaged by now, right? This time, as long as you take good care of it, it won’t break so easily.”

Qiao’s eyes widened in disbelief. He took the box and opened it. Only to be completely entranced by the glass marbles that gleamed like gemstones.

“Heavens… are you sure these aren’t real gems?! They’re too beautiful!”

This time, Yang Yi had made them himself. With thoughtful care, he had even drilled a small hole through the center of each marble. Not only could they be used for playing checkers, but also as beads for necklaces or other ornaments.

Yang Yi couldn’t help it. He had always loved versatility. If one thing could serve multiple purposes, all the better.

Because it was difficult to distinguish colors, they used different shapes instead to tell them apart.

Qiao couldn’t put it down. He loved it so much that even Yang Yi himself had to admit it was a truly wonderful creation.

Perhaps it was because this world differed slightly from Earth, but the impurities here produced colors of stunning beauty when fired, and the luster was remarkably fine.

“If you really like it, you should sign a contract with Morri as soon as possible. He’s clever, but still young. As long as you maintain a good relationship with him, I believe he’ll be happy to offer you a fair price.”

Yang Yi didn’t miss the chance to help build a bridge for Morri. Glass would have no problem selling on its own, but with his endorsement, Morri could more easily build connections.

After all, Morri’s background was unconventional. Though his clever words had managed to charm many, he had once been a slave, and prejudice still lingered. He needed opportunities to prove himself.

“I just hope he’s really as you say,” Qiao said skeptically.

Yang Yi smiled. “You’re a good partner of the Spark Tribe, and so is Morri. He’ll give you that respect.”

“Divine Envoy, your kindness is truly moving!”

Having received his reply and a generous gift, Qiao enjoyed a hearty meal in the Spark Tribe before hurriedly taking his leave.

Not long after, news arrived from Morri’s side. Qiao and En’s trade caravans had indeed contacted him. Even Maple Leaf City and several other places had treated him with courtesy.

Especially after learning they could obtain glass at lower prices, the city lord had even formally invited Morri to a noble banquet.

Glass had become Morri’s official stepping stone into aristocratic circles, earning him recognition and allowing him to maneuver more freely without becoming everyone’s target.

As winter arrived, glassmaking became one of the Spark Tribe’s most important undertakings.

Ever since glass had made its way to the Western Continent, the nobles had been utterly enchanted by it.

Their stone castles were sturdy, but also oppressively dark. Especially in winter, when all the windows were sealed shut, the interior would be pitch black.

Even though they lit countless lamps, the absence of sunlight left everything feeling cold and gloomy.

But if glass could be installed in the windows, those vibrant colors would bring life to the otherwise icy, lifeless castles.

Once upon a time, there had been an extremely wealthy city-state lord who had adorned his castle with gemstones.

But the cost of doing so had been astronomical, sparking immense controversy that ultimately led to his downfall.

Now, things were different. They had glass!

Though glass was still expensive, it was far more affordable than precious jewels.

And besides, Morri wasn’t simply selling it outright.

With Lan Jiao’s help, he had begun applying certain marketing tactics.

Concepts similar to the “lipstick effect” and other such ideas began spreading among the nobles.

Glass was no longer just admired for its beauty. It became a symbol of status and power.

You don’t even have glass? How outdated!

The nobles of the Western Continent had always loved to compete in displays of wealth. With a few deliberate nudges from behind the scenes, their obsession with glass soon reached a fever pitch.

This made Morri’s expansion across the Western Continent all the smoother, and the building of his own influence far easier.

“With Mao and Lan Jian by his side, Morri really has wings now,” Yang Yi said with a helpless smile as he looked over the new report in his hand. “In the tribe, Mao and Lan Jian were just like children. But once they went out, they completely transformed.”

Those two little ones usually looked harmless, especially Lan Jian. But who would’ve thought they had so many cunning tricks up their sleeves?

“When it’s not your own home, you can be more reckless.”

Hei Lie commented casually. After all, if something got messed up, it wasn’t their loss.

Yang Yi nodded. Fortunately, even though those two were full of sly ideas, none of them were malicious in nature.

“Still, this isn’t quite the direction I originally imagined.”

Yang Yi mused. In truth, he hadn’t had a clear plan from the start, but something about how things were unfolding felt a little off.

“Revolutions are never easy. As long as the goal is achieved, no matter what methods are used, if it can free more slaves, it’s worth acknowledging.”

Hei Lie said. Yang Yi understood that perfectly. He didn’t object to Morri’s approach. After all, the class conflicts on the Western Continent hadn’t yet reached the point where they could truly overthrow the existing order.

History never advanced because of a single person. It always took time, growth, and accumulation before a gradual change became a fundamental transformation.

“In any case, having someone like him on our side is definitely a great advantage for the Spark Tribe.”

He looked down at another letter. This one is sealed with higher confidentiality. It was written in English by Lan Jian, containing information Morri had gathered in the Western Continent regarding forces plotting against the Spark Tribe.