TPWBI Chapter 114

Ever since Hei Lie captured the first bamboo rat, everyone began to spot these little creatures one after another in the bamboo forest.

Before, no matter how hard they searched, they couldn’t find a single one. Yet now, they suddenly sprang up like bamboo shoots after the rain. In just a short while, they were scurrying all over the place, and their numbers were quite large.

So, Hei Lie organized a small team specifically to catch these little things. The members of the team were all half-grown children. This served as good training for their hunting skills.

Although these bamboo rats didn’t have much fighting power, their teeth were extremely sharp. But compared to humans, they were still easily overpowered. As long as one was a little careful, they wouldn’t get bitten to death.

However, they were very agile, darting about quickly and slipping into holes everywhere, making them difficult to catch.

Letting the half-grown children capture them was a way to train their agility, while also bringing these small creatures back to raise, so they could later serve as an additional food source.

The bamboo rats’ food was also very easy to obtain. Over the past few years, the tribe had cultivated a large bamboo forest.

By next year, they would even be able to use bamboo shoots as food.

The group of children didn’t let Hei Lie down. Within just a few days, they captured over a thousand bamboo rats, many of which were freshly born litters.

As long as they were properly raised, they could become like domesticated poultry and be part of the tribe’s regular food supply.

Last time, Hei Lie and Yang Yi roasted one, and the taste was excellent. Moreover, just like rabbits, they reproduced quickly. There could be over a dozen in a single litter.

They weren’t very big either. As long as the walls were built high enough, they couldn’t escape. Their vitality was strong too, making them very suitable for breeding.

Now, through years of trade, the Spark Tribe already had quite a number of livestock, mainly cattle, pigs, sheep, rabbits, and donkeys. Among them, the cattle and donkeys were used for labor, while the rabbits, pigs, and sheep were raised for meat.

The number of pigs and sheep had already surpassed ten thousand each, most of which were obtained through trade. Otherwise, relying solely on natural breeding would never have allowed their numbers to grow so quickly.

In addition, during trade fairs, the Spark Tribe would exchange ceramics and other goods for more dried meat and food supplies. Now, even if they didn’t go out hunting, they could still ensure that everyone could eat meat at least every other day.

If they didn’t have to think about preserving rations, they could even afford to eat meat every single day.

However, the Spark Tribe still refused to abandon their hunting traditions. Even though every hunt came with risks, with injuries and even deaths, this was a skill they absolutely could not afford to lose.

At present, the Spark Tribe had a rule: every member of the tribe, unless they were born weak or disabled, must hunt a total of at least two hundred kilograms of prey before turning fifteen, the age of adulthood.

If they failed to do so, it meant they couldn’t pass the coming-of-age ceremony, wouldn’t be eligible for many of the tribe’s benefits, and would have limited options when choosing their occupation.

These strict regulations were established after discussion among the Spark Tribe’s native members. The tribe’s rapid development had caused some people to relax a bit, becoming less enthusiastic about improving their own combat ability.

After all, it was an exhausting task. When given the chance to slack off, there were indeed people who chose to do so.

For now, the situation wasn’t yet serious. After all, the tribe had only recently grown prosperous. It wasn’t time for leisure yet.

But the signs had begun to show, so before Hei Lie even brought it up, the elders of the tribe had already jointly approached him with their concerns, saying things couldn’t go on like this.

They still held the belief that strength was the highest virtue. Their idea of “strength” was a rather narrow one, centered on physical power and combat ability.

They feared that once everyone became too focused on production work, they would forget the importance of martial strength and that, for the entire tribe, would be a very bad omen.

Although the Spark Tribe had always maintained strict military training, for now, things were still under control. But with time, once people grew accustomed to safety, complacency would inevitably follow.

They had to take some kind of measure, something that would constantly remind everyone of the importance of martial strength.

So, after discussing it with the others, Hei Lie finally established a strict rule, which was then carved onto a stone tablet.

Yang Yi had no objections to this and did not personally participate in setting the details. Everything was decided by the locals based on their own circumstances.

“Divine Envoy, about four thousand people have already arrived at the new settlement,” Ying reported dutifully. “Also, people sent from the tribes that recently migrated over have been inquiring about the situation there. They’re asking whether our Spark Tribe plans to establish a new city.”

Officially, since the site had not yet been formally built into a city, it was called the “new settlement”. In private, however, everyone referred to it as the “new city”.

Yang Yi raised his eyes. “Those tribes sure get their news fast.”

“Everyone’s watching our tribe,” Ying said with pride. “Before, we’d already made it clear we didn’t intend to take in new members, so they’ve just been camping nearby, hoping to receive some protection and make things easier for themselves. Now that there’s word we might be building a new city, they can’t wait any longer. Everyone knows the earlier you join, the better the benefits.”

As she spoke, her tone was full of pride. It was a feeling shared by every member of the Spark Tribe.

Back then, Yang Yi and Hei Lie had prioritized protecting the interests of the veteran members. After all, most of the newcomers were seeking refuge.

Food, clothing, and tools were all in short supply. While the addition of new members was undoubtedly beneficial for the tribe’s long-term development, at that time, it meant dividing up the resources that had originally belonged to the old members.

So, there was a clear difference in treatment between the old and new members, much like in a company, where senior employees receive annual raises and therefore earn more overall than the new hires.

Of course, there were exceptions. If a newcomer possessed exceptional skills or strength, they could exchange that for greater benefits.

Likewise, if an old member became lazy or lacked ability, the rewards they received would also differ accordingly.

This kind of distinction was quickly accepted by everyone, because even across the entire Eastern Continent, there was no such thing as absolute egalitarianism. People’s treatment varied according to their abilities.

Now, the simple divide between “warriors” and “ordinary people” had been further expanded. As long as one possessed other valuable skills, they could still create greater value and, in turn, receive more in return.

Such a situation was inevitable. Even Earth had not yet reached the stage of complete corruption, let alone this far more primitive world.

What Yang Yi aimed to ensure was that the basic needs of the common people were met. No one would starve or freeze to death. But if one wished to live a better life, they would have to rely on their own effort.

At the same time, this also served to make outsiders understand that the longer one remained loyal to the Spark Tribe, the more they would gain over time.

Whether internally or externally, the principle was the same.

Therefore, as soon as word spread about the establishment of a new city, even those tribes that originally had no intention of joining the Spark Tribe began to feel tempted.

Some of the migrating tribes weren’t weak. They had their own strength, but had been forced to move for various reasons.

Although such cases weren’t particularly common, there were still a number of tribes like that across the Eastern Continent. Once the food in their homeland became scarce, they would leave in search of a new place.

It was similar to how nomadic herders on the grasslands lived. They never stayed in one place for too long.

Yi City had already developed into a relatively mature settlement. Every position was already well-structured and wouldn’t easily change.

But the new city was different. It currently had nothing. Those who went there would become its builders, just like the early members of the Spark Tribe.

They would be the first to live in beautiful new houses, receive more food and daily supplies than future newcomers, and even gain a role in governance and management.

“These people really know how to read the situation,” Yang Yi said with a smile. “If they wish to join, they can follow the road to find Jing. As long as they meet the requirements, they can all settle there.”

While digging the irrigation canal, a road had also been built alongside it. It was originally built to make it easier to travel deeper into the wilderness.

Now, the site for the new city was located near that very road, making it convenient for travel and communication between the two cities.

“If those tribes join, the new city’s population will quickly reach ten thousand.”

“That speed is truly astonishing,” Yang Yi sighed.

Ying replied with certainty, “The news hasn’t spread far yet. Once everyone hears about it, there will only be more people coming.”

“I really didn’t expect so many would be willing to leave their homes behind,” Yang Yi said, somewhat amazed.

But Ying found it completely natural. “Our tribe is so great. Of course, everyone would want to come!”

“How are things going on Jing’s side?”

“Everything’s going smoothly. Jing brought along quite a few elites from various departments. With Yi City’s experience to draw from, everything’s been organized efficiently. They haven’t encountered any problems they couldn’t handle.”

Yang Yi nodded. He trusted Jing and Rong as a couple very much. The two of them were more than capable of managing everything well.

Not to mention, Jing had a calm and steady temperament, while Rong, though she seemed bold and carefree on the surface, was actually very perceptive and clear-headed. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to lead her hunting team so successfully.

Rong’s team had always been known for its ferocity. Not only because each member was individually strong, but also because of the leader’s exceptional ability.

Every day, a designated messenger would ride the fastest ostrich to deliver updates about the new city’s situation, ensuring that both cities could stay informed about each other’s status.

Ostriches were extremely fast, so it only took half a day for one to reach its destination.

“Some people really deserve to stay poor,” Yang Yi said with an exasperated laugh as he looked over the report, then handed it to Hei Lie.

Hei Lie took it, snorted, and said, “People like that should’ve been fed to the crocodiles long ago.”

The crocodiles in the moat were fierce creatures. Within the tribe, when people wanted to threaten someone, they would often say, “I’ll throw you to the crocodiles.”

The situation in the new city was clearly much more complicated than that in Yi City. Back when people first sought refuge in Yi City, most had done so out of sheer desperation. Their lives had become unbearable, so they had no other choice.

After all, at that time, the Spark Tribe was still a newly established group. Though the rumors about it sounded impressive, people were still skeptical about how it truly was.

So, those who came were usually the ones with no other way to survive. That desperate urge to live made them much more obedient.

Besides, Yi City had Yang Yi, the mysterious “Divine Envoy”, and a top-tier powerhouse whose very presence was enough to make people tremble. With such figures overseeing the place, no one dared to disobey orders. Everyone followed instructions to the letter.

But things were completely different on Jing’s side. The Spark Tribe was now famous, a wealthy and well-regarded tribe.

Many of the tribes migrating there weren’t doing so out of dire necessity. They were simply seeking better opportunities, moving upward, as people always did.

As a result, the newcomers had far more complicated thoughts and motives than those who once joined Yi City out of desperation. A wide variety of people were arriving, each with their own agenda.

Jing, though a formidable warrior, was disabled. He was already a fourth-level warrior, an impressive rank. But compared to Hei Lie, the top expert of the Eastern Continent, there was still a significant gap.

Rong was also a powerful warrior, yet even so, there were some tribal leaders who could match her strength. Their authority, compared to that of Yang Yi and Hei Lie, was naturally far weaker. That made it easier for them to encounter all kinds of strange and troublesome situations.

“Jing didn’t mention a single word about any of this. I thought everything was going smoothly.”

Hei Lie wasn’t surprised. “It’s just a small matter. If he can’t even handle something like this, then he might as well hurry back and take care of the kids.”

“These people really amaze me,” he continued. “They actually ate the seeds. Good thing we didn’t let them start breeding livestock yet. Otherwise, they’d have eaten those too.”

Yang Yi shook his head. He had seen this kind of situation before in the news.

When people went to the countryside to help with poverty relief, the government handed out seeds and piglets, but they were eaten right away. Nobody wanted to put in the effort to plant or raise them.

He didn’t expect to see the same thing happening here. Different world, same kind of humans after all.

“It’s just a test,” Hei Lie said lightly.

Yang Yi lifted his eyes. “You mean…”

“The people who came from the new city are more complicated,” Hei Lie explained. “Many of them come from intact tribes, and they’re quite capable. That means there are chiefs and shamans among them. Not everyone is willing to give up their power.”

“If they’re not willing, then why merge in the first place?” Yang Yi was speechless. Wasn’t that just making things difficult for themselves?

The new city’s people were under the Spark Tribe’s umbrella. They had a high degree of autonomy, but they were still a part of Spark.

They needed to be self-sufficient, but the Spark Tribe also provided them with a lot of support.

If it weren’t for the sake of maintaining control, who would bother putting in so much effort?

Hei Lie just smiled without saying a word.

Of course, Yang Yi understood what those people were thinking, but he couldn’t help feeling disgusted. They couldn’t even fill their stomachs, yet they were already stirring up these pointless power struggles. Wouldn’t it be better to put that energy into something useful?

During this period, everything in the new city had been entirely under Jing’s management. Neither Hei Lie nor Yang Yi had intervened.

Jing and Rong had taken away a certain number of people and supplies. They used only those resources for construction. The Spark Tribe had not provided them with anything else since.

The only point of overlap was that they had to send some people to help dig irrigation channels. This was to prepare for their future water supply.

The Spark Tribe did not pay them for this work. If they wanted access to sufficient water resources, they had to participate.

Everyone seemed to sense this subtle relationship, and each wanted a bigger share of the benefits.

Eating the seeds was a kind of test. To find out what kind of leader Jing really was.

“The ones who ate the seeds are just stupid,” Yang Yi finally sighed.

Those people had committed a serious taboo. In the Spark Tribe, that kind of act would be punished severely.

At worst, they would be executed. At best, expelled from the tribe.

Seeds were something that could never, under any circumstances, be eaten. They represented the continuation of hope.

And these people had stepped right onto a landmine the moment they arrived. Fortunately, there weren’t many of them. Otherwise, Yang Yi would have been heartbroken.

Seed cultivation wasn’t easy because the very first batch of seeds had originally come from the storage space.

But the seeds from the storage space had been gradually degenerating. Right now, their yield was only about half of what it once was, a steep decline.

Even so, the production was still decreasing.

It was only thanks to Qing and the others, those with natural talent for plants, that the seeds could be maintained at their current level. Through their study and innate abilities, they worked hard to keep the seeds viable.

This wasn’t just a matter of science. After all, everyone’s knowledge level was still far from the expertise of Earth’s scientists.

They relied more on their innate talents and abilities to sustain the seeds’ yield, which also meant that high-quality seeds were still quite limited in number.

To better ensure the construction of the new city, and to make sure that the great harvest before the cold season could ease its food pressure, the seeds they had sent over were the very best quality, even better than what Yi City itself had.

And yet those people actually ate the seeds!

If the poultry and livestock hadn’t been raised collectively, they would’ve probably been ruined as well by now.

Unlike the Spark Tribe, farming in the new city wasn’t done through communal labor, where all the harvested grain was pooled together.

Instead, each person was allocated a portion of land to be cultivated either by family units or in small groups. Jing was responsible for providing the seeds, techniques, and even tools.

When the harvest came, thirty percent of the grain had to be handed over as tax, which would then be used for the city’s construction.

That land didn’t belong to the people it was given to. They only had the right to use it, not to own it.

Therefore, they couldn’t trade it, nor could they secretly use it to grow other things. They had to work according to the requirements.

During the harvest season, those who produced the most would receive corresponding rewards, while anyone who failed to pay their tax three times in a row would have their land reclaimed and be reassigned to other types of work.

If it was due to personal laziness or attitude problems, such slackers might very well be expelled altogether.

These rules had been jointly discussed and decided on by Yang Yi, Hei Lie, and Jing, meant to encourage everyone’s motivation and initiative.

Compared to collective labor, this system suited the newly joined people better.

In fact, even in Yi City, as the population grew larger and more diverse, there had begun to appear some people who were lazy and just getting by.

Though it wasn’t very noticeable yet, the gradual spread of such an attitude meant that this model might soon need to change.

Yang Yi and Hei Lie had long foreseen that this day would come. The sprout of private ownership had already begun to show itself before. It had only been concealed under the guise of “might makes right”.

However, Yang Yi hadn’t expected it to arrive so soon. After all, most of the people he had interacted with were so diligent that they made him feel ashamed of himself.

They cherished everything they had in front of them and poured all their effort into their work without needing any supervision, which deeply moved Yang Yi.

The new city was also meant to serve as a pilot project. If it proved successful, Yi City would soon adopt the same model.

Managing such a large population under a planned production system inevitably bred problems and placed enormous pressure on their administrative capacity.

No one in the tribe had ever governed such a large group of people before.

Even across the entire Western Continent, few cities were this vast.

“To build a city, there always has to be a process like this,” Hei Lie said calmly.

Yi City, too, had gone through bloodshed during its founding.

The deterrence of force was, in a place like this, absolutely necessary.

“These people are just being used as pawns,” Yang Yi said, tapping his finger lightly on the documents. “The ones behind them can’t be let off.”

“Jing will handle it. He won’t miss a chance like this to establish his authority,” Hei Lie replied.

Just as Hei Lie predicted, Jing used this incident to carry out a sweeping purge throughout the new city. His methods were ruthless, completely at odds with the gentle demeanor he usually showed on the surface.

Before long, someone came to report the matter directly to Yang Yi instead of to Hei Lie.

“They’re looking for me?” Yang Yi raised an eyebrow.

Ying’s expression was solemn. “Yes. He’s requesting an audience with you, Divine Envoy. He wishes to speak of their grievances and hopes that you will deliver them justice.”

Yang Yi chuckled. “It seems their information network is quite efficient.”

Jing’s purge had taken place five or six days ago, and yet they only came now, right when Hei Lie happened to be away from the tribe. The timing was rather delicate.

“Divine Envoy, would you like to meet him?” Ying asked.

Yang Yi paused for a moment. “Let him come to the main hall.”

When meeting outsiders he couldn’t fully trust, Yang Yi now preferred to do so in the grand hall on the first floor.

Not only did that create a more imposing atmosphere, but it also kept a certain distance between him and the visitor, ensuring his safety.

Especially when Hei Lie wasn’t around, this arrangement was absolutely necessary.

The entire tribe placed the utmost importance on Yang Yi’s safety. Even though most of the supplies he had brought with him were long gone, and the books had all been copied, no one had shown any intent to discard him now that his usefulness was exhausted.

Aside from his connection with Hei Lie, Yang Yi had, over the years, truly established himself within the tribe.

Although everything had begun with the “cheat” given by the god of transmigration, he had managed to maintain stability even after losing it, gradually dispelling the last traces of unease in his heart.

Everyone still regarded him as the divine envoy, a being of supreme authority. Thus, his safety remained a top concern.

Yang Yi donned the silk robe tailored specifically for receiving guests. The style resembled traditional attire from ancient China, though he wasn’t sure exactly which dynasty it came from.

The inner robe was a cross-collared, wide-sleeved long garment. Over it, he wore a floor-length outer robe with open fronts, made of white silk with subtle patterns and finely embroidered edges.

Every movement Yang Yi made was graceful and composed. This set of clothing was a privilege reserved solely for him. No one else was allowed to own or wear anything like it.

Even the floor-length design, considered wasteful and cumbersome, was prohibited for others. That rule existed to prevent imitation and the unnecessary use of precious fabric.

“Great Divine Envoy, I finally get to see you! Please, please save us!”

The moment the visitor saw Yang Yi, he burst into loud sobs.

Yang Yi froze slightly at the scene. To be honest, ever since he’d come to this world, he had rarely seen anyone so theatrical.

People here were straightforward; they didn’t go in for this kind of performance.

Even the cunning folk of the Western Continent weren’t this dramatic.

“You’re from the new settlement, aren’t you?” Yang Yi asked.

“Yes! We can hardly survive there anymore! Divine Envoy, you are so kind. You wouldn’t bear to see your people suffer. Please, save us!”

The man had brought a few injured companions with him. They looked pitiful and miserable. Soon, all of them began crying together, sniffling and wailing as if their lives depended on it.

“You came here without your new leader’s permission?” Yang Yi asked calmly.

“Yes,” the man said quickly. “They didn’t want the Divine Envoy to know what’s happening over there, so we had no choice but to take the risk and come ourselves.”

Yang Yi nodded slightly. “So, you want me to go there and stand up for you. Perhaps even replace your leader?”

“Is… is that possible?!” the man exclaimed, his face lighting up with joy.

Yang Yi smiled. “Of course not.”

“Divine Envoy…” The man stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

“Sending Jing to oversee the new settlement and help you rebuild your homes was a decision made jointly by me and Hei Lie, the chieftain of the Spark Tribe. Are you questioning our judgment?”

“That’s not what we meant! It’s just that the leader isn’t following your divine will—”

“I granted him authority on behalf of the gods,” Yang Yi interrupted. “Everything he does represents the will of the gods. Do you understand?”

The man’s expression twisted with unwillingness. “Divine Envoy, you’re so kind. Would you really allow so many people to suffer?”

“Those who break the rules deserve to suffer a little,” Yang Yi said coolly.

He rose from the tall chair, his gaze sharp, his voice powerful as he declared:

“Jing is the leader appointed by my command. In the new settlement, he is the highest authority. Anyone who dares to defy the Spark Tribe’s rules should not blame us for enforcing punishment according to those very rules!”