I Became The Chief Of A Primitive Village

Chapter 1029, Worth Nothing At All

Translator: Silavin

Ah Liv and Lu Yin arrived at the Yong’an Building with hearts full of unease.

The two of them stood at the entrance for quite some time. A dedicated attendant searched them thoroughly, confirming that they carried no threat whatsoever, before allowing them inside.

“We of the Green Vine Tribe bring our respectful greetings to the esteemed Shaman of the Flame Dragon Tribe.” Ah Liv and Lu Yin spoke their courteous greeting in unison.

This too had been taught to them by a designated instructor. It was something one had to learn before being permitted an audience with Su Bai.

The protocol was something Su Bai had devised specifically, intended to impart to the people of the Primitive Tribes an understanding of the importance of etiquette.

Though everyone naturally held a deep respect for the Shaman of their respective Tribe, there had never been any established, concrete form of greeting.

Thinking on this, Su Bai had wanted to create something that embodied the distinct character of the Flame Dragon Tribe.

The approach had proven remarkably effective. Every group that came to the Flame Dragon Tribe left with a profound sense of its mystique.

The elaborate layered protocols, in particular, were something other Tribes would most likely return home to imitate.

“Please be seated.” Su Bai appeared, as ever, entirely composed.

Though he spoke only these words, the sensation those words conveyed was enough to leave both young women deeply shaken.

Ah Liv thought to herself, [Why does this feel so different from the last time? The sense of pressure is far more intense. Ah! I can barely breathe.]

The young woman worked quietly to regulate her breathing, desperate not to let her current state of distress show.

Ah Liv remembered from her previous visit that Su Bai, though young in appearance, had nonetheless carried the dignity and commanding presence befitting a Shaman. Yet it had still been bearable then.

This time, however, was something else entirely. The feeling that radiated from him now filled her with a deep, instinctive dread.

Lu Yin felt it as well. The composed ease she had projected downstairs was now entirely gone, replaced by a sensation close to breathlessness. Had she not been a Totem Warrior, that pressure might well have been enough to make her faint.

Su Bai quietly adjusted his own presence, drawing his aura inward as much as possible.

He could sense the young woman’s profound discomfort, and understood perfectly well that it was connected to himself.

Ah Liv gradually began to adapt, largely because Su Bai had chosen to rein in his aura.

She was aware of this too, and after several deep breaths, said quietly: “Shaman, we have come primarily to discuss a potential partnership with your Tribe.”

Having said this, her entire bearing was one of the utmost deference. She was like a mouse caught in the gaze of a cat. This was the natural suppression born of rank and power, a fear and reverence that rose from instinct alone.

“The same purpose as the Earth Tiger Tribe, then. What does your Tribe have to offer us?” Su Bai had framed it deliberately, to place a measure of pressure on the other party.

To make it plain that the Flame Dragon Tribe had no shortage of suitors: many Tribes were waiting their turn, and if what was presented here could not surpass what others brought to the table, then one could hardly blame the Flame Dragon Tribe for looking elsewhere.

“Our Tribe has nothing particularly special to offer. There is only our vines that stand apart.” Ah Liv promptly unwound the vine coiled at her waist and presented it with both hands, holding it forward in a gesture of respectful offering.

She did not dare raise her head to meet his gaze, even though this was far from their first encounter.

“This is a vine of distinctive character, produced exclusively by our Tribe. Its toughness and resilience are exceptionally high. Even a Totem Warrior would struggle to tear it apart easily.” Ah Liv explained each point carefully and deliberately, not daring to rush a single syllable. Beads of sweat had already begun to form at her brow.

“Is that so?” Su Bai examined the vine attentively, then gave it a light, unhurried pull. It was without exerting anything close to his full strength.

A dull snap rang out.

The vine split cleanly in two in an instant. It took no more than a heartbeat.

“Ah…” Ah Liv was momentarily struck dumb. The vine that her Tribe took such pride in had, before the Flame Dragon Tribe, proved no more substantial than a useless blade of grass.

What made it worse was the sheer speed of it. The vine had been torn in the space of a single breath.

The Green Vine Tribe’s very name derived from this vine. That fact alone spoke to how deeply it was revered.

“…” Lu Yin was rendered equally speechless, her green eyes fixed unblinking upon the two broken pieces.

“Beyond the vine, does your Tribe have anything else to offer for trade? The Flame Dragon Tribe has no use for something this fragile.” Su Bai gave a slight, apologetic smile and returned the two pieces of the broken vine.

The vine’s resilience was genuine, in truth, an ordinary Totem Warrior might well have been unable to tear it.

But Su Bai was no ordinary person. He now stood among the ranks of High Grade Totem Warriors.

If a High Grade Totem Warrior could not even tear apart a vine, that title would carry very little worth.

“We… our Tribe has nothing better to offer.” Ah Liv lowered her head with a despondent expression.

She had already arrived without much confidence, unsettled by the Earth Tiger Tribe’s situation. Now, this fresh blow had landed on top of it.

For the moment, she simply did not know what to say. The Green Vine Tribe truly had nothing more to bring to the table.

“Then it is a regrettable outcome for our partnership.” Su Bai said lightly, with an easy shrug of his shoulders.

He had said it deliberately, to lay the groundwork for the conditions that were to follow.

“Shaman, our Tribe does have Shaman Bone Tablets. But offering Shaman Bone Tablets in exchange is something that cannot possibly be agreed to.” Ah Liv said helplessly.

“I understand. But your Tribe does have other things that could be offered in trade.” Su Bai said quietly.

Ah Liv was instantly reinvigorated, and asked at once: “What does the Shaman have in mind? As long as it is not the Shaman Bone Tablets, we can agree to anything!”

“Your Tribe could assist ours in building roads and constructing houses.” Su Bai said earnestly.

What he wanted above all else was the labour of other Tribes. Even the most devoted infrastructure builder could not accomplish anything without people.

“Building roads? Constructing houses?” Ah Liv blinked with innocent curiosity. “Do you mean the roads and houses here inside the Flame Dragon Tribe?”

“Yes.” Su Bai nodded.

Ah Liv appeared both flattered and somewhat puzzled. “Shaman, the Flame Dragon Tribe already has so many stone houses, and so many smooth, wide roads. It hardly seems as though you would need our help.”

This was her third visit to the Flame Dragon Tribe, and each time she came, the changes were remarkable.

This visit had brought the most dramatic changes of all — the Flame Dragon Tribe seemed to have left very little room for further improvement.

“I am not referring to work inside our Tribe, but outside of it…” Su Bai laid out the same explanation he had given to Yini and the others.

“I see… so you wish to build stone houses and roads through the forest. But none of us know how that is done.” Ah Liv said, a look of helplessness crossing her face.

“That is not something you need to concern yourself with.” Su Bai said with perfect composure.