Crossing to Live in the Wilderness Plains 172
Chapter 172
Since fleeing their tribe, the beastmen of the Salt-Water Tribe had moved from Salt Water Lake to a tributary of the Dosa River, then followed that tributary back to the main river and traveled upstream until they reached the vicinity of the Lion-Wolf Tribe.
Although they hadn’t traveled the entire way by bamboo raft, in order to avoid the hyena-drakes and ensure they could catch enough food along the way, they didn’t dare stray far from the Dosa River. As a result, many members of the tribe had suffered from prolonged exposure to dampness, leading to various ailments. Several even developed high fevers. If not for their generally strong constitutions, they might not have survived the journey at all.
When the Salt-Water Tribe arrived, they didn’t immediately rush to the Lion-Wolf Tribe. Instead, Achu led several females ahead to scout the situation. According to their earlier discussions, they had planned to merge their tribe into the Lion-Wolf Tribe. Even if that failed, they had hoped to receive the Lion-Wolf Tribe’s protection and safely endure the winter there. But now, the outcome clearly did not match Achu’s expectations.
Aside from the few females who went to investigate, the rest of the Salt-Water Tribe beastmen rested along the banks of the Dosa River. On their way upstream, they had spotted locust dragons wandering near the river. Though puzzled by their appearance in this region, they dared not take chances. They chose a stretch of riverbank untouched by any dragon before stopping to rest. Because of that, it took them most of a day to reach the Lion-Wolf Tribe, and by the time Achu and the others returned, night had already fallen.
The temperature at night in winter was several degrees colder than during the day. To guard against sudden blizzards, even though they wouldn’t be staying long, they still built several straw shelters so that the sick could have a place to shield themselves from the wind and snow.
Many campfires burned along the Dosa River, illuminating the area where the tribe had gathered. To keep warm, the fires were built close together. Ever since Achu and the others had left, the beastmen had been waiting anxiously for their return. When they finally saw them coming back through the darkness, they hurried over to meet them.
Axu calmed the tribe and had everyone sit around the fires. After receiving a signal from Achu, he carefully described everything they had seen at the Lion-Wolf Tribe. Finally, he explained the disagreement between them and asked the tribe to decide together.
If they chose to stay with the Lion-Wolf Tribe, they would set out that very night to bring the males and children inside the tribe’s walls. The females, however, would be assigned to the outer defenses and required to guard the perimeter until summer arrived. Even when resting, they would have to take turns sheltering from the snow in the few temporary huts built outside the main tribe.
Crossing to Live in the Wilderness Plains (CLWP) is translated by Betwixted Translations. The site you’re reading this chapter on stole our translation.
If they decided to go to Qi Ze City, they would set out early the next morning. Their group was large, and even traveling through the night, it would take several days to arrive. No one knew if they might be unlucky enough to encounter a pack of hyena-drakes on the way, or whether Qi Ze City would truly be able to protect them through the winter. But one thing Axu was sure of — at least if they went to Qi Ze City, they wouldn’t have to be separated from their families.
After Axu finished speaking, the beastmen fell silent. Only the crackling of the firewood in the flames broke the stillness.
Earlier that summer, many beastmen from the Salt-Water Tribe had visited Qi Ze City. Though they weren’t certain whether the small city could truly stand against the hyena-drakes, what they had learned and witnessed there had filled them with both curiosity and a sense of peace — even longing. When they returned home, they shared what they had learned with the rest of the tribe. As a result, even those who had never been to Qi Ze City understood it better than they did the Lion-Wolf Tribe, which they only knew vaguely as the largest in number.
However, the females did not immediately respond to Axu’s suggestion. Even if they had a favorable impression of Qi Ze City, they could not bring themselves to risk the lives of their tribe’s males and children.
Seeing the group remain silent, one of the older males sighed. His voice was not loud, but every beastman present could hear him clearly. “If no one can decide,” he said softly, “then let’s go to Qi Ze City. I remember that Ye Huo should be in that small tribe.”
Achu hadn’t expected the elder to make such a decisive statement. He reminded him, “Qi Ze City is a small tribe with fewer than a hundred people.”
The old male looked toward the few weary, frail females resting in the straw huts — beastmen of his own generation. If they went to the Lion-Wolf Tribe, he wasn’t sure these old friends could survive the winter outdoors. “I heard that even males can fight in Qi Ze City,” the old male murmured. He had been protected by females for over a hundred years and had never imagined that males could stand side by side with them in battle. “I also heard there was a male there who single-handedly killed a large number of ironshell-drakes.”
At that, the others couldn’t help but recall how the females who had returned from Qi Ze City months ago had chattered excitedly about that very story. At first, everyone thought they were exaggerating — until Axu actually led people to build the so-called city wall and traps, successfully fending off a small wave of dragon attacks without a single injury. Only then did they believe it. If not for the overwhelming number of hyena-drakes in the final assault — despite the rocky mountain shielding their back and Salt-Water Tribe at their rear — they would never have needed to abandon their home and flee.
Crossing to Live in the Wilderness Plains (CLWP) is translated by Betwixted Translations. The site you’re reading this chapter on stole our translation.
Many males in the tribe had already started families. Naturally, they did not want their mates to stay out in the wilderness and snow all winter. They also worried that, after the winter, they might never see their mates again.
Most of the beastmen’s feelings were lifelong and unwavering. Once they became mates, it was for life. Even though the males, influenced by their environment, were not as devoted as the females to reproducing offspring, they still would not want their mates to remain long in dangerous places just to keep them safe.
After listening to the elder male’s words, a young male took his mate’s hand. “Let’s go to Qi Ze City. If males could fight, I’d be willing to fight too.”
With one male speaking up, others followed, voicing their own opinions. Staying in the Lion-Wolf Tribe was not necessarily safe, but at least if they went to Qi Ze City, they would not have to be separated.
Lu Se stepped forward to stand beside Achu. The past days of hardship had left him thinner, and a faint sickly look showed on his face — a sign of an impending illness. He looked at Achu and said softly, “All these years, you’ve always stood in front of me to protect me. If I get the chance, I want to stand by your side too. Even if I can’t protect you, at least I don’t want to be a burden to you.”
Achu clasped his wrist in return. “You’ve never been a burden to me. You are my mate.”
Lu Se smiled faintly. “Then I agree to go to Qi Ze City as well.”
“Are you all choosing to go to Qi Ze City?” Achu asked, his gaze sweeping over his tribesmen. His voice trembled slightly — he knew that this decision would change the fate of their entire tribe.
The tribesmen exchanged looks and nodded one after another. Even the sick beastmen lying in the grass huts nodded seriously, supported by their family members, to show their agreement.
Achu took a deep breath and made his decision. “Then let’s go seek refuge in Qi Ze City.”
Since their destination was decided, preparations began at once. Although they had brought plenty of food when they left the Salt-Water Tribe, they had been pressed for time and couldn’t take much with them. Now, they could only spend the night catching enough food from the Dosa River to feed the entire tribe for more than a week.
Those who didn’t need to work took the opportunity to rest. The next part of the journey could not be taken by water; to reach Qi Ze City as soon as possible, everyone needed to preserve their strength and avoid becoming a burden to others.
Crossing to Live in the Wilderness Plains (CLWP) is translated by Betwixted Translations. The site you’re reading this chapter on stole our translation.
The next day, as the sun rose, the mighty group from the Salt-Water Tribe extinguished their fires and set off toward Qi Ze City. The place they were in was quite remote, and their route completely bypassed the Lion-Wolf Tribe. They did not realize that just after they had left, a few bright red dots appeared in the distant sky, flying toward the Lion-Wolf Tribe.
A sharp bird cry pierced the clouds. The leader of the hyena-drakes, walking in the middle of the snowy column, lifted his head in mild irritation.
“These little things really do love exposing your movements,” said the giant wolf-god lazily, walking beside the hyena-drakes’ leader with a mocking smile. “They still rely on the prey you hunt to survive, yet they can’t even give a bit of help to their hard-working enforcers?”
“Shut up.”
But the giant wolf-god ignored the command. Listening to the repeated bird calls, even his tone carried amusement. “These little creatures are sending messages to the beastmen. I think the beastmen must already know you’re coming. When you arrive, do you think you’ll find them gone?”
“If those beastmen want to escape, where could they possibly run to?”
“At least if they last until the end of this winter, they’ll have won. After all, you won’t have the strength to keep this up come summer.”
The hyena-drake leader gave a cold snort.
The giant wolf-god feigned surprise. “Don’t tell me you plan to stay here through summer? I won’t be keeping you company — I don’t want to die.”
“I’ll send you back to the forest before winter ends.”
Relieved, the giant wolf-god looked up at the sky where the messenger eagles hovered. “They’ve stopped flying. Could there be a beastman tribe up ahead? I wonder if your dinner will still be waiting for you tonight.”
The hyena-drake leader ignored him and slowly walked toward the direction where the eagles had flown, leaving a trail of messy footprints in the snow.
Meanwhile, some distance away from the hyena-drakes’ group, a warning wolf howl echoed across the snowy plains, carried along with the birds’ cries. The noisy tribe fell silent in an instant — but only for a heartbeat. Soon, everyone began to move swiftly and efficiently.
The beastmen guards who had gone out saw the dense, dark shapes advancing across the snow and felt their hearts sink. After confirming the situation, they quickly retreated to the ice city wall.
When the hyena-drake leader saw the familiar ice wall, a glint of interest flashed in his eyes.
Words from the Translation Crew
Miiya: 3 of 3 for the week.
Translator: Miiya
Editor: MushroomKnight73
Proofreader: Yume
Editor stepping into the realm of MTL translating, starting with CLWP. Support this translation with a Ko-fi. Three Ko-fis will add an extra chapter from the stockpile to the next weekly release.
