Crossing to Live in the Wilderness Plains 193
Chapter 193
Now that it was settled that Chen Qi could not go to the Lion-Wolf Tribe, Axiang considerately suggested ending the meeting so the people of Qi Ze City could discuss the exchange among themselves.
Ahxu immediately stood up and led the Lion-Wolf Tribe delegation out. While at it, he took their chief—who was visiting Qi Ze City for the first time—to see the ongoing construction projects.
After Axiang and the others left, Chen Qi picked up the kettle on the table, poured a cup of water for Aze, then took a sip from the same cup to moisten his throat before asking, “Azhang, was there something you wanted to tell us?”
Knowing Azhang’s personality, the conditions he had proposed should match what Azhang had in mind. If Azhang hadn’t agreed on the spot, that meant there was something he wanted to discuss privately.
Azhang stayed silent for a moment.
“I’m not against the exchange terms you proposed. I’ve been involved in building Qi Ze City from nothing into what it is today. I may be the chief, but…”
He paused.
“You might think I’m being a bit willful, but I still hope I can be the one to go teach the Lion-Wolf Tribe this time. Achu can act as chief for now.”
“Uncle Azhang, are you worried about the Lion-Wolf Tribe?” Aze asked.
Azhang gave a strained smile.
“After the last battle, you all understand how strong the hyena-drakes are. The Lion-Wolf Tribe may have more people, but in terms of defense… they’re likely not even as good as our small Qi Ze City.”
“If the last hyena-drake pack had attacked the Lion-Wolf Tribe instead,” Achu added, “even if they managed to win, the casualties would’ve been terrible.”
Azhang nodded. Based on the information exchanged earlier, only Qi Ze City and the Lion-Wolf Tribe remained in this region. Beyond the fact that people from his former tribe still lived there, Azhang’s nature wouldn’t allow him to ignore a situation where he could reduce beastmen casualties by teaching them how to defend themselves.
Crossing to Live in the Wilderness Plains (CLWP) is translated by Betwixted Translations. The site you’re reading this chapter on stole our translation.
Everything in Qi Ze City had been taught by Chen Qi. Though Chen Qi didn’t want to take the position of chief, Azhang firmly trusted his judgment. That was why he hadn’t accepted the Lion-Wolf Tribe’s request on Chen Qi’s behalf earlier. But since Chen Qi didn’t object to passing the knowledge on, Azhang wanted to help the Lion-Wolf Tribe survive the next winter.
He had an uneasy feeling—this coming winter would be even harsher than the last.
Chen Qi lowered his head in thought. The traps themselves weren’t difficult to make, but applying them properly and planning defenses would be tough for beastmen who had never learned these things.
Other than himself, the one who understood them best in Qi Ze City was Azhang.
“Azhang, you’re the chief. If you want to go teach the Lion-Wolf Tribe, you can decide that yourself. Don’t worry about Qi Ze City—we’ll follow the plans we discussed and manage fine.”
Chen Qi personally didn’t want to go, but he also wanted to help the Lion-Wolf Tribe get through the next likely hyena-drake attack. Originally, he had planned to send several beastmen who often worked with him on tools. But now that Azhang volunteered—and the Lion-Wolf Tribe had plenty of manpower—training them wouldn’t be a problem.
“Don’t worry,” Achu added. “I’ve been learning a lot about tribal matters lately. I’ll look after things while you’re gone.”
Achu had initially intended to lead the group himself, but since Azhang volunteered—and understood far more—there truly was no better choice besides Chen Qi.
“Uncle Azhang, you can take Uncle Ali with you,” Aze suggested.
He glanced at Chen Qi before adding, “Uncle Ali is the best in the tribe when it comes to making things. With him teaching them, the Lion-Wolf Tribe will learn much faster.”
Seeing everyone’s reactions, Azhang quietly let out a breath of relief. He had felt that leaving during such a busy construction period was irresponsible for a chief—but he didn’t expect the others to understand so readily.
“Thank you.”
Azhang stood and bowed sincerely to the beastmen seated in the meeting room.
With the decision made, Azhang sent someone to call the Lion-Wolf Tribe delegation back. In the end, both sides finalized the agreement.
Crossing to Live in the Wilderness Plains (CLWP) is translated by Betwixted Translations. The site you’re reading this chapter on stole our translation.
Before winter, the Lion-Wolf Tribe would send 300 strong females and 50 single males in exchange for 15 skilled craftspeople from Qi Ze City—nearly half of whom were elderly, gray-haired females.
That night, Chen Qi also worked late, preparing new design drawings, adding structures and defenses tailored for the Lion Wolf Tribe’s larger settlement.
Axiang was slightly surprised that so many of the beastmen sent to teach were elderly, but he didn’t object. That night, he sent Ayan and two others back to the Lion-Wolf Tribe to organize those who would travel to Qi Ze City.
Axiang himself would stay in Qi Ze City for several more days until the people from the Lion-Wolf Tribe who were to be exchanged arrived, and then he would take the people from Qi Ze City back.
By the time Chen Qi and Aze finished their work and returned home, the sky was already pitch-black. Knowing the two wouldn’t have time, Ka Luo had come over early to help prepare dinner. Ake was in the yard playing with little Ayao, while the two wild horses were tied beneath the fig tree. Probably because they were in an unfamiliar place, both horses looked a bit restless.
In the cage next to them, a few little wild rabbits had been scared into huddling in a corner; to them, the horses were giant, terrifying creatures. Their ears drooped low, and they wouldn’t even touch the fresh grass Ajing had pushed in front of them.
As soon as Ayao saw Chen Qi enter, he wriggled out of Ake’s arms and charged straight toward him. Afraid the little one might fall, Chen Qi quickly bent down and scooped up the increasingly round, chubby toddler.
Ayao was still clutching a half-bitten bright-red wild fruit, juice smeared all over his face and hands. Once in Chen Qi’s arms, he immediately shoved the half-eaten fruit toward Chen Qi’s lips.
“Daddy gave it to me. It’s sweet. Qi Qi eat too.”
Seeing the fruit slick with drool, Chen Qi’s face was filled with black lines. He quickly pushed the pudgy little hand aside and coaxed, “Qi Qi isn’t hungry, Ayao. You eat it.”
A moment earlier, Ake had been happily teasing his son. When he saw the boy run off to cling to Chen Qi again, he hurried over, plucked Ayao out of Chen Qi’s arms, and pulled another wild fruit from his pocket to stuff into Ayao’s hand—doing his best to redirect his son’s attention back to himself.
Ayao looked at the new fruit in his hand, then at the half-eaten one. After tilting his little head in thought, he turned and stuffed the eaten fruit into Chen Qi’s arms.
“Give to Qi Qi.”
Crossing to Live in the Wilderness Plains (CLWP) is translated by Betwixted Translations. The site you’re reading this chapter on stole our translation.
Ake gritted his teeth, lightly tapping Ayao on the head. “Your dad is right here. Why aren’t you giving it to your dad?”
Ake hadn’t used much force; Ayao didn’t even feel pain, only that something had bumped him. The boy glanced at his dad’s stiff expression, then stated seriously, “Daddy gave it to me. I give it to Qi Qi.”
“Haha, Ayao is such a good child.” Chen Qi couldn’t hold back his laughter, pinching Ayao’s chubby cheek.
Aze quietly stood off to the side, lips curved in a small smile as he watched the defeated Ake.
Still annoyed that his son preferred clinging to Chen Qi over him, Ake simply hoisted the little guy up and carried him back inside—to “bond properly.” He was determined to reclaim first place in his son’s heart.
With Ka Luo helping with dinner, Chen Qi went to check on the two wild horses first. Since the mare didn’t like the foal, he moved the mare to the open space behind the house. The foal stayed under the fig tree, and Chen Qi placed two small buckets of water beside it. He also piled some freshly picked grass nearby before leaving them alone.
The bags of snow goose eggs they’d brought back had been moved by Ake into a large wooden chest lined with dry hay and fur. Following Chen Qi’s instructions, a small fire had been lit nearby to maintain warmth. Chen Qi had cracked one egg earlier and seen a fully formed snow goose chick inside—no doubt the rest would hatch in a few days.
The few surviving adult snow geese were kept in a wooden cage, while the dead ones had long since been salted due to the heat and were now drying in a shaded, breezy area outside.
After adding water and a handful of feed made from crushed millet and weeds to the snow geese’s cage, Chen Qi prepared to go inside, wash his hands, and enjoy dinner. But just then, a dull knocking sound came from the fence gate.
Following the sound, he saw Axiang tapping the gate. When Axiang noticed Chen Qi looking his way, he offered a polite greeting.
“Are these the animals you’re planning to raise?” Through the fence, Axiang’s gaze swept over the rabbits under the fig tree, the snow geese, and the foal before landing back on Chen Qi.
“Yes.” Chen Qi stood up, slightly puzzled about why the chief of the Lion-Wolf Tribe would come this late at night.
“May I come in and take a look?”
Chen Qi froze for a moment, then opened the gate. “Of course.”
“Chen Qi, dinner’s ready.” Ajing had just come out with the little wolf cub, calling to Chen Qi. His hair was still damp—he had clearly just washed up.
Axiang’s eyes widened with surprise when he saw the little wolf cub. “I didn’t expect that you truly raised a giant wolf-god.”
The way he looked at the cub made Ajing uncomfortable. He stepped sideways to block Axiang’s view and, without waiting for Chen Qi to respond, took the little wolf cub back inside.
“You’re not just here to look around, are you?” Chen Qi asked.
“Of course not. I’m also here to freeload a meal,” Axiang said matter-of-factly.
Chen Qi choked a little, not understanding what the Lion-Wolf Tribe chief was scheming. But since the man said so outright, he wasn’t going to refuse him dinner. He politely invited him inside.
Chen Qi’s home had the most and finest furniture in the tribe. Though the style was a bit primitive, the overall layout wasn’t much different from a modern home.
A large wooden table was already filled with fragrant, colorful dishes. Aze and the others were seated, Ake was setting the bowls and chopsticks, and Ka Luo was bringing over the last plate. When they saw Chen Qi walk in with an unfamiliar, tall female, those who hadn’t met Axiang before looked confused.
After a simple introduction, Axiang sat down without hesitation. When Ajing saw him sit next to the little wolf cub, he immediately switched seats with the cub—instinctively uneasy with the man being too close to it.
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.
