Chapter 128: New Tribe Rules

Chapter 128: Chapter 128: New Tribe Rules

The tribe members returned to their work, clearing the area so Wei Zhan and Jiang Jing could come over.

Jiang Jing teased, "I guess we just can’t compare to you, Master Witch. We worked so hard to bring back that hunt, but the tribe members wouldn’t let us touch it. They insisted on saving the best for you."

Wei Zhan looked at the people behind Shi Zhile, and when his eyes landed on Wen Bai, he visibly froze for a moment.

"You... You’re..."

Wen Bai stepped forward and excitedly grabbed Wei Zhan’s hand. "Uncle Wei, it’s really you! Have you seen my dad?"

Wei Zhan let out a hearty laugh and clapped him on the shoulder. "I have. He’s in District Two. That old rascal is doing just fine—same as ever, full of crafty ideas."

Wen Bai breathed a sigh of relief. "That’s good. I was in District 531. I’ve been looking for him ever since the districts merged."

Just then, Mo Ze rushed over, hauling a man with him. It was Yuan Qiang.

"Master Witch, this guy was found and brought back by the newcomers. He started foaming at the mouth again just now."

Shi Zhile’s brow furrowed slightly. "He’s a lost cause. Ignore him. How many new people arrived today?"

Mo Ze let go of the man and bent his fingers, counting them over several times. He wasn’t good with numbers and always counted people by finger-fuls.

"About three fingers’ worth of people. And *this* many of them tried to steal our things, so I had the tribe members give them a beating and put them under guard."

Jiang Jing added, "Thirty-one people. Twelve of them formed a temporary group and tried to steal supplies and make a run for it while we were busy. The tribe members caught them, and they’re locked in the cave now."

Yuan Qiang, lying on the ground, let out a faint noise. The impact from when Mo Ze dropped him had actually jolted him awake.

After a moment, he managed to roll onto his back. His face was a ghastly shade of purple and blue, and he looked like he was on death’s door yet somehow unable to die.

Shi Zhile took a deep breath, pulled out her axe, and finished him off. Then, she flicked the blood from the blade and wiped it clean on Yuan Qiang’s clothes.

Sensing a faint gaze from behind, Shi Zhile paused. Only then did she remember that Shi Zhiyi was still there.

"Sis, yesterday he led the charge to kill me. I only had the tribe members toss him into the woods to fend for himself. Who knew someone would find him and bring him back?

He got to live an extra day, you know!"

Shi Zhiyi’s eyes held a hint of approval. "In a world this chaotic, you kill the bleeding hearts. The fact that you know how to kill proves you’re not a fool."

Shi Zhile breathed a sigh of relief and looked toward Jiang Jing. "Where’s Jiang Yuxing?!"

’The poison smoke I concocted was useless, and I’m not sure if any other fish slipped through the net. Of course I have to find him and make him compensate me for the supplies.’

"He’s sleeping in the cave."

An image from yesterday flashed through Wei Zhan’s mind, and a hint of embarrassment crossed his weathered face. "These are all newcomers? Both teams have a decent number of people. Have Mo Ze form a new team tomorrow."

Shi Zhile replied, "Alright. We’ll discuss the details tonight. The living quarters are full, so the three new women can stay with me. Uncle Wei, you can arrange the rest. Where’s Elder Wen?

Where’s Elder Wen?"

Wei Zhan rubbed his aching temples and let out a long sigh. "Elder Wen brought back a lot of seeds. A moment ago, he collected some soil and went back to the cave to start planting."

Shi Zhile said nothing more, pulling Shi Zhiyi back to their cave.

The cave now resembled a large communal sleeping platform. The stone bed had been extended outward, both widened and lengthened from its original base. It was covered with a layer of dry grass, and could easily sleep five or six people.

At the far edge of the cave was a single wooden bed. Jiang Yuxing was currently lying there leisurely, a cattail-leaf fan covering his face, his breathing even and steady.

After dinner, as night fell, two bonfires were lit in the tribe’s central clearing.

On one side, the tribe members were still singing and dancing. On the other, among the players, some were celebrating the day’s haul, while others’ eyes darted about, clearly sizing things up.

The moment Shi Zhile began to speak, the tribe members instantly fell silent.

"Today, a giant Black Python was discovered on the west side of the island, in the territory of the Beast-eating Clan. Its Python Scales are incredibly tough. It takes dozens of hits from a Level Three weapon just to pierce a single one.

I have no way of dealing with it at the moment. If anyone has their eye on the treasures the giant python might yield, you are free to head to the west side yourselves. But I have one rule: any player who goes to kill the Black Python must not lead it to the east side.

If anyone violates this rule and lures it over, everyone here is authorized to kill that person on the spot.

To ensure the safety of the eastern region, starting today, tribe members and players will be mixed into joint patrols in the middle zone. If the Black Python is spotted, notify the tribe immediately.

Uncle Wei will be in charge of arranging patrols and night watch shifts for the players. Mo Ze will be in charge of the tribe members. If anyone refuses to comply or tries to cause trouble, kill them on the spot.

Furthermore, no fighting or brawling is permitted within the tribe’s settlement. I don’t care what the reason is—if you dare to start a fight, I will dare to kill you. This enforcement task is assigned to the tribe members who remain here on guard."

The tribe members by the campfire were extremely cooperative, raising their hands in unison and shouting, "OOH! OOH! OOH!"

Their energy was overwhelming, and as they stood there together, their presence was intensely intimidating.

Some of the newcomers, who had been ready to voice their dissent, were shocked into silence by the display.

They could never have imagined that this group of "primitives" would obey the every word of a young woman who looked to be in her early twenties.

Shi Zhile raised one hand, and the voices of the tribe members ceased instantly.

"One more thing. Players heading out to scavenge for supplies should do their best to stay within the eastern region. If you discover any survival hints, I expect you not to keep them to yourselves. Share the information. Let’s try to get more players out of this instance alive."

Shi Zhile’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried with exceptional clarity in the quiet night.

With the tribe members so clearly backing her, all the players remained outwardly compliant for the time being.

Just then, a player from the first group that had gone hunting with the tribe members yesterday spoke up.

"How will the supplies we get from scavenging runs be distributed?"

Shi Zhile replied, "The supply distribution for the tribe members will not change.

As for the players, we’ve come up with two possible methods of distribution. First, all supplies can be turned in for unified allocation, just like we do for the tribe.

Personally, however, I doubt any of you could manage that.

Second, players can be self-sufficient, in which case you will not receive any supplies provided by the tribe. If supplies are obtained jointly with tribe members, they will be divided based on contribution. You all can negotiate the specifics of that among yourselves."

The second option was far simpler and required less management.

Supplies were the primary means of survival. If they were managed according to the first option, the player groups would easily descend into chaos.

Those with larger appetites would end up consuming others’ shares, while those with smaller appetites would feel it was unfair.

In times of scarcity, a single mouthful of food could be the difference between life and death.

Unsurprisingly, all the players chose the second option.

Since no players raised any objections, Wei Zhan began assigning patrol and night watch duties.

Shi Zhile paid it no further mind and led Shi Zhiyi back to the cave.

Inside the cave, Shi Zhiyi poked Shi Zhile on the head. "Alright, fess up. How did you get those primitives to hang on your every word?"

With only the two of them in the cave, Shi Zhile didn’t hold back.

"By outsmarting them. The tribe members were short on supplies, and your little sister just so happens to have them in abundance."

These primitives have a natural reverence for the ocean, but at the same time, they’re also terrified of it.

And that’s what I seized upon. I conjured fresh water for them out of thin air, and that was enough to completely win them over.