Chapter 105
Chapter 105
Xiao Jinghao had not expected a mere fire striker to make the Cannibal Tribe look so frightened. Clearly, they were extremely wary of fire.
Knowing that he would accompany his father in search of the tribe today, Xiao Jinghao had pestered his second brother the night before for information about their customs.
Unfortunately, the Cannibal Tribe lived in nearly total isolation from the outside world. Even books contained only a few brief references to them, so Xiao Jingmo knew little about the tribe.
The only widespread rumor was that they practiced cannibalism.
When members of the tribe grew old, their descendants divided up and ate their flesh. According to the books Xiao Jingmo had read, this was how the Cannibal Tribe had earned its name.
Outsiders knew nothing about their many other customs.
One fact was certain, however. They still relied on primitive flint to start fires, which was far less convenient than a fire striker.
That was precisely why Xiao Che and the others had brought fire strikers with them.
After extinguishing the flame, Xiao Jinghao held the fire striker in both hands and took two steps forward.
Seeing the long object produce fire and then go dark in the blink of an eye filled the tribesmen with curiosity.
They lowered their guard for the moment and watched Xiao Jinghao set the fire striker on a black rock. Then he stepped back and gestured for them to take it.
The tribesmen quickly clustered around their chief and babbled among themselves.
Finally, one man stepped forward and tentatively picked up the fire striker.
He kept his eyes fixed on Xiao Jinghao the entire time. When Xiao Jinghao merely smiled after he lifted it, the man realized that the newcomer meant to give the object to them.
That made him much bolder. He carried it straight back to the chief and handed it over.
The chief glanced at Xiao Jinghao. Only after seeing no reaction from him did he accept it. Awkwardly imitating Xiao Jinghao, he removed the cap, held the fire striker to his mouth, and blew hard.
The flame flared to life with a soft whoosh. He had leaned too close and singed a tuft of his beard, frightening him so badly that he threw the fire striker away.
It landed in the snow, which smothered the flame.
The other tribesmen were also startled and hurriedly leaped back. Once they saw that their chief was unharmed, they drew close again.
One man touched the chief’s beard and pulled away a clump of charred whiskers.
The tribesmen immediately became angry and turned to attack Xiao Jinghao.
But the chief held them back.
After another round of unintelligible speech and gestures, the chief picked up the fire striker and examined it once more. He blew on it several times, and the flame sprang to life again.
Everyone was stunned. They crowded around that speck of warm light and erupted into celebration.
Cheers of “Yo-ho!” rose from the crowd.
Xiao Jinghao knew the first step had succeeded.
After they quieted down, he pulled a dagger from his waist.
After what had happened before, the Cannibal Tribe did not panic this time. Instead, a trace of anticipation appeared on their faces.
Xiao Jinghao drew the dagger from its sheath. When its cold edge flashed in the firelight, the tribesmen immediately became wary again.
Xiao Jinghao promptly turned it around and lightly sliced the fur coat he was wearing.
A cut opened in the leather.
With another exertion of strength, Xiao Jinghao cut away a piece of hide from his coat.
He placed both the dagger and the scrap of hide on the same black rock, then retreated several steps.
Everyone in the Cannibal Tribe was captivated by the sharp little object.
Xiao Jinghao had noticed the irregular cuts along the edges of their hide robes. Not a single weapon they carried was made from iron either, proving that they had never encountered anything forged from the metal.
The same man from before brought the dagger over. It was their first time seeing such a sharp blade, and they found it almost unbelievable.
Just as Xiao Jinghao had done, they tested the dagger on the corner of one of their robes. A single stroke sliced that corner clean away.
The tribesmen fought over the chance to try it for themselves.
In the end, every one of them regarded the dagger as a sacred treasure.
Only then did the chief turn to Xiao Jinghao and gesture: What do you want?
Xiao Jinghao looked back at Xiao Che.
“Father, they’re asking what we want. It looks like they’re willing to negotiate with us.”
Xiao Che had not expected Xiao Jinghao to succeed. He had watched from the side with his heart in his throat, and now that they had made some progress, they could not afford to arouse the tribe’s suspicions or alarm them again.
“Hao’er, I leave the matter entirely in your hands. Remember one thing: we need grain seeds and salt. We came today only to lay the groundwork for a good relationship.”
Xiao Jinghao nodded. “Don’t worry, Father. I understand.”
Only then did he turn back to the chief.
Without speaking, he pointed at the cave behind them, then mimed an exchange with his hands.
The tribesmen looked back at the cave entrance. After a moment’s thought, they stepped aside. The chief pointed at Xiao Jinghao and gestured: You come alone.
Xiao Jinghao nodded and followed the chief into the cave.
Men from the Cannibal Tribe remained on guard at the entrance, watching Xiao Che and the Shadow Guards warily.
Xiao Che was tense. The tribe had a strange temperament, and he feared Xiao Jinghao might accidentally anger them and never emerge.
Xiao Jinghao was also nervous inside, but he worked hard to remain outwardly calm.
The cave was vast and relatively dry.
After walking several zhang, he saw an enormous wooden gate.
It was constructed from bound logs and wedged into the narrowest part of the cave.
The gate now stood wide open. Xiao Jinghao could sense pairs of curious eyes watching him secretly from behind it.
The chief led Xiao Jinghao through the gate. Torches burned brightly inside.
But Xiao Jinghao caught the faint scent of blood, and his expression tightened.
Remembering the rumors that the Cannibal Tribe divided and ate its elders left him feeling stifled.
Beyond the wooden gate, the cavern was wide enough for fifty people to live in.
Several tents made from wood and animal hides had been erected inside. The women and children lived in the tents, while the men took turns standing guard outside.
The moment Xiao Jinghao entered, everyone gathered to stare at him.
But they were all young women and children. Not one elderly person was present.
That only lent further weight to the rumors.
The chief invited Xiao Jinghao to sit by the fire.
An animal-hide pouch hung over the flames. They used it to boil water and cook food.
Not far away, the tribe’s women clustered together and whispered. Their gazes swept over Xiao Jinghao from time to time, openly assessing him.
Xiao Jinghao also studied the cave in secret.
He noticed many bulging hide sacks hanging from the stone walls, though he did not know what they contained.
The chief gestured: What do you want?
Xiao Jinghao pointed at the hide sacks on the wall: I want seeds.
Then he pointed at the salt nearby that had not yet been put away.
The chief understood his meaning, but shook his head.
He placed the dagger and fire striker Xiao Jinghao had brought on the ground, indicating that they were not enough.
Xiao Jinghao hurriedly explained through gestures: We have more.
After much talking and gesturing, the two finally reached an agreement.
The Cannibal Tribe gave Xiao Jinghao two sacks of millet seed and one sack of salt.
In exchange, Xiao Jinghao provided five fire strikers, two daggers, five axes, one large bundle of hemostatic medicine, and several large packets of prepared cold medicine.
Their first successful exchange marked the beginning of a relationship between the two peoples.
Xiao Jinghao’s group was large and needed a great deal of salt.
Through their communication, he learned that the Cannibal Tribe had access to a salt spring and could produce salt.
He also discovered that they possessed many more seeds. However, the goods he had brought today were limited and insufficient to exchange for them, so he left the cave with the supplies they had obtained.