I am a Primitive Man-Chapter 843: The Black Stone Tribe People Being Fooled
Chapter 843 – The Black Stone Tribe People Being Fooled
“#￥SE…”
On a bone-chilling night, a fire burned continuously.
Around the fire, a circle of people lay on the ground. If it weren’t for the fact that they were too close and felt uncomfortable from the heat, they would have pressed their entire bodies against the fire.
The firelight reflected off the surrounding snow, casting a faint reddish glow. The night sky was deep and vast, studded with bright stars.
Yet, no one appreciated this beautiful scenery.
The person squatting next to the fire, responsible for adding dry wood to the flames, would call out after a while.
If those lying around did not respond, he would go over and shake them awake.
They had to do this. After the experiences of the previous night, no one dared to sleep too deeply, fearing that if they did, they might never wake up again.
Compared to yesterday, they were weaker now.
The endless cold and exhaustion from the long journey quickly drained their vitality, like leaves turning from green to yellow and falling after feeling the frost.
Even the Black Stone Tribe chief, the most robust among them, who had eaten the best food, felt weak and powerless, yearning for a good sleep.
But he dared not. He feared he might never rise again.
When someone woke him from his sleep, he wanted to throw a couple of stones at them in frustration.
Yet he forced down this impulse, knowing that the person was following his own instructions.
Shaking off the haze from his head, the Black Stone Tribe chief sat up and took out food frozen solid like stone, sharing it with the others around the fire. They roasted it over the flames before eating.
In these conditions, there was no practical way to stay warm. The only method was to eat as much fire-roasted food as possible.
They discovered that after eating fire-roasted food, their bodies stayed warm for a while and became more resistant to the cold.
After eating, the chief assigned another person to guard the fire and wake everyone periodically. Then they would take turns sleeping back-to-back for warmth.
The next morning, after a hearty meal, the chief yelled at everyone to rise. Exhausted, they trudged through the snow, continuing their journey.
Where they had rested, only ashes and scattered bones remained—mostly human.
After a grueling march, two more people died. By dusk, the Black Stone Tribe finally arrived at the settlement they had been seeking.
Seeing the cave barely visible under the snow, the tribe members could not contain their cheers.
Strength returned to their bodies, drained from the cold and trek.
They ran toward the snow-covered cave, blocked by stone slabs, and pushed them aside with their bodies. Some slabs fell as they forced entry.
Inside the cave, someone suspiciously approached to see what was happening but was struck in the leg by a falling slab.
His leg instantly deformed, and he screamed in agony.
His scream ended quickly as a weapon with a black stone tip plunged into his chest.
The crashing slabs and his cries startled those rushing in, awakening the rest.
Some grabbed nearby objects to fight, while others froze in fear. Some panicked and fled deeper into the cave.
“#%WE!”
The Black Stone Tribe chief shouted, stabbing a resisting person with his black stone weapon.
Seeing the chief’s weapon and hearing his shout, others immediately gave up.
They dropped whatever they had grabbed and crouched down.
The Black Stone Tribe had previously defeated this tribe. If not, they wouldn’t have willingly supplied food before. They knew well the cruelty of the Black Stone Tribe.
Recognizing the terrifying black stone weapons, they surrendered cleanly, understanding that resistance would only bring more death.
It was better to endure this than die outright.
Thus, the chief and his men easily subdued the tribe, seized stored food, and feasted.
Afterward, some wielded intimidating black stone weapons to guard those driven to a corner, while the chief slept by the fire.
The subdued tribe regretted not resisting.
Not only had the Black Stone Tribe devoured their hard-earned winter food and taken it all, wrapping it in branches or animal skins, but after three days, they were driven from the cave.
Food was hung on them, and they were forced through thick snow in the cold, leaving their home and the warm fire behind.
Only then did the tribe’s leader finally attempt resistance, but having lost weapons, it was meaningless.
After the chief and several strong men were killed, the rest dared not resist.
Even on the march, many fell from cold and exhaustion, never to rise again, yet no one dared resist.
Inside the cave, those left behind grew worried.
It had been several days, and the chief and those who went out had not returned—a situation unprecedented.
Shu Pi, like the others, feigned concern, though inwardly he was elated. Years of experience, especially in the Black Stone Tribe, had made him a skilled actor.
Time passed. The normally cold-fearing Shu Pi now ventured outside to relieve himself—but in truth, he was checking for the chief’s return.
Seeing the empty snowfield, he was delighted, believing the wretched chief could not return.
The thought made him giddy, even making the bitter cold and wind feel delightful.
He shook off his furs and turned back into the cave—then stopped.
Squinting, he saw dark figures approaching across the snow.
More and more figures appeared, heading straight for their cave.
No doubt—these were the chief and his people.
“Pfft! Pfft!”
Shu Pi stomped furiously on the snow, spraying it around.
After venting, he hurried toward the returning group, shouting to alert those inside the cave.
As the cave dwellers heard and ran out to greet them, Shu Pi transitioned from walking quickly to full-on running, cheering as he went.
“#￥5#￥!”
Reaching the chief, who looked almost unrecognizable in his worn state, Shu Pi supported him, shouting with joy.
“￥%S!”
The chief, equally happy, patted Shu Pi’s head with his cracked, frozen hands.
Not just the chief, but all returning tribe members looked upon Shu Pi more kindly than before.
Not only had they endured hardships and returned safely, but Shu Pi had waited outside in the cold for them—the only one willing to do so.
This moved them deeply, earning his loyalty and respect.
Once Shu Pi led the chief toward the cave, the others followed, expressing joy and even carrying some of the returning group’s food to ease their burden.
Though grateful, they still felt Shu Pi was on another level—a combination of luck, skill, and effort.
With the chief’s return, the tribe became lively again.
The raid had yielded considerable spoils: food and captives to sustain them for some time.
Yet the cost was high—seven had died on the journey, and the returnees suffered frostbite, cracked skin, and even lost toes.
The chief himself had lost an ear to frostbite.
Though back in the relative warmth of the cave, the pain was pervasive. His frozen ear bled; others groaned in agony.
After this experience, no one dared suggest winter raids for food again.
The chief, wrapped in furs and nursing his lost ear, begrudgingly limited rations. Those who stayed inside received barely half of a full meal; Shu Pi ate more, matching the raiders’ portions, while the chief ate slightly more.
Shu Pi’s sleeping spot moved closer to the fire—a reward for his patience and cleverness. He had avoided deadly trials yet reaped the benefits, a first in the tribe.
Night fell. Shu Pi reflected on the strange turn of events: how he once hoped the raiders wouldn’t return, yet now eagerly awaited them.
Determined, he resolved to keep his schemes secret, as he had when he killed the Blue Flower Tribe chief.
Time passed, stored food gradually depleted, and the weather remained unforgivingly cold.
The chief further reduced rations, making everyone hungrier.
But the prior expedition’s harsh lessons ensured no one suggested raiding again. The tribe endured hunger and cold, weak and powerless.
Lying near the fire, Shu Pi hatched a bold idea: to persuade the Black Stone Tribe to march south and attack the wealthy, strong Green Sparrow Tribe.
Once this thought appeared, it grew uncontrollably in his mind, like wild grass.
With the tribe now facing cold and hunger, his tale of the Green Sparrow Tribe’s wealth would entice them.
Moreover, he now enjoyed greater trust from the tribe, including the chief.
The more he thought, the more he believed it was worth trying.
After two days of nurturing this idea, Shu Pi could no longer contain it.
He began passionately describing the southern tribe: endless food even in winter, warm and soft furs, cozy cave dwellings with heated beds, pottery to melt snow into warm water, and a life free from frostbite.
His voice echoed through the cave like a devilish whisper.
This time, he was not punished by the chief, even when recalling the half-cooked heated bed incident. In fact, the chief enjoyed listening, imagining having such comforts.
Previously, the chief had believed his tribe lacked nothing. But the early, harsh winter made their prior comforts seem insufficient.
Having lost an ear and still suffering frostbite, the chief listened intently, yearning for the life Shu Pi described.
If the chief longed for it, so did the others. The hungry, frost-bitten, exhausted tribe members were even more eager to possess warmth, food, and comfort.
Unknowingly, Shu Pi had successfully fooled the entire Black Stone Tribe, even enticing some captives to want an attack on the southern tribe to seize these luxuries.
They were motivated by survival, eager to obtain the food and comforts rather than be eaten.
Even Shu Pi could not have anticipated such a strong reaction.
Chapter 843: The Black Stone Tribe People Being Fooled
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