Capítulo 434: Chapter 252: Want to Be a Leader?_2

“However, before that, I need to ensure your loyalty to the Vine Tribe.”

After Jiang Xuan finished speaking, a green divine light flashed across his arm, and then the Divine Vine appeared.

Jiang Xuan respectfully said, “Vine God, please help leave a seed inside Hui Shu.”

“Buzz!”

The Divine Vine bloomed with dazzling divine light, and from among the leaves of the vine, a flower bud appeared, then quickly grew, blossomed, and bore fruit.

When the fruit split open, a semi-transparent seed glowing with divine light floated up.

Hui Shu was stunned to see this scene. He could never have imagined that Jiang Xuan’s arm was entwined with such a terrifying vine.

Hui Shu had not yet recovered from his shock when he saw the seed float toward him.

“No… don’t…”

Hui Shu instinctively sensed danger and struggled desperately.

However, his entire body was bound, and struggling was useless.

The seed glowed brightly and took advantage of his shout, flying straight into his mouth and rooting in his heart.

“Ah…”

Hui Shu felt a stabbing pain coming from his heart and let out a chilling scream.

Fortunately, the intense pain did not last long, or Hui Shu would have been tortured to death.

…

Chapter not finished, updates later.

…

Southern Wilderness, Vine Tribe.

“Huff… huff…”

In the cold wind, the heavy snow continued to fall relentlessly.

A woman wrapped tightly in beast hide clothing walked into Chi Shao’s courtyard and knocked on the door.

“Creak…”

The door opened from the inside, and it was Chi Shao who opened it.

“Come in.”

After Chi Shao opened the door, she returned to the hearth and continued grinding herbs with a mortar made of fine stone.

The woman at the doorway shook off the snowflakes from her beast hide clothing, then removed her beast hide hat, revealing her long black hair and delicate face.

This woman was the Thorn Vine Leader, Feng Chao.

Feng Chao entered the house, gently closed the door, as she knew Chi Shao liked the quiet.

Upon reaching the hearth, Feng Chao began reporting the situation of the Vine Tribe and its surroundings to Chi Shao.

“All the workshops are operating normally, but there are still occasional thefts. In the garment workshop, two people stole beast hide boots…”

“Two prisoners from the north tried to dig a tunnel and escape last night. They were caught and killed by the Guard Team…”

“Yesterday, the wanderers outside the south gate fought over food again, resulting in twenty-three deaths.”

“The Frog Tribe has been quiet lately…”

Feng Chao reported various pieces of information to Chi Shao one by one.

Chi Shao listened seriously while grinding herbs. After hearing everything, she did not find any major issues and felt a sense of relief.

In the past, these matters were handled by Jiang Xuan. Now that Jiang Xuan was not around, the heavy responsibility fell on her shoulders. Although she was not good at managing the tribe, she had no choice but to try to adapt.

“Is there any news from the leader?” Chi Shao couldn’t help but ask.

“No, if there’s news about the leader, I’ll report to the Witch immediately.”

Chi Shao nodded, feeling a bit disappointed but knowing that Jiang Xuan had gone to a distant place, and it would take him a long time to return.

“Witch, is there anything else you need me to do?”

“Not for now. You’ve worked hard during this time. Go back and rest.”

“Yes!”

Feng Chao put on her warm beast hide hat again, left Chi Shao’s house, and closed the door.

She tightened her beast hide clothing and then stepped back into the vast wind and snow.

With Jiang Xuan not around, many people in the Vine Tribe seemed to have lost their sense of security, including Feng Chao.

She could only strive to do her job well, maintain the tribe’s stability, and then wait for Jiang Xuan to return.

…

Central Southern Wilderness, in the forest outside the Black Teeth Tribe.

Jiang Xuan carefully interrogated Hui Shu, gaining a thorough understanding of the Rat Tribe’s situation.

According to Hui Shu’s confession, the Rat Tribe was a small tribe of about a thousand people, usually living scattered in various caves, not all gathered in one place.

The reason for this situation was that the Rat Tribe’s Totem God had fallen.

The siege actions by the major tribes in the central region against the Rat Tribe were not without results.

The Rat Tribe’s Totem God was severely wounded time and time again by the Totem Gods of various major tribes and ultimately died in a cave due to its injuries.

With the Totem God gone, the Rat Tribe naturally fell into chaos. Initially, the leader was killed, and then the few most powerful leaders refused to submit to each other, each attracting a group of warriors, causing the Rat Tribe to be torn apart.

Hui Shu had followed one of these leaders, mainly operating near the Black Teeth Tribe, surviving by stealing, hunting small animals, and gathering edible plants.

Before encountering Jiang Xuan, Hui Shu had never failed in stealing.

But unexpectedly, Jiang Xuan had deliberately lured them into a trap and directly captured Hui Shu.

After listening to Hui Shu’s confession, Jiang Xuan, while continuing to roast and eat meat, pondered how to deal with this fellow.

For a thief like Hui Shu, once caught by the tribe members, they generally would be killed because aside from stealing, he had no other skills, and keeping him would not be much useful.

But Jiang Xuan was different. Jiang Xuan believed that this guy belonged to a special kind of talent. If used in the right place, he might play an unexpectedly beneficial role.

Jiang Xuan ate seven or eight skewers of roasted meat. After satiating himself, he had a bold idea in mind.

He stood in front of Hui Shu, seemingly casually asking, “Want to live?”

“Yes.” Hui Shu nodded decisively.

“Want to be a leader?”

“Wha… what?”

Hui Shu was dumbfounded; Jiang Xuan’s question leap was too large for him to know how to respond.

“Don’t make me ask a second time.” Jiang Xuan picked up the Bronze Knife and made a few gestures.

Seeing the knife, Hui Shu instantly sobered up and nodded decisively, “I do!”

Jiang Xuan patted his shoulder, saying, “That’s the spirit. I appreciate those with ambition and aspiration.”

After hearing Jiang Xuan’s words, Hui Shu felt even more confused. What was the point of wanting such matters? There were many stronger than him. Even if he wanted to be a leader, he couldn’t become one.

Moreover, he was currently captured by Jiang Xuan; it was uncertain if he could even preserve his life.

Just as Hui Shu was puzzled, Jiang Xuan continued, “I’ll give you two choices. First, pledge your loyalty to me in the future and strive to become the Rat Tribe’s leader or even chief. Second, be thrown into the fire to be roasted and then eaten by me.”

Was there really a choice here? Hui Shu was almost in tears.

“I… I’ll choose the first.”

“Great, don’t worry. The Vine Tribe never mistreats those who work for us. I’ll make you stronger and give you the qualification to compete for the leader’s position.”

“However, before that, I need to ensure your loyalty to the Vine Tribe.”

After Jiang Xuan finished speaking, a green divine light flashed across his arm, and then the Divine Vine appeared.

Jiang Xuan respectfully said, “Vine God, please help leave a seed inside Hui Shu.”

“Buzz!”

The Divine Vine bloomed with dazzling divine light, and from among the leaves of the vine, a flower bud appeared, then quickly grew, blossomed, and bore fruit.

When the fruit split open, a semi-transparent seed glowing with divine light floated up.

Hui Shu was stunned to see this scene. He could never have imagined that Jiang Xuan’s arm was entwined with such a terrifying vine.

Hui Shu had not yet recovered from his shock when he saw the seed float toward him.

“No… don’t…”

Hui Shu instinctively sensed danger and struggled desperately.

However, his entire body was bound, and struggling was useless.

The seed glowed brightly and took advantage of his shout, flying straight into his mouth and rooting in his heart.

“Ah…”

Hui Shu felt a stabbing pain coming from his heart and let out a chilling scream.

Fortunately, the intense pain did not last long, or Hui Shu would have been tortured to death.