Chapter 98: Huaxia
Chapter 98: Huaxia
Early morning.
The first rays of sunlight fell upon the endless wilderness.
The merchant caravan camp outside the Shan Yue Village fort “awoke”.
The embers of the outer campfires still sent up wisps of smoke, and caravan members who had just emerged from their tents began to work.
Some added firewood to boil tea and prepare food, some fed dried bean cakes to the pack beasts, and others unloaded goods from the animal-drawn carts, stacking them beside the tents.
Typically, the Qinghe Merchant Caravan stayed here only one day and night.
After trading was done, they would immediately pack up and leave for the next destination.
Meanwhile, giants of the Shan Yue Tribe also hauled out large quantities of wild beast furs, beast meat, bones, and wild medicinal herbs from within their village fort.
The area inside and outside the fort walls became very lively.
Led by several tribal warriors, the Elder Shaman Shan Yan walked out of the village fort, holding Shan Guoer’s hand.
Everyone reached the center of the caravan camp.
Into the largest tent.
The leader of the Qinghe Merchant Caravan was already waiting inside.
A rosewood table stood in the big tent. The Spirit Energy Puppet from yesterday sat noticeably in the host’s seat.
Two Giant knights stood on its left and right.
One was Qing Lan.
Seeing Shan Tai follow Shan Yan inside, she playfully winked at him.
Shan Tai revealed a shy smile.
But this female knight from the Qinghe Tribe quickly focused her attention on Shan Guoer’s shoulder.
More precisely, on Gao Jing sitting on the little girl’s shoulder!
Surprise flickered in Qing Lan’s eyes.
Not just her; the other merchant knight also clearly looked startled.
Meanwhile, the Spirit Energy Puppet squatting in the host’s seat, its eyes resembling polished crystals, flashed with light.
It stood up and bent forward to bow to Shan Yan. “Shaman Leader Shan Yan, greetings, Your Honor.”
Its voice was muffled, as if resonating through an object.
Gao Jing was a bit stunned.
He hadn’t expected this Spirit Energy Puppet to be able to speak at all!
Gao Jing suddenly remembered what the Elder Shaman had told him yesterday. Could this be the caravan leader?
That would be truly interesting!
“Greetings,” the Elder Shaman returned the bow with a nod. “Your Honor Zhiqi.”
“And this is?” The square head of the Spirit Energy Puppet tilted slightly towards Shan Guoer, its obsidian eyes flashing light again.
“This is my granddaughter,” the Elder Shaman said with a smile. “Her name is Shan Guoer.”
The Spirit Energy Puppet was silent.
It hadn’t really been asking about the little girl!
“And this esteemed one…” the Elder Shaman continued, “This is Your Honor Gao Jing, the most honored guest in our tribe.”
“Hmm.” The Spirit Energy Puppet nodded.
Its obsidian eyes flashed rapidly. “Your Honor Gao Jing, may I ask which clan are you from? Which Abyss City do you hail from?”
The question was clearly abrupt.
But it also showed this Spirit Energy Puppet was very interested in Gao Jing’s origins.
Gao Jing knew that Abyss Cities referred to the underground cities established by the Ancient Remnant Clan deep within the Abyss.
Because of the special underground environment, each Abyss City was effectively an entirely independent power.
A large Abyss City could hold hundreds of thousands of people, with hundreds of tribes!
A small one might have only one tribe.
To the Spirit Energy Puppet’s inquiry, Gao Jing gave a faint smile.
Pressing down on Shan Guoer’s shoulder, he used the force to leap up, landing steadily on the wooden table in front of him.
He raised his head to face the massive puppet before him. “The Hua Clan! Great Xia! I am a son of Huaxia!”
The Elder Shaman Shan Yan had believed Gao Jing was from the Ancient Remnant Clan and had never asked about his true origins.
So this was the first time Gao Jing publicly declared his identity.
A son of Huaxia!
“Huaxia?” The Spirit Energy Puppet clearly hesitated, then shook its head. “I’ve never heard of that name.”
His tone carried strong doubt.
“Then remember it now.”
Gao Jing’s voice grew deeper. “China is named Xia for its grand rites! It is called Hua for its magnificent garments and culture!”
He stood proudly, voice ringing clearly, radiating an unseen aura of authority.
Even facing a puppet ten times his size, he showed no fear or timidity.
Instead, he was filled with confidence and pride!
He had translated this passage into the Dahuang Language just now.
Although slightly different from the original meaning, it retained every ounce of its majestic spirit!
“Hmm.” The Spirit Energy Puppet lowered its head. “Apologies, Your Honor Gao Jing. Zhiqi is unlearned and ill-informed.”
Gao Jing smiled slightly.
After apologizing, the Spirit Energy Puppet’s eyes glimmered. “Shaman Leader Shan Yan, Your Honor Gao Jing, please sit.”
Elder Shaman Shan Yan sat down in a chair opposite the puppet.
Shan Guoer immediately pulled a small, prepared chair from her vine basket.
She placed it behind Gao Jing.
So he sat on the table to the left of the Elder Shaman.
“Good girl.” The Elder Shaman patted the little girl’s head fondly. She smiled with curved eyes and leaned against her grandfather.
“Hmm.” The Spirit Energy Puppet grunted. “Shaman Leader Shan Yan, shall we begin?”
It sat down too.
It stretched out its right arm, resting it lightly on the table, and tapped the surface with its index finger.
Gao Jing noticed intricate rune patterns carved where its arm and finger joints connected.
The patterns were shallow and faint in color, hard to see without close inspection.
“Shaman Leader Shan Yan…” the Spirit Energy Puppet continued, “…because mining the Salt Stone deposits in our Qinghe City has grown harder, and a cave-in happened recently, production has dropped significantly.”
“So this time, the trading share will be different from last time.”
The Elder Shaman immediately frowned, displeased. “Your Honor Zhiqi, it started as one Sabertooth Tiger pelt for three standard portions of Salt Stone. Then it changed to one pelt for two. Then finally, one for one.”
“How do you want to change it now?”
Gao Jing finally understood why Elder Shaman Shan Yan was unhappy with the Qinghe Merchant Caravan.
This was ridiculously unfair!
Clearly exploiting its resource advantage, the Qinghe caravan was using a slow, boiling-frog method to squeeze the lifeblood of the Shan Yue Tribe bit by bit, taking an inch and demanding a mile. Utterly greedy.
“Hmm.” The Spirit Energy Puppet replied impassively, “One standard portion of Salt Stone will exchange for two tiger pelts in good condition.”
“Haha,” the Elder Shaman laughed. “Then forget it.”
“Forget it?” The Spirit Energy Puppet paused abruptly. “Shaman Leader Shan Yan, are you sure you won’t trade?”
Salt Stone was one of the most crucial trade goods in the Great Wilderness. Everyone needed salt. If they lacked salt for a long time, they would weaken and eventually die!
The Qinghe Tribe, controlling the Salt Stone mines, essentially held the lifelines of all the surrounding tribes, big and small.
It had actually prepared itself to bargain with the Elder Shaman.
Trading two Salt Stones for three pelts would likely have been the compromise.
A slow cut, taking it step by step.
Never had it imagined the Elder Shaman would outright refuse.
Had the Shan Yue Giants stopped needing salt?
Or perhaps…
The Spirit Energy Puppet’s obsidian eyes started flashing again.
Flickering fiercely this time.
“Trade!” The Elder Shaman pulled a pipe from his waist pouch and lit it, drawing a satisfying puff. “One tiger pelt for five Salt Stones.”
The Spirit Energy Puppet froze instantly!
Gao Jing, who had been watching coldly, privately admired the move.
One needed a strong back to deliver such a sharp slap.
And Elder Shaman Shan Yan’s newfound boldness probably stemmed not just from the plentiful salt Gao Jing provided.
More importantly, he now held the power to flip the table if needed.
Of course, Gao Jing didn’t think the Elder Shaman truly wanted war with the Qinghe caravan.
A fierce counter-attack was also a tactic and strategy for negotiation!