C11 Difficult to Deal with

Several children, among them Jiesen and Jiekui, had learned to craft bows and arrows under Yuan Ge's guidance. They frequently practiced together in secret, yet their aim paled in comparison to Yuan Ge's. Everyone attributed this to lack of practice, but Yuan Ge alone understood that their eyesight also played a role. He could discern the fur on a rabbit a hundred meters away, while Jiesen and the others saw only a blur. Rather than dwell on this, Yuan Ge simply encouraged them to practice more.

At home, some rabbits were kept for food, while the rest were traded by Jieying for corn and salt. With the long winter approaching, everyone was busy stocking up on food and warm animal pelts, as the tribal winters were bitterly cold and perilous.

Upon returning home, Yuan Ge's first task was to examine his bow and arrows. He had noticed that the elasticity of the bow was diminishing. When he drew the bow fully, he sensed he could pull it even further, yet doing so forcefully caused the Gorewood bow to creak alarmingly. Consequently, Yuan Ge consciously moderated his strength to avoid snapping the bow.

After six months of relentless practice, Yuan Ge's arm strength had significantly surpassed that of his peers. It was no surprise that the bow felt increasingly less resistant; it was no longer adequate for his use. "Looks like I need to find a better wood than Gorewood," he mused.

But such wood was not to be found within the tribe, and without having awakened, he could not venture beyond its borders. As Yuan Ge grappled with this quandary, Jietu approached him cheerfully, saying, "Ge, you must be hungry. Time for dinner!"

Seeing Jietu sparked an idea in Yuan Ge. He might be bound to the tribe, but the others were not. Besides, there was a hunt planned before the onset of winter. Why not enlist their help in searching for wood?

Upon having this thought, Yuan Ge shared his idea with Jietu and Jieying, grinning from ear to ear. Initially, Jietu was strongly opposed to it, as there were many strict rules to follow when venturing out with the hunting team. The most crucial rule was that every member must obey the captain's commands without deviation, and solo actions were strictly prohibited. To make matters more complicated, the captain for this expedition was Jie'ao.

Jie'ao was notoriously difficult to deal with. He was quick to scold or even punish team members for the slightest errors. And over the past six months, he had repeatedly suggested that they needed to keep a tighter rein on Yuan Ge, his younger brother. However, now faced with his brother-in-law's request for wood, it was hard for him to outright refuse. Yet, if he didn't, this hunting trip could lead to unforeseen complications.

While they were indecisive, Jieying approached and said, "Tu, I know where we can find the Gorewood Yuan Ge is looking for. I'll go with you to retrieve it when the time comes!"

Jieying and Jietu had originally been against Yuan Ge's use of bows and arrows. But after Yuan Ge stood firm on his stance, and they themselves had a chance to use his bow and arrows, their views were completely transformed. Besides, Jieying was known for being fiercely loyal and would fulfill any request Yuan Ge made without question. After all, it was just a piece of wood—what was the big deal?

With Jieying's stance clear, Jietu reluctantly nodded in agreement but couldn't help expressing his concern, "If Jie'ao finds out, we'll be in hot water!"

Before Yuan Ge could respond, Jieying interjected, "We'll just have to be extra cautious. The area around that large tree rarely has any wild beasts. We'll grab the wood and head back before Jie'ao is any the wiser."

With the matter settled, Jietu could only nod in agreement, "Alright, that's the plan!"

A few days later, the hunting team embarked on a majestic journey, blessed by the High Priest. This was the final hunt before the onset of winter, and the turnout was twice the usual number of warriors. The hundred-strong force was divided into ten squads, each responsible for a specific hunting route. Jieying and Jietu were placed in Jie'ao's squad. Although Jie'ao was the captain, they were under the command of a senior warrior named Jiewu.

Jiewu was a second-tier, mid-level senior warrior, second in strength only to the tribal chief, Jieyang. He was also a prime candidate for the future Elder Council. Jiewu seldom joined the hunting team on their expeditions, as his primary duty was to oversee the tribe's patrols. However, over the past six months, the hunting team had frequently come under attack, incurring substantial losses. Following a decision by the High Priest and others, Jiewu and another high-level warrior named Jieheng were assigned to lead the final hunt before winter, each responsible for five squads.

Yuan Ge, who typically shunned such events, joined the farewell party. He often quipped that farewells were unnecessary when they would see each other again soon. He'd argue that instead of farewells, they could better use the time to hunt more rabbits on the less crowded grasslands.

But this occasion was different. It was the year's last hunt before winter, a hunt that would determine whether the tribe would have enough food to endure the long and perilous winter. It was a crucial day for the tribe, and failing to see them off would be remiss.

In the crowd, Jieying and Jietu spotted Yuan Ge smiling and waving at them. Jieying felt a surge of emotion, her eyes brimming with tears. Since the death of her parents, Yuan Ge had become her only kin. She fondly recalled her first hunt, armed with a stone spear her father had honed for her, while Yuan Ge was still a child playing in the mud.

Watching Yuan Ge mature over the years, he now stood among the crowd, indistinguishable from the adults. Perhaps once Yuan Ge came into his own, he wouldn't need to join the hunts anymore. Tribe women seldom hunted; they usually preferred crafting animal skin clothing or gathering herbs and medicinal plants from the mountains for unforeseen needs. Women like Jieying, who joined the hunts, often did so out of necessity due to a lack of family support. To secure a larger share of food, they had no choice but to participate in the hunt.

Hunting is, after all, a perilous endeavor, and it tends to be more suited for men. Over the past six months, the number of rabbits Yuan Ge has caught has been truly astonishing. While rabbit meat doesn't provide as much energy as the wild game from the forest, it has more than sufficed to meet the basic needs for sustenance.

Jieying could easily picture Yuan Ge's future once he awakened as a warrior; her brother was bound to achieve remarkable feats. This thought brought a joyful smile to her face, and she enthusiastically waved to Yuan Ge, eager to let everyone know that Yuan Ge was not only her brother but also her source of immense pride.

However, Yuan Ge's gaze inadvertently crossed with Jie'ao's icy stare. In that moment, Jie'ao was glaring at Yuan Ge, his eyes filled with resentment. If looks could strike like slaps, Yuan Ge would have already felt the sting of Jie'ao's contempt.