The Bone Tribe leader's refusal had its reasons. At this moment, he recalled the partially burnt bones he had seen at the feast in the eastern tribe and the accounts from the Pig Tribe.
Their past aggression against that tribe had already sealed their fate. Leading people out now would likely result in being killed or burned alive by them.
Staying put might offer a slim chance of survival.
With these thoughts in mind, he made his decision.
Outside, the Eldest Senior Brother and others continued to fan the flames and create smoke while Shang and the others enthusiastically jabbed their spears into the crevices.
The sound of agonizing coughs inside the cave grew louder, forming a unified chorus. Few could endure the power of the smoke.
In the cave, heated arguments erupted amidst the coughs and quickly escalated into fights.
Even the authority of the Bone Tribe leader was ineffective in such a life-and-death situation. He was pushed and shoved aside amidst his desperate coughs and shouts.
In the chaos, the stone slabs blocking the entrance were moved aside. Those who couldn't bear the smoke rushed out, stepping on the embers and gasping for air as if they were drowning.
As more and more stumbled out, barely able to resist, they were swiftly subdued by the waiting tribesmen.
Even those who had lost all strength collapsed on the ground, allowing themselves to be tied up.
Everyone, including the Eldest Senior Brother, was deeply moved by the scene.
They marveled at the effectiveness of this method, finding it easier than fighting or hunting. It was like collecting rabbits caught in snares in the morning, effortless.
In no time, the open ground outside the Bone Tribe was littered with bodies.
Even the fleeing children were not spared and were bound.
Two spear teams watched over them while the rest guarded the entrance, waiting for more members of the Bone Tribe to fall into their trap.
Amidst the chaos, the Bone Tribe leader pushed around and trampled by those eager to escape, finally reached his limit.
Despite his earlier resolve to stay inside, he couldn't endure any longer. Amidst violent coughs, he stumbled out.
His survival instinct was stronger than most. Upon emerging, he didn't stop but staggered away, intent on fleeing the scene as quickly as possible.
By this time, most of the Bone Tribe members had emerged. The Eldest Senior Brother and others stood ready nearby, waiting for the remaining members to come out.
He couldn't possibly escape.
Just as he started running, a bone spear pierced his calf, followed swiftly by a shield crashing into him.
Before the fallen Bone Tribe leader could struggle, Second Senior Brother sat down heavily on him.
Under his weight, the Bone Tribe leader let out a pained cry and ceased struggling, brutally bound by Second Senior Brother.
After the tumult caused by the fleeing Bone Tribe members trampling over him, the flames at the cave entrance gradually died down.
Earlier, the Eldest Senior Brother and his group were busy capturing members of the Bone Tribe and didn't bother to add more fuel to the fire.
Now that most of the Bone Tribe members had been captured, they saw no need to add more fuel.
Shang wanted to enter the Bone Tribe's cave, but the Eldest Senior Brother, seeing the lingering smoke, refused, saying they should wait until it cleared.
Shang looked at the Bone Tribe members bound on the ground but didn't insist.
During this time, they couldn't afford to be idle. So, the Bone Tribe leader had a rough time. The second Senior Brother and others dragged him up and gave him a brutal beating, causing him to howl in pain.
Shang and a few others, encouraged by the beating, wanted to kill the Bone Tribe leader outright.
When faced with this situation, the previously stubborn Bone Tribe leader couldn't help but tremble in fear, uttering vague pleas for mercy.
The other Bone Tribe members watched in terror.
The Eldest Senior Brother didn't agree to the killing. He reminded them that the Divine Child had instructed not to kill captives, as they would be useful alive.
Shang and the others, initially discontented, fell silent upon hearing it was the Divine Child's order.
The Bone Tribe leader, now contorted in pain on the ground, trembled uncontrollably, partly from the pain and partly from fear.
After a while, when the cave smoke had mainly dissipated, the Eldest Senior Brother, accompanied by two shield bearers, cautiously approached.
They held their shields in front, walking carefully. Behind them were Shang and five others armed with spears.
The cave was a mess, with broken pottery and overturned vessels.
Several people lay motionless on the ground in the innermost part of the cave. The Eldest Senior Brother kicked them and checked their pulses. They were all dead.
In the cognition of most primitive people, the deepest part of the cave was usually the safest, but this time, it turned out to be the most dangerous.
Apart from the adults, some infants died in the chaos, not being carried out by their mothers.
After a brief inspection, the Eldest Senior Brother and the others felt uncomfortable, so they dragged out the recent prey of the Bone Tribe.
The Bone Tribe members, now somewhat recovered, watched in horror, fearing they would all be killed.
The Eldest Senior Brother counted the captives. This time, they had captured thirty-one adults, fourteen males and seventeen females. These mainly were strong individuals, as the elderly and weak had mostly died inside the cave.
There were nine juveniles capable of walking and eight infants being carried.
There were forty-eight captives in total, almost approaching the total population of the Green Sparrow Tribe before Han Cheng's arrival.