In the not-so-dense forest, a cleared area was prepared.
Without needing much direction from the Donkey Tribe leader, members of the Donkey Tribe brought dry firewood and fetched water with a clay pot. They placed it on the stones they had set up, beginning a performance that, despite being something they had done many times, still required significant effort.
As the flames rose and the water in the clay pot gradually began to boil, the Donkey Tribe leader skillfully added some food and waited for it to cook.
The fourth leader of the Flying Snake Tribe sat by eagerly awaiting his first taste of food with added salt!
However, the Donkey Tribe leader's following action puzzled him. Instead of adding the snow-white salt into the pot, he scooped some of the soup into a bowl and brought it to him for tasting.
He received the hot soup from the Donkey Tribe leader, pointed to the nearby jar filled with a large amount of salt, and inquired.
Seeing the Flying Snake Tribe leader point towards the jar of salt, the Donkey Tribe leader felt even more pleased. Today had been remarkably smooth, and the leader of this tribe was adapting quickly to these new things they had never encountered before.
Despite this, the Donkey Tribe leader did not immediately add salt to the bowl but insisted on having the understanding leader first taste the plain soup. This was something he had learned from the powerful tribe's divine son. When he introduced pottery and salt to them, he used this method.
Unable to refuse the Donkey Tribe leader’s insistence, the Flying Snake Tribe leader drank a small amount of plain soup in the bowl. The taste was quite similar to what he had at home.
The Donkey Tribe leader took the empty bowl from him, generously refilled it with soup, and, with great ceremony, added a considerable amount of salt. He stirred it well and returned the bowl to the Flying Snake Tribe leader.
He then watched expectantly as the Flying Snake Tribe leader hesitantly tasted the salted soup.
The other members of the Donkey Tribe also watched the Flying Snake Tribe leader intently.
They had seen the astonished expressions of other tribes trying salted food for the first time many times, but it never failed to delight them. Each time, it brought them immense satisfaction, a feeling even better than eating the delicious salted food themselves.
The Flying Snake Tribe leader did not disappoint them. After tasting a small sip of the salted meat soup, his eyes immediately brightened, and he could not hide his astonished expression.
Although he had anticipated that salted food would be exceptionally delicious, the taste still surprised him. At this moment, he suddenly understood why the leaders who had eaten salted food found other foods less appealing afterward. He also realized why the shaman often sighed over the dwindling salt jars and frequently asked about the availability of salt.
So this was the taste of salted food!
Seeing the expression on the Flying Snake Tribe leader's face, everyone from the Donkey Tribe broke into knowing smiles.
Noticing that other members of the Flying Snake Tribe were drooling over the steaming clay pot, the Donkey Tribe leader, understanding their eagerness, allowed them to add salt to the remaining soup and serve it to others.
The Flying Snake Tribe leader sincerely praised the deliciousness of salted food.
The Donkey Tribe leader’s smile widened even more.
He took the empty clay bowl, pointed at the pottery and salt, and then pointed at the furs wrapped around him, indicating to the fourth leader of the Flying Snake Tribe that he was willing to exchange the furs.
Since he had heard about the Donkey Tribe from Cao Geng earlier, the fourth leader of the Flying Snake Tribe quickly understood the Donkey Tribe leader's intention.
However, he had no plans to use the furs for trade.
Firstly, he had not been at the cave for long, and the furs he had collected were not substantial.
Secondly, he didn’t need to trade for these items; he could seize them. He was not foolish like the Cao Geng people.
Seeing the Donkey Tribe leader enthusiastically flaunting the pottery and salt, the fourth leader of the Flying Snake Tribe maintained a smile on his face.
The fourth leader of the Flying Snake Tribe then led the Donkey Tribe people to the cave they were temporarily residing in, which had initially been occupied by another tribe.
The Donkey Tribe leader, carrying the pottery and salt, happily followed with the rest of his tribe.
They were not being held captive but were following the fourth leader of the Flying Snake Tribe to exchange furs.
At this moment, the fourth leader of the Flying Snake Tribe no longer intended to kill and rob the Donkey Tribe for their salt and pottery.
This change of mind was due to the realization that their tribe’s salt was dwindling, and the shaman had been sighing over the decreasing salt jars.
Although the Donkey Tribe had a lot of salt, it wouldn’t last forever. Once they consumed the looted salt, where would they find more?
Thinking about this, the fourth leader of the Flying Snake Tribe changed his approach. Given his cunning nature, this change was not surprising.
Upon arriving at the temporary cave, the Donkey Tribe leader’s mood soured.
Seeing the small number of animals hiding before him, he even felt an impulse to strike someone.
He had hoped to acquire many furs from this new tribe, only to find their collection so meager.
The high expectations turned into disappointment, which was indeed disheartening.
This tribe, despite having many adults, was surprisingly poor!
The Donkey Tribe leader developed a sense of contempt for this tribe.
However, he didn’t leave empty-handed. He left behind a clay bowl and a small portion of salt and took all the available furs.
As the Donkey Tribe leader and his people left, someone inside the cave pointed at the departing Donkey Tribe and spoke to the fourth leader of the Flying Snake Tribe.
The suggestion was to chase down and kill all the Donkey Tribe members to seize all their pottery and salt.
Such an action would yield the greatest reward for their group.
The fourth leader of the Flying Snake Tribe disagreed with this proposal. Instead, he waited until the Donkey Tribe people were nearly out of sight, then called over two people to follow the Donkey Tribe quietly.
After the two left, he instructed others to carry away all the food in the cave and, armed with weapons, exited the cave.