The reason the leader of the Semi-Farming Tribe captured the people of the Sheep Tribe was straightforward: he wanted to find out how these few people, who weren’t powerful fighters, managed to get so many sheep.
Understanding this was extremely important to the Semi-Farming Tribe, which currently had a significant food demand.
Of course, at first, the leader didn’t think so deeply. He just found it strange and felt that he had to capture these people no matter what.
Although his thinking was somewhat naïve, it had now become wishful thinking, because the two tribes did not speak the same language at all.
Still, the leader of the Sheep Tribe managed to understand some of what the Semi-Farming Tribe’s leader meant.
Because the biggest secret of their tribe was what fundamentally ensured their survival from the past to the present.
With that secret, even if all the people died or could not return, the tribe itself could continue to survive.
After questioning the Sheep Tribe leader for some time and getting nothing, the Semi-Farming Tribe leader finally gave up on pressing about where all the sheep had come from.
Partly because it was already quite late and they needed to hurry back to their tribe, they didn’t have much time to listen to the Sheep Tribe’s rambling.
Also, because he thought of the female shaman in their tribe, with her around, the Semi-Farming Tribe leader was confident that his tribe would figure out why these people had so many sheep.
After all, the female shaman was that wise.
With this thought, the Sheep Tribe leader and those who had gone hunting with him were tied up in a long line using vines by the Semi-Farming Tribe’s people.
Driven along by the riders on livestock holding weapons, they moved with their hard-earned prey toward a distant, unfamiliar place — farther and farther away from their tribal caves…
Perhaps because they had been with sheep for too long, or because every year the herds passed through here, sparing the Sheep Tribe the arduous struggle for survival, their spirit of resistance was not very strong.
At least now, being tied up and driven toward an unknown place, they felt fear and anxiety… but few tried to resist.
Because in their eyes, their hands were tied, and there were these fast-moving riders on livestock all around.
Not long ago, when their hands were free, they still couldn’t escape, let alone now.
Unlike the Sheep Tribe’s fear and despair, the Semi-Farming Tribe’s people were unusually excited.
They kept touching the sheep tied onto the livestock’s backs, imagining the exquisite taste of the mutton, and many couldn’t help but secretly drool.
But that wasn’t the best thing to make them happy.
What made them even happier was the treatment they would receive upon returning to their tribe.
‘Showing off’ or proving one’s strength in front of others is something many people are very willing to do — and primitive people are no exception.
Their way of proving strength was simple: bringing back a large amount of food to the tribe.
With the long line of Sheep Tribe captives dragging them down, and the many hunted animals, the Semi-Farming Tribe’s speed going back was not very fast.
As the sun sank lower, the impatient Semi-Farming Tribe leader scolded the Sheep Tribe people to hurry up, occasionally whipping them with his weapon.
But even so, they still couldn’t go much faster…
Back at the Semi-Farming Tribe, those left behind gathering fruits began to panic.
Many ran repeatedly to the fence, stood on a tall stone, and looked westward, hoping to see their leaders riding back with livestock.
It didn’t matter if they brought back little game.
Although many knew that the leaders, riding livestock with a large group, generally wouldn’t face danger, it was still distressing when they didn’t return on time.
In this anxious waiting, some couldn’t help but glance toward the middle of the courtyard.
There, sitting quietly on a stone in the courtyard’s center, was the wise female shaman, showing no sign of panic or worry.
Seeing this, the anxious people in the tribe immediately calmed down a lot.
Yes, they still had their wise female shaman, and with her calmness, their leaders would surely be fine.
As time quietly passed, before the last ray of sunlight disappeared, the moon had already fully risen.
As the surrounding light dimmed, the half moon took over the sun’s work, casting clear moonlight that continued to illuminate the world.
The anxious, worried feelings began to grow stronger in the Semi-Farming Tribe.
But what comforted them somewhat was that the tribe’s wisest female shaman still sat quietly on the stone, bathed in moonlight, showing no trace of restlessness or worry.
If not for her presence, the people of the Semi-Farming Tribe might have been in complete chaos by now!
Dimly and faintly, many people, cloaked in moonlight, were coming from afar; before they arrived, their voices had already reached the tribe.
Those anxiously waiting immediately erupted in joy — they recognized who the voices belonged to!
It was the leaders, the hunters, returning!
While the crowd celebrated, many also turned to look respectfully at the female shaman, still sitting calmly on the stone.
Faced with the crowd’s reverent gaze, the shaman remained calm, as if all of this had been foreseen and was just an ordinary matter.
As everyone happily ran outside the courtyard to greet the returning leaders, the female shaman silently exhaled deeply, rubbed her numb legs, and struggled to stand up from the stone.
She smiled warmly at the crowd, which erupted in loud cheers…
While the Semi-Farming Tribe anxiously awaited the return of their leaders and strong men, the Sheep Tribe people were also waiting for their leaders and strong men.
But unlike the Semi-Farming Tribe’s intense worry, the Sheep Tribe’s anxiety was not as strong.
Because they knew exactly where their leaders and tribesmen had gone…