As Yan Xing eloquently listed the weapons intended for Duan’er’s tribe, Duan’er’s spirits soared, his tail wagging uncontrollably behind him. This time, the tribe’s combat power really is soaring! I’m going to prosper!
Duan’er had already devised a tactic unique to his tribe. When facing the enemy, they would first use slingshots for fire coverage. While the continuous barrage of marbles kept the enemy from raising their heads, Poison Flies would launch a sneak attack to throw the enemy ranks into disarray. Finally, he, clad in steel armor and leading the troops, would charge and annihilate the enemy completely.
Satisfied. Truly, very satisfied.
Who would have thought Lord Yan Xing would give us more than just these weapons?
While Duan’er was intoxicated with fantasies of his tribe’s military might, he heard Lord Yan Xing say, "Clan Leader Duan’er, you must have tried the nutrient-dense rations I prepared for you. These rations, after processing, can be stored for six months."
"I will provide you with one thousand kilograms of these nutrient-dense rations every month to supplement your tribe’s food supply."
"You’re... you’re giving us food as well?"
Duan’er didn’t know how much one thousand kilograms of grain was, but it sounded like a lot.
Yan Xing smiled and said, "I’m not short of food here. What I lack is a friendly, cooperative neighbor."
Upon hearing this, Duan’er stood up abruptly. With a glass of red wine in hand, he proposed a toast to Yan Xing, "I, Duan’er, swear in the name of Red Mud Wetland, that the Duan’er Tribe will always stand with Lord Yan Xing’s Eternal Domain! Lord Yan Xing’s enemies shall be my enemies; Lord Yan Xing’s friends, my friends!"
Yan Xing also stood up and clinked glasses with Duan’er.
"To mutual support, cheers!"
Just as the two drained their cups and before they could sit down, a militiaman rushed in from outside.
"My lord, my lord! A Werewolf has come bearing news: Red Mud Wetland has been taken by another Werewolf Tribe!"
Duan’er’s wine glass fell to the ground and shattered. The joy he had felt moments ago vanished; he stood there dumbfounded, utterly shocked.
Red Mud Wetland has been taken! My homeland has been taken! There’s no going back...
Yan Xing put down his wine glass and said to the reporting militiaman, "Who brought this news? Bring him in."
Shortly after, a skinny young Werewolf was brought in by the militiaman.
The young Werewolf looked very nervous upon entering the territory. He eyed the surrounding humans warily, his nose twitching continuously at the enticing scent of food.
Upon seeing Duan’er, the young Werewolf burst into tears and flung himself into Duan’er’s arms.
"Clan Leader, Clan Leader! It’s Steel Fang from Stenchwater Forest! He... he led many Werewolves into our homeland! They stole things, smashed things, and they hit us..." the young Werewolf cried incoherently to Duan’er.
Yan Xing quietly asked Olaf, who was standing beside him, "How is there another Steel Fang? Didn’t you kill him?"
Olaf stooped down and whispered into Yan Xing’s ear, "My lord... we Werewolves aren’t very good at names. Out of ten named Werewolves, perhaps three are called Steel Fang and three are called Li Zhua. The rest are usually named after peculiar features on their bodies. For example, Clan Leader Duan’er."
Yan Xing suddenly understood. I see, it’s just a case of repeated names.
Olaf continued, "Stenchwater Forest is right next to our Red Mud Wetland. In the past, the werewolves from Stenchwater Forest often crossed the border to hunt in our territory, which led to many battles between our two packs. I never expected that this time the Stenchwater Forest pack would directly seize our home. Master..."
Yan Xing knew what Olaf was about to say. He answered, "I know. Just follow my orders, and everything will be fine."
"Yes, Master." Olaf saluted and took a step back.
The young werewolf sobbed out his story to Duan’er, while Duan’er grabbed food from the table to feed the starving young werewolf, also inquiring about the situation at Red Mud Wetland.
With Duan’er having taken most of the Werewolf Warriors, the defenses of Red Mud Wetland were exceptionally weak. Some She-Werewolves, patrolling Red Mud Wetland with young werewolves in search of food, encountered a group of werewolves from Stenchwater Forest who had crossed the border.
Previously, when werewolves from Stenchwater Forest spotted a group from Red Mud Wetland, they would usually leave immediately. But this time, they ventured deep into Red Mud Wetland without being driven off by any Werewolf Warriors, which made them realize something significant must have happened.
The trespassing Stenchwater Forest werewolves captured the Red Mud Wetland werewolves they encountered and extracted the information that Duan’er had led most of the Werewolf Warriors away from Red Mud Wetland.
For the werewolves of Stenchwater Forest, this was an opportunity of a lifetime.
Upon receiving the news, the Stenchwater Forest werewolves quickly attacked the Duan’er Tribe’s homeland. They captured a group of young werewolves and then intimidated the remaining She-Werewolves into surrendering. They occupied Red Mud Wetland in one fell swoop.
After the young werewolf finished speaking, Duan’er asked, "How many Stenchwater Forest werewolves are in our homeland? Is the leader Steel Fang, or is it Li Zhua?"
"Steel Fang is leading them. I... I don’t know how many Stenchwater Forest werewolves came. I... I was scared, so I ran away... I’m sorry, Clan Leader." The young werewolf hung his ears, ashamed of his cowardice.
Yan Xing walked over, petted the young werewolf’s head, and handed him a plate of chicken, saying, "What I see is your bravery. You crossed the plains alone to come here and dared to venture into my territory. At the most critical moment of danger, you did the right thing. You will surely become a strong Werewolf Warrior when you grow up. Go over there and finish this food. I need to discuss with your Clan Leader how we’re going to take back Red Mud Wetland."
Yan Xing had Lao Hansi take the young werewolf aside to eat; the journey here had truly exhausted him.
Meanwhile, Duan’er wore a worried expression. Red Mud Wetland is lost... And most of the Werewolf Warriors he had led out were wounded. Retaking Red Mud Wetland from the Stenchwater Forest Werewolf Tribe would be incredibly difficult.
At that moment, Yan Xing asked Duan’er, "Clan Leader Duan’er, there shouldn’t be too many Stenchwater Forest werewolves who invaded Red Mud Wetland, right?"
Duan’er responded, "There shouldn’t be... The Stenchwater Forest Tribe has over four hundred werewolves in total, commanded by the brothers Steel Fang and Li Zhua. Li Zhua is their Clan Leader and wouldn’t easily leave his own territory. Steel Fang also wouldn’t take all the Werewolf Warriors from the Stenchwater Forest Tribe. I estimate... that the Stenchwater Forest invading force in Red Mud Wetland consists of about one hundred Werewolf Warriors."
Because the names Steel Fang and Li Zhua were so common among the Werewolf Race, some of the more renowned Steel Fangs and Li Zhuas would add their territory’s name as a prefix to distinguish themselves. The Steel Fang whom Olaf had killed, for example, hadn’t earned the right to such a prefix.
Duan’er’s judgment matched Yan Xing’s estimate. After all, the Duan’er Tribe had been able to defend Red Mud Wetland previously, meaning the Stenchwater Forest Werewolf Tribe didn’t possess an overwhelming advantage and couldn’t bear the losses of an all-out war between the two tribes. Moreover, when the Stenchwater Forest werewolves attacked the Duan’er Tribe’s homeland, they resorted to capturing young werewolves to coerce the defenders into surrendering, which further indicated their invading force was not large.
After weighing the forces of both sides and the importance of Red Mud Wetland to the Eternal Domain, Yan Xing declared in a loud voice, "Eddie, Olaf, gather the troops immediately and follow me to war! Lao Hansi, release all the werewolves penned outside and return their weapons! Gao Sipa, go prepare the war supplies!"