Chapter 2: The Savage Tribe

Although Jingni was just over twenty, she had already brushed past death more than a dozen times. As the ox cart drew near the mountains, her indomitable spirit roused her awake, though she remained terribly weak.

Am I still alive? My body feels strange! Where are my clothes and armor? Damn it! Could it be that he…? But as she sensed that all her wounds had been stitched up, much of her anger faded away. Hmph! If he hadn't saved Xiaoyan, I would never let him live!

“Thank heaven, Xiaoyan is safe! Thank you for your mercy!” She stole a glance at the child by her side, then quickly shut her eyes. Now, with nothing but a sheet to cover her, she had no idea how to face her savior—a most peculiar man indeed.

[Commander, the young lady is awake. She still has several hundred degrees of spiritual energy within her, enough to power the ship for days. Should we absorb some?]

One degree of spiritual energy equaled one degree of high-voltage electricity. Even weakened as she was, the young lady still harbored such immense power! But he dared not draw from her, or she truly might not survive.

A blush of embarrassment colored her delicate face, making hearts flutter—what a pity she was already married! “Well, madam—no, miss, how are you feeling now?”

Knowing she could pretend no longer, Jingni clutched the sheet and slowly sat up. “Much better now. Thank you for saving me. But… could you possibly find me some clothes?”

Casting a doubtful glance at the clean cart boards, she wondered where he had conjured up the blankets and cloth for Xiaoyan. There had been nothing extra before. And though the wind outside was bitterly cold, she felt none of its bite.

Lin Shu gave a wry smile. “I do have something, but please don’t mind.”

He turned to fetch a set of white autumn pajamas from beneath the cart—the loosest garment he owned. The young lady—no, the married woman—was slender and tall, at least one-seventy in height. Only this set would fit her.

“Thank you.” Jingni paused, then took the pajamas. With the mountains looming close, she couldn’t stay wrapped in a sheet forever.

While she dressed under the cover of the sheet, Lin Shu stole a glance or two before turning away: Ah, what a shame I was too busy dealing with blood to truly appreciate the view!

Since the age of ten, he had seen hundreds of thousands of adult films and considered himself well-versed, but none of those actresses compared to the supple beauty of the woman beside him. Her figure and elasticity defied description—of course, any contact had been entirely accidental.

Suddenly, a hundred meters away, chaos erupted.

A chorus of wild cries announced the arrival of a group of savages, bursting from the dry grass and rocks. Towering and robust, each was like a sprinter, wooden spears and stone axes poised to hurl at their prey.

“Brother, take Xiaoyan and run! I’ll hold them off!” Jingni now realized that this chubby man was just an ordinary person, with not a trace of inner power.

[Commander, don’t worry. They cannot breach the ship’s defenses. In fact, you could subdue them, absorb them.]

Each savage, wrapped in ragged furs, was at least one meter ninety, with the two leaders towering over two meters. Lin Shu panicked and nearly fled, but the ship’s core reminded him: to upgrade the vessel, he needed to subdue humans. Ordinary people were difficult; these wild men would be much easier.

“Ah, miss, don’t move! Trust me, everything will be fine.”

Jingni seethed with pain and anger. This fool—still trying to take advantage of her at a time like this! Didn’t he know she was wounded at the chest? “You fat oaf, let go of me!”

“I will, but please don’t move around. It took a lot to stop your bleeding, and I have no more medicine if you tear your stitches!” He helped her sit properly and reluctantly released her. He still had to deal with the savages, though he was loath to let go—she felt so soft in his arms. If she were willing, he wouldn’t mind settling down with her, as long as she never betrayed him.

Seeing their prey unmoving, the savages joyfully surrounded the ox cart. With plenty of food in their stores, they weren’t in a rush to kill; fresh meat was always better.

The chief, standing two meters tall and heated by Jingni’s looks and figure, began to reach beneath his leather skirt.

Damn it, Jingni cursed inwardly, but she was unarmed.

Lin Shu was dumbfounded as well. Were they really about to mount her right in front of him? “Core, crush him and absorb his energy!”

A chorus of howls erupted as dozens of savages closed in. They hadn’t yet reached the cart, but were eager for the spectacle.

As one approached the cart, a field of force—thousands of pounds strong—slammed the towering savage’s head against the vehicle’s frame.

The chieftain boasted a thousand units of energy, able to unleash twofold his strength—over two thousand pounds of force. Normally, he could break free, but once the cart began absorbing his spiritual energy, he was powerless. His strength and flesh drained away rapidly.

The other savages rushed to pull their shrinking leader away, only to be caught themselves and fall, screaming in agony.

With a cacophony of shrieks, the remaining savages fled in madness.

It was over. Watching the savages wither, shrink, and vanish without a drop of blood, Jingni trembled to her core. Could they have encountered a demon?

“Trying to run? Ox, go kill them.”

With a bellow, the giant ox charged up the slope.

The terrain ahead was rough, littered with rocks—impossible for any ordinary ox cart. Jingni clutched Xiaoyan tightly, bracing for a crash.

But with the cart’s force field, they floated easily over the boulders.

The savages ran faster than the wind, but within ten minutes, the black ox and the cart’s force field bowled them over one by one.

A few hundred meters ahead, over a hundred old and young savages spilled from their cave, watching in terror, not daring to approach.

Ignoring the groaning savages, the ox cart slowed to a stop before the cave’s entrance.

After a bout of panic, the old shaman and chieftain emerged, trembling. Their warriors defeated, hiding in the cave was pointless.

“Surrender or die?” Standing high on the cart, Lin Shu gazed down at the two leaders, feeling a strange delight.

Compared to him, the savages were giants, but now they could only look up in awe.

“Master, mercy! We are willing to offer food and women!” The old priest, though appearing sixty, was only forty—a long-lived elder among savages.

Lin Shu sneered—he couldn’t understand their guttural speech.

But the old priest, having visited the Donghu borders, had learned their tongue and believed Lin Shu was a powerful Donghu warrior.

“Brother, lord, they offer food and women—they beg for your mercy!” Jingni was as afraid as the savages; she had no idea if this man was human or demon. In all her travels, she’d never heard of a spell that could consume a person so completely.

Her demeanor was surprisingly meek, even a bit frantic.

Lin Shu’s expression softened. “I’m not a lord—call me Lin Shu. And you, miss, what is your name?”

“Lin Shu… Lin Uncle? Call me Jingni.” She had never had a real name, only a codename.

She seemed uneasy, so Lin Shu simply nodded. “Very well. Jingni, tell those two old men that from now on, their tribe will honor me as king. They may choose to submit—or die.”

He’s really going to subdue the savages, Jingni thought, frowning as she relayed the message. “King Lin Shu wants to rule your tribe. Submit, or perish—you decide!”

At last, communication was possible. Seeing their warriors still cowering in fear, the old priest fell to his knees. “We surrender! All hail King Lin Shu!”