Salt could be so white, so free of impurity?
The Blackpond Tribe was powerful, so the Yellow Bear Tribe sent a batch of its best salt to it every year.
Even this salt still contained some impurities, and the color was white streaked with yellow. It was not at all like the snow-white salt of the Mud Mountain Tribe, without a single speck of impurity.
Ye Xi bent down and picked up a jar of salt, offering it to the leading Warrior. "Honored One, as the Yellow Bear Tribe could not produce such excellent salt on its own, it insisted on saying that this snow salt was fake. But can their mouths truly decide what is true or false?"
Ye Xi shot a challenging and disdainful glance at Still Perch's group.
Still Perch saw this look and immediately turned red in anger. His eyes turned vicious as he stepped forward to argue.
But the leader of the Blackpond Warriors saw what he was doing and immediately shot him a cold glare.
Still Perch shivered like a basin of cold water had been dumped on his head, and he was instantly rendered speechless.
"Honored One, I think that the only one who can verify if this salt is real or fake is the Blackpond Tribe. Thus, this Ye Xi would boldly like to ask if Honored One would taste the salt. If Honored One says this salt is fake, then this salt is fake, and from now on, our Mud Mountain will never sell this salt in Blackpond's trade area."
These words were spoken with force and vigor, and all the other members of the crowd heard it.
The members of both Mud Mountain and Yellow Bear paled, as did all the other tribes. They began to chatter with each other, and some of them were almost about to speak before they were pulled back by bystanders.
The leading Warrior examined Ye Xi in surprise, like he was seeing him for the first time. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke. "Then I will have a taste."
Still Perch had mentally rejoiced when he heard Ye Xi make the request.
As long as this Warrior said that the salt was fake, the tribes trading at Blackpond's trade area would have Yellow Bear as their only option. As for whether or not Mud Mountain would send its own teams to sell salt to each tribe…
Hmph! The jungle was dangerous, and Mud Mountain was a weak tribe without any battle beasts. They would not dare to engage in such trips frequently.
Moreover, the members of Mud Mountain had no idea that their Yellow Bear Tribe would give a substantial amount of salt to the Blackpond every year to maintain good relations. The two tribes had always been on good terms.
As for Mud Mountain, it didn't have even the smallest relationship with the Blackpond. How could the Blackpond speak up on their behalf?
Everyone watched expectantly as the leading Warrior dipped a finger into the salt and placed it in his mouth.
As the salt melted in the Warrior's mouth, his eyelashes trembled.
This salt wasn't merely as white as snow. Its taste was also free of any bitterness. In every aspect, it was far superior to the Yellow Bear Tribe's salt.
"This salt…" the Warrior slowly began.
The Mud Mountain Tribe and Yellow Bear Tribe Warriors held their breaths.
"…Is real."
The bystanders who heard this answer jumped in joy. They were worried that the Blackpond Warrior would say that the salt was fake and that the Mud Mountain Tribe would no longer be able to sell this good and cheap salt here.
The Mud Mountain Warriors breathed a sigh of relief, and those hearts that had shot to their throats in worry settled back down.
While the crowd noisily rejoiced, the Yellow Bear Tribe members were dejected, their faces pale white.
Still Perch's face was a mixture of green and white as he clenched his teeth.
What a fine Blackpond Tribe! He had believed that the Blackpond Warrior would, on account of their past relationship, at least give an ambiguous answer. But to his surprise, this Warrior had chosen to stand firmly on the Mud Mountain Tribe's side, giving no consideration to the Yellow Bear Tribe.
The Blackpond Tribe said the salt was real while his Yellow Bear Tribe had said it was fake. This was like a sharp slap in the face to the Yellow Bear, leaving them without even a shred of dignity!
All the salt they gave each year had ended up feeding a stink bug!
The leading Blackpond Warrior shot an apologetic glance at the Yellow Bear Tribe Warriors.
From what this shaman disciple had said…
If he had decided that this salt was fake, Mud Mountain would carry out its promise and never sell this salt in the Blackpond trade area again. Wouldn't this cause many tribes to hate the Blackpond Tribe?
He could see that many of the people watching were holding salt jars, and inside was the snow salt of Mud Mountain!
One could tell with one taste whether the salt was real or fake, and this news was certain to start spreading among the other tribes… The Blackpond Tribe was powerful, but it could not offend everyone.
Moreover, the Mud Mountain salt was far better than the Yellow Bear salt. If the other members of the Blackpond Tribe found out that he had rejected such excellent salt, he might end up being punished by the tribe.
After weighing the pros and cons, he could only admit the truth.
Ye Xi glanced at the expression on the Warrior's face and suddenly said, "Honored One, let us speak alone."
The Warrior took another glance at the Yellow Bear Warriors before grimly nodding and walking with Ye Xi to a place with fewer people.
Ye Xi looked at the Warrior and smiled as he respectfully said, "Truly a Warrior of the Blackpond, fair and just."
The Warrior's face turned red. He had certainly not made his judgment out of any sense of fairness.
Ye Xi continued to praise, "Honored One, thank you for your confirmation. The Yellow Bear Tribe will stop causing trouble. I did not think that I would run into such an excellent person on my first visit to the Blackpond. I trust that the Warriors of the Blackpond Tribe are all as virtuous as Honored One."
The Warrior wanted to say something, not used to such high praise, but when he saw the sincere look in Ye Xi's eyes, he was rendered speechless.
"To thank Honored One for your actions, our Mud Mountain Tribe has decided to give Honored One one hundred catties of snow salt each year."
The man doubted his own ears and repeated, "Each year… a gift of one hundred catties of salt?"
Ye Xi nodded. "Yes. I originally did not plan on this, but I had this idea when I witnessed Honored One's deeds. I believe that the people of the Blackpond Tribe are worthy of so much salt from us."
The Warrior's heart thumped. He had only spoken the truth because he had been forced into it, but this was enough for the Blackpond Tribe to receive so much salt? One hundred catties of salt every year! And not low-quality salt, but snow salt!
If the chief and shaman learn of this, they'll definitely praise me…
And the captain of the third hunting squad had yet to be decided. With this major achievement, that post was bound to be his.
With this thought in mind, the Warrior smiled, his grim expression thawing like ice after a spring rain. With an almost affectionate look at Ye Xi, he said, "If that's what you say, then I must represent the Blackpond in thanking your Mud Mountain."
"Honored One is too polite."
The Warrior smiled and waved his hand. "Stop calling me Honored One. That makes us such strangers. I am called Ramie. You're about the age of my son, so there's no problem with calling me Uncle Ramie."
Ye Xi smiled as he obediently complied, "Since that's the case, Ye Xi will stop being polite, Uncle Ramie."
The two smiled at each other, a harmonious air around them.
The two returned to the crowd.
Upon seeing them return, Still Perch impatiently rushed up to the Warrior. Completely ignoring Ye Xi, he whispered, "Honored One, I have some things I would like to speak to you about. Could we…"
Ramie raised a hand and stopped Still Perch. "There's no need to speak on this any further."
"Honored One!" Still Perch stared in shock at Ramie. He had never expected that his request to speak would be refused. Ye Xi had just spoken privately with Ramie!
Ye Xi didn't even look at Still Perch as he turned to Ramie. "Uncle Ramie, before you came, the Yellow Bear Tribe members saw that their slander wasn't working and tried to pour blood on our salt! After I discovered it and stopped them, this Yellow Bear Warrior wanted to beat me up! Truly barbaric!"
'Uncle Ramie'? Before Still Perch could ponder this form of address, Ramie turned to him and coldly said, "Oh? Is that how it was? You wanted to spill blood on the salt?"
Still Perch's mouth dropped open. "This, this…"
He didn't even have time to defend himself. Ramie coldly grunted, "Do you know what the punishment is for maliciously causing trouble in the trade area?
"The worst case is execution, and the best case is banishment from the trade area."
Still Perch instantly paled.