The Misty Mountain tribe had a tactical understanding of what's going on with their tribe, The people in the plain witnessed some unfathomable Incidents happen more than they have heard and seen in their entire life aside from the wonderous thing happening here and there, the tribe undergoing very unusual change without them registering happened to them.
When the top experts went back to bring their things and people back, they heard the spies were found among them and killed on the spot in fact same things happened in side the settlement as well who they thought were one of them also turned out to be a spies and they meet the same ending.
No one cried for them, those who are tricked into thinking they were friends were more affected some wished they could have killed them with their own hands, this wasn't something they would ever going to forget for the rest of their life. They were no fools to think anyone of the other races have any good feeling towards them in their hearts and it's rather well known fact amongst the humans.
Those who have higher position in their respective tribes and have influence enough to know what's going on with the higher ups have started arguing amongst themselves with the latest gossips about various things happening in the tribe and some inside information from the trusted source started slowly spread among this influential people.
Like why weren't they allowed to pay respect to their ancesters or sudden rumour claiming the calamity going to descend once again, what they saw the other day was a sign of this. Most heated and realistic discussion wasn't any thing other than the brewing scuffle between the higher ups and the top experts stance on the tribe matters.
It was not a secret that small tribes leaders broke into two groups one supporting the merge to become large tribes or willing absorbed into the large tribes, people were waiting for what the guardians going to say in this matter ;some even thought the conflict among themselves was related to this matter.
But no one expect the guardians took such a heavy handed measure to bring this Matter to end, it seems all of them whole heartedly made such decisions in this matter, this made the spectators wonder what exactly made them make such a decision. If the guardians took the matter to their hand and clarify things no one know what other strange rumors going to spread.
In a small tent, four people sitting in the circle they were drinking and eating as they gossiped about everything related to their daily life, they were all at least middle-aged all of them cultivators from large tribes.
"Yeah, so when I asked him to play another round with me but he backed off" one of the sly looking middle-aged man boasted half heartedly there was sadness buried deep within his eyes with anger.
"Haha, how could anyone win against brother Mayan's skills " the one near him spoke up in a flattering manner as if he was doing this all his life, he sure did the flattery effortlessly as he was born with silver tongue.
"Brother Kanna please don't smother him with your flattery " a very tall Middle Aged one interjected with snicker, then he looked at the last younger looking one In the group before asked Kanna "Brother in here, Only you have more connection and influence than any of us we all of us are agreeing on this" the other three nodded as they straighten up as if they going to talk about very serious matter.
"We wonder what exactly made the guardians to take such a harsh messure" He looked carefully at kanna before continuing "I heard there is some kind of conflict between the new ones and the eleven but they still made united decision whole heartily why? "
The other two also looked at flatterer with avid attention, who looking very thoughtful slowly said "brother Kiri must be exaggerating my worth, How could I know such a higher up matter, brothers please don't joke with me " he said with an embarrassed face.
The other three almost all rolled their eyes, at this Kiri internally sighed to himself before he started to flatter the flatterer "Brother Kanna, you must be joking with us, who doesn't know you were in the one of the highest position in Guardian Vandhi's tribe I heard from my friend, you know more detailed about this matter than anyone else"
"Exactly, please stop fooling us brother Kanna everyone knows you were in commanding position in the tribe, of course I would not believe, even if the whole tribe tell me that you didn't know anything" the silent person spoke up as well.
"Here this is the wine personaly made and treasured it in my possession this long, brother Kanna please try this out for me " Mayan spoke up took out some Clay pot from his bag everyone looked at him with eager eyes, Kanna's eyes gleamed with strange light.
He, eagerly took a sip from the pot smacked his lips together, he really seem enjoyed the taste as he licked his lips like child "As expected of brother Mayan, you were very skilled in many things" he praised heartily as he take another step, Mayan smiled at him politely back.
They all are from large tribes, Kanna even had high position in his tribe, they were friends for few decades they are of similar level in cultivation in their youth they fought one another in the tournament here, In these times so it could be said they become friends through fist.
Kanna was head warrior of small team and he was rather well connected in his tribe and other tribes because his flattering and socializing skill, but he was personaly said to guard the tent in that time so he know what happened there more clearly.
He slowly started to tell them what he, had seen or what is this all about, "I hope this could be stay between us" he started with a condition seeing they all nodded he explained "You guys are correct in assuming I know more about this matter, in fact I was there at the time me, and my team was guarding that big tent out there with another team from guardian Aadhi's tribe"
His tone and expression was serious as he talking to them, "We are specially called out for the standing guard there that day, I heard from the other team captain he was bragging it was his second time assigning such an important post. " he, made a face at this
" He even briefed about the first meeting how the fifteen guardians were very upset by the small tribes' attitude. According to him they were pretty much demanded them to allocated the land and resources for them to settle down and threaten them to make a big issue if they force any of them to join under their eighteen large tribes banners including the leaders of small groups who, willing to join themselves under the large tribes."
The tall man scoffed "Join under us, I don't think so, this underestimating them it's more than just that, they wanted to be members of a powerful large tribes or..."
Silent man continued "Or they they are thinking, they could merge and become one of the new large tribes don't you see what are they after? it's pretty simple to see isn't it?" he sneered as he find those thoughts unpleasant.
Mayan spoke as he gulped down few mouthfull of wine, "I say, what is wrong with that, aren't they once like us members of large tribes" he doesn't have anything against these small tribes.
The other three looked at him with complicated emotions, while Kanna had strange gleam In his face but the dominant emotions of surprise and inquisitive and some other subtle emotion could be seen in his dark eyes, the other two had a incredulity apparent in their face.
Kiri asked with his voice Still had evident of that incredulity "I can't believe you have this sort of opinion on this issue you, were not joking are you?" Mayan continued to drank his wine didn't reply "You might not heard of this, but there was a rumour going on in the all other tribes I guess if you know of that you wouldn't speak lightly of this matter "
"I advice you to not talk lightly about such a matter" the sillient one said he was frowning at Mayan excessive drinking. he turned to Kanna and said "There was a few people making move silently for few decades trying to merge this small tribes creating more than few large tribes like what we had before"
kanna nodded hearing that "That's true I heard of that, brother Dina there is a small correction, it wasn't around for decades but for at least few centuries from what I know. I think the guardians are know of this matter as well but didn't make any move maybe, they were planning to completely root out this shadowy fellows or simply thought they were just rumor"
Kiri interrupt " Wait! wait, brother Kanna, why should they think this was just a rumor what if.... What if it was a plan of other races spy we never know" he had wide eyes, he looked very agitated as his own tribe was under the assault in few days.
"Haha, brother calm down, wouldn't we know if it was the doing of spies " he smiled knowingly at them "since they are all get rooted out from the guardians all we have to do is wait and see wouldn't we? "
Mayan spoke up "Were they all completely captured, nobody escaped the means of guardians" his tone was little numb talking about this no one blame him or angry at him for doubting guardians though as the remaining three know about Mayan's situation they consoled him instead.
That day His lover found out to be from one of the spies, he was very depressed currently, now he had to encounter scorn and suspicion of fellow members on daily basis yes! there are people believed him as well but their pity didn't going to console the emotion upheaval he was going through.
Kanna hesitated little before saying "Brother Mayan, you don't have to worry about that, I heard from trusted source, The guardians are utilize some impressive methods to figure out who or where these spies at even if they have some treasures to mask their aura and form they couldn't escaped" 'In fact they were keeping track of them from the moment they inflirated the tribes' he thought to himself as he cast another glance at him with Sympathy.
Kanna quickly changed the subject "Back to the topic, this time even the I don't understand what are they talking about, I know they were heatedly arguing about this matter for more than an hour"
"if I'm not wrong in my guess they, were angry with the guardians decision to not agreeing with them, then there was a loud shouting, one of the guardians attacked their leader was send flying out very severely injured"
The three people gasped out loud hearing this, Kanna continued "He was just in the verge of breaking through to the qi realm, I guess he could be in top five in his strength amongst all small tribes leaders" he paused
"Guess who attacked you might think it was old demon or the monster duo no? neither of them though It, was one of the new guardian Soodan, he ruthlessly cut off that leader's right hand cleanly and threatened every single small tribes leaders this was their final warning, there should be no repeating of this, he said he would kill anyone thinking about settledown as a small tribes like they used to before, they would never allow such a thing in our ancestral land"
All three of them listening with wide eyes they are completely sobered up hearing this "Everyone was surprised and didn't dare to raise up, then old demon spoke up further cemented this declaration, 'We are one tribe from the very beginning, the calamity did indeed pushed us out of our ancestral land, we had to fend for ourselves, even take up some extreme measures for ensuring the survival and continuity of our races. But that doesn't allow us to forget our roots and our ancesters selfless sacrifice to send as many of us out of the plains, since our ancesters once again blessed our lives and land once again we should continue their legacy; our patriarch is still alive and sealed. What we should be doing is we, should await his return as a United tribe more preciously the once glorious Misty Mountain human tribes, we were still are whoever thinks otherwise will be killed' that was exactly he said"
The four of them could hear their own wildly pumping heart beats they were experiencing myriad of emotions awe, fear, surprise, reverence, comradary and some more unidentified emotions. kanna continued "Unlike when guardian Soodan attack, nobody dared to show any anger they agreed and flee; I guess they wouldn't raise this issue at least until old demon step down"
The other three laughed hearing this Kiri "Haha, I wish I could see their faces how is it brother very ugly and twisted I guess" Kanna laughingly nodded.
Mayan Interjected " They were greedy not foolish, I don't think they are courageous enough to object. He wouldn't mind killing all of them with out thinking twice" everyone nodded not surprised by the leaders fleeing the scene.
Dina hesitantly asked kanna "I'm very sure, there was a conflict between guardian Soodan and old demon then why are they standing in the same side..... I'm confused if so then why are they fought in the first place" The other three looked at him with searching eyes but didn't pry in this matter, why their friend completely believed what he believed was real.
kanna was also frowning little he also thought of this for little, sighing he shook his head "I'm also heard, about it but I'm not sure it was even real or not" he then leaned close to them said in whisper "I heard from guardian Soodan tribe his left arm was indeed broken so it's possible he might fight with someone I'm not sure if it was old demon or someone else. But according to my friend there was no other wound on him, I don't think someone would be foolish enough provoke that ruthless demon"
They nodded everyone fell into silence as they thought about what caused them to fight with one another, they can gossiped around all they want but that doesn't mean they can figure out what happening, they might even never know what they deduced the truth or not, it doesn't matter what the few drunkards thinking was it?
they all looked at the famous flatterer, who was for some reason suddenly very quiet and looking.... apprehensive! so they looked at one another asked what was on his mind; he was for his part become more embarrassed and worried surprising everyone present.
After breaking the silence Kanna nervously said whats bothering him, "Brothers you might even think I was being delusional or not believe me but..... I have this strange feeling for this last couple of days and the guardians strange behaviors and the wondrous things happened to us all related to this despite what I try to convince myself with I couldn't completely shake off this feeling" the other three nodded at him encouragingly to go on.
Kanna looked them deeply as he whispered "I think we might really face another calamity any time, I think they are uniting the tribe and bringing us here for this reason"
Everyone fell into silence but the three bursting out laughing one after another, Kiri said "Brother don't scare me like this, heavens I have goosebumps"
Mayan face looks rather green as he gasped out "Me too, look at my hands!" he even showed them his hand.
The silent man chided Kanna lightly "Brother don't Joke with these things, besides does come here going to help us, don't talk nonsense did you forget what happened in the last calamity that's not simply stories thinking about them enough made me uncomfortable" Kanna also laughed in little relief as their beliefs and assurance made him feel lot better.
They turned their conversation over other mundane and everyday gossips and simple enjoyment of their gathering, but now all of them had a subtle and repressed doubt in their mind.
Very soon in the settlement a strange rumor of calamity descending started to spread like a wild fire those who believed it wasn't small either whether everyone believed it or not had a serious expression because the strange incident of sky cracking happened two weeks ago.