"Are you joining Yu Village?"
Two days later, the southern five villages simultaneously visited Yu Su, expressing their desire to join Yu Village.
Yu Su was somewhat surprised, mainly because he didn't expect it to happen so soon. He thought it would take more time to persuade these five villages to join Yu Village voluntarily.
"Lord Yu Su, if it weren't for you and the heroes of Yu Village coming to our rescue this time, our five villages would have been wiped out by those barbarians. After discussing it, we hope to gain protection from you and Yu Village by joining," Shanyang said.
Yu Su pondered for a moment and said, "Even if you don't join Yu Village, I won't stand idly by when it comes to your safety."
Shanyang expressed gratitude, "Lord Yu Su, you are kind-hearted, but we can't take advantage of you and Yu Village for free. After discussing it, if you agree to our joining, we are willing to worship the mountain god of Lu Shen Mountain and follow your orders."
Yu Su raised an eyebrow discreetly; it seemed Shanyang and the others were determined.
After consulting with the village chief and others, Yu Su agreed to the integration of the southern five villages.
"Since you sincerely want to join our Yu Village, we are also willing to accept the inclusion of the five villages. We will host a welcome feast after your relocation to Yu Village."
"Thank you for your kindness."
The integration of the southern five villages into Yu Village was a significant project involving moving villages, expanding, and hosting a welcome feast. Yu Su had many tasks to handle.
Firstly, there was the issue of expansion, but Yu Su had already budgeted for this and even delineated the expanded territory.
It only required following the plan and constructing houses in this open space.
The people from the five villages actively participated. Even the elderly who couldn't move easily and bare-bottomed children helped with moving stones.
In contrast to the village chief and shamans' concerns about offending the gods by joining Yu Village, the ordinary villagers were ecstatic about the decision.
In the past six months, they clearly saw the gap between the five villages and Yu Village. Who wouldn't want to become a villager of Yu Village?
Moreover, by joining Yu Village, they no longer had to worry about being attacked by barbarians. They could live their lives peacefully and securely.
Therefore, they were more concerned about the expansion than anyone else, eagerly volunteering for any available tasks.
Seeing this scene, the slaves from the original Datsushu Village and Ah Man Tribe couldn't help but envy them. If they had known this day would come, they wouldn't have dared to raid Yu Village.
Now, the villagers from the southern five villages could become official residents of Yu Village, while they were still working hard, hoping to become official residents one day.
"A family of three from Datsushu Village has become official residents. It is said that the man followed a merchant caravan outside and risked his life on the road to save a caravan member. After River Qin personally vouched for them to Lord Yu Su, Lord Yu Su approved their family of three to become official residents."
"Why don't I have such good luck?"
"Humph, that man almost died trying to save someone. Could you do that?"
"Who knows if he used some kind of tactic."
The slaves discussed the recent official residency of a family of three, their tone full of sourness.
Of course, a small number of people found it disgusting that they were speaking ill of others and refused to associate with them.
Among the slaves, two factions gradually formed.
Yu Feng, who managed the slave camp, observed this and reported to Yu Su privately.
Yu Su: "Focus on observing the slaves whose words and actions are somewhat acceptable. If there's an opportunity for merit, let them participate more. As for the other slaves, don't worry about them causing any trouble."
Yu Feng nodded, "Understood."
Two months later, the expansion was completed.
The southern five villages officially moved into Yu Village and became official villagers of Yu Village.
To celebrate, Yu Village held a grand banquet.
Looking down from Yu Su's doorstep, torches lit up the night.
The scale of Yu Village's buildings had expanded more than tenfold from the beginning.
From the back mountain, extending to the plains at the foot of the mountains, sturdy houses stood tall.
Gradually improving functional areas and continuous infrastructure development were underway.
Since the official inclusion of the southern five villages, Yu Village had effectively unified this plain.
Yu Su stood on the back mountain, gazing at the entire Great River Plain, feeling extremely satisfied.
His vision had achieved the first step.
In this unfamiliar wilderness, he had laid down his roots.
He now possessed his own influence.
Although Yu Village currently had less than three thousand people, they were the rulers of this plain.
Furthermore, Yu Village's development was far from over.
"Your mood seems great," said Lu Yan.
Yu Su had drunk quite a bit today, with a slightly flushed face and brighter eyes than ever before.
Lu Yan could tell that Yu Su was in a very good mood.
Yu Su: "Aren't you happy?"
Lu Yan turned his head, gazing at the entire Great River Plain like him, and truthfully replied, "Happy."
From today onwards, this vast plain was their territory.
Probably, except for Feng City, no other tribe could have such a large territory.
When he first arrived at Yu Village, it was just a poor and backward village. In about two years, Yu Village had rapidly developed into its current state.
Lu Yan had personally participated in every step of the village's expansion, and he could understand Yu Su's current mood.
Moreover, after absorbing the rich fire spirit in the Black Flame Valley during winter and breaking through to the ninth level of Qi refining through nearly half a year of diligent cultivation, he was now just a step away from his goal of Foundation Building.
Yu Su gazed into the distance and said with shining eyes, "In the future, we will only get better."
...
In the distant Feng City.
After half a year of long-distance travel and experiencing various crises along the way, the Salt Village team finally arrived at the towering gates of Feng City.
This was a huge stone fortress.
The tall and majestic city gate symbolized the inviolable domain of the gods.
This was where the Temple of Shaman was located, the most powerful city on this vast land.
When Salt Qi and the others saw the city gate, they almost cried.
Without the powerful shaman accompanying them, the newly appointed shaman's abilities were limited. Several times on their way from Salt Village to Feng City, they almost faced complete annihilation.
The gifts they brought for Feng City were also much fewer. When they entered the city, they almost got stopped.
"Who are you people?" The gate guards, dressed in leather-sewn clothes and holding spears made of refined iron, looked down upon the Salt Village team.
Salt Qi had once been arrogant on the northern wilderness and had even imagined confronting Feng City.
Now, in front of Feng City, he realized how ridiculous his previous thoughts were.
The clothes he was wearing couldn't even compare to those of the gate guards.
"Respected envoys of the gods, we are a team from Salt Village in the south. I am Salt Qi, the village chief of Salt Village. After half a year of long-distance travel, we
have come to dedicate gifts to the Shaman God. Please forgive us, envoy," Salt Qi said with a slight bow, showing humility.
Upon hearing that they came from the southern Salt Village, the gate guards softened their expressions a bit. One of them said, "I remember that the village chief and shaman of Salt Village were not you two."
The generous gifts Salt Village once offered were also fresh in the guard's memory.
Salt Qi's face slightly changed, putting on a look of sorrow. He said, "My father and the previous shaman have passed away. We are their successors."
"We originally planned to offer all the treasures of the entire village to the Shaman God. However, an evil village appeared in our area, robbing us of what we had painstakingly saved, the gifts prepared for the Shaman God. We specially came to ask the Shaman God for justice," Salt Qi quickly stated his purpose.
The guard indeed frowned.
He remembered the generous gifts once offered by Salt Village; it was nothing like their current impoverished appearance.
Salt Qi felt embarrassed and lowered his head when he sensed the mocking gazes.
"Village Chief, Feng City is wealthier and more powerful than we imagined."
"They must have a way to help us deal with those people from Yu Village."
Talking about real business, Salt Qi regained his spirit.
He hadn't forgotten the purpose of their visit.
On the other side, after the guard reported to the higher-ups, Salt Qi was soon to meet with them.Salt Qi was brought to the front of the Shaman Temple.
He looked at the towering and majestic Shaman Temple, fearful and prostrated on the ground.
The guards, looking down at him, said, "The Great Shaman wants to see you. You must show respect when you meet the Great Shaman."
Salt Qi nodded quickly and followed the guards into the Shaman Temple.
The Shaman Temple, constructed with stacked stones, was the largest building in the entire city.
After entering the Shaman Temple, Salt Qi dared not look around. Only when the guards led him to the presence of the Feng City Great Shaman did he quickly kneel.
"Are you the new village chief of Salt Village?" The speaker had a voice that didn't sound old, resembling that of a middle-aged person.
Salt Qi didn't dare to lift his head and replied, "Yes, I am Salt Qi, the new village chief of Salt Village."
The Feng City Great Shaman sat on a high throne, surveying Salt Qi.
Wearing a loose shaman robe with the mark of the Shaman Temple on his forehead, the Great Shaman lazily reclined on the throne, casually observing Salt Qi.
He didn't pay much attention to Salt Qi; his concern was only about the gifts Salt Village lost.
"What happened to the robbery of Salt Village's gifts?" asked the Feng City Great Shaman.
Salt Qi immediately repeated the story he told at the city gate, emphasizing that Salt Village was the victim, and Yu Village was the wicked one who robbed their gifts.
The Feng City Great Shaman looked at Salt Qi lying on the ground with disdain, "I remember Salt Village being the most powerful village in that area. Why couldn't you guard the gift belonging to the Shaman God? You are useless and negligent. The Shaman God won't be pleased."
Salt Qi sweated nervously, "Great Shaman, it's really not our fault. People from Yu Village robbed our village's Mountain God's core. Somehow, they cultivated warriors with divine power, and they killed our village's shaman, Salt Li."
The Feng City Great Shaman chuckled as if hearing a joke, scaring Salt Qi even more.
"The power of the gods can only be wielded by the messengers of the gods. What are those people from Yu Village? How dare they claim to wield the power of the gods?"
Salt Qi hurriedly agreed, "Yes, yes, you're right. I misspoke. They must have worshipped some evil deity."
The Feng City Great Shaman continued slowly, "You said they took the core of the Black Flame Valley Mountain God?"
In fact, the whereabouts of that core had not been found, and Salt Qi was uncertain.
But Salt Qi replied, "Yes, they took it."
The Feng City Great Shaman asked, "Did they also kill the Mountain God of the Black Flame Valley?"
Salt Qi denied, "No, Lord Mountain God was killed by two giant, fire-red birds. The Mountain God also bit and killed those two birds."
Frowning, the Feng City Great Shaman thought, fire-red birds, could they be the legendary Flame Birds?
"What about that core? Has it been found?" he inquired.
"Not yet. It's hidden by people from Yu Village," Salt Qi replied.
The Feng City Great Shaman increasingly felt Salt Qi was useless. Everything was robbed, and he had the audacity to complain.
However, Salt Village was recognized by Feng City, and their shaman was a believer in the Shaman God.
Now that Salt Village had come seeking help, he couldn't just ignore them.
Moreover, he wanted to know the whereabouts of the Winged Serpent's core.
"I will send a team with you to retrieve the wealth and core stolen by Yu Village. You lead them back, and then come back to see me with the items," the Feng City Great Shaman commanded.
Salt Qi was overjoyed, "Thank you, Great Shaman!"
Exiting the Shaman Temple, Salt Qi was extremely excited.
He hadn't expected the mission to Feng City for reinforcements to go so smoothly. The Feng City Great Shaman was actually willing to help him recover the stolen treasures.
This time, he would make Yu Village pay!
...
In Yu Village.
After the welcome banquet, the residents of the five villages officially became villagers of Yu Village.
The original residences of the five villages were rebuilt by Jian Yunchuan's people into guard camps, reinforcing the defensive fortifications to prevent another attack from the southern barbarian tribes.
At this moment, the two snow wolves returned with news from the southern barbarian tribes.
"They are preparing to attack Yu Village again?" Yu Su raised an eyebrow.
Those barbarians weren't scared off; instead, they dared to come back.
The snow wolves conveyed to Yu Su that they had assembled a considerable force.
Calling a meeting of the core members of the village, Yu Su informed them of this news.
With the experience from the previous invasion, the villagers were not afraid of the barbarian tribes:
"What's there to fear? If they dare to come, we'll make sure they regret it!"
"True, Lord Yu Su, just tell us what to do, we'll follow your lead!"
"But those barbarians can control tigers and leopards, and they are strong. We shouldn't underestimate them."
"Lord Yu Su can scare them away with just one sword."
"Lord Yu Su is a shaman; we should protect him. He shouldn't have to intervene every time."
[Today is a single update, a bit of a bottleneck in writing, more updates to come after sorting things out.]