Such a terrifyingly savage tribe had earned the wariness of every major barbarian tribe. Some even believed the Bone-Eating Tribe wasn't truly barbarian at all, but a pack of untamed beasts best exterminated outright.
Unfortunately, the Bone-Eating Tribe had a powerful Shaman Saint presiding over them. Short of marshaling the entire barbarian race, no one was willing to provoke open conflict with them. And the Bone-Eating Tribe was fiercely vindictive — not something to be trifled with lightly.
What consequences Cangnan Village would suffer from such an enemy was easy to imagine.
"So many people died! Brother A'Niu, please, you have to save the village chief and the others!" The oldest of the barbarian children was weeping, his tear-streaked face turned toward Yang Kai with desperate hope, as if in his eyes Yang Kai could do anything at all.
"How long ago did this happen?" Yang Kai asked in a low voice.
"Three days."
Three days — whether there was still time, he couldn't know. Yang Kai didn't hesitate. He turned to Die and ordered, "Look after them."
Die seized his arm and hissed, "What are you doing? Don't go throw your life away!"
Yang Kai's lips twisted into a grim smile. "Whether I live or die isn't settled yet."
Die shook her head. "Three days have already passed. Even if you chase after them now, you might not catch up. And if the Bone-Eating Tribe captures you, there's only one outcome — being used as food. The people from your village may already be—"
"Then they'll still pay the price." Yang Kai shook off her hand, shifted his footing, and soared into the air.
Die watched his retreating figure and sighed, slowly shaking her head.
The barbarian children, meanwhile, all stood with mouths agape, staring in astonishment at the sky. The oldest one said with awestruck reverence, "Brother A'Niu can fly…"
……
Cangnan Village had nearly three hundred residents. Every man, woman, and child was a fighter. To capture such a large number, the Bone-Eating Tribe would have deployed a substantial force — which meant the trail they left during their retreat was conspicuous.
For Yang Kai, following their tracks was no difficult task.
The snow across the land was melting. It was the season when all things began to stir back to life. Perhaps the Bone-Eating Tribe's winter stores were nearly depleted, which was why they had ventured out to hunt for food — and stumbled upon the remote Cangnan Village by chance, making it their target.
As far as Yang Kai knew, though the Bone-Eating Tribe had no taboos and would even eat their own kind, they were still human at heart. They preferred fresh meat. In other words, they wouldn't slaughter all their captives at once. They would only butcher prey when the need arose.
That gave Yang Kai a window to mount a rescue.
As long as he intercepted them or located their stronghold before things became irreversible, he could get the people out safely.
By nightfall, Yang Kai had arrived before a stone fortress.
The fortress was built against the mountainside, backed by a sheer cliff face as smooth as a mirror. It covered a wide area, and inside, barbarian warriors of hulking build and fearsome aspect patrolled with all manner of weapons in hand — green-skinned with bared fangs, looking for all the world like malicious ghosts.
Around the fortress walls, something else seemed to be hanging. Yang Kai focused his vision to look, and his eyes went wide with rage.
The objects hanging upside down were, unmistakably, corpses. A rough count put the number at well over a hundred. The entire Cangnan Village held only three hundred people, and here alone a hundred bodies were already strung up. Yang Kai's heart went cold, and the chill radiating from his body grew thick enough to be tangible.
He was still a step too late.
He drew a quiet breath, forcing his fury under control, then rose from his hiding place. His plan was to slip into the fortress under cover of night and act when an opportunity presented itself. Though he had already advanced to the rank of Shaman Master — no ordinary Great Shaman Master would be his match — and the fortress was unlikely to house a Shaman King, caution never hurt.
Just then, Yang Kai's senses prickled. He dropped back down again, held his breath, and peered toward another direction.
There — a faint rustling sound. Though barely audible, Yang Kai heard every detail with perfect clarity.
He quietly extended his divine sense in a sweep toward the source, and surprise flickered across his face.
After a moment's deliberation, he slithered through the darkness like a loach toward the sound.
Shortly after, a startled cry rang out in the night: "Who—!"
The words had barely left the speaker's mouth before a hand clamped over it. Yang Kai held a finger to his lips, shushing the barbarian warrior he had subdued. "Easy. I'm not your enemy."
The barbarian warrior was terrified. Though the other man used only one hand, no matter how desperately he struggled, he couldn't break free. After several failed attempts, he felt his whole body growing ice-cold, his limbs going numb, despair closing in around him.
Moonlight spilled down, and the barbarian warrior suddenly went still, eyes widening as he stared at Yang Kai. Astonishment replaced the terror on his face, and he mumbled through the hand still pressed over his mouth, "Lord Niu?"
"Hmm?" Yang Kai paused. "You know me?"
He released his grip, and once he got a clear look at the tattoos on the man's face, understanding dawned. "Rage Flame Tribe?"
The barbarian warrior's face lit up with delight. "Yes, Lord Niu! We met before, in the canyon."
At the mention of the canyon, Yang Kai's eyes brightened immediately. "Ya is here?"
"Just ahead. I'll take you to him."
"Good." Yang Kai nodded.
He had sensed a cluster of signatures in this direction earlier and known they were allies rather than enemies, but he hadn't expected them to be old acquaintances. Thanks to this barbarian warrior from the Rage Flame Tribe recognizing him, he'd at least be spared an awkward explanation.