Building a Civilization and Raising Cubs in the Beast World – Chapter 136

Bai An stared at Lang Qi in disbelief. “Chief Lang Qi, you?!” He remembered well that the Wolf Tribe rarely got involved in conflicts—otherwise, they wouldn’t have tolerated the Mad Lion Tribe for so long. Yet now, Lang Qi had so readily agreed to Bai Tu’s proposal.

Lang Qi had his reasons: “If we don’t fight them now, they’ll only grow bolder next time.” The Wolf Tribe had once ignored the Mad Lion Tribe because, strictly speaking, their actions hadn’t harmed Wolf Tribe interests. Later, after learning the truth about Lang Yu and Lang Zhu’s deaths, they had devised a plan for the other Lion Tribes to besiege the Mad Lion Tribe.

Lang Qi disliked needless killing, and if the Black Forest Tribe hadn’t posed a threat to everyone’s survival, he wouldn’t have agreed to an attack.

“That’s right,” Bai Tu nodded. This was exactly what worried him. If they didn’t seize this chance to wipe out the Black Forest Tribe, once those orcs realized the danger, they might discard all pretenses and turn openly hostile, directly plundering other tribes’ lands and food.

“The market has only just begun, and most of the orcs are gathered here.” Bai Tu and Bai An weighed the situation carefully. They had two options:

The first was to carry on as usual, pretending nothing was wrong. Since their tribes hadn’t been attacked yet, they could simply return home—but then they’d be forced to live under the constant threat of the Black Forest Tribe’s retaliation.

The second option was to strike first, to attack the Black Forest Tribe immediately, pinning them down before they could recover.

The latter was more dangerous. A battle meant casualties. But there was one crucial factor: if they struck now, it wouldn’t just be one or two tribes fighting. At least half the orcs present at the market might be willing to join.

The reason was simple. If the Black Forest Tribe had only tried to lure outsiders into joining them, that would have been one thing. But their ambitions went far beyond that—and they had chosen a far more ruthless, efficient method.

As Bai Tu had suspected, if this scheme had gone undiscovered, the Black Forest Tribe would have left with several hundred new followers. At that rate, within two years, half the market’s orcs could have vanished.

And the loss of orcs wasn’t only about numbers. The ones taken were the strongest in their tribes—the ones capable of hunting. If they left, those remaining would eventually starve to death.

To strip away all the strong orcs from a tribe was no different from wiping out the entire tribe.

The Black Forest Tribe had already shown they were willing to go to extremes for the sake of expansion. And if this was just one of their tactics, who knew what more ruthless plans they might hatch in the future?

Worse still, they were working hand-in-hand with wandering orcs. Having already stooped to such tactics, they would surely stoop lower. Any tribe with even a shred of foresight would not allow the Black Forest Tribe to continue their rampage.

Bai An understood this as well. What worried him was whether just a handful of tribes would be enough to defeat them. If they could rally the entire market, however, the balance of power might shift.

The Eastern Continent held hundreds of tribes, large and small. Even if not all were present at this market, their combined strength could rival half the Black Forest Tribe.

But convincing them to join forces—that was the real problem.

Bai An frowned. “Will they believe us if we tell them?” After all, they themselves had only discovered the Black Forest Tribe’s collusion with the wandering orcs that very day. And though they’d found matching food among the stolen goods, it wasn’t enough to persuade so many tribes outright.

Lang Qi interjected, “The Black Forest Tribe still has supplies stored at their camp.” They’d captured the orcs, but hadn’t yet collected the goods left behind. Those supplies were more than just provisions—they were evidence of collusion with the wandering orcs.

That afternoon, Lang Qi asked each tribe to send two or three representatives to inspect the Black Forest Tribe’s encampment from the day before.

One or two wouldn’t interfere with the tribes’ trading. After all, some orcs were wandering the market aimlessly anyway. And when Lang Qi mentioned there might be shocking evidence, many volunteered on the spot.

Where one tribe sent two or three, others sent five or six. This year, supplies were scarce, and many orcs had already scoured the market in half a day without finding what they needed. Knowing they’d likely have to wait another day or two for new arrivals, they weren’t in any rush.

Still, after the morning’s revelations about the Black Forest Tribe and hearing Hu Wan’s testimony, every orc made a point of checking in with acquaintances before heading out.

The witch doctors and medicine boys of the Black Forest Tribe had always enjoyed the best supplies—and this market was no exception. But those goods hadn’t been produced by the Black Forest themselves, nor fairly bartered. A large portion had been looted by the wandering orcs.

Wu Jiu and the others had fled in haste that night, leaving many items behind. And the orcs captured at the market hadn’t had time to take anything. Following Bai Tu’s orders, the Eagle Tribe had destroyed only the food and medicine. Everything else remained untouched.

When the gathered orcs saw the items, suspicion turned quickly to certainty.

They could instantly recognize goods from their own tribes. And it wasn’t just meat and backpacks—among the supplies were distinctive tribal items.

For example, a fox tribe near the southern continent often traded with tribes further south for a rare fruit, larger than an orc’s head, with a hard shell and sweet juice inside. Highly prized at the market, the fruit could be exchanged at a generous profit. This year, that very fox tribe had been robbed by wandering orcs. Now, seeing their fruit among the Black Forest Tribe’s supplies, not only the fox tribe but every orc present recognized the truth.

The goods stolen by wandering orcs had ended up in the hands of the Black Forest Tribe within mere days.

With witnesses and evidence before them, the gathered orcs looked at one another in stunned silence, forced to accept the truth. The Black Forest Tribe—renowned across the continent, envied by countless others, and long admired—was not just greedy but treacherous, secretly colluding with the wandering orcs.

Even those who had already heard about the Black Forest Tribe’s crimes earlier that morning were shaken. When the group returned to the market, they spread the news eagerly, gathering crowds at their resting places to recount what they had seen.

Lang Qi, Bai Tu, and Bai An weren’t the only ones worried. Many other orcs feared what greater danger might follow. The more far-sighted leaders knew that if the Black Forest Tribe was allowed to continue unchecked, destruction was only a matter of time.

Yes, they could refuse the Black Forest Tribe’s food and medicine—but they couldn’t stop the wandering orcs’ ambushes.

That night, countless orcs lay awake, restless with unease.

Small tribes, like Bai An’s, feared becoming targets of the Black Forest Tribe but knew they lacked the strength to fight back. Attacking them outright would be suicide.

Larger tribes debated furiously. The only reason they’d been able to capture the Black Forest Tribe’s witch doctors and medicine boys at all was because the culprits had been near the market. Elsewhere, facing over a hundred Black Forest warriors in open revolt would have been another matter entirely.

Attacking guaranteed nothing. But doing nothing was even more dangerous. Those who had suffered the wandering orcs’ cruelty were especially eager for revenge.

Still, hesitation lingered. For some, the Black Forest Tribe was simply too far away to attack immediately. Others lacked the strength to challenge them head-on.

But no matter the stance, one thing was agreed: the Black Forest Tribe was dangerous, and best avoided.

Only a handful of orcs still insisted the Black Forest Tribe had been wrongly accused. But their protests only earned scornful stares from their peers.

The orcs weren’t fools. The evidence was overwhelming—even some captured Black Forest orcs had confessed. To keep insisting on their innocence only raised suspicion: perhaps these defenders were in league with the Black Forest Tribe themselves.

In the shadows, watchful orcs marked and followed those who spoke out in defense of the Black Forest Tribe. That night, as a small group tried to slip away, they never noticed the faint figures trailing them.

Meanwhile, orcs who had once suffered under the Black Forest Tribe seized the chance to curry favor with the guards, reporting those who had fled. Distrustful tribes, unconnected to one another, were quick to betray in hopes of saving themselves.

The orcs who had spent the day loudly proclaiming the Black Forest Tribe’s innocence ran straight toward the Black Forest encampment once they slipped away. In their haste, they skipped food and rest, desperate to deliver their warning—never realizing others shadowed their every step.

That night, while the market was restless, many tents burned with whispered debate. Some tribes even drafted preliminary plans for how to strike at the Black Forest Tribe.

On the second day of the market, several tribes—including the Wolf, Rabbit, Lion, Leopard, Deer, and Bear Tribes—began openly rallying others to join them in confronting the Black Forest Tribe, exposing their crimes and rescuing the orcs still imprisoned.

The first to respond were the tribes recently ambushed by wandering orcs. Many still bore wounds, freshly treated by Bai Tu the previous night. At first cautious, they accepted Bai Tu’s medicine only after seeing the Bear Tribe—close allies of Bai Qi—take it without hesitation.

Those with serious injuries stayed behind, but the lightly wounded, whose movements were unaffected, were eager to join the fight and were the first to step forward.

Next came tribes who had long suffered at the hands of wandering orcs. These marauders had committed countless atrocities across the continent, earning the hatred of nearly every tribe.

For them, discovering the Black Forest Tribe’s alliance with the wandering orcs erased all distinction between the two. To strike one was to strike both.

Over twenty tribes rallied to their side. Yet Bai Tu still felt it wasn’t enough.

The previous raid on the Red Eagle Tribe had required hundreds of fighters, but that success had only been possible because of internal strife. A quarrel between the tribe’s witch doctor and leader had given outsiders the chance to trick most of the tribe into eating drugged food. That trick would never work on the Black Forest Tribe.

No one knew exactly what relationship the Black Forest’s leader had with their witch doctor, but one thing was certain: the Black Forest Tribe would never carelessly eat food given to them. After all, they themselves used food to control others—naturally, they were more vigilant. Without the option of drugs, the assault this time would demand far greater numbers.

The coalition now had around two thousand orcs. By contrast, though the Black Forest Tribe had not revealed their full strength for some time, a conservative estimate still placed them at seven or eight thousand. To ensure victory, the coalition would need to at least double or triple their numbers.

Bai Tu’s worries didn’t last long. As soon as the tribes previously attacked by the wandering orcs declared their intent to fight, other tribes—who had never before crossed paths with the strays—also began to waver.

The truth was sobering: the number of tribes that had encountered wandering orcs was far greater than anyone had expected. Several of them were medium-sized, numbering in the hundreds. On the Eastern Continent, a tribe of five or six hundred was considered mid-sized, often dominating their own territory. Yet even they typically sent at least two hundred to the market.

And even a force of over two hundred warriors had not been able to withstand the wandering orcs. If the same thing happened again, could their tribes back home hope to survive?

That thought tipped the balance. One by one, hesitant orcs stepped forward. The danger was already on their doorstep—it was their duty to act.

The wandering orcs had to be eliminated, and the Black Forest Tribe behind them even more so. Otherwise, even if the strays were wiped out, the Black Forest Tribe could simply create a second or third group.

Tribe after tribe pledged to join, swelling the coalition’s ranks.

Normally, orcs were not afraid of fighting, but they preferred to avoid unnecessary bloodshed and conflict with other tribes. This time was different. To refuse was to invite the Black Forest Tribe’s wrath—and no one believed they could rely on others for help afterward.

Even tribes that had disapproved of the plan at first were forced to reconsider. With so many joining, the advantage was growing, and the chance of victory seemed within reach.

Seeing this, Bai Tu finally exhaled in relief and began tallying the food supplies they had on hand.

Their original purpose in coming to the market had been to investigate the mysterious hoarding of food by several tribes. But instead of uncovering hoarders, they had stumbled into something far more shocking.

Thankfully, they had come well-prepared. Worried that they might encounter rare goods they wanted to trade for, and uncertain of their return, they had brought large amounts of food with them.

Not only was this extra food enough to sustain those who had lost everything, but there was plenty left for everyone to take home afterward.

Other tribes that hadn’t been robbed still had their own supplies. They had originally planned to trade them for salt, but after all that had happened, destroying the Black Forest Tribe was clearly more important than acquiring salt.

After all, without salt, a tribe would suffer weakness. But if they were attacked by wandering orcs, they would be wiped out entirely.

Besides, salt could still be traded for later. Many tribes that had brought salt were also planning to fight. With such a huge gathering of orcs, food would be easy to trade for once things settled down.

This time, the Black Forest Tribe hadn’t targeted the salt-bearers directly, but the impact on them was still heavy. With less food circulating, every basket of salt fetched a lower return. Some tribes who had brought salt expecting the usual exchange rate now faced shortages that could push them into starvation.

Salt-making had been difficult that year—wind, weather, and sun had all interfered. Many tribes had barely scraped together enough to bring to market. Now, with the Black Forest Tribe’s interference, their hard-won salt couldn’t even buy enough food.

When the salt-trading tribes took a stand, other tribes glanced at one another and, one by one, rose to their feet.

Salt was the market’s most important commodity. If the salt-traders were leaving, were the rest of them just going to wait here idly? And what if those who left didn’t return after fighting the Black Forest Tribe?

In the end, more than 80% of the tribes decided to march. Each had their own reasons, but all agreed on one thing: the Black Forest Tribe had to be struck down.

Managing such a vast force was no easy task. The final arrangement was for Lang Qi and the other leaders to issue orders directly to the tribe chiefs, who would then command their own warriors.

The first step was a headcount. Every tribe was recorded along with the number of fighters they had contributed.

Bai Tu couldn’t find paper, so he used wooden boards instead. Fortunately, this wasn’t like back home where they needed to match every name to a number—they only needed the totals for each tribe.

The tally showed forty-seven tribes in total, with over 4,300 warriors combined. These were essentially the strongest fighters from each tribe.

Such a force would cause chaos wherever it went. But since their destination was the Black Forest Tribe, panic was the last thing they feared—in fact, they wanted their enemies terrified.

Every day they delayed was another day of wasted food. So, after a morning of discussion, the coalition set out before noon.

Whenever they paused to rest, Bai Tu always retreated into his tent. Once or twice might have been ignored, but he kept doing it every time, for two days straight, without explanation.

Bai Qi grew puzzled. “Are you afraid of those strangers? That’s the Tiger Tribe. The one in the middle is their leader. He’s actually very kind. You don’t need to be nervous.”

Bai Tu, half exasperated and half amused, finally revealed what he had been working on: a pile of neatly cut wooden tags, all strung on red cord.

“I’m worried that people won’t be able to recognize their own fighters,” he explained. Orcs from the same tribe could recognize one another easily, but not orcs from different tribes. Even after marching together for days, their scents mingled and blurred. On a chaotic battlefield, no one had time to sniff each opponent twice to tell friend from foe.

That was what the tags were for. Worn around the neck, they stayed secure even when the orcs shifted into beast form. The moment someone saw the red cord and wooden tag, they would know it was an ally and avoid attacking by mistake.

“If only we had more carpenters with us,” Bai Tu sighed. “Then we could have carved them. For now, the carpenters just cut the wood, and I’ve been writing numbers on them with a brush.”

This was faster, but the ink might fade if wet or rubbed. Still, the attack wouldn’t last long. For just a few days, this method would suffice.

Bai Qi suddenly realized his mistake. He picked up a tag lying at the edge and noticed it looked different. On closer inspection, he saw that it bore Lang Qi’s number.

“Is this one carved?” he asked, his voice a little tight.

“Yes,” Bai Tu nodded, pointing to the first row. “That one, along with the five cubs’ and mine. Lang Qi and I carved them during our break.”

“Tu, will you teach me?” Bai Qi asked eagerly. He wanted to make a pair as well.

Carving didn’t take as long as cutting blocks, and with fewer carpenters available, Bai Tu agreed. He handed Bai Qi two blanks and kept one for himself. “All right. Watch me.”

Bai Qi looked at the two matching wooden tags in his hands and chuckled softly.

Lang Qi came in carrying food for the cubs and caught sight of Bai Qi hurriedly hiding something in his arms. His gaze flicked to the tags on the table, but he said nothing. After Bai Qi left, he looked at Bai Tu curiously.

“They’re just identity tags I carved,” Bai Tu explained. He didn’t understand why Bai Qi had been so secretive. After all, the numbers clearly showed who they belonged to.

“He’s making them for the Bear Tribe?” Lang Qi asked.

“Most likely,” Bai Tu admitted. Yes, most likely the Bear Tribe.

The tags were finished just the night before they entered Black Forest territory. Each tribe leader collected theirs and distributed them to their own orcs.

Though curious about the new item, the warriors followed instructions. Once in Black Forest land, they wore the tags around their necks, hiding them carefully so the enemy wouldn’t notice, and awaited their leaders’ commands.

This time, the attackers weren’t alone—they had also brought the Black Forest captives taken at the market. They couldn’t drug the entire tribe as they had before, but Wu Jiu presented a perfect opening.

Two days earlier, Wu Jiu had regained partial consciousness. His eyes could move, but his body was twisted—his fingers curled unnaturally, his legs limp, his mouth barely able to form sounds beyond humming and sobbing.

The others didn’t know what had caused it, but Bai Tu had a theory.

It looked like hemiplegia—a paralysis caused by stroke. Perhaps his previous life’s habits had contributed, but the stress of being captured at the market had certainly triggered it. Still, this outcome wasn’t entirely bad. In this state, Wu Jiu could be used without fear of him talking too much. Otherwise, they would have needed to find a way to silence him.

On the sixth day of the market, what should have been a lively scene was eerily deserted.

The Black Forest Tribe, who hadn’t received visitors for some time, suddenly welcomed a group of “kind-hearted” orcs who had found an injured witch doctor and brought him back.

“The Black Forest team was attacked by wandering orcs. Most of the medicine boys were captured, leaving only the witch doctor and Wu Xi,” the orcs explained, repeating the words Bai Tu had taught them.

They carried Wu Jiu and Wu Xi back to the Black Forest’s territory.

The patrolling guards were stunned. The witch doctor had left with hundreds of warriors—how could he have been attacked, and by wandering orcs no less?

The guards assigned to watch common orcs in the tribe had no idea about their alliance with the wanderers. But the patrols knew the truth: the leader had emphasized again and again that the wandering orcs were their allies. If encountered, they were to let them through without a fight.

Still, they didn’t doubt the story. Wu Jiu looked gravely injured, and Wu Xi nodded beside him, backing it up.

“Wait here. I’ll call the leader!” one patrol said, hurrying inside.

Wu Jiu had just regained consciousness. Looking around, he realized he was back in the tribe. Then his gaze fell on Wu Xi and the orcs who had captured them. Rage surged within him, but when he tried to curse, the words came out as nothing more than slurred murmurs. His mouth refused to obey.

The patrolling orcs, who had been about to call for the leader, froze at the sound of Wu Jiu’s voice. Though they couldn’t understand his words, they could tell he was furious. And in the Black Forest Tribe, nothing was more terrifying than the witch doctor’s anger.

Those patrols knew all too well what happened to anyone who offended him. Believing Wu Jiu was angry at their hesitation, they panicked and quickly stepped aside.

“I’ll take you into the tribe right away!” one stammered. Normally, outsiders needed approval from either the witch doctor or the chief before entering. But with the leader away and the witch doctor already displeased, who dared risk further delay?

Wu Jiu grew even more agitated, but to the patrol orcs, his excitement looked like satisfaction. Relieved, they hurried to escort him deeper inside.

At the same time, a dozen fierce-looking wandering orcs were also being led into the tribe by Black Forest escorts. The two groups entered the mountains almost simultaneously.

When Wu Xi spotted the wandering orcs, he flinched in alarm and ducked behind another orc. Wu Jiu, understanding instantly, pounded the wooden plank beneath him with his good hand, seething.

His fears proved correct. Trembling, Wu Xi pointed toward the newcomers and cried out, “Leader Bao Ren, they attacked our group!”

The wandering orcs ignored Wu Jiu and Wu Xi at first. Though allied with the Black Forest Tribe, their status was too low for them to often see the witch doctor. Bao Ren had kept them separated deliberately, minimizing contact. In their current bedraggled state, Wu Jiu and Wu Xi hardly looked like the tribe’s esteemed healers, and the wanderers didn’t recognize them.

Still, their clothing made their roles clear. Medicine boys and witch doctors—even the lowliest—were dangerous to offend.

But now Wu Xi’s accusation left the wanderers stunned. Their tempers flared. One snarled, “Who attacked you?”

“It was them!” Wu Xi shouted, rushing to Bao Ren’s side, his face twisted in fear. “Chief, they said they would kill us and the witch doctor first, then you—so they could take over the Black Forest Tribe!”

The leading wanderer reeled. Wu Xi’s words had struck too close. Yes, they had dreamed of such things, cursing Bao Ren whenever most of their stolen food was seized, but they had never dared act. How could this medicine boy possibly know their thoughts?

Whatever the reason, Wu Xi couldn’t be allowed to live. The leader shifted into beast form and lunged at him.

Wu Xi shrieked and ducked behind Bao Ren. The wanderer’s attack, clumsy but brutally strong, could not be withdrawn in time. Bao Ren’s warriors reacted instantly. The escorts dropped Wu Jiu without a second glance and rushed to block the wandering orcs. Bao Ren himself, already wary of the strays, had brought thirty fighters, in addition to the dozens who had accompanied Wu Jiu and Wu Xi. Against such numbers, the dozen wanderers stood no chance.

In the chaos, Wu Xi’s rescuers shielded him and slipped away unnoticed. Bao Ren, preoccupied with his own injuries and Wu Jiu’s condition, didn’t spare a thought for the trembling medicine boy.

By the time Wu Xi and the Wolf Tribe left, the wandering orcs lay broken on the mountainside, their screams echoing through the forest.

Elsewhere within the Black Forest’s territory, hundreds more wandering orcs lounged idly, sprawled on the ground or perched in trees. Bored and restless, they awaited their leader’s return. The rainy season was close—they needed shelter.

“The Black Forest Tribe really doesn’t know what’s good for them,” one grumbled. “They need us, yet they look down on us—and still take most of what we loot!”

“Exactly,” another growled. “We should’ve killed their chief long ago.”

Many nodded in agreement. Dissatisfaction had been festering for some time.

“They sit back, comfortable, while we hunt for them.”

“And then they steal our food on top of it!”

Their muttering grew louder, until suddenly, their leader’s low growl cut through the noise. But the sound was strange—laced with fear rather than authority.

“What’s going on?”

“Why does the leader sound like that?”

“He’s not dead, is he?” someone muttered darkly.

The wanderers weren’t one unified band. Leopard Ren had gathered them together, but in truth they were fragmented into small groups, obeying him more out of convenience than loyalty. Rivalries simmered constantly, and now voices rose, threatening to erupt into a brawl.

Just as the factions squared off, an orc stumbled into their midst, gasping.

“Bad news! Bao Ren plans to kill you!”

The quarrel froze instantly. “What did you say?”

“Bao Ren said you robbed too many tribes at the market,” the messenger panted. “If word gets out about his ties to you, the Black Forest Tribe will be exposed. To cut off trouble, he’s ordered your deaths. Your leader’s already been slain by Bao Ren—if you want to live, run!”

The wandering orcs roared with outrage. Run? They were the ones who slaughtered others. Since when did anyone dare to slaughter them?

Even the rival leader who had been itching for a fight stood tall, eyes blazing.

“He wants to kill us? Then kill him first!”