"Chieftain Wu Liang... I am very grateful to you for saving our people."
"The Muge Tribe is willing to wait upon you as our lord!"
The timid Lolia stood forward timidly and stuttered as she followed suit.
Sa Lan glanced at Ignis and Suina, whose faces were ashen.
She then looked at the Black Rock warriors watching them like hawks, and finally grit her teeth and bowed her head.
"The Zhu Feng Tribe keeps its word and is willing to follow Chieftain Wu Liang!"
Now, only the two most unyielding women remained.
Ignis's body was trembling slightly from extreme anger and humiliation.
Her dignity and her pride were completely torn to shreds at this moment and trampled underfoot.
Suina's fists clenched until they creaked, and she bit her lip hard, undergoing a fierce internal struggle.
"Well? Chieftain Ignis and Chieftain Suina, what do you say?"
Wu Liang stood on the high platform, looking down at the two of them.
"Chieftain Ignis, your tribespeople are still waiting for your decision."
Ignis snapped her head up, meeting Wu Liang's deep eyes.
"The situation is stronger than the person; just accept it."
Sa Lan sighed, trying to persuade Ignis.
"I..."
Ignis bit her lip until it bled, a trickle of blood flowing down, yet she felt no pain.
But she also knew that if she didn't bow her head today...
She and her tribespeople would definitely meet a terrible end.
Humiliated tears welled in her eyes, but she forced them back.
Finally, she squeezed a few words through her teeth:
"The Ember Tribe... will follow your orders."
After saying this, she felt as if all her strength had been drained.
Everyone's gaze fell upon the last one, Suina.
Suina looked at Ignis, then at the others, and finally her gaze landed on Wu Liang.
"Fine, fine, Wu Liang, you win!"
She shook her head.
Then, she too lowered her proud head.
"The Chuishi Tribe will follow your orders."
At this point, all Six Great Tribes had, in name, completely submitted.
"Excellent!"
A satisfied smile appeared on Wu Liang's face.
He raised a large bowl filled with fruit wine and shouted to everyone:
"Welcome the Six Great Tribes to join Black Rock!"
"From this day forward, all of you are members of the Black Rock Tribe! Your glory is the glory of the Black Rock Tribe!"
"Cheer! For our even stronger Black Rock Tribe!"
"From today, the Great Desolate Mountain officially becomes one family! Long live Black Rock!"
"Come! To our new family, cheers!"
"Cheers!"
On the square, waves of cheers rang out again, echoing for a long time.
Amidst these deafening cheers, the figures of the six Female Leaders seemed quite desolate.
Wu Liang tilted his head back and drained the wine in his bowl. His gaze, however, passed over the celebrating crowd and landed on that gentle and soft figure.
Chieftain Alisha... Moon Spring Tribe.
The casualties of battle and Wei Xian's childbirth had made him deeply realize how important medical care and medicine were in this primitive and savage world.
A powerful force must not only have an army capable of fighting but also logistics capable of saving the dying and healing the wounded.
The corner of Wu Liang's mouth curled into a meaningful arc.
He had already decided on his next goal.
The victory banquet continued as Wu Liang stepped down from the high platform, walked straight through the celebrating crowd, and came before the six women.
Ignis and Suina immediately looked at him warily.
Wu Liang didn't even spare them a glance; his eyes remained fixed on Chieftain Alisha.
"Chieftain Alisha..."
"Could we have a word in private?"
Wu Liang's voice wasn't loud.
But it was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples among the six Female Leaders.
Ignis took a wary step forward, blocking Chieftain Alisha's path:
"What do you want?"
"Chieftain Ignis, don't be so nervous."
Wu Liang smiled, but his gaze went past her, still looking at Chieftain Alisha behind her.
"I just want to talk with Chieftain Alisha about her tribespeople."
"There is nothing regarding us sisters that cannot be said in public!"
Suina also spoke in a deep voice, standing on the other side of Ignis to shield Chieftain Alisha completely.
Chieftain Alisha gently pulled on Ignis's sleeve and whispered:
"Ignis, it's okay."
She knew that they were currently meat on the chopping block.
Whatever Wu Liang wanted to do, they had no way to resist.
Provoking him would benefit no one.
"Lord Wu Liang, what do you wish to discuss?"
Chieftain Alisha peeked her head out from behind Ignis and asked softly.
Wu Liang looked into her clear eyes, which held a trace of unease, and his smile deepened.
"There are too many people here; it's not the place to talk."
He stepped aside and made a gesture of invitation.
"Follow me."
After saying that, he turned and walked toward a relatively quiet area outside the square.
Chieftain Alisha looked hesitantly at Ignis, who was shaking her head at her, but ultimately bit her lip and followed.
"Alisha!"
Ignis was so anxious she wanted to pull her back.
But a powerful arm stopped her.
It was Akomann.
She had appeared there at some point, her hand resting on the hilt of the blade at her waist, looking at Ignis expressionlessly:
"Chieftain Wu Liang just wants to talk to Chieftain Alisha. Why are you getting so worked up?"
"You!"
Ignis looked at this former tribal ally, who was now Wu Liang's most loyal lapdog and woman, and was so angry she couldn't speak.
"Akomann, don't forget, you were once a tribal chieftain too!" Suina shouted angrily.
"Of course I remember."
Akomann's gaze didn't waver in the slightest.
"It's precisely because I remember that I know even more clearly that following Wu Liang is the only way out."
"You will understand soon enough."
...The victory banquet hadn't even ended when Ignis and Suina returned to their residence.
The celebration outside was boisterous and noisy, but they only found it exceptionally grating.
Florgloria, Sa Lan, and Lolia had no choice but to return with them.
"Bang!"
The moment the stone door closed behind them, Ignis could no longer suppress the wild rage in her heart.
She kicked the wooden table in the room hard.
The ceramic plate holding fruit on top fell to the floor and shattered into pieces.
"This is too much! Too much!"
She paced back and forth in the small room like a lioness trapped in a cage, her chest heaving violently.
"What does he take us for? A pack of dogs begging for mercy?!"
"Forcing us to bow our heads in front of everyone! This is an insult! A blatant insult!"
Suina's face was also extremely ugly. She plopped down on the edge of the bed, her hands buried in her hair, scratching it irritably.
"What's the use of saying all this now? We've already bowed to him in public. From today on, we are Wu Liang's people."
Her voice was full of despair and self-mockery.
"Who is his person!"
Ignis turned sharply, glaring at her.
"I am not! I only compromised temporarily for the sake of my people!"
"Temporarily?"
Suina looked up and gave a mocking laugh.
"Stop deceiving yourself, Ignis. Do you think that man will give us a chance to turn the tables?"
"Did you see the way he looked at us? We are his prey!"
Florgloria leaned against the corner and gave a faint sigh:
"Wu Liang won't make things difficult for us, don't worry."
The timid Lolia whispered a rebuttal, "Lord Wu Liang... at least... at least we are still alive, and our tribespeople are still alive..."
"Alive? Living like this without dignity?" Ignis sneered. "You two traitors, I'd rather die!"
"Enough!" Sa Lan was agitated. Her voice wasn't loud, but it silenced everyone.
Her face carried a trace of exhaustion and sorrow:
"What's the point of us arguing here among ourselves? It will only make those outside laugh at us."
"Then what do you suggest?"
Ignis frowned.
"Just accept our fate like this?"
Sa Lan shook her head, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.
"I don't know... we'll take it one step at a time."
"At least for now, he still needs us to appease our respective Tribes. In the short term, he shouldn't do anything to us."
Suina's gaze moved from the room's glass window to the night scene outside.
"My only worry now is Alisha. I wonder what will happen to her after being called away by Wu Liang?"
Ignis punched the wall.
"Is there even a need to think about it?"
"Bastard! He really has started moving against us! He's going to take us one by one..."
She didn't continue, but everyone understood her meaning... Alisha, with an anxious heart, was brought to a clean room belonging to Wu Liang.
This place was much larger and more refined than the brick houses they lived in.
Bright oil lamps were lit in the room, thick animal skin carpets were spread on the floor, and the air was filled with a faint, pleasant scent of wood.
Alisha followed behind Wu Liang, her heart in her throat.
"Lord Wu Liang, what... exactly do you want to say?"