Chapter 459 (2/2)

“If they really come in this blizzard, then they must know the secret of the fire crystal!” Agony painted the Fox chief’s face. He was already in heartache over having to distribute half of the crystals to Shen. If it wasn’t for the fact that they needed help fending off three other tribes, they wouldn’t have done this! They absolutely cannot distribute any more of the crystals to anyone else!

The Shen people had the same opinion.

Cooo---

A strange sound echoed from outside the cave, approaching the group.

One of the Shen tribesmen lifted an arm. A grey flash appeared and rested on his arm.

It was a bird, possibly a type of fearsome beast but it was not large.

The bird ruffled its feathers like it was shivering for a second, then cried at the Shen tribesman.

COO COO COO COO---

The Shen tribesman’s face changed. “The Taihe people are approaching the mines and have passed the salt flats. They must know about the fire crystals!”

“If the Taihe people are coming, then Flaming Horn must be close too. Mountain Wind must’ve found out about the fire crystals from last time and banded them together. Based on my estimations, they will arrive at the mines the day after today,” said the Fox chief after some mental calculation.

“The day after?” The Shen tribesman said in a low voice, “I’m afraid there will be a drastic change in weather in three days. We have to change our plans.”

The Fox tribesmen were frustrated too. They had already made several plans and had all their military strategies set up. However, this was all disrupted by sudden weather changes. The Shen tribe had always been sensitive to the changes in their environment. They could predict changes in the weather based on changes in the flora of the forest. If they said the weather would worsen in three days, it would happen.

“We might not be able to hold them off by brute force. Especially the bunch of rough Flaming Horn savages.” The Fox chief was estimating the total power of three tribes working together.

“Then what?” the Shen tribe’s tribesman furrowed his brows.

A lady sitting next to the Fox chief had a twinkle in her thin-shaped eyes. She chuckled demurely, “It’s not a dead end.”

Everyone looked at the lady.

She was wearing fire-red fur, petting a white fox in her arms. “The skies will surely change but not in three days. Within two days, there will be a drastic change!”

As if in agreement, the fox cried as she finished her sentence.

“Two days? Are you sure? How did you know?” The Shen people were sceptical.

“You don’t have to know how I know, but I assure you there will be a change in two days.” Her tone was calm, she was confident in her words.

“So if the weather will change in two days, what is your solution?”

“The solution is simple,” she said slowly. “Humans cannot stop the weather from changing. When that happens, we will have to live through it or find a place to hide. Here at the salt mines, there is only one place to hide--- within the salt caves.”

“You mean…” Everyone understood. The only caves were the ones where the five tribes mined in. So the only place to wait out the weather would be the five tribes’ caves.

“Without the caves, when Mountain Wind, Flaming Horn and Taihe arrive, where will they hide when disaster strikes?”

“So we destroy their caves!” Everyone’s eyes shone with excitement.

“Taihe will arrive at least the day after next, Flaming Horn and Mountain Wind would definitely be the same. We shall destroy their caves tomorrow. When they arrive, we just have to guard our own caves. The caves are easy to defend but difficult to penetrate. They will be blocked outside. Once the weather changes, even if they want to destroy our cave, they won’t have the time,” said the Fox chief.

“Yes.” The lady’s eyes squinted as she smiled, nodding in agreement.

“But, if we destroy the three tribes’ caves, where will our reinforcements stay?” asked the Shen tribesman.

“Let them stay in the Shen’s cave for the moment. Both our tribes can send guards to watch them. The most important thing is we guard this place,” said the lady.

It was fine for them to let the recruits stay in their cave temporarily. For the fire crystals, the Shen tribe was willing to let outsiders into their salt cave. “But if the three tribes take over the other cave?”

“So what if they do? If they really take over the cave, they must have suffered a lot of deaths and injuries already. What’s there to be afraid of?” said the lady. Five caves, three will be destroyed. They have heavy defences here, even if that cave had fallen, most of the deaths over there would be their recruits, not their own Fox tribesman. It was also a method to shave off the three tribe’s forces. It was a good thing!

And so the decision was made.