Chapter 633 A Different Ne (1/2)

“Grand Elder, you were looking for me?” asked Kun Tu.

Different from people who had grown up with Shao Xuan like Tuo and Ah Guang, he was one of the people who had returned to the tribe with the Flaming Horn wanderers on the grasslands. Due to his outstanding performance and great improvement in his capabilities, he was now actively involved in the tribe. Before joining this expedition team, Kun Tu often guarded the Flaming River Trading Point’s entrance and came into contact with many foreign tribes.

Kun Tu had always been respectful of Shao Xuan. Shao Xuan was one of the people who greeted them at the grasslands. Without that, even if Flaming Horn’s fire seed was relit at the old haunt, they still wouldn’t have been able to leave the plains. After various incidents and Shao Xuan’s current status in the tribe, Kun Tu would not address him as casually as others. That was why he still called Shao Xuan ‘Grand Elder’.

Shao Xuan beckoned him over. “Come take a look at this. These are the nets the Gu tribesmen brought to the trading point right?”

Kun Tu went over, then squatted to study the nets next to Shao Xuan. More than one tribe traded fishing nets at the trading point and many fishing nets looked similar so he had to study them carefully despite already recognising that it was the Gu tribe’s with one look. He did not want to lose face in front of the Grand Elder.

After thorough examination of both nets, Kun Tun nodded in confirmation. “Yes, both are from the Gu tribe. Their nets are different from other tribes and the netting patterns are different too. There are many parts of the nets I don’t understand but the Gu tribesmen didn’t elaborate at the time.”

It was true that the Gu’s nets were quite different from other nets. There were even parts that made you feel like they’d made a mistake in the weaving.

“They didn’t explain?” Shao Xuan asked, looking at a few places that looked like redundant, repetitive weaving.

“Yeah. I was curious too and asked them about it. They didn’t explain, merely saying that they made their nets like that. But…” Kun Tu hesitated but continued, “I think there are other secrets behind this. The few from the Gu tribe did not give me friendly looks.”

“What do you mean?” Duo Li and Tuo were curious.

“I’m not sure if I got it right but they looked at me as if I was the uncultured one unable to identify a good thing in front of me.” Kun Tu scratched his head.

Very few people would give hostile looks to Flaming Horns at the trading point. While they were not used to each other, it was rare for anyone to act hostile.

“Tell me about it.” Shao Xuan was interested now. It took studying many details to paint the big picture, subsequently getting to know a tribe. Studying the way they used their tools was one of the methods.

During that period of time, most of the visitors to the trading point were smaller tribes around the Flaming River region. That was also why most of them were uncomfortable and worried with the Flaming Horn’s display of power. However, Zheng Luo’s comments and Kun Tu’s observations showed that the Gu tribesmen did not feel this way at all.

Although the Gu tribesmen at the trading point were also curious and surprised at the goods displayed there, compared to the other tribes, they had an undertone of pride too.

Shao Xuan was no stranger to this trait. Tribesmen like that usually came from areas with geographical features to the tribe’s advantage. They were no underdogs.

“This means the Gu tribe definitely isn’t a small group like the Zhi tribe.”

Shao Xuan picked the net up, then got Duo Li, Tuo and Kun Tu to open the net. Shao Xuan lifted a wooden log over. It had been left to dry in the sun on the deck, meant to be chopped for firewood.

Shao Xuan lifted the tree as thick as a human effortlessly with one hand.

He looked at the ten-metre-long net that took three people to spread. If it were to be spread completely, it should be almost thirty meters long.

Zheng Luo had received these two nets recently before Shao Xuan left. Zheng Luo hadn’t had time to study it due to his work so Shao Xuan decided to test it today.

He scanned the whole net, then the log he held. He carved a few holes at the head of the log using a knife, then plugged a few tree branches inside like deer antlers.

Then, Shao Xuan grabbed the log with ‘antlers’ and approached the net.

When he approached, he couldn’t see much but once the log touched the net and was dragged forward, the regular-looking net made a ‘ssss’ sound.

As if a switch had been activated, changes occurred on the nets.

All three people who helped lift the net and several other people around all stared at the net intently.

This net that initially looked like one piece suddenly acted like two pieces. One maintained its original shape to stop the ‘prey’ while another net started to contract in the direction of the part where the ‘prey’ hit.

Since Shao Xuan wasn’t moving fast and prodded the net very slowly, everyone could clearly observe the entire process.

“This!”

“There are two nets?!”