The Glory of the Tribe

Chapter 12

"Dad! What are you saying?" In the main tent, Shentu Yu had only just sat down when she immediately jumped to her feet, looking at her father in disbelief. She never imagined that her father would suddenly call her over to have her use a marriage alliance to persuade Jiang Xuan to marry into the Shentu tribe!@@@@

"Xiao Yu, you know the situation with the Molten Crystal Mine," Shentu Lie said seriously, looking at his daughter. "In ten days at most, the Molten Crystal Mine will be exposed. The best way to resolve this matter is to get Jiang Xuan to give up fighting. He is the last male member of the Jiang tribe. Without him, we can directly complete the annexation of the Jiang tribe."

"Dad! He killed Fifth Uncle! Are we just going to let Fifth Uncle’s death go unavenged?" Shentu Yu exclaimed, her emotions rising.

"Compared to matters like advancing to noble status, what does the life and death of a tribe member mean?" Shentu Lie stared at his daughter. "Ah Yong’s death pains me more than it does you, as his older brother, but tribal conflicts have always been like this. For thousands of years, the tribes of Heitan Mountain, which one hasn't had blood feuds with the others?"

"So, are you going to sacrifice me?" Shentu Yu said angrily, "Dad, you promised me that you wouldn’t arrange a marriage for me. At least wait until I turn sixteen and have had a chance to explore the world before I choose my own path!"

"What do you mean, ‘sacrifice you’? You know Jiang Xuan, don’t you?" Shentu Lie said quickly, "Before Jiang Hanfeng disappeared, I was both an enemy and a friend to him. We used to fight and spar every year. You and Jiang Xuan met when you were young. If you really want to talk about it, you two were childhood sweethearts."

"We only met four times!" Shentu Yu gritted her teeth. "And... "

"And what?" Shentu Lie pressed.

"Do you think he’s worthy of me?" Shentu Yu raised her chin, a proud look in her eyes. "Even if he’s had some fortunate encounters, hiding his true strength, and now he's a half-step innate, so what? Dad, do you think he’s worthy to marry me?"

"He’s not worthy," Shentu Lie’s face darkened. "But if the bride price is a Molten Crystal Mine, then he’s worthy!"

"Dad!" Shentu Yu’s impatience flared.

Since she was young, she had always thought of herself as different—exceptionally intelligent, well-read, and extraordinarily talented. During the three life-and-death battles, she had served as the strategist for the tribe, despite being only fifteen. Many in the tribe even considered her to be a "reincarnated person," believing her intelligence was beyond normal human bounds.

Yet even with all her talents, she couldn’t escape the fate of being a pawn to strengthen the tribe.

"Daughter, you’re being foolish!" Seeing his daughter truly upset, Shentu Lie could only try to explain from another angle. "Go and talk to Jiang Xuan, persuade him to marry into the Shentu tribe. You can promise him whatever you want. After he agrees and becomes your husband, then he’ll be at your mercy. You can do whatever you want with him! Even if you chain him up and make him crawl on the floor like a dog, he won’t be able to resist! Why don’t you understand?"

The tent fell quiet for a moment.

Could it be that because he had saved the tribe that day, turned the tide of the battle, and even become the tribe leader, she now saw him in a different light?

"No, no, something’s off!" Jiang Xuan immediately dismissed this thought. He knew Jiang Qinghong’s character, and if she truly thought of him differently or had feelings for him, she wouldn’t be so shy about it.

"Qinghong Jie, what’s going on with you?" Jiang Xuan pushed his food aside and glanced at her.

"It’s nothing." Jiang Qinghong glanced at Jiang Xuan and smiled gently before adding more vegetables to his plate.

"You’re not acting right." Jiang Xuan squinted his eyes, suddenly having a flash of insight. "Did my mother say something before she left?"

Jiang Qinghong froze for a moment before pulling her chopsticks back.

She didn’t deny it.

"It’s true!" Jiang Xuan praised himself for his cleverness and quickly asked, "What did my mother say?"

"Do you really want to know?" Jiang Qinghong gave Jiang Xuan a strange look, a half-smile on her lips.

"Of course!" Jiang Xuan nodded firmly.

"Aren’t you afraid you won’t be able to sleep after hearing it?" Jiang Qinghong added.

Jiang Xuan didn’t know why she said that, but he really wanted to know, so he replied immediately, "I’m not afraid!" He then pretended to look calm, casually shoveling a couple of bites of food.

"Your mother told me to consummate the marriage with you," Jiang Qinghong said, looking at Jiang Xuan.

"Pfft! Cough, cough!" Jiang Xuan spit out a mouthful of food, luckily turning his head quickly, but he still coughed several times.

"Look at you." Jiang Qinghong stood up and walked over to pat him on the back.