The Tribulation of All Races

Chapter 4: Establishing the Camp

Returning with prey and construction materials, Luo Ji and his companions were greeted with cheers from the women and children of the tribe, instilling a sense of relief among them. The deer carcass placed by Luo Yong on the ground signified that they would not go hungry tonight.

Upon reaching the shores of the Mirror Lake, Luo Ji had a myriad of tasks awaiting him. He needed to inspect the progress of the ice fishing hole, ensure the fishing nets were ready, check on the children's progress with digging bait, and increase the production of weapons like stone spears and axes to ensure every warrior in the tribe was equipped.

Most crucially, after the battle, many of his warriors were injured and bleeding. Wounds had to be treated promptly to prevent infection or inflammation, a potentially life-threatening situation in this era where medical knowledge was practically non-existent.

A wave of anxiety washed over Luo Ji as he realized the gravity of the situation. In the early stages of the tribe's development, even the most ordinary member was a valuable asset, both as a fighter and a producer. He couldn't afford to lose any of them.

Hurrying to the injured warriors, Luo Ji found the barbarian elder preparing to apply chewed-up herbs to a wound. This sight somewhat eased his concerns, indicating they had a basic understanding of wound care and access to herbal remedies. While the practice of chewing herbs might seem unsanitary, saliva did have disinfectant properties, and in desperate times, such nuances were overlooked.

"Stop! Stop immediately!" Luo Ji exclaimed, rushing to the elder's side. "Have the wounds been cleaned?"

"Cleaned?" The elder and the injured warriors exchanged confused glances.

Luo Ji sighed and covered his face with his hand. "Alright, everyone listen up. After an injury, you must clean the wound thoroughly to prevent infection or inflammation."

"Chief, what do you mean by infection and inflammation?" the elder, the only one with some medical knowledge in the tribe, asked instinctively.

Luo Ji replied seriously, "You'll understand eventually." How could he explain bacteria to someone from this era? It would only lead to more questions, and ultimately, it was a testament to the tribe's underdeveloped civilization.

Fortunately, the ice hole by Mirror Lake had been opened, so Luo Ji quickly dispatched someone to fetch clean water. After thoroughly washing the wounds with lake water, he allowed the elder to apply the herbs. As soon as this was done, a system prompt sounded.

System Prompt: Congratulations, Player 'Luo Ji', for advancing medical practices. You have earned 100 Civilization Points and 10 Medical Points.

Luo Ji had grown accustomed to these periodic system prompts but remained humble, knowing that his modern knowledge would easily trigger such rewards in the tribe's nascent stage. The real challenge lay ahead—how to truly develop the tribe.

"From now on, follow this method," he instructed, recognizing that with so many injured, he couldn't tend to each wound personally. He entrusted the task to the elder.

Moving on, Luo Ji inspected the progress of the fishing nets and was pleased with what he saw. "Not bad at all." Though the mesh was slightly larger than intended, it suited his purpose of catching larger fish. As expected, a system prompt chimed in.

System Prompt: Congratulations, Player 'Luo Ji', for crafting a 'Rudimentary Fishing Net'. You have earned 30 Civilization Points and 3 Production Points.

"Speaking of points, I seem to have accumulated quite a few of different kinds since the beginning," Luo Ji mused, intending to delve into them later. However, with a pressing schedule, he had to postpone his investigation.

Armed with the completed fishing net and bait collected by the children, Luo Ji led a group of eager tribesmen to the ice hole. Those still working on other tasks couldn't help but glance over, curious about the chief's new endeavor.

"Who among you has the best patience? Someone who can sit still for long periods?" Luo Ji asked.

After a moment of hesitation, a middle-aged man raised his hand. "Chief, I think I can do it."

"Then you'll give it a try," Luo Ji said, not bothering with a rigorous selection process. With a deer already secured, food was not a pressing concern, and fishing, though important, could wait a bit longer.

"Don't be nervous. It's not difficult; patience is key," Luo Ji reassured him. Indeed, the task was straightforward—gathering the net, sitting by the hole, holding one end to prevent it from sinking, and periodically tossing bait into the lake. When a fish entered the net, they

As he trudged back to the shores of the Mirror Lake, the women of the tribe had already constructed rudimentary tents from scavenged materials—essentially branches supporting hides of beasts. With the completion of the final tent, the system's notification echoed without surprise.

System Prompt: Congratulations, Player 'Luo Ji,' for successfully establishing the first tribal camp. You have earned 100 Civilization Points and 5 Industry Points.

System Prompt: Would you like to name your newly established tribal camp?

"Hmm!" The mention of naming triggered Luo Ji's latent "Naming Anxiety," which he swiftly suppressed. Instead, he focused on the camp's attribute panel...

Camp Attributes:

Name: None

Level: Small Tribe

Population: 34 (Your tribe is in dire need of more members)

Habitability: 1 (Thanks to Mirror Lake)

Defenses: None (Your tribe is highly vulnerable)

Special Effects: 'Fishery' Bonus 20% (from Mirror Lake), Civilization Development Speed Boost 20% (from Talent 'Ruler')

Upon reviewing the panel, Luo Ji realized how fortunate he was not to have abandoned this settlement. The special effects, particularly the fishery bonus and habitability, were owed to the natural wonder. Without it, in this frigid terrain, habitability would plummet to negative, a dangerous sign indicating discontent and potential rebellion.

"Decision made!" Luo Ji clapped his hands. "We shall call it 'Mirror' for now. Though 'Mirror Tribe' may sound unrefined, with time, it could evolve into Mirror Town, Mirror City, sounding quite pleasant. Let's settle on that."

Unwilling to dwell on naming, Luo Ji prioritized strength. He sat down and crafted several stone axes and spears from suitable rocks, distributing them first to the four strongest warriors, then to the rest.

As the first warrior, Luo Yong already possessed a stone axe but took interest in the spear. After a few test swings, he shook his head. "Too light."

"Axes are heavier and more powerful, while spears offer agility and range. If you find it too light, try wielding two axes," Luo Ji suggested, handing him another bound axe.

"Can I really carry two?" Luo Yong's face lit up. He had always wanted to, but hesitated due to the tribe's weapon scarcity.

"Go ahead," Luo Ji waved it off. "With the right stones, we can make plenty. Bring back suitable rocks on your hunts. These weapons are easy to make; everyone deserves one."

Luo Yong eagerly accepted and practiced with his dual axes, while the other armed warriors shared his excitement.

Later, the scout Luo Ji had dispatched returned, weary but triumphant with the location of the enemy tribe and marks along the way. This news energized the warriors, as knowledge was power.

Preoccupied with population issues, Luo Ji now plotted an attack on the rival tribe. He lavishly praised the scout, naming him Luo Jin, the second recipient of a name from Luo Ji, eliciting envy from the tribe's members.

As nightfall approached, they prepared to cook. Luo Ji marveled that he didn't have to master fire-making. However, the frigid winds and occasional snowflakes made it challenging, often extinguishing sparks before they could catch.

Starving, Luo Ji sprang into action, constructing a crude stone hearth with large rocks under the eager gaze of his people.

System Prompt: Congratulations, Player 'Luo Ji,' for building a 'Rudimentary Stone Hearth.' You have earned 20 Civilization Points, 2 Culture Points, and 2 Industry Points.

"Huh, the hearth grants both Culture and Industry Points?" Luo Ji mentally noted, then decided to press on. He and two men lifted the stone pot to clean it in the lake, summoning the fishermen from their icy vigil.

Luo Ji estimated they'd been waiting for hours with no catch. "That's enough for today. Let's clean this pot and prepare our meal..."

As Luo Ji spoke, the man holding the fishing net suddenly changed his expression, quickly lifting the net upon sensing movement within. Before Luo Ji could even take a proper look, a system notification flashed through his mind, informing him of the event.

System Notification: Congratulations, Player 'Luo Ji's' tribe has discovered 'Carp' for the first time. You have earned 30 Civilization Points, 3 Production Points, and increased 'Fishery' development progress by 1!

"Ha ha, ha ha ha..." Ignoring the mental notification, Luo Ji couldn't help but burst into laughter at the sight of the carp struggling in the net. His tribe members, sensing his joy, followed suit, dancing and laughing with excitement.

Luo Ji's delight stemmed not from merely catching a fish but from the validation of his method. With more nets and ice holes, the tribe could develop fisheries, enhancing fishing efficiency, potentially solving their food scarcity issues. Moreover, the Mirror Lake's natural wonder offered a 20% bonus to fishery development!

"Chief, is this the fish you spoke of earlier?" An elder, recalling Luo Ji's earlier words, inquired upon seeing the unfamiliar creature in the net.

"Yes, indeed, this is it," Luo Ji replied, gesturing for the fish to be placed on the ground. Determined to avoid any mishaps with his fish-inexperienced tribe members, he took charge of preparing the fish himself.

Fortunately, years of independent living had honed Luo Ji's survival skills, including fish-slaying. The carp, unusually large due to the lack of fishing in this era, would fetch a high price in modern times, but here, Luo Ji decided to cook it into a soup.

Grabbing a handy stone, he swiftly stunned the flailing carp before picking up a suitable rock to serve as a makeshift fish-slicing tool. Inevitably, the crude instrument made the task arduous, leaving the fish's scales somewhat mangled. Still, with no other option, he persevered.

Amidst the awestruck gasps of his tribe members, Luo Ji dropped the prepared carp into a pot, boiling it in plain water with no spices. Nearby, another fire roasted venison skewers.

Starving after a long day, Luo Ji distributed the roasted venison, which, though generous in size, could not satisfy everyone's hunger. In the past, such a morsel would have been cherished, but today, their attention was drawn to Luo Ji's pot of simmering fish soup.

Timing his move, Luo Ji lifted the wooden lid, and an intense aroma wafted out, making him swallow involuntarily. The scent alone was enticing, drawing all thirty-five pairs of eyes towards the pot.

Regrettably, the carp's size exceeded their cooking vessel's capacity, limiting the soup's quantity. Today, everyone would only get a taste, but with Mirror Lake nearby, more soup was inevitable.

Luo Ji, as the chief, personally portioned the soup and fish, warning them about the many bones before they ate. Despite the caution, some still got pricked, yelping in surprise before swallowing the tiny bones with another bite of venison.

Gulping down his share of the soup, Luo Ji sighed contentedly. Despite its simplicity, the soup was unexpectedly delicious, perhaps due to his hunger.

After dinner, Luo Ji sat by the fire, rubbing his half-full stomach. His tribe members told him that even a morsel of food at night was a luxury; during lean times, they survived on water alone. This revelation deepened Luo Ji's appreciation for the hardships of this era and the weight of his role as chief.