I am a Primitive Man Chapter 934: The Wise Old Shaman
Previously on I am a Primitive Man...
The fellow who voiced this notion seemed incredibly robust.
While uttering those words, he hoisted a gleaming weapon skyward and simultaneously yanked away the cords binding his frame, allowing the pelts encircling him to slip free and bare his physique underneath.
Through this bold exhibition, he aimed to demonstrate to the clan his personal prowess along with the formidable power of their own group.
Even though the chill caused certain areas of his form to shrink after shedding the furs, it failed to halt his ongoing performance.
His statements and gestures elicited clear nods of approval from numerous members.
Indeed—their clan possessed great might, complete with keen blades acquired from a rival group. Thus, what stopped them from launching an assault on the fresh clan holding valuable ceramics and seasoning?
Should they succeed, every one of those treasures would become theirs!
Within the elevated dwelling, the aged medicine man remained still, gazing intently at the finely crafted vessel in front of him and the valuable seasoning inside it, immersed in contemplation. The rising clamor of yells from underneath reached his ears.
His sagging lids abruptly lifted, and his entire bearing shifted to fury.
“#￥W@3!”
He stood up and approached the wide-open aperture in the elevated shelter, thrusting his head outward, and bellowed wrathfully at the gathering below. The assembly, moments ago whipped into fervor, promptly hushed.
The warrior gripping his blade paused briefly, then hastily brought it down, snatched the cord from the earth, rebound the furs over his body, tucked in his chin, and slunk away as though all was normal.
This scene carried a touch of humor, yet nobody chuckled.
The aged medicine man snorted lightly, pulled his head back inside the opening, went back to the vessel holding the seasoning, sat down once more, and continued eyeing the pair of objects in profound reflection.
The stooped early human refrained from interrupting him and silently lingered opposite, awaiting the medicine man's verdict.
Some moments passed before the old medicine man raised his sagging lids anew.
“#￥5@#…”
He uttered the words deliberately.
His message indicated that the stooped early human ought to hold off a little, then venture forth once again toward that territory to seek out the clan engaged in similar labors as their own.
“￥#%T…”
Having grasped the medicine man's directives, the stooped early human questioned what steps to take upon discovering that clan, if they were indeed meant to plunder them.
The medicine man paused briefly, then wagged his head and responded once more.
He instructed the stooped early human that upon locating that clan, no assault should occur. Rather, they must watch to see if that clan could craft the two treasures independently.
Should they prove unable, the stooped early human was to trail them in search of the clan skilled in forging these invaluable goods.
“￥@@#3…”
The stooped early human queried further, asking if they ought to then strike that clan to claim their holdings and capture the folk who crafted these invaluable goods.
“@#Ii…”
The medicine man wagged his head and gestured toward one side.
That path pointed to yet another mighty clan.
The ceramics, seasoning, and keen blades of their clan had all come through swaps with that very group.
The medicine man implied that any clan producing such goods must hold immense power. The recently arisen clan, crafting even superior pieces compared to those from the known mighty clan, was bound to be mightier still.
A force like that lay beyond the capacity of their own clan to overcome.
Upon hearing the insightful medicine man's counsel and remembering the clan they frequently bartered with, the stooped early human quivered despite himself.
Truly—how could they have overlooked this detail?
Fortune smiled upon them with the insightful medicine man. Absent his lead, they and their clan might have committed a dire error this instance, perhaps even imperiling the whole community.
“#￥5@3…”
Noting the stooped early human's response, the aged medicine man grinned, content with his own sagacity and their compliance.
He went on with his words, gesturing yet again toward the earlier indicated direction.
The stooped early human paid close heed, slowly showing signs of delight and reverence.
They rejoiced at the bright future for their clan and held profound esteem for the medicine man's insight.
The medicine man's scheme shone brilliantly—surpassing all prior conceptions.
The medicine man's guidance specified that finding a clan mirroring their own labors would lead them to the one crafting superior ceramics.
Following that, their clan could barter provisions and sundry goods to secure the superior ceramics and savory seasoning.
Subsequently, the clan might employ these fresh acquisitions to exchange with adjacent clans for provisions.
As the stooped early human pondered discovering that clan, freeing them from reliance on the adjacent mighty clan for trade, the aged medicine man interjected anew, gesturing once more to that mighty clan.
“#￥@#34…”
The medicine man expressed himself unhurriedly, revealing his purpose.
The stooped early human, previously settled, found themselves unable to stay seated after comprehending the medicine man's scheme.
Overcome with thrill, they sprang up swiftly, clasping their hands in a salute of deference to the medicine man.
This went beyond simple courtesy—it stemmed from the scheme's allure and practicality, stirring unavoidable awe.
Through the medicine man's counsel, they saw that the ceramics and seasoning from the initial swap could serve to barter with the mighty adjacent clan, yielding even greater provisions.
Initially, the stooped early human had missed this tactic, but upon realizing it, ecstasy surged through them.
They understood the opulence and vigor of the adjacent clan intimately—its provisions so vast that no collection from lesser clans could rival it.
In times past, their clan had swapped provisions with the affluent clan for ceramics and seasoning, then used the ceramics to trade with minor clans for additional provisions.
A good portion of those provisions ultimately returned to the affluent clan.
Never had they considered swapping ceramics and similar wares back for provisions from the mighty clan.
Yet circumstances had shifted now.
Envisioning the plentiful provisions in that affluent clan and picturing the use of superior ceramics to claim them for their own stirred such elation in the stooped early human that their frame quivered faintly.
The medicine man was truly a seer—profoundly wise and visionary.
Lacking his direction, envisioning this scheme would have eluded them entirely.
“#￥4@#…”
The stooped early human spoke with fervor, voicing their eagerness to guide others and the provisions gained from this swap back to the spot where the superior ceramics emerged, to pinpoint the clan that fashioned them.
Anticipation burned within them to deploy the superior ceramics in bartering for provisions from the mighty clan.
“#￥4@3…”
The aged medicine man wagged his head yet again.
He advised the stooped early human against undue rush.
The prime duty at present involved transporting the provisions from this swap to the adjacent mighty clan to exchange for ceramics and seasoning.
Armed with these ordinary wares afterward, they could advance to the region where the superior ceramics had surfaced.
Thus, should they fail to identify a clan producing superior ceramics, trading standard ceramics and seasoning with lesser clans remained viable.
Moreover, this approach would act as a trial—the adjacent mighty clan could behold the superior ceramics and seasoning and judge if ample provisions merited exchange for them.
Should the affluent neighboring clan dismiss these wares and decline provisions in trade, committing vast provisions for ceramics and seasoning might spell catastrophe.
Without question—the aged medicine man commanded the tribe's veneration and awe for solid cause.
Even this meticulous forethought outstripped the grasp of typical folk from their time.
Grasping the medicine man's scheme fully, the stooped early human offered another respectful incline to the aged medicine man…
They departed the medicine man's secluded timber abode and ascended to their personal elevated shelters.
As dusk fell and shadows enveloped the sky, the clan set about readying the evening feast.
Due to their residence in elevated shelters, igniting flames within proved impossible.
Feasts were prepared on the soil below.
Each cooking session saw the aged medicine man descend from his timber dwelling to observe the clan's food preparation.
Not from any fondness for the view, nor eagerness to dine, and far from worry over pilfered morsels.
Instead, the rising cooking vapors ascended steadily, and remaining in the elevated shelter frequently provoked coughing fits, with tears and mucus flowing freely…
This night, thanks to the stooped early human's return laden with ample provisions, the supper proved particularly lavish.
Furthermore, though no breeze stirred tonight, numerous trees bearing the elevated shelters rocked softly—save for the medicine man's dwelling.
The medicine man's aperture stood half ajar, soft lunar glow filtering in to brighten a modest area within.
Therein rested a ceramic basin with seasoning.
The medicine man lingered in the shadows close by, his gaze locked on these two objects aglow in the moon's light.
His thoughts swirled chaotically, pondering sundry matters—the adjacent mighty clan, the guidance imparted to the stooped early human, and musings on the enigmatic nascent clan.
Prior to this day, the notion of a clan surpassing even the adjacent affluent one in strength had never crossed his mind.
But now, confronted by these superior wares, he found himself compelled to entertain such a reality.
No other clan came to mind as capable of forging such items save one mightier than the adjacent one.
After prolonged sitting and musing, the aged medicine man stood, sealing the half-open aperture against the moon's gleam and the night's bite.
As darkness intensified, the sporadic rustle of shifting trees faded.
The beasts, secured by tethers in the bounded space under the trees, had yet to settle.
A few reclined on the ground, others remained upright, methodically munching.
White froth gathered at their maws during the chew.
Gradually, the froth burst into fluid, trickling earthward in slender rivulets…
The medicine man's scheme held undeniable thrill. With most of the clan's provisions stemming from barter, the stooped early human commenced arrangements the following day.
They retained half the returned provisions within the clan, burdening the remainder on sated and watered beasts.
Certain members shouldered additional loads as well.
Following concise readiness, they set off beneath the aged medicine man's vigilant gaze, bound for a designated path…