In the village shrouded by night, the uninjured Burning Men Tribe wildlings were gathered in the village granary.
The atmosphere was heavy and oppressive, completely different from the triumphant excitement in the Plainsmen camp.
Around the burning bonfire, the uninjured Burning Men Tribe wildlings sat together, their faces clearly showing anger and frustration.
They had thought they could unleash their brute strength and strike a heavy blow against the weak Plainsmen, but they never expected such a result!
Walker, son of Negoti sat above the bonfire, his face even more clouded with gloom.
The rout during the day was a defeat and humiliation he had never experienced since descending from the Bright Moon Mountains this time.
They, the Burning Men Tribe warriors, had their most prized fierce charge rendered useless by those weak and shameless Plainsmen, relying on a pile of wood and a ditch.
"Those Plainsmen! Weak cowards! They didn't even chase us out!" A burly Burning Men Tribe wildling repeatedly slammed his fist against the ground, venting his inner rage.
Another Burning Men Tribe wildling echoed him:
"The Plainsmen hid behind wood! Hid behind ditches! Holding long spears! Bows and arrows! Just like rats! The Plainsmen are not warriors at all!"
The other wildlings also chimed in, letting out angry roars and brandishing their weapons, as if the air itself was those Plainsmen cowards!
Their pride was severely wounded.
They were accustomed to chasing prey in the mountains and ambushing unsuspecting Plainsmen.
They had never imagined being so passively trapped before the enemy's crude fortifications, being poked by spears like animals and shot at like targets.
What they found even harder to understand was why these Plainsmen weren't like the Plainsmen they had encountered before.
This tactic of holding their ground was, in the eyes of those Plainsmen, an act of extreme cowardice and shame!
This group of Plainsmen even strengthened their fortifications after they retreated! They had no intention of attacking whatsoever!
Walker, son of Negoti didn't speak; he realized how foolish the decision he made in his anger was.
He just listened silently to his warriors' complaints.
Anger was natural; even his own heart was filled with anger and humiliation.
But he had to think calmly; he had to think, he had to be responsible for these clansmen.
It was his anger that foolishly led his warriors to charge the weak Plainsmen's already established fortifications.
One clansman was ambushed by the shameless Plainsmen, and four clansmen were shot in the eyes by the weak Plainsmen.
They fell in this foreign land! Never to return to the High Mountain!
And more than thirty warriors were injured and wounded.
He stood up, picked up his battle-axe, and began to think about the next step.
Should he organize another charge? But everyone was injured, and the warriors' morale had plummeted to its lowest point.
And even if they launched another charge, it would just be a repeat of what happened during the day.
These weak Plainsmen, after winning the battle, did not relax their vigilance; they were even strengthening their damned fortifications!
Just as Walker, son of Negoti was thinking about what to do, he was suddenly startled by a voice.
Nanges Son Val, a Burning Men Tribe warrior so angry he was in tears, rushed out: "Walker, son of Negoti! You must come and see!"
Walker, son of Negoti rushed in, and a terrible situation appeared.
The clansmen who were injured during the day, signs of festering began to appear in their wounds!
Not only deep wounds, but even scraped skin began to swell, fester, and emit a foul smell!
The clansmen who were hit by arrows were in even worse condition!
One injured warrior after another began to groan and wail.
Their bodies were burning hot, their consciousness blurry, and they spoke in delirium.
That burning heat was different from ordinary wound inflammation; it was more intense, more rapid.
Their pain and despair spread among the Burning Men Tribe wildlings; everyone felt it, and everyone felt a chill run down their spine.
Walker, son of Negoti walked over to a wildling who had been shot by an arrow and saw the arrow wound on his arm.
It had originally been just a minor wound; after the arrow was pulled out, it was cauterized with a red-hot iron sword, burning off the wound.
This was their Burning Men Tribe's method of treatment.
But now it had swollen as large and hard as a stone, and its color was purplish-black.
He could even smell a putrid odor in the air.
Walker, son of Negoti suddenly stood rooted to the spot as if struck by lightning.
He recalled the arrows that flew and the spear tips that thrust during the day.
Those Plainsmen! Their weapons!
Shameless cowards! Worse than beasts!
But he was powerless! A cold despair instantly gripped his heart!
This was not a simple wound infection! Those Plainsmen, they had smeared something on their weapons!
This method enraged him to the extreme.
High Mountain Clan warriors are not afraid of bleeding, not afraid of death!
But they should never die like this!
A warrior should die by the blade! Not by the humiliation of poison!
The entire Burning Men Tribe camp seemed to be shrouded by death.
The warriors looked at their groaning companions, their eyes filled only with despair.
Their proud bravery and strength seemed so vulnerable when facing such a shameless and insidious method.
Walker, son of Negoti's heart sank to the bottom.
He knew what those shameless beast Plainsmen were waiting for! The Plainsmen were waiting for their raiding party to completely collapse due to attrition from illness!
And then attack them!
Walker, son of Negoti knew he couldn't wait any longer; time would completely dismantle his raiding party!
"Gather all warriors who can fight!"
He gathered all the warriors who could still stand and had them gather around the bonfire.
The firelight illuminated their tired and desperate faces, but there was no panic!
Walker, son of Negoti stood before them, but for a moment, he didn't know what to say.
Any words of encouragement seemed pale and powerless in the face of the cruel reality before them.
Unexpectedly, it was the Burning Men Tribe warriors who were injured but could still stand.
Seeing that he hadn't spoken, they spoke first.
Although their faces showed pain, their eyes burned with a mad resolve.
A warrior with a swollen, blackened arm, but still able to grip his axe, shouted hoarsely:
"Walker, son of Negoti!"
"What are you waiting for!"
"Why don't you speak!"
"We can still pick up our weapons!"
Immediately after, this warrior looked around at his other injured companions; their eyes all held the same calm determination to die.
They looked at each other, then all looked at Walker, son of Negoti and laughed!
"Wait for the weak and shameless Plainsmen to attack! We will stay here and hold our ground! Attract the attention of those weak and shameless Plainsmen!"
'We will kill all those shameless Plainsmen!'
"And you!" Another warrior continued, his voice mournful and resolute!
"Take the healthy clansmen and find a chance to escape! Return to the High Mountain! Return to our homeland!"
Another warrior looked at Nanges Son Val, the unharmed warrior in the crowd, and smiled as he apologized to him:
"Nanges Son Val! Go back to the High Mountain! Don't come down the mountain again! Fighting doesn't suit you!"
"You're good at hunting! Your skill at ambushing prey is one of the best in the tribe!"
"If it weren't for you! Many times the clansmen would have almost starved!"
He did not mention that Nanges Son Val had hidden in the back during the battle.
But his gaze made Nanges Son Val incredibly ashamed, and he lowered his head tightly, remaining silent.
Walker, son of Negoti also remained silent, looking at the seven still-unharmed warriors.
Then he looked at these injured warriors; their eyes were filled with anger and resolve!
"Good!" Walker, son of Negoti's voice was deep and powerful!
He said nothing more! His clansmen had already made their decision!
He looked at the seven still-unharmed warriors.
Their eyes held anger and solemnity, but absolutely no despair!
"The seven of you! Follow me!"
There were no extra words.