TRWSB – Chapter 237 The Turning Point in the Tribal Crisis

Zhuang Hao handed a bowl of blood to Qi Shaorong. Qi Shaorong, holding his nose, looked at him in displeasure and asked, “What are you doing?”

Zhuang Hao calmly explained, “Xinduo Lei said this is how their people cultivate—by drinking blood to gain strength. It’s part of their technique. I tried it, and it works quite well.”

Qi Shaorong took the scroll Zhuang Hao passed over and saw the technique was very rudimentary. Still, it was his first time encountering such a cultivation method, so he found it intriguing.

“Xinduo Lei said their tribe is a small one, so their techniques are rough. The larger tribes have more complete methods and more totem warriors,” Zhuang Hao continued.

Qi Shaorong nodded. “I see.”

Zhuang Hao picked up a bowl and gulped the blood down in one go.

Watching this, Qi Shaorong frowned. “You sure adapted quickly.”

“When in Rome,” Zhuang Hao replied with a faint smile.

Unable to use magic or battle qi in this realm, Zhuang Hao felt helplessly weak. And weakness breeds anxiety. He was eager to grow stronger.

At that moment, Fred came down from the mountain. Qi Shaorong was momentarily stunned—this robust man didn’t look at all like the frail, deathly ill figure he had met before. Now, Fred looked vigorous, muscles taut across his sturdy frame.

“Hello,” Qi Shaorong greeted.

Fred smiled. “Hello. I heard from Xinduo Lei that you’re the one who saved me?”

Qi Shaorong nodded. “I suppose you could say that.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Fred said respectfully.

Qi Shaorong nodded lightly in acknowledgment, knowing from Xinduo Lei that doctors were deeply revered in this world.

Looking at Fred, Qi Shaorong said, “This is our last day here. We have to leave.”

Fred nodded. “I understand.”

Zhuang Hao furrowed his brows. “Someone’s coming—we should go.”

Just then, Fred called out, “Doctor.”

Qi Shaorong looked back. “Yes?”

“May I share the prescription with the tribe?”

Qi Shaorong hesitated. Fred added urgently, “If you allow it, I will follow you for the rest of my life.”

Qi Shaorong blinked in surprise. From what he knew, the Divine Blood clan took their promises very seriously. If Fred said he would follow him for life, he likely meant it. In truth, Xinduo Lei already knew the formula—he had prepared the medicine a few times himself—so Fred didn’t really need permission.

“You’d still do this for them, after how they treated you?” Qi Shaorong asked.

Fred frowned. “Once I give them the prescription, I will have repaid the tribe’s debt of raising me.”

Qi Shaorong smiled faintly. “It’s just a recipe. Give it if you want.”

Fred bowed deeply. “Thank you.”

Soon after, Jesse and his men stormed in aggressively, only to be stunned at the sight of Fred—fully recovered.

“Fred, you’ve recovered?” Jesse asked in disbelief.

Xinduo Lei stood tall, proud. “My brother was just sick. He’s better now—nothing to worry about.”

Jesse froze, his face darkening slightly. “How did you dispel the evil spirit?”

A warrior behind Jesse suddenly recalled something. “Xinduo Lei, you said a wandering doctor treated your brother—is that true?” he asked excitedly.

Leprosy had spread through the tribe, infecting more than thirty people—and the number was still rising. The priest’s proposed solution was to kill all the infected, but among the sick were three females. In this tribe, females were extremely precious, so they were merely quarantined for now.

The priest claimed the outbreak happened because the source of the evil wasn’t eradicated early enough, and many blamed Fred.

“Xinduo Lei, where’s the prescription? Did the wandering doctor leave it?” someone demanded.

Irritated, Xinduo Lei replied, “Even if there is a prescription, it’s none of your business.”

“Don’t forget, you’re still one of us. Are you going to just watch the tribe die?” Jesse said righteously. “Fred, I know you hold a grudge against the tribe, but withholding the cure is too selfish!”

Fred’s brows tightened. “The great priest is so capable—surely he doesn’t need the help of a passing doctor.”

“Xinduo Lei, where’s the doctor now?” another warrior asked.

“He’s already gone,” Xinduo Lei answered, frowning.

In this world, doctors were treated with honor wherever they went—provided they were ordinary doctors. But Qi Shaorong and his group were from another realm. If the tribe discovered that, they’d likely be hunted down without hesitation.

The warrior looked at Sindorei, agitated. “How could you let him leave?”

“When he left the prescription, I wasn’t even sure it would work. I only decided to try it out with a ‘just-in-case’ mindset,” Sindorei explained.

“So, the reason you didn’t hand the prescription over to the tribe was also because you weren’t sure of its efficacy?” asked Kaifeng, who had come with Jesse.

Sindorei nodded. “That’s right.”

As soon as Kaifeng said that, Jesse’s face darkened.

Fred tossed the prescription and the remaining medicine packs to Kaifeng, which made Jesse’s expression even darker.

With the prescription in hand, Kaifeng and the others couldn’t hide their excitement.

Jesse stared at the medicine and prescription in Kaifeng’s hands, itching to snatch them away. As the leader, Fred should have handed the items to him. If this medicine really did cure the “evil spirit,” bringing it back would be a major achievement.

He couldn’t help but regret bringing so many people along.

Kaifeng smiled at Fred. “Fred, since you’re better, come back to the tribe with us.”

Fred replied indifferently, “No thanks.”

Kaifeng’s face stiffened. “Fred, don’t be reckless. You may be strong, but it’s still dangerous to be alone outside the tribe.”

Fred frowned. “I’ve made up my mind. No need to say more.”

Looking at Fred’s firm attitude, Kaifeng knew the tribe had deeply hurt him. Fred was one of the few totem warriors in the tribe—his value was enormous.

After getting the prescription and the herbs, Jesse and the others left in a hurry.

…

After sending Jesse’s group off, Sindorei secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Qi Shaorong took out a herbal illustration of Yin-Yang Grass and showed it to Fred.

“Fred, have you seen this herb before?”

“Yes,” Fred replied.

Qi Shaorong became excited. “Where?”

“In the herbal compendium given by the priest. The priest has an inherited scroll, which includes many spirit herbs. He showed it to us, so when we go out hunting, if we spot such herbs, we’re to bring them back. This particular herb is rare, but it might grow around Cangyun Lake,” Fred said.

“Then let’s go to Cangyun Lake,” Qi Shaorong proposed.

Sindorei quickly interrupted, “We can’t go!”

Qi Shaorong looked at him, puzzled. “Why not?”

Sindorei frowned, his tone serious. “Only the strongest totem warriors can return from Cangyun Lake alive. Anyone else going there is basically seeking death.”

Qi Shaorong hesitated. “Can you tell me how your strength levels are divided here?”

Sindorei nodded. “Sure. In our Flying Tiger Tribe, most people are warriors. Based on strength and how many beasts they’ve hunted, they are ranked from Level 1 to Level 5. Beyond that are Totem Warriors, ranked from One-Star to Five-Star.”

Qi Shaorong glanced at Fred and noticed a single star tattooed on his shoulder.

Smiling, he turned to Sindorei. “What level are you?”

Sindorei puffed up his chest. “I’m a Level 4 Warrior. Among my peers, I’m one of the best.”

Qi Shaorong chuckled. “And me? What level do you think I am?”

“You? Level 3 Warrior,” Sindorei said, then pointed at Zhuang Hao. “He might qualify as a Level 5 Warrior.”

Qi Shaorong: “…” What the heck! Not even as strong as this kid? Well, at least Zhuang Hao seemed stronger than Sindorei.

Fred, seeing Qi Shaorong’s expression, quickly added awkwardly, “Master Healer, he didn’t mean it that way.”

Qi Shaorong waved it off. “It’s fine.”

Then he turned serious. “We shouldn’t stay here anymore, right?”

Fred nodded. “No. This place used to be the territory of a mountain dragon. Even after its death, its pressure remains, which keeps wild beasts away. Other places aren’t so peaceful. That’s also why prey is rare here.”

Qi Shaorong thought to himself: Lucky! Sindorei kept saying how dangerous it was outside the tribe, and he thought Sindorei was exaggerating. Now it made sense—it was the dragon’s residual presence that kept them safe.

…

Kaifeng looked at the medicine bundle in his hand, beaming. “Who would’ve thought Fred would be so lucky to meet a passing healer? Now, others in the tribe can be saved too.”

“Great! Simia won’t have to die,” one warrior exclaimed. His daughter Simia was one of the three infected females. The priest originally planned to burn all the sick, but due to strong opposition, hadn’t done it yet.

“That Fred guy has a serious temper. I bet it won’t be easy living alone out there,” another warrior said.

Jesse scowled. “How he lives is his own choice.”

Kaifeng shrugged. “Fred is a totem warrior. He’ll probably manage fine even on his own.”

Jesse’s face grew colder at Kaifeng’s words.

Kaifeng saw Jesse’s expression and sighed silently. Fred had been one of the tribe’s strongest warriors, generous and brave. He always handed over the best prey to the tribe. Losing someone like him was truly the tribe’s loss.