I thrived in the primitive tribe

Finally, the bushes in front were cleared, and just as the group was about to rush out, Loya and his companion emerged from the bushes.

Upon seeing them, the tense bodies of the group instantly relaxed.

"What's wrong with you?"

"We thought some wild animal had come attracted by the smell of meat, and judging from the commotion, it seemed quite a lot."

Loya and the other person looked at each other.

"I see."

"How did you two get here from over there?"

"We circled around and, finding no threat, went and killed a prey to prepare for dinner."

Loya gestured for the others to look at the animals that had already been processed.

“There’s a stream over there. Let’s go there to process our game and avoid attracting wild beasts with the smell of blood.”

As they spoke, the two handed the food they were carrying to a tribesman who was sitting by the fire preparing to roast meat.

"How are you guys doing here?"

"While we were gathering firewood, we also took a look around and found that there were no signs of wild animals nearby, so it was relatively safe."

"Then let's rest here."

"Ok."

The two found an open space by the fire and sat down together to help roast the meat. The earthenware pot containing the meat was placed aside, and Lu Yao took out an earthenware bowl and used a wooden spoon to scoop the meat broth into the bowl and distribute it to the group.

Everyone gathered around the fire and began to enjoy their dinner.

"At today's pace, we should be near the border market by tomorrow night," Loya said while eating.

"Should we stay overnight nearby or head to the trade market tonight?" one of the tribesmen asked.

"Lu Yao, what do you think?" The group looked at the person who was eating a pancake and hadn't said anything.

"Well, I was thinking we could slow down tomorrow and wait a few days in a place a bit further away from the trade market, and see if we can run into any orcs going to the trade market."

Lu Yao put down the ceramic bowl in her hand and said thoughtfully.

"We brought some salt, didn't we? We can't trade it at the trade market; we can only deal with it privately, and we can't let other tribes know about it."

"Are you planning to do a trade before the border market opens?" Loya asked thoughtfully.

"Yes, so we can't be too close to the market, but we need other orcs to pass by so that we can trade our salt without being detected."

Upon hearing this, the group began to consider whether there was a suitable spot along the way to the trade market.

“I know a place where many tribes that aren’t very strong pass through, and they basically only come to the trade market to exchange for salt.” Lu Yao turned to look at her tribesmen, whose faces were flushed with excitement.

"Where?" Loya asked calmly.

"Jiuli, how did you know?" another member of the tribe asked.

The man, Jiuli, recalled, "It should be around here." He raised his hand and scratched his head sheepishly, "I came to the trade market last time, and the girl I like asked me to exchange some things."

The group was even more confused. "What does this have to do with the location you mentioned?"

"Well, I just happened to find that the fruit she likes is around here, so I thought I'd look for it and bring it back to her."

"Can you get to the point?" a rather impatient tribesman said.

"Don't worry, when I went to look for it, I happened to find that many small tribes would conduct private transactions in that place before entering the trade market. If they had achieved their goal, they would return home directly."

"The people at the border trade didn't know?" Lu Yao was shocked.

"They probably knew, but they probably thought they were just small tribes and wouldn't have much of an impact, so they ignored it." Loya guessed wrong.

"I think so too~ I even secretly went over to take a look, and those were mostly small tribes with relatively weak fighting power."

"That pretty pendant you guys mentioned I had was changed there."

The group suddenly realized, "No wonder you wouldn't tell us where you changed it no matter how we asked you before, so that's why."

"Yeah, you guys were so loud, how was I supposed to say anything!" Jiu Li complained. "And then you guys teased me all sorts of times~"

"Then why didn't you tell us secretly?"

"Back then, you made a lot of people pay attention to our tribe, and that small tribe has long since left, so even if we talked to them, it wouldn't make any difference, right?"

Jiuli said helplessly, "I was thinking that if we meet again in the future, I'll tell you. If we don't meet, there's no point in telling you."

"In that case, let's go take a look over there tomorrow," Lu Yao said, watching their laughter and banter.

The next day, Lu Yao woke up to the chirping of birds. She rubbed her arm, which ached from leaning against the tree trunk, turned her neck, and asked Luo Ya, who was sitting next to her cooking something.

"Where is everyone else? How come it's just the two of us left?" Lu Yao looked around and found that their luggage was still here.

"Jiuli took them to pick fruit nearby."

How did the Jiuli know if there were any fruits nearby?

"Didn't he say last night that he had looked for fruit around here before? This morning he observed again and found that the fruit was very close by, so he wanted to pick some."

The others, however, went along to join in the fun.

"Oh, why don't you come along and take a look?"

"I'm worried about you being here alone, and besides, I don't like that fruit, so I won't go."

"Then you could have woken me up. Oh, there's so much stuff. Maybe we should just forget about it," Lu Yao said, glancing at the things they had brought.

"What's for breakfast this morning?" Lu Yao got up and stretched, then walked to Luo Ya's side and peered into the earthenware jar, trying to see what the breakfast was.

“I left some fresh meat yesterday, and then I added some salted meat. I told them to find some wild vegetables on the way back, so this morning we’ll have flatbread with wild vegetable and meat soup,” Luo Ya said, turning to look at Lu Yao.

"It smells delicious! You're a great cook!"

Loya's heart pounded wildly as he watched Lu Yao sniffing the fire with her little nose twitching. He hurriedly turned his head toward the fire in front of him, no longer looking at Lu Yao.

Lu Yao wondered why Luo Ya wasn't saying anything. She turned her head and saw that Luo Ya was staring intently at the pottery jar in front of him.

This person is so serious about everything they do!

The little wooden stump that had been sitting and sleeping next to the big tree before being moved here found a place to sit down next to Loya and looked at the pottery jar with him.

Not long after, Lu Yao started to feel bored.

"When did they leave? How long until they come back?"

Loya glanced at the sky. "They've been gone for a while; they should be back soon."

"Loya, are you usually this quiet and reserved?"

"..."

Lu Yao noticed Lu Yao's gaze fixed on her, turned to look at him, and awaited his answer.

I think it's okay.

"Do you think any girl will like you if you act like this? Or do you already have a girl you like, so you're avoiding other people to prevent misunderstandings?" Lu Yao's tone revealed a cautiousness that she herself was unaware of.

Seeing Lu Yao's gossipy expression, Luo Ya pursed his lips and remained silent.

After waiting for a while and not hearing a reply from Luo Ya, Lu Yao turned around with slight disappointment.

"Oh dear, they should be back soon. I'll go bake some flatbread; baked flatbread tastes even better~".

Seeing Lu Yao stand up, Luo Ya said in a low voice, "No."

Hearing the voice behind her, Lu Yao turned around in confusion to look at Luo Ya, who was sitting there, wondering what he was talking about.

Seeing Lu Yao's puzzled expression, Luo Ya spoke again: "There was no attempt to avoid suspicion."

"Oh~" Lu Yao went to get the pancakes.