Chapter 27: Falling into the Pit

Ma De turned around and let out a series of strange cries toward the tribesmen behind him.

After a long moment, the tribesman glanced at Jiang Li, then turned and led his group away.

"Brother Ma, you seem to carry quite a lot of weight among these people," Jiang Li remarked, surprised.

Although he hadn't known Ma De for long, some people didn't need much time for others to see what they were made of. Ma De was a man who exuded unreliability from head to toe, yet he was somehow trusted by these indigenous people?

"Heh heh, Brother Jiang, you don't know the half of it. I’m currently the shaman of this tribe," Ma De chuckled. "Come, there’s no point in standing here. Why don't you come with me to my humble abode?"

Jiang Li nodded. Since his safety seemed assured for the moment, he decided it was worth following Ma De to see what was what.

A short while later, led by Ma De, the group arrived at a stone house. It was not small and even featured a courtyard, where a simple wooden table and stools were arranged.

"Please, Brother Jiang, take a seat," Ma De said, gesturing with his hand. He then smiled at Chu Chunqiu and the others. "It’s a small place, so please don't mind the lack of chairs. Just make yourselves comfortable, whatever way you like."

As he spoke, Ma De picked up a clay teapot and poured a cup of water for Jiang Li. "The conditions are primitive; I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all, not at all. Thank you, Brother Ma, for saving my life," Jiang Li said calmly.

After two cups of tea, Ma De opened up, his face filled with sorrow. "Brother Jiang, you have no idea. The new city isn't what it was when it was first built. When we first arrived, everyone worked together to construct it. But after such a long time, the Imperial Court hasn't sent anyone, nor have they sent a single grain of rice."

"The supplies we brought were exhausted long ago. And since everyone knew the Court was preoccupied with wars and unable to govern, the settlement fell apart."

Jiang Li nodded slightly. "So that's the situation. But why are you in a tribal village, and how did you become their shaman?"

Ma De sighed and continued: "After things fell apart, everyone naturally grouped up with those they were close to. My group clearly couldn't compete with the others, so to survive, I had to run."

"As for being a shaman, that’s just because these tribesmen are unsophisticated. After I fled the city, I fell into a trap they’d dug. I thought I was a dead man for sure, but it turned out this tribe wasn't cannibalistic. Having nowhere else to go, I just started teaching them some simple skills—how to fire pottery and things like that."

"These tribesmen saw I had some tricks up my sleeve, so they eventually made me their shaman."

Hearing this, Jiang Li finally understood the sequence of events and let out a long breath. It was an unexpected relief to discover that not all the tribesmen on the island were cannibals.

"Brother Ma, have you ever thought about fighting your way back?" Jiang Li asked, probing.

Relying on them to help him cross through the territory of this tribe was pure fantasy. According to Ma De, the tribe consisted of several hundred people, and the surrounding area was their domain, where they allowed no one to pass.

Ma De took a helpless sip of water. "Brother Jiang, I’ll be honest with you—I’m willing but unable. You have no idea; once these tribesmen learn one thing, they force you to teach them another. My brain is almost completely drained."

"I try not to show off anymore, but when I can't avoid it, I just teach them things in a needlessly complicated way. And the most annoying part is that they won't let me leave. It’s clear they want to squeeze every last bit of value out of me."

"And as for you lot, I suspect the reason those tribesmen brought me to communicate with you is, nine times out of ten, because they want you to teach them skills too. Otherwise, heh..."

Jiang Li fell silent. He had thought he’d escaped danger, only to find himself trapped in an even deeper pit.

"What about sneaking out? Is there no hope at all?"

Ma De shook his head firmly. "No hope whatsoever. These tribesmen are lurking in the tall grass everywhere. We simply have no chance of getting away."

"That may not be true," Jiang Li muttered to himself.

"What did you say, Brother Jiang?"

Jiang Li waved his hand dismissively. "Nothing. Do you want to go back, Brother Ma?"

Ma De pondered for a long time, then looked toward a certain direction with a complex expression. "Brother Jiang, to be honest, of course I want to go back. Even if I have to live under someone else's roof or act like a dog after returning, it’s better than living this primitive, blood-drinking life here. But you know the situation; there’s no way to escape."

Jiang Li smiled but said nothing. He drained his cup and stood up, looking out into the courtyard. Seven or eight tribesmen were watching them, clearly on their guard.

"Brother Ma, why don't you tell me about the situation inside the city?" Jiang Li asked, turning back.

Ma De nodded. "Sure, but I’ve been out for over three months now, so things might have changed."

"It doesn't matter, just tell me what you know."

"In truth, none of the people sent to this island are simple characters. They’re either cronies of some Prince or the nephews of powerful figures. It’s a simple logic: this island is naturally isolated. If one day they find themselves in trouble, they can retreat here and be safe. Many ministers in the Court have their eyes on this island."

"When the city was being built, everyone was all smiles. Once it was finished, the backstabbing began. From what I know, the Third Prince, the Seventh Prince, and the Grand Secretary all have people here. When I was forced out, the Third Prince’s faction had the upper hand, but now? It’s hard to say."

"And I’m certain there are other hidden factions. In short, the situation is incredibly complex."

Ma De’s account made Jiang Li frown.

"How many people are in the city?"

"Not many. I recall it being about five thousand," Ma De said after some thought.

Jiang Li pondered for a long time and eventually decided to set aside his thoughts of escaping for now. Since he had just arrived, it was better to play it safe and wait for the tribesmen to lower their guard.

"By the way, Brother Ma, you’ve been here for so long, you must have learned their dialect by now, right?"

"That’s true. If you’re interested, Brother Jiang, I can teach you," Ma De said with a sly smile.

"That would be excellent," Jiang Li replied with a smile of his own.

A day passed in the blink of an eye. The next morning, Jiang Li was awakened by Ma De.

"Brother Jiang, come with me. The Chieftain wants to see you!"