I am a Primitive Man-Chapter 652: Shupi and Black Stone (3)

Shupi shouted for his people to stop chasing after the fleeing members of the other tribe, allowing them to escape into their cave.

The warriors from Shupi’s tribe, who were leading the charge, hesitated upon hearing his command and understanding its meaning.

Hadn’t the chief ordered them to capture the people of this tribe? Now that they had finally reached them, why were they being told not to pursue?

If they let them retreat into the cave, it would be much harder to get them out later.

Despite their confusion, Shupi's status within the tribe was unquestionable. Over the years, he had introduced fish traps, bows, and other tools, leading his people to a more stable and prosperous life. His influence and authority were immense.

And so, though they had been rushing forward with drawn bows, the warriors slowed to a stop. They looked at the terrified enemies scrambling into the cave, then back at Shupi, who was catching up from behind. Confusion, urgency, and hesitation flickered across their faces.

The new chief of the enemy tribe was overwhelmed with fear. He had quickly realized that the attackers were not the same people who wielded black stone weapons before.

But that was no cause for relief.

Even if these newcomers didn’t have those terrifying black stone weapons, the strange weapons they did carry were just as fearsome.

They could wound his people from a great distance, possibly even more terrifying than the black stone.

Fortunately, for reasons unknown to him, these enemies had suddenly stopped chasing.

Though puzzled, the new chief was relieved.

If they weren’t going to pursue, all the better—he could use this chance to get everyone safely into the cave.

“￥r!”

The new chief was inexperienced. Only after everyone had already entered the cave did he finally start ordering his people to block the entrance with stones.

Had Shupi's warriors not stopped on his command and continued their charge, this brief delay might have doomed the entire tribe.

Of course, now that archers from Shupi’s tribe surrounded them, the delay made hardly any difference.

Once the entrance was fully sealed, the new chief and his people felt significantly safer.

Many of them crouched near the entrance, peering through the cracks between the stones to observe their enemies outside.

Shupi, under their watchful gazes, exuded absolute confidence.

“￥…”

With a series of animated gestures, he issued commands. His warriors quickly scattered to gather dry firewood.

Firewood was easy to find. Not long ago, the enemy tribe had gathered a significant amount for the cremation of their former chief, but they hadn’t used it all. Plenty remained stacked nearby.

The warriors carried these logs and kindling to the cave entrance, piling them high. They also collected additional wood from other places. Soon, a thick barrier of dry firewood was stacked in front of the stone-sealed cave.

The realization struck them all at once—Shupi intended to burn them alive!

Some of the trapped tribesmen recalled the pain of touching burning embers before and shuddered.

However, most were skeptical.

The entrance was blocked with stones, and they were deep inside the cave. How could the fire possibly reach them? free𝑤ebnovel.com

That same doubt existed among those inside the cave.

And so, they did nothing to stop Shupi’s warriors from stacking the firewood.

Aside from retreating deeper into the cave, they made no other move.

Shupi had never felt as confident as he did today. He had personally experienced the effectiveness of this method before.

So, when the tribe members looked to him with questioning eyes, he did not bother to explain. Instead, he silently retrieved a burning branch from the funeral pyre of the enemy tribe’s former chief, walked to the cave entrance, and set fire to the piled wood.

A chorus of agonized coughing erupted from within the cave.

The sealed entrance was soon pushed open from the inside, and people stumbled out, gasping for breath. Some ran forward in desperation, only to collapse after crossing the burning embers.

Tears streamed down their soot-covered faces as they coughed uncontrollably, offering no resistance as Shupi’s warriors tied them up.

Shupi smiled as he looked at his tribe members, who were jumping and cheering with admiration and excitement. His mind drifted back to years ago, when he had been smoked out of a cave by that terrifying tribe.

That indeed was an incredible tribe.

Shupi sighed deeply in admiration.

He had only lived there for a short time, yet what he learned had benefited him endlessly and helped him tremendously. If only he had stayed longer...

With that bittersweet thought, Shupi gripped his bow and led the march, walking at the head of the procession. Behind him, a long line of captives, bound together, trailed along.

The fire still raged behind them, its scorching heat radiating outward, filling the air with a suffocating stench.

Inside the cave, those who hadn’t escaped were burning along with it.

Shupi, having once been a victim of this same tactic, felt no pity.

On the contrary, a strange sense of satisfaction filled him.

His actions were becoming increasingly similar to those of the tribe.

That terrifying yet unforgettable tribe.

It was a twisted kind of admiration, something beyond words, but it was genuine to Shupi.

“￥gh…!”

Before the next full moon, the chief of the Black Stone Tribe arrived with his warriors to collect their tribute.

This would be the fourth tribe they had extorted this month.

The ease of obtaining food without having to hunt themselves was genuinely delightful, and the Black Stone warriors reveled in their power.

However, the chief of the Black Stone Tribe had more profound thoughts than his men.

While demanding tribute was satisfying, constantly traveling between distant tribes to collect it was becoming a hassle.

If there were only a few vassal tribes, it wouldn’t be so bad. But now, with so many under their control, the endless back-and-forth was becoming exhausting.

Unlike most of his men, the Black Stone chief was clever. He had already devised a solution on the way here.

When they left this tribe, he would take a few of their people with him.

Once they learned the way to his tribe, they would be responsible for delivering food every full moon.

If any tribe refused, he would personally lead his warriors to slaughter some of them as a warning.

It was a perfect plan.

But reality was far from what he expected.

Staring at the ruins of the cave, the Black Stone chief’s face twisted with fury as he let out an enraged roar…