82. The Clash Between Two Tribes

“I am a wood-element mage,” Mo Fei replied, aware that people on this continent would call such a person a priest, but he simply disliked the term.

“You use the same methods as our priests here. I thought...”

“In truth, we are the same. It’s just that where I come from, we call it wood-element magic.” Having finished healing over a dozen gravely wounded wolf-warrior, Mo Fei lifted his head. “But I am far more powerful than the priests you have here. None of them possess my kind of magic. Look at them...”

Mo Fei was not boasting. The priests here had no magic that could restore someone to health in an instant. Like wood-element mages in his own world, they could only stop bleeding and heal wounds, but he had an extra ability—he could instantly revitalize the injured or exhausted, helping them recover much faster. That was the true strength of a cultivator.

At that moment, four minotaurs approached. They bowed to Wodo and said, “Young chieftain, thank you. Thank you for helping us avenge this insult.”

“There’s no need to thank me. I didn’t help you out of any grudge. Those men dared to disrespect our chieftain, and that’s the price they paid. It had nothing to do with you,” Wodo replied, his words carrying a hidden meaning. After all, killing someone just for disrespect was excessive. It was clear those people intended to harm the wolf tribe’s guests, which was why the wolf warriors had acted. Now that things had escalated to the level of a tribal dispute, even if the bear tribe protested, it would be meaningless. The minotaurs understood the young wolf chieftain’s implication well enough; after all, they had provoked the incident in the first place. They said nothing more, bowed, and departed.

“Young master, things may become more dangerous after this. Are you sure you want to continue to your destination?” Wodo said, realizing this was the greatest conflict between the two tribes in over a decade. If he ended up alone and encountered bear warriors, he would surely suffer for it.

“Of course I’m going. If their warriors are all like that, even another squad would barely give me a workout. What’s there to fear?” Mo Fei replied with a smile.

“Is the young master really as formidable as he claims?” Wodo had never seen Mo Fei in action and could only speculate in his heart, though his expression betrayed his skepticism.

“Let’s go take a look at the minotaurs’ settlement first, then perhaps visit some other places,” Mo Fei decided. He had been watching the minotaurs’ attacks earlier; their strength was on par with berserkers. However, he wondered if they had other methods of boosting their power, otherwise they would not be able to match a fully enraged berserker.

“Alright, I know a minotaur settlement not far from our wolf tribe’s lands. Let’s go there first. They have so many wonderful things! Last time I visited, they gave me all sorts of gifts, and they make delicious food too. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. Let’s head there first!” Wodo was delighted by Mo Fei’s suggestion.

Led by Wodo and his seven wolf warriors, Mo Fei and his companions set out toward the minotaurs’ settlement.

With Wodo guiding them, they finally reached a small mountain hollow, separated from the wolf tribe’s lands by a dense forest. Wodo explained that after crossing this hill and circling a small lake, they would arrive at the minotaurs’ current settlement. This was just one sizeable minotaur settlement; others were scattered elsewhere.

Just after they crossed the little mountain pass, they encountered a squad of minotaur warriors guarding the strategic entryway. Without warning, the minotaur warriors surrounded them. If not for the presence of several wolves among them, the minotaurs might have attacked outright.

“You are not our enemies. Why have you brought strangers to our camp?” one of the minotaur warriors demanded, pointing at Mo Fei as he addressed Wodo.

“They are honored guests of the wolf tribe. By order of the chieftain, we seven are to escort them,” Wodo replied calmly.

“Honored guests of the wolf tribe?” The squad leader recognized Wodo and knew he wouldn’t lie, but he had never heard of anyone being so honored by the wolves—this was unusual. “So, what brings them here?”

“I told them you have fun things and good food, so they wanted to see for themselves!” Wodo grinned. “Not long ago, we even helped four of your warriors kill more than sixty bear warriors.”

“Really?” the minotaur leader asked in astonishment.

“Weren’t they from your tribe?” Wodo was puzzled himself; they did seem a bit unfamiliar.

“They should be. Four of our brothers just returned yesterday, but they haven’t told us about this yet. I’m sure they’ll report it to the chieftain. Since your guests helped our brothers kill so many enemies, you may enter.” Upon hearing this, the minotaur leader became much more courteous.

As Mo Fei and his party crossed another small ridge, the sounds of battle and shouting rose from the minotaur village below.

“Quick, let’s see what’s happening!” Mo Fei urged.

They quickened their pace and rushed down the slope. In front of the minotaur village, they saw that three bear tribe warships had passed by on the nearby sea, discovered the settlement, and, relying on their numbers, had landed their forces to attack the village.

Each ship carried at least a thousand bear warriors, making a force of three thousand, while the minotaur village had at most a little over a thousand inhabitants, many of them the elderly, women, and children. The real defenders numbered only around six hundred.

Upon seeing the bear warriors preparing to massacre the village, Erin was reminded of the siege of her own elven kingdom. She drew her small divine crossbow and charged into the ranks of minotaur warriors resisting the landing. Her crossbow fired ceaselessly, and with each bolt, a bear warrior fell.

The minotaurs were surprised at first to see a white elven girl charging past, but when they realized she was helping, and witnessed her miraculous marksmanship, all six hundred shouted in unison, their morale surging as they fought with renewed ferocity.

Because the minotaur settlement was by the sea and the shoreline was narrow, only one warship could come ashore at a time. Thus, the first wave of bear warriors numbered just over a thousand. With Erin’s help, they fell even faster, but soon one warship retreated and another advanced, and the situation grew perilous.

If the minotaurs wished to avoid relocating their settlement again, they had to annihilate all three bear warships. However, as long as ships remained at sea, they could not completely eliminate the threat and would ultimately be forced to move.

After casting enhancement spells on Erin and the others, Mo Fei walked toward an elderly minotaur who was directing the defense on the shore.

Let me do what I can to help, Mo Fei thought.

Since Mo Fei and his companions had immediately joined the battle against the bear warriors, the minotaurs regarded them as friends. No one stopped Mo Fei as he approached their chieftain.

“You must be the chieftain?” Mo Fei asked, looking at the elderly minotaur.

“Yes, I am the chieftain of the minotaurs. Young man, thank you!”

“No need for thanks. It’s only right. Those who rely on brute strength to seize the fruits of others’ labor are the most despicable. Even if we hadn’t joined in, they wouldn’t have spared us afterwards, so we’re fighting for our own sake as well. There’s no need for gratitude.”

“Hahaha!” The old chieftain laughed heartily, his spirit undimmed by age.

“So, young man, do you have some advice for me?”

“If you don’t want to relocate again, you must destroy them all.”

“Of course. We struggled to find this place—where else could we go? But destroying them won’t be easy. Driving them off is one thing, but total victory is another.”

“If you follow my plan, total victory will not be difficult,” Mo Fei said with a smile.

“Very well. If you have a way, we will do as you say.” The old chieftain felt an inexplicable trust in Mo Fei, as if it were only natural.

“Have your warriors pretend to be exhausted and retreat slowly, clearing the shoreline so all their ships can come in. Once their ships are docked, send your best swimmers to circle around and seize the vessels. When their retreat is cut off, none will escape.”

“Excellent, we’ll do as you say.” The old chieftain raised his voice, and with a wave of his hand, a minotaur warrior hurried to his side. “Go, tell our warriors to act as if they’re losing strength, retreat slowly into the village, clear the shore, let all their ships approach. Once the ships are in, tell Ade to lead a team to capture them—I want none of the enemy to escape.”

“Yes, chieftain!”