Chapter 1334: Chapter 1334

The elderly woman laughed loudly, extending her fingers in comparison, while the young girl blushed deeply, her gaze fixed. Because of the fish festival held twice a year in spring and autumn, it could also be seen as their coming-of-age ceremony...

The men displayed their strong, agile bodies and their skills in fishing and supporting a family, while the women widened their eyes, selecting and seeking suitable partners. If several women simultaneously fancied one, it was then up to the man to choose.

"Hmm... this fishing and hunting tribe is quite unpretentious! There’s no division between nobles and priests here..."

Exploration Captain Zuwaro stroked his chin, scrutinizing this sizable tribe, pondering for a while. Then, with great interest, he watched a tribal huntsman with exceptional water skills, who clung tightly to a big fish with his hands, relying solely on the strength of his legs to swim in from the Great River.

"Whoa! Such remarkable water skills! Truly a natural sailor!"

Zuwaro widened his eyes, watching the exceedingly agile hunter rapidly approach the shore. When he landed, he immediately raised the big fish in his hand high up. Then, a boiling cheer erupted from the surrounding crowd.

"Xwálalqʷ! Siwalak! Siwalak! The fishing warrior! The tribe’s fish man!..."

The excited shouts fell into the ears of the people in the fleet, although incomprehensible, they were unmistakably high praises. The hunter held the big fish high, proudly shouting his name to everyone.

"Ancestor Spirit blesses me! The best hunter of the tribe! Fish man Xia Yuying!..."

In the tradition of the Xiares, the warriors who win the fishing competition are called "fish men." This is a very high honor, and the rewards are immediately apparent.

Soon, more than a dozen tribal girls with ponytails rushed toward the victorious hunter Xia Yuying. They surrounded him, loudly comparing and letting him choose a wife. The robust Xia Yuying glanced around and chose an equally strong girl. This, too, is the tradition of the Northern Tribes, where physical strength is a common aesthetic for both men and women.

Soon, other young men in the Great River also returned with the fish they caught. The tribe’s women likewise rushed toward them. As for the young men who caught fish last, or only picked up some crabs and shrimps, they could only return crestfallen, with not even a single woman looking at them. If they want to change such an embarrassing treatment, they must diligently practice fishing skills and become more familiar with water before the next spring fish festival.

"The competition within the tribe... seems to be focused on fishing... truly fascinating!"

Exploration Captain Zuwaro watched the entire fish festival ritual with interest, until the sky gradually darkened. The content that followed was somewhat inappropriate for children and not suitable to watch further.

"Zuwaro, what do you think of these Xiares?" Read full story at novᴇlfire.net

"Chief Divine witness! These people are natural sailors... strong and agile, and familiar with the situation in the Northern Land... only..."

"Only we don’t understand their language. Judging by their relaxed celebratory demeanor, there don’t seem to be any hostile tribes around... if we want to spread faith and recruit sailors, it’ll have to be done gradually!"

During two days of rest at Xia He, everyone gestured and inquired about the situation of "Bay of Hundred Lakes." Hearing their inquiries, Tribe Chief Xia An was visibly excited. He spoke a lot, but unfortunately, the fleet understood very little... Eventually, he drew a sketch on the mud, which Scholar Mikki carefully documented.

"Hundred Lakes... Great Lake... Great Bay... former ancestral land... Northeast... a river comes..."

"You want to go there? Two routes... one is the river, go east, then south, then north... follow the river to find... but many tribes... battles..."

"Another route is the sea, heading straight north to the northernmost point... turn southeast, row continuously... then you’ll reach the Great Bay... all are lakes... lots of fish catches... many tribes..."

Zuwaro and Mikki pondered for a long time before understanding Xia He Chief’s meaning. They discussed for a while and ultimately decided to take the safe and straightforward sea route: first north past the cape, then turn east-southeast. If not found, then land and inquire from the tribes.

The fleet continued northward, and on the east coast appeared a series of towering mountains. The peaks of the mountains were covered in white snow, looking like clouds in the sky. In later times, this range of mountains had a very awe-inspiring name, called the "Sanctuary of All Gods of Greece"... oh no, it’s the "Olympic National Park." The most famous peak among them is "Olympos West Peak."

Under the gaze of the "Divine Mountain Range," the fleet sailed north for five hundred miles, finally reaching a sharp sea cape. The continuous coastline interrupted here, forming a wide water surface heading southeast, which could also be seen as the extension of a long strait. To the northwest direction, after a break of several tens of miles, steep cliffs reappear.

"Chief Divine witness! Here we are already between 48-49 degrees north latitude, close to the edge of the far north... these two sides of the coast, one heading northwest, the other southeast... according to Your Majesty’s prophecy, it should be..."

The longship stopped at the sea cape, everyone gazed at the steeply twisting coast, looking at the desolate gray-brown cape, also listening to the beautiful singing of the group of whales. In later times, this cape and strait were famous whale watching spots, a must-go area for countless whales. Hmm, also a good place for catching big fish.

Exploration Captain Zuwaro was still contemplating the prophecy when he was suddenly interrupted by Mikki. He looked up and saw his friend raising his ears, listening attentively.

"Zuwaro, listen! Listen carefully! Northeast? Is there some strange sound?"

Zuwaro rubbed his ears, listened for a while, his face showing confusion.

"Mikki, I only hear the whales calling. It seems in the northeast, also seems like the north. Oh! It must be several whales!..."

"No! No! The ones in the north are whales, the sound from the northeast, although resembling whales, is not quite like whales, so odd..."

Mikki the Sage frowned, frustratedly scratched his head. He thought about it, then called over Le Tian, the cloak hunter, for him to listen carefully.

"Le Tian, you have good ears, listen carefully..."

"Uh? This is? This is!..."

Cloak hunter Le Tian’s ears were very keen, like a bat, they twitched. Then, his facial expression gradually changed, becoming more solemn, even showing a hint of fear.

"Le Tian, what did you hear?"

"Ancestor Spirit! I heard whale songs, along with sounds very like whales but not whales! That sound is rhythmic, and keeps cycling... This... This must be the Ice Snow Sirens!"

Upon saying this, cloak hunter Le Tian was visibly flustered, pacing around nervously on the deck.

"Ah! The tribe’s mythology, the far north land’s whale song!... The legendary Ice Snow Sirens! The man-eating sea monsters!..."

Mikki the Sage was speechless, seeing the usually bold cloak hunter caught in the fear of myths. He shook his head and looked at Zuwaro.

"Zuwaro, did you really not hear anything?"

"Chief Divine witness! Whale songs drifting from so far, only dog’s ears could hear, right?... Hmm, I wasn’t insulting you..."

Exploration Captain Zuwaro chuckled, shook his head. Then, he rubbed his chin, glanced at the Samurai armored and armed with spears on the ship, pondered for a while, and made a decision.

"Mikki, let’s move closer and take a look!"

"Ancestor Spirit, don’t go! The sound changed! It’s changed!"

Seeing Zuwaro’s action, cloak hunter Le Tian hurriedly shouted to stop him. He listened attentively, with a heavy heart, remembering various tribal legends, his face continuously whitening.

"You hear it! The cries! The whales are crying!... The Sirens’ sound is gone, only the whales’ sound left... It’s the Sirens’ hunt!..."

"Eh?... The sound indeed has changed!... This seems to be..."

Mikki the Sage pondered for a moment, forcefully pulled at his hair. Then, he helplessly gave Le Tian a glance, saying to Zuwaro.

"Zuwaro, wave the command flag! The disturbance is right ahead of us, near the northeastern coast. Let’s go have a look!... Let’s go! Chief Divine protect us!"