The Rise of a Primitive Civilization

In the dim glow of the firelight, tears streamed down the woman's cheeks as Luo Chong, with a piece of bone, scraped over the feverish child's body, drawing out lines of red that made the unconscious boy wince and whimper. The boy's mother struggled against the grip of the other women, desperate to retrieve her son. She couldn't understand what the tribe's leader was attempting, perceiving only her child's pain as he cried out continuously. She feared this was some bizarre ritual, given the leader's unusual culinary methods like boiling meat in water.

However, Luo Chong was not as heartless as she feared. After covering the boy's front and back with the therapeutic marks, he gently returned him to her. Wrapping them both in beast skins for warmth, Luo Chong then ladled some freshly made fish soup, carefully blowing on each spoonful to cool it before feeding it to the child. Starved, the boy gulped down the soup without chewing, his little body desperate for nourishment.

Thankfully, the child responded well, and Luo Chong was relieved. Buying the mother and son had been a timely decision; another day's delay might have been fatal. With half a bowl of soup and a subsequent sweat, the boy's life was likely saved.

The woman's relief was palpable, though she was still unclear about Luo Chong's earlier actions. Nonetheless, as he fed her child, she sensed no malice. Once relaxed, her own hunger became apparent—her stomach growled unbearably as she eyed the fish soup. Luo Chong handed her a generous bowl filled with soup and a large piece of fish, demonstrating how to use chopsticks, though it was unclear if she understood. He figured there would be time enough to teach her their language come winter.

Taking the child from her arms, Luo Chong wrapped him tightly in a beast skin, mindful of the tribe clumsily eating their meal with chopsticks. He worried about the tribe's vulnerability to illness and the inadequacy of their clothing. Despite years of settlement, their inability to properly cure animal skins meant they lacked clothing reserves. The biggest prey returned by the hunting team were lynxes, dependent on luck, with rabbits or similar-sized animals being more common. Without appropriate weapons, hunting larger animals was futile.

Resolved to improve their situation, Luo Chong decided to venture out the next day to gather materials for making weapons and set traps, ensuring everyone could have clothing before winter.

As the tribe settled down for the night, the boy, now sweaty and a little cooler, was given some salty water to drink. Luo Chong hoped he would recover by morning. When the child awoke, struggling in the heat, Luo Chong reassured him with a gentle embrace to prevent a chill. Though the boy resisted the salty water and stared defiantly, Luo Chong's comforting presence gradually eased his distress.

After ensuring the child was securely wrapped and explaining the importance of keeping warm to the mother, Luo Chong turned to the rest of his tasks. He assisted the newcomers in tying up their hair, distinguishing them as part of the tribe, and then set about crafting his own gear. He selected a sturdy stick to attach a sharpened bird bone, creating a primitive spear with fish bladder glue for bonding.

The next morning, after leading the tribe in a morning exercise, Luo Chong organized the day's tasks. With the adults divided into foraging and fishing teams and the children assisting, he led a large hunting party into the wilderness. Armed with his new spear and a keen sense of determination, Luo Chong was ready to face the challenges of the wild, stepping boldly into the forest with the rising sun.