Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1840 - 1327: Remnants of the Empire

"Snore! Snore! Huff!..."

The aroma of meat porridge lingered by the riverside. Chieftain Maha Agudah grabbed a clay pot, pouring it into his mouth in large gulps, barely chewing. The warriors of the Fish-Skin Tribe watched the chieftain's eating display, unable to resist gulping. In just a dozen breaths, Maha Agudah finished a pot of meat porridge. Then, he exhaled a long, hot breath, his face reddened, as he raised the clay pot forcefully, ready to smash it down!

"Burp! What's this feeling? My tongue is hot, my whole body is sweaty... Boat-Using Tribe, you indeed poisoned it!... Burp!..."

"Haha!... But this little poison is similar to the mushrooms from the forest!... It's not uncomfortable at all; instead, the hot energy surges through, relaxing the bones!... Puff! Delicious! Comfortable! Filling! Warm!... Hahaha!..."

Maha Agudah laughed heartily, exhaling another mouthful of spicy hot air. Then, he looked at the clay pot in his hand, hesitated for a moment, and gently put it down without smashing it. His actions were both forceful and careful, reminiscent of a bear reluctantly putting down a honeyless beehive, quite comical.

"Hey! Fish-Skin Chieftain, with your burly figure, why not have another pot of meat porridge? We still have plenty on our ship!... And your people haven't eaten yet! Friends of the Fish-Skin Tribe, we can share together!"

"Haha! This meat porridge is good; I wonder what's added in it! After eating, not only does it warm me up, but it gives me more energy!..."

Maha Agudah comfortably rolled his neck, like a brown bear shaking its fur. But soon, his fierce and sharp gaze once again focused on Zuwaro, and a dismissive smile appeared on his face.

"Boat-Using people, I don't want your porridge! Our tribe won't be fooled!... Don't think I don't know, you're very cunning!... I watched you eat two mouthfuls of that pot of porridge and indeed, you didn't tamper with it!..."

"But! Hunters bait when hunting in the forest! There's nothing wrong with that pot of porridge; maybe it's your bait, deliberately lowering our guard... and then plotting against our entire tribe!... Haha! Don't think I can't see through it! Even the slyest fox can't fool the tiger of the mountain forest!..."

"Ahahaha! Uh..."

Maha Agudah laughed wildly, with a mix of the beast's instinctive vigilance and the pleasure of outsmarting his opponent. He laughed like this for a while, until Zuwaro picked up another pot of meat porridge and started eating in front of him... only then did the laughter abruptly stop as if a dog's neck had been grabbed.

"Boat-Using Tribe! What did you put in this food? It feels spicy, very comfortable, almost like the swamp isn't that wet anymore..."

"You're asking what the spicy taste is? Oh! It's a specialty of our tribe, very spicy peppers!..."

Zuwaro smiled, taking out a small bag full of hometown specialties, dried chili peppers brought from thousands of miles in the Kingdom. Just adding a little to the porridge can make the warriors of the Kingdom happy all day!

In such a damp northern swamp, these unprecedented peppers are almost a necessity for survival, alleviating the chill that penetrates the bones. And Maha Agudah obviously liked it after just one try.

"Boat-Using people, you're very cunning! You have so many good things..."

Maha Agudah squinted his eyes, staring at the small bag in Zuwaro's hand, unwillingly gripping the heavy Stone Hammer. Unfortunately, the large ship was anchored in the river. Even the bravest tribal warriors couldn't climb aboard amidst the many flashing bows and arrows...

"Chief Divine! Such delicious meat porridge! With Japanese rice, Ainu salmon, plus the Kingdom's peppers and spices!... Puff! I could eat another pot!..."

"..."

Maha Agudah stared in silence for a long time, watching the Boat-Using Tribe flaunt their endless eating. His suspicion about the tribe's purpose began to fade.

After all, in this vast and wild forest swamp, only hungry beasts are the most dangerous. And a well-fed tiger is much more docile, even able to drink water by the river with a herd of deer.

"Boat-Using people! Give us your food! Let us cook it ourselves!... If you give us food, we won't fight you!..."

"Hmm?..."

Zuwaro's ears perked up, looking at the Fish-Skin Chieftain who first made a request. He smiled and waved his hand, and soon a warrior rowed a small boat, placing a sturdy large iron pot on the shore. Inside the pot were a bag of rice, a bag of salt, a jar of rice wine, and a small bag of precious peppers, all prepared in advance.

"Achoo!..."

Maha Agudah opened the small bag, sniffed the peppers, and couldn't help sneezing thunderously. Then, somewhat apprehensive, he set down the peppers and looked again at the recognizable salt, discerning wine, and unknown grains in the iron pot. After a while, he turned to instruct the Fish-Skin Warriors beside him.

"Secure them all! But before eating, let the dogs taste it first to see if there's any strong poison..."

"Yes! Agudah!..."

"No stealing!"

"Urgh!... Got it, Agudah!..."

After accepting the Boat-Using Tribe's gifts, the hostility on Maha Agudah's face finally faded. He squinted his eyes, looking at Zuwaro on the longship, and asked again.

"Boat-Using people! You mentioned you were going to worship something, what 'altar' in the collection?..."

"Indeed! We heard that the altar of this Southern Tribe is quite miraculous; we want to pray for a bountiful harvest and a warm winter!..."

"...Worship? The Guardian Spirit's altar?..."

Maha Agudah frowned, thought for a moment, then shook his head in reply.

"Boat-Using people, I think I know what you're talking about! This collection is something we just conquered, and indeed there is a half-collapsed large house inside! The previous tribe was holed up in that house and fought us to the end..."

"If that altar really had a Guardian Spirit, we couldn't have taken over this collection! And the previous tribe wouldn't have been obliterated; only a few tribe slaves and women are left..."

"Forget it! If you want to worship at the altar, then go down and do it!... But, you can only bring a handful of warriors!... If you have the courage, come down and return to the camp with me!..."

Facing the invitation from the Fish-Skin Chieftain, Zuwaro pondered for a while until the other party became somewhat impatient, and then he boldly agreed.

"Alright! Fish-Skin Chieftain, I trust you! I'm coming down right now to go with you!"

"The Guardian Spirit of the Great River and Thunderbolt protects our ship! With His protection, I have no fear!..."

"Boom!..."

As he spoke, Zuwaro waved his hand, and there was another cannon blast from the longship, jolting Maha Agudah like a brown bear retreating a step, with camp noises from whinnying horses and barking dogs. Then, he looked at the unaffected crowd, confusedly staring at the longship, focusing on the golden long tube producing the massive thunder sound.

"What kind of beast is this? It doesn't look big, but sounds so loud, even like thunder?..."

Indeed, in the eyes of the fierce Fish-Skin Tribe, the usually awe-inspiring firearms were seen merely as a "strange beast" or "natural spirit monster." They hadn't yet developed worship or fear of divine spirits, even less enlightened than the Ainu Tribes, as benighted as the Canine Descendants of the Wilderness...

"Boat-Using people! Make your ship's beast stop roaring; it's scaring our horses again!... Don't threaten me here; I invited you over, so I won't eat you!..."

"Ha! Such a cunning and timid Boat-Using Chieftain! I wonder why those mighty warriors would follow someone like you with such a modest stature?..."

"Let's go! Cross the riverbank, follow me through the breach in this wall!... Watch your step! They're about to harvest barnyard grass, and soon it'll be ripe! Don't trample them!..."

Zuwaro stopped, observing the peculiar barnyard grass fields ahead. He didn't realize it was an Empire's former wheat field, mixed with wild barnyard grass due to sixty years of cold, damp, and neglect, becoming impoverished barnyard grass fields. He looked at the collapsing earthen wall, observing its sturdy foundation, imagining its original construction and the warriors once guarding these walls.

At this moment, the mottled and weathered impressions came rushing in! He smelled the wind gone sixty years ago, sensed the once surging ocean, shimmering light and red.

A remnant left by a distant Empire, like shells buried in the earth, lay on the tidal flats left by the receding tide. Then, a man wearing feathers arrived here, picked up the shell, and held it before his eyes. Through it, he saw the southern sea, vast and mighty! And a vast Empire, in retreating tide.