Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 617 - 313: Parting

The full moon rose into the sky, spreading a cold radiance that lit up the wilderness of the night. It was mid-September, and the full moon was at its prime. Loud howls of wolves echoed from distant mountains, seeming to tell of a longing from afar.

Using the moonlight, two red-haired Scouts moved silently across the wilderness, followed by more than three hundred warriors clad in cotton armor. Their mission was originally to scout and ambush the Aztec’s supply troops. However, they encountered the God of Death’s Great Chief’s trusted aide’s tribe. With so few people, they could do nothing and needed to quickly report back with the latest military intelligence.

The steps heading home were always hurried. Soon, the group followed a narrow mountain path and entered the southern mountains of the valley. Ivican greeted the Tribal Warriors guarding the mountain path and then took the lead up the ridge. The long, fertile valley unfolded before him, with tall corn flanking both sides of the river, signaling the hope of a bountiful harvest.

"Awooo! Awooo! Amoxtli, the moon is so full—it’s the Moon God’s Blessing Day! According to tradition, the tribe should offer a deer as a sacrifice. Everyone will enjoy a good feast of venison, then dance around the firepond, with young men and women making merry together! Because after the Moon God’s Blessing Day, the corn will soon be ripe for harvest, and the increased population will have food to sustain them..."

Ivican stood on the ridge, looking longingly at the sky and howling like a wolf.

In the traditions of the Guajili people, the sky held the greatest divinity. The moon and the sun were incarnations of deities and objects of their worship. And the full moon before the autumn harvest was a day worthy of celebration; all tribes held sacrificial rites, and sometimes they even visited each other to reduce inbreeding within the tribes.

Hearing this, Amoxtli also paused briefly to gaze at the bright night sky. The full moon hung high above the rolling mountains, illuminating the mountain camps. Both camps lit up fires, standing opposite each other. The Cactus Tribe’s Samurai occupied the front camp, blocking the eastern mouth of the valley; the Canine Descendants’ warriors occupied the rear camp, vigilantly guarding the other side day and night. The valley was filled with a deadly silence, with flocks of vultures on the ground pecking at the not fully consumed blood clots and carcasses day and night.

"Ivican, has the Cactus Tribe not attacked these days? I heard from other Scouts that the Red Frog Tribe is still guarding the rear camp."

Amoxtli squinted his eyes and stared at the valley mouth for a while, but he could not see the flags inside the camp clearly. He looked at his friend.

"Haha! Since that day when we cooperated and shot the Black Wolf Chieftain going into battle, the Cactus Tribe has been like a sleeping black bear, lying down without making a sound! Otuwa Chieftain and Red Frog Chieftain have talked, allowing him to continue guarding the southeast valley mouth, even gave a thousand warriors drafted from the common tribes! Our Chieftain is very clever, he would never let the Red Frog Tribe go back to the northwest valley mouth!"

Ivican laughed heartily, quite excited.

"Ah? The agreement was for the tribes to take turns guarding, would the Red Frog Chieftain agree?"

"Awooo! In the battle at the valley mouth, Red Cat and Red Frog both suffered heavy losses. The combined warriors of the two tribes don’t match up to our one. Now this valley is under the rule of our Red Fox Tribe!"

Ivican proudly slapped his chest. Then, after thinking for a moment, he added.

"Otuwa Chieftain also appeased the other two chieftains, allowing them to supplement their numbers from the tribes in the valley. The Red Frog Chieftain was somewhat dissatisfied, argued for a long time, but ultimately agreed. The latest requirement is to hold the valley mouth for another ten days! The corn is almost ripe, some tribes can’t wait and have begun picking the ears. Anyway, they can be eaten even if not fully ripe, so there’s less harvest, but they can’t be concerned about that now..."

"Ten days... harvesting unripe corn..."

Amoxtli pondered for a while and asked in a lowered voice.

"Ivican, when are we from the Red Fox Tribe leaving?"

Ivican’s expression became serious. He stepped closer and replied in a low voice.

"Amoxtli, I won’t hide it from you, it’s in the next two days! The Chieftain originally planned to leave after picking some corn in three days, taking more people with us. Now that the Cactus Great Chief is approaching with his army, we definitely have to leave earlier! You go back to the tribe and pack up first. After I ask for the Chieftain’s instructions, I’ll tell you the exact time tomorrow!"

Amoxtli nodded gravely. The two talked in whispers, walking in the moonlight. During the conversation, the mountain road forked. One way led to the center of the valley, the other to the western side of the valley, each just in sight.

"Ah, Amoxtli, my good friend! You are now part of the Red Fox Tribe, and you have achieved great things; even the Chieftain Otuwa has heard of your name. The Chieftain favors warriors with brains, and he has said he wants to make good use of you!"

Ivican stepped forward, firmly grasping his friend’s arm, and sincerely looked into his eyes.

"Chieftain Otuwa values you! In addition to the tribal warriors, you can bring along some of the old and weak, and join the Red Fox Tribe! I know you are reluctant to leave your good old chieftain, so bring him with you! And bring a few more people too. Hmm, Aran’s archery surpasses many redheads, she does not count as part of the quota."

Amoxtli looked at his friend, fell silent for a moment, and nodded.

"Okay. Thank you, Ivican, my good friend!"

"Ah! What’s this talk of thanks?"

Ivican smiled, and patted Amoxtli’s shoulder.

"I’ll come back tomorrow with the warriors!"

"Okay. See you tomorrow!"

Amoxtli also smiled. After speaking, he waved goodbye to Ivican. The warriors behind them parted ways, with the Red Fox warriors heading towards the center of the valley, and the Red Crow warriors heading toward the northwest of the valley. The mountains curved and undulated, and soon they were out of sight of each other.

Under the lingering moonlight, Amoxtli walked on, the long road illuminated by moonlight, heading towards the direction of his tribe. A quarter of an hour later, the rudimentary Red Crow camp appeared before him. A shallow fence, tattered sheds, warriors on guard, and the chief’s longhouse with a fire lit outside.

Amoxtli reached out and touched his left ear. A large portion of the ear’s edge was missing, carefully wrapped in cotton cloth, and it was somewhat painful to touch. During the battle at the mouth of the valley, he had ambushed the Black Wolf chieftain, drawing attention, and was struck by an arrow from the enemy, costing him half of his ear.

"Whew! What a formidable warrior! This half ear, was not lost in vain."

Amoxtli turned his head, looked at the over one hundred tribal warriors behind him, half of whom were redheads. Due to his war achievements, the tribe’s redheads, once conscripted by the Red Fox, were all returned to his command. Together with the two hundred remaining in the tribe, the three hundred warriors of the Red Crow Tribe were all gathered.

The guarding warriors saluted the redhead captain. Amoxtli nodded and entered the camp gate. The rudimentary camp had been cleaned up, belongings tightly bound with grass ropes, and supplies loaded in bamboo baskets. In truth, there wasn’t much—just enough food to stay alive, weapons for fighting, and some herbs and tools.

"Father, you’re back! How is your ear, any better? I’ve picked some more herbs..."

Foll𝑜w current novels on fɾēewebnσveℓ.com.

The girl Aran, like a lively deer, carrying a bow and arrows, swiftly ran up from the camp.

A genuine smile appeared on Amoxtli’s face. He ruffled his daughter’s hair, smiling as he spoke.

"Much better! Father has important matters to discuss with the chieftain. When I come out, I’ll talk with you."

Aran blinked, nodded vigorously, and watched as Amoxtli bent his body to enter the longhouse behind the glaring fire. The dazzling fire drew the eye, making the darkness within the longhouse difficult to see.