#1067 - Chapter 1067: The Nata tribe was defeated and moved north
"Child, you misunderstand! We fight in a fair and honorable way, not out of respect for the enemy, but out of respect for ourselves," Chief Nata said, waving his hand in instruction.
"Chief Nata, how can there be fairness on the battlefield? Isn't doing so just sending our clansmen to their deaths for nothing?" the boy countered.
"Hmph! Whose brat are you? Spouting such treacherous nonsense, go back and reflect on your words!" Chief Nata said, angered.
The boy was chased away.
Two days later, the battle erupted.
The warriors of the Nata tribe launched a frontal assault on the Sea Ghost tribe's lines.
The Sea Ghost tribe held their ground, showing no signs of charging.
Chief Nata stood on the high platform, a faint sense of unease in his heart.
These Sea Ghosts were likely going to resort to wicked tactics.
Sure enough, when the Nata warriors charged to within only a few dozen meters of the enemy lines, a massive volley of arrows was launched.
"Swish, swish, swish ~"
"Ah, ah, ah ~"
The warriors in the front ranks were caught off guard and fell to the ground, riddled with arrows.
The warriors behind them were blocked, and many were tripped and fell.
In an instant, the charging formation was thrown into chaos by the trampling, and they lost their footing before even engaging the enemy.
"Swish, swish, swish ~"
"Swish, swish, swish ~"
Arrows rained down like they cost nothing, wave after wave.
Most of the warriors were mercilessly shot down.
"Retreat!"
"Retreat quickly!"
Chief Nata shouted in a panic.
"Woo ~"
"Woo woo ~"
The messenger beside him raised his horn and wailed, sending out the retreat order.
Only some of the warriors at the very back of the charge heard the order and managed to escape. Almost everyone else had been hit by arrows, making retreat impossible.
The Sea Ghost warriors charged forward.
They used the sharp blades in their hands to frantically harvest the lives of the Nata warriors.
"Pfft ~"
Chief Nata, seeing this scene, was overwhelmed with anger and spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Treacherous villains, slaughtering my clansmen! This feud is irreconcilable; I will skin you alive, tear out your bones, and grind you into dust!"
"Chief! Chief!"
The warriors guarding him cried out in alarm at the sight.
"Hurry! Go!"
The warriors carried Chief Nata on their backs and quickly retreated.
To buy time for the Chief to escape, many Nata warriors disregarded their own lives and formed a human shield.
This battle ended in a crushing defeat for the Nata tribe.
Of the 6,000 warriors, only a few hundred returned alive.
The clansmen had no time for grief; they packed their belongings and began to retreat to the cold northern regions.
There was no other way; if the Sea Ghosts attacked, all the clansmen would be captured or slaughtered. At that point, the entire Nata tribe would be exterminated.
They traveled north for three months, resettling beside a river.
Along the way, many more fell behind, died of old age, or succumbed to other causes.
By the time they reached the northern gathering place, they were less than 40% of their original number, and most were women and children.
The Nata chieftain's physical condition was already very poor; he could die at any moment.
"Child, I regret not listening to your advice, which led to the Nata tribe suffering such a catastrophe. This is my fault! My fault!" Chief Nata howled in anguish.
The scene of those valiant warriors being slaughtered haunted his mind, impossible to shake off. His pain and self-blame completely consumed his heart, and he couldn't catch his breath.
"Chief, the resentment and anger in your chest are trying to take your life; please, you must relieve them as soon as possible!" the boy cried, holding his arm and pleading.
"Alas! Forget it! I can't relieve them! So many brave warriors have died, what face do I have to live on? I just can't understand, is upholding righteousness wrong? Why must those who abide by the rules be treated so cruelly? Does Heaven not see this?" Chief Nata still couldn't understand.
"Chief! Don't think about these things anymore; please take care of your health!" the boy replied.
"Tell me, you must explain it to me!" the Chief insisted.
"Upholding righteousness is right, but upholding righteousness also comes at a price," the boy replied.
"Why does upholding righteousness also come at a price?" the Chief didn't understand.
"The purpose of upholding righteousness is to bless the clansmen. But shouldn't the clansmen have to pay a price to receive blessings?" the boy asked.
"So, no matter what path one takes, there is a price to pay?" the Chief was confused.
Taking the righteous path has a price, and taking the evil path has a price, so what is the difference between taking the righteous path and taking the evil path? Chief Nata couldn't understand.
"Yes!" the boy nodded in agreement.
"Then tell me, how should the Nata tribe's path be walked?" The light in the Chief's eyes disappeared, and he looked much older in an instant.
