NOVEL NEXT Chapter 363: First Intimate Contact
As soon as Patriarch Wei's words fell.
The Barbarian Merchant Team immediately halted their steps.
A moment later, a tall man stepped out from within.
From the high-definition camera, it could be seen.
This man exuded a rugged aura from head to toe, draped in animal hide on his upper body, looking somewhat like a muscular icon.
There was a centipede-like pattern on his face, and his long hair draped over his shoulders, slightly messy and unkempt, seemingly not often groomed.
Aside from that.
He held in his mouth something resembling a cigarette, his gaze carrying a wild beauty.
After reaching the forefront of the meeting point, the tall man gestured to someone beside him.
Soon after.
Another elder, dressed in a style identical to the central region, jogged up to the man, and the two walked forward together for about ten steps.
Upon stopping, the man began speaking in a rapid, unintelligible manner.
The old man took out a talisman, and with the talisman's boost, began to translate simultaneously:
"Reporting to the lord ahead.
We come from the Yange Tribe behind the Celestial Moon Mountain Range, ordered by our tribe to cross these mountains and exchange some supplies in the southern region.
On our journey, we heard that Chixian City is welcoming displaced people, so we came to see if there might be trading opportunities.
Please rest assured, lords.
Within the merchant team, we only have one individual approximately at early-stage Foundation Establishment in the central region, who ensures not to take even a half-step into the city.
Should the lords be interested, simply send someone out of the city for the exchange!"
On the city wall.
Upon hearing the old man's words, Lin Li puzzledly remarked:
"That's strange.....
Isn't it said that the cultures of the barbarians and the central region are different, and their languages completely incomprehensible to each other?
How are those people on the other side speaking Damo language?
Could they be another power in disguise?"
Saying this, Lin Li felt an inexplicable subtlety in his psyche.
After all, not long ago, the rabbits had just appropriated the tribal banner from behind the Celestial Moon Mountain Range.
This identity hadn't been uncovered yet and had even brought substantial profits to the rabbits.
Of course.
This was also due to the massive trade scale of the Joy Rod and the Yang Family being uninterested in probing deeply.
Now that a merchant team claiming to come from behind the Celestial Moon Range had appeared, Lin Li naturally considered this possibility.
If that's the case, it would indeed be a case of matryoshka doll tactics.
Faced with Lin Li's confusion, Patriarch Wei seemed unsurprised and even took the initiative to reassure him:
"Captain Lin, rest assured.
The language spoken by the leading man was very authentic barbarian language, with some syllables that outsiders cannot mimic, and the appearance and physique of the entire merchant team are no different from the barbarians.
Moreover, I released my divine sense to probe, confirming that their cultivation method is indeed alien, devoid of spiritual power fluctuations.
Therefore, there's no need to doubt the origin of the merchant team; they must be a tribal group among the barbarians.
As for that little elder... he is a language translator."
"Language translator?"
"Yes, a language translator."
Patriarch Wei nodded and explained:
"This is a rather uncommon profession that requires proficiency in both the barbarian language and the Damo language to qualify.
Language translators typically reside at the edges of the Celestial Moon Mountain Range and have special connections with the tribes behind the mountain range.
Whenever a barbarian merchant team arrives in the southern region, a language translator will accompany them, responsible for guiding and translating the language.
And as compensation, both buyers and sellers must give him a certain commission, which is the main source of income for language translators.
This profession is basically one that doesn't get business for ten years, but a single job can secure ten years of income, making it a unique professional group."
Now Lin Li understood:
"So that's how it is..."
This profession of language translators in the Damo Realm also exists locally, colloquially known as brokers.
Additionally, in some novels, this occupation is referred to as the hyacinth. (By the way, which book did this originate from? Its reach is widespread.)
In summary.
They need to be thoroughly acquainted with the distribution of towns in a certain area and must possess certain language skills.
In a sense.
Back then, Wei Niandong was also a language translator.
As for why Patriarch Wei was familiar with this profession, it mainly had to do with Chixian City's geographic location.
Chixian City is just over six hundred kilometers in a straight line from the Celestial Moon Mountain Range, which locally amounts to the east-west span of a province—some large western provinces are even more than that.
For example, the heart of Sichuan on the mainland spans as much as 1000 kilometers from east to west.
So although barbarian merchant teams are relatively uncommon, within a decade or two, one or two could still be encountered in the Chixian City area.
Even over two thousand miles away in Ziqiong City, a barbarian merchant team could be encountered once every seventy or eighty years.
For instance, as mentioned earlier, an ancestor in Ziqiong City married a concubine from the barbarians.
This is also somewhat of a regional feature.
In other countries on Earth, seeing Genggeng might require crossing borders for a chance.
However, if you're in Modu, visiting the zoo to see Genggeng is enough.
Once you reach the Sichuan area, Genggeng becomes even more common, as everyone rides Genggengs to school.
The barbarian merchant teams are similar.
The closer you are to the Celestial Moon Mountain Range, the more frequent the encounters.
Thus, over the long exchanges, the Wei family gradually learned some information about the barbarian merchant teams.
Including the role of the language translator.
On the city wall.
Hearing Patriarch Wei's introduction.
Lin Li couldn't help but cast a concealed glance at Shi Zehong, who was responsible for Chixian City's affairs.
Shi Zehong understood the implied meaning and returned a knowing look.
Lin Li's meaning was clear:
They must not let go of this little elder!
A broker who understands two languages is essentially a Pitfall Tiger Adventure Team's decryption card for an entirely unknown language sample!
Then Lin Li paused and said to Patriarch Wei:
"Patriarch, could you do us the favor of telling the other side that we agree to trade with them?
However, the merchant team must camp outside the city and be subject to a certain degree of supervision.
We will provide various living supplies and will not restrict their personal freedom.
They are welcome to visit the city, in principle, but they must report in advance and undergo security checks."
From the perspective of free trade.
Lin Li's demands might seem slightly excessive.
But from the rabbits' point of view, such demands are completely reasonable.
After all, no one knows whether these barbarians with entirely different cultural systems might bring something strange.
For instance, creating emotional disputes or something.
Then Patriarch Wei conveyed Lin Li's requirements, and the Barbarian Merchant Team soon replied:
Agreed!
A preliminary intention was reached, and what's left is no longer difficult.
After all, the rabbits have always been friendly to guests from afar.
As long as they don't show malice, the rabbits never seek to harm them.
Very soon.
Lin Ziming, along with a group of people and supplies, left the city and met with the Barbarian Merchants.
Meanwhile, to show goodwill.
Patriarch Wei, Wei Shuduo, and Wei Fan, the three Foundation Establishment cultivators, did not accompany the team this time.
The highest realm in the entire exchange team was Lin Ziming, now at the Fifth-Layer Qi Cultivation, served by the short-haired Shi Yin, who had previously been abroad a few times, as the translator.
That's right.
Not even a high-level Qi Cultivator was with them.
To the Barbarian Merchant Team's perception, the Chixian City delegation was almost entirely composed of weaklings.
As a result, the barbarians' original guard suddenly diminished by more than half, and they were even somewhat moved.
On their way to Chixian City, they had encountered several cities, but those almost treated the merchant team as the enemy, highly vigilant.
Chixian City's reputation for being welcoming and generous was indeed well-deserved!
The head of the merchant team wished other city lords could see what a genuinely friendly attitude looks like!
This is it!
What?
You ask what's with those warriors armed with the latest Type 95 spiritual bullets, and those 12.7mm spiritual energy snipers further away?
That's another story.