Chapter 151: Chapter 136: Snow Rabbit People
"They’ll even strip our fur to make clothes!"
...
Labette’s expression was excited, his words filled with anger,
"Have you forgotten the elders’ warnings?"
"Now we are the elders, Labette."
Xue Rui said, "What you just said, those are old stories, things that happened a long time ago,"
"And the elders also told us that humans are different from one another."
Xue Rui retorted, "Didn’t a human teach us how to farm not long ago?"
"That’s because he wanted to take you away and breed with you!"
Labette loudly refuted, Xue Rui frowned deeply,
"Don’t think everyone is like you, only thinking about breeding."
"I breed for the sake of our race..."
"Alright, stop arguing."
An elder Snow Rabbit person nearby couldn’t stand it, stopping their quarrel and suggested:
"Perhaps we can sneak into the humans’ territory and take some food after they’ve fallen asleep."
The elder Snow Rabbit person whispered the suggestion, a cunning gleam in his eyes,
"There’s a village at the foot of the east side of Black Stone Mountain Range, I’ve seen smoke constantly rising from there. I think the mountain village there should have a lot of people, and probably food."
"You mean to steal? That’s not appropriate."
Xue Rui frowned, shaking her head.
"Is it appropriate when humans capture us?"
Labette retorted, his hands clenched into fists.
"Labette, you need to calm down."
Xue Rui’s tone softened a bit, advising, "Don’t let past stories affect your judgment."
"People are different, just like Snow Rabbit people are different too."
"If it weren’t for the betrayal of the White Claw Tribe, our home wouldn’t have been destroyed by the Bloodscale Tribe, and we wouldn’t have fled here."
"That’s because you were too kind. It’s because of your kindness that we fell into the Bloodscale Tribe’s trap." Labette said with dissatisfaction.
"It’s not kindness, it’s prejudice, just like you’re having now."
Xue Rui looked at Labette, speaking frankly, "I trusted the White Claw Tribe out of prejudice, thinking the same race was more trustworthy.
So I hope you won’t discriminate against humans out of prejudice."
"I’ll be more careful in the future, but that doesn’t mean all humans are bad."
"Alright, alright, so what do we do now?"
Labette asked helplessly, his tone revealing fatigue and hunger.
"We should talk to those humans first, see if we can trade."
Xue Rui softly suggested, her long ears slightly trembling, and a smile involuntarily appearing on her face.
"Do you remember the iron ore we found in the mountain nearby?"
She continued, her eyes flashing with anticipation,
"Humans really like iron ore, don’t they?"
"Didn’t the one who taught us knowledge always ask if we found any iron ore?"
"And haven’t we been gathering some herbs these days?"
Xue Rui said as she pulled out a few aromatic plants from a small pouch at her waist,
"I think these herbs can also be traded with those humans."
"Yes."
The middle-aged Snow Rabbit person nodded,
"Herbs are a good idea, we can keep gathering them and trade with them, if those humans are willing."
"More importantly, if they come with goodwill."
Xue Rui explained, her voice carrying expectation,
"Then we don’t have to hide, we can roam freely on the outskirts of Black Stone Mountain Range, looking for food without fear of being attacked by them."
"Therefore, we should strive for peaceful coexistence."
This is also the main reason why Xue Rui disagreed with stealing.
The Snow Rabbit people of the Black Stone Mountain Range dare not venture deep, fearing terrible Fierce Beasts inside.
To live here, they can’t easily anger the humans residing here, otherwise, they would always need to hide.
"What if those humans are evil?"
Labette asked with his sturdy forearms crossed over his chest, eyebrows furrowed, "What if they refuse to cooperate and want to capture you? What should we do then?"
"That’s why I’ll go talk to them."
Xue Rui answered calmly, her gaze firm,
"If they capture me, I can escape. Or even if they capture me, they won’t be able to find you."
"This way we can prove they’re evil humans, and you can take the tribe and leave."
Xue Rui’s tone carried determination.
"No! I cannot let you take the risk! It has to be me going." Labette stood up abruptly, eyes wide open.
Xue Rui shook her head vigorously.
"You’re too impulsive, you can’t." Xue Rui sighed softly,
Labette’s temperament is more like a fierce tiger, better suited for hunting.
But in negotiations, things often get turned bad by him.
"More importantly, you’re the strongest warrior among us, you need to stay and protect the tribe."
Labette wanted to say more, but was stopped by Xue Rui raising her hand, her gesture gentle yet unyielding.
"Let us vote."
Xue Rui looked at the other middle-aged Snow Rabbit person, her voice clear and powerful,
"Raise your hand if you agree I should go."
The Snow Rabbit Tribe currently has no leader, only elders.
The three are the elders of their tribe.
Xue Rui raised her hand without hesitation after speaking, her arm steady, representing her firm stance.
And after a moment’s hesitation, the other middle-aged Snow Rabbit person ultimately supported Xue Rui and raised his hand.
"Two to one."
Xue Rui announced the result, a smile on her lips.
"I hate this raising hands to vote."
Though saying this, Labette could only sigh helplessly, his long ears drooping down, sitting back in his original position.