Free Web NovelChapter 25: Chapter 24: Able to Communicate
Gazing at the Minotaurs gathered in a standoff with his Undead, Li Ziyu fell silent. ’These guys... They don’t want to fight me for the corpses of those black-hided minotaurs, do they?’
’No way. Don’t even think about it. Those corpses are mine!’
The Minotaurs, staring intently at the Undead, noticed a few of the skeletons acting suspiciously. Like thieves, they grabbed the corpses of the Demonized Minotaurs and began dragging them toward the fortress.
A Minotaur, sensing the increasingly strange atmosphere, sidled up to Mumu. "Clan Leader, what do we do now?"
’Don’t ask me, I don’t know,’ Mumu thought. ’I’ve never dealt with the Undead before. I don’t even know if these Skeletons can communicate.’
Mumu gave an bitter smile internally. They had just resolved the crisis of the Demonized Minotaurs, only to immediately face a horde of Undead. ’It’s just one problem after another today.’
His heart was pounding with dread, but his expression remained calm. After all, he was the Clan Leader. If he panicked, the other Minotaurs would lose their courage.
’Stay calm. I have to stay calm.’
Mumu glared with his bovine eyes, staring at the Undead without a sound, as if trying to scare them away with his gaze alone.
A dozen or so corpses of the black-hided minotaurs were dragged into the fortress. Seeing that the opposing Minotaurs didn’t try to stop them, Li Ziyu finally breathed a sigh of relief. ’Good, they’re in the bag. At least I got something out of this; it wasn’t a wasted effort. Now, the problem is these Minotaurs. I have no idea what they’re planning.’
’A peaceful resolution would be for the best. Minotaurs are pretty formidable, so it’s better to avoid a fight if I can.’ Once his initial battle-lust faded, rationality took over again, and Li Ziyu began to consider his next move.
He had never interacted with Native Tribes before; this was his first time. He was completely unaware of their customs. ’In my mind, tribes like these always have their own rules,’ Li Ziyu thought. ’One wrong move could easily provoke a battle, so caution is key.’
The stalemate lasted for more than ten minutes. Since the Minotaurs were just staring without making a move, Li Ziyu decided he’d had enough. ’I’ve already got the corpses,’ he thought. ’I’ll check out other places—I might get another haul tonight.’ With that, he ordered the Undead to return to the fortress.
Receiving the command, the Undead turned to return to the Mobile Fortress. The Minotaurs tensed up, instantly on alert at the movement. But when they saw the Undead were walking away, they let out a collective sigh of relief. They were terrified of these legendary beings. If the enemy wanted to leave, they couldn’t be happier.
"Wait!" The Undead had only taken two steps when Mumu suddenly called out.
The Minotaur next to him panicked, grabbing his arm. "Clan Leader, what are you doing? Don’t do something rash!"
Mumu glanced at the Minotaur, shrugged his shoulder to break free from his tribesman’s grip, and with a loud THUD, slammed his Totem Pole onto the ground. Empty-handed, he strode toward the Undead.
The other Minotaurs didn’t understand what their Clan Leader was doing, but walking toward the Undead without a Weapon was far too dangerous. They all tightened their grips on their Totem Poles, ready to charge in and rescue him at the first sign of trouble.
The Undead, who had been walking toward the fortress, all stopped and turned to look at Mumu. The Soul Fire in their skulls flickered with both curiosity and vigilance. Inside the fortress, Li Ziyu saw this and couldn’t help but wonder what this Minotaur was up to.
From the very beginning, Mumu had a feeling that these Undead were different from the ones in the legends.
In the legends, the Undead were synonymous with death. They hated all living things, possessed no reason, and showed no mercy. Wherever they passed, all life was extinguished. They were the enemy of all living creatures.
But these Undead were clearly not like that. Otherwise, after killing the Demonized Minotaurs, they should have mindlessly attacked his tribe. The Undead hadn’t done that. They had merely engaged in a staring contest before deciding to return to their fortress.
’Maybe I can communicate with them.’
Mumu thought to himself. He would not doubt the words left by his Ancestor, but what if these Undead were not the same Undead his Ancestor spoke of?
If communication was possible, he wanted to know what that White Bone Fortress was, why it had appeared next to their Tribe, and if it was going to stay here permanently. If it was, he would have to consider relocating the Tribe. ’Living next to the Undead... no matter how you look at it, that doesn’t seem very safe.’
Arriving before the Undead, Mumu’s heart pounded nervously, his palms slick with sweat. He forced himself to remain calm and, using a combination of words and gestures, asked, "Can you speak? Can we communicate?"
’If not, I’m turning around and running.’
Mumu was prepared. If the Undead in front of him made any strange moves, he would retreat immediately.
Inside the Mobile Fortress, Li Ziyu heard Mumu’s words and raised an eyebrow. ’He’s actually initiating contact. Interesting. Let’s see what you have to say.’ He controlled the Undead in front of Mumu to transmit a message to him: "We can."
The message that suddenly appeared in his soul made Mumu’s eyes widen in astonishment. It wasn’t a sound, but... something hard to describe. It was as if he suddenly just *knew* what the Undead was expressing. A very strange sensation.
’So they really can communicate! This is how the Undead talk. As long as we can communicate, things will be okay.’
Knowing communication was possible, Mumu relaxed considerably. The Undead showed no signs of aggression. He quickly spoke again, still using gestures. "Are you returning to that fortress? Why did that fortress appear next to our Tribe?"
He was afraid he wouldn’t be understood if he spoke too quickly, so he enunciated every word deliberately, his hands never stopping their gesturing. He looked a little silly.
"You can speak normally. And you don’t know what this fortress is?"
’Why is it asking me a question back? Am I supposed to know what this fortress is?’
’I asked a question and didn’t get an answer, just another question in return. How is that fair?’
"I only know it’s a fortress. But there wasn’t a fortress here before; it appeared suddenly. Where are you from?"
"We come from the Eastern Tang Dynasty... ahem, from the Wasteland."
"You’ve always been in the Wasteland?" freeweɓnøvel.com
"Yes."
Mumu was shocked. ’The Undead have always existed in the Wasteland?’
’How is that possible? If the Undead were always in the Wasteland, why are they the stuff of legends? Why has no one ever seen them? It’s unimaginable.’
But even so, that didn’t explain why the fortress had appeared so suddenly.
"Will you be staying here permanently?"
"No."
Hearing that single word, Mumu instantly relaxed. Although he didn’t know how they planned to leave, the fact that they *were* leaving was a good thing. At least they wouldn’t have to consider relocating.
Moreover, it seemed the Undead bore them no ill will. They hadn’t shown any signs of aggression so far.
’Undead that can communicate... Ancestors above, how magical.’
"Now it’s my turn to ask you a question."
"Oh, go ahead."
"Are you really a Minotaur?"
"..."
’What kind of question is that? Is it not obvious what I am?’
Mumu hesitated, reaching up to touch the horns on his head. ’Still there.’ He then felt his pectoral muscles. ’Very toned.’ He looked down at his big bovine hooves. ’Very sturdy.’ ’Yep, definitely a Minotaur. Nothing wrong here.’
"Don’t want to answer? Fine, I’ll ask another question. Those black-hided minotaurs, why do they look different from you? Is it a breed thing?"
"..."
’What the hell do you mean, "a breed thing"?! As expected of the Undead. They really don’t know how to fucking talk!’
