Chapter 224: Golden Bull Tribe

The houses of the Golden Bull tribe were extremely large.

The Golden Bull people liked a well-ventilated atmosphere, therefore their houses were built of wood, plastered with swamp mud mixed with dry grass, and had many ventilated windows. Kaelen looked at the carefully plastered mud walls, then looked at the house shapes, and felt admiration for the construction level of this tribe.

Although it was a mud wall and thatched roof, it did not make people feel dilapidated, but instead felt like stepping into a pure nature homestay. The gardens were all cleaned up and carefully fenced. In the garden, there were flower-growing houses and vegetable-growing houses.

Outside the fence, a fairly wide paved path was left, and opposite the residential area was the farming area.

The Golden Bull tribe truly lived up to being farming masters; every field was arranged neatly and rationally. Hygiene was also quite okay, at least they had not stepped on a single piece of buffalo dung since setting foot in the tribe.

The Chief of the Golden Bull tribe - Maxwell - noticed the surprise mixed with admiration in Kaelen’s eyes, and spoke honestly:

"Previously we did not farm like this, mostly we just turned the soil over then buried the seeds down. After going to the White Lion tribe to learn new farming methods, we replanned the land. Houses were the same, previously we just let grass grow or left dirt floors for children to step and play."

Kaelen at this time also remembered that the White Elephant and Golden Bull tribes had gone to learn farming and crafting methods at the White Lion tribe. He rubbed his nose shyly, then said:

"You guys living in wooden houses like this, is it not cold in winter?"

Maxwell shrugged: "It is cold. But at least it is not too damp like stone houses. We have tried building stone houses, but the bones and joints of us old folks truly could not bear it."

Kaelen blurted out: "What if you build with brick houses?"

"Brick houses?"

"That is exactly terracotta houses." Kaelen shrugged and said.

Maxwell: "..."

Maxwell burst into laughter: "My friend, you must be a bit realistic when you speak. Exquisite and precious terracotta pottery like that, how can it be brought out to build houses."

Sane smiled: "The Crimson tribe builds houses with terracotta."

Maxwell: "..."

The Golden Bull clan elders: "..."

Is the Crimson tribe that rich?!

Kaelen smiled and said: "First let’s go inside to talk about important matters, then I will research brick and tile houses with you."

Maxwell nodded, striding to lead everyone into the communal house. The thick ironwood door opened, revealing a vast hall lit by several large torches attached to the walls. The thickly and skillfully woven grass cushions were spread in a circle around the central fire pit. On the walls hung coarse but clean linen cloths, dotted with bunches of dried flowers and fragrant herb branches.

Magnus was the first to speak. In his capacity as an introducer, he frankly stated the reason Crimson sought out the Golden Bull: they were looking for a still-operating spatial array. He affirmed that these were friends the Black Bear clan wholeheartedly respected and vouched for.

Maxwell and the elders exchanged glances. No one appeared too surprised; perhaps Magnus had informed them in advance more or less through letters. Maxwell nodded, his voice dropping much lower compared to when outside in the yard:

"Our Golden Bull tribe indeed has a spatial array. It is located in a small cave behind the mountain, passed down by our ancestors from the Ancient times. And it is still intact."

Kaelen’s heart beat a beat faster.

Maxwell raised a finger: "But this array is not the private property of the Chief. It is an ancestral heritage, managed by the Elder Council. To use it, you need the consent of the entire Council."

An elder with ivory-colored horns and hair as white as snow slowly spoke up. His voice was not booming like the others, but deep and resonant, like a bronze bell echoing far away:

"Our Golden Bull clan has a principle from ancient times: we do not accept wealth, we only exchange wisdom. If you want to use the array, you must give us something of long-term value. Not primeval stones, not goods. But knowledge."

Kaelen and Sane exchanged glances, then nodded slightly together.

"Sir..."

"Just call me Alton." The elder said: "I am the Great Elder of the Council."

"Lord Alton." Kaelen smiled: "Then we would like to exchange with the technique of making fired bricks and roofing tiles. Exactly what I just mentioned to Chief Maxwell earlier."

The entire room immediately buzzed. Maxwell raised an eyebrow, while Alton slightly tilted his head, his eyes shining with curiosity. Several other elders began to whisper to each other. Clearly the story about "brick houses" was still causing controversy.

"My friend." Maxwell spoke up, his voice still having a bit of skepticism: "Just now you said you could build houses with terracotta, I still dare not believe it. Do you guys really build houses with that thing?"

"Really." Sane answered briefly.

Kaelen added: "The clay and kaolin near the Illusion Forest are too good; using them to make bricks is truly a waste. However, there are many soil types not suitable for making pottery, but can be used to make bricks."

He turned to look at Chief Maxwell: "I have observed the terrain of your tribe, I can be sure your place has clay to make bricks. However, only having clay is not enough, we also need peat or swamp mud. Does your place here have that thing?"

Alton scratched his head: "I don’t know what peat is, but we have a lot of swamp mud. Our houses are also using swamp mud to make walls."

Another elder, slightly younger than Alton, asked in a voice full of interest:

"Forgive my curiosity, but can you speak more clearly about how to make... fired bricks, right? How is it different from pottery?"

Kaelen nodded. He picked up a small half-burnt twig near the fire pit, then began to draw simple lines on the ground. Everyone in the room held their breath and watched.

"Pottery needs pure clay, fired at very high temperatures, and requires skilled craftsmanship. But bricks are different. Bricks can be made from ordinary clay, soil mixed with impurities, not fine enough to make bowls and plates. Mix it with water and a bit of swamp mud, knead thoroughly, then pour it into a wooden mold to shape. Sun-dry it, then fire it in a kiln. The finished products are hard, durable, waterproof bricks."

His hand moved quickly, drawing an additional triangle on top.

"Roofing tiles are also made from fired clay, but have a curved shape to drain water. Tile roofs are not afraid of fire, do not leak, and keep warm better than thatched roofs."

The entire room fell silent. Maxwell stroked his chin, his gaze staring intently at the drawings on the ground as if they were treasures. The elders whispered to each other, occasionally glancing at Kaelen with eyes full of both surprise and admiration.

Alton was the first to break the silence. He stroked his white beard, slowly saying:

"If this thing can really be made, it will completely change the way our tribe builds houses. But before the Council votes, I have a question I want to ask the Priest here."

"Please ask."

"Our spatial array has existed since Ancient times. It is a fixed array, meaning it can only connect to pre-established anchor points. Have you ever had experience using this type of array? Do you know what an anchor point is?"

Kaelen honestly shook his head: "To tell you the truth, I have a bit of knowledge about magic arrays, but I am completely not proficient in spatial arrays. I know about anchor points, but I do not know how to establish an anchor point."

Alton nodded, as if having anticipated this answer: "The anchor point is the thing that determines where the array will take you. Without an anchor point, the array is merely a deadly trap."

Kaelen fell silent. This was exactly what he feared.

Alton continued, his voice still as even as a ringing bell: "You are quite lucky. In our tribe, there happens to be a person who clearly understands arrays and how they operate."

"Who is it?" Sane asked.

Maxwell answered: "It is the Sage of the tribe. He is the keeper of all the ancient records of our ancestors. If you want to understand the array, you must meet him."

He paused for a moment, then added, his voice slightly hesitant: "But I must warn you... he is a bit special."

"Special how?" Finnick asked curiously.

Maxwell smiled bitterly: "Everyone will know when you meet him."

Alton cleared his throat once, pulling attention back to the main issue: "So, before the Council votes, I would like to reconfirm: Crimson will exchange the fired brick and roofing tile making technique in exchange for the right to use the Golden Bull tribe’s spatial array. Is that correct?"

"Correct." Kaelen nodded.

"And you will meet the Sage tomorrow to learn about how to operate the array?"

"Correct."

Alton turned to the other elders: "Does anyone object?"

Not a single hand was raised. Maxwell smiled, turning to Sane and Kaelen: "Then it is done. Tomorrow morning I will lead you to meet the Sage."

That evening, after the small feast ended, Kaelen and Sane returned to the guest hut.

Finnick had fallen soundly asleep since who knew when, his hands hugging Ryder like hugging a warm orange-yellow cotton ball. Chloe curled up on the boy’s shoulder, her deep red tentacles drooping down like a small blanket.

Oliver’s egg was placed by Kaelen in a soft animal skin-lined basket next to the bed. The pale purple light on the eggshell blinked regularly, like a tiny night light.

Kaelen sat by the dying fire pit, twirling the cold cup of herbal tea in his hand. Sane walked in, draped an animal skin over his mate’s shoulders, then sat down beside him.

"You are worrying about the array." Sane stated, not a question.

"I am very vague about anchor points, I am a bit uneasy letting the clan members and the children leave on their own." Kaelen sighed: "If their Sage also does not have an answer tomorrow, then we will have to consider the Martial God Shrine option."

"Mhm." Sane shrugged, his voice calm: "Do not think too much. There is nothing perfect in this world, if you keep being a perfectionist, the only exhausted person will be yourself."

Kaelen smiled slightly, leaning into Sane’s embrace. Sane slid his hands under his armpits and legs, lifting him up, intending to place him on the bed. Suddenly, Sane’s footsteps paused slightly, slightly lifting Kaelen a bit as if estimating something.

Kaelen was stunned: "What is wrong?"

Sane’s expression was a bit subtle: "Baby. It seems... you have gained weight..."

Kaelen: "..."