The effects of the pungent root were slow and persistent. Gu Liang dared to take only the tiniest amount each day, holding it in his mouth to let the burning and numbing sensations stimulate his palate, then carefully sensing the subtle changes in his hands. The stiffness seemed to ease bit by bit. Though the pain remained, that bone-deep, despairing obstruction was indeed lessening.This slight improvement became the sole glimmer of light in his bleak days, deepening his complex feelings toward the mysterious bundle of roots and the Emma behind it.
He continued to silently endure the heaviest labor, the overseer's lashes, and hunger, yet his inner world never ceased to churn.Observing, remembering, deducing. He even began using small sticks and pebbles he'd gathered to secretly perform simple calculations on the muddy ground when no one was watching—calculating the number of stone deliveries each day and the distances traveled, calculating the meat yield ratios from different game, calculating the changes in sunlight angles and shadow lengths...These seemingly meaningless calculations were his sole means of preserving sanity and exercising his mind—his last connection to that distant, logically ordered modern world.
That day, the tribe's large hunting party returned laden with spoils—an enormous, woolly rhinoceros-like beast that sparked cheers throughout the settlement. The distribution of the kill was a major event, typically presided over by Chief Mo Zong with several elders and key warriors (including A Lie) overseeing the proceedings.
The beastmen gathered around the clearing, watching as the mountain-sized beast was butchered. The finest cuts—thick shoulder meat, succulent tenderloin, the massive heart—were prioritized for the chieftain, elders, A Lie, and his strongest warriors. Next came the other warriors, allocated according to rank and contribution. Only then did the bones, offal, and scraps reach the common beastmen and slaves.
It was a long and chaotic process, filled with bickering and haggling. "I cut its hind leg!" "I spotted it first!" "This piece should be mine!" The beasts argued in coarse voices. The butchers, relying often on memory and connections, rarely achieved perfect fairness, frequently sparking discontent.
Gu Liang and the other slaves watched from afar, like a flock of vultures awaiting scraps. Yet his gaze swept past the blood-drenched chunks of meat, focusing instead on the distribution process itself. He began calculating instinctively: the estimated total weight of the giant beast (roughly estimated based on volume and density), the approximate proportions of different cuts, the number of hunters involved, the theoretical share each person should receive...
He observed that the lack of standardized measurement and calculation made the distribution extremely crude and wasteful. The best cuts were often overvalued and claimed in larger portions, while lesser parts were undervalued, resulting in an overall imbalance that fueled arguments. Moreover, since the remaining scraps couldn't be precisely estimated, many were carelessly discarded or wasted.
Just then, an elderly beastman responsible for recording each person's share (using knots and simple symbols carved into wooden tablets) seemed to have been driven to distraction by the arguments. Staring at the pile of scraps and a few decent chunks of meat left over, he frowned deeply and muttered, "This... how can this be enough? It doesn't seem right..."
The beasts waiting nearby for the leftover supplies began to stir restlessly.
Chief Inkmane noticed the chaos unfolding, his brow furrowing deeply. Unequal distribution could easily spark internal conflict.
Hidden behind the crowd, Gu Liang's heart suddenly began to pound wildly. A mad thought struck him. He knew how to divide it! At the very least, he knew how to calculate more precisely, ensuring everyone received a theoretically fairer share, reducing disputes and waste!
This is an opportunity! A tremendous risk, yet also a tremendous opportunity! No longer sneaking around tanning hides, but directly intervening in the tribe's core affairs—resource allocation!
He could almost feel A Lie's cold, mocking eyes scanning the crowd. He could almost see Emma hidden in some corner, quietly observing.
Step forward? Or remain silent?
Step forward, and he might be instantly rebuked, mocked, or even punished again by A Lie for "interfering with tribal affairs."
Stay silent, and endure hunger and injustice forever, forever a voiceless shadow.
The crimson flame within his heart surged upward. Hatred scorched away his caution.He'd had enough! Enough of this life where even food depended on others' scraps! The flustered awkwardness of the old recorder (Grayclaw) before him, and the impatient expression on Chief Blackmane's face, formed a signal crystal clear—either remain silent forever, or seize this perhaps only chance!
The quarrel grew fiercer. Several young beasts began shoving Grayclaw, nearly knocking the recording tablet from the old beast's hands.
"Get lost, old man!"
"Can't even count properly!" Amid the chaos, someone shouted mockingly, "What's all this fuss? Why not bring in that two-legged slave who spends all day crouching and drawing stones? They say he can count! Let's see if he can count meat as well as he can tend the fire!"9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82R5gsDl3r
In an instant, many eyes instinctively sought out Gu Liang, huddled at the edge. There was no expectation in those gazes, only irritation and a malicious intent to vent their frustration on him.
Gu Liang's heart nearly stopped. He knew there was no escaping this. If Greyclaw was truly driven away, the distribution would descend into chaos. Eventually, the hunger-fueled fury would surely turn on them, the lowest of the low. Step forward, and he might die; stay silent, and he'd surely face dire consequences afterward.
Just as the elderly beastman in charge of recording was sweating profusely, and Chief Inkmane was about to impatiently force a rough distribution—
Gu Liang sucked in a sharp breath, pushed his way forward through the throng of slaves, and shouted with every ounce of strength he had left. His Orcish was still slightly halting but clear enough: "Wait! I know... how to divide it!"
In an instant, all eyes fixed on him! Surprise, confusion, disdain, anger... Especially A Lie. His golden pupils narrowed instantly like a venomous snake fixated on its prey, a dangerous curve lifting the corners of his mouth.
Chief Mo Zong also turned to look, his eyes filled with astonishment and displeasure. "Slave? Is this your place to speak? Step back!"
"Chieftain!" Gu Liang forced himself to ignore A Lie's glare, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it would burst from his chest. Yet he fixed his gaze firmly on Black Mane and spoke rapidly, "That hind leg meat weighs thirty percent more than the front leg! The parts with more tendons yield twenty percent less meat! The liver and heart weigh about the same, but the liver can feed more people! The remaining bones and offal can be simmered into soup to feed all the women and children!"
His words came fast, using the simplest comparisons and estimates, yet the information he provided was astonishingly precise! He even pointed at the pieces of meat and offal awaiting distribution, stating their approximate weight ratios and how each could be utilized!
Silence fell over the scene. The beastmen were stunned. They'd never heard anyone analyze game like this. Weight? Yield? Meat content? These concepts were foreign to them, yet they seemed to hit a nerve.
The elderly beastman in charge of recording stared wide-eyed at the chaotic knots on his wooden board, then glanced at Gu Liang, as if something had suddenly dawned on him.
The ink-maned chieftain's displeasure shifted to bewildered suspicion. He scrutinized the slave again—frail, scarred hands, yet eyes abnormally bright. "How... how do you know?"
"I saw it. I calculated it," Gu Liang answered, steeled for the moment. He couldn't explain modern mathematics or observational estimation. "The remaining meat, divided among everyone who contributed to the hunt, would give each person roughly... this much." He gestured with both hands to indicate a size. "If we add the bones for soup, everyone would be full. There'd be no arguments, and no waste!"
A Lie suddenly let out a cold laugh, shattering the silence. "Hmph! Sweet talk! A slave, daring to give orders here? Who knows if you're just making it up?" He stepped forward, his tone thick with menace.
Just then, the silent, elderly beastman recorder spoke up, his voice tinged with excitement: "Chieftain! What he... what he says... makes sense! I was confused earlier. Thinking about it based on his proportions, it seems... it really would be enough to share! There'd even be extra for soup stock!"
The old beastman's words made Chief Mo Zong's expression grow even more grave. He glanced at the pile of meat, then at Gu Liang. After a moment's contemplation, he suddenly commanded Gu Liang, "You! Come here! Show me how to divide it!"
Gu Liang's heart nearly burst! Forcing himself to stay calm, he stepped forward, ignoring the complex gazes around him. He began tracing imaginary lines with his fingers across the meat, explaining which pieces should go to whom, how to pair them, and how to utilize the bones...
His analysis was clear and logical. Though primitive, his method was far more systematic than the beasts' instinctive distribution.
As the leader listened, astonishment deepened in his eyes. Finally, he waved his hand decisively: "Try it his way!"
The beastmen tasked with cutting began their work, half-believing, half-doubting. The result was astonishing—the distribution proceeded remarkably smoothly, with almost no arguments. Everyone who received their share felt it was fairer than ever before. When they counted everything afterward, there was indeed no waste. In fact, there were even plenty of leftover bones and scraps suitable for making soup!
The beasts' gaze toward Gu Liang transformed completely. Their initial contempt and disdain gave way to disbelief and a hint of... awe? To them, such precise calculation bordered on divine revelation!
A Lie's face darkened, his gaze on Gu Liang cold enough to freeze a man. He knew this young slave had once again captured attention—and perhaps even earned a reassessment of his worth—through methods he could never comprehend.
Chief Mo Zong surveyed the orderly distribution scene, then turned his gaze back to Gu Liang. The look in his eyes had completely changed. It was no longer merely the scrutiny reserved for a useful slave, but now held a hint of genuine regard and inquiry.
"You," Mo Zong said in a deep voice, "will now follow Grey Claw (the veteran beastman who handles records) to learn how to record and distribute the hunt."
In that instant, Gu Liang's status underwent a quiet transformation. He shifted from a tanner—a nearly discarded "asset"—into a... calculator, now stepping into the core of the tribe's resource management.
[Target Individual Gu Liang successfully infiltrated tribal resource allocation through specialized skills (Calculation/Coordination), gaining preliminary recognition from the Chieftain. His status underwent a subtle shift, with anticipated improvements to his living conditions. Hatred temporarily suppressed by opportunity; Darkening Value reduced to 22%. Host's behavioral confusion significantly increased.]
From the shadows in the distance, Emma watched this scene unfold and let out a quiet sigh.
"Mathematics... truly a power that transcends worlds," she murmured to herself, a genuine, relieved curve finally forming at the corners of her mouth.
Guidance successful. Though the path was circuitous, he had finally found the most suitable lever to pry open this barbaric world.
The stage was now set. It remained to be seen how far he could go with his own intellect. And A Lie's counterattack would likely escalate to a new level.
The invisible war had entered a new phase.
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and then Add to home screen.