"You both have valid points, let's analyze them one by one."
I stopped the two women from arguing, preparing to calmly dissect the situation.
"An ancient military strategist named Sun Tzu once said that warfare is comprised of favorable timing, advantageous terrain, and the unity of people."
"The Dauan tribe doesn't know our location, yet we know theirs. This is favorable timing."
"We are intimately familiar with the surrounding terrain, while the Dauan tribe is not. This is advantageous terrain."
"As for the unity of people, Bru's recent annihilation and the loss of so many elite warriors is a significant blow to the Dauan tribe. We, on the other hand, have conserved our strength and are ready to deliver a fatal blow at any moment!"
My lengthy discourse left Ke Xin and Ke Ya stunned, their eyes sparkling with admiration.
"Master, you're amazing!"
"Yes, with Master here, the Dauan tribe is like an ant, easily crushed!"
Ke Xin and Ke Ya's effusive praise made me a little lightheaded.
Thinking about it, no matter how intelligent Ke Xin and Ke Ya were, they were merely natives of this deserted island, unable to compare with a modern person like myself, who had been enlightened by the wisdom of countless predecessors.
This was a clear-cut case of civilization crushing barbarism!
I basked in their admiring gazes and continued, "Therefore, favorable timing, advantageous terrain, and the unity of people are all on our side. If the Dauan tribe dares to provoke us, they will be annihilated. Ke Xin, what you said is valid, but doing so would mean we are entering the Dauan tribe's territory, forfeiting our geographical advantage."
"Our strength is still weak compared to the Dauan tribe. We must eat one bite at a time and walk one step at a time. First, we weaken the Dauan tribe's strength, and then we strike the fatal blow!"
Upon hearing my words, Ke Xin's face showed admiration; she was clearly convinced.
Since the few of us were the decision-makers for the Kasa tribe, with our strategy unified, I instructed Ke Ya to begin preparations. The Dauan tribe, having received no news of Bru and his men, would surely send someone to investigate.
Time was running out. Their people would arrive within days; we couldn't afford to waste a single moment!
"Ke Ya, take your people into the forest..."
I whispered a plan to Ke Ya, who then proceeded with the arrangements as instructed. I then asked Ke Xin to bring me a clean set of clothes before I leisurely retreated into the tent.
My battle with Bru in the forest had left me filthy. With time being of the essence then, I hadn't had a chance to change. Now, back in the tent, I felt thoroughly uncomfortable.
I shed my dirty clothes and threw them out of the tent, sitting on the sleeping bag in just my underpants. The relief was immediate.
Bru had been a formidable opponent. Fortunately, my strategy had been superior, otherwise, I would have met my end at his hands!
Looking at the scars Bru had left on my body, I felt a surge of pride.
The bleeding wounds had clotted, forming a thin layer of scab over my skin, which itched slightly when touched.
They say scars are a man's medals, and now I was certainly decorated.
As I gently touched a wound, my gaze suddenly shifted to my chest, and my eyes narrowed.
The black mark on my chest had deepened in color, gradually forming a clear pattern.
Was this a spider?!
Interlocking black lines stretched from my chest to my limbs, the furthest reaching my ribs. I quickly rummaged through my backpack for a small mirror and examined myself closely.
It was indeed a blurry black spider!
Every hair on my body stood on end. What on earth was this thing?!
In a daze, the me in the mirror was no longer me. Although the features were the same, my entire demeanor had undergone a drastic change!
The me in the mirror had a sneer on its lips, its gaze utterly inhuman, as if it were looking at me, and yet also at something else.
The spider on "his" body seemed to come alive, emerging from the skin and instantly crawling onto "him."
"You cannot escape..."
"What are you?!"
"His" gaze was mesmerizing, like a vortex pulling me deeper. I tried to avert my eyes, but found it impossible.
"I'm telling you, this is MY body!"
"No one will take it away!"
Facing the mocking eyes of "him" in the mirror, an unknown strength surged within me, and I crushed the mirror in my hand.
"Bang!"
"What happened?!"
The tent flap was yanked open, revealing Ke Xin, who had brought the clean clothes.
"It's nothing, just put the clothes there."
I gasped for breath, my body drenched in sweat as if I had just emerged from water.
Fragments of the shattered mirror lay scattered on the ground, reflecting countless versions of me, and perhaps, countless versions of "him"...