After returning to the bamboo hut, the sky had already darkened.
Jiang Xuan lit a torch, chose suitable places to plant the small stone eggs and saplings he brought back, and then began to think about self-defense.
The smoke in the forest lingered in his mind for a long time, like a sword hanging overhead, no one knew when it would come down.
In the primitive jungle, people from different tribes were often more terrifying than beasts.
Beasts could be driven away by various means, but between tribes, encounters often resulted in a fight to the death over resources like prey and population.
Therefore, for the Vine Tribe to survive long-term, they must start considering how to protect themselves when facing other tribes.
Jiang Xuan thought for a long time and decided to do three things first.
First, to improve the strength of the five people as much as possible, and make defensive and offensive weapons.
Second, speed up the process of planting and breeding, ensure sufficient food for the tribe, and then find ways to increase the population.
Third, build a defense line of dangerous plants around the tribe, using plants like cage vine and biting flowers to protect the tribe.
Among these three things, the first is the most critical at present.
Because the latter two would take a long time to accomplish, while making weapons could increase combat power in a short time.
In the jungle, there were not many weapons that could be made by hand, Jiang Xuan planned to make bows and arrows.
Bows and arrows are true long-range lethal weapons, their appearance replaced the highly inaccurate, short-range stone throwing ropes and spear throwers.
Whether in hunting or fighting against other tribes, the side with more excellent archers often had a greater advantage.
Shi Qiu had a bamboo bow, but it was too soft and couldn't withstand the power of a One-Color Warrior, it had almost become a toy.
Due to limited conditions, Jiang Xuan planned to make a simple bow.
A bow that uses only one primary material for the bow body is called a simple bow, it is easy to make and can be constructed using primitive tools.
As for compound bows that combine and glue multiple materials, although more powerful, they are very time-consuming and demand high requirements for tools and craftsmanship, which Jiang Xuan couldn't make at the moment.
The next day, Jiang Xuan prepared to make bows and arrows.
"Crack!"
Jiang Xuan found a high-hardness pebble by the creek, and after breaking it, selected a few large stone pieces with sharp edges. Bringing them back to the bamboo hut, he first made a simple stone axe, then selected suitable wood in the forest near the bamboo hut.
"Chief, what are you looking for?"
Chi Shao came over as expected, she was always worried about Jiang Xuan going out alone, fearing he might encounter accidents.
Jiang Xuan turned around and said helplessly, "Sister, how many times have I told you, just call me Xuan."
Chi Shao stubbornly replied, "Since you became the chief, then I have to call you chief."
Chi Shao was a person of strong will, once she made up her mind, it was hard for others to persuade her to change it, so Jiang Xuan had to give up persuading her.
"I'm looking for wood suitable for making bows and arrows."
Jiang Xuan said, "People from outside tribes might find this place at any time, if we practice well with the bows and arrows, at least we don't have to fight them hand-to-hand in case of conflict."
In short, the five members of the Vine Tribe were too weak, too young, with pitifully little combat experience, and had no chance in close combat; ranged attacks were the best way.
Chi Shao nodded and said, "I have seen tribal warriors' hunting bows, let me help you find the right wood."
"Alright."
Chi Shao, after all, had been in the hunting team for half a year and knew much more about the animals and plants in the forest than Jiang Xuan did.
The two walked around the woods twice, and Chi Shao's eyes lit up when she saw a big tree.
It was a tree that required at least five people to hug it fully, almost growing straight, very tall and dense.
Chi Shao used a stone knife to peel away some bark from the tree, revealing a purple trunk inside, which soon oozed red sap.
"This kind of tree, we call it the Purple Blood Tree, because as long as you cut its bark, you can see a purple trunk, and its sap is like blood."
"It is very tough, hard to break. In the past, the warriors of the tribe liked to use it to make long spears, and most of the hunting bows of the warriors in the hunting team were also made from this tree."
"But be careful, its sap is slightly poisonous. If you have a wound on your hand that touches the sap or accidentally ingest the sap, you will feel pain all over your body for two or three days."
"After cutting down a Purple Blood Tree, warriors would usually roast it with fire first or store it for a few months, so the sap inside would solidify and there would be no worry about poisoning."
Jiang Xuan nodded and kept Chi Shao's words in mind.
This tree was too big, even its branches were extremely thick, and since it grew so tall, making bows and arrows required smaller trees.
Fortunately, there were many small Purple Blood Trees near the big tree, Jiang Xuan chose six that were as thick as a bowl, straight, and free of knots, and cut them down in one go.
After removing the branches and treetops, they tied them with vines, with Chi Shao and Jiang Xuan each carrying three back to the bamboo hut.
Back at the bamboo hut, he first followed Chi Shao's advice and hung these Purple Blood Trees horizontally over the fire pit to roast for a whole day, so that their sap would solidify and not seep out when cut and shaved.
Afterwards, he peeled the bark of the Purple Blood Trees and used a stone axe to slowly cut them into suitable bow shapes.
The middle position of the bow body was the stress point and the place to grip, which was thicker, while the curved bow belly on both sides was thinner.
This step required great care because if not cut well, unevenly, or if the wood grain of the bow body was damaged, the bow made would easily deform or even break.
As bows and arrows needed to be made for five people, Jiang Xuan alone was obviously not enough, everyone helped with the rough processing, while Chi Shao and Jiang Xuan handled the finer work.
After cutting the bow body into the right shape, Jiang Xuan also carved out notches on both sides to tie the bowstring. Then he selected the most durable tree bark rope as the bowstring, bent the bow body slightly, and tied the bowstring onto it.
Next came the taming bow process.
Newly made bows couldn't be bent too far right away, as it would damage the bow body.
Taming the bow meant gradually letting the bow back adapt to bending, while continuing to shave and adjust the bow body to ensure both sides bent evenly during this process.
Jiang Xuan made a simple taming bow frame, then placed the bow on it, first pulling the bow to a relatively small extent, fixing the bowstring to keep it open, and carefully observing the bending of both sides of the bow body.
Where the bow body didn't bend enough, he would plane and scrape it more with a stone knife, until both sides looked even.
Once the bow gradually adapted and bent to the right angle, it was taken off the taming bow frame, the bowstring was fixed, and it was polished again.
Up to this point, a primitive simple bow was basically completed.
If the conditions allowed, it would be best to coat the bow body with tung oil to prevent moisture and cracking.
Jiang Xuan didn't have tung oil, but based on Chi Shao's suggestion, found a kind of natural tree lacquer, which when applied, also provided the same effect.
Afterwards, Jiang Xuan also made some arrows. The arrow shafts used a kind of straight-growing small shrub, which could be used directly after roasting and straightening.
The arrowheads were made from polished triangular stone pieces, and Jiang Xuan's previously stored swim bladders came in handy. After cooking fish swim bladder glue and adding some fibers, the arrowheads could be firmly glued onto the arrow shafts.
The arrow feathers used bird tail feathers, splitting the end of the arrow shaft, clamping symmetrically positioned tail feathers, and then tying them with fine thread.
After finishing the arrowhead, arrow shaft, and arrow feathers, an arrow was thus completed.
Ten days later, all five bows and some arrows were made.
Everyone in the Vine Tribe now had their own bow and a batch of arrows.
With his first bow, Jiang Xuan led the group into the woods, ready to try out the newly made bows and arrows.
Jiang Xuan was the first to act, aiming at a big tree about twenty meters away, whose diameter was about the size of a basin.
He held his breath, drew his bow with an arrow, and then aimed at the trunk of the big tree before releasing the bowstring.
"Whoosh!"
The arrow whistled through the air but brushed past the big tree, lodging itself in another tree.
"It missed..."
Jiang Xuan felt quite embarrassed, especially with the others watching him.
Chi Shao gently consoled him, "It's okay, missing your first shot is normal. Any archer needs long-term training to shoot accurately."
Jiang Xuan nodded and said, "Keep practicing, I refuse to believe I can't shoot straight!"
Jiang Xuan continued shooting one arrow after another, retrieving the arrows when he finished, and practiced once more.
He was a person with patience and perseverance, once he decided to do something, he wouldn't give up easily.
An hour later, he finally found some rhythm, occasionally hitting larger targets.
The others were also diligently practicing.
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