Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!-Chapter 1650 - 1177: The Gathering of the Clans, Negotiations to Decide Maya’s Fate (Final)

Reed Sea Envoy Crocodile left, hurriedly departing with the joyful news of the Divine Descendant union after paying homage to Ti'aj Kin K'uhul Ahau and reverently worshiping the Divine Object once more.

His return journey required him to sail on a small oar-sail ship of the Reed Sea Clan, navigating nearly half the Yucatan Peninsula, taking at least a month, through Canul, Tail Rain, Deer Insect, Chel, Qi Jin, Ekab, and six clans and tribes, before reaching Belize Bay from Campeche Bay. This route was also the necessary path from the seaside to Cuba, a Maya shipping lane that the Kingdom of the Lake must maintain!

The kapok trees encircled the Main God Temple, and the sculptures outside bore the distinctive marks of the old gods. Inside the temple, a new statue of the Main God stood solemnly in the center of the hall, holding a javelin. Opposite Ti'aj Kin under the statue, only the last envoy from the Huoyan Clan sent by the Qi Jin Tribe remained: Redbird Huoyan.

The rise of the Qi Jin Tribe wasn't very long indeed. After the collapse of the Mayapan Kingdom, the royal power of the Northern Coast declined, leaving a power vacuum over the salt pond regions previously occupied by the royal family. Several small coastal clans, aiming to occupy and guard the significant benefits of the marsh salt ponds, gathered into a clan alliance or tribe of seventy to eighty thousand. This tribe had only formed for four or fifty years, and its political center, Fire Salt Village, wasn't even a city-state but rather a village town.

Evidently, these small edge coastal clans were weak, far from the center of the Lowland Maya, and didn't have any revered Divine Bloodlines. The Huoyan Clan, where Redbird Huoyan belonged, consisted only of around ten thousand people, yet was already the strongest clan within the tribe. As for the Main God the Huoyan Clan worshiped, it wasn't an ancient Great Divine Spirit either, but Ekchuach, the Guardian God of merchants.

Thus, among today's participating tribes, the Huoyan Clan was the weakest in power, had the most humble bloodline, and had virtually no voice. Redbird Huoyan was well aware of his position and stayed silently in the corner, observing the situation without saying a word. It was only after the tribal envoys left that he respectfully came forward, facing Ti'aj Kin K'uhul Ahau from Mayapan, and "thumped" to kneel in ceremony.

"Praise all gods, praise ancestors! To witness the most sacred Ancient Saint Skull and meet the Maya King's Heavenly Serpent Divine Blood, truly moves the Huoyan Clan to tears overflowing! The ancestors of the Huoyan Clan were appointed as salt pond Sahals (sajal) by the royal family. Back then, upon hearing of the royal family's tragedy by Xi Wu's poison hand, the ancestors cried daily like a spring, kneeled before the royal family's image, until they even cried themselves blind!"

"Oh Heavenly Serpent God! The clan has long awaited for fifty years, finally receiving the revered revival of the Mayapan Royal Family! And I, Redbird Huoyan, the clan leader of the Huoyan Clan, swear in the name of our Guardian God Ekchuach to still maintain allegiance to the sacred canopy, Ti'aj Kin K'uhul Ahau of Mayapan! Even if the clan's leaves wither and the Divine Descendants perish, the Huoyan Clan will fight valiantly for the Maya King, at all costs!"

"Hmm? This person is actually the clan leader, personally here as the envoy?"

Upon hearing the translation, Bertade, the East Sea Marshal, raised his eyebrows with interest, taking note of Huoyan Clan Leader Redbird closely. Redbird Huoyan complained and wept in front of Ti'aj Kin, performing grand reverence, as if embodying the loyal dedication to the last for the royal family.

"Interesting! This chieftain tearfully glances furtively around...huh? He's not looking at the ancient saint's divine object but seems to be...looking at me?"

"Good! The Main God and ancestors protect! The Huoyan Clan wishes to be loyal to the royal family, truly making them the most faithful Sahals to the royal family! When the royal family vanquishes Xi Wu, returning to Mayapan, the Huoyan Clan will certainly receive rewards as beautiful as the petals of the Divine Tree!"

Upon hearing Redbird Huoyan's declaration, Ti'aj Kin's expression brightened, showing a relieved smile. Among all the tribal envoys participating in today's meetings, only the Huoyan Clan representing the Qi Jin Tribe explicitly expressed allegiance! It seems, even though Mayapan has been gone for fifty years, the royal family's goodwill still bears memory among the clans!

"Redbird! In the royal family's war for revival, how many Samurai can the Huoyan Clan deploy, and what amount of ship provisions can they provide? For the entire Qi Jin Tribe, how many troops can be outfitted, and how many months of supplies can be offered?"

"Uh...Honored K'uhul Ahau, the Huoyan Clan has more than ten thousand people. Doing their utmost, the clan can provide three hundred Samurai, one thousand warriors, food for three thousand people for half a year, salt for ten thousand people for one year! We also have more than ten oar-sail merchant ships that can transport food for the royal family!"

"Ah! Good! Excellent! Redbird, the full clan support from the Huoyan Clan will certainly be remembered by the royal family! Wait...when can the Huoyan Clan's aid arrive?"

Redbird Huoyan raised his long neck, giving passionate promises, seemingly ready to sacrifice anything for the royal family's revival. But when further queried, he again "thumped" and fell before Ti'aj Kin's legs, breaking into sobbing tears again.

"Oh supreme Maya King! The Huoyan Clan is the royal family's leaf, even if it withers and falls, it will never regret!... But our clan's aid might not arrive here, might not reach Kapok City!... As soon as news of the clan's allegiance to you spreads, before the fleets depart...the greedy Kanpur Clan will move! They covertly threaten and bribe three clans west of the tribe, long-eyedly eyeing the Qi Jin Tribe and the northern salt ponds!"

"The Huoyan Clan truly wishes for the royal family's revival, at any clan expense...but the threat from the Kanpur wolves is closer than the ferocity of the Xi Wu Clan!"

"Respected Ti'aj Kin K'uhul Ahau! Please swiftly send troops, dispatching battle-ready Highland Spirit Samurai! With just two thousand powerful Spirit Samurai stationed at the tribe center Fire Salt Village, ready to deter the greedy Kanpur Clan...each clan of the Qi Jin Tribe will bow their heads, worshiping the royal family's authority kneeling!"

"Once the Highland's immensely powerful Spirit Samurai arrive! The entire Qi Jin Tribe, the three hundred miles of northern coastline producing salt, tens of thousands even nearing a hundred thousand coastal tribes, will be firmly controlled by the royal family! The Kanpur wolves who worship the War God will also retreat their claws in fear! Even the irreverent Ekab Yixi Clan who defies the royal family and dishonors the king will shiver, no longer daring to recklessly bark as before!"

Upon hearing Redbird Huoyan's appeal for assistance, Ti'aj Kin's expression froze, momentarily speechless. And the crafty Tikalo lowered his eyes in silence, having already some suspicion.

Yet, after escaping Xi Wu's frenzied pursuit, only the Cocum remnant remained with the last twenty thousand clan members, most being elderly or children. The warriors that the entire tribe could muster were only two thousand, making it impossible to place them all in Fire Salt Village. Ultimately, whether troops were dispatched, or wars were fought, they couldn't decide; only the Mexica could!

The Temple was once again filled with wordless silence. The Huoyan Clan Leader kneeled down, and the Keka Divine Descendant sat in a daze. Meanwhile, the East Sea Marshal slowly stood up, paced lightly, and approached the Huoyan Clan Leader, scrutinizing this somewhat interesting "envoy".

"Praise the mighty Highland Spirit! Praise the powerful Toltec Divine Descendant! And praise the Toltec Ahau, who leads great armies! ... I implore you, mighty Thunderbolt Ahau! The Huoyan Clan is willing to serve you..."

The Red Bird Huoyan showed a look of devotion, praying with raised head while subtly adjusting his kneeling posture, resembling a nimble ant. By the time he finished praying, he was directly facing Bertade. In the Maya dialect, "Ahau" is similar to "Tratuoani" in the Mexica language, meaning "lord" or "one who holds some kind of authority or power". 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Ha! How interesting!..."

Bertade's mouth curled into a smile. From observing this Huoyan Clan Leader, he noticed many interesting details. Unlike other Divine Descendant envoys before, the Red Bird Huoyan's head was not particularly elongated, and his eyes were not "cross-eyed." Moreover, when he opened his mouth, he didn't reveal sharp filed teeth or embedded gemstones; instead, they were often washed with grayish white from using earth salt. During the entire meeting, the Red Bird Huoyan did not frequently gaze at the "Divine Object," and his eyes lacked the eagerness found in other envoys. It was possible that he had self-awareness and did not covet the Divine Object; or perhaps his heritage was lacking, knowing little about the Ancient Saint.

"Hmm... a recently arisen small clan, a clan leader with few divine characteristics... an edge clan of the lowland Maya, surviving like ants in the cracks... very agile, indeed. But regarding faith..."

Bertade smiled slightly, nodded calmly, and gazed down at the kneeling Red Bird Huoyan, exerting silent pressure. After a while, he finally spoke using the newly learned, somewhat unfamiliar Maya language.

"Ti'aj Kin... Maya king... has converted to the Main God... Red Bird... clan conversion... would you be willing?..."

"If willing, you, could become... Huoyan Ahau... marry... Toltec... noble lady!..."

"The kingdom's army... overturns mountains and seas... shelters the coast..."

"Any offending... clan... sacrifices make divine descendant... perish!..."

"Ah? You want the Huoyan Clan to convert to the Main God from the highlands? Wouldn't that mean making enemies of many powerful tribes?..."

The Red Bird Huoyan looked up in surprise, gazing at the smiling Bertade. On the face of this weathered Highland Ahau, he seemed to see battles across mountains and seas, a will as unyielding as the mountains. The deep cut markings on his face also resembled a Highland Main God wielding a javelin, exuding a wild and ruthless intent to kill!...

"If the clan is willing to convert, it will be able to marry a noble lady and receive the protection of the Toltec Divine Descendant? ... And if not willing? Didn't say? What does this mean? ... Hiss!..."

The Red Bird Huoyan shuddered suddenly. In the eyes of the lowland Maya Tribes, the army from the highlands was a truly brutal and terrifying barbarian force! They followed none of the traditional Maya clan rules of war, engaging in large-scale and cruel sacrifices of the divine descendants, completely wiping out the bloodline heritage of a divine descendant clan! And these savage armies, dressed in the thick skins of demons and wielding sharp demon weapons, were almost impossible to withstand in direct battle. They even had barbarian priests who mastered volcanic demonic powers and could summon down thunderbolts!...

"All Gods and Ancestors! Today was clearly a cloudless sunny day, yet the Highland army released over a dozen thunderbolts before the meeting!... With such powerful force, if the clan were to follow the Highland Main God... the neighboring Chel Chiefdom, the Kapoor Clan, the Ekab Chiefdom... they probably wouldn't dare to invade... right?..."

"Red Bird! Answer me!... Your... decision..."

"Ah!..."

In a flurry of thoughts, reflections flickered in the Red Bird Huoyan's mind, causing his complexion to change accordingly. Until a deep, highland-accented inquiry reached his ears, and he jolted awake, resolutely kneeling to the ground, performing a newly-learned ancient Maya rite, and shouting the oath he had just made.

"Mighty Thunderbolt Ahau! The ancestors of the Huoyan Clan were indeed a group of Highland Samurai left behind during the conquest by the Toltec Divine Descendant five hundred years ago! Day and night, the ancestors yearned for the glory of the highlands, for the Main God of sunlight. He even gazed at the sun every day until he went blind!..."

"Return to the Cotton God Tree, ancestors! Do you see?... The Huoyan Clan has waited bitterly for five hundred years, finally witnessing the return of the Highland Divine Descendant! I swear in the name of the clan's Guardian God... no, in the name of the ancestors! The Huoyan Clan is willing to convert to the Highland Main God, devotedly worship, regardless of the sacrifices of the tribe!"

"Revering the sacred Highland Ahau! The Huoyan Clan is willing to be your leaves; even if they fall, they will have no regrets... You are the treetop of the Divine Tree!"

```