Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

Chapter 1413 - 968: Forest Wolf and Papu, Old Friends Reunited

The red sun set in the west, reflecting the sunset over the sea and dyeing the jungle along the coast. Among the coastal jungles, the wide Tonalá River mirrored the lush green forests along the way, with golden waves gently floating on its surface. The long river traversed the dense jungle, flowing through a busy, hidden tribal village, and then northward into the vast expanse of the Gulf of Mexico.In the Navajo language, "Tonalá" means "the place where the sun rises." Therefore, the "Tonalá River" can also be called the "Sunrise River." At the river’s mouth, the "Tonalá Village," located eighty miles east of Hidden Serpent City, is also known as "Sunrise Village." The Tonalá Sunrise River flows from south to north, meandering over six hundred miles. It is not only the natural boundary between the future Veracruz State and Tabasco State but also one of the early water routes connecting the Mexican Gulf and the Pacific Coast.

From the north side of the Gulf of Mexico, traveling upstream from the river’s mouth of the Sunrise River for sixty to seventy miles, you reach the second ancient city ruins from the Olmec Era, La Venta, more than two thousand years ago. A further two to three hundred miles upstream to the south, you find the ancient sacrificial city-state of the Zoque tribes in the forests, with its heritage over seven hundred years, called Malpasito. Southward beyond Malpasito, after passing the vast Great Lake (Malpaso), another two to three hundred miles leads to the sacred source of the Sunrise River—an ancient city thriving for over a thousand years during the Classical Maya era, called Chiapa de Corzo!

Thus, this over six hundred-mile-long Sunrise River is connected at one end to the ancient city of the Olmec era and at the other end to the ancient city of the Classical Maya era. Influenced by both Olmec and Maya cultures, it naturally produces forest and jungle dwellers blending characteristics of both cultures, the semi-Maya Zoque tribes of the mountain forests.

The source of the Sunrise River, around the area of Chiapa de Corzo, is likely in the higher regions of the central Chiapa Highlands. From there, the river’s flow changes direction from south to north, turning into a north to south flow, converging with the southern part of the Grijalva River system. From here, it also marks the second half of the water route that links the Mexican Gulf to the Pacific Coast. In fact, from the Grijalva River system surrounding Chiapa de Corzo towards the Pacific coast, the shortest river is less than four hundred miles long!

In summary, the route from the Sunrise River—La Venta Ancient City—Malpasito—Chiapa de Corzo—Grijalva River, spanning over a thousand miles, is the shortest path connecting the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific coastal regions in Central America!

Beginning from the Classical Maya era, this thousand-mile waterway became a flourishing trade route, connecting goods and merchandise among Highland Tribes, Coastal Tribes, Cloud Central Tribes, and the Maya Tribes. However, five hundred years ago, when the Maya Tribes declined, this thousand-mile waterway fell into the hands of the forested Zoque tribes, losing the prosperous trade of the classical era...

"Chief Divine witness! Papu! You have stationed the Hidden Serpent City’s naval forces at this Sunrise River water fort... Are you so foolish, so reckless, that you wish to ally with the Zoque tribes in the southern Chiapa highlands? Or have leaves blinded you into siding with the Maya city-states on the eastern coast?!"

In the large wooden house of the water fort in Sunrise Village, the slanting sunset cast its dim and reddish glow inside. Forest Wolf Mayakun stood upright and tall, with his back to the red sunset, like a shadow of the sun. He squinted his eyes, full of momentum, glaring at Papu Priest like a hungry coyote.

"Ahem! Forest Wolf, my old friend, don’t get agitated..."

"Papu! I bear the commands of His Majesty from the Death God Temple and Black Wolf Leader, to ask you one last time! When exactly will your naval forces surrender?..."

Upon meeting an old friend, Papu Priest smiled warmly, while Forest Wolf Mayakun’s face was filled with ferocity. At this moment, though he was alone in Papu’s water fort, his words were undeniably threatening.

And what gave him such confidence was not only the emerald-green Mexica Camp Commander’s uniform he wore and the Sun Hummingbird Chief God’s Amulet around his neck, but also his distinguished status as an envoy of His Majesty from the Death God Temple and Black Wolf Marshal, along with the Kingdom Legion vanguard sixty miles to the west!

"Uh... Forest Wolf, my old friend... How could I be so unwise as to ally with those Zoque hiding in the mountain forests, or capitulate to the weak, divided Maya city-states? Chief Divine witness! I vowed my soul early on to the supreme and mighty Chief Divine! And my allegiance long ago offered to the mighty and revered His Majesty from the Death God Temple..."

Faced with Forest Wolf’s relentless rebuke and questioning, Papu Priest kept his grin intact without showing any dissatisfaction. After a brief thought, he lowered his head, personally pouring Forest Wolf a full glass of the precious Xtabentún, a rare honey vanilla wine originating from Eastern Red Lake Town. This honey wine’s peculiarity lies in its use of the sweet nectar extracted from the fragrant plant Xtabentún’s white blossoms, endowing the honey wine with a wondrous taste and unique aroma, favored by Coastal Priests!

"Hoo! Nice, delicious!... Fill it up!"

Forest Wolf Mayakun opened his mouth wide and gulped down the precious Xtabentún in one go. Seeing this bold style of drinking, Papu Priest’s eyes flickered, and his movements hesitated. After a moment of hesitation, he still lowered his head to refill Forest Wolf another large glass of honey wine!

"Haha! Delicious! Hiccup!..."

"Uh... Forest Wolf, do you want more?"

"Of course! What, Papu, are you feeling stingy?"

"...No... no..."

"Haha! More!..."

Seeing the stammering Papu Priest, Forest Wolf laughed heartily, glass after glass. This tasty honey wine was something he seldom drank before. Coming from the Eastern Maya lands, it was very expensive, circulating only around Hidden Serpent City.

Meanwhile, the expression on Papu Priest’s face changed, not because he was heartbroken over the preciousness of this mead. It’s just that as a favorite among Maya and Hidden Serpent City priests, K’utabon’ton mead has a significant calming effect, even a slight trance effect, making it easier to communicate with the Divine. If consumed too much...

"Haha!... Papu! Since you’ve made up your mind, surrender quickly!... Don’t be like a water beetle, swimming around aimlessly in the pond, unable to make up your mind like a woman!... Hic!... "

"Hmm... Divine witness! Forest Wolf, water beetles may not necessarily be aimless, swimming in circles! They might also sway back and forth, mistaking the reflection of the sun in the water as their own!..."

Hearing Forest Wolf’s mockery, Papu Priest smiled and refilled Forest Wolf’s cup with K’utabon’ton mead. Then he looked at Forest Wolf, who was swaying his head and clearly a bit dazed, and said with a smile.

"Forest Wolf, those water lily beetles are envoys of the River God. They run swiftly across the water’s surface, faster than any small boat in the world!..."

"Uh? Water beetles? Swaying back and forth?... Water lily beetles? Those little lice-like things?... Haha! What a bunch of nonsense! Only you priests of these fake gods would worship some little bugs in the water! A true Coastal Samurai should be like a Coyote, running and pouncing in the jungle!..."

Forest Wolf Mayakun, feeling hazy, shook his head vigorously, trying to clear his mind. But the effect of this mead far surpassed its taste, containing more than just alcohol...

"Damn it! Is this wine this strong? Come on, fill me up again! I don’t believe it... Hic!... His Highness’s Royal Banner has already reached Lake Sacrifice City, even standing tall on the towering Great Divine Mountain!... Papu, the mighty Highness awaits your audience, and it is both your most precious and final chance! If you can’t handle your samurai, let me bring my camp, and we’ll sacrifice all those disobedient Hidden Serpent City samurai in one go!..."

"Damn it! If you ask me, His Highness from the Death God Temple is too merciful! Why give you a chance to surrender? It’s only sixty-some li!... Divine witness! With one camp, I can march and strike swiftly, and in just one night, I can wipe you all out! Awoo!..."

Forest Wolf, with a thick tongue and increasingly dazed eyes, even started howling. Seeing this wolf-like wanton craziness, Papu Priest pursed his lips, and his eyes gradually filled with killing intent. Silently watching Forest Wolf, his hand unknowingly pressed against the obsidian dagger at his waist for sacrifice.

"Haha! The Coastal Legion will soon be formed! I, Forest Wolf Mayakun, will become the Thousand-man Camp Commander of the Kingdom Legion, officially accepted by the Kingdom!... Haha! So what even if the Chief Priest of Hidden Serpent Holy City is nothing?! Even if I lose the position of Coyote City Lord, so what?!... As long as I follow Black Wolf Leader to pacify the Maya city-states on the Eastern Coast... Haha! Everything I lost before can be taken back with interest! Awoo!..."

At that very moment, Forest Wolf suddenly turned his head, staring at his silent old friend, seemingly with some sort of beastly intuition. He widened his eyes, looking fiercely at Papu Priest like he was eyeing an easy prey. Then, he first let out a dangerous howl, followed by a wild, unrestrained laugh.

"Awoo! Papu! Either surrender or die! Hahaha!..."

"...Ah!..."

Hearing Forest Wolf’s threatening words and seeing his arrogant posture, Papu Priest remained silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed silently. And with that sigh, he seemed to suddenly lose all the accumulated strength and hidden killing intent.

"Divine witness! Forest Wolf, you don’t need to worry! I still have control over my Naval Forces... When I lead the Naval Forces to surrender to His Highness, your share of the credit will also be included! We’ve been old friends among the coastal tribes; we should take care of each other... Hmm, Forest Wolf? Forest Wolf?! Are you pretending... Cough! Forget it, he must be drunk. Chuchut, escort him to a nearby side room to rest! Be careful, don’t let those Hidden Serpent City warrior leaders see..."

"Yes! Lord Priest!"

Chieftain Chuchut nodded respectfully and supported Forest Wolf Mayakun as he walked out of the big wooden house. The last light of the sunset transformed from a deep red to distant shadows. And a low voice, spoken in the last breath of the sunset, came from behind him, not knowing if it was meant for him or someone else.

"Chuchut, remember!... "

"From today on, don’t call me Lord Priest. I’m no Feathered Serpent Priest... Call me Papu Leader!..."

Upon hearing this, Chieftain Chuchut was suddenly taken aback. In the evening shadows, he paused, not turning back to look at Papu’s expression. He simply held the drunken Forest Wolf, feeling the other’s heaving heartbeat, and quietly nodded.

"Yes! Papu Leader!... May the Chief Divine protect us!..."