Be a lord in the world of Indian mythology

Chapter 91 Dalit Development Project

The midday sun hung high in the sky, its blazing rays pouring down without any obstruction, baking the entire open-air space.

The yellow earth beneath our feet was scorching hot, waves of heat carrying dust swirling and rising. The distant vegetation drooped under the blazing sun, and even the usually noisy birds hid deep in the shade of the trees. Only a stifling heat remained in the world.

Two hundred Dalits with different bloodlines stood in a line on the open ground, their thin bodies swaying slightly under the scorching sun.

Years of hunger, toil, and inhuman torture not only made them physically weak, but also completely destroyed their spirit and will. Their minds were scattered, numb and depressed, like a disease that was attached to their bones.

Vijay stood at the front of the group, his gaze sweeping over each person as he pondered to himself.

A few promises and a few words of encouragement are simply not enough to awaken this group of people who have long lost their spirit.

Physical weakness and mental decay are intertwined. To help them break free from their dazed state and regain their drive and fighting spirit, we must address both the physical and mental aspects simultaneously, guiding them in a way that is closest to their instincts.

Having made up his mind, Vijay turned to Shuhu beside him and instructed, "Go to the village warehouse immediately and fetch some freshly steamed hot rice balls and bring them over."

"Okay, let's get enough for 200 people!"

Empty promises are ultimately illusory. For Dalit, who has struggled for years, real food is what truly touches his heart.

Although Shu Hu did not fully understand the profound meaning behind the young master's arrangement, he still bowed respectfully and accepted the order.

He knew that Vijay had his own methods and there was no need to ask further questions. He turned around and strode quickly away towards the village warehouse.

The training ground fell silent once more, save for the hum of the scorching sun baking the earth and the faint breathing of the Dalits.

While Shu Hu was transporting supplies, Vijay quietly observed the crowd in front of him.

These people were all emaciated with sallow complexions, high cheekbones, and scars all over their bony frames. Years of malnutrition had left their bodies with irreversible hidden injuries.

Many people's legs trembled slightly; simply standing upright was already a huge strain on them.

Waiting and patience are also a test. Vijay immediately announced loudly, "Now everyone listen up, stand up straight and stay still. When Treebeard returns with the food, everyone who can stand still throughout will be rewarded with a rice ball."

As soon as he finished speaking, a very subtle commotion arose in the queue.

For these Dalits who are constantly hungry, a plump and sweet rice ball is a coveted treasure.

This test was extremely simple; as long as they stood still, they could get food, which was their hope within reach.

The sun grew increasingly scorching, and the burning air seared their skin. The Dalits gritted their teeth, struggling to straighten their swaying bodies.

However, their prolonged weakness made it difficult for them to continue. Before long, some people in the queue lost their footing and their bodies swayed uncontrollably to the side.

The instinct for survival and the desire for food intertwined. Some people subconsciously reached out to hold onto the arm of their companion to steady themselves; others, who were slightly stronger, took the initiative to raise their hands to support their weaker companions, supporting each other.

The original requirement was that everyone should stand independently, but when Vijay saw this scene, a hint of relief flashed in his eyes.

He didn't want to build reckless individuals who only knew how to fight alone, but rather a team that could fight side by side and rely on each other.

Teamwork is the true core strength of an army.

Today, these people at the bottom of society, who have suffered so much oppression, have begun to show signs of mutual help and support, which is far more valuable than strictly adhering to a rigid rule.

So he pretended not to see them, letting everyone help each other without saying a word to stop them.

Time ticked by, and the long wait felt like torture.

The figures on the training ground gradually became distorted under the scorching sun. Many people had beads of sweat on their foreheads, which rolled down their thin cheeks and dripped into the hot yellow soil under their feet, evaporating instantly.

Even when their physical strength was at its limit, no one was willing to collapse. That rice ball, like a carrot hanging in front of a donkey, became the only obsession that kept them going.

After an unknown amount of time, the sound of wheels rolling came from afar.

Shu Hu pushed a simple wooden cart, loaded with baskets of steaming rice balls, toward the training ground.

The moment the cart came into view, the previously unfocused eyes of the two hundred Dalits suddenly lit up, and their gazes locked onto the food on the cart, their intense desire coalescing into an invisible aura.

Vijay clearly sensed this aura and understood: even if these people were oppressed to the point of being like walking corpses, their instinctive thirst for survival and hunger would never be completely extinguished.

They fear the oppression of those in power, but when the temptation of survival is presented before them, their hidden desires will break through all the constraints.

He observed quietly, and everyone remained firmly in their standing positions. Even though they were drooling with desire, no one dared to step forward rashly. The awe and fear ingrained in their bones still firmly restrained their behavior.

"Master..." Treebeard stood beside Vijay, and Vijay nodded to him.

"Very good." Vijay spoke slowly, his voice steady and powerful. "You have all passed the first test successfully."

After a brief moment of praise, he gave the second task: "Now, you all discuss among yourselves and select ten representatives from the team. These ten representatives can come forward to receive rice balls, and each of them can take one extra."

As he spoke, he reached out and lifted the burlap covering the cart, revealing a basket of perfectly round rice balls, each one steaming hot.

The sweet aroma of rice wafted in the wind, filling everyone's nostrils. The sound of swallowing saliva rose and fell in the queue, and everyone's eyes were fixed on the food, their greed and desire no longer concealed.

The once quiet queue instantly erupted into chaos.

Dalits are usually timid and silent in front of their superiors, but when they are with fellow Dalits, they suddenly become much bolder.

At first, it was just a quiet argument about who should be the representative, but the voices grew louder and louder, and the fragmented quarrels gradually merged into a noisy wave.

Some people subconsciously looked at Vijay and saw that he was smiling and showed no signs of anger, which emboldened them even more.

Their long-term oppression and plunder have instilled in them a survival instinct of the survival of the fittest.

In situations where superiors are not involved, one's true nature will be fully revealed.

The verbal dispute quickly escalated into pushing and shoving, and the chaos spread rapidly like ripples, eventually evolving into a fight among the entire crowd. Amidst the swinging of fists and feet, no one cared about their past timidity anymore.

Vijay stood not far away, calmly surveying the chaotic crowd and selecting those who were suitable.

In one corner of the crowd, a man of average build managed to withstand the onslaught of two or three Dalits with his bare hands, his footing as steady as a rock, moving with composure amidst the chaos. On the other side, a Dalit with feline claws on his fingertips, who had previously been too afraid to even touch a wooden stake, was now finally wielding his claws to fight off the others.

In the midst of the chaotic battle, the wildness that had been suppressed in daily life was completely unleashed, blood splattered everywhere, and everyone's abilities were on full display.

After a fierce battle, ten winners emerged from the crowd.

They were panting, their clothes disheveled, bearing the marks of a fight, and still maintained a wary posture towards each other, but the fervor for food in their eyes had not diminished in the slightest.

"The ten of you, come forward and receive your food." Vijay raised his hand, acknowledging their choice.

The ten Dalits sized each other up warily, somewhat incredulous at Vijay's wave.

After all, it's not uncommon for people to be played by those in power. Wouldn't it be a sin to feed Dalit such a generous amount of rice?

Seeing that the ten people didn't move, Shu Hu muttered a few words and stepped forward to distribute rice balls as agreed.

With each person holding two warm rice balls, these hungry people, who had never even known what grains tasted like, could no longer contain themselves and practically wolfed the rice balls into their mouths.

The sweet rice grains melted in their mouths, and a feeling of fullness swept over their entire bodies. They chewed quickly, yet were reluctant to swallow large mouthfuls. After finishing, they still stared intently at the remaining rice balls, their eyes filled with lingering reluctance.

Just as everyone was immersed in the joy of a full stomach, Shu Hu, with a cold expression, sternly rebuked them: "Remember this, everyone! You may only enjoy what the master bestows; if the master does not give, you must not take even a single bit! Only by adhering to your duties can you enjoy lasting peace!"

The noisy crowd fell silent instantly, and everyone regained their composure, bowing their heads.

Vijay nodded; the first step of this reprimand was progressing smoothly.

Then he continued to give new instructions to the ten Dalits: "Now, each of you take nine rice balls! These rice balls are not for yourselves, but are to be distributed to the others behind you."

"Whoever you choose, give them a rice ball, and they'll be working with you from today onwards!"

Vijay just kept his word and gave a reward, which can be considered as establishing initial trust with these Dalits.

The ten winners looked at each other, not understanding the purpose of this arrangement for a moment, but intimidated by Vijay's authority, they obediently stepped forward to receive their rice balls and turned to walk towards the crowd behind them.

The warm aroma of rice wafted through the air, and the instinct for hunger struck again.

One of the leaders, Dalit, walked to the back of the group and, taking advantage of the attention being drawn to the front, quietly and quickly stuffed another rice ball into his mouth.

He thought his movements were discreet, but little did he know that the whole scene had been witnessed by Vijay and Shuhu.

Shu Hu's aura hardened, awaiting Vijay's signal.

Vijay merely glanced at him and nodded slightly.

Shu Hu understood immediately, and his figure shot out like an arrow, his tall body instantly appearing in front of the violator.

Treebeard displayed his talent for the first time in front of Vijay, his limbs extending and coiling like vines.

His arms flew, and in the blink of an eye, layers of "vines" tightly strangled the violator's neck and torso.

With a few crisp cracking sounds of bones grinding together, the Dalit didn't even have time to cry for help. He struggled desperately with his limbs, his face turning red from the pressure. Under the absolute power of the tree beard, all his resistance seemed futile.

Within a few short breaths, the person who had attempted to hoard the food died.

Shu Hu loosened his arms, letting the corpse collapse to the ground, and stomped hard on the rice ball that had fallen, the soft, sticky rice mixing with the dirt.

Having done all this, Treebeard turned around, facing all the Dalits present, and said in a booming voice, "This person disobeyed his master's orders and secretly hid food; this is the consequence of breaking the rules!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire room fell silent. Everyone was trembling with fear, and the restlessness that had just arisen because of the food vanished instantly.

Immediately afterward, Shu Hu pointed to the trampled rice balls on the ground and shouted, "You can fight over the leftovers on the ground!"

The moment the order was given, the deathly silent crowd erupted once more.

Countless Dalits surged forward like a tidal wave, pushing and shoving each other, all focused on the crumbs of rice balls in the mud.

But after the punishment they had just received, everyone was more wary, and the fighting was limited to fighting for food, no longer involving large-scale brawls and killing each other as before.

Someone rushed ahead, scooped up the rice mixed with dirt, and swallowed it greedily.

The bitter soil mixed with the aroma of rice was a rare treat for them, and they rushed forward one after another, just to grab a bite to fill their stomachs.

Vijay took in everything before him and was very satisfied with Treebeard's performance.

After all, simply showing kindness will only embolden these people who have long been at the bottom of society, while being overly harsh will completely extinguish their last hope.

A combination of kindness and severity, with clear rewards and punishments, is the right way to manage this special group of people. Awaken their will to survive with food, establish rules with ironclad regulations, and ignite their fighting spirit through competition. Only through this gradual refinement can these Dalits, possessing extraordinary talents, be forged into a usable fighting force.

After everyone finished scrambling for it, the training ground returned to calm.

Many people still had dirt and rice grains stuck to the corners of their mouths, but their faces had a different kind of aura.

Vijay walked slowly to the center of the crowd, the blazing sun casting a long shadow of him, his calm aura enveloping the entire scene.

"I know that Dalit spent his life in hunger, beatings, and humiliation," Vijay's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears. "I won't make empty promises to you. From now on, here, if you follow the rules and do your best, you will be well-fed and clothed; if you harbor evil intentions and disobey orders, your fate will be the same as that man's."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across each face: "You are sinful! You were born sinful!"

The oppressive aura caused the Dalits, who had just raised their heads, to lower them again.

"The gods will not forgive your sins!"

"The Brahmins will not forgive your sins!"

"Even the Kshatriyas will not forgive your sins!"

"I can't either!"

Vijay explained his thoughts to everyone clearly and simply, word by word: "But you are blessed!"

"Because you have come to Mittal Village, and I am here!"

"I am willing to bear your sins!"

"The prerequisite is that you are willing to entrust everything to me wholeheartedly!"