Chapter 829: Things Have Gotten Out of Control (1/2)
Shennong’s breathing grew heavy as he looked at the small piece of wood. He then snatched the other pieces from his brother’s hand and peered at them closely. Meanwhile, the elders by the bonfire ceased conversing; judging from Shennong’s expression, something big was about to happen.
“Brother of mine!” Shennong jerked his head up. “Are these all… real? You must know that there are many poisonous grasses in the mountain. If we get any of them wrong, someone will die for it!”
“The poisonous plants and herbs recorded here were all personally tasted by the child called Lie Shan. He’s labeled which are poisonous and which aren’t. The one in your hand can be used in medicine, and these other ones are poisonous!
“It’s an amazing thing, really. These herbs or poisonous grasses result in a marvelous variety of different effects if they’re paired in different ways…” Jiang Ti waxed eloquent. “It was Lie Shan who cured me of my injuries with these herbs.”
Shennong shot to his feet. “Where’s Lie Shan? Have him come here… no, that’s not right. I’ll go see him!”
“I’ll take you to him!” A victorious smile spread across Jiang Ti’s face as he took his brother’s arm and guided him in Lu Yun’s direction.
……
Everyone rose to their feet when Shennong arrived. The chief held absolute power and status in the tribe and had to be accorded all due respect.
“Lie Shan greets the chief!” Slightly confused, Lu Yun looked at Jiang Ti standing next to Shennong.
“Did you write all these?” Shennong shoved the wooden pieces in front of Lu Yun.
“Well, yes…” he’d just started replying when the chief suddenly bent at the waist and bowed at Lu Yun.
“Lie Shan, you have done a great deed for all of humanity. Please receive my gratitude!”
Lu Yun almost jumped out of his skin and subconsciously dodged to the side. This was Shennong, the ancestor of all Chinese! He would never dare receive this kind of honor from the great ancestor!
However, a tremendous forcefield barreled out of Shennong and nailed Lu Yun to where he was standing, forcing him to accept three bows from the chief. Not only was he scared out of his wits, so were the tribespeople next to him.
“I now declare that when I am old and infirm, when I can no longer perform the duties of chief, Lie Shan will be the next Shennong and chief of the Yan Tribe!” shouted Shennong.
“This won’t do, chief!”
“The matter of succession is a very important one, it can’t be decided so rashly like this!”
“Please reconsider, chief!”
The tribe erupted in an uproar the moment Shennong’s announcement rang out. What had been a picture of harmony, of song and dance, immediately turned gravely tense. The air hummed with a tension, the kind found when swords were unsheathed and bows drawn.
Only those with great virtue and merit could occupy the position of tribal chief. Each generation of Shennong experienced ferocious competition before the final victor emerged. Never had one been decided beforehand!
Shennong’s decision violated custom, but he was a man of his word. He quelled the emotional undercurrents with a wave of his hand, and the altar at the center of the tribe flared with strong mental ripples. Those came from the tribe’s tribute spirit.