Chapter 2 – Such A Plain Life (2/2)

To hunting warriors in the tribe, beasts were just prey, food. Naturally, Caesar fell into this category. Although the approaching person only gave him a glance without threat, he exuded a very dangerous aura that frightened Caesar at once because of his hunter’s instinct.

Given the situation, Shao Xuan knew he had to speak first.

“Good morning, Uncle Mai!”

The middle-aged strong man withdrew his gaze from Caesar and looked towards Shao Xuan. The dangerous atmosphere from earlier faded, Shao Xuan’s tension eased. In fact, most warriors in the tribe would not harm children unless provoked.

Mai looked at Shao Xuan and then looked down at the marks on the floor that Shao Xuan made with his earlier exercises. Glee filled his eyes, but his smile did not soften his face because of the scars.

Shao Xuan knew that Mai was kind and friendly, not as scary as he

seemed. Also, Mai and his current body’s father were in the same hunting team, so for old time’s sake, Mai would always help Shao Xuan.

“You came out so early Ah-Xuan? It’s good that you want to practice before it’s time,” said Mai.

People in the tribe did not have family names and most people were named with only one word. Perhaps it was more convenient for others to memorize and Shao Xuan’s body in this life was called “Xuan”. “When in Rome, do as Romans do”. Shao Xuan got used to this gradually. As for the “Ah”, it had an interesting origin, there once was a highly respected ancestor who tended to shout out the word “Ah” before he called someone’s name. This developed into a tradition, passed on through generations, and so people in the tribe today would all call out the word “Ah” before one’s name. Of course, the rule could not be applied to seniors and those who had special positions.

Only very few people who lived near the mountain, including children from the “orphan cave”, would come out to exercise during their youth.

Basically, their lives revolved around eating and sleeping, their luxurious entertainment would be playing for a short while. This was because exercising and playing both require the exertion of the body, and too much movement would cause hunger to develop quicker. For the poor, the less the consumption the better, so even adults were in favor of this. However, Mai obviously approved Shao Xuan’s action, for it would be more beneficial in the future if he started to practice now.

“Are you returning from the training ground, Uncle Mai?” asked Shao Xuan.

“Yes.” Mai nodded.

No fixed timelines were settled for warriors to train, they could arrange their training as they pleased as long as they did not miss the hunt.

“It seems that Uncle Mai had good fortune today! By the way, Uncle Mai, I heard from Lang Ga that tomorrow it will be your team’s turn to hunt? Good luck with that and I wish that you will return fully loaded!”

Lang Ga was in the same hunting team with Mai, and he was the one who brought Caesar to Shao Xuan. The name “Lang Ga” meant “ground bow” in the local language, Lang Ga was a person deserving of this name.

Mai smiled at Shao Xuan’s words. He did not say much and prepared to leave, for tomorrow he would go hunting and it might be days before he returned. He needed to rest so that he would be energetic in the morning.

Mai stopped after a few steps and turned around, “Ah-Xuan!”

Shao Xuan looked at Mai and saw him retrieve a piece of meat jerky from his animal-hide bag.

Warriors would bring their own food when they train because there were only stones and rocks on the training ground, so few plants and even fewer animals present there could be considered as food. In order to replenish their fatigued bodies, they would prepare some food ahead of time. The meat jerky Mai held in his hand was prepared early and he had planned to eat this small leftover piece on his way back. Upon unexpectedly meeting Shao Xuan, he gave it to him without a moment’s hesitation. Shao Xuan was not permitted to go out hunting as it was forbidden for children in the tribe to do so, for their own protection.

“Thank you, Uncle Mai!” Shao Xuan said.

Food was scarce in the tribe, especially in this season and not everyone would be so generous as to hand out meat like Mai did. Mai said after he gave Shao Xuan the meat, “At the hillside where I train myself, sunset can be observed…”

Mai left after he shared the location of his training ground in detail, and exhorted Shao Xuan to be extra careful. Caesar relaxed after Mai’s figure disappeared into the distance. Looking down, he was very angry to find that the half of the stone worm he had dropped already slipped away. Caesar dug down deep and tried carefully tracking its scent as if trying to recapture its prey. However, Shao Xuan was apathetic to this, as he had a chance to quench his appetite for witnessing Mai’s training grounds.

Shao Xuan buried the stone container with the meat jerky inside that he got from Mai and laid a layer of stone chips on the top to disguise it.

He called for Caesar looking in the direction that Mai pointed out.