Chapter 66 – Do you know the meaning behind my name? (1/2)

Translated by Sunyancai

Old Ke didn’t mention Shao Xuan’s astonishing speed of progress to anyone. And based on his observation of the following few days, it seemed that Keke and the others hadn’t spread it around either. So in the eyes of other people in the tribe, Shao Xuan was merely a brave and fearless warrior, who was lucky enough to be blessed by the ancestors. Aside from that, he was just as normal as everybody else. Even Ge, who was a frequent guest of Old Ke’s had no idea.

Since Shao Xuan returned with lots of game, he sent some food to his acquaintances in the tribe. Old Ke and Ge definitely got a big part of it, Aunt Ah-Yi who helped Shao Xuan with sewing also got her share. Also, the teacher of the orphan cave and the kids in the cave all had their own parts.

Shao Xuan had become quite proficient in stone crafting. A few days earlier the Shaman and the Chief had given him some fine stone cores of high quality. Shao Xuan turned them into a few spearheads, while Old Ke had finished re-crafting and grinding the tooth sword. It wasn’t as good looking as before, but was still sharp and could be put to good use.

“Could you please check it? What do you think?” Shao Xuan passed a stone spearhead to Ke.

Old Ke lifted his eyelids slowly. Without holding it in his own hand, he glimpsed at it and said, “Not bad.”

It was very difficult to earn the evaluation of “not bad” from Old Ke. Even when some other stoneware crafters presented their works to him, Old Ke would ruthlessly assess their works as garbage. Compared to them, Shao Xuan was quite proficient in stone crafting skills.

Shao Xuan put the stoneware aside and came in front of Old Ke and said with a chuckle, “You see…I think I have already learnt a thing or two about stone crafting. You have mentioned that if I want to make progress, I should practice more…So, I think…uh…can we get started on the next stage of teaching?”

Old Ke wasn’t famous for stone crafting back in his days. He was famous for setting impressive traps!

“Do you want to learn?” Old Ke asked in a low voice, “it’s very tough.”

“Of course I do! I’m not afraid of hardship!” Shao Xuan nodded in a hurry.

“Okay, then you can come here tomorrow morning.”

“Yes! Okay, then I’m off!” Shao Xuan left after he had helped Old Ke to set the stone pot and chop the firewood.

When Shao Xuan left, Old Ke’s poker face finally loosened and he began to smile.

Early in the morning the next day, Old Ke was already waiting there when Shao Xuan arrived Old Ke’s place with Caesar.

“Bring that.” Old Ke pointed to a medium sized wooden box, and walked out with his cane.

Shao Xuan hastened to carry the box. It was heavy, and he didn’t open it to see what was inside.

Caesar twisted his waist uneasily, but got schooled by Old Ke’s cane. In this mountain foot area, Old Ke was the only one that Caesar was afraid of.

“To the training ground.” Old Ke pointed out the direction with his cane.

“Okay.” Shao Xuan carried the tool box and headed that way.

Caesar was one year old, and he was growing quickly. Often he helped Old Ke and Shao Xuan lift and carry some things, so of course he could bear Old Ke’s weight. Earlier Old Ke just caught him unprepared, so he almost fell.

So, as Ge was chewing on a piece of meat jerky as he walked around in the morning, he saw Old Ke sitting on Caesar’s back with his cane in his arms. Ge almost choked seeing that scene.

Ge was quite familiar with Old Ke, he was in the same team as Old Ke when he got injured. Since Ge was quite idle and also had a thick skin, he would constantly come to Old Ke’s place to spend time together.

In the eyes of Ge, Old Ke was too prideful. When he withdrew from the hunting team due to the loss of a leg, he didn’t allow others to help. In the end, he moved down the mountain and isolated himself from his old pals, in order to not take their gifts. He considered the gifts as pity, so it wounded his pride. Every year when he had to go up the mountain to attend the ritual, he wouldn’t ask for anyone’s help either. No carrying, no lifting, no holding. He used his cane and the remaining leg to slowly move up the hill. It seemed that he was afraid of people saying that he couldn’t walk. So he had to prove them wrong by his deeds. It had been the same for decades.

But now?

Who was the one on a wolf’s back?

Or did he have a different opinion on different species? Did he choose not to walk on his own? Was he not afraid of being judged?

Where’s your so-called “pride”? Got eaten by Caesar?!