Chapter 133 – The Nine Beasts (1/2)

Translated by Sunyancai

According to the ancient volumes, each hunting animal branded by the profound craft was carefully selected. But now, in the tribe, less than ten beasts met the requirements.

The Shaman would like to perform the craft on them as soon as possible, because the volumes told him that if they were branded by the craft in their early stages, the success rate and the chance of growing into the ferocious beasts would be higher. If they were branded by the craft after a few years or several decades, there would be little room for their growth, even if the craft worked.

But in accordance with the old teaching, he must make sure that they met the requirements, which made him hesitate over whether to perform the craft on them.

Therefore, the Shaman asked Shao Xuan to record the training, life, and performance of the first batch of beasts during the hunt. Up to now, the Shaman had written nine beasts’ names on his animal skin parchment.

Shao Xuan handed in the recent records, and was waiting for the Shaman’s comments. Whether to brand them totally depended on the Shaman.

Those selected would be the first batch of beasts to be branded by the craft in the tribe. Shao Xuan couldn’t make this decision by himself.

Caesar and the others to be branded by Shaman would become nine beasts with a special status in the tribe, as long as the craft worked.

These nine beasts ranged from birds, beasts and to turtles; namely, three categories of beasts: those living in the sky, on the land, and in the water.

However, only time could tell their future growth, and whether they would become the best.

Looking at the animal skin roll handed in by Shao Xuan for about half an hour, the Shaman sighed and said, “They seem very good, but I still feel worried.”

“What do you mean?”

The Shaman looked at Shao Xuan, and slowly said, “individually, they have good performance, but how about if they are together?”

The Shaman did not expect them to cooperate fully with each other. But he at least had to make sure that when put together, they would not fight. During the hunt, many beasts might get in conflict. If they did not get along well, there would be even greater conflicts after being branded by the craft. That would be simply dangerous for the hunting group.

Shao Xuan was silent for a while, and said, “So, do you mean they should be put together in advance?”

“Yes.”

The Shaman pointed at the names on the roll. Among these nine beasts, two would not be put together with the others. He only meant the other seven to be put together.

They were two exceptions, but besides them, the remaining seven had to learn to cooperate with each other.

The seven names made Shao Xuan sigh silently, and questioned in his mind, “How to get them together?”

These seven made up a group totally different from what Shao Xuan had imagined. This group included various kinds of beasts, and could be compared to a mishmash army in the modern times. None of them were similar species, so their tempers were also strange and different.

Shao Xuan stayed with the Shaman to discuss with him for a long time, and then left with a animal skin volume written by the Shaman, which was as important as a “decree”. He walked out of the stone house to inform those who kept the beasts, whose names were written down by the Shaman.

Yesterday, Gui He’s hunting team had returned, and Ta’s group would set out tomorrow, so now they were all in the tribe. Shao Xuan had to inform them one by one.

First, he visited Mao.

When he came to the door of the team leader, he found no one there. There was no noise in the house, so Shao Xuan cried out, “Si Ya!”

Bang!

A quite strong “bald boar” broke through the wall.

Shao Xuan, “…”

The sight of the big hole in the stone wall made Shao Xuan decide to leave as soon as he told Mao the news. Otherwise Ta would get furious if he saw the hole.

Now, Si Ya had four fangs, so it looked quite capable, but it was still called “bald boar”.

After Si Ya came out through the wall, Mao came out with a sour face, and scolded Shao Xuan, “Why did you call it?!”

“Why?” Shao Xuan asked.

“He was sleeping just now, and probably dreaming. Tomorrow it will go hunting, so it is excited.” Said Mao, rubbing his face hard, “Tell me what you want to say. I have to hurry to repair the wall before my father comes back. Otherwise he will beat me because of it.”

Most of the houses on the mountain were made of stones. Si Ya was quite emotional, just like a young man. He could get excited easily. Once he got excited, the house would be damaged. Ta did not allow it to live in the house, but when Ta was out, it squeezed into the house. So the door had been enlarged several times.

Without delay, Shao Xuan passed the Shaman’s “decree” to him and said, “Read it.”

Originally he was thinking about how to fix the wall, but after reading the animal skin volume, he got excited and could not wait to set out immediately. According to the volume, if the result was satisfactory, the Shaman would choose the best beasts to perform the craft on.

Having waited for two years, he could finally learn more about the legendary profound craft, so how could he not get excited?

“When will we go?” Mao asked hurriedly.