Chapter 154 – Enthusiasm (2/2)

After hearing that Shao Xuan stayed in the river for twenty days, the expression of the chief and Shaman changed.

“How did you stay in the river for more than twenty days?” The Shaman asked.

“By using a boat, paddling, and Chacha.” Shao Xuan told them some of his experiences on the river, including the dangerous perils he faced, but purposefully withheld mention of the sails and Chacha pulling him along.

As Shao Xuan told his story, Fan Mu and the Shaman’s expressions gradually eased up. Evidently, they had some knowledge regarding the river and knew that Shao Xuan wasn’t lying to them. Furthermore, from the way they saw it, after suffering from many dangerous situations, Shao Xuan must have indeed come from far away. However, Chacha’s contributions weren’t small. If they had a bird like Chacha that could pull them along, what would they also be able to do?

“Once our wooden boats go in the water, they sink. Why didn’t yours?” Fan Mu attentively asked.

“Is the wood you use heavy? In our tribe, as soon as we put a piece of wood in the water, it’ll quickly get dragged away by the river.” Replied Shao Xuan.

“Our tribe has the treasured fish!” Fu Shi proudly exclaimed.

Since there were many crocodiles near the shore, there weren’t many other creatures. And so, placing wood on water wouldn’t cause it to sink as there weren’t many insects to eat the wood and pull it down.

“Then how did you do it?” Fan Mu asked.

“After the rainy season, the wood eating insects disappear from the river, enabling us to traverse it. The insects only come back when the water level rises.” Explained Shao Xuan.

“So it was like that?!”

Shao Xuan’s words had shocked the people in the room.

“This is what my tribe’s shaman told me to bring.” Shao Xuan he took out the stone depicting the symbol of the tribe, and handed it over to the shaman.

The totem pattern drawn by the Shaman was quite special, and as a shaman himself, he could feel the power of the totem and the emotions they wanted to express. The stone brought with it intentions of goodwill and hospitality.

“Chacha also has one on him.” Shao Xuan walked to the door, whistling him down.

Naturally, the home of the chief was much more spacious than other people’s, with better construction.

Chacha landed outside the door.

The Shaman of the Drumming tribe carefully looked at the patterns on Chacha’s leg, before confirming it too had received the blessings of the Shaman. For a creature to receive one, it showed how much they valued it, something that was almost impossible to counterfeit.

Moving his hand away from Chacha, the shaman nodded to Fan Mu.

Although his eyes were still cold, the chief eased up a bit.

After talking for a while, the shaman and Fan Mu’s suspicion towards Shao Xuan had significantly decreased. Although they hadn’t heard of the Flaming Horns tribe, after their talk, they expressed sincere goodwill towards him.

Hearing that Shao Xuan was the first person to leave his tribe, the Shaman recommended that he stay for a while.

“After the Water Moon festival, some people will leave to go and trade with other tribes. You can accompany them.” The shaman said.

The people around wanted to say something, but with a raise of his hand, the shaman stopped them.

“It’s decided then. Fu Shi, let Shao Xuan live in your house temporarily.” The chief said.

When the chief said something, other people didn’t dare talk back. Only Shao Xuan’s eyes still carried a bit of vigilance.

“Alright.” Fu Shi agreed.

Fu Shi brought Shao Xuan to his home after leaving the chief’s house.

Generally, outsiders were cared for by the people who brought them into the tribe. Furthermore, Shao Xuan had saved Chen Jia’s life, so Fu Shi had to take even better care of him.

As the sky gradually turned dark, the air turned humid from all the evaporated water during the day.

The two moons in the sky made sure that the tribe wasn’t in total darkness. As the moons grew rounder and rounder, they showed the passing of the hours. In the lightened night, Shao Xuan was still able to see the flora and fauna surrounding him.

Fu Shi’s house was built next to a pool of water, and when Shao Xuan entered, a woman was waiting for them. She was Fu Shi’s wife, Ping.

Standing next to Ping was the obedient Chen Jia. His face was swollen, evidently from getting beaten.

Ping was extremely hospitable and her laughter put people at ease. Her two eyes were like Fu Shi and Chen Jia’s, a tan color.

“Shao Xuan, is it? Thank you for saving Chen Jia.”

After she finished talking, Ping took out a pile of things from outside the house. Everyone had yet to have dinner, since they had to wait for Fu Shi and Shao Xuan. And since they had come back, Ping started to prepare a huge meal.

Within a moment, a deer’s leg appeared in front of him. Although roasted, it wasn’t cooked thoroughly, with blood still visible.

Shao Xuan looked up at the people around him. The family of three had transformed. Their mouths were wide open, doubling in size, and they were tearing at the meat. With each bite, blood spilled out splashing everywhere.