Chapter 178 – Singing Together (2/2)

“I came here with the traveling group.” Shao Xuan replied.

“Eh? Don’t you have any fear at all? The people in those traveling groups are not good. You should be careful with your companions.”

“Why would you face towards that direction when you were singing just now?” Shao Xuan asked.

“You don’t know the reason?!” Old He looked at Shao Xuan with eyes of reproach, “It’s the place where our tribe was located! Remember this and don’t forget it in the future!”

After chatting with Old He for a while, Shao Xuan understood why he had come here to sing.

It seemed that everyone in the Flaming Horns tribe was committed to living in their own way, trying to keep the belief in their mind.

Old He’s son had passed away, his daughter-in-law had ran away, and his wife was at home, taking care of their sick grandson. Only once a year would Old He come here to sing. Last year, he had gone with his grandson. Unfortunately, his grandson was severely sick these days, so Old He came here alone. When he was singing, he prayed to his ancestors to protect his little grandson from illness. Many people in the grasslands had died from it.

After a little rest, Old He called Shao Xuan and began to sing again. He firmly believed that singing with Shao Xuan inspired him and made him feel as excited as a hunting warrior preparing for battle

Time after time, Shao Xuan sang with the old man.

Old He did not stop singing until it started to become dark.

It was time to go back.

Old He went down with Shao Xuan. He also asked Shao Xuan about his future plans and learned Shao Xuan was going the central area. Old He didn’t agree with him.

“It’s too far away and too dangerous over there. How can a boy without any ability like you go to the central area with those travelers? That area is a lot more dangerous than other places. I advise you to go back to the place where you lived before. Maybe you are badly off, but at least you are alive. You look sturdy. And If you really can’t find a place to live, you can stay here, with me. Although it’s difficult to make a living in the grasslands, it’s better than wandering aimlessly.” Old He tried to persuade him.

“It’s ok, don’t worry. I have the ability to protect myself.” Shao Xuan said.

“Young man, don’t think that you can go everywhere with a relatively good strength. We might be strong, but we can’t compare to the totem warriors.”

“But I am a totem warrior.”

“…What?”

“I mean, I am a totem warrior, an intermediate one… hey, watch out!”

Before Shao Xuan could finish his words, he saw the old man’s feet twisting as he fell down on the hillside. If it weren’t for Shao Xuan quickly grabbing him by the hand, Old He would have probably rolled farther, or even hit a stone.

Old He returned home from the mountain on Shao Xuan’s back. He had sprained his ankle, but fortunately had no other injury.

Old He’s wife was looking after her young grandson. The moment she saw her husband on Shao Xuan’s back, she hurried over to check the condition of his injury.

“I’m fine. I only sprained an ankle. Hey, Shao Xuan, come on, why did we stop just now? Let’s continue! Who else is in the tribe? What did the Shaman teach you?” Old He had no time to answer the questions of his wife, nor did he care about his injured ankle. He only wanted to ask questions about the Flaming Horns tribe.

After Old He was put on the wooden bed and got the medical treatment, Shao Xuan replied: “I thought you knew it all when I saw how poised you were.”

“How can I know that you really were a member the Flaming Horns tribe. I thought you were a wanderer.” When speaking of this, Old He felt even more embarrassed for misunderstanding him.

In the past, when several tribes in the grasslands had friendly relations, he had travelled a bit and saw wanderers like him. Fellow sufferers shared their anguish with each other and then returned home, moving on.

Everyone wished to return to the tribe someday, but one generation after another, from birth to death, that wish had not come true.

Once, Old He also thought that his life would be a similar case. His grandfather, grandfather’s grandfather, and the ancestors of the early days worked for the tribes here on this grassland and made a living, without knowing how long it had been. The only things left were the song and the things they were required to know, that were passed down by the mouths’ of one generation after another.

“We’ve lived here for a long time. We have good tempers, great strength and like working hard. People from the tribes ask for us from time to time. Take the people from the Feng tribe for example, sometimes they will even ask me to help with grazing. So, tell our tribe not to worry and that we can still hold on! We look forward to the day they return!”

“You can graze?” Shao Xuan asked.

“Yes. I’ve done it for as long as I can remember.”

“Do you know how to raise livestock?” Shao Xuan questioned him again.

“Of course. All of the people living in the grasslands know how to raise livestock.”