Chapter 180 – Ancestral Land (1/2)

Translated by Joycelyn

“Use for exchange?” Gua Er stood there momentarily stunned.

He had seen one of his friends holding some delicately and realistically carved bone ornaments in his hands yesterday. He was still flaunting off to them in their small little group. Gua Er also wanted a wood carving, comparing the wood carvings that the the others in the the tribe had to his, they just weren’t even on the same level.

Hearing that it was traded with the travel team, Gua Er then went to look around for the guy, however to no avail. Therefore he decided to look for a tree first, then let someone else carve something out.

Yes, Gua Er did not like things carved out from bones, followed by stone. Compared to carved stone, Gua Er preferred wood carvings. Stone carvings were too brittle. In the past, his grandfather had carved something for him, the thing was naturally carved using the most common stone. Accidentally, he touched a piece, and it broke. In comparison, the few wood carvings till now, they were still in a good condition. Even if many think that wood carvings are weaker than stone’s, he was still biased towards wood carvings.

Today, Gua Er had taken the chance that his dad was going on patrol, he shamelessly followed him, and had even got his dad to cut down a pile of trees for him to drag back. He did not think he would bump into Shao Xuan here.

When Gua Er went to the travel team to get a sculpture, he had specifically asked about Shao Xuan’s appearance and features. He was doubting it before, but now that he was sure it was the real person in front of him, he was naturally very excited. However, Shao Xuan’s question had stunned him in place.

Yeah, people of the travel team all need something in exchange. These people are not like his home’s, they will not do anything free of charge.

Take what and exchange?

Sheep? Cattle? If he really dragged these out to trade, wouldn’t he be hit by his mom when he went back home? Then after being hit, his dad would then take over to hit him once again….

He had thought of things like this before, not that he carefully thought over it, Gua Er was a bit hesitant. But he really wanted that kind of wood carving, and it was even carved better than his Grandpa could. Unfortunately, no matter if its his dad or mom, they would definitely not trade anything for just a wood carving. They would think that it was not worth it, not worthwhile. This is also one reason why he was very envious of his little friend.

Gua Er could not think of any ideas, and he was anxious and afraid that Shao Xuan might reject him. He scratched his head, gaped his mouth several times, without knowing what to say.

“How about like this,” Shao Xuan voiced out just when the other was in torment over the matter: ”You promise one thing, do it with all your heart, then I will carve one out for you.”

“Just help out Old He and his family, like don’t let little Ah Nai get bullied by others. When Old He’s family is in need, help them out with everything you can. How’s that?” Ah Nai was Old He’s grandson’s name. Gua Er and the rest would not accept Ah Nai, so Ah Nai had received quite a few bullying too. Shao Xuan had thought of hitting back for him, but this was a battle between kids, it was not convenient for him to interfere. Moreover, Old He and his family still needed to live here, the Feng tribe was also not a place where if you are strong then they would compromise with you.

“This…”

“You don’t even have this bit of power?”

“Of course I can do this!” Gua Er said while sticking his neck out.

Shao Xuan had understood that Gua Er’s father had some power in the tribe from their chats, and Gua Er also had also some influence on his little group of friends. If this brat isn’t making things difficult, and even give a helping hand, Old He’s family naturally could live a better life here till they return to the Flaming Horns tribe.

Gua Er did not think that what Shao Xuan requested was difficult, but he was also considered not stupid and knew how to bargain, “ I agree, but then you have to carve it well, it can’t be worse than those bone carvings that you carved for the others!

“No problem.”

“Then I will sit beside you and watch, if it’s not good, I will not agree!”

“Sure.”

On the road, Shao Xuan had crafted a few good stone knives, those bones were not considered too hard, therefore these small knives were enough. For carving wood, he definitely could use these knives too.

Since Gua Er had said to carve it here, so Shao Xuan also did not move to somewhere else. The wood that Gua Er had brought over was not bad, fine texture, not easily deformed, the carving effect would probably be even better.

“What kind of carving do you want?” Shao Xuan asked.

“Let me think….hmm… I want…” After thinking it over carefully, Gua Er said: “ Wolf. I want a wolf!”

Compared to those beasts that he had never seen before and would not appear on the grasslands, Gua Er had wanted a wooden wolf carving the most. Wolves on this grassland were common, and people of the Feng tribe, although they also hunt wolves, but they still held a form of respect for them. If the wolves did not attack the tribe or snatch away their livestocks, they would also not actively go against the wolves.

“It must be majestic, an alpha wolf!” Gua Er said while full of a yearning expression.

Shao Xuan did not understand the yearning towards alpha wolves, but the reason was answered by Old He on the side.

There was a story told in some of the tribes on the grass plains, of course, it was not known that which tribe’s ancestors had first created this story. It told about a tribe that was often attacked by wolves. That tribe’s Shaman had predicted that the wolf pack would attack one of the warriors’ home, therefore he used a stone to carve out a wolf and left it on that warrior’s door. When it was night and the wolves arrived, they saw that wolf carving at the doorstep, thinking that they had seen their wolf king, they were scared away.

Only children would believe this story, when they grew up, they would stop believing it. However, Gua Er right now was still a deep believer without a single doubt. But he also knew that not anybody had the power that the story’s Shaman had, moreover, the wood that he brought over was not big, it naturally couldn’t compare to the carving in the story. He had only purely wanted to satisfy himself with a mini version of it.

“Wolf..”The first thing Shao Xuan thought of was Caesar, who was left behind in the tribe. Caesar, after he was branded, was enough to be an alpha. Without even talking about his revenge, he still could go against the ferocious beasts in the forest. Who knows what he has grown up to become now.