Chapter 180 – Ancestral Land (2/2)

Remembering the appearance of Caesar and the look when he hunts in the forest, Shao Xuan’s knife moved.

Gua Er had wanted to learn a little carving skill, but unexpectedly, the movements of the knife of the person in front of him were getting faster and faster. At first, he could still see each of the knife’s movements, slices of wood shavings fell, but as it became faster, he had no chance to follow Shao Xuan’s speed. The only thing he could see was the wood chips flying like splashes of rain, forcing him to retreat a few steps.

Gua Er wanted to ask a few questions, but he realised that the sculptor in front of him was somewhat immersed in a trance, preventing anybody from interrupting.

Old He grabbed some wood chips on the ground with his hands, then stared at Shao Xuan. Although he couldn’t see clearly the movements of Shao Xuan’s arms, but the totem pattern on Shao Xuan’s face, he could see it as clear as day. That was the Flaming Horns tribe’s totem. It was much clearer than the ones that appeared on his father.

To carve a sculpture, you don’t necessarily need to use the power of totems. However, when Shao Xuan is seriously carving something out, he will somehow naturally start using it. The few stone knives he had on hand were actually not that good a tool. Many times, to accurately carve out his desired form, strength, speed, etc must all be well controlled. Not allowing any mistake. And the thing that he learnt when he was studying how to carve stones was exactly precise control. It had also made sculpturing much easier.

The surrounding four people could not help but put down the things that they were doing and stare at Shao Xuan.

Following the speed of the wood chips falling, the wood carving in Shao Xuan’s hands was also slowly forming.

Gua Er’s breathing gradually got heavier. He had not seen anybody carving like this before. At the same time, he had a feeling that this sculpture was exactly what he wanted. Maybe, it could be even better than he had imagined.

Once Shao Xuan’s hand with the knife stopped, his other hand was holding a completed sculpture that was covered in wood chips. He blew over it softly.

The sawdust covering the wood sculpture flew up, leaving the sculpture, just like scattered gold dust. And the sculpture finally revealed itself.

That was a very robust wolf, you could even see the muscle underneath all its fur. It stood in an upright posture, without baring its teeth, not growling, and also not lifting up its claws. He only stood there, with a slightly turned head. Just like it was looking at something not worth mentioning, emitting power and aura Gua Er could not explain. Seemingly like everything in front of it could not pass through it and could only only retreat.

The wood carving was not that big, looking at it, it was only the size of a small dog. But the feeling it gave was totally something different.

“This, are you satisfied?” Shao Xuan held the wood carving in his hand, asking Gua Er.

“Sat…Satisfied!” Gua Er excitedly stretched out his hand, holding it carefully.

“Then, the promise before, do you still remember it?” Shao Xuan asked once again.

“What did you say? Oh, remember, of course I remember! Take care of Old He and the rest!” Looking at the wood carving in his hands, Gua Er felt that this transaction was too satisfying.

“Once a word’s out, you can’t chase it with horses.

“Uh? “ Gua Er was at a loss at the words Shao Xuan had spoken.

“That is to say, once these words are said, even riding on your tribe’s fastest horse… you will still be unable to take them back. Your promise can never be taken back, and you must definitely keep what you have promised.” Shao Xuan simply explained.

“Of course!”

Gua Er was now only thinking of quickly taking this carving back, not planning to stay any further, he got up to leave.

Only after Gua Er had left, Shao Xuan turned over his head, meeting Old He’s grandson Ah Nai’s eyes.

“You also want one?” Shao Xuan questioned.

“En!” Ah Nai vigorously nodded his head.

“What kind do you want?”

“A wolf too!”

“Not necessary.” Shao Xuan rubbed Ah Nai’s half grown hair and said: ”In the future, you will see a real, living one. Compared to the carving it is even more impressive. Not only a wolf, there is also a cave lion, a big headed crane, and many more…”

Shao Xuan told Old He and his family stories of the tribe, and carved a stone carve with a totem pattern: the Flaming Horns tribe’s twin horns.

Old He was already old, he had experienced many countless setbacks and attacks, ups and downs, till now. Although it was not much like embracing the harsh winds, but compared to Yan Shuo, he was also more stable. But his hands, that usually hold stone picks, when holding onto that not too big stone token with the twin horns totem on it, kept trembling, even half a day later it had not lessened.

A long while after, Old He turned towards a direction, carefully placed the token in front of him, then faced towards the direction of the Flaming Horns tribe and knelt down to worship. Ah Nai and Old He’s wife also bowed down too.

After finishing worshipping, Old He then got up.

“The tribe was once in that direction, but later they left. Where exactly it is, I don’t know. I have never went there, I only know that our ancestral land is there. This is what my father has told me, and my father also heard this from my grandfather. One generation after another, it was passed down. They said, although the tribe has left their ancestral land, but the root is still there. If the tribe still exists, one day, the tribe will return to the ancestral land and reignite the totem flame once more.