Chapter 372 (1/2)

I'm Shao Xuan

What answer was that?

Zhao Ming looked at Shao Xuan cautiously. He knew that this person was undeniably one of his tribesmen so he relaxed a little but did not fully believe it. While he was not great in other aspects, he had a great memory. Like the rest of the children who had not had their powers awakened, he loved watching all the people who went out hunting every day. The children would discuss the more famous people on the hills, even if they were not famous and they did not know their names, at least he would recognise the face. Yet he did not know who this was.

Although he believed Guang Yi would never bring someone who was a threat to the tribe back here, Zhao Ming trusted his own memory better.

“I have never met you before.” Zhao Ming had one hand behind his back, there was a dagger in his belt.

Shao Xuan did not care. There was just a random kid in the house so he was not in a hurry to explain himself and planned to tease the kid. The kids here were more cautious than the kids in the other Flaming Horn tribe perhaps due to the more complex living environment. The other branch of the tribe had lived an isolated life for almost a thousand years, naturally, they were more innocent.

Dragging a wooden stool over, he sat down and looked around the house.

This was an area at the foot of a mountain, this should be one of the average households of the tribe. Looking at the daily appliances in the house, there were not many people living in it. Perhaps just the two brothers. Although everything was simple, compared to Shao Xuan’s life in the other Flaming Horn, the people were came into contact with more types of things. There were cloth pouches hanging from the walls, alloys and metal tools while there were very few pure stonewares. There were ceramic pots and bowls on the table and another ceramic water tank in a corner. All colourful ceramics.

When he saw Shao Xuan studying the things in his house, Zhao Ming took a step forward and a deep breath as if to steel himself. His voice grew a little louder. “Who are you, really?”

“I’m Shao Xuan.”

“Shao Xuan? I have not heard of this name! Are you really from Flaming Horn?” His powers were not awakened so his sensing abilities were not comparable to Guang Yi. Without Shao Xuan using his totemic power, he could not deduce if he was truly a Flaming Horn tribesman.

Zhao Ming’s answer lied in the totemic patterns on Shao Xuan’s face. Due to the clothing and animal hide, all the totemic patterns on his shoulders and everywhere else were not visible. It was late and everything was dim so he could only see the markings on his face.

The totemic patterns were very powerful proof worth a thousand explanations. When he saw the pattern, Zhao Ming heaved a sigh of relief and started to relax.

“I was walking around outside and Guang Yi caught me. He asked who I was, I said I’m Shao Xuan, then he brought me here.” Shao Xuan shrugged as if even he did not know what to do. “Does your brother look like me?”

Zhao Ming shook his head vigorously. “No, not at all. But Uncle Guang Yi can’t recognise faces and barely remembers names. My brother is Zhao Quan, not Shao Xuan.”

A man with facial blindness. Although Shao Xuan had deduced this, he had never met a person like that. He couldn’t believe the first person he met here could not recognise faces or names.

“You’re not going back?” asked Zhao Ming.

“I can’t. I’ll have to stay for the night,” said Shao Xuan.

He did not understand what Shao Xuan meant by ‘I can’t’ but when he was about to ask, Zhao Ming’s stomach rumbled.

They had to eat first. Zhao Ming tossed his questions aside. They were from the same tribe and did not have any history with each other, of course staying a night was fine. Just like how his brother was staying over at one of his hunting friends’ house today.

“You can stay here. My brother’s not coming home tonight, you can sleep there. Right, have you eaten?”

“No, I hadn’t eaten and Guang Yi dragged me back here. He lectured me all the way here.”

Zhao Ming shot him a look of pity. Guang Yi was famous for his scoldings, always walking around with his solemn face. Many people revered him, even the young, talented warriors of the tribe.

“I’ll share some with you.” Zhao Ming brought a ceramic pot over. There was meat soup inside, still warm. His brother had gotten someone to bring this pot of soup over so he wouldn’t starve. If he couldn’t finish this, he could eat more tomorrow. It wouldn’t spoil over just one night.

But it won’t be enough for Shao Xuan. He was a totemic warrior, he needed to eat more.

“Should I go cook more?”

Zhao Ming wanted to get more food after putting the pot down but Shao Xuan stopped him.

“I brought some food, I just need to borrow your pot and get some water.” Shao Xuan shook his skin pouch.

In the forest, he often roasted random animals he found for food, sometimes even eating them raw but he had no choice because it was too dangerous in the forest. He had to always been on guard. It was difficult to find caves for shelter too. A good cooked meal was hard to come by, often his meat was not completely cooked and sometimes a little blood would flow when he bit into it. Soup was definitely not an option in the forest. Since he was here, he wanted to have some meat soup.

“What meat are you cooking?” Zhao Ming inhaled.

“I don’t know what it’s called. It looked very weird. Want’ some?”

“It’s fine. I can’t eat stuff you totemic warriors can eat.” Although he wanted some, he knew of this.

“You can have a bit of the soup.” Shao Xuan scopped a little soup into his bowl. The beast he cooked was not the extremely ferocious kind so after broiling in soup, it would not be a problem for children. Shao Xuan had seen children drinking soup lik this one, plus he thought the kids here were physically stronger.

“Hehe, my brother says that too.” Zhao Ming flashed a huge grin, liking Shao Xuan better now.

He wasn’t sure but Zhao Ming felt like this soup was much better than anything he’d drunk before. He could feel a very obvious surge of energy in his body afterwards. He’d spent the day making clay pots so this warmth was very comforting for his tired body.

The sun had set when they finished.

They smothered the fire then entered the house to sleep.

It had been half a year, this was the first time Shao Xuan slept soundly. He did not have to worry about desert beasts or slave masters, or the various threats of the forest. There were Flaming Horn people all around him. Although there was no fire seed, he felt as if he had the fire seed with him, he was at peace.

It was a dreamless night. He slept through the night till the next morning.

Shao Xuan rose early in the morning, a little alarmed by all the chatter and noises outside. It took a moment for him to remember he was in the Flaming Horn tribe, not hte one he was familiar with but the other he had been looking for.

Opening the room windows, smelling the fresh fragrance of the morning air, Shao Xuan looked outside.

This moutain was not tall but it took up a large area. Every house was at least more than 10 meters apart, some further. There was a lot of land, no need to be frugal with it.

Zhao Ming awoke to a smell. Yawning, he walked out.

The meat soup was done. Shao Xuan drank his portion and even cooked for Zhao Ming with a bit of the beast soup added.