Translated by Sunyancai
The others in the hunting group were still waiting by the exit of the cave until the next day in the afternoon.
Originally they were to leave at noon, but Mai and Lang Ga suggested to wait a little longer, which was the only reason why all the warriors were staying by the cave.
In fact, Lang Ga and the others had already completely lost hope by that time, but still, they were not willing to admit it.
Let’s go, or else we won’t be able to make it in time.
Another warrior of Mai’s age proposed as he looked up at the sky.
They did not bring much food, for they had stored all the game they had hunted in the first location. Since they were trekking towards the second location, they only brought moderate amount of food. Now, some of the warriors already had an empty food bag.
According to tradition, in the hunting group, nobody shall leave when waiting for a comrade. Even running out of food, no warrior shall go for hunting. That was in fact a memorial service in disguise. Although their comrade might be gone forever without any remains, others should wait to pay their respect in some way. Rationally speaking, all of them knew that whoever had gone lost would never return.
Once they left the cave, it meant that they gave up on waiting, which was also considered- the end of the mourning and the beginning of the hunt. It was a different nature of act, for they won’t return to the cave unless the hunting was over.
Most warriors in the hunting group thought that it was already enough for them to have waited for so long. Shao Xuan was no big guy, and neither did he have any important status in the tribe. So there was no need for them to spend days in mourning. They had to start the hunt soon.
Mai looked at the sinking sun and told everybody that they should prepare to go.
Before leaving, everybody lowered their heads and pointed at the middle of their eyebrows with their index fingers. Every time when someone was lost, the others would pay their respect in that simple way.
Let’s go
. Mai led the others to leave the cave after the mourning. They were heading to another cave in the mountainside, which was their second stronghold.
…
Step by step, Shao Xuan walked towards the exit of the cave, with the ancestors on his back and stoneware, in his bags.
After spending so much time in the darkness, Shao Xuan did not feel uncomfortable seeing the light again.
Shao Xuan was able to hear the sounds of insects and birds outside, and he was in quite a good mood.
The exit of the cave was much narrower than the entrance at the mountainside. Perhaps it was as big as other entrances and exits a long time ago, but now it was half blocked by the falling stones, and the rest of it became covered by vines and leaves by the passing of time .
The mountain was not different from any other mountains on the surface, and there was also grass, bushes, trees, pools and brooks. It was only in the inside of the mountain that was different from other mountains. So on the surface, all the plants and animals were similar, and the list of all the names of hunting group leaders in generations were still carved on the wall near the entrance, and that wouldn’t be erased at all.
By the exit of the cave, Shao Xuan stood still and listened closely to the sounds outside. He observed the surroundings through the vines, and made sure that no dangerous creature was there. So carefully, he pushed aside those vines and stepped out. When exiting, he paid extra attention to those mummified people on his back, because they were fragile.
Feeling the not-so-bright sunshine, Shao Xuan felt like he was somehow reborn. If he was in a safe environment, he would probably shout it out to express his euphoria.
Earlier he was already used to seeing those skeletons, and in fact, Shao Xuan was not afraid of them. However, now during the daylight, he looked back and only found four mummies…Shao Xuan calmed himself down, and began to hypnotize himself: it’s fine…they are the ancestors, ancestors of the tribe… even if they are mummified, dried, and darkened, they are as brave and extraordinary as always…
He did not untie those four
people
immediately. The treasure was still effective, and Shao Xuan wanted to shelter himself under the blessing of the ancestors before he could rejoin the hunting group.
Shao Xuan didn’t know where he was standing but looking up, he could still see those flying figures in the sky, so he figured that perhaps he was still at the same mountain. It was not the mountainside, but the mountain foot, and, he felt that it was already the other side of the mountain.
It was impossible for him to run around in the unknown environment without a plan. He was not capable of dealing with the ferocious beast by himself. At the same time, Shao Xuan had to be prepared not to be grabbed by those big birds flying in the sky. So he could only try to make contact with the hunting group first.
Looking down at the body, Shao Xuan found a layer of gray stone powder all over his animal skin clothes, as well as on his hands.
He rubbed his hands together to dust off those stone powder. Originally he intended to grab some leaves from the vines to wipe his hands, but on second thought, he gave up on the idea, for he didn’t know whether it was poisonous or not.
After rubbing his hands, Shao Xuan curled two of his fingers and put them into his mouth. Right after that, a rhythmic whistling sound came out.
Yelling was absolutely forbidden here, for that loud noise might draw the attention of some creatures. Hence Shao Xuan used the old way of the hunting team, which was the whistle. As he was blowing the whistle, he decided to make a deer whistle for later use when he returns to the tribe.
Warriors in the hunting group who were heading to the second stronghold hesitated at the sound, especially Qiao, Mai and the other few intermediate totemic warriors. Their hearing was a little better than junior warriors. When others could only hear a vague sound, they could hear it clearly in their ears.
Mai! That is…
Qiao pulled on Mai’s arm excitedly.
Mai hinted her to calm down, and listened to the distant sound carefully. It was distant, but still, Mai figured that it was a signal of the hunting team. Also, it seemed that only Ah-Xuan could blow the whistle in that way!
However, they had just left the exit of the cave, and the whistle was obviously not from the cave, but down the mountain…
You wait here for a moment!
Mai said and in a hurry, he rushed down the mountain. After only a few leaps, his figure disappeared in the forest.
Is it really Ah-Xuan?
Lang Ga was thrilled as well as stunned. Although he could not hear it clearly, it was not his first time hearing that whistle. When he found those two kids after the Thorn Black Wind, he was following that similar whistle.
Not possible. How could Ah-Xuan come out, while all our ancestors were lost inside?!
a warrior said. He wasn’t wishing Ah-Xuan not to come back, it was just his respect and worship towards the ancestors that stopped him from believing in Shao Xuan’s capability.
But the sound was exactly the same as the one that we heard when we found him the last time!
Ang said.
Lang Ga could hardly restrain himself thinking that Ah-Xuan was still alive.
Not only Lang Ga, the others wanted to know the answer as badly as him.
Let’s go and see!
Yeah, let’s go. As long as we are still in the mountain, we won’t encounter any large-sized ferocious beasts. We can go to the cave later.
I want to go, too!
Normally, warriors in the hunting group always followed the leader’s command and they respected the rules. When the leader asked to wait, they would just wait. However, it wasn’t normal circumstances now. Ever since the hunting route was established, almost nobody had succeeded in finding a way out after getting lost inside! Even the ancestors could not manage to do that!
The few intermediate totemic warriors discussed for a moment and they all chose to go and see.
So, after Mai rushed towards that direction, the others in the hunting group followed his footsteps.
Mai followed the sound and arrived at the mountain foot, only to find someone covered in gray standing there.
At first, Mai paid no attention to the things Shao Xuan was carrying, nor the stoneware laid besides his feet, for he was totally stunned.
Although covered in a layer of gray stone powder, Shao Xuan was merely a kid, and one could easily recognize him by his size.
You are all right, Ah-Xuan!
The others in the hunting group soon followed Mai here and all of them recognized Shao Xuan as well.
Lang Ga approached him quickly and planned to give him a warrior’s hug to celebrate his survival. But after he saw what was on his back, Lang Ga stammered,
Ah-Xuan…what…what is…on your back…?
All the attention was fixed on Shao Xuan’s back.
Well, this.
Shao Xuan turned so that the other could have a clearer picture of the people he was carrying. He pointed at them and said,
They are the ancestors.
However, Shao Xuan indeed underestimated the weight of the word
ancestor
in people’s hearts.
Once the word
ancestor
was spoken out loud, Shao Xuan found that all the warriors in the hunting group seemed to be frozen. They just stood still, but all the eyes turned red, and their breaths turned heavy. Their faces began to convulse, which was a little twisted. What’s more, almost all of their bodies began to shake.
A second earlier they were quite normal, but now, they weren’t themselves!
Wait a second! Don’t get so worked up and let’s talk like adults!
