Inside the massive Teepee, the Shaman was discussing with Chieftain Yan Jiao.
"Shaman, can that child, Su Bai, really become the Shaman?" Yan Jiao asked with a solemn expression.
The Shaman was the mental and spiritual pillar of a Tribe. A Tribe could lack anyone but absolutely could not lack a Shaman.
And now, the Shaman position was to be handed to someone of unknown origins. For Yan Jiao, who had only assumed the Chieftain role fifteen days ago, the pressure was immense.
The previous Chieftain had already passed away, dying in the decisive battle against the Black Snake Tribe fifteen days prior.
"We have no time left. Children with the talent to become a Shaman are too hard to find."
The Shaman shook his head and sighed, "I can’t hold on for much longer. If we don’t quickly find a Successor, there will be no one to perform the Totem Awakening Ceremony. I won’t be able to face our Ancestors if that happens."
"Shaman, it’s because of our lack of ability." Yan Jiao furrowed his brows tightly, his eyes reddening as he hoarsely spoke, "We’ve made you exhaust yourself."
If not for the Shaman intervening in the battle against the Black Snake Tribe fifteen days ago, they wouldn’t have had the chance to relocate the Flame Dragon Tribe.
"Child, don’t fret too much. How could I possibly just watch my own children go to battle?" The Shaman kindly raised a hand and patted Yan Jiao’s arm.
He looked up at the tent flap and sighed, "We lost our Tribal Ancestral Land. After I’m gone, the Tribe will be relying on you all."
"We will definitely take back our Tribal Ancestral Land," Yan Jiao said resolutely.
"First recuperate and multiply. You need to have more children. There are too few Totem Warriors."
The Shaman advised, "You are the Chieftain now, you can’t be impulsive like before. You must think more for our people."
"I know, I will change." Yan Jiao hastily promised.
"That child, Su Bai, is talented to be a Shaman. He can even see the Totem. As long as he is guided well, he can definitely awaken the Totem in more people within our Tribe. Our Tribe will surely prosper." The Shaman thought back to the test not long ago.
To become a Shaman, one had to have powerful Mental Energy and a sufficiently nimble mind to see the Spiritual Connection to the Totem. Only then could one cultivate Shaman Powers.
"Yes," Yan Jiao said respectfully.
At this time, outside the tent, Yan Hua asked deferentially, "Shaman, Father, may I enter?"
"Ah, Yan Hua, come in," the Shaman said warmly.
Yan Hua tidied her leather clothing before lifting the tent flap and entering. Upon seeing the Shaman, she immediately bowed in salute.
Yan Jiao asked, "Has Su Bai settled in?"
"I’ve arranged for him to stay in my tent," Yan Hua obediently replied.
"Did you find out anything?" Yan Jiao lowered his voice.
"No, there’s a lot he’s unwilling to say," Yan Hua said in distress. Just now when introducing the Tribe to Su Bai, she had unintentionally asked some questions. However, they were all brushed aside with a change of topic.
"Shaman, could he be from the Black Snake Tribe?" Yan Jiao still felt uneasy.
"That child is not simple. Don’t go prying into his past." The Shaman warned.
With age came wisdom. He could see from Su Bai’s demeanour, attire and complexion that his origins were extraordinary. The Black Snake Tribe was unqualified to send someone like that to infiltrate their ranks.
"But…" Yan Jiao still wanted to say something.
"Investigating too much will make him feel alienated. What we need is a Shaman. It is not to uncover his secrets." The Shaman lightly waved his hand and softly continued, "He doesn’t give me the impression of being a bad person. That’s more than enough."
There was one point he didn’t mention – Su Bai felt too ‘pure’. It was the kind of purity reflected in his bloodline, as if his whole lineage had never come in Spiritual Connection with a Totem.
"Understood." Yan Jiao thought for a bit before promising, "I will respect him the way I respect you."
"En. In the future you must protect Su Bai well. The Tribe cannot be without a Shaman," the Shaman reminded again.
"I understand," Yan Jiao replied in a deep voice.
"If possible, have Su Bai marry and bear children early. Descendants of a Shaman tend to be talented as well. That way, we can cultivate more Shamans." A hint of grief flashed in the Shaman’s eyes.
His own son had also been a Shaman, but he died decades ago in an assassination by an enemy Tribe. Otherwise, the Flame Dragon Tribe would have developed much more by now.
"I understand. I’ll have Yan Hua interact with him more," Yan Jiao earnestly said.
"Huh!?" Yan Hua froze, her cheeks instantly flushing red.
Raging with embarrassment, she cried out, "Father, you said you’d let me decide my husband! Besides, I don’t want to marry him! My other half has to be able to beat me in a fight!"
"Among those your age in the Tribe, who can defeat you?" Yan Jiao immediately put on a stern expression and chided with regret, "You’re already nineteen. If you don’t find a husband soon, you’ll be too old. Others your age already have children that are three or four years old."
"I don’t want to get married!" Yan Hua stubbornly declared.
She didn’t want some frail weakling as her husband. She wanted a man who could kill Ferocious Beasts with one punch. Only then would the children between their union be born strong, able to become Totem Warriors.
"Are you trying to anger me to death!?" Yan Jiao widened his eyes, a fiery red pattern surfacing on the skin over his heart.
"Father, I want to choose my own husband!" Yan Hua refused to budge an inch. Even after seeing her Father so mad that his Totem Mark appeared, she had no intention of yielding.
"You… Marrying you to the Shaman is something many can only dream of! Why are you unwilling!?" Yan Jiao wanted to use his Daughter to tie down Su Bai. That way, the other party would truly become part of the Tribe and he could really set his mind at ease.
"I don’t want to!" Yan Hua turned her head away, completely refusing.
"I’m not telling you to marry him now. I’m telling you to interact and get along with him." Yan Jiao began to reason.
"Father, don’t try to trick me." Yan Hua pouted, thinking of what her friends had told her. [What did ‘interacting’ mean? As long as we interact, both parties’ parents will forcibly marry us off and then chase us out to set up our own household!]
"You…" Yan Jiao’s eyes twitched. His scheme had been seen through.
The Shaman interrupted the Father-Daughter dispute, laughing, "Alright, let the young handle their own matters."
"Hmph!" Yan Jiao suppressed his rage and turned around to walk out.
"Thank you, Shaman." Yan Hua smiled gratefully before withdrawing from the tent.
"The future is really uncertain… haaa…" The Shaman shook his head, recalling his own youth. [Back then, hadn’t my proud Wife also looked down on me?]
Do vote for this novel if you like it. Voting will only last till the 4th August. Bottom one or two will be dropped.