Chapter 156 – Murder
Translated by Jon
During the night, neither Ping or Chen Jia had come back, while Fu Shi was still out guarding the tribe.
From an unknown location, Chacha caught a whole deer, then found a tree to eat and rest on.
Only Shao Xuan was left inside.
Shao Xuan couldn’t recklessly wander around as the Drumming tribe was caught up in a tense situation. Since he was an outsider, if Shao Xuan wandered around it would naturally incur suspicion. Rather, it would be better for him to accumulate goodwill, as in the future, other people from his tribe might cross the river and encounter men from this tribe.
Shao Xuan shifted on the wooden planks, with every movement, the wood would let out a creaking noise.
As he was thinking about various matters, Shao Xuan heard a muffled sound that was similar to someone pinching their nose and covering their mouth coming from outside. This sound did not come from a human, but rather from the small crocodile. Listening closer, Shao Xuan found the source coming from inside a pond that was far away from the house.
In only a short amount of time, the crocodile had released many cries, only to stop abruptly. Then it continued once again, but this time the cry was different. Tracing the sound to its source, Shao Xuan discovered that the second set of cries originated from the brown eyed crocodile, whom everyone believed was mute.
The crocodiles found inside the tribe would not cry out regularly, they would only do so if they felt that they were in danger. For example, when Chacha had gone and scared those three earlier, they had all ran away crying.
According to the people of the tribe, these creatures were extremely perceptive towards others’ intentions. Even if one approached with a smile, and appeared exceptionally good-natured, the crocodiles would either run away or start attacking them if they harbored ill intentions.
What could these crocodiles have encountered at this late hour? What could cause them to cry out?
The sound still continued as Shao Xuan got up and started to look out the windows. He didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, however, the cries still rang out from inside the pond.
The other people in the tribe shouldn’t be able to hear the crocodile’s cries. If they did, then there should be others going out to check what was happening.
Shao Xuan exited his room and walked towards the sound.
Next to the pond that was some distance away from Chen Jia’s house, there laid two motionless crocodiles.
Around them, the scent of blood was heavy.
Squatting down, Shao Xuan used his hand to inspect them. Turning the two crocodiles over, he saw that their light colored bellies had bloodstains all over them. It was as if they were almost hacked in two by some kind of sharp stone tool.
At the beginning, the cries should have come out from these two crocodiles. After crying for a while, they suddenly stopped. This was most likely because of their death.
The way the two crocodiles died were the same, with a single extremely quick and fatal strike. Moreover, the attack was almost done in complete silence.
Currently holding a crocodile up to inspect the wound, Shao Xuan heard quick footsteps approaching, then a furious voice.
“What did you do to them?!”
The voice came from a fifteen to sixteen year old girl with tan eyes.
Recalling the impetuous and explosive temperament of the tribe, Shao Xuan had planned on explaining, but upon seeing the dead crocodiles laying on the ground, the girl had instantly turned furious.
“You’re seeking death!”
Shao Xuan was not given any chance to explain himself as the other party became insane. Even if Shao Xuan said anything, she wouldn’t have listened. Totem patterns appeared on her legs, making her quick, as she dashed towards Shao Xuan.
While throwing herself at him, the explosive power in her palm doubled. The appearance of the totem marks covering her palm looked like scaled armor as she curled her fingers into claws. There was a sharp sound as her fingers quickly changed, her hand ruthlessly clawing towards Shao Xuan.
If he didn’t dodge in time, her slim hand would had latch onto Shao Xuan. Then, just like a crocodile who had caught its prey, she would forcibly tear his arm off.
Encountering such a fierce attack, Shao Xuan took the incoming strike to grab onto her wrist. Instead of halting, he pulled her towards the pond next to them.
Pudong!
The girl had been thrown into the water.
People had started to arrive around them as they heard the commotion. In such a tense situation, with these loud noises, how could one not think this strange.
The surrounding families, regardless of men or women, took out their stone tools and ran out, surrounding Shao Xuan. The little kids stayed inside, watching the unfolding events from their windows or doors.
The two deceased crocodiles laying on the grass were extremely obvious. Being that this tribe was intensely conscientious towards these creatures, their dead bodies instantly attracted the attention of everyone.
Originally, they thought the fight was a dispute between two parties, but seeing the two crocodiles lying on the ground lifeless, everyone turned furious.
Towards an outsider like Shao Xuan, the surrounding people were naturally distrustful. Originally, many children were curious about the eagle, wanting to get closer to Chacha to examine him, but were stopped when the adults told stories to frighten them. Now, after seeing this scene, they became even more disliked.
“They weren’t killed by me.” Shao Xun stated.
“If it wasn’t you, who was it?!”
“It was obviously you! Ban Ling had seen you just now!”
The surrounding people argued noisily, directing all their anger towards Shao Xuan. Planning on taking action, they heard a shout from the back, “Stay your hands!”
Hearing this, everyone halted and turned to see who had spoken.
Walking forward were two people, one Shao Xuan recognized. It was chief Fan Mu’s wife, Chun. It was her that had told everyone to halt just now. Standing next to her was a young man. Shao Xuan did not recognize him, however, he had brown colored eyes that gave people a feeling of calmness. Although he looked harmless, Shao Xuan’s intuition told him that he should be avoided.
“What happened?” Chun asked, walking forward.
“He murdered two crocodiles!”
“Right, he also attacked Ban Ling!”
“I have always said, outsiders never have good intentions! We should have kicked him out earlier!”
As everyone talked at once, they each provided their own thoughts and accounts. After Chun heard everything, she did not immediately ask Shao Xuan what had happen, but walked forwards and picked up the two dead crocodiles.
Shao Xuan could detect that, when Chun picked up the crocodiles, her hands slightly shook as she tried her best to control her emotions. Although she had tan eyes, she wasn’t like the rest who acted impulsively.
Seeing the wounds, Chun asked Shao Xuan, “What do you have to say?”
“It wasn’t me that killed them. I only walked over, saw that they weren’t moving, and flipped them over to find out that they were dead. When I picked one of them up to observe the wound, she coincidentally came over.” Shao Xuan explained, pointing at the girl who had just walked out of the pond.
“Ban Ling, did you see him kill the crocodiles?” Chun stared at her as she gravely asked.
After being thrown into the pond, she was in a sorry state as she got out. Being asked without even getting the chance to tidy up, she responded, “I saw him holding the crocodiles.”
“In other words, you didn’t see Shao Xuan kill them!?”
The surrounding people all felt Chun’s mood had turn unpleasant. Additionally, as Chun brought the two crocodiles over, many people saw that the wounds were caused by a sharp object. It was obvious that Shao Xuan did not carry any tools on his body. Could they have wrongly accused him?
Recalling back to how they treated Shao Xuan, each and everyone of them were embarrassed as they retreated a few steps. Those that insulted him the loudest wished that they could bury their heads inside their pants to reduce their presence.
Yet, there were also people that remained adamant. They thought that just because Shao Xuan wasn’t carrying a tool didn’t mean that they should exonerate him. Perhaps Shao Xuan was hiding a secret? A man stepped forward wanting to say something, but once he saw that Shao Xuan was walking towards the pond, he stopped.
The people of the Drumming tribe were very curious about Shao Xuan’s actions. What was he doing?
Shao Xuan walked towards the water. He didn’t dive in, instead, he stuck his hand inside the pond.
The water very quickly rippled as a small shadow emerged from within. Originally, there was a small cave inside the water where the creature had hidden.
The crocodile crawled directly upon Shao Xuan’s hand after coming out of the water. In actuality, it had been constantly crying out, only no one could hear him. This included the senior totem warriors of the tribe.
Seeing the crocodile in Shao Xuan’s hands, the man who had stepped forward, retreated back once again.
If Shao Xuan was the murderer, then this crocodile wouldn’t behave like this. The people of the Drumming tribe didn’t believe in Shao Xuan, but they believed in their tribe’s “treasured fish”.
“Ban Ling!” Chun shouted as she angrily stared at her.
Chun turned angry as she thought about Ban Ling’s actions. Originally, their tribe’s reputation was already bad enough. Yesterday, it had been Chen Jia who attacked, and today, it was Ban Ling who had acted rashly.
The Shaman and the chief had made an effort to improve their name. The other tribes all knew of their nature, and it wasn’t easy to find an outsider who did not have an impression formed upon them. The Shaman and the chief had wanted to let Shao Xuan stay and realize that they weren’t as bad as the others had thought. And this was the result of their efforts?!
This angered Chun to death.
It was fortunate that Shao Xuan had a bit of strength, or else…..
Ban Ling, who had put her all towards attacking Shao Xuan, shrunk away as her body shook from being shouted at by Chun. Step by step she retreated as her previous imposing manner was nowhere to be seen.
“S-s-s-sorry!” Ban Ling apologized towards Shao Xuan, her voice sounded like she was crying.
“Shao Xuan was it? I am extremely sorry, just treat the words that I had said before as food for the crocodiles [a joke], please don’t take it seriously.” Said the previously outspoken man. Still filled with a feeling of awkwardness, he quickly turned around and ran back home. After a while, he returned while holding a leg of beef that was still dripping with blood. He gave it to Shao Xuan as a form of an apology.
Seeing this, the other people wanted to do the samething too.
At this moment, the man standing next to Chun said, “Mother, the most pressing thing right now, is to find the murderer of these crocodiles.” Speaking as he looked towards the other tribe members, his brown eyes calmly scanned the audience. “Shao Xuan is our tribe’s guest. In the future, if anybody dares to recklessly act against him, they’ll have to answer to me.”
Shao Xuan discovered, after the young man had finished speaking, that the surrounding people started to shiver. They were much more frightened than when Chun was scolding them.