Chapter 162 – Their return
Translated by Joycelyn
Chacha successfully took the children before to the Chief’s side then immediately rushed back to Shao Xuan. Only, this time, he had suffered an attack from the ground.
There would always be someone hiding in the forest throwing sharp stone spear knives at him. Arrows with stone heads would be shot out out from behind some trees or a pile of dense grass from time to time. This made him quite frustrated. He could not avoid each and every attack, and had no choice but to be hit and get injured by them.
While dodging the vital areas, Chacha made his way over to Shao Xuan.
A few from Shao Xuan’s side had noticed Chacha’s predicament. Those who were hiding while attacking were hard to deal with as Shao Xuan still had to take care of the children. He could not handle Chacha’s attackers.
“Why not let Chacha just stay up high instead? After all, to the Chief’s area from here is not too far now.” Chen Jia said.
“Yeah, don’t let it come.” Another exclaimed. They used to not like birds as previously there were always some water birds that would cause menace towards the baby treasured fish. Once there were slightly larger birds, the tribe would shoot spears or arrows towards the sky, hitting the birds down. But some of the birds flew slightly higher, making it more difficult to aim for them, thus every time when those water birds approached the ground to hunt, they would be limited by the surrounding terrains, making it easier to aim and shoot them.
Qing Yi was looking for the ones who were attacking Chacha in the surrounding areas, however, with his speed, it was hard for him to pin down those attackers.
Shao Xuan also understood that it was not good for Chacha to land now, but looking at these circumstances, if he were to go now, two of the five children will be hurt, or maybe even seriously injured or even die.
After thinking for a while, Shao Xuan exclaimed: “I’ve got an idea.”
“Really? What is it?” Chen Jia asked. If Chacha was able to come over, it would also save a lot of trouble. Them staying here would only be a burden.
“There’s no need for Chacha to land, I will let you guys naturally get onto Chacha’s back. Don’t worry!” Shao Xuan said.
Chen Jia hugged his rattan basket tight, earnestly nodding his head: “En!”
Seeing that Shao Xuan was giving his all to protect him and the rest, also doing his best to think of the best way to solve the problems beforehand, Chen Jia felt only gratitude. Even with all his previous misunderstandings, Shao Xuan had still put in his all to help. It is just like what dad said, Shao Xuan really is a nice guy eh! The Flaming Horns tribe that Shao Xuan belonged too must be all nice guys as well.
Not only Chen Jia, the other four children also felt the same, that Shao Xuan, this guy, was really nice. They also believed Shao Xuan.
“Tie your rattan baskets to yourself tightly.” Shao Xuan said.
“It’s tied!”
“When you reach Chacha’s back, you have to hold on tight, don’t let yourself drop down.” Shao Xuan once again warned.
“Got it, we will definitely follow your words!”
“Then that’s good.”
Shao Xuan cut down the incoming spear with a knife, the other hand grabbed onto Chen Jia who was the nearest.
Chen Jia then felt that he was being held up by a hand with robust strength, together with his rattan basket, he was carried up like little chicks or cubs.
“Are you prepared?” Shao Xuan asked.
“Yes…yes I’m ready.” Chen Ji replied, swallowing gulps of saliva down his pharynx. There was this lingering bad feeling in his mind.
And the next moment, Chen Jia was thrown up into the sky with large force. His body immediately left the stable ground, as if he was weightless, he shot up into the sky.
The tall tree on the side instantly became mini sized. The tree top that he was having to look up at before, he could see a whole bunch of them now by just lowering his head.
As having been born and lived on the wetlands, pools and other rivers like Drumming tribe member, he had developed some sort of a trauma towards the sky. They could burst out instantly with strong combat force on land. They could chase their prey who sneaks at the bottom of the water. But, the sky?
That time when Shao Xuan could bring along Chen Jia and fly up from the river bank was because he was desperate; he did not pay attention to what was happening below and did not think there was anything wrong then. At that time, he had just stared at the river bank, totally a different feeling from now.
Compared to the experience before, Chen Jia has never had another experience flying. Directly being thrown up, the scene from the ground was becoming smaller, Chen Jia felt some kind of motion sickness. Completely from a conditioned reflex, Chen Jia screamed, tearing his throat out.
“AHHHH~~~!”
Chen Jia, who always thought of himself as brave and fierce, at this moment, he was scared to the point he screamed out, almost pissing his pants. He wailed desolately.
The Flaming Horn tribe’s members, compared to the other tribes, they have much more strength. Previously Shao Xuan thought that everybody in this world was like that, only when arriving in the Drumming tribe and after meeting the Drumming tribe’s and the Martyr tribe’s members did he realise that it was not like what he thought. Therefore, in the Drumming tribe, who always thought of themselves as robust, who would have thought that one random throw of Shao Xuan’s could throw Chen Jia with his rattan basket high up into the sky.
Since Chacha was young, he has always played games like catch with Shao Xuan. The only difference now is that the thing that’s flying up was not stones or beast skin bags, but a human being. Of course, to Chacha, the two things did not have much difference, only, this time, he had to use his back to catch and not his claws.
Chen Jia still had not had a chance to recollect himself, even after landing onto Chacha’s back, he did not grab onto Chacha’s back feathers. Only until he was caught again by Chacha when he rolled down did he remember what Shao Xuan had warned about holding tight when on the bird’s back. So that he does not die from falling off, he quickly clutched securely onto Chacha’s back feathers. Because of his strength, he almost plucked off Chacha’s feathers. Chacha angrily chirped out a cry, his heart imagined of the time when he could finally catch these people to play with for fun.
Seeing that Chen Jia was safely on Chacha’s back, Shao Xuan turned back to look at the other four children.
The four children who were originally dazed, after looking at Shao Xuan’s gaze, they all instinctively took a step back.
“Either you get killed or you come over.” Shao Xuan stated.
The four of them still had some hesitations.
“Are you guys more gutless than Chen Jia?” Shao Xuan instigated.
Finally, one of the children clenched his teeth, hardened his head and strode towards Shao Xuan.
Thus, the second who wailed horrendously appeared.
Following the third, then the fourth, until the fifth child had all been thrown up into the sky by Shao Xuan and caught by Chacha. This matter was then considered a success. As long as it was accomplished, matter wise, there was no need to mind too much.
The five children were taken away by Chacha, reducing Shao Xuan and Qing Yi’s burden. They made their way towards the Chief while clearing away the invaders.
On the way they met up with a group of Drumming tribe’s warriors who were tasked on finding the invaders and taking care of them. Qing Yi told them about what he saw and his situation after, and then they split up.
Qing Yi brought Shao Xuan to the tribe’s core area, which is also the place where Shao Xuan went to on his first day. There were many who were brought over already. Mostly children and some elderly.
After finishing his mission, Qing Yi once again followed a group to patrol around the tribe, continuing clearing off the invaders.
Shao Xuan was called aside by the Shaman.
After all, Shao Xuan was not a Drumming tribe member, this Shaman still held on thoughts of talking peace with the Flaming Horns tribe. He could not possibly let Shao Xuan join the battle. Shao Xuan had already done more than enough, this is the Drumming tribe’s battle. It did not need to involve others.
Not being able to join the battle, Shao Xuan could only help with treating the injured. His beast skin bag had a few prescribed medicine bags, after boiling them, he gave it to the injured to drink.
Because of this, the Drumming tribe felt grateful to Shao Xuan. The Shaman had even made a promise that one day when the Flaming Horn tribe needs help, they will definitely do their best to do what they can to help. This is exactly what Shao Xuan wanted, help from the Drumming Tribe. Him helping the Drumming tribe also meant that he has helped the Flaming Horns tribe. WIth the Drumming tribe, the move over here for the Flaming Hornd tribe will be much easier.
This battle, since the two moons overlapped on that night, till the moonlight disappeared and the sun came out once again, it had not stopped. It was different from the relaxing days of the Flaming Horns tribe. The Drumming tribe members were still struggling with this strife.
The tribe was littered with corpses, some from the Drumming tribe, some from the Martyr tribe too. Especially on the outer borders, many rivers had been stained red, even severed limbs and pieces of meat parts could be seen.
The only plus point was that the Drumming tribe had an advantage in numbers and they were on their own territory. They had also made ample preparations, always having the upper hand.
A day passed, the sun set. The fighting gradually cooled.
In the sky, the two moons separated.
In the forest, around the rivers, still remained some Martyr tribesmen. Their heart panicking even more, they wanted to escape, but were held back by the surrounding warriors. Their escape route has been blocked. The Drumming tribe had steeled their hearts in keeping these people here, comforting the departed souls of their fellow tribesmen in this battle.
Shao Xuan, who just helped carry the injured out of a house, saw the Shaman standing dazed while looking at the open space. There was the direction of the big river, and at this, the Shaman slowly revealed a smile.
At the same moment, Shao Xuan felt the ground under his feet tremble, waves rippling across the surrounding rivers.
The trembling became more vigorous, the familiar roarings like horses galloping travelled over from afar.
The air’s humidity got higher, water vapor increased.
The wind began to rasp fiercely, like wanting to lift off the roofs. Some of the houses’ wooden boards started rippling, but nobody bothered about that. The Drumming tribe’s members all exposed expressions of excitement, those eyes that did not hold onto any feelings, at this moment, began to shine.
Roarings sounded out, the trembles from the ground, as well as the air and water vapor, all these meant that the ‘disappeared’ river began to rise again.
“Woo~~~”
The sound of the river king’s return, signalling the beginning of change.
The animals that left during the raining season came back together with the river.
When the king of the river swam forward from the deeper rivers, everything gradually subsided.
A huge claw stepped onto the river bank, a ten meters long majestic shadow revealed itself from the water. It’s mouth emitted low gurgles like that of thunder rumbling. At the same time, it’s eyes swept through the surrounding once, feeling the unnatural atmosphere.
Quickly it found something that had made it furious, and it let out a howl from the river bank, travelling to the distance. Around it were many of its companions, having similar reactions. Its majestic body quickly went back into the flowing river.
Due to the rise of the river and tributary expansion, the group of big fellows swiftly closed in on to the tribe.
The closing of this battle shall be their responsibility.