Chapter 178
Chapter 178 – Singing Together
Translated by Lesyt
The sun rose.
For some, the new day was exactly like the previous one, for others it was quite different.
For instance, those from the Feng tribe who wanted to exchange things with the travelling group were wondering what to choose and what to give in return; those who had been in charge of looking out for birds could have a rest today, as today, there was a bigger one in the sky; also, it was a special day for an old man who lived in the wanderers’ area of the Feng tribe.
To Old He, today was an exceptionally special day. Every year this day, he would go to the mountaintop, face the same direction, and worship, pray and sing songs.
He didn’t know from what time his ancestors had set the rule that every year on this day they should come here to pray and sing songs, to memorize the words passed down for centuries, as well as the name of the tribe no one knew. Old He had gotten used to coming here every year at this time, fulfilling his ancestor’s wishes, as well as his.
Every year at this time, an amazing dream would come to his mind. Everything was very clear, including the rising flames and the two horns surrounded by them. It seemed to be the same as what the ancestors had told him. Sometimes he couldn’t even tell whether he was dreaming or in reality, whether it was created by his mind or it really existed.
“…What?”
“I mean, I am a totem warrior, an intermediate one… hey, watch out!”
Before Shao Xuan could finish his words, he saw the old man’s feet twisting as he fell down on the hillside. If it weren’t for Shao Xuan quickly grabbing him by the hand, Old He would have probably rolled farther, or even hit a stone.
Old He returned home from the mountain on Shao Xuan’s back. He had sprained his ankle, but fortunately had no other injury.
Old He’s wife was looking after her young grandson. The moment she saw her husband on Shao Xuan’s back, she hurried over to check the condition of his injury.
“I’m fine. I only sprained an ankle. Hey, Shao Xuan, come on, why did we stop just now? Let’s continue! Who else is in the tribe? What did the Shaman teach you?” Old He had no time to answer the questions of his wife, nor did he care about his injured ankle. He only wanted to ask questions about the Flaming Horns tribe.
After Old He was put on the wooden bed and got the medical treatment, Shao Xuan replied: “I thought you knew it all when I saw how poised you were.”
“How can I know that you really were a member the Flaming Horns tribe. I thought you were a wanderer.” When speaking of this, Old He felt even more embarrassed for misunderstanding him.
In the past, when several tribes in the grasslands had friendly relations, he had travelled a bit and saw wanderers like him. Fellow sufferers shared their anguish with each other and then returned home, moving on.
Everyone wished to return to the tribe someday, but one generation after another, from birth to death, that wish had not come true.
Once, Old He also thought that his life would be a similar case. His grandfather, grandfather’s grandfather, and the ancestors of the early days worked for the tribes here on this grassland and made a living, without knowing how long it had been. The only things left were the song and the things they were required to know, that were passed down by the mouths’ of one generation after another.
“We’ve lived here for a long time. We have good tempers, great strength and like working hard. People from the tribes ask for us from time to time. Take the people from the Feng tribe for example, sometimes they will even ask me to help with grazing. So, tell our tribe not to worry and that we can still hold on! We look forward to the day they return!”
“You can graze?” Shao Xuan asked.
“Yes. I’ve done it for as long as I can remember.”
“Do you know how to raise livestock?” Shao Xuan questioned him again.
“Of course. All of the people living in the grasslands know how to raise livestock.”
Shao Xuan thought they were all really talented. If it were his fellow tribesmen at the other side of the river, the livestock given to them would be cooking in the pot not soon after.