Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Body-Possessing Plague Insects

The sun was high in the sky.

Below the Clan Mountain, one by one, towering figures over two meters carried massive stones as if it was child’s play, swiftly constructing terraces according to the undulating terrain.

As the Ancestral Temple Keeper, Shen Can naturally did not engage in manual labor.

Of course, even if he wanted to, he couldn’t; the tribe thought he was tender-skinned and should focus on organizing herbs with Huo Xian.

Acan’s physique and talent were not ideal.

This had become a consensus within the entire tribe.

Shen Can emerged from the isolation cave, looking down towards the mountain.

The tribesmen were indeed quick, and the clan land below had almost been cleared.

“Acan, the Clan Leader is looking for you.” A tribesman intercepted him halfway.

Shen Can changed direction and headed towards the cave where the Clan Leader was located.

As the Tribe Leader, Huo Chang’s greatest distinction from other tribesmen was his own independent cave.

Of course, his cave was also used for clan meetings.

“Clan Leader.”

Entering the cave, Shen Can spoke first.

“Acan, your uncle Huo Xian said you have great talent in the path of witch doctor, even catching up to him.”

Huo Chang scrutinized Shen Can; since Shen Can assisted him in isolating the tribesmen, he had felt Shen Can was one of the few intelligent tribesmen worth cultivating.

A promising person.

Among the more than two thousand members of the Blazing Flame Tribe, there were many who dared to fight hard, but few who truly used their brains.

“Calling you here is to have you prepare the neutralizing witch medicine. I will need it soon, and just like before with isolating the tribesmen, this task must be carried out discreetly, without letting the tribe know.”

“Prepare three portions of Tier Two for the latter half of tonight.”

“The Clan Leader instructs, I will do it as soon as I return.” Shen Can didn’t ask more, taking the task and leaving the Clan Leader’s cave residence.

…

Night fell.

In the Ancestral Temple, Shen Can gazed at the strange fish still clinging to life, his eyes sharp.

With its limited lifespan, now it was renewed.

The tribespeople were truly effective.

Everything proceeded smoothly, and the ancestors had a feast again.

[Sacrificial Master extracted 232 years from the lifespan of the Tier Two Wild Beast Snake Bone Scale Fish]

The Simurgh Blade sliced open the fish’s body, and the beast’s blood filled three entire stone troughs, with the fish meat carried away together.

Huo Chang did not leave.

“Old Uncle, Plague Insects haven’t appeared outside the tribe for a long time, and coupled with the recovering tribesmen, do you think the epidemic might be over?”

Huo Chang spoke, naturally consulting someone experienced for professional matters.

Huo Xian lowered his head in contemplation.

This year, the Plague Insects were affected by the witch medicine, not coming close to the clan land, resulting in far fewer infected tribesmen.

Shen Can’s isolation of tribesmen with false plague, he knew well.

Huo Chang continued, “Currently, the houses below the mountain have been cleared out, with fertile mud; if the epidemic passes, it will be good for tribesmen to quickly farm and gather.”

Things related to food and drink should be done sooner rather than later.

“Additionally, I don’t plan to move the Ancestral Temple for now.”

“Arrange as you wish; the current Ancestral Temple Keeper is Acan, and I’ve already stepped back,” Huo Xian contemplated and said. “As for whether the epidemic has passed, I need to check the ancestral records first.

“Whatever the Clan Leader says, I’ll do,” Shen Can had no objections.

Keeping the Ancestral Temple on the mountain and sending offerings there at midnight would be more convenient.

Clearly, with improved fist techniques and witch medicine, it stimulated the Clan Leader’s ambition.

What opinions could he, an Ancestral Temple Keeper, have?

The Clan Leader was someone with planning; he just had to serve the ancestors and extract lifespan.

All’s well.

Huo Chang didn’t leave either, waiting for Huo Xian to check the clan records.

Shen Can also helped on the side; the Blazing Flame Tribe didn’t have much ancestral experience, just a few pieces of beast skin.

The clan records noted the longest epidemic lasted three months, the shortest one month.

Based on the shortest experience, combined with the current tribal situation, the Blazing Flame Tribe seemed to have weathered this post-flood epidemic.

But, how to say it, in Shen Can’s view, it was like Schrödinger’s cat.

Further situations outside, Blazing Flame knew nothing about; they only knew things were good around the tribe.

Of course, he thought this because he wasn’t the Clan Chief.

He just needed to serve the ancestors.

Huo Chang needed to manage the entire tribe’s affairs.

After deliberation, Huo Chang decided to take it slow—only letting a portion of tribesmen go down to reclaim the fields, with living arrangements elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the medicinal broth wouldn’t cease.

…

In the Ancestral Temple.

“Livestock fat and sleek, offerings plentiful and prepared”

As Shen Can recited, the Simurgh Blade stabbed into the neck of the Wild Beast before him.

[Sacrificial Master plunders 57 years of lifespan from Tier One Wild Beast Mountain-Splitting Kui]

[Lifespan: 1098]

Holding the Blood Vase, Shen Can’s thoughts drifted to a realization; the consumed lifespan once again exceeded a thousand years.

With the ritual completed and the meat divided, Shen Can walked to the cave entrance to breathe fresh air.

Below the mountain, the terraced fields had settled and sprouted lush green seedlings.

Every few days, the clan members returning from hunting would bring back a Wild Beast, offering it to the Ancestral Temple.

However, Tier One Wild Beasts were mostly brought in during the day; after the beast blood was released, clan members were arranged to soak in it.

Tier Two Wild Beasts, on the other hand, were delivered under cover of night, with their blood taken away by the Clan Leader.

Additionally, the hunting team delivering the offerings was split into two groups.

To this, Shen Can never felt curious to delve into the mystery, nor about the disappearance of Huo Shan.

…

Inside Giant Peak Mountain.

Huo Shan, whom Shen Can muttered about, was cautiously leading the clan through the mountains, their roles clearly defined.

One member cleared the path ahead, another followed, occasionally pulling a piece of dried Fierce Beast dung from a Beast Hide Bag to spread.

Huo Shan moved around the periphery of the team, tending back and forth.

Meanwhile, trailing over ten miles behind the team, a nimble clansman walked and paused intermittently, collecting the scattered Fierce Beast dung based on marked branches and placed stones, returning it to the Beast Hide Bag.

The group had been out for over twenty days, yet hadn’t found a single Tier Two Wild Beast, and their activity area kept expanding further from the tribe.

“We’ll bypass the Fushan Division directly.”

Huo Shan reviewed the Beast Hide map, familiar with the area within three hundred miles of the tribe, having long used certain landmarks for navigation.

For instance, the mountain with a massive stone at its summit in the distance; below it, the Fushan Tribe resides.

In the tribe’s records, Fushan Tribe is listed northeast three hundred miles, Fushan Division.

The Fushan Tribe is located in the deeper parts near the Giant Mountain Range compared to other nearby tribes, though the Blazing Flame Tribe knows little of those further in.

For three hundred years, the tribe’s activity range remained this large, fearing greater losses venturing further.

This time, Huo Shan led the team out, hoping amidst the tribes’ efforts to contain the plague, to possibly encounter a Tier Three Wild Beast.

The direction toward Fushan Division was chosen based on tribal records, noting sightings of Tier Three Wild Beasts near the Fushan Division.

Hoping to try their luck.

Previously, he had visited several other locations, finding nothing; instead, sporadically encountering Plague Insects roaming the mountains.

The group bypassed the Fushan Division, aiming to climb the mountain with a massive stone at its summit, to cross over.

“The Fushan Division is quite careless; why haven’t they lit even a campfire? Do they think the plague is over?”

After ascending the mountain, Huo Yann leaned against the giant stone, gazing toward the Fushan Division’s direction, noticing no smoke.

Huo Shan held his breath, focusing intently on the sight.

A month ago, he too had visited the Fushan Division to observe; smoke lingered, the aroma of witch medicine permeated, and the clan stood vigilantly. The Tribe Leader regretted not having taken advantage.

After watching for a while, Huo Shan contemplated and said, “Let’s take a break here for a while.”

The group sought refuge beneath the giant stone, beginning to replenish their strength, waiting until nightfall.

Toward the Fushan Tribe’s direction, even the firelight failed to rise.

This left the group feeling restless.

“Down the mountain, wait for me at the foot. I’ll go check it out.”

Huo Shan decided, and the team followed the hunting formation to rush down the mountain.

Huo Shan cautiously approached the Fushan Division.

The Fushan Tribe’s land and the Blazing Flame Division were quite similar; flooding up the mountain, not down without floods.

To drive off Plague Insects, all hills near tribal land featured campfires.

Huo Shan approached from the west of the Fushan Division, ascended a small hill to the west of its land, at the original campfire location now only a pile of ashes.

He gazed cautiously from the hill.

The direction of Fushan Tribe’s land was eerily quiet.

This chilled Huo Shan, who had bitten down on a scarf. The strong witch medicine aroma surged through his senses, revitalizing him.

And so, he waited until dawn.

Then saw the Fushan Tribe, some clansmen emerging from caves, with stiff movements, greeting no one.

The atmosphere was ominously quiet.

An unsettling notion crossed his mind.

Huo Shan was shocked, hastily charged down the hill, nearly falling face-first into the ground.

“Shan, how is it?”

“Monkey, your legs are quick, hurry back to the tribe. No, you can’t enter the tribe. Summon the Clan Leader from outside, just say… just say the Fushan Division has a plague… Plague Insects.”

“Plague Insects that can possess.”

Upon hearing this, the group was startled.

Huo Hou hadn’t even reacted.

“Did you hear me?”

Huo Shan lifted his foot, kicking Huo Hou.

“Everyone, give what’s left of your potion to Huo Hou. You, wash thoroughly with potion before approaching the tribe.”

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