Inside the massive beast-skin tent, the Shaman was speaking with the Chief, Yan Jiao.
"Shaman… can that child, Su Bai, really become a Shaman?" Yan Jiao asked solemnly.
A Shaman was the spiritual pillar of a tribe.
The tribe could lose anyone—but it could never lose its Shaman.
And now, the position was about to be handed to someone of unknown origin. For Yan Jiao, who had only taken over as Chief fifteen days ago, the pressure was immense.
The previous Chief had already passed away—killed fifteen days earlier during the decisive battle with the Black Snake Tribe.
"There's no time left," the Shaman shook his head and sighed.
"Children with Shamanic talent are far too rare."
"I won't last more than a few days," he continued softly. "If we don't quickly find a successor, there will be no one to preside over the Totem Awakening Ceremony. I would have no face to meet our ancestors."
"Shaman… this is our failure," Yan Jiao said, brows tightly furrowed, eyes reddening as his voice turned hoarse.
"We've exhausted you."
In the battle fifteen days ago, if the Shaman hadn't intervened to hold back the Black Snake Tribe, they would never have had the chance to evacuate the Flame Dragon Tribe.
But that intervention had severely injured the Shaman's foundation. At over ninety years old, he likely only had days left.
"Child, don't think like that," the Shaman said gently, raising a hand to pat Yan Jiao's arm.
"How could I stand by and watch my own children go to war?"
He looked toward the tent entrance and sighed.
"We've lost our ancestral land. After I'm gone, the tribe will depend on you."
"We will reclaim our ancestral land," Yan Jiao said firmly.
"First, rest and recover," the Shaman advised.
"Have more children. We have far too few Totem Warriors."
"You're the Chief now," he added earnestly.
"You can't be as impulsive as before. You must think for the tribe."
"I understand. I'll change," Yan Jiao promised quickly.
"That child, Su Bai, has Shamanic talent," the Shaman said, recalling the earlier test.
"He was able to see the totem. If properly guided, he can help more people awaken their totems. Our tribe will surely flourish again."
To become a Shaman, one needed powerful spiritual strength and a keen mind—to perceive the spiritual totem and cultivate Shamanic power.
"Yes," Yan Jiao replied respectfully.
At that moment, outside the tent—
"Shaman, Father, may I come in?" Yan Hua asked politely.
"Ah, Yan Hua. Come in," the Shaman said kindly.
Yan Hua adjusted her beast-skin clothes, then lifted the tent flap and entered. Upon seeing the Shaman, she immediately bowed in respect.
Yan Jiao asked, "Is Su Bai settled?"
"Yes. I arranged for him to stay in my tent," Yan Hua replied obediently.
"Did you find anything out?" Yan Jiao asked in a lowered voice.
"No," Yan Hua said, troubled.
"He's unwilling to talk about many things. When I introduced the tribe earlier, I tried asking indirectly, but he always changed the subject."
"Shaman… could he be from the Black Snake Tribe?" Yan Jiao still felt uneasy.
"Su Bai isn't simple," the Shaman warned.
"Don't pry into his past."
The wisdom of age wasn't just a saying. From Su Bai's bearing, clothing, and complexion, the Shaman could tell his origins were extraordinary. The Black Snake Tribe wasn't qualified to send someone like that as a spy.
"But—" Yan Jiao hesitated, still wanting to say more.
"Investigating too deeply creates distance," the Shaman said calmly.
"What we need is a Shaman, not the secrets of another person."
He lowered his hand gently and said softly,
"He doesn't feel like a bad person. That's enough."
There was something he didn't say aloud—
Su Bai felt too clean. A purity that came from his very bloodline, untouched by the spiritual imprint of any other tribal totem.
"Yes," Yan Jiao said after some thought, then added seriously,
"I will respect him as I respect you."
"Good. You must protect Su Bai well," the Shaman reminded him once more.
"The tribe cannot be without a Shaman."
"I understand," Yan Jiao replied solemnly.
"If possible," the Shaman added quietly,
"Have Su Bai marry and have children early. The offspring of Shamans are often gifted. Cultivate more Shamans."
A trace of sorrow flashed through his eyes.
His own son had also been a Shaman—but decades ago, he had been assassinated by an enemy tribe. Otherwise, the Flame Dragon Tribe would have long since grown strong.
"Alright. I'll let Yan Hua interact with him more," Yan Jiao said seriously.
"Huh?" Yan Hua froze, her cheeks instantly flushing red.
Flustered and embarrassed, she protested,
"Father! You said my marriage was my own decision①! Besides, I don't want to marry him. My partner has to be able to beat me!"
"Among those your age, who can beat you?" Yan Jiao scolded, his face darkening.
"You're already nineteen! If you don't find a partner soon, you'll be old. Others already have three or four children!"
"I don't want to," Yan Hua insisted stubbornly.
She didn't want a frail man as her partner.
If she were to choose, it would be someone who could punch a ferocious beast to death—only then would their children be strong enough to become Totem Warriors.
"Are you trying to anger me to death?" Yan Jiao glared, a fiery red totem pattern surfacing on his chest.
"Father, I'll choose my own partner," Yan Hua refused to budge.
Even seeing the totem pattern emerge, she wouldn't give in.
"You—marrying a Shaman is something countless people would beg for! Why won't you agree?" Yan Jiao said angrily.
He wanted to bind Su Bai to the tribe through his daughter. Only then would Su Bai truly belong to the Flame Dragon Tribe, allowing Yan Jiao to feel completely at ease.
"I don't want to," Yan Hua turned her head away, refusing outright.
"I'm not saying you have to marry him now. I'm just saying you should interact and get along," Yan Jiao tried reasoning.
"Father, don't fool me," Yan Hua pouted, recalling what her friends had told her.
'Get to know each other' always meant that once things progressed, both families would force a marriage and kick them out to start their own household.
"You—" Yan Jiao's eye twitched. His intentions had been seen right through.
The Shaman chuckled and interrupted their argument.
"Alright. Let the matters of the young be handled by the young themselves."
"Hmph." Yan Jiao suppressed his anger and turned to leave the tent.
"Thank you, Shaman," Yan Hua said with a bright smile, then exited as well.
"The future is uncertain," the Shaman murmured, shaking his head.
Thinking back to his own youth—
hadn't his proud wife once looked down on him as well?