Yuying stood on tiptoe, worry in her eyes as she whispered to Yan Hua, "Did I say something wrong?"
"Shouldn't be… I don't think so," Yan Hua hesitated.
"Really?" Yuying looked uncertain. Ever since she had answered that she couldn't write, the Shaman's expression had changed, and he had been muttering to himself ever since.
"Why don't you just go ask the Shaman?" Yan Hua teased with a mischievous smile.
"N-no, I'd better not," Yuying immediately backed down, shaking her head.
"You're still so timid," Yan Hua said helplessly.
Yuying, Sha Lan, and Yan Hua—they were the closest friends in the Flame Dragon Tribe. Back in their ancestral land, the three of them often shared a cave to sleep in, but ever since the Black Snake Tribe arrived, all that happiness had been destroyed.
"I…" Yuying lowered her head in embarrassment.
Seeing the fox-eared girl's awkwardness, Su Bai stepped in to ease the tension. "It's fine if you can't write. I'll teach you all."
"Eh?" Yan Hua's red eyes widened in surprise. "Shaman, you know how to read and write?"
"Of course I do," Su Bai smiled, revealing a set of white teeth.
"I knew it…" Yan Hua confirmed her suspicion: the Shaman must be from a large tribe, since only large tribes have writing systems.
"'Knew what?'" Su Bai asked curiously.
"Ah?" Yan Hua was caught off guard, remembering the old Shaman's warning not to pry too much about the new Shaman, and stammered, "Nothing… I just…"
"Alright, you don't have to say anything if you don't want to," Su Bai waved his hand and turned to the fox-eared girl with a gentle expression. "Do you want to be a Shaman's assistant? I'm currently missing one."
"Eh? A Shaman's assistant?" Yuying's pink eyes widened, and her fox tail twitched in surprise.
"Yes," Su Bai said seriously.
Yuying lowered her head, her small hands clutching her garment nervously. "But I'm clumsy and always make mistakes…"
"Shaman, don't listen to her," Yan Hua stepped forward and placed a hand on Yuying's shoulder. "She's just timid. When she's nervous, she fumbles. Once she's familiar with it, you'll see she's very capable."
"I…" Yuying wanted to say something, but Yan Hua covered her mouth immediately.
"Don't speak. Just agree to become the Shaman's assistant," Yan Hua whispered firmly. "You've wanted to be a Shaman's assistant before, right? This is your chance."
"…" Yuying stayed silent, her pink eyes flickering with hesitation.
"Not willing? I won't force you," Su Bai said gently.
"No, she wants to," Yan Hua shouted quickly, moving her hand away from Yuying's mouth.
"Ahua, what about you?"
Yuying turned her head to Yan Hua, whispering, "You also wanted to be a Shaman…"
The three of them had dreamed of becoming Shaman's assistants, to learn the Shaman's knowledge firsthand.
Being a Shaman's assistant was one of the most coveted roles for girls in the tribe—the other being a Totem Warrior.
"小Yuying, don't speak now," Yan Hua covered her friend's mouth again. "My dream has changed. Now I want to be a Totem Warrior."
Then she gently tugged Yuying's ear and said softly, "Little Yuying, Sha Lan's dream is in your hands now."
"…" Yuying froze, her pink eyes widening as tears gradually formed.
She nodded heavily and choked out, "I-I will b-be a Shaman's assistant…"
"Yan Hua, you covered her mouth," Su Bai reminded quietly.
"Oh, oh…" Yan Hua quickly and embarrassedly released her hold.
"Have you decided to be a Shaman's assistant?" Su Bai asked again gently.
"I will do my best as a Shaman's assistant," Yuying said, clenching her small fists and shaking them cutely.
"Alright, here's your first task," Su Bai said, his expression softening, struggling not to pinch the fox-eared girl's face out of sheer adorableness.
"Y-yes?" Yuying's voice grew timid again.
"Your first task is to wash your face. It's all dirty like a little tabby cat," Su Bai said with a smile, noticing the dust on her face, especially the handprint left near her mouth by Yan Hua.
"Ah?" Yuying froze.
Yan Hua also froze.
"This task isn't difficult, right?" Su Bai asked curiously.
"Shaman, water is very precious in the tribe," Yuying said bravely, pursing her lips. "I can't use water to wash my face. It's too wasteful."
"Oh?" Su Bai raised an eyebrow, realizing he hadn't yet understood the tribe's water situation.
He asked curiously, "Where does our tribe get water?"
"There's a small lake in the mountains above. But there are dangerous beasts in it. Only Totem Warriors dare to approach," Yan Hua said, pointing toward the western mountains. "Our tribe's water is delivered by Totem Warriors. It's just enough for drinking."
"So… the people haven't bathed for seventeen days?" Su Bai's expression darkened slightly. He glanced at the two girls and subtly stepped back a little.
"Ha???" Yan Hua and Yuying froze. The main concern should be drinking water, not bathing!
Seeing Su Bai's disgusted expression and backward step, both girls felt annoyed.
"Hmph!" Yan Hua huffed in dissatisfaction.
"Ahem…" Su Bai coughed awkwardly, quickly saying, "Take me to check the small lake. Let's see if we can find a new way to get water."
Humans can't live without water. The top priority now is to solve the water problem—at least enough for bathing.
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