418 It’s that Thing! (1/2)

When the old Patriarch of White Bull Tribe saw Su Ming actually losing his cool, he was momentarily stunned before he became ecstatic. He was not in any sort of pain from parting with the sacred item. No matter how strange and mysterious of a treasure this was, it could not match with the importance of his tribe members in his heart.

If he had to choose, even if he would one day come to know that this item left behind by his ancestors in his tribe for generations was an incredible treasure, he would still not regret his decision… As long as more of his people could survive through this disaster, then there would come a day where the children in his tribe would grow up, and the adults of the tribe would have a chance to see themselves grow white hair.

If he could do this, then he could give up on everything. To him, this was the biggest meaning in his life ever since he became Patriarch!

At the same time he felt that ecstasy in his heart, the old man also felt uneasy. This was the first time he ever saw Su Ming being unable to control his own emotions. When he seized that item, the old man had a misconception that if he retracted his hand, he would definitely bring about a massive storm of killing intent on himself.

The old man took a few steps back and wrapped his fist in his palm before bowing towards Su Ming. As Su Ming observed his tribe’s sacred item, the old man spoke respectfully.

”It doesn’t matter whether you will help the weak White Bull Tribe, this item will belong to you… but on behalf of the three hundred seventy-nine people in the tribe, I beg for you to have compassion on us and help us this once…”

As he moved back, this old man, this Patriarch of White Bull Tribe, this person, who was not very attractive, had a sharp mouth and the cheeks of a monkey, knelt down before Su Ming.

He was the Patriarch of White Bull Tribe, he had his pride, he was a Medial Shaman, he had his own dignity… In truth, if his tribe did not exist, even if he died, he would die standing. He would not kneel easily.

Yet at that moment, for his own tribe, for the familiar faces there, for the young voices calling him ‘Grandpa patriarch’, for the young adults he watched grow up in the tribe, he knelt down.

He would never forget how his people treated him kindly when he was young even though he was ugly. He would also never forget himself having a crush on the most beautiful girl in the tribe when he was a young man.

Even less so could he forget the previous Patriarch appointing him as the Patriarch the moment of his death. That kindly gaze and hopeful eyes, all of these things were his warmth. They were the most important things in his life.

For his tribe, it did not matter whether he had to kneel and beg, did not matter whether he had offer up his tribe’s sacred item, did not matter whether he had to come under question for his actions by his entire tribe. In fact, he could already imagine that when his people discovered that their sacred item was gone and that the ‘sacred item’ placed in the tribe right at that moment was a counterfeit he made, they would probably hate and hold a grudge against him for the rest of their lives.

However, he chose to bear through all this! To silently bear through everything, all for the sake of… the continuity of his tribe.

Su Ming was his only hope.

Su Ming’s gaze slowly moved from White Bull Tribe’s sacred item in his hand to the Patriarch of White Bull Tribe kneeling over there. The intelligence the old man showed was something gained by him through time. His resolution was a part of his personality.

Su Ming might not know all that he had done for his tribe, but he could still somewhat tell some of the things he did.

”I am your only hope?” After a long while, Su Ming spoke slowly. Even if the old man was a Shaman and Su Ming himself came from the Berserkers, even if both of their races were at war, but the old man’s actions reminded Su Ming of his elder…

The old man kneeling on the ground nodded lightly.

Su Ming was silent for a moment before he asked, ”What if I wasn’t here?”

”I would choose to merge with Black Crane Tribe, even if the price would be huge… In fact, I can already imagine that Black Crane Tribe will search for the strongest Shaman in this area - Madam Ji. Honestly, if Madam Ji really came looking for trouble, I would still have a way for her to stop…”

The old man lifted his head and looked at Su Ming. His wrinkles and that monkey face made him radiate with wisdom and age at that moment. There was also a deeply rooted fatigue showing on him.

”If those two tribe members of yours cannot find a tribe that will find them to be an asset or manage to find any powerful Shamans who are willing to help you migrate from this place, what will you do?” Su Ming asked calmly.

The old man remained silent, and after a long moment, a smile appeared on his face and he said softly, ”This will be our tribe’s fate, then. If that’s the case, I will stay here with my people and watch the Calamity of the Eastern Wastelands come upon us. As we head to our destruction, we will sing our ancient folk songs, dance the dances passed down in our tribe. Death isn’t really that terrifying.”

Su Ming looked at the old man, and respect gradually appeared on his face. This was a person who deserved his respect. Even if he was a Shaman, when he said those things, Su Ming could not feel any hint of deception in his words.

If he did not truly have those thoughts, even if he said those words, it would be difficult to convince anyone.

”Bring your tribe members here on the eve of the Month of Spirits.” Su Ming closed his eyes, then when he reopened them, he spoke with a flat tone before turning around to the sealed mountain range. A wave of ripples spread through the now empty looking place, and he disappeared.

The old man from White Bull Tribe watched Su Ming leave and gratitude appeared on his face. He stood up, wrapped his fist in his hand, and bowed down deeply towards the place before he left with hope.

Su Ming walked out of the air into the sealed mountain range. He held White Bull Tribe’s sacred item in his hands and sat down cross-legged beside the black wooden club. As he dipped his head down to look at the item in his hand, an excited look appeared on his face.

”I didn’t expect to meet this thing again here… Just… what is it..?” Su Ming took a deep breath. The thing in his hand was a round stone plate.