Chapter 1209: Chapter 1200: Strengthening Oneself
Zhang Po paused and continued, “The won hold onto stones to receive the villagers’ prayers, which is like carrying the villagers’ hopes and the protection of the gods. This way, when they marry into other villages, they won’t be bullied.”
Xiao Yifei found it amusing. Zhang Po didn’t seem like a primitive person assimilated by the villagers, so why didn’t he stop such foolish actions? He gently asked, “Have noble people always been this way?”
Zhang Po understood what he ant and said indifferently, “I don’t know why, but since my father passed away, people in the village have beco unsuitable for cultivation, unable to absorb Qi from nature to strengthen themselves. I am the only one who can master the Zhang Family’s cultivation technique. In recent years, the few strong people we had in the village passed away with my father. Now, I’m the only one left to guard here, so no one else has access to the outside world. The village’s production and life began to deteriorate. Many old bad habits that my father had abolished have revived. They feel comfortable wearing animal skins, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Xiao Yifei interrupted, “Then you could teach them, you are the Clan Leader.”
Zhang Po sighed, “I’m a clan leader in na only now. All the village affairs are solely decided by the High Priest, and I can’t force them to obey with power. Besides, the village priest isn’t so malevolent person, and they manage village affairs well. I’ve opted for a laid-back lifestyle, why not enjoy it?” He then picked up a wine pot, drank a few sips, his tone filled with helplessness.
Xiao Yifei grasped the situation; Zhang Po wasn’t soone content with the status quo, but as the clan leader, he believed that the will of the people was more important. Excessive autocracy would hamper the Zhang Family’s developnt. He probably never expected the Zhang Family to end up like this and got used to it over ti.
“Then why can’t the Zhang Family’s clan mbers cultivate?” Ci Xin asked.
“I don’t know. It’s strange. One day, the Qi of so strong individuals in the village suddenly beca blocked. Since we practice the sa cultivation technique, I tried infusing my Qi into them, but it was largely ineffective. Their ridians seed blocked. I have no solution.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yifei found it peculiar and was determined to help Zhang Po resolve this concern. Being a healer himself, saving and aiding is his very pursuit. A Cultivator unable to continue cultivation is like a person losing both legs. Besides, he and Ci Xin couldn’t just take others’ passwords without reciprocation.
Ci Xin had the sa thought, and the two quickly agreed and inford Zhang Po of their plans. Zhang Po was also very pleased and promised to assist them both fully.
While the three were contemplating strategies, a small boat erged from the swamp. The mist was too thick for Xiao Yifei to see who was on the boat. Zhang Po quietly inford him that it was soone from a neighboring tribe, here to wed the two girls.
Xiao Yifei suddenly realized it was the groom, and he wanted a closer look.
Once the people on the boat reached the shore, Xiao Yifei finally saw their faces, and this glance startled him into a cold sweat. Weren’t these individuals the sa as the only human statue he saw in the village!
Four robust n disembarked from the boat, each over two ters tall, shirtless, with dark skin, athletic builds, and sturdy fras. Each wore the sa mask, obscuring their faces. With eyes as large as brass bells, they walked with vigor and approached them with confidence.
The only difference from the statue Xiao Yifei saw in the village was that these people didn’t have the giant axe in their hands.
Zhang Po told Xiao Yifei that these people lived at the end of the swamp, from a brave and warlike tribe. The village had been intermarrying with this tribe for years. Girls in the village longed to marry into this tribe and even erected a statue of their tribe’s leader in the village.
Xiao Yifei asked quietly, “Do they have any Cultivators in their tribe?”
“I’m not sure either. The only condition for their tribe to marry with us is not allowing our relatives to visit the girls married there. However, the won send couriers each month, telling their relatives they are living like gods there, but who knows what’s really going on.”
Xiao Yifei thought to himself, “You’ve been a real failure as a clan leader, not knowing anything. How have you been managing all these years?”
During the conversation, the group had walked up to them. After glancing at Xiao Yifei and Ci Xin’s strange attire, they cast questioning glances at Zhang Po.
Zhang Po gave a slight nod, signaling them not to worry and to proceed. The robust n nodded, approached the brides, and bent slightly to show respect. Xiao Yifei thought these hulking brutes turned out to be gentlen.
Under the witness of a crowd, one of the robust n took a paper packet from his waist and opened it to reveal a handful of white powder. Xiao Yifei noted that when the strong n opened the packet, the brides imdiately appeared excited.
Zhang Po explained, “This is their tribe’s secret dicine, with beautifying and vein-clearing effects, making the body extrely comfortable. Their people present it as a eting gift to brides.”
The brides seed like disciples awaiting divine grace, their eyes filled with longing and anticipation. At the leader’s command, the two brides, like mosquitoes to blood, quickly snatched the packet from the man’s hand, snorting the white powder into their noses entirely.
After inhaling the powder, the brides collapsed into the n’s arms, a blush of Yan Hong tinting their cheeks, their faces full of enjoynt and intoxication. One of the girls emitted an entrancing sound that made Xiao Yifei blush.
Nodding toward Zhang Po, two of the robust n lifted the brides onto the boat, disappearing into the swirling mist.
The wedding transfer ceremony seed to end. Thinking of the brides snorting the powder, Xiao Yifei’s heart felt like a stampeding herd, utterly enraptured, like taking supplents akin to doing drugs.
No way!
Xiao Yifei imdiately sensed sothing amiss, two acute words like hamrs in his mind. He rushed to where the girls stood, touched the scattered powder on the ground with his hand, and sniffed gently.
There was indeed an issue!
Xiao Yifei ran to the river, looked toward the boat’s direction. All he saw was the ethereal swamp mist, with no clue where they went. In remorse, he slapped his thigh, “You’ve been deceived!”
Ci Xin, who had been watching from the sidelines, asked in surprise, “What happened?”
Zhang Po also ca over, looking at the powder in Xiao Yifei’s hand, confused.
The villagers who had just held the ceremony looked at Xiao Yifei with strange eyes, as if looking at a monster.
Xiao Yifei ignored them and said, “This isn’t so secret dicine; it’s sedatives, absolutely.”
Zhang Po was shocked, “What’s going on?” Ci Xin leaned in to listen.
“Our Xiao Family has been practicing dicine for ages, familiar with herbal slls. This powder contains Ephedra, typically used for chest tightness, asthma, cough, edema, rheumatism pain, and phlegm lumps, renowned for respiratory relief. However, excessive use of Ephedra can cause hallucinations, making users feel ethereal, inducing dependency. Those n’s large hands grasped a handful of powder weighing almost a pound. No wonder the girls reacted strongly; it’s not a supplent. I speculate they intend to abduct won from your village, but their motives remain unknown to .”
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