Chapter 14

“Cang Shi, while hunting, you can look for plants to make linen.” Su Bai said in a placating tone.

“What kind of plant does it look like?” Cang Shi asked hurriedly.

“I don’t know if there are such plants nearby.” Su Bai frowned in thought and explained, “I’ll describe the plant’s characteristics. You guys can find some plants and try them out.”

“Please tell us. We’ll remember.” Yan Jiao and Cang Shi focused all their attention in trying to remember.

“The stalks of the plant for making linen are not very thick, about the size of a thumb. The stalks can be easily torn into thread-like strips. The finer the better.” Su Bai described the characteristics of linen fibre.

He was afraid that the plant species in this primitive world might be different from Earth. So, he didn’t give them the name of plants like ‘ramie’ from Earth. They would waste too much time searching for them. It was better to just conduct a large search, with descriptions of the necessary conditions for the material.

“The stalks can be easily torn into thread-like strips?” Yan Jiao and Cang Shi frowned in thought.

“Go. Only after finding the linen-making materials can we start making linen.” Su Bai said helplessly. Even the greatest Wife can’t cook a meal without rice.

“Yes!” Yan Jiao and Cang Shi turned and dashed out of the tent.

Linen would be the key to the Tribe’s rise. Neither of them felt at ease entrusting this to anyone else. They could only lead their teams to keep an eye on it themselves.

“They sure are really driven.” Su Bai laughed as he watched the swaying door flap. He turned his attention to the inside of the tent.

He started tidying up the tent, sorting out the useful things by category. He even found a few wooden boxes made of ordinary wood.

“These things should be the Shaman’s normal collection.” Su Bai opened a box. Inside were many strange and unusual items – stone fragments engraved with broken Shaman Runes, bone pieces from unknown Ferocious Beasts, and some high-quality animal hides.

“Hm? What’s packed inside this?” In the corner of one box, he discovered a wooden tube. He carefully took it out. After pulling out the wooden stopper, he found it contained a black liquid.

“Could this be ink?” Su Bai guessed and was excited. However, since no one was there to tell it what it was, he could not be certain.

He helplessly put the wooden tube away and sighed, “Seriously, the Shaman didn’t even leave behind an assistant or a guide…”

Su Bai scanned the messily searched tent and decided he had to find an assistant. Ordinary trivial matters could be left to the assistant to deal with.

He picked up a roll of animal hide and found a few pieces of charcoal.

He soon stepped out of the tent to go find someone.

“You’re here.” After leaving the tent, Su Bai immediately spotted a girl with horns standing in the shadow of the tent.

Being able to detect Yan Hua’s figure in advance was impossible for him before. But after becoming a Shaman, he could vaguely sense when someone was nearby.

“…” Yan Hua blanked for a moment. She had just been about to quietly approach, but was seen through by Su Bai. It had ruined her fun.

She raised her head to look at the black-haired, black-eyed new Shaman before her. Her red eyes met his black eyes and were involuntarily attracted by his deep black pupils. It felt as if her mind was about to be sucked in.

“What are you spacing out for?” Su Bai waved his hand.

“…” Yan Hua was startled awake. She hurriedly lowered her head, her previous arrogance gone.

She felt very surprised in her heart. The feeling Su Bai gave off was the same as the feeling the Old Shaman gave her – full of mystery and of unfathomable depth.

“Are you sick?” Su Bai looked at how abnormal she was acting in bewilderment. He couldn’t help but step closer and reach out to feel Yan Hua’s forehead.

“…” Yan Hua was taken aback. Noticing the hand placed on her forehead, the cold sensation transmitted from the palm made her face instantly flush red.

“Y-You, what are you doing?” She retreated back, flustered, speech completely incoherent, “I, I won’t submit to you.”

“Huh?” Su Bai held up his hand and rolled his eyes. He impatiently asked, “What nonsense are you spouting? Besides, I don’t like forcing others.”

“I…” After saying that, Yan Hua didn’t know how to respond. She felt lost and awkward.

“Alright, I was looking for you because I have something to discuss.” Su Bai didn’t let her feel too embarrassed and gave her a way out.

“What is it?” Yan Hua hurriedly composed herself and cheered on herself in her heart,

“Right now, how many people are left in the Tribe?” Su Bai asked.

“Not many people are left. Father just took a lot of people into the forest, and Uncle Cang Shi also took the Hunting Team to go hunting.” Yan Hua said with a frown.

“Then why didn’t you go?” Su Bai asked curiously.

“…” Yan Hua glanced at Su Bai and said in a small voice, “Father had me guard outside the tent, so the Shaman would have someone to order around.”

“Oh? Then who did the previous Shaman used to order around?” Su Bai’s eyes lit up. Finding the person the previous Shaman ordered around meant he would have a ready-made assistant.

“Dead. Killed while escorting the Shaman away during the battle against the Black Snake Tribe.” Yan Hua’s red eyes dimmed.

“Is that so…” Su Bai sighed. The Black Snake Tribe had killed off seven or eight out of ten of the Flame Dragon Tribe’s pillars.

“Shaman, do you have any orders for me?” Yan Hua asked.

She had still been too young before, but she had always wanted to be directly ordered by the Old Shaman to do things. Now, she was taking on the job she wanted.

“Help me find a girl who’s quick-witted and hardworking.” Su Bai listed out the requirements for an assistant.

“Is the Shaman looking for a Shaman Priestess?” Yan Hua’s expression turned unnatural. She recalled Father pushing for her to become a Shaman Priestess before.

“What’s a Shaman Priestess?” Su Bai tilted his head and asked.

“It’s a woman who tidies up the Shaman’s household, relaying instructions, and such.” Yan Hua’s cheeks reddened.

There was one thing she didn’t say – if a Shaman Priestess gained the Shaman’s favour, she could even become his Wife. Moreover, the Shaman Priestess’s status in the Tribe was very high. Besides the Shaman, Chieftain, and Hunting Team Leader, there were few people with higher status than the Shaman Priestess.

“So that’s what a Shaman Priestess is.” Su Bai understood and said affirmatively, “Then I want to find a Shaman Priestess to help. Do you see anyone suitable in the Tribe?”

“I-I know someone.” Yan Hua stammered.