Declare Ambition, Enter the Game

It wasn't bad, actually. Huo Shan had really thought about Shen Can.

Among the major tribes, women with large bottoms and round buttocks who had given birth were the most popular.

They had good physiques, were experienced in childbirth, and could have two children in three years, three in five.

But Shen Can thought about it and decided against it. The women of the Great Wilderness tribes were all tall and strong, almost as tall as the men.

With his own small physique, he wouldn't even be able to reach the head of a woman on the bed.

The news Huo Shan brought back further proved the power of the improved witch medicine.

Whether brewed into a decoction for prevention or burned into smoke by placing it in fire, it could effectively drive away the Plague Worms.

Other tribes' methods of blocking the Plague Worms were ineffective against the dense swarms of the Plague Worm army.

When combined with the one-legged strange bird, once the Plague Worms tore an opening, it would be a disaster.

Right, Shen Can now knew what that strange bird was called.

Qizhong, one of the many plague beasts of the Great Wilderness.

"Although some people from the Yan Shan Tribe escaped, the Plague Worms have grown in number after devouring the young and strong of the Yan Shan Tribe, so we still need to be prepared."

Huo Tang spoke, "A-Can, the women and children of the Yan Shan Tribe will be arranged outside first. We'll need you to drive away the plague miasma then."

When an epidemic broke out, people from outside tribes couldn't be immediately brought into the tribe; they had to wait outside for a period of time.

"How many are there?"

Shen Can asked.

"There are over two hundred women, maybe over a hundred, dozens to a hundred children, and a few dozen young and strong men, the rest..."

Huo Shan said intermittently.

He seemed a little less than intelligent, but fortunately, the total number wasn't too large, so the margin of error shouldn't be significant.

"Just use the herbs brought by the Fu Shan Tribe. I've seen that the varieties are very complete."

"Have the tribe arrange a few people to build fumigation caves outside the tribe."

Shen Can said, "Oh, and build a few more, just in case we don't have enough later."

He could tell that Huo Tang was preparing to annex the remnants, and Yan Shan was just the beginning.

"You can pick whoever you want." Huo Tang agreed without hesitation.

If it were in the past, Huo Tang would definitely have asked for details about building fumigation caves, but ever since the witch runes appeared, Huo Tang hadn't questioned his arrangements much.

A few days later.

Shen Can met the surviving tribespeople of Yan Shan in a cave outside the tribe.

How to put it, it was a bit different from Huo Shan's previous description.

The total number of people was only a little over two hundred.

There were one hundred and thirty-seven young women, about thirty children around ten years old, and only nine children aged five and infants.

The remaining women looked older, and among them were three female Stone Splitter Realm martial artists.

Of the dozens of young and strong men Huo Shan mentioned, only seven were seen, and they were all injured.

The atmosphere was very somber, not even the crying of children could be heard.

Outside the cave.

Huo Tang spoke, "A-Can, how many do you think will survive."

The Blazing Flame Tribe hadn't added new members from outside for a long time, and the internal tribes were already related by marriage. They urgently needed new people to supplement them.

As the tribal chief, he was actually very anxious.

"Tribal Chief, isolate those with symptoms first. Anyone found later should be isolated. Let the aunts in the tribe help take care of the children."

After such a great upheaval, people who were mentally weak, even if they weren't infected by the plague energy yet, would eventually get infected if they were gathered together like this.

Even some who were fine now might be in the incubation period.

"These people are too weak. First, boil some thin millet porridge, and tomorrow, mix beast meat with the millet and boil it into a paste."

"Temporarily stop the fumigation and switch to decoctions. After everyone has recovered a bit, then proceed with fumigation."

A few days later, two-thirds of the people in the cave showed symptoms.

Even though Shen Can had been as careful as possible, a few children still couldn't hold on.

After seeing the remnants of the Yan Shan Tribe, he also had to take care of his own tribe.

Now, the tribe already knew about his drawing of witch runes, and his influence within the tribe had suddenly caught up with Huo Tang.

When Shen Can entered the fumigation cave arranged by the tribe, a child immediately hugged his leg.

He saw it was Huo Yuan.

"Brother Can, are you really a witch?"

Huo Yuan looked up, his face alight with excitement, and asked.

"Can you spit water?"

Huo Yuan's mother, Huo Xuan, reached out and grabbed his ear, pulling him upwards. Her other hand landed on his backside.

"If you talk nonsense again, you little brat, I'll smack your butt."

After a couple of smacks, Huo Xuan looked at Shen Can.

"Ah... Temple Guardian..., Ah Yuan is still young, he..."

"Aunt Xuan."

Gently pulling Ah Yuan out from under his mother's grasp, Shen Can looked at Huo Yuan's mother, who seemed uncharacteristically reserved.

Her sturdy build, paired with her two rather out-of-place large hands, made her look like Lu Zhishen disguised as Lin Daiyu.

It wasn't just Huo Yuan's mother; the other women, children, and elderly in the cave also looked at him with restraint and awe.

The legendary witch had materialized, eroding their previous sense of familiarity.

"Brother A-Can, Uncle Yuan said you can summon a bolt of heavenly lightning with a raise of your hand."

Huo Yuan looked up at Shen Can. "Can you blast Ah Shu? He's always pulling my... you know."

"You pull his too," Shen Can said with a chuckle, stroking Ah Yuan's head.

"A-Can, can you also pat my child's head?"

At this moment, an auntie who had approached pushed the baby in her arms forward.

"Pat his head?"

"Me too! Quick, let the Temple Guardian pat your head. Maybe you can become a witch when you grow up."

As these words fell, the atmosphere in the cave shifted dramatically.

The sturdy women, who had been somewhat reserved, all brought their children forward.

Shen Can had to push his way out of the crowd three times, only to be surrounded again three times.

"Temple Guardian, pat my son's... you know."

"Come quickly, let the witch touch him."

Soon, a group of children spread their legs in front of Shen Can, while a group of women on the side offered their opinions.

The adult tribesmen often teased the children of the tribe, pulling at their little... you know, often scaring the babies into running and crying, which would elicit a burst of laughter.

In his memories, Shen Can hadn't escaped this scene when he was young either.

A group of women crowded around him, a surging wave like the terrifying depths of the sea, scaring him into hastily running out of the cave.

He was now both the Temple Guardian and the witch, responsible for the tribe's rituals and medical care. Patting heads was one thing, but pulling... you know...

Was that something a proper witch would do?

A "little thing-pulling witch"?

Wouldn't that title make people laugh themselves to death?

"Hoo..."

Stepping out of the cave, Shen Can let out a long sigh of relief.

Looking out over the mountainside, he saw that lookout posts were being rebuilt on the surrounding mountains.

The tribe's warriors had now been divided into four groups.

The internal warriors, led by the two elder tribesmen Huo Yun and Huo Yu, were guarding the tribal lands.

The external warriors, with Huo Shan leading a team, were investigating the situations of other tribes.

Another Mountain Opening Realm tribesman, Huo Kui, who was second only to Huo Shan in rank, was responsible for transporting supplies from the remnants affected by the Plague Worms and relocating the surviving tribesmen.

The remaining manpower was following him around.

It could be said that if Shen Can wanted to rise to power now, he had the foundation to overthrow Huo Tang.

However, seeing Huo Tang's weathered face and bloodshot eyes from sleepless nights, Shen Can felt that the position of tribal chief was quite tiring.

The moment he opened his eyes, he was responsible for the food, drink, and daily lives of over two thousand people, their marriages, the safety of the tribe, and the cries of the lonely bachelors.

A group of over two-meter-tall strong men, with no one to warm their beds, if they were together every day, who knew what thoughts might pop into their heads.

Whoever wanted to be the tribal chief could have it.

Not to mention that his methods were within the Ancestral Temple, and it was impossible for him to become the tribal chief.

Besides, the Temple Guardian was a more lofty existence than the tribal chief in a spiritual sense.

Especially after this plague, with Huo Xian in seclusion, everyone in the tribe, young and old, drank the medicinal soup he led in preparing.

His influence had soared.

Before, he was just the Temple Guardian; now he was the Witch + Temple Guardian, and his status in the tribe had reached its peak.

As long as he opened his mouth and said he wanted to be the tribal chief.

Let alone the tribesmen, even Huo Tang, the chieftain, might let him do it.

Over these past few months, Shen Can's mindset had also been changing bit by bit, becoming more and more accustomed to the Great Wilderness world.

In the beginning, he still harbored a bit of a "mind your own business" mentality, seeing himself as someone hidden within the Blazing Flame Tribe.

He brought out the Kui Ox Fist and improved witch medicine, strengthening the tribe's power, not primarily to enhance the tribe's strength, but for his own safety.

He gave it because he feared the Blazing Flame would be destroyed.

Besides that, he also acted according to his 'Can' identity.

"My past life was like a dream; only this life is real."

A'Yu came running up from the mountain. "Brother A-Can, what are you looking at?"

"Looking at the mountain and thinking."

Shen Can slowly withdrew his gaze. "I'm thinking about which of the women from the remnants of the Yan Shan Tribe would be suitable to be a wife for you, little brother."

A'Yu's bear-like body suddenly became shy.

"Brother C-Can, two... is that okay?"

Under Shen Can's astonished gaze, A'Yu extended two fingers like carrots.

His large face flushed a little.

"Alright, alright, my simple-minded brother."

Shen Can tiptoed and patted A'Yu's shoulders twice.

"Let's go find the chieftain."

"Ah... isn't it a bit too fast?"

Shen Can took two steps, then came back and kicked A'Yu. "What are you thinking? You won't get a wife until you reach the Mountain Opening Realm."

"No, if you don't reach the Heavenly Meridian, you'll just have to play with yourself."

"I'm going to ask the chieftain about the situation outside the tribe."

"You silly fellow, are wives that important?"

"Heh..." A'Yu rubbed the back of his head. "Uncle says having a wife is a lot of fun at night."

He quickly caught up with Shen Can. "Brother Can, I want one with a big butt. Uncle and Auntie both say that big butts are good."

"Fine, follow the Temple Guardian, and not just you, everyone in the tribe will have a wife."