Heart's Determination

Being the top young man of Barbarian Bull Village raised Lu Chen's standing within the village. When resources were distributed, he would also be given priority.

Lu Chen did not care about status, but the supply of resources filled him with joy.

"With those resources, I can quickly replenish what my body lacks, and I can also use experience points to raise my level."

Just as Lu Chen began to feel hopeful about his future life, Witch Doctor Master suddenly called him over.

"What's going on? I remember the Barbarian Tribe doesn't care about acceptance speeches or anything like that!"

"Can't we disperse after the victory?"

Though puzzled, Lu Chen still hurried over to the Witch Doctor.

"Chen, if I remember correctly, you're still alone, aren't you?"

"Yes. What is it, Witch Doctor Master?"

"You need someone to look after you as well. Those are all unmarried girls from the village. Pick one."

Those words instantly left Lu Chen somewhat dumbfounded.

"Wait, we're talking about marriage just like that? Isn't this far too casual?"

To suddenly start discussing marriage truly gave Lu Chen quite a fright.

But he quickly remembered that this was not modern society, nor was it even the Central Plains. Among the Barbarian Tribe, where death could come at any time, there was simply no soil for love to take root in.

Taking a wife was also very simple. As long as they liked each other and the girl's family did not object, they could notify a few people, share a meal, and begin living together.

That might have been how the Barbarian Tribe did things, but Lu Chen did not want to be bound to this land for the rest of his life. Thus, faced with the Witch Doctor's goodwill, he directly shook his head.

"Witch Doctor Master, right now I only want to improve my strength. I have no intention of getting married."

"Oh, focusing your mind on improving your strength is not bad."

The Witch Doctor's words made Lu Chen think the matter had passed, but the Witch Doctor soon continued, "However, if you do not intend to marry, you can still find a girl to look after you."

Seeing that Lu Chen was about to refuse again, the Witch Doctor smiled and said, "Having a girl at home is still quite nice. In the future, you must focus on improving your strength. Someone will still be needed to help with household chores, such as washing clothes, cooking, and cleaning."

"I understand."

This time, Lu Chen did not object.

He was not one to put on airs. Perhaps some people disliked being waited upon, but Lu Chen was not like that. Even in the twenty-first century, if he had the means, he would hire hourly workers and housekeepers to help him handle the trivial matters of daily life.

In this Wild Wasteland world, he minded even less having someone serve him.

After Lu Chen agreed, the girls gathered nearby all blossomed with delight. Quite a few of them even relied on their strong bodies to squeeze their way to the front.

Looking at their expectant gazes, Lu Chen sighed inwardly.

There was no love in this era. Some of those Barbarian Tribe girls were so expectant because they admired Lu Chen, but more of them simply wanted to survive.

Life was difficult in the Wild Wasteland.

Barbarian youths like Lu Chen could go hungry, but Barbarian girls suffered the most.

In the Wild Wasteland, boys were ultimately stronger than girls. Therefore, when food was scarce, the village would prioritize protecting the boys, even if they were orphans.

Girls were different. Even if they had families, every winter, quite a number of girls would starve to death or freeze to death outright.

Their eagerness now, even their scrambling to compete, came from believing that if they followed the powerful Lu Chen, they could eat their fill and survive.

And that was indeed the truth. Ordinary Barbarian youths might not even be able to feed themselves. If these Barbarian Tribe girls followed them, death could come at any time.

But Lu Chen, who could defeat a Barbarian Blood Warrior, could obtain enough food not only to keep them alive, but to let them eat their fill. That drove these girls nearly mad.

Yet, looking at the strongest, sturdiest girls crowded at the front, Lu Chen did not choose any of them.

How should he put it? Those girls were like miniature Barbarian youths. Though he was looking for someone to care for him, everyone loved beauty, and Lu Chen wanted someone a little prettier.

After sweeping his gaze over the girls several times, Lu Chen looked toward a girl standing at the very back. Her bearing made his eyes light up.

"The Barbarian Tribe actually has someone this short? Still, compared with the other girls, she is somewhat prettier."

With that thought, Lu Chen directly pointed at the short girl.

"I choose her."

Before the disappointed girls could say anything, the Witch Doctor spoke directly. "A'Chen, that girl is not one of our Barbarian Tribe. She is not very strong. If you raise her, you'll only be raising a vase."

"Besides, A'Chen, any children you have with such a girl will be very frail and unsuitable for survival in the Wild Wasteland. You should choose someone else."

"Not a human from the Wild Wasteland... Is she one of the Central Plains humans from the memories of the Barbarian youth A'Chen? Is there a connection between the Wild Wasteland and the Central Plains?"

Lu Chen pondered several things from the Witch Doctor's words.

But Lu Chen did not heed the Witch Doctor's advice.

That girl might indeed be a vase, but with the strength of a Barbarian Blood Warrior, it would be easy enough for Lu Chen to support one.

As for children being unable to survive in the Wild Wasteland, that mattered even less. Lu Chen was merely looking for a housekeeper to care for him, not a wife.

However, before Lu Chen could say anything, the frail girl opposite him heard Witch Doctor Master's objection and immediately anxiously tried to squeeze forward. When she found herself unable to push past the other Barbarian girls, she shouted, "I can take care of people, and I don't eat much! A small piece—no, half a small piece of meat a day is enough to keep me alive."

Those words made Lu Chen look at the Witch Doctor.

"I have quite a large appetite. Finding someone with a small appetite can save me some food."

Seeing that Lu Chen had made up his mind, the Witch Doctor said nothing further.

"Forget it. Our Barbarian Tribe is not monogamous. A'Chen is strong, so he can take more wives and have more children in the future. Let that girl be like a pet A'Chen keeps. In any case, she barely eats anything."

With Lu Chen insisting, the matter finally came to an end.

Besides Lu Chen, another Barbarian youth also selected a girl. As for the others, they already had someone at home, so they made no selection this time.

From the words of those Barbarian youths, Lu Chen gained a deeper understanding of Barbarian society.

"This world really does marry people off far too early. I originally thought the Witch Doctor's household was full of Barbarian youths, but now I realize most of them already have someone at home. Quite a few are even fathers."

Sighing as he did so, Lu Chen led the other elite youths after the Witch Doctor toward the Witch Doctor's residence.

As for the girl, Lu Chen ordered her to return home.

While they were walking, the Witch Doctor seemed to remember something and tried to dissuade Lu Chen.

"A'Chen, are you sure you want to join the Night Patrol Team? At your age, you can still wait another half year!"

The Barbarian Tribe would not support idlers. Even a genius like Lu Chen had to work. Therefore, after Lu Chen's injuries had somewhat healed, the Clan Chief had come to him and told him to resume daytime patrols.

But daytime was far too leisurely. In order to gain experience points, Lu Chen had asked the Clan Chief to move his patrol time to night.

That was why the Witch Doctor tried to dissuade Lu Chen now.

The Witch Doctor meant well. He wanted Lu Chen to rest for a while longer and, preferably, raise his strength again during that period.

Unfortunately, Lu Chen knew his own situation best.

"I want to improve my strength. Training is the slowest path; only slaughter can earn experience points. Therefore, going on daytime patrols would merely waste time. Only the night can let me improve quickly."