Thinking that his clansmen might have been captured by man-eating Yōkai, the Young Chieftain was instantly seized by a wave of fear. In a panic, he "brought out" the hide left behind by the tribe's former shaman—a piece of animal skin marked with a strange totem that was said to drive away demons and monsters.
It was actually nothing more than the hide of a Giant Tapir.
Giant Tapirs lived near grasslands and lakes and were skilled swimmers. By rights, they should have appeared most often on the western shore of Hong Lake. Who knew what had possessed this one to run all the way to the eastern shore? Because of its bizarre appearance, the locals had mistaken it for a Divine Beast they had never seen before and slaughtered it. They had even turned it into the tribe's totem. It was nothing short of tragic.
The Young Chieftain lifted the Giant Tapir hide with a Bamboo Pole, making it look like a banner for summoning souls. He came to the front of his home and instructed his wife and children.
"You stay home and watch the children. Our clansmen have all been captured by those Yōkai who came from the water. I'm their Chieftain, so I have to rescue them and bring them back. Prepare some good food at home. I'll be back soon!"
The Young Chieftain's wife was stunned when she heard this. Unable to suppress her fear and nervousness, she asked, "Yōkai? You mean those people who floated over from the water earlier? How could they be Yōkai? They look exactly like us!"
"You don't understand. Yōkai can take human form. Otherwise, how could they deceive people?!" the Young Chieftain stubbornly explained.
"But there are so many of them, and you're going alone. Aren't you afraid they'll