The old witch doctor's herbs really were miraculous. Combined with Lin Xuan's recovery from the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique, they had healed most of his serious internal injuries in just two or three days. His fractured bones had begun to knit, and although he wasn't fully recovered, he could move about normally.
Over the past two days, Kuafu had often come by. Besides bringing him golden, glistening roasted beast meat and sweet wild fruit, he would chat with him for a while. From Kuafu's straightforward accounts, Lin Xuan had gained a basic understanding of this Wu tribe. It was indeed a branch under Houtu, the Earth Ancestor Wu, located on the outskirts of Buzhou Mountain. Its main duties were patrolling the surrounding forest, keeping fierce beasts at bay, and hunting for food. The tribe's people were exceptionally simple and hardy, and they revered strength and courage.
Although Lin Xuan had dared to fight the vicious beast Zhen to the death that day, he hadn't been strong enough to prevail. Still, his courage had appealed to the Wu. As a result, the tribespeople were mostly curious about this Human who had appeared out of nowhere, but harbored no ill will toward him.
One morning, Lin Xuan was outside the stone hut, on an open patch of ground. He slowly practiced a few basic movements from the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique, loosening his muscles and adapting to his recovering body. He couldn't train strenuously yet, but these slow, guided movements could still speed his recovery and help him resist the lingering pressure of Pangu.
Just then, Houyi—the towering man with the bow who had led the group that day—approached with steady strides. He still carried his enormous bone bow on his back. In the morning light, his bronze skin gleamed like metal, and his presence was as solid as a mountain.
"Kid, you're recovering pretty quickly." Houyi's booming voice carried a note of approval. He came closer and watched Lin Xuan's slow movements with interest. They seemed to follow some peculiar rhythm. "What kind of moves are those? They look soft and gentle—not like techniques for killing enemies. More like the way those qi refiners regulate their breathing, maybe?"
Lin Xuan's heart tightened. He stopped and bowed respectfully. "Senior Houyi, thank you and the tribe for saving my life. This is just a rudimentary body-tempering method, meant to strengthen my foundation. I'm glad it's showing results." He didn't dare reveal the origins of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique, so he vaguely called it a "rudimentary body-tempering method."
Houyi waved a hand, unconcerned. "Don't call me 'senior.' It sounds awkward. We Wu don't fuss over that sort of thing. Just call me Houyi." Then he changed the subject, fixing Lin Xuan with sharp, hawk-like eyes full of undisguised curiosity. "So, friend, what's your name? Where are you from? You're a Human kid, and your cultivation... well, you've only just reached the threshold of refining qi into energy, by the looks of it. What were you doing wandering so deep into Buzhou Mountain? That Zhen isn't easy to deal with. You've got some guts to hold out under its claws until we arrived."
The questions came one after another, direct and frank, just as one would expect from the Wu.
Lin Xuan had prepared his story in advance. He wore an expression of just the right amount of fear and gratitude, then answered with a mixture of truth and fiction. "Brother Houyi, my name is Lin Xuan, and my Daoist title is Xuanyuanzi. I was cultivating outside the mountain with my elders when we encountered a powerful enemy. To protect me, my elders drew the enemy away. I panicked and fled in the wrong direction, and that's how I ended up in Buzhou Mountain. As for that Zhen..."
He paused, his face taking on a suitably ashamed yet relieved expression. "I was just lucky. I fled into that valley, hoping to find somewhere to hide, but I disturbed the beast. When it lunged, I panicked and fell, just barely dodging its fatal blow. Then I hit an old wound with a rock by accident. That only enraged it, but it bought me a little time. If you and the others hadn't arrived when you did, Brother Houyi, there wouldn't have been anything left of me but bones."
His story cast him as a younger cultivator who had suffered a great misfortune and narrowly escaped with his life. It explained why he was alone, while downplaying his ability to injure Zhen by chalking it up to luck and the beast's old wound. That way, he could avoid attracting unnecessary attention or suspicion.
Houyi's thick brows lifted as he studied Lin Xuan, as if trying to tell whether he was lying. The Wu were relatively simple-minded, but they weren't fools. Still, Lin Xuan seemed sincere, and there were no obvious holes in his story. Besides, his strength really was low; that he had managed to hold out against Zhen seemed more like luck than anything else. In the end, Houyi nodded, accepting his explanation.
"I see. The wilderness is a dangerous place." Houyi sighed, his voice touched with the weariness of long experience. "Surviving was a blessing. Now that you're in our Houtu Tribe, focus on recovering. We Wu respect people with courage. Your luck and quick thinking count as skills, too."
He patted Lin Xuan's shoulder. The blow wasn't gentle, and Lin Xuan grimaced. "But you're still too weak, Xuanyuanzi. Those soft qi-refining methods won't be enough on their own. Real strength comes from fighting and hardening yourself! Once you're healed, have Kuafu and the others train you. You can experience how the Wu temper their bodies. I guarantee it'll be more useful than your method!"
Lin Xuan's heart stirred. The Wu had been formed from Pangu's blood essence, and they had an innate advantage in body cultivation, along with countless years of accumulated experience. Even their most basic body-tempering methods had to be extraordinary. If he could learn a thing or two from them, it would surely benefit his cultivation of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique!
He hurriedly cupped his hands and said sincerely, "Thank you, Brother Houyi! I'd be deeply grateful for the chance to learn from the Wu's body-tempering methods!"
"Haha, no problem! I like that you're not afraid to speak your mind!" Houyi laughed heartily. "All right, keep resting. It's safe enough near the tribe, but don't wander too far. If you need anything, just tell Kuafu."
With that, Houyi turned and strode away to continue his patrol for the day.
Watching Houyi's burly figure disappear behind a stone hut in the distance, Lin Xuan slowly let out a breath. He had made it through the first hurdle. Not only had he gained the initial trust of Houyi and the Wu, but he had also unexpectedly earned a chance to learn about their body-tempering methods.
[The host's acting has improved. Barely passing.] The system chimed in with its timely jab. [However, the "elders" backstory is too vague. If anyone asks questions later, it could cause trouble. I recommend the host flesh out his background as soon as possible.]
Lin Xuan replied inwardly, Understood. I'll take it one step at a time. For now, the most important thing is to use the resources here to recover and find a way to learn something worthwhile from the Wu.
He raised his head and looked toward the stone statue of Lady Houtu at the center of the tribe, feeling the deep, peaceful energy emanating from this land.
By a stroke of fate, he had crossed paths with the legendary Wu. This unexpected crisis might turn out to be a major opportunity. At the foot of Buzhou Mountain, beneath the pressure of Pangu, there might be no better teachers than the Wu.
In the days ahead, he would have to plan carefully how to gain the most from his time in the Houtu Tribe.
Before you continue