Will We Change... (First Update)

At noon, Su Ming pondered for a long time. Gritting his teeth, he shouldered his woven basket and left the tribe, accompanied by Lei Chen.

Lei Chen had visited the tribal market before, and having gone just a few days ago, he immediately began pestering Su Ming with questions the moment he heard Su Ming was borrowing stone coins. His spirits lifted, and he eagerly volunteered to lead the way.

"Su Ming, I only have two stone coins here, and it took me so much effort to trade for them. When... when are you going to pay me back?" Lei Chen looked at Su Ming with longing eyes as the two of them sprinted through the mountain forest outside the tribe.

"You've been talking about it the whole way! It's just two stone coins! Think of how many stone coins the Black Dragon Saliva I've given you over the years is worth. Lei Chen, aren't we good friends? How can you be like this?!" Su Ming felt a twinge of guilt, but he glared at Lei Chen, causing the rest of his words to dissolve into incoherent muttering.

"But that was something I worked so hard to trade for..." Lei Chen scratched his head, and as he muttered, he seemed to recall something, looking at Su Ming in surprise.

"Wait, I just realized, what are you going to the tribal market to buy with stone coins?"

"I'm buying Luoyun Leaves!" Su Ming's body swayed, leaping through the forest with great agility; his speed was even faintly faster than Lei Chen's.

"What are Luoyun Leaves?" Lei Chen asked naively, but seeing Su Ming pull ahead of him, he immediately took long strides to catch up.

"Su Ming, you have to remember to pay me back..."

"Su Ming, that was something I'd saved up for many years..."

"Su Ming, even my father didn't know about those two stone coins. How did you know exactly where I hid them the moment you went to my house?"

"Su Ming, what are Luoyun Leaves? Why won't you tell me..."

"Su Ming, Su Ming?? I've been asking you for ages!!"

The buzzing in Su Ming's ears persisted throughout the journey. He had long known that Lei Chen loved to talk and that once he started, he never stopped, but he hadn't expected him to keep up this relentless chatter without a moment's pause.

By dusk, the two had traveled far from the tribe into unfamiliar mountain forests. Unable to bear it any longer, Su Ming slowed his pace, finally leaning against a large tree to catch his breath. He turned back to look helplessly at Lei Chen, who was also gasping for air and had plopped down onto the ground.

"Su... Su Ming... you... remember... pay me... back..." Lei Chen was panting, but seeing Su Ming turn around, his spirits instantly revived, and he began again.

"I'll give them to you... I will definitely pay you back... but I have one condition!" Su Ming gave a bitter smile; he didn't know what else to say to Lei Chen.

"What condition?" Lei Chen blinked, putting on his naive expression once more.

"Drop that look. Even Xiao Hong looks more convincing than you. Lei Chen, I know what you've been trying to ask me this whole way, but I can't say. You'll know in the future." Su Ming glared at him. Having grown up together, he understood Lei Chen as well as, if not better than, his own parents.

Lei Chen appeared simple and honest on the surface, but in reality, he was incredibly cunning. Most people were deceived by his guileless expression, overlooking the flash of craftiness in his eyes.

Hearing Su Ming's words, Lei Chen rubbed his nose and gave a simple, honest smile.

"My condition is simple: if you can stay quiet for the rest of the journey, I'll tell you what you want to know when we return after I've finished my business!" Su Ming glanced at Lei Chen and said slowly.

Lei Chen's body stiffened, as if he had frozen solid. In an instant, he became motionless, his eyes wide as he stared fixedly behind Su Ming.

"Lei Chen..." Su Ming gave a bitter smile. He was used to playing with him; he wouldn't fall for such a small trick.

"You're the one who told me to be quiet. I wanted to nod, but nodding makes a 'whoosh' sound, too. Look at me now—isn't this great? I'm not moving, not making a sound. It perfectly fits your definition of quiet. Don't you think this counts as quiet? Since you told me to be quiet, don't worry, I'll stay like this the whole way. I absolutely won't make a sound. But you can't blame me for the sound of my running, I..."

"Stop!! That's enough! Just stay quiet!" Su Ming rubbed his temples. He saw the flicker of playfulness in Lei Chen's eyes and knew the guy was doing it on purpose.

"Fine, I'll tell you, okay? I have attained the Barbarian Body, but Grandpa used a Barbarian Art to hide it. Don't tell anyone about this." By the end, Su Ming's expression turned serious.

Lei Chen was stunned, then nodded with equal gravity and solemnity.

"If I'd known that, I wouldn't have asked. I just wanted to know if you had started Barbarian Cultivation. Now I can rest easy. Haha, from now on, we two will be the future eagles of the Wu Mountain Tribe!"

Su Ming laughed as well. After resting for a while, the two stood up and continued their journey. Even though the sky was darkening, the moon was emerging, stars were twinkling, the ground was covered in thick snow, and the cold wind was wailing, they did not pause in their running. They even chatted occasionally, revealing a deep, enduring friendship.

"I saw Bei Ling today. I get annoyed just looking at him, especially since Chen Xin was by his side. He's known for a long time that Chen Xin has a crush on you!" Lei Chen muttered, looking quite indignant.

"He's changed so much. Just because he went to the Fengzhen Tribe for a few years, has he forgotten that he belongs to the Wu Mountain Tribe? You didn't see the look on his face—he was even lecturing me, telling me to do this and that."

Su Ming remained silent.

"Su Ming, sooner or later, I will surpass him!" Lei Chen clenched his fists as he ran.

"He is Big Brother Bei Ling. When we were young, he took good care of both of us. Don't you remember how he secretly taught you his experience in Barbarian Cultivation? Because of that incident, he even received punishment from Grandpa! And my archery, he taught me that too..." Su Ming said calmly.

"As for Chen Xin, I've told you before: I only have the feelings of a brother for her, nothing more... You're the one who keeps guessing wildly." Su Ming's voice remained calm.

Lei Chen wanted to say more, but seeing Su Ming's calm demeanor, the words never left his lips. He understood Su Ming just as Su Ming understood him.

He knew Su Ming valued gratitude.

"Su Ming, people change..." After a long while, Lei Chen said softly.

"As we grow up, as we experience things, we all change... Perhaps one day, I will change too... I think you will, too..." Lei Chen murmured.

"Will I..." Su Ming remained silent as he ran.

When the sky turned completely dark, Su Ming and Lei Chen stopped. Traveling at night was inconvenient, and there was still a distance to go before reaching the tribal market, so they found a large tree and built a simple, temporary resting place in its branches. One would sit cross-legged to circulate the blood in their body for cultivation, while the other kept watch, scanning the surroundings. They took turns, preparing to spend the night there.

Su Ming leaned against the trunk, his gaze falling on Lei Chen, who was sitting cross-legged in front of him. Bursts of red light flickered on his body, and one could see many red lines rising and falling.

After watching for a long time, Su Ming looked up at the pitch-black sky. The bright moon cast its clear light, blending with the stars in the firmament. It was beautiful, yet it also gave those who looked up at it a sense of their own insignificance.

"People change... will I... change..." Su Ming watched silently, images of Bei Ling from his childhood surfacing in his mind.

"If one day I change... what will I become..." A look of confusion appeared in Su Ming's eyes. For a sixteen-year-old boy, this question was far too complex.

"Perhaps I will become a Barbarian Doctor as powerful as Grandpa, traveling the land with Xiao Hong, going to places I've never been, visiting tribe after tribe, healing many Barbarian people... Perhaps I might even become a Barbarian Duke... and then meet a woman I like, living with her. She would travel with me until our hair turned white... Xiao Hong would become Old Red... and then I would tell my experiences to Lasu in the tribe... just like how Grandpa often tells us about his life..." Su Ming smiled. His smile was clean, simple, and full of joy.

"Or perhaps... I could know my own origins and background..." Su Ming smiled, letting out a soft sigh.

"Lei Chen, I will not change!" Su Ming took a deep breath. Under the moonlight, upon this land of the Barbarian Tribe, he murmured words that only he could hear.

He was very certain, just as a youth always believes that the future is beautiful...

The night passed before they knew it. When the next morning arrived and the sky was just beginning to brighten, Su Ming and Lei Chen rose early to wash with snow water. The icy snow made their entire bodies shudder, leaving them feeling even more invigorated.

"According to the distance, we should be able to reach the Tribal Market by noon today." Lei Chen, who had been to the Tribal Market several times, rubbed the snow from his face and said to Su Ming.

Su Ming nodded. After they finished washing, they headed toward the rising sun on the horizon, speeding through the mountain forest.

The journey was smooth. By noon, Su Ming saw from afar that beyond the forest, there was a collection of many grass huts. The area was bustling with noise, and many Barbarian Warriors from nearby tribes were appearing there.

"We're here!" Lei Chen looked at Su Ming, casting a few extra glances at the basket on his back, though it was wrapped tightly in animal hide, preventing him from seeing what was inside.

Su Ming looked at the Tribal Market in the distance. It was large, comparable to a small tribe, though it lacked a fence. Instead, there were many strong, burly men watching the surroundings coldly, maintaining order and preventing wild beasts from charging in.

In the center of the Tribal Market stood a massive purple animal-hide tent. The security there was very strict, and it appeared that others were forbidden from approaching it.

"That is where the master of the Tribal Market resides. It is said he is a very powerful Barbarian Warrior who only receives the leaders of various tribes." Lei Chen whispered this introduction to Su Ming as they stepped out of the forest and walked toward the Tribal Market.

Su Ming glanced at the purple animal-hide tent once before withdrawing his gaze. Under the watchful eyes of the guards, he stepped into this place he had never visited before.

Just then, a cold female voice suddenly came from not far away.

"Lei Chen!"

Su Ming paused his steps, immediately noticing that Lei Chen, who was beside him, shuddered at the sound of that voice...