Guidance

On the morning of the third day after Su Ming returned to the tribe, the group gathered at the tribe's central training ground, led by Grandpa. Grandpa still wore his coarse cloth robe, his white hair plaited into many braids. He looked vigorous as ever. His gaze swept over Bei Ling, Lei Chen, Su Ming, and a girl about Su Ming's age.

The girl was named Wula. During Barbarian Awakening, it had been discovered that she possessed a Barbarian Body. Several months had passed since then, and she had reached the peak of the second layer of the Blood Condensation Realm. She seemed on the verge of condensing an eleventh blood line and becoming a third-layer Blood Condensation Barbarian Warrior.

Behind Grandpa stood two more people. One was the tribe's Scout Leader, Bei Ling's father. His sturdy frame was like an iron tower, and his bright eyes held a gentle warmth.

The other was Shan Hen, the leader of the hunting party. His expression was cold, as if he never smiled. The beast hide he wore only added to his fierce bearing. He had never been one for many words, but most of the tribe's Barbarian Warriors held him in the highest regard. His hunting party protected the tribe and supplied its food, making him a man of great standing among them.

"Our Wu Mountain Tribe is small and cannot compare with the Fengzhen Tribe. Every few years, we must pay tribute to them to show that we honor them as our leaders. In past years, I rarely went myself. This year, I'll make the trip in person. Besides our Wu Mountain Tribe, the Black Dragon Tribe, the Black Mountain Tribe, and several other, more remote tribes will gather at Fengzhen.

"This journey will be a test for you. Whether you can stand out among your peers from other tribes, whether you can uphold the name of our Wu Mountain Tribe—that will depend on you.

"I chose you because you are the finest of our tribe's younger generation. Gaining some experience will greatly benefit you in the future.

"Bei Ling has gone twice before and knows some of the details. You can ask him about them." Grandpa's hoarse voice echoed through the area.

Bei Ling quietly acknowledged him. His gaze fell on Lei Chen, then on the girl named Wula, and finally on Su Ming, who stood off to one side. Bei Ling frowned.

"Grandpa, will there be a... Grand Trial like the last two times?" Bei Ling hesitated before respectfully asking. When Grandpa nodded, a glint flashed in Bei Ling's eyes, and he pointed at Su Ming.

"Grandpa, I suggest Su Ming stay behind. He isn't a Barbarian Warrior. Even if he goes, he won't gain anything or be of any help. We should leave the spot for another clansman."

As soon as Bei Ling said this, Lei Chen's eyes turned hostile. He strode forward, raising his voice in protest.

"Since when can't someone go just because he isn't a Barbarian Warrior? Bei Ling, what do you mean by that?"

The girl called Wula remained calm. Her gaze passed over the silent Su Ming, a trace of scorn in her eyes, but she said nothing.

"Grandpa, each time we pay tribute, only four members of the tribe's younger generation can take part. In past years, I was the only one from our Wu Mountain Tribe to place in the top fifty of the Grand Trial. With Lei Chen there this year, perhaps he can do it too. Even Wula, though her cultivation isn't high, may reach the top hundred. She had nine flashes during Barbarian Awakening.

"That would already be much better than our results in previous years. Wouldn't it be even better if one more person could make the top hundred? Su Ming would simply be wasting a spot." Bei Ling spoke calmly, not even glancing at Lei Chen, who was glaring at him.

"Su Ming won't take part in the Grand Trial. I'm bringing him for another reason," Grandpa said slowly.

Bei Ling was about to say more, but the Scout Leader standing behind Grandpa shot him a fierce glare. Bei Ling swallowed his words at once. He had been afraid of his father ever since he was a child.

"All right. We don't have much time. Let's go." Grandpa raised his right hand and grasped at the clear sky. Thunder rumbled overhead, shaking the heavens in every direction. The white clouds above them instantly turned black.

At the same time, a Barbarian Mark made up of countless blood lines appeared clearly on Grandpa's face. It depicted a Black Python. As soon as the mark appeared, the black clouds above seemed to be stirred by an invisible hand. They gathered together in the blink of an eye, transforming into a gigantic, fearsome Black Python dozens of zhang long!

The sight shook Lei Chen and Wula to the core. They stood frozen. Bei Ling, meanwhile, barely managed to keep his composure, forcing himself to remain cold.

Su Ming stood to one side, staring at the colossal Black Python. He drew a deep breath, longing in his eyes.

The Scout Leader standing behind Grandpa gazed at the enormous python with reverence. Shan Hen, too, watched it, a flash of fervor passing through his eyes.

The python had taken solid form, every scale on its body clearly visible. An overwhelmingly powerful aura rushed from it. The python tossed its enormous head. Its red eyes had been filled with ferocity, but the fierceness slowly faded, replaced by gentleness. It descended from the sky, lowered its head, and obediently curled up beside Grandpa.

Grandpa lifted a foot and climbed onto the python, standing on its head.

"Come on up."

Bei Ling leaped up first and settled cross-legged on the python's back. Lei Chen and Wula followed. Su Ming hesitated, then jumped up as well. He was about to move back and sit with Lei Chen when Grandpa's voice reached him.

"Su Ming, come sit beside me!" Grandpa's voice held a hint of sternness. Su Ming grimaced and went to his side. The moment he sat down, he saw Grandpa glare at him.

"Grandpa... I was wrong... I really was..." Su Ming hurriedly whispered.

Grandpa ignored him. Once the Scout Leader and Shan Hen had climbed onto the Black Python, he raised his right hand and swept it through the air. The python threw back its head with a roar, then flew straight up toward the clouds.

The tribe below grew smaller at a visible pace. Before long, it had dwindled to a tiny speck. As the Black Python climbed higher, fierce winds howled like rolling thunder, and Su Ming's face instantly paled.

Lei Chen and the others fared no better. At that moment, the Scout Leader and the leader of the hunting party stood guard over them, one near the middle of the python's body and the other near its tail.

As for Su Ming, the gale left him struggling to breathe. But soon, a gentle force enveloped him. Grandpa had released his aura, allowing Su Ming to endure the discomfort of his first time in the sky.

"You know you were wrong? What did you do wrong? Wasn't it Lasu from the Black Dragon Tribe who borrowed five thousand stones from you and left his spear as collateral?" The wind howled around them, but Grandpa's words reached Su Ming clearly. Grandpa's aura veiled them, so none of the others on the Black Python could hear.

"Well..." Su Ming looked awkward. After returning to the tribe, he had rushed to tell Grandpa what happened. He had not expected Grandpa to turn grim as soon as he finished and scold him at length. Grandpa had even taken the spear away, leaving Su Ming sighing in his own hut, unable to figure out what he had done wrong.

"Grandpa, I really was wrong... I shouldn't have taken Sikong's Barbarian Artifact. I shouldn't have let greed get the better of me..." Su Ming grimaced, watching Grandpa's expression as he spoke cautiously.

"And I shouldn't have made him write that blood oath. Sigh... Grandpa, I know I was wrong." Su Ming gazed imploringly at Grandpa.

"Oh? Are those all your mistakes? Nothing else? Think again. What exactly did you do wrong?" Grandpa glanced at Su Ming and spoke slowly.

Su Ming froze, then scratched his head without thinking. There seemed to be some deeper meaning in Grandpa's words. Had he made another mistake besides those?

Su Ming furrowed his brow and thought hard for a while. Suddenly, a cold glint flashed through his eyes, and he jerked his head up.

"Grandpa, I understand now. I should have killed him, disposed of the body, and taken the Barbarian Artifact!"

At Su Ming's words, Grandpa's pupils visibly contracted. He stared at Su Ming, as if he were no longer looking at the boy before him, but at something Su Ming could not understand.

"Oh? Why do you think that was the mistake? And why should you have killed him?" Grandpa slowly asked, watching Su Ming.

"Because he wanted to kill me! You don't know, Grandpa, he really was going to kill me. If I hadn't been careful, you wouldn't be looking at me now. But... but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I thought that if I really killed him, it would bring trouble to the tribe..." Su Ming recalled what had happened a few days ago and still felt a lingering fear. After hesitating, he explained in a low voice.

"You were right... Su Ming, remember this: if you ever encounter someone who means to kill you, you must snuff out the danger before it can grow!" Grandpa closed his eyes. After a long while, he slowly opened them. His gaze toward Su Ming had softened with affection.

"But that isn't the mistake I meant. Think again. What else did you fail to consider? Killing someone is easy, but how do you keep yourself safe afterward? How do you find a way out when you're trapped in a crisis with no escape?" Grandpa spoke softly as he looked at Su Ming.

Su Ming scratched his head. He was still a boy. For all his impressive abilities, he was still just a boy. He understood some of Grandpa's words, but most of all, he was confused.

"Think about it. Don't rush to give me an answer. Tell me when you understand. You must learn to think, learn to reflect." Grandpa closed his eyes.

Grandpa often did this while Su Ming was growing up. His guidance had played a crucial role in shaping him.

Su Ming's eyes grew thoughtful as he recalled each moment of that day, from the spear that had shot at him outside the Black Dragon Tribe, to Sikong's pursuit, and finally...

Time passed slowly. Before long, half an hour had gone by. They were still some distance from the Fengzhen Tribe when a fierce wind swept toward them from afar. The Black Python shuddered, making everyone on its back jolt as well. With that sudden jolt, a bolt of lightning seemed to strike through Su Ming's mind.

"Grandpa... I understand..." Su Ming murmured, a cold sweat breaking out across his back.