Grandmother Shrine

The clanspeople brought home their loved ones' bodies and buried them on the mountain in grief. Their spirit tablets were all placed in the ancestral shrine.

However, Wenlong suggested that his grandmother's spirit tablet should also be placed in the Ancestral Hall.

The Ancestral Hall had always enshrined male ancestors. Since when had a woman been admitted there? His uncles and father all objected.

Wenlong said, "If the grandmothers hadn't given their lives to hold the last line of defense, if those two aunts hadn't given their lives carrying you uncles, would you still be standing here talking?"

Seeing that his uncles had fallen silent, he continued, "We must never forget how the grandmothers and aunts gave their lives for our people. If you won't let them into the ancestral shrine, that's fine. We can build a separate Grandmother Shrine, so future generations will remember what they did."

After speaking, Wenlong looked toward the mothers and aunts, seeking their opinions.

The mothers and aunts nodded one after another, their eyes full of emotion and approval. The uncles exchanged looks. Though they still hesitated, Wenlong's words had moved them too.

Wenlong's father spoke slowly. "Wenlong is right. We must not forget what the women did for us. Building a Grandmother Shrine will also let our descendants know that the women made enormous sacrifices for the Lineage too."

As the newly appointed clan chief, Wenlong's father could settle the matter with a single hammer blow by stepping forward to speak now.

With the clan chief's support, the uncles no longer objected. Everyone began discussing where to build the Grandmother Shrine and how to go about its construction.

Working together with one heart, they soon chose a secluded spot as the site of the Grandmother Shrine Hall.

On the day construction began, everyone in the clan came to help build the Grandmother Shrine Hall.

Before long, the Grandmother Shrine was completed, and the spirit tablets of the grandmothers and aunts were solemnly placed inside.

On every day of ancestral rites, the clanspeople came to the Grandmother Shrine to honor their deeds.

From then on, the women of the clan had a memorial place of their own.

Their stories and spirit would be passed down through the generations on this land.

The Grandmother Shrine grew ever more solemn and dignified. Led by their elders, the clan's children often came before it to listen to accounts of the grandmothers' and aunts' heroic deeds.

Among this ancient Lineage's younger generation, some proposed that, since the women's contributions had been recognized, the women of the clan should also have more say in Lineage affairs.

The proposal stirred considerable waves. Some conservative uncles opposed it, but more people remembered the meaning embodied by the Grandmother Shrine.

After a heated discussion, the clan finally decided to grant women a measure of decision-making authority.

From then on, the women of the clan participated more actively in Lineage affairs. With their wisdom and courage, they continued writing the Lineage's glorious story.

The Grandmother Shrine also became a symbol of the Lineage's heritage and progress, breaking through old barriers to rights that many women had never even dared dream of.

In the future, it would inspire generation after generation of clanspeople to unite as one and forge bravely ahead.

Spring arrived, and Wenlong stood alone on the mountaintop, gazing at the village below.

Every clansperson wore ragged clothes, and he himself was wrapped in animal hides, looking for all the world like a wild man. Food was scarce too, leaving them neither fully fed nor entirely starving. A pang of sorrow rose in Wenlong's heart.

To change things, we have to grow crops and raise livestock. Only by growing grain in this village can we keep everyone fed and clothed.

With the clanspeople's abilities, hunting every day still isn't enough to feed them all. If I face a savage beast myself, all I can do is run.

As things stand, we can't afford any more injuries, and there's less and less game in the nearby forests. If this goes on, our people will starve to death before the Kai even come to attack.

Fortunately, spring had arrived. Gathering wild vegetables and mushrooms eased the food shortage for the moment.

I'm not strong enough yet. Going out now would only lead to death.

The most important thing is to master martial arts as soon as possible, strengthen our people, and escape this fate of being hunted down.

But the food shortage is even more urgent. People could starve to death. It looks like I'll have to make a trip to Wan Family Town.

Wenlong sighed, then turned and entered the secret passage in the Ancestral Grounds. He hoped to familiarize himself with the martial arts manual as soon as possible, so he would be capable of launching a surprise raid on Wan Family Town.