The next day, Chen Mu and Duoduo, whose eyesight had been restored, sealed up the cave where they had lived for more than five months and officially left.
Looking back at the Heavenly God Cave, with its bones strewn across the mountain and its eerie desolation, he felt as though a lifetime had passed.
He had come to save his sister believing he was certain to die, never expecting that disaster would turn to blessing and bring him a Talisman Master's inheritance.
Life's twists and turns were sometimes truly impossible to foresee.
Since heaven had given him a chance to live, perhaps it was telling him to use the power he had gained to protect the people around him?
At the thought, he tightened his grip on his sister's hand.
I can do it!
When Duoduo appeared at the entrance to Chen Village, the villagers immediately gathered around to stare.
"What's that child wearing on her head? It looks so strange!"
"Huh... isn't that Chen Duo? Didn't she become a divine servant? Why has she come back?"
"Quick, go tell the chief! A divine servant coming back to the village without permission will bring misfortune upon us!"
There weren't many people in the village, and soon everyone came running at the news. Chen Mu's aunt, his older female cousin and several other relatives hurried over as well.
It was Chen Shanxiong's turn to stand guard in the village that day. When he saw Chen Mu, he gave him a friendly smile and asked him to wait a moment. Before long, he took Chen Mu and his sister straight to the chief's house.
In the hall of the chief's house, several elderly men were present besides the chief, Chen Shanyu. They had evidently received word in advance and had been waiting in the hall for some time.
"Chen Mu, I've already discussed your situation with the clan elders. As long as you're willing to return to the village, I can arrange for Chen Duo to live on the mountain behind it and send people to keep her safe. Would that be acceptable to you?"
During the days Chen Mu had been away, Chen Shanyu had made a point of asking around about the profession of Talisman Master. After all, news rarely reached Black Rock Mountain, and outsiders seldom came in. No Talisman Master had appeared there in decades.
What he learned astonished him. Although Talisman Masters were not skilled at direct combat, they were the most sought-after talent a faction could have. The talisman papers, Rune Artifacts, and talisman formations they made could greatly strengthen a group. In the long run, even ten martial artists might not be worth a single Talisman Master.
Once he understood Chen Mu's value, Chen Shanyu immediately summoned the village's respected elders, and they decided to keep Chen Mu in the village and protect him, no matter what.
Chen Mu's wish to bring Chen Duo back to the village was the most hotly debated issue. The village's centuries-old traditions could not be changed under any circumstances, but if Chen Duo did not return, Chen Mu clearly would not return either.
Only at Chen Shanyu's insistence had they finally worked out this compromise: Duoduo would live on the mountain behind the village. That was the clan elders' final bottom line.
After listening to Chen Shanyu, Chen Mu glanced at the clan elders sitting upright in the hall and had a rough idea of what was going on.
"Chief, bringing Duoduo back this time wasn't something I decided to do on my own. It was the heavenly god's will!"
Chen Mu wore a devout expression and solemnly raised a hand to point at the sky.
The faces of those present changed slightly. A somewhat stout elder seated to Chen Shanyu's right could not help but scold him. "Chen Mu! Do you know that falsely claiming to speak for the heavenly god is punishable by burning? Don't speak recklessly!"
Chen Mu paid him no mind and grinned. "Before the heavenly god told me to bring my sister back, he cured her eyes. Whether I'm speaking recklessly or not, won't you know if you put her to the test?"
The clan elders looked at one another, clearly unconvinced. Only Chen Shanyu looked at the strange ornament on Chen Duo's face and fell into thought.
"In that case, Shanxiong, test Chen Duo's eyesight!"
Chen Shanxiong nodded and found several objects nearby. He had someone show them to Chen Duo from a distance, then asked her about their details.
After the tests, Chen Duo had, of course, answered every question correctly. Her eyesight was even sharper than that of most villagers.
The clan elders in the hall were astonished. They whispered among themselves, their faces full of disbelief.
"Impossible! For hundreds of years, no one has ever heard of a cure for this eye disease. How did he do it?"
"Could the heavenly god really have manifested his power? Was Chen Mu telling the truth?"
Chen Shanyu's eyes shone as he looked around. "Clan elders, since Chen Duo's eyesight really has been restored, I've decided to allow her to return to live in the village from this day forward. Does anyone object?"
Although there had never been such a precedent, the clan elders could think of no grounds for argument and had no choice but to accept it.
"Good! In addition, Chen Mu rendered meritorious service by killing a Black Water Tribe martial artist, and he is also a Talisman Master. I now grant him the title of 'Tribal Warrior,' and a talisman-making room will be built for him to study runes."
This had evidently been discussed beforehand. Everyone present nodded, and only Chen Mu was stunned.
The title of Tribal Warrior was an exceptional honor, granted only to those who had made special contributions to the tribe. At present, only two clan elders in the entire village held it. He had never expected it to be granted to him, much less that they would build him a talisman-making room.
But on second thought, he had an inkling that the chief valued his skills as a Talisman Master, so he accepted without demur.
"Thank you, Chief! I'll devote myself to studying the Dao of Talismans and make our Chen Village stronger!"
Chen Shanyu laughed heartily and exchanged a few pleasantries with Chen Mu before dismissing everyone.