Jun Fang was whistling happily in his car while driving along the long road leading outside of the city.
His watery black eyes gleamed with happiness.
It had been three months since he heard from the renovation team that his house was finished. After receiving the call, he immediately handed in his resignation letter to the hospital where he worked and quickly packed his bags, setting off happily for his new life in the countryside for retirement.
Jun Fang was only twenty-nine years old, the youngest surgeon. He had acquired most of his medical knowledge from his grandfather and Peking University in Beijing, both in traditional medicine and Western medicine.
After years of working day and night without a break, he decided to retire early since he had already saved enough money to sustain himself for a lifetime.
As his car drove along the long, desolate road with nothing but vast, endless trees on either side, he finally stopped at a stop sign and looked both ways before turning his car right.
He spotted a red bridge just ahead as he was driving, but suddenly, he was caught off guard as a reindeer appeared out of nowhere and hopped in front of his vehicle. With wide eyes, he quickly turned his car, causing it to veer off the road. A curse escaped his mouth when he realized he was about to crash into the river. He tried to stop the car, but it was too late.
The forceful inertia caused his head to bend and bump harshly against the steering wheel until he blacked out. He knew he was going to die, and the only thought in his mind before losing consciousness was: "Damn you God, I haven't spent my money yet!"
The scene became peaceful once more, but in the sky, a single faintly visible star shone brightly.
****
"Huff! Huff! Huff!" heavy breathing emanated from a man with thick eyebrows. His eyes sharply scanned his surroundings before locking onto his target. He clenched the stone spear in his hand.
"Keki, go to the other side. Surround the Tusk beast!" a deep voice called from behind. Keki turned and nodded in response, quickly following the order.
"Captain, what should we do? The Tusk beast is about to reach the Dead Forest!" another voice piped up. It belonged to a thinner man with a scar on his right cheek. His animal skin skirt barely covered his skin. The thin man looked at his captain, who frowned and gritted his teeth.
The captain, who had given orders to Keki a minute ago, was pondering the situation. Although the Tusk beast had a hefty body and tiny legs, it couldn't be underestimated. It was faster than the Long-ear beast that could hop around. They couldn't allow it to escape into the Dead Forest, where a group of King Wolves inhabited.
"Everyone, make sure to surround the Tusk beast in a circle!" said Ling.
"Yes, captain!" the other seven men responded.
"Yun, go follow Keki!"
The thin man, Yun, quickly complied. He prayed to Father God that they would capture the Tusk beast so their tribe wouldn't starve for another week. The image of his son, Ubo, lying weakly in the tent fueled his determination. Whatever it took, he would capture the Tusk beast to provide meat for his son again!
Ling, who was at the back, didn't lag behind his men. Using his strength, he boosted his speed until he was closer to the beast. His long, wild silver hair flowed behind him. Raising his arm, his muscles bulged as he threw the spear with powerful force. But the Tusk beast, as if sensing danger, swiftly dodged. Ling's face tensed up. He quickly retrieved the spear from the ground and chased after the beast. One by one, the men around him also threw their spears, but the Tusk beast proved cunning, evading every danger.
The wild group of men shouted and cursed. The Tusk beast changed its direction, but fortunately, Ling had foresight when the beast turned, and it met with Keki and Yun. They were in its path and immediately threw their spears. This time, the Tusk beast couldn't dodge. And just like that, the tips of the stone spears penetrated its thick flesh. It struggled, but Ling swiftly finished it off with a powerful blow to the head. The Tusk beast's legs ceased moving.
"We've got meat!" one of the men shouted. A cheer erupted from the group of hunters. Some knelt on the ground and thanked Father God, especially Yun, who not only bowed but also shed tears and snot.
Ling sighed in relief. He wiped the sweat from his muscular body. His chest heaved from exhaustion. Pulling the bloody spear from the creature, he knelt down and scooped up the spilling blood to drink. The men followed suit, drinking until their energy was replenished.
Wiping his bloody mouth, Ling said to his hunters, "Let's go; we should head back before it gets dark." The men retrieved their spears, with four of them carrying the dead Tusk beast. They couldn't help but weigh it, delighted to feel its weight, which meant more meat. Wow!
As the group cautiously walked through the forest, Yim, another man scanning their surroundings, caught a glimpse of something.
"Captain, there's someone over there!" he exclaimed, pointing in a direction. The men halted, and Ling followed Yim's pointed finger. In the distance, in a puddle of mud, they saw a person lying unconscious. It was unclear whether the person was alive or not, but they could see their chest rising and falling as they breathed. Everyone stared with uncertain expressions, unsure whether they should attempt to save the person.
Ling, with a composed face, took action. He instructed his team to stay put while he checked the unknown stranger. Carefully, he approached, remaining on high alert for any potential ambush. Hearing no sounds and seeing no suspicious movements, he relaxed slightly. As he got closer, he wiped the mud from the stranger's face, feeling the smooth skin against his rough hand. He froze for a moment, and then his gray eyes focused on the person's slim, petite frame and unusual clothing. He also noticed a red bump on their forehead, causing his expression to tighten.
He glanced around to check for any weapons on the stranger but found none, convincing him that this person posed no threat. With this assurance, he put his mind at ease and gently lifted the unconscious person. As he did so, he watched as their long, black hair cascaded down.
Although his face remained serious, he couldn't help but think, "Very light."
Seeing their captain carrying the stranger back with him, the hunters didn't say anything, but internally, they couldn't help but worry that they might not have enough food for the long winter. They hoped that the other team had also caught something.
****
After a long journey, as they caught sight of their tribe in the distance, their bodies immediately relaxed. Someone from the tribe spotted them and shouted to alert everyone. Women and children emerged from the animal tents, their thin, haggard faces filled with joy. The elderly and the disabled cheered as well. Another figure emerged, an elderly man wearing an animal skull on his head. His gray eyes gleamed with wisdom, and he was wrapped in musky, aged animal skin blankets. This was none other than the Great Priest Humo of the Skull Tribe.
The tribe members gathered around Ling's team, with most of them admiring the Tusk beast carried by Fung, Ban, Lin, and Fan. The four men proudly displayed their catch. Unlike his tribespeople, the priest focused his attention on the person Ling held in his arms.
"Ling, who is this?" He wore an uncertain expression on his aged face.
The silver-haired man shook his head. "I'm not sure, but he poses no threat. We found him unconscious in the forest. Priest, can you help him?"
"I see," the priest rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I'll examine him for any injuries, but his recovery may depend on the Mother God."
Ling nodded in agreement. "Take him to my tent."
As Ling carried the unconscious person into the priest's tent, a cry of joy echoed from behind.
From a distance, the tribe members saw another group of men approaching and their faces lit up with happiness. They hurried toward the newcomers.
These new arrivals were another group of hunters from the Skull Tribe, and it appeared they had also caught something. In the hands of two men were four Long-ear beasts.
One man stood out among them; he also had silver hair. Unlike Ling, his hair was neater, and his face held a gentler expression.
"Leader, you're back!" Fung shouted with delight.
And so did everyone else.
Ning gazed fondly at his tribe, a small smile gracing his face. He nodded and inquired, "Where's my brother?"
"Ah, you mean Ling. I saw him go into the priest's tent," one of the hunters replied.
Ning furrowed his brows. "Is he hurt?"
Yim decided to answer, "No. We found a person in the forest."
"A person?" Ning frowned. "Here, take these Long-ear beasts. We'll distribute them once my younger brother returns."
Ning didn't pay much attention to the Tusk beast. He walked over to the priest's tent and quietly entered. Inside, he saw the priest examining the unknown person.
Priest Humo nodded. "Hmm, there are no wounds on his body except for the bump on his forehead. This person should be fine," he informed Ling.
Ling saluted the priest as a sign of gratitude. Ning decided to take a closer look at the stranger his brother had chosen to save.
He observed the long, smooth, black hair resting on animal fur and the delicate, mud-covered fair skin. The stranger's features were small and delicate, resembling a harmless creature. There was no hint of aggression on his face.
Ning didn't realize he had been staring for so long until his brother called out to him.
"Ning!"
"Hmm?" Ning blinked and looked at his calm brother, a questioning expression on his face. It was hard to believe that Ning was the eldest among the three brothers, as Ling had a more mature appearance, and Ning exuded a gentle demeanor. Their younger brother's appearance is more surprising.
"I see you've captured the Tusk beast. Congratulations, brother. Pity, I was hoping to see your disappointing expression toady," Ning said with a smile.
Ling scowled and rolled his eyes, inwardly sighing at his brother's teasing. Even as the tribe's leader, his older brother still enjoyed poking fun at them. Ling wasn't one to often display his emotions on his face. It wasn't his fault if his prey managed to escape; after all, if hunting were easy, they wouldn't still need to hunt.
Beside them, the priest chuckled at the brothers' antics.
"Roar!!"
Ning's ears perked up, and he smiled. "Well, it seems our younger brother is back…it doesn't sound like he's very pleased."
****
Outside the priest's tent, a tall, burly man glared at everyone. The people tried to calm him, but he kept growling and snarling. The man's wild, silver hair covered his face, and the red color tainting his rough features almost looked as if he was ashamed. His posture resembled that of a wounded animal, and his big hands on the ground clenched the dirt into fists. There were bloodstains on his skin and animal skirt.
Beside the burly man were two men supporting each other, both with long, bloody scars on their arms, yet they didn't seem to be in pain.
When the priest saw this, he frowned but didn't say anything. He knew that those wounds would heal eventually in a few days, luckily the wounds weren't too deep. He was more worried about Fing's mentality. The poor boy hadn't caught anything for weeks now; the pressure must have been hard on him.
After the three brothers' parents died, he had watched and raised them as his own. He knew that Fing was the most sensitive one out of the three brothers, despite his big physical appearance.
It was rare for someone like the priest to have such compassion in this dark era where humanity could be treated as food. For most tribes, they would usually leave orphans in a cave and let them depend on themselves. When food was scarce, these vulnerable children would be the first to be eaten.
But the Skull Tribe was different, perhaps because the tribe's ancestors were once slaves who escaped from their imprisonment, along with the old and weak abandoned by their original tribe. It was a miracle that the Skull Tribe still stood today. Due to their background, the tribe don't allow anyone to own or become a slave when joining the tribe.
Seeing their younger brother's 'timid' look, both of them glanced at each other with understanding. Clenching their hands, they harshly punched their younger brother in the face, their way of comfort and encouragement instead of relying on soft words. This way, the hunter's pride won't be wounded.
Fing didn't react to the pain. He just stared at his brothers for a moment and then reacted with a low growl. He straightened his posture as if saying he wouldn't sulk anymore and would do better next time.
Both Ning and Ling sighed in relief, happy that their brother wasn't depressed anymore.
While on the outside, Fing looked calmer, but inside, his heart still couldn't help but feign disappointment. Seeing the catch his brothers caught, he clenched his fists.
"Alright, everyone, gather up! We will now distribute the meat!" announced Ning.
Everyone cheered with happy faces.
After Yun got back, he quickly went to his tent to check on his son. Looking at his son's thin appearance and small stature, tears welled up in Yun's eyes. This was his only son left by the woman he loved.
Every child in the tribe looked like this. The cruel world and limited food barely left them to survive.
Gently carrying his son, who was breathing softly, Yun felt the light weight and couldn't help but burst into tears. His wife was just as light as his son, and she had died quietly in her sleep without him noticing until the next day.
"Ba...ba?" a soft voice called out.
"Baba is here, Ubo. Baba brought you some meat."
The small child, who could barely open his eyes, weakly asked, "Meat?"
"That's right, meat. Baba will go get it now, okay? So you must stay awake, okay?"
Ubo, listening to his father, nodded.
Yun gently put his son down on the animal skin. He quickly rushed out to get his and his son's share of meat, fearing that if he's too late, his son will return in the arms of the Mother God.
Once the meat was distributed, everyone sat on the dirt ground and chewed on the raw meat with happy expressions. The elderly struggled to eat because of their teeth, but they were still happy to have something in their stomach.
The loudest were the men; they laughed and talked about their hunts with exaggerated motions, while everyone listened and watched them. Laughter echoed through the tribe.
Ning also smiled at the lively scene. After he finished his meat, he saw his brother Ling standing up with some leftover meat. Seeing him heading towards the priest's tent, Ning's eyes flashed. He also stood up and followed, wondering if the unconscious person was awake.
Fing, who was bitterly chewing, noticed his brothers' actions and also followed them with curiosity, wondering why his brothers were standing up.
****
When Ling entered the tent, he raised his head and then froze. His eyes landed on the figure sitting with their back turned to him.
The person twitched and slowly turned around. When Ling's gray eyes met the gentle, clear black eyes filled with surprise and curiosity, his heart skipped a beat. For the first time, his stoic expression was dumbfounded.
Never in his life had he seen such deep black eyes that seemed to scan his soul.
The other individual opened their beautiful lips and asked, "You…um, where am I?"
Those words snapped Ling back to reality. The silver-haired man replied, "You're in the Skull Tribe."
As Ning and Fang entered the tent, they heard the boy's melodious voice.
Jun Fang inquired, "Who are you?"
"Ling. I am Ling," he replied, walking closer to Jun Fang and kneeling down. Ling offered a portion of the raw meat he hadn't eaten yet, saying, "Here, eat."
Ning motioned for Fang, who growled and huffed before leaving the tent to summon the priest.
The mysterious individual's bright black eyes shifted to the meat held in front of him. Ling felt a nervous tension in the air.
"Do-do I eat it like this?" Jun Fang asked with a perplexed expression.
Ling nodded, feeling nervous. "Yes, like this."
"…I-I'm sorry, but I'm not hungry yet," Jun Fang hesitated. "You can have it if you want."
The refusal left Ling still, resembling a dejected puppy unsure of what to do, even stealing glances at his brother for assistance.
Ning also took a seat. "You should eat. My brother hunted the Tusk beast. It's uncertain when we'll get to eat meat again," he calmly informed. Observing the stranger's furrowed eyebrows, Ning felt a sense of unease.
Ling even examined the meat in his hands, wondering if it was spoiled. He had never encountered someone who refused to eat meat before.
****
Upon waking up, the first assault on Jun Fang's senses was a foul smell. His face twitched, brows knitted, as he encountered an odor like none he had ever experienced. As a surgeon, he was accustomed to the scents of blood and hospital antiseptic, but the overwhelming stench around him seemed as though it hadn't been cleansed for ages.
Opening his eyes, he waited until his vision came into focus. His lips stiffened at the sight that greeted him. Surrounding him were old animal skins layered and piled, some so deteriorated that flies buzzed around them.
A moment of discomfort passed through his heart when he realized what he was lying on, and his skin suddenly felt itchy. Examining himself, he noticed he was covered in mud.
After adjusting his mindset, the slight unease in his heart vanished. He quickly deduced that he was in some kind of animal tent; someone must have saved him and brought him here.
Relieved to find that he wasn't dead, Jun Fang pinched himself for reassurance. A hiss escaped his lips as he felt the stinging pain. Okay, yes, he is definitely not dead.
While distracted, he suddenly heard a noise. Turning his head calmly, he was stunned looking at the man in front of him. There was a silence before he opened his lips: "You…um, where am I?"
Observing the half-naked man, draped only in a strip of animal skin around his lower body, Jun Fang scanned his features. The man possessed long, spiky silver hair, and his cold countenance had the potential to unsettle anyone. His eyes, as gray as the clouds, contributed to an overall appearance that seemed almost European.
"You're in the Skull Tribe."
When Jun Fang inquired about the man's name, he received the response, "Ling." While Jun Fang had also taken note of the other two individuals entering the tent, his attention swiftly diverted to the raw meat being offered to him.
A sense of bewilderment swept over him, leaving his heart flustered as he pondered why the man was presenting him with raw meat.
"Here, eat."
Eh…?
"Do-do I eat it like this?" He asked, perplexed.
The man nodded. Naturally, Jun Fang immediately tried to politely refuse the offer. He saw the wounded look on the man's face, which suddenly made him feel bad.
Another man, who looked almost like the man in front of him except with tamer silver hair, sat down and gently said, "You should eat. My brother hunted the Tusk beast. It's unsure when we will get to eat meat again."
Jun Fang was not stupid; becoming the youngest surgeon was not for show. Looking at these men and this place he was in, his intuition told him he wasn't at home anymore: this was not Earth.
Aware that he was supposed to have died in that car accident, Jun Fang was suddenly reminded of an intern at the hospital gossiping about a transmigration book or something similar. This notion struck him as a possible explanation for his current situation.
Contemplating this, he found himself somewhat adrift. Yet, he couldn't label it as 'homesickness' per se; after all, his grandparents had already departed from his previous world to join his parents, leaving him without any family members to await.
As Jun Fang reached for the raw meat, he hesitated upon noticing his grimy hands, suddenly realizing they were still caked in mud. Wearing a somewhat sheepish expression, he inquired, "Could you place the meat on something first? I'd like to clean up a bit."
Observing his flushed cheeks, a faint smile graced the corners of Ning's lips. Unidentifiable emotions swirled in his eyes, leaving even Ling captivated by Jun Fang's bashful countenance.
Witnessing Ling's agreement, Jun Fang sighed. However, a new conundrum surfaced as he realized he didn't know where to wash up. He inquired, "Hey, do you happen to know where I can clean up?"
Before Ling could respond, Ning interjected, "There's a shallow stream of water near the tribe. I'll take you there."
Jun Fang nodded in acknowledgment.
Ling couldn't pinpoint the source of his vexation, but an inexplicable irritation welled up within his heart.
When Jun Fang stepped out of the tent, he froze at the sight of a desolate "village" before him. Animal tents lay in disrepair, some appearing as if they'd weathered a storm. Not far from his location, a scant population of people clustered together, consuming raw meat with strangely gleeful expressions, their mouths smeared with blood. To any unsuspecting observer stumbling upon this scene, it might have resembled a gathering of cannibals, likely prompting an immediate swoon of terror.
Jun Fang stood momentarily stupefied; his attention more acutely drawn to their malnourished forms. He gazed at the setting sun with a crying expression, fully aware that his future from this point onward would be fraught with desolation.