Qingze only appeared for a short while and then disappeared.
The villagers, however, remained prostrate for a long time before getting up, their faces excited and flushed.
The gaze upon Yusu became more eager. Yusu went to Deer God Mountain, and the Mountain God appeared. What did this signify? It meant Yusu hadn't lied; he was truly the one favored by the Mountain God!
"Will Yusu be the next witch doctor?"
"Definitely."
Only Yuda, Yuhu, and the witch doctor present had unpleasant expressions.
The witch doctor's sharp and gloomy eyes were filled with ill intentions towards Yusu.
Yusu wasn't foolish; he knew he had offended the witch doctor. With such intense hostility, they wouldn't peacefully coexist.
However, he wouldn't just sit back; he had a plan.
Firstly, he addressed the punishment for Yuda and Yuhu. They tried to escape, but Yufeng's men held them down, efficiently cutting off one hand from each.
Two miserable screams echoed across the open mountains, yet no one sympathized. They brought it upon themselves.
After punishing Yuda and Yuhu, Yusu addressed everyone, "I have something important to tell you."
Everyone quieted down.
Yusu said, "You have worshipped the Mountain God for generations, and now is the time for repayment. Next, I will teach you a way to become stronger, allowing those among you with destiny to become as powerful as I am."
What, become as powerful as Yusu?
Everyone was shocked.
The village chief couldn't wait to ask, "Yusu, is what you're saying true?"
Yusu earnestly replied, "Of course, you all just witnessed the appearance of the Mountain God."
Yes, the Mountain God appeared before everyone for the first time, indicating that Yusu truly had the Mountain God's approval to impart the method of becoming stronger to them!
"Thanks to the Mountain God's blessings!"
The villagers knelt down again, bowing towards the direction of Deer God Mountain.
The witch doctor remained motionless. As one of the smartest people in the village, he keenly sensed a tremendous change in Yusu's status. It was more frightening than Yusu becoming the next witch doctor. He had to stop this.
"Yusu, this is your own initiative. You're just a little kid. Don't you know that throughout generations, only witch doctors are allowed to learn the abilities taught by the Mountain God? What you're doing will only make everyone offend the Mountain God and face its punishment!" The witch doctor sternly proclaimed.
The people, who were bowing, stopped, looking at the witch doctor, somewhat confused.
Yusu secretly sneered. This was something he taught; it wasn't the actual teachings of the Mountain God. Punishment? What a joke!
Facing the witch doctor's challenge, Yusu remained calm, shaking his head, "Master Witch Doctor, that's in the past. Besides, the Mountain God has imparted the method of becoming stronger to me, not to you. Have you ever considered the reason?"
The witch doctor's face changed, "What do you mean?"
Yusu continued, "I don't want to embarrass you. Some things are better left unsaid. If you don't believe this is the will of the Mountain God, then come with me to see the Mountain God."
Yusu dared to say this because he anticipated the witch doctor wouldn't dare to go.
Even if the witch doctor dared, Yusu had a way to get through with Qingze.
Indeed, the witch doctor, seeing Yusu's calm and fearless expression about meeting the Mountain God, began to feel anxious.
As for the others, hearing Yusu's implied words, they couldn't help but look at the witch doctor.
They couldn't help but wonder, if the witch doctor was still alive, why didn't the Mountain God tell him the method of becoming stronger? Instead, it was given to Yusu. Was it possible that the witch doctor had done something to anger the Mountain God, as Yusu hinted?
The skeptical gazes felt like sharp knives on the witch doctor, making him panic. As the village witch doctor, if he couldn't gain the trust of the villagers, the consequences would be severe, and he understood this better than anyone.
He gritted his teeth, secretly resenting Yusu for being cunning.
Now, the immediate priority was to appease the villagers. He couldn't let them doubt the legitimacy of his role as the village witch doctor.
Therefore, the witch doctor suddenly burst into tears, showing a painful expression. "You don't need to save face for me. I know this is because my body is aging every day, and my energy is not as vigorous as before. The Mountain God chose not to assign me this task because of it. That's fine; I won't stop you. If you don't do well, let the Mountain God punish me. Although I'm old and useless, I can still bear the Mountain God's wrath for you."
"Master Witch Doctor!" Many people were moved, their eyes teary.
Yusu's mouth twitched. This old fox was quick to react.
But by doing this, the witch doctor admitted to his aging uselessness while acknowledging Yusu's status. In the future, if he wanted to use the witch doctor's power to create trouble for Yusu, it would be impossible.
In this confrontation, the witch doctor had already lost.
The all-encompassing elf was puzzled: [Do you really want to teach these villagers to cultivate?]
Yusu: [Yes, I want to establish a sect.]
Yusu: "Let's talk about that later. Now, we need to change the current situation in Yucun. Don't you miss the convenience of life during its heyday?"
All-encompassing Elf without hesitation: [Miss it!]
Yusu: "So we need labor first, and I have an idea."
After hearing his plan, the all-encompassing Elf couldn't help but say: [You're quite cunning.]
Yusu smiled slightly: "Is that all? I have even more cunning plans. Do you want to hear them?"
All-encompassing Elf: [...]
**
Yusu let the villagers go back first and returned to Deer God Mountain to tell stories to Qingze.
He told stories for two full days, and Yusu's throat was nearly worn out.
"Mountain God, in a few days, I'll go to the Salt Village with the villagers to exchange for salt. I don't know when I can come back. If I'm late, please don't be angry. When I come back next time, I'll tell you stories for two more days." Yusu discussed with Qingze.
Qingze wasn't very happy, but he didn't refuse.
Yusu, seeing its extraordinary appearance, really wanted to touch it, but he didn't have the courage.
"Also, I borrowed your name earlier to teach the villagers some body-strengthening methods." Yusu reported what he had done to Qingze, even though he felt Qingze probably already knew.
As expected, Qingze looked at him with a gaze that said: "You've already done it without asking for permission, so why tell me?"
Yusu laughed: "I knew the Mountain God would be the most understanding. I heard from the village chief that there are precious bead fruit trees in the Black Flame Valley. I'll explore the Black Flame Valley when I go to the Salt Village this time. Although I don't know if I can get close to the precious bead fruit tree, if I can, I'll definitely pick some to offer to you."
Qingze's deer eyes brightened a bit, and it signaled Yusu to come closer.
Yusu, not understanding, still obediently approached.
Qingze touched Yusu's hand with its antler, leaving a green leaf-shaped mark on Yusu's hand, which then disappeared.
Yusu, surprised: "What's this?"
Qingze told him that it was its protective mark, for use when necessary.
Yusu's speculation was confirmed, and he happily bowed to Qingze, "Thank you, Mountain God!"
**
"Is Yusu like this?"
"Yusu, why can't I sense the spiritual energy you mentioned?"
"Yusu, I've been practicing for two days, but why hasn't there been any change?"
"Yusu..."
Yusu was called "brother" more and more, and he realized that teaching these primitive people to cultivate was not as easy as he imagined. Two days had passed, and not a single person had made a breakthrough.
He explained until his mouth was dry, and they still looked at him blankly.
He couldn't help but complain to the all-encompassing Elf, "Do these primitive people not use their brains?"
All-encompassing Elf: [Cultivation is never easy. Even during the peak period, many people took months or even years to sense the existence of spiritual energy. A larger portion never found the key to cultivation in their entire lives. You, with your cultivation speed, are already a genius among geniuses.]
Yusu: [...]
He remembered that his previous teacher did say that his talent was outstanding even during the peak period.
"But this can't go on. If they can't sense the spiritual energy all along, how can I realize my vision? The old witch doctor will laugh at me."
[You're too impatient. It's only been two days.]
Feeling that this approach wouldn't work, Yusu spent some time reviewing the cultivation progress of each person. He then selected three individuals for intensive training.
He couldn't believe that it was really that difficult.
"Brother?" During dinner, Yuzhou was pinched and examined by Yusu, looking puzzled.
Yusu was assessing Yuzhou's physical fitness and concluded that Yuzhou was too thin. He decided to wait until Yuzhou was more robust before discussing cultivation.
"Nothing. Brother is going to the Salt Village tomorrow. You know where the food is at home, and you remember all the instructions, right?"
Yuzhou nodded vigorously, "Remembered."
Yusu rubbed his head, "Well, remember the most important thing. Your life and Dad's life are the most important. If something happens, save yourself first. We'll talk about other things when I come back."
"Okay!"
After instructing Yuzhou, Yusu prepared to leave and visited Hongshan and several other nearby families to deliver the items he brought. He asked them to help take care of Yuzhou and Jian Yunchuan when he was away.
Although Yushi could take care of them, she was still a woman, and with two children to care for, she might not be able to attend to everything.
People who received Yusu's things were pleasantly surprised and said that they would take care of Yuzhou and Jian Yunchuan, even if Yusu didn't bring these things. After all, Yusu's current identity was extraordinary.
Yusu: "Accept it. It's a little token of my appreciation."
After completing these tasks, it was time to set off for the Salt Village. This time, the team going to exchange for salt was quite large. Not only the village chief and Yufeng, but Yusu also saw the witch doctor and Yuda's family of three in the team.
TLN: Why are you reading and you are not voting 😭 should I stop translating?