After the crisis was averted, both upper and lower members of the Yuan Witch Clan felt exhausted.
After the battlefield was cleaned up by those left behind, the Grand Witch of the Yuan Witch Clan invited Yu Su and others to the temple.
The chief priest of the Source Shaman Division, with a slightly worried expression, asked the Shaman Yusu, "Witch doctor Yusu, in your opinion, will those demonic beasts come again?"
Yusu replied, "The Green-eyed Illusionary Butterfly controlling them has been eliminated. There should be no more demonic beast tide, but you still need to stay vigilant."
The chief priest nodded and decided to entrust one of the spirit stones to the captain on duty to avoid a situation like today.
After a busy night, everyone was tired and quickly went to rest. Yusu and Luyan stayed in the Source Shaman Division for three days, confirming the absence of a demonic beast tide. They expressed their intention to leave to the chief priest.
Despite several times that Yusu saved the Source Shaman Division, they were reluctant to see them go. The chief priest tried to persuade them to stay, but Yusu declined, stating, "As a witch doctor, I cannot leave the village for too long. It's time to go back."
After bidding farewell, Yusu and his party left.
On their way back, seeing the deserted villages again, they felt a heavy atmosphere. Knowing what lay behind the barrier of the Source Shaman Division, they quickly passed through Three Rivers Village, informing the village chief and then hurried back.
At the exit to the east of the mountain road was the patrolling camp of Yucun. The members of the patrol team were excitedly waving when they saw Yusu and his group approaching.
"Lord Yusu!"
"Lord Yusu and his party have returned!"
Yusu and his group stopped before reaching the patrol camp, exchanging greetings with the patrol team. Seeing familiar faces, the tension eased.
Ignoring the distant situation, they focused on relaxing for the moment.
One of the soldiers asked, "Are you patrolling today?"
"Changing shifts tomorrow, let's drink together when I get back."
The soldiers joked with each other, and Yusu dismounted with Luyan, entering the campsite.
The camp had a large building displaying detailed maps of Yucun and the mountain road. Yusu stood in front of the map, lost in thought.
Not knowing what was happening, others looked at Luyan, asking, "Leader Luyan, what's wrong with Lord Yusu?"
Luyan guessed Yusu was thinking about the demonic beast forest but didn't disturb him. He moved to the rest area with the others, discussing recent events.
"During this time, several teams from the eastern villages have come by. Besides Rice Village and others, teams from villages like Bear Butcher Village also visited, escorted by the patrol team. Sometimes it's every two days, sometimes every day, quite frequent recently."
"A few days ago, a team from the Barbarian Clan passed through here and hasn't returned yet."
At this moment, Yusu turned around and asked, "Where did they go?"
The captain of the patrol team replied, "They said they were going to Three Rivers Village."
"Three Rivers Village?"
Yusu looked at Luyan, who said, "We didn't encounter them on our way back. They might have taken another route."
With the vast plains and numerous roads, it was possible the Barbarian Clan team had chosen a different path to Three Rivers Village.
Yusu didn't dwell on it, glanced at the sky, and said, "Let's go back."
Luyan nodded, stood up, and walked out of the camp with him.
Seeing this, Yumeng and the others bid farewell to their chatting companions and followed Yusu, mounting their horses and heading back to the village.
...
After returning to Yucun, Yusu entered Deer God Mountain the next day.
During their absence, the man in the red robe they had brought to Deer God Mountain had awakened after consuming two rare spirit medicines from the Life Tree. However, he had encountered a small problem: amnesia.
Yusu sat on a stone slab, facing the curious red-robed man, and couldn't help but be puzzled. "You really lost your memory?"
The red-robed man nodded, looking embarrassed. "I know you saved me, and perhaps I shouldn't bother you all, but I truly can't remember who I am."
Yusu glanced at Qingze. "Mountain God, what about him?"
Qingze replied leisurely, "His injuries aren't fully healed yet. Once they are, he'll regain his memory."
Yusu looked back at the red-robed man. "Can't you recall where your home is?"
Regretfully, the red-robed man said, "I can't remember."
This situation surprised Yusu. After a moment of silence, he asked, "So, what do you plan to do?"
The red-robed man looked despondent. "I don't know. The world is vast, and I have no idea where to go."
Unanticipated, Yusu sighed. "Since that's the case, stay in Yucun for now. However, considering your previous injuries, I suspect you have enemies. To avoid trouble for the village, you need to change your appearance."
The red-robed man agreed, "That's not a problem. Thank you for taking me in."
Yusu muttered to himself, feeling like this agreement happened too quickly. Nonetheless, since he had saved the man, he couldn't just leave him to disturb Qingze's peace on Deer God Mountain.
Yusu added, "Yucun doesn't harbor idlers. You'll have to work."
The red-robed man nodded, "I understand. I'm quite resilient; tell me what to do, and I'll do it."
Yusu teased, "Would you be willing to kill and set things on fire?"
"Why not?" the red-robed man replied.
Yusu sighed. "First, change your appearance."
The red-robed man raised his hand, wiping his face. His originally handsome and flamboyant face transformed into an ordinary and decent one, even the mark on his forehead disappeared.
Yusu felt uneasy and asked Qingze, "Mountain God, won't he be exposed like this?"
Qingze calmly said, "No."
Yusu then told the red-robed man, "Change your clothes as well."
"I know, when in Rome," the red-robed man said.
Yusu muttered, "And also, Yucun doesn't tolerate lazy people. You'll have to work."
The red-robed man agreed, "I understand. I'm quite hardworking; just tell me what to do, and I'll do it."
Yusu teased, "Would you be willing to kill and set things on fire?"
"Why not?" the red-robed man replied.
Yusu sighed. "First, change your appearance."
The red-robed man raised his hand, wiping his face. His originally handsome and flamboyant face transformed into an ordinary and decent one, even the mark on his forehead disappeared.
Yusu felt uneasy and asked Qingze, "Mountain God, won't he be exposed like this?"
Qingze calmly said, "No."
Yusu then told the red-robed man, "Change your clothes as well."
"I know, when in Rome," the red-robed man said.
Yusu Mu wore a face and said, "You claimed to have amnesia, yet you understand the meaning of adapting to local customs and can use magic?"
The man in the red robe innocently blinked, "I just forgot who I am and where my home is, but I haven't forgotten common knowledge."
Yusu's mouth twitched; this amnesia seemed quite selective. He strongly suspected the man was playing him.
...
"Let's call you Chi Nan," Yusu said on the way back with the red-robed man.
The man in the red robe was puzzled, "Why this name?"
Yusu replied, "You are a man we picked up from the bottom of a pond. Doesn't Chi Nan sound fitting?"
The man in the red robe asked, "Is it referring to the south in geography or the male in gender?"
Yusu answered, "Male in gender sounds strange. Let's go with south in geography."
The man in the red robe, or rather, the gray-robed man now, looked at Yusu's back with a helpless expression, tacitly accepting the name Yusu gave him.
Yusu brought the man back to Yucun, introducing him as a guest he had recruited.
"Guest? What does that mean?" the people of Yucun were puzzled.
After Yusu explained, he suddenly turned to Chi Nan and asked, "What are you good at?"
Chi Nan smiled and said, "Does playing musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, and painting count?"
Yusu said, "Show everyone your skills so they can accept you. Someone, bring him paper, ink, and a writing brush."
Paper, ink, and writing tools were quickly brought in along with a table and chairs. It was apparent they wanted Chi Nan to demonstrate his abilities right there.
Chi Nan sat down obediently and painted a picture.
"Done," Chi Nan stood up, giving his seat to Yusu.
Yusu glanced at him and walked over to seriously examine the painting. He realized that Chi Nan had drawn a landscape of Deer God Mountain.
Yusu hadn't studied ink painting before and couldn't appreciate it, but he had basic aesthetics. Chi Nan's painting, even to an amateur like Yusu, was captivating.
The all-knowing spirit in Yusu's mind commented, "Master, this person is a master."
Yusu nodded and looked at Chi Nan. "Since you understand painting and literacy, you'll be the village teacher from now on."
It worked out perfectly; he needed someone to teach in his stead.
Chi Nan didn't refuse. "I'll follow the arrangements of the witch doctor, sir."
Yusu looked around and selected Vufeng.
"You help Mr. Chi settle in, and make sure it's close to the school."
"Yes."
Vufeng said to Chi Nan, "Please wait, Mr. Chi. I'll come get you after arranging your accommodation."
Chi Nan replied, "Thank you."
After Yufeng led the man away, Luyan came over.
"Is this the man in the red robe?" Luyan asked.
Yusu nodded. "How did you recognize him?"
Luyan replied, "You brought only one person from Deer God Mountain, and besides the Mountain God, there was only that man in the red robe." The Mountain God of Deer God Mountain disliked taking human form and wouldn't appear without reason.
Yusu said, "I had him change his appearance and clothing."
Then he explained Chi Nan's memory loss to Luyan.
Luyan furrowed his brow slightly. "He doesn't seem like someone with amnesia."
Yusu said, "I also think so, but according to the Mountain God, this person should stay. I believe the Mountain God must have a reason. As long as he doesn't cause trouble for the village, let him stay. Besides, we also happen to have a shortage of a teacher."
Since it was Qingze's decision, Luyan didn't say much more.
Yufeng quickly arranged accommodation for Chi Nan, right behind the school.
Chi Nan became the first official teacher in the school, and the students were curious about him. When Chi Nan moved into the school's backyard, they gathered to watch.
"Now that we have a teacher, will Lord Yusu still teach us in the future?"
"Lord Yusu said Chi Nan will teach us to read, write, and paint."
"Does he surpass Lord Yusu?"
"Are you talking nonsense? Lord Yusu is definitely more powerful."
Chi Nan heard the students' discussion but didn't take offense. He seemed to have a very tolerant temperament.
Yufeng cleared his throat and said, "They mean no harm, Mr. Chi. Please don't blame them."
Chi Nan responded, "Of course not. Witch Doctor Yusu is indeed formidable. To be honest, he saved my life; I owe him a great debt."
Yufeng was somewhat surprised by this revelation. He had thought Chi Nan was specifically invited by Yusu.