Ya Kun led Ming Shin to the hall and went ahead and stood behind Chief Li Kui. As the latter stood awkwardly in the hall, Li Kui gestured him to take a seat to her left.
A seat was quickly arranged and the previous matter which they were discussing was held off temporarily. Ya Jun informed the members in the hall of the ins and outs of Ming Shin's appearance nearby.
Some people sympathized while others still doubtful. But everyone had one thing in common. Since their location was discovered, he had to be either eliminated or forever locked down here and not allowed to go out.
Though Ming Shin could not guess accurately, he could make out by the various eyes and their expressions that the situation would not be favorable to him. Looks like my request to leave will not bode well for me. Once I leave, I can be ambushed and killed or a beast attack can be provoked by them in my way of escape.
First I need to exactly figure out the layout of this place, then find the number of people, their strengths and weaknesses, ways to go out and most importantly I need to maintain contact someone one the inside whom I can trust.
While he was racking his brains to attempt all possible situations and feasible solutions, he heard someone calling him. Ugh...I have to remember my name is Ju Hai now.
"Ju Hai !!" Li Sha called.
"En? Sorry, I spaced out as I saw so many people after a long time" Ming Shin replied embarrassedly.
"Anyway, now that you have recovered, do you have any plans?" Ya Kun asked the former.
Everyone was hearing to what sort of answer he would give. Should he request to leave this place, then it would seem a majority of them would make sure to do whatever is necessary to keep their tribe safe.
Ming Shin replied with vigor "I have never known what I was supposed to do. But since I was saved by you, I shall repay my favor".
This answer was unexpected by almost everyone including Li Kui. Some of them who were suspecting Ming Shin with bad intentions could not help but think again. He doesn't seem to be willing to leave.
"And how shall you plan on doing that" Ya Jun was intrigued.
"Please also advise senior" the former kindly asked.
" With your strength and judging from your wounds, you should be able to escape from a level 2 beast if not fight without major injuries. Your small body also allows you to be agile" Li Kui commented.
Everyone nodded as they made a similar observation.
"Hence you shall temporarily be trained to be a scout. Anything to say?" the latter asking while looking at him and also asserting the other people present.
Ming Shin could not anticipate that the best solution is still devised by the chief. He was no fool. He could tell that Li Kui observed his act and still decided to play along and even presented an opportunity.
This also cut off anyone's idea of cornering him. Should I be grateful to her or is she that confident that I cannot leave? No matter what, my situation is much more better than any I envisioned.
Many people were caught with a sudden decision by the chief. They could not deny the suggestion without any valid reason, but on the off chance the chief made his circumstances so good, must there always be a reason? they were seriously pondering on it.
Ming Shin expressed his satisfaction to be trained as a scout and he was soon led out by someone to the scouting department.
As soon as he left, the hall seems to be engaged in small murmurs and questioning the reason behind chief's decision. Li Kui knew the situation was helpless and revealed what made her decide on that.
"The child of doom" she replied with heaviness.
All the people including Li Sha and the Ya brothers were dumbstruck.
One of the elder asked with grave expression " How sure are you? " after all, this is said to be a legend passed on for so many generations since the tribe existed.
" I'm not sure. I know it's him" she remarked remembering all her interactions with Ming Shin during the day and mainly the crucial thing with him.
All the people were suddenly red eyed " So, it is then. The time has come". After a brief thought, the resumed their previous discussion before the arrival of Ming Sin.
"Before, that kid Ju Hai seems to be accidentally involved in a beast attack which was flocking towards the convoy" one person started.
"En, it was also puzzling to me. Why would all the beats make a sudden retreat when they have not even reached the border" another person was perplexed.
As people started discussing more and more heated discussion and various possibilities and outcomes, Li Kui faintly said " Don't bother, with the involvement of the child of doom, such things are bound to happen more in the future".
When it was linked that way, it sure made sense to them. After all it seemed to be a huge variable which could tip the scale in unexpected ways.
With another discussion going on, the latter was lost in her thoughts.
"Grandma Nan, please don't talk, rest well and don't strain yourself" a twelve year old girl was sobbing near a bed. On the bed was a very old woman who seemed to lived for centuries and now seem to be as frail as a chicken.
"No, the time has come Kui. It's time you k-knew of our tribe's past" the grandma who seemed to be on her deathbed explained slowly stuttering for a long time explaining the history of Li tribe and its purpose.
"F-Finally Kui, there will come a day when a man w-who can withstand our p-power shall come to u-us. It might be in your generation o-or the n-next, or the future generation. B-but come when h-he may, that will be the beginning of o-our salvation" cough cough
"Only he can g-get us out of here. T-the day we shall g-go back to our h-homeland..." she muttered while feeling the life going away from her soul.
Li Kui still remembers every small detail that night and she was not prepared to meet the said benefactor of their tribe so soon and that too in her generation. Somewhere deep down, a small hope was planted of reaching their homeland.
The meeting was dismissed and soon everyone left to attend their tasks. They were solemnly warned not to leak anything to anyone outside this hall. The ten members including Li Kui, Li Sha, the Ya brothers were the only people who know such deadly secret.
Meanwhile Ming Shin was already taken to the scouting department nearly two miles from the place. Throughout the walk, he could sense various people in different hiding locations, sometimes even under the ground.
If he did not possess the shiny marble inside his head, he couldn't imagine how many times he can be successfully killed if not fatally injured. Soon there appeared a small arch with the lettering " Scouting department".
When they first entered , Ming Shin observed young people in various groups, some communicating through hand signs, some climbing high spots with agility, some completely controlling their breath, some just plain hand-hand combat fighting.
One of the middle aged men who gave a kind appearance observed one of the person leading a new guy who was never seen before to the area.
The escort immediately bowed " I have seen Vice Chief Li". Li Tian is the vice chief of the entire scouting unit.
"Hoh? And who is this little girl?" the latter asked while looking at Ming Shin's refined and smooth skin.
The escort twitched trying to suppress his laughter "His name is Ju Hai. Orders from Chief Li Kui that he shall be trained as a scout" he immediately conveyed the message.
After sending the escort away, the former asked " With this frail body and tender skin, did you think it would be easy to get into the scouting unit rather than the warrior unit?".
"No, I was asked to be a scout as my strengths were recognized" Ming Shin felt annoyed at everyone jumping to conclusions just by looking at him.
"And what would they be?" the former asked while moving around the field and observing various candidates training.
" I can see well " the latter replied without a haste.
"Ohh? Now that's definitely someone we need it at the core of the unit. How many people are there in the field now?" he asked leisurely as if ready to accept the wrong answer.
Ming Shin did not even take a second to say " there are seventy five people in my view".
The former was visibly surprised that his eyesight was definitely good though there seem to be something amiss.
" No, you are wrong but what a great observation. There are only seventy thre-" he continued to guide the junior when he saw the latter smiling at him meaningfully.
In the corner of his eye, he caught a tree rustling and the chief and his son seem to have just arrived from outside. 'What terrifying skills. This boy is a treasure' he felt excited marveling at his ability.