The Survival of the Wild Tribe

67

Luo Zhen gazed at the two crystal fruits he had received from the massive antler horse. They were oval, emerald green, and translucent, resembling beautiful gems, but surprisingly soft to the touch.

Now, Luo Zhen knew the name of the huge staghorn horse: Lu Ming.

Initially, Lu Ming intended to gift one crystal fruit to Luo Zhen as a token of gratitude for returning the injured staghorn horse and hoped to trade it for the Tai Sui root. However, exchanging Tai Sui for just one crystal fruit was out of the question, especially since the staghorn horse had already consumed one of their roots. In the end, Lu Zhan managed to acquire two crystals from Lu Ming's possession. Of course, the outcome was that they were both swiftly expelled by Lu Ming's enormous antlers.

Despite Tai Sui roots being rare, could their energy compare to that of Jingguo? Eventually, Lu Ming agreed to the exchange because his race would still require the assistance of these two individuals in the future.

As they bid farewell to the staghorn horse herd, which always escorted them out of the forest, Luo Zhen mounted Lu Zhan's back. After leaving the center of the staghorn horse territory, curiosity overwhelmed Luo Zhen.

"A Zhan, what is Jingguo?"

"It's the fruit produced by plants absorbing excess life energy. It's a precious item, rare in these parts," Lu Zhan replied, licking his lips. Although he had tasted Jingguo once before, when he was much younger, he still remembered its flavor vividly. Initially, he received the Jingguo from his father, a half-beast from an ordinary family, along with the ability to transform. However, the crystal fruit he had consumed was a beautiful azure blue, unlike the emerald green ones they now possessed.

Lu Zhan shared his past experience of consuming Jingguo with Luo Zhen, showing a willingness to reveal even the most forgotten details in front of him.

"He warned me not to use my second beastification form in front of outsiders after I ate the Jingguo, or I might be killed," Lu Zhan added casually, as though speaking about someone else. "As it turned out, he disappeared the next day."

Luo Zhen inquired, "Are you planning to search for him? He mentioned wanting to cross the Black Forest, indicating that he hailed from beyond it."

Lu Zhan shook his head, neither confirming nor denying his intentions.

"Then, which fruit contains more energy, Jingguo or Tai Sui?" Luo Zhen asked, warming Lu Zhan's reddened ears with his hand and adjusting his hat to shield them from the biting wind.

Lu Zhan shook his head, explaining that since he hadn't consumed Tai Sui, he couldn't make a comparison. However, he had no intention of consuming the two crystal fruits now. Considering Luo Zhen's recent exhaustion and newfound ability to identify plants, they decided to keep the fruits as a potential remedy for future emergencies.

"Lu Ming claimed that Tai Sui can heal even the gravest injuries. Do you think it could help Hei Ya's foot injury?" Luo Zhen asked, prompting Lu Zhan to abruptly halt in his tracks, causing Luo Zhen to bump into him.

Despite Lu Zhan's outward appearance of strength, his muscles were like steel plates, and even Luo Zhen questioned whether his own nose might collapse upon impact.

"Are you serious? Tai Sui could heal Hei Ya's leg injury?" Lu Zhan's concern for Hei Ya, who had been caring for him, was evident. Growing up without parents, he relied heavily on Hei Ya's support, making Hei Ya's safety a top priority.

Luo Zhen's proposal intrigued Lu Zhan, who was now even more determined to rush back and try the Tai Sui on Hei Ya's injury.

Upon returning to the tribe, Luo Zhen advised against immediately informing Hei Ya of the news. Instead, they retired to their house, where Luo Zhen planted a small piece of Tai Sui in a pot of soil behind the wooden structure. Only then did they proceed to Hei Ya's dwelling to summon him and Horn Bamboo.

The Hei Ya household, comprising Hei Ya, Horn Bamboo, and several other family members, including a veteran and his son, A Qing, was soon assembled.

Luo Zhen preferred to keep Tai Sui's existence discreet. If Hei Ya's leg were indeed healed, he would credit his own abilities rather than divulge the involvement of Tai Sui. After all, the tribe's healers possessed the ability to alleviate various ailments, and revealing Tai Sui's role might diminish Luo Zhen's standing among the people.

Furthermore, Tai Sui's extraordinary properties warranted caution against potential dissent from others. Without Lu Zhan's protection, Luo Zhen was just an ordinary individual with no legal recourse in case of conflict, making it imperative for him to exercise prudence in his actions.

When Horn Bamboo arrived carrying Hei Ya, he assumed they were to discuss trap strategies. However, upon hearing Luo Zhen's revelation, Hei Ya initially thought it was a fantasy.

"Great Witch, do you truly mean what you say?" Hei Ya exclaimed, his voice trembling with anticipation as he rested his hand on his injured foot, eyes fixed on Luo Zhen, hoping for a positive confirmation.

Horn Bamboo knelt beside Luo Zhen, his voice quivering with reverence as he echoed Hei Ya's sentiments. "Luo Zhen, is it true? Can you really heal Hei Ya's leg? Restore him to his former fighting prowess?"

Luo Zhen was taken aback by their fervor but maintained his composure. He explained, "It's possible to treat his leg injury, but I cannot guarantee a full recovery."

Desperate to help Hei Ya, Horn Bamboo expressed his willingness to become Luo Zhen's guardian warrior, a solemn oath of eternal protection. Moved by his devotion, Black Cliff intervened, pledging to be the one to undergo treatment, should it be necessary.

Luo Zhen advised caution and requested Hei Ya to return the following night for further observation. Despite the excitement, he tempered their expectations, emphasizing that the treatment's success remained uncertain.

Hei Ya's injury was severe, with most of the skin on his leg missing. Although unsure of the exact dosage, Luo Zhen administered a piece of Tai Sui, cautioning Hei Ya to return the next night for assessment.

"Please don't reveal the witch's ability to heal leg injuries to others after you leave," Lu Zhan interjected before they departed, underscoring the need for secrecy regarding Tai Sui's miraculous properties.