Yuan River

"This... the patriarch won't agree." Li Bin was a little embarrassed.

"Who said I won't agree?" The patriarch drew his voice, walked through the people who were looking at each other, came to Li Bin, and put a hand on Li Bin's shoulder, "From now on, you will be responsible for teaching Ah Che to hunt."

Everyone whispered, unbelievable.According to the family rules, wizards cannot participate in hunting, which is a rule that even the patriarch has no right to disobey.Of course, the family rules are determined by the patriarch, as long as the patriarch intends to set a precedent, he has the right to change the family rules at any time.

"Now, I am ordering to revise the family rules. From now on, Ah Che will learn to hunt with Li Bin, and other people can't discuss right and wrong about this. Do you understand?"

"Understood." Everyone quickly agreed.

"Father, what about the sacrifice?" Li Bin immediately responded and added matters.

"Ache is still in charge of offering sacrifices, after all, he is the only wizard in the tribe now." The patriarch frowned slightly, eyes like deep valleys.

"Okay. Now that my father has spoken, I promise to impart all my life's skills." The next day.

The gilt morning light evenly smears the gurgling water of the Yuan River.The surface of the river is sparkling, a vast expanse of blue, and occasionally grass carp emerges, spitting out a long string of crystal clear bubbles.The howling autumn wind mischievously jumped over the quiet Yuan River, broke into the tribe, shuttled among the tents of various colors, and stirred people's clothes.

"Brother, let's teach you fishing first. It's easier and safer than hunting. Let's go downstream together later." Li Bin wiped several bone fish darts repeatedly.

"Why does it have to be downstream? Isn't it okay to go upstream?" Ache asked.The downstream direction is extremely strange to him, but the upstream direction reassures him—it is the path to the primordial spirit.

"The downstream water flow is fast, the nutrients are sufficient, and there are many fish."

"Well, so fishing is best done downstream, isn't it?"

"Correct."

"Okay, brother, I listen to you."

"We waited until this afternoon to set off again, and we just arrived at the place in the evening to start fishing. At that time, the water temperature is moderate and the light is soft, which is the peak period of fish activity."

This was the first time Ah Che set out to go downstream, and it was also the first time he was able to walk side by side with Li Bin.He was impatient for the action, eager to show his skills.Everything seems to change inadvertently and become interesting.

After lunch, the two carried a few bone fish darts and went down the river one after the other.

Along the way, the vegetation on both sides of the strait became more and more lush, and from time to time, you could hear the singing of various birds echoing with each other.The current in Hanoi became more and more brisk and swift, smashing on the large reefs and traveling in curls.More and more small fish surfaced, looked around curiously, and quickly sank back into the water.

"Brother, let me tell you the story of your hunting time now." A Che said enthusiastically.

"Haha, it's been three years since I first went to the hunting ground. There were a lot of interesting things during that time. Which story do you want to hear?"

"Just tell me about the time when you killed the saber-toothed tiger alone. Your glorious deed that time is still talked about by many people in the tribe. But I want to hear about it yourself, big brother.

"That time...it's really overrated." Li Bin turned his head and looked straight at Ah Che, as if he wanted to see Ah Che into his bones, and then he casually moved his eyes away and looked into the distance. The mountains and rivers are picturesque. , Charming like a king, "It was the autumn two years ago, the leaves were withered, and it is like today. There was a saber-toothed tiger - it needed enough food. It happened that the hunters of the tribe had just returned from hunting that day, and they were proudly marinating raw meat The smell of raw meat stimulated the hungry tigress, she hesitated again and again, and sneaked in desperately.

"Unfortunately, as soon as it came to the raw meat, it was discovered by Mi Shi who was passing by. She was shocked and couldn't help screaming loudly. The tigress thought her screaming was a demonstration to herself, so she bowed without hesitation. Standing up, ready to launch an attack. At the same time, the men in the tribe rushed over. They took up their spears one after another, crowded in front of Mrs. Mi, and confronted the tigress with swords.

"As time passed, the two sides were at a stalemate. I made a judgment-under the circumstances, attacking the saber-toothed tiger from behind is the most deterrent. I planned to drag a few brothers to go around behind it, but after careful consideration, I finally Still acted alone and finally acted alone."

"Ah? Why? Wouldn't it be safer to call a few more people?" Ah Che's heart suddenly twitched, completely oblivious to the fact that what Li Bin was talking about was in the past.

"They all huddled in front of the saber-toothed tiger - this seemingly most dangerous place is actually the safest place! It is impossible for a saber-toothed tiger to attack more than a dozen adult men with spears, but it will take the opportunity to eat all our food!"

"You mean to say that brothers are greedy for life and afraid of death?"

"Brother, one day you will understand that this is human nature," Li Bin sighed softly, and continued, "That day, the next day, I walked around behind the saber-toothed tiger alone, and it only stared at the people in front of it, so it didn't I found me. I lay down on the ground, aimed at the throwing spear from behind, and the spear was accurately inserted into its heart, and it suddenly became violent, turned around and rushed towards me in shame."

"I scrambled and dodged, yelling, 'Brothers, light the fire! Burn it!' They rushed to the fire to get some fire. The saber-toothed tigers came upon me one after another, which provided the brothers with The opportunity for the fire to attack. When it cut back, I rolled away, and when I looked up again, it was already on fire."

"It was burned to death?" For some reason, Ah Che felt unbearably uneasy.

"Correct."

"What happens to its cubs when it dies?"

"Usually die, too."

"Is this... pitiful?"

"It is the law of nature that the strong dominate the weak."

"For many years, whenever you returned from hunting, the old witch would take me to save the dead prey."

"Well. You have worked hard."

"Brother, actually, do you think...does a person really return to the soul after death? Instead of wandering in all directions, or disappearing in ashes?"

"I'll probably go back. After all, I've been wandering enough in my lifetime. To be honest, I don't really care. But who knows? You're not a psychic, I'll come to play with you when I'm free after I die, haha."

"..."

"We've arrived. Brother." Li Bin stopped.

Ah Che was taken aback when he heard the words, then looked around and focused his attention on this moment.

The surface of the river stretches flat, suddenly widening, with a rainbow-like momentum.The river flows leisurely and contentedly, pouring directly into a scattered reed field.The sun is setting, the breeze is coming, and the white reed flowers are swaying with the wind in the sunset.The elegant white swan flapped its huge wings. During the chase and play, it drew a few traces on the mirror-like river surface, which looked like ink painting.

Li Bin skillfully tied the bone fish dart to the front end of the wooden handle, and double-checked that the tool was assembled firmly.Then, holding the wooden handle with both hands, he held it up high while staring intently at the bottom of the water to observe the movement of the fish school.

"Ah!" Suddenly, a pebble flying from behind precisely hit Li Bin's temple.He screamed and fell heavily.

Archer was taken aback.There is no bird or beast in this world that knows how to use stones to attack prey, so only humans can attack in this way.

A Che didn't have time to think about it, he hurriedly dragged Li Bin and hid in the reeds.He poked his head, secretly observing the direction from which the pebbles were flying.

A slender figure, playing with a few stones, approached unhurriedly.

Li Xin!

Ah Che couldn't believe his eyes.Why is she here?Did she follow her and knock Li Bin unconscious, or did someone follow her and knock Li Bin unconscious?Either way, it's deeply disturbing.

"Ache, it's me." Li Xin's voice was always clear and sweet, but at this moment it was terrifying.

Ah Che fell silent into the reeds, not daring to breathe, his forehead was covered with bead-sized beads of sweat.

"I'm Li Xin, come out." Li Xin slowed down her tone.

Although I don't know why Li Xin wanted to murder his brother all of a sudden, it's definitely not a good idea to come out at this moment.

"Oh, let me tell the truth. Li Bin wants to kill you." Li Xin spread her hands helplessly.

"What! Tell me clearly first!" Ah Che was taken aback.

"Last night, the patriarch conspired with Li Bin to get rid of you while teaching you to go hunting. I heard this with my own ears.

"Last night, the patriarch and Li Bin conspired to get rid of you while teaching you to go hunting. I heard this with my own ears."

"Last night at the bonfire party, the patriarch, who has always been respectful, went uncharacteristically and allowed you to learn to hunt. I felt something was wrong. So, I followed them until midnight."

……

"Bin'er, when I was teaching Ah Che to hunt, I took the opportunity to kill him." The patriarch's dark pupils flashed a bit of coldness, and then he gestured to cut his throat.

"Father, dare to ask—why?" Li Bin was full of disbelief.

"He is very popular in the tribe, and he especially pleases women. If he is spared, it is not known who will be the leader of the tribe, you or him after I die."

"Father, no matter what, I will never take the life of my brother for my own selfishness."

"Bin'er, I have always admired your generosity. It's just that this matter is of great importance, and it is by no means a personal matter. Just imagine, after I die, who can make the tribe flourish and have surplus food for the winter? If Ache becomes the patriarch, I'm really worried about the livelihood of hundreds of people in the tribe. Good boy, listen, if you don't get rid of Ah Che, there will be endless troubles, I hope you will consider the overall situation."

"But...he is the Son of God."

"Do you believe in God?"

"Of course I believe that after death, a person will rest in peace at the source of the Yuan River, and leave his life to wander."

"Do you fear God more, or Me more?"

"Follow the patriarch in life, and return to the primordial spirit in death."

"Okay. Then I want you to use a knife to send Ah Che back to God immediately. Then, you try to slowly carry the future of the tribe."

"Yes, Patriarch. I will kill him this time."

"You don't lie to me."

"One promise, one promise, one promise. This is the leader's principle that you have taught me, father."

……