The medical skills of the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan were renowned throughout the mountains and seas. With renowned divine physicians like Qi Bo and Yu Fu by his side, people from external tribes often came seeking medical treatment. Even members of the Nine Li Tribe would travel thousands of miles in secret to seek his aid.
However, no one would be so imprudent as to head straight for the military fortress of the Youxiong Clan tribe.
As the eldest son and the leader among his siblings, Xuan Qi held absolute authority in Xuanyuan’s absence.
He scrutinized He Mu and the others.
All six of them wore distinctly modern clothing, but with the addition of identity documents like tour guide certificates and Traveler’s Passes, they appeared to others no different from ordinary tribal people, as if viewed through a natural filter.
His gaze finally settled on the sickly man sitting in a strange chair. Pointing at him, Xuan Qi said, “You may request an audience with the chief, but you must first pass a trial.”
Nu Ba and the others echoed in agreement, “Only those who pass the trial may meet the chief.”
Offering a trial meant offering a chance.
He Mu immediately responded, “We are willing to undergo the trial.”
Since arriving in this era, He Mu had taken several deep breaths of air. Though its purity differed greatly from that of 1.7 million years ago, it still carried fluctuations of Spiritual Qi that could be absorbed and utilized.
But Lu Lang was gravely ill, and He Mu felt it necessary to prepare on two fronts: absorbing Spiritual Qi and seeking medical treatment.
With many seekers of healing, the Youxiong Clan tribe had developed a set of procedures to handle them, known as the trial.
The first stage was to endure a group beating without retaliating. Any act of resistance would be considered a failure.
The second stage was to carry stones across a river. The river contained long worms, and those who feared them and refused to enter would fail. Those who successfully crossed would pass.
In simple terms, it was about enduring beatings and fearing no death.
Upon hearing the rules clearly, He Mu nodded. “Let’s begin. I will take part in the trial.”
Xuan Qi shook his head. “Not just one person. Everyone must participate.”
He Mu’s expression darkened. She wasn’t afraid of being beaten, but what about the others?
Lu Lang also grew concerned. He Mu and Lu Shiyan were his students, and they were willing to help him, but the others had no relation to him and likely wouldn’t be willing.
As expected, Lu Shiyan immediately said, “I have no problem. How could I miss out on an effort to save our teacher?”
Zeng Keyu added, “I can participate as well.”
Li Dashan fell silent. He was here to travel, not to endure beatings.
Sheng Yang was even more direct: “I’m not a masochist. I have no inclination for suffering. Whoever wants to get beaten up can go ahead, but I don’t want to be hit.”
He Mu pondered for a moment before asking Xuan Qi, “Can we form a defensive formation?”
Xuan Qi nodded in agreement.
He Mu then said, “Teacher, Old Li, and Sheng Yang, you three stay in the inner circle. Lu Shiyan, Brother Zeng, and I will protect you from the outer circle. Is that acceptable?”
Li Dashan and Sheng Yang had nothing more to say.
Thus, He Mu and the others were led to a wide grassy hilltop on the neighboring mountain, far from the castle.
Three stood inside, while three on the outside linked arms, forming a spherical formation to withstand the attacks.
Cang Lin rubbed his hands together and, along with several soldiers, began punching and kicking. They showed no favoritism, treating He Mu no differently despite her being a woman, striking with equal force.
They felt a natural affinity and goodwill toward He Mu and the others, but they bore the responsibility of guarding the tribe. The consequences of leniency due to a momentary lapse in judgment were something no one could afford.
Yet, the sensation of each punch differed.
He Mu was as hard as bedrock; a single strike against her left the puncher’s knuckles aching.
Lu Shiyan was also tough, though not as strong as He Mu, so his punches weren’t as painful.
Among the three, Zeng Keyu ended up looking like the easy target, and fists increasingly gravitated toward him.
Zeng Keyu strained to endure, his face flushed from the rush of blood, sweat beading more heavily on his forehead, his expression growing more contorted.
He Mu said, “Change formation!”
The shift in formation hadn’t been prearranged. Zeng Keyu’s eyes flickered with confusion for a moment before He Mu and Lu Shiyan pushed him into the inner circle.
He Mu and Lu Shiyan now shielded four people, widening the gap between them. Cang Lin and the others cunningly aimed kicks through the openings, targeting the softer Sheng Yang.
After a few kicks, Sheng Yang was driven to tears.
He Mu and Lu Shiyan exchanged a glance and immediately changed formation again. Instead of huddling together with their backs to the attacks, they turned to face Cang Lin and the others head-on.
They didn’t retaliate, but they used their own bodies to block every punch or kick before it could land.
Cang Lin and his group moved fast, but He Mu and Lu Shiyan moved even faster, managing to intercept every strike.
Nu Ba watched He Mu with a light laugh. “Truly fascinating. I’ve never seen such a tenacious and spirited woman in my life.”
She then turned to Xuan Qi, her voice softening slightly. “Brother, look—isn’t it time?”
There was a time limit, but it hadn’t been reached yet.
Xuan Qi raised his hand. “Enough. First trial passed.”
With Xuan Qi’s verdict, Cang Lin and the others stopped.
Cang Lin and his men walked back with their hands behind their backs, expressions grave, as if holding back frustration.
Nu Ba chuckled teasingly. “Little brother, didn’t get enough of a fight?”
Only then did Xuan Qi notice the swollen, bruised, and bleeding knuckles on Cang Lin and the others’ hands. He suddenly realized Nu Ba had called an early stop not to go easy on them, but out of concern for Cang Lin and his men.
Cang Lin stubbornly retorted, “How could that be? I could take on ten by myself. I just think we could adjust the rules a bit—like allowing some weapons.”
“Not allowed.”
Xuan Qi refused. “Bare-handed combat is the chief’s intention, meant to teach restraint so we don’t harm the seekers excessively, which would be counterproductive.”
He added, “The first trial tests the seekers’ will, not their ability to injure. The second trial is the crucial one.”
Cang Lin fell silent, sulking as he returned to his group.
Meanwhile, He Mu and Lu Shiyan finally caught their breath, both collapsing exhausted onto the grass.
He Mu gazed at the sky, breathing unevenly, and asked, “Lu Shiyan, does it hurt?”
Lu Shiyan shook his head. “You didn’t make a sound. How could I possibly feel pain?”
He Mu turned to look at the space between Lu Shiyan’s eyebrows. “I have the system’s support, but you… is it because of that Divine Deer?”
He Mu still remembered that early morning when a Five-Colored Spotted Deer had appeared in Lu Shiyan’s tent and vanished into his forehead in an instant.
Lu Shiyan shook his head gently.
He knew nothing of any Divine Deer. All he knew was that after returning from his first trip, his body had begun to change.
“Ah, you two warriors must be exhausted. Come, get up quickly.”
Li Dashan and Sheng Yang, having been protected by He Mu and Lu Shiyan, eagerly stepped forward to help them up.
Zeng Keyu stood not far away, his expression troubled, filled with regret that he had been outperformed by two students.
Lu Lang, seated in his wheelchair, was already moved to tears—grateful that He Mu and Lu Shiyan had gone to such lengths for him, yet hating his own helplessness for holding them back.
Next, He Mu and the others were led to a nearby river to begin the second trial.
By the riverside, six baskets were prepared, each containing a large, round stone. In the river, there were water snakes, leeches, and other creepy creatures.
“Plop—”
Xuan Qi tossed a pebble into the water. The moment the splash rose, the water snakes hidden beneath the surface eagerly poked their heads out, flicking their tongues as they stared at the people on the shore.
Xuan Qi said, “If you pass this second trial, we will allow the patient to receive treatment.”