Chapter 117

Chapter 117

All written characters were identical.

Writing exists to record.

If a character’s definition remains constant, then that writing system is valid.

"Goddess, may I learn?" He had seen writing in other tribes before, and upon seeing it, his heart stirred.

It was a feeling more intense than his ambition to become chief. Yet, he still voiced his confusion, "Goddess, why is our writing different from that of other places?"

Even after seeing other scripts, he found theirs more elegant.

"Because the gods gifted this to us." Chu Mi hadn’t expected A Li to ask her with such curiosity, so she provided an answer.

A Li stared at the characters, realizing his abruptness. "Goddess, I know I overstepped earlier. Can you teach me the characters? I’m willing to do anything for you."

"Writing belongs to everyone." Chu Mi would agree to teach anyone who sought knowledge.

If only one person knew the writing, it wouldn’t truly be writing. If others couldn’t recognize it, any records made would just be gibberish.

...

A Li paid close attention, learning with unexpected focus.

When Chu Mi announced the end of the lesson, A Li quickly asked, "Goddess, will you teach us more later?"

"I’ll teach when I return. As for the Central region, I’m not sure yet." Chu Mi pondered for a moment. The Central territory was foreign, and if she arrived proclaiming her knowledge of writing, few would likely engage with her.

A Li felt let down but reassured himself that there would be chances to learn later. "Goddess, may I seek your guidance privately?"

"I’m always happy to teach eager students." Chu Mi looked at A Li with a pleased and affectionate expression. His rare enthusiasm for learning made her more than willing.

Hearing this, A Li felt a surge of joy and silently exhaled in relief, determined to study hard.

...

After the lesson, Chu Mi called for everyone to return home.

She also began packing her belongings, as her storage space held plenty of supplies.

The next day, Chu Mi left with only some clothes. She stored the silkworms in her space, planning to use them for weaving once she obtained a loom.

When Chu Mi departed for the Central region, the villagers from the front settlement gathered to bid her farewell. "Goddess, come back soon."

"Don’t worry, I’ll return before winter." With that, Ying Jin then lifted her onto Black Lightning, and Chu Mi nodded.

Black Lightning didn’t reject Chu Mi, and Ying Jin swung up behind her, keeping her steady.

Chu Mi waved goodbye to the villagers, and Ying Jin rode off with her.

...

Sitting on horseback, Chu Mi sighed to herself, "If only we had saddles, then I could ride alone."

She’d ridden modern horses but was inexperienced. Without a saddle, she nearly fell several times.

Fortunately, Ying Jin kept a tight grip on her the entire time, making her long for a saddle even more.

...

Unlike Ying Jin, who had a horse, A Lai’s group trudged behind on foot.

To kill time, they struck up conversation. "What’d you bring?"

A Lai unwrapped a hide bundle. "Sweet potato sprouts and chili seeds for planting."

"I have some too." Several others quickly produced their own. "Once these take root, hunger won’t haunt us."

Despite Central’s stockpiles, women still had to gather from the wild.

If they could farm their own land, it would spare them such troubles.

...

Glancing back, Ying Jin saw his men lagging but had no intention of waiting.

"Catch up later. We’re riding ahead..."

"Understood, Chief." A Lai nodded quickly.

Ying Jin urged Black Lightning forward, riding straight to the Central region with Chu Mi.

Though predators crossed their path, none could match the horse’s speed, so they posed no threat.

By noon, Chu Mi finally arrived at the Central region.

Calculating roughly, the horse had averaged thirty kilometers per hour, covering nearly three hundred kilometers. Their tribe’s lands stretched far.

Along the way, she also spotted many plants not found in the front village. She’d forage them once settled in.

...

Black Lightning turned heads instantly.

The mounted woman stunned onlookers.

"Who is that woman?"

They remembered a pockmarked, heavyset Chu Mi, downright ugly.

Now she sported a fitted knit top made of fine thread, keeping her comfortably cool.

Her outfit included form-fitting leather leggings, and her raven hair swung in a braid with a leather cord. Her fine bone structure was striking.

Even next to lovely Nvshan, the woman on horseback was even more stunning.

Ying Jin swung down and lifted Chu Mi free.

...

"Chief, wasn’t Chu Mi—" Someone cautiously asked—"Why did you bring back someone else’s beauty instead?"

"This is Chu Mi." Ying Jin caught Chu Mi as she jumped down, unfazed.

"Chu Mi?" The crowd gaped.

"Is it surprising that I'm Chu Mi? I was a little heavier before, but not unrecognizable," Chu Mi said with a smile.

The crowd around them realized the voice did sound very much like Chu Mi's. Upon closer inspection of her features, they murmured, "You can still see traces of her."

Watching Chu Mi and Ying Jin walk away, someone muttered, "If we'd known Chu Mi was this beautiful, we would've competed for her back then."

Even without being the Goddess, just her face alone would have been enough to win their favor.

...

Ying Jin led Chu Mi back to his dwelling, but before they could reach it, someone hurried over.

"Chief, the items you requested have been baked, but we don’t know what they’re for."

"For building a house," Ying Jin replied. Before leaving, he had arranged for bricks to be made.

As chief, he owned slaves—three of them—to handle daily chores, and the tribe distributed daily food.

Knowing Chu Mi disliked thatched huts, he had ordered bricks to be made before departing.

The man was skeptical. In his mind, stacking those things together would only invite collapse at the slightest wind. Stacking them against a wooden hut might even crush it.

...

Ignoring the man, Ying Jin guided Chu Mi into a large thatched hut.

The hut had been built for him by the tribe when he became chief.

The floor was covered with furs, and the bedding was comfortable. "Mi, just wait. I’ll get the house built soon," he assured her.

"Actually, the thatched hut isn’t so bad," Chu Mi shook her head. It wasn’t unbearable to stay here.

After all, her true home was in the former village, where she’d invested so much. She couldn’t just abandon it easily.

"It’s fine. The slaves can manage it," Ying Jin insisted, determined to give her the best. "Mi, let me get you something to eat."

"Let me help," Chu Mi offered, ready to join him in cooking.

...

"Chief, I heard you brought your woman home," Nvshan greeted as Chu Mi and Ying Jin stepped outside.

"Hello," Nvshan said, eyeing the woman beside Ying Jin. She was truly beautiful.

But it was obvious at a glance that she lacked skill—all looks, no substance. Without hesitation, Nvshan bluntly stated, "I want to borrow your man to conceive. You’ll be rewarded."

"..." Chu Mi turned to look at Ying Jin. "‘Borrow’ him? You mean...?"

"Nvshan, I’ve already said no," Ying Jin replied, his voice tightening with irritation. He disliked such aggressive demands.

"Listen, as the chief’s wife, you should think about the tribe. It’s just one night with him, and you’ll be well compensated. It’s good for the tribe," Nvshan pressed.