Chapter 176

Chapter 176

Pinned down and in pain, Chu Mi struggled.

Nvshan felt movement beneath her and realized the bound Chu Mi had awakened.

Ignoring Nu Shi, Nvshan turned her attention to the Goddess.

Chu Mi watched as Nvshan, moments ago frenzied, respectfully rose to help her, then knelt before her.

"What are you doing?" Chu Mi asked, bewildered by Nvshan's actions as she knelt and untied her bonds.

"Goddess, I beg you to show mercy to our tribe. We are on the brink of extinction," Nvshan pleaded, kneeling on the ground with several other girls.

"Nvshan, why must you do this?" Chu Mi was at a loss for words, torn between pity for her and resentment over the dead child.

"Goddess, since childhood, I’ve known our tribe depends on the Yizhou Tribe. Those greedy demons from Yizhou Tribe seek to destroy the Wuzhou Tribe."

"I know there is old enmity between us, but back then, I had no choice but to ask the Jiuzhou Chief for his seed. I apologize to you now, Goddess."

Seeing Nvshan prostrate on the ground, Chu Mi was stunned. "You kneel before me like this—have you abandoned all your pride?"

"Pride? I would give my life for the tribe—what does kneeling matter? Our tribe is stagnant. Without significant change, we’ll be carved up by stronger powers. As I face death, I beg you, Goddess, to take pity on us."

Nvshan had spent her life striving to strengthen the tribe. Now, at its end, she saw Chu Mi as her last lifeline.

In just one year, Chu Mi had led the Jiuzhou Tribe to prosperity. If she came to their tribe, she could surely empower the Wuzhou people too.

Then, the Wuzhou people could break free from Yizhou’s control, and their women would never again face enslavement.

Chu Mi looked at the kneeling girls, then at the pale-faced Nvshan.

She acknowledged one thing—Nvshan had sacrificed much for her tribe.

"Two of your tribe's children died because you tried to steal me away. That’s no way to ask for help," Chu Mi said, her chest aching at the memory of the bloodied children.

Those vibrant children died in vain.

Nvshan met Chu Mi’s gaze. "Forgive me, Goddess. What must I do? I’ll gladly give my life if needed. I only ask that you come to the Wuzhou Tribe and lead us to a brighter future."

"You’re mad," Chu Mi murmured, shaken by the fanaticism in Nvshan’s determination.

...

"Goddess, I beg you." Nvshan pressed her forehead hard against the ground, her already weak body growing paler.

Blood trickled from her forehead, making her look even more wretched.

"You could have taken me by force. Why kneel and beg?" Chu Mi asked, uncertain how to respond to Nvshan’s desperate pleas.

With Tiger Baby and her wolves, escaping would be easy. But faced with the kneeling girl, she hesitated.

Back in modern times, Nvshan might still be a college student.

Yet here, she bore the weight of an entire tribe. Chu Mi didn’t know what to make of her.

...

"You are the Goddess. How could I dare take you by force? I had you taken because I feared Ying Jin would interfere," Nvshan explained.

"And if I leave now, are you sure you won’t resort to force?" Chu Mi challenged.

"Goddess." Nvshan produced a wooden spike, as did the other girls.

"Do you need a sacrifice?" Nvshan’s eyes burned with madness. "I’ll sacrifice myself to you—only spare our tribe."

The girls shut their eyes and thrust the spikes toward their hearts.

...

"Stop!" Chu Mi shouted, seeing they were dead serious. "You’re playing with your lives like this?"

One girl met her gaze. "Goddess, we’ll sacrifice everything for our tribe. Please, have mercy."

They were Nvshan’s most devoted followers, sharing her desperate hope. Even death wouldn’t stop them.

"I’ll go with you," Chu Mi relented. "I’ll stay and teach you for half a year. You’ll bear all costs as payment. How much you gain depends on your dedication. Do you agree?"

"Will you share all your knowledge in those six months?" Nvshan lifted her head.

"Yes."

"Then I accept." Six months with Chu Mi’s full knowledge—she would learn what she needed.

Chu Mi agreed. "I must see Ying Jin first."

"Of course. The Goddess shows mercy." Nvshan smiled, relieved. Her gamble had paid off—Chu Mi wasn’t heartless.

The more someone valued life, the harder it was to watch others die.

...

Chu Mi sat to the side as girls brought her food.

Someone dragged the half-dead Nu Shi and threw him before them.

"Lady Nvshan, what shall we do with him?" A dark-haired boy knelt to ask.

"Crush his legs with rocks. Use medicine to prevent him from dying—I have questions." What was Nu Shi’s true goal?

When she first found him, there had been others like him—blonde-haired and blue-eyed. Were they equally treacherous?

"Take him far away. Make sure the Goddess doesn’t hear." Nvshan was wracked by coughing, clutching her chest.

Her gaze on Nu Shi was cold.

Despite all their nights together, despite her momentary fondness—the instant suspicion arose, his fate was sealed.

She’d divided her people on the journey, her most loyal warriors lying in wait.

Had Nu Shi made a move, they would strike. But there’d been an unforeseen advantage.

...

As for why they didn't forcibly take Chu Mi away, what's forced can never compare to what's freely given.

If she pleaded sincerely, Chu Mi would surely relent.

If she ultimately chose to leave, then it could only be said that it was meant to be.

However, before death, she would destroy the world's only hope—so neither the Wuzhou Tribe nor any other could thrive.

Nvshan kept her word and sent someone to find Ying Jin. "Goddess, we’ll wait here for the Jiuzhou Chief before we leave."

Chu Mi glanced at her and nodded, realizing she was outsmarted by these ancient people.

Weren’t people from this time supposed to be simple?

Soon, Chu Mi recalled certain facts—some could start fires by drilling wood, others had invented the waist loom.

Ancient humans fought beasts and survived disasters in brutal conditions. Were they truly fools?

They were not fools. They weren’t dumb—they just put all their energy into staying alive.

...

Upon hearing the message from the Wuzhou Tribe, Ying Jin’s face stayed cold as he barked an order and rode after them.

In the dark, Chu Mi heard hoofbeats and saw Ying Jin approaching. "Ying Jin..."

He pulled her into a tight hug. "Ying Jin, how is that child?"

"He’s fine." Ying Jin didn’t mention there were no survivors.

Chu Mi sighed in relief. "I should’ve listened to you. That child would still be alive."

"It’s not your fault. We didn’t protect the tribe well enough." No one had expected Nu Shi to still be in the tribe.

So Chu Mi wasn’t to blame—it was on them.