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Xiao Qiang couldn't help but associate the Saint Mother with Yun, and it was true that they shared many similarities, such as their ability to foresee events.
Yun's foresight was slightly inferior to that of the Saint Mother.
Yun was a person of deep emotions.
The Saint Mother, on the other hand, was serene and focused solely on her foresight and communication with the earth spirits.
Ever since he returned the White Reed Staff, the beautiful girl from Waji Mountain had not appeared before him.
However, he could not erase the image of her from his mind. He knew she must be avoiding him. Finally, one day, Amayi brought him a necklace made of Mammoth Ivory Teeth.
Amayi mentioned that Jill had two such necklaces; she was an orphan from another fallen tribe. She possessed a strange spirituality and was considered a good child who came to the Waji Mountain Tribe with a mysterious mission, as described by the Saint Mother.
The Saint Mother told Xiao Qiang that the girl's name was Jill, and her family and tribe had been killed overnight by the Four-Legged Demon.
From the first day he spent with them, the Saint Mother repeatedly mentioned the Four-Legged Demon. He had no idea what it was. However, when the Saint Mother spoke of it, fear flickered in the eyes of the Waji Mountain people, leading him to believe it must be a terrifying creature.
The Saint Mother said that Xiao Qiang's fate with Jill had not ended and needed to continue.
The homes of the Waji Mountain People were made from woven plant curtains, pieced together in sections. These curtains were many years old and barely sheltered them from wind and rain; any decayed parts could be easily torn away with a gentle tug.
Xiao Qiang taught them how to build walls using mud and stones, and roofs made of grass. With this young saint among them, the Waji Mountain People became lively, showcasing a scene of prosperity.
Jill often found herself secretly staring at Xiao Qiang in a daze, which did not escape the notice of the Saint Mother, who felt anxious about it. According to her calculations, there was indeed a destined connection between the two.
Amayi was still feeling downcast, burdened by the pressure that came from his father's weakness. Whenever there were activities in the tribe, he always found himself at the end of the line. If it weren't for Old Dada Mishu and Xiao Qiang looking after him, he didn't know how he would cope with the bullying from the other members of the tribe.
With the meat from the Mammoth, the few Waji Mountain People wore smiles and complained less. On the surface, it seemed that they would get through this winter just like before, as long as they could endure this hardship. In the coming spring, their lives would be a bit better. For the Waji Mountain People, whether adults or children, spring was considered a season of good fortune.
In the hearts of the Waji Mountain People, there were no seasons; it was Xiao Qiang who informed them otherwise. Throughout the year, there were four major solar terms: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
Inside their newly built house made of earth and stone, the Waji Mountain People felt warmth for the first time. They would no longer have to endure freezing nights in the biting cold; their sturdy homes could withstand wild beasts' intrusions.
Under Amayi's guidance, Xiao Qiang ventured into the forest where trees had fallen. The forest still stood tall, but he did not see the Saber-Toothed Tiger that had appeared in his dreams.
When Amayi heard him mention the Saber-Toothed Tiger, his expression changed. It turned out that to the Waji Mountain People, the Saber-Toothed Tiger was a divine beast; there were not many of them around. It was said that those who saw one would have good luck.
Xiao Qiang disagreed with Amayi's view; he believed that Saber-Toothed Tigers were man-eaters. He thought these people were too ignorant—how could a tiger possibly possess spirituality or be considered a divine beast?
He asked Amayi about the Four-Legged Demon.
Amayi explained that the Four-Legged Demon was a feared raider among the Waji Mountain People. They rode on four-hoofed animals and wore masks. They recklessly plundered others' property and people; they kept what belonged to others for themselves and took people far away to make them laborers.
After learning about the raiders from Amayi, Xiao Qiang sought out Old Dada Mishu and urged him to send people to patrol at midnight. He wanted to prepare defenses against potential intrusions from outsiders. Unfortunately, Old Dada Mishu believed that Xiao Qiang was merely trying to establish a reputation among the Waji Mountain People and was intentionally spreading alarmist tales to create trouble.
Moreover, there was a general wariness towards outsiders among the Waji Mountain People. Because of this distrust, Old Dada Mishu ignored Xiao Qiang's kind warnings and arrangements.
It was unfortunate that trouble arose; if only the Waji Mountain People had fewer rules and had not been so suspicious of outsiders, then perhaps a tragic story would not have unfolded later on.
That night, the night wind was fierce, stirring up a layer of dust on the ground. Xiao Qiang was busy tinkering with the time machine, trying to figure out where the problem lay.
His watch had become nothing more than an attractive luxury accessory here, unable to connect with Matt from another century. The time machine was riddled with issues; after a long time of checking, he still couldn't identify the malfunction. With no way to repair it, he had no choice but to rest.
Amayi had never left his side, curled up on a tattered blanket and sleeping soundly. After yawning and lying down fully clothed, he felt a strange sensation. He had been sleepless for several days, yet that night he quickly fell asleep and had many bizarre dreams.
Xiao Qiang dreamed of a Saber-Toothed Tiger and also of the Four-Legged Demon that Saint Mother feared. In his dream, the Four-Legged Demon was not an animal but a masked raider.
These raiders were from the Outsider Tribe; they had high noses and blue eyes. They spoke in an incomprehensible Outsider language. In the dream, he held Jill's hand as they ran frantically to escape the pursuers.
As early morning approached, a pale mist still lingered around the huts of the Waji Mountain People, accompanied by the sound of hoofbeats echoing through the fog.
Since the last hunt, Saint Mother's unease had grown stronger. Upon hearing the sound of hoofbeats, she got up and went outside to take a look.
In the mist, a group of dark figures appeared along with the snorts of horses and the clatter of hooves. Saint Mother sensed something was wrong; she knelt on the hard ground and shouted, "Dada Mishu..."
The masked raiders rampaged through, burning and pillaging, binding countless Waji Mountain People with thick ropes. They were forced into a line and whipped with leather straps, compelled to follow behind the horses.
The sun had just begun to rise, revealing a desolate scene in the Waji Mountain Tribe; corpses lay scattered on the ground, and smoke billowed from newly constructed houses.
Because Old Dada Mishu was wary of the outsider Xiao Qiang, he deliberately arranged for him to rest in a hut located two hundred meters away from the village.
After waking up, Xiao Qiang and Amayi heard cries coming from the gathering place of Waji Mountain and realized that there had been an attack by the Four-Legged Demon last night.
Several members of the Waji Mountain People died in this incident. Young and strong men, as well as underage boys and somewhat attractive women, were taken by the raiders, including Jill.
A middle-aged woman was brutally killed by the raiders while trying to protect her child.
Xiao Qiang slung a handmade bow and arrow over his shoulder and walked up to Saint Mother, carrying a stick bound with a dagger.
Old Dada Mishu, seeing his attire, shouted angrily, "Saint, do you intend to abandon your people?"
"I will go save them," Xiao Qiang replied firmly, his tone resolute.
"You’re going alone?" Saint Mother nodded approvingly and then turned to Old Dada Mishu. "You should go too."
Old Dada Mishu hesitated but eventually nodded. "Alright, we’ll set off immediately."
"The Four-Legged Demon can fly with its wings, while you will have to rely on your legs. The journey is long and fraught with difficulties. You must be careful; I will do my best to protect you."
Xiao Qiang was somewhat skeptical about the divine words. He thought that Saint Mother, being of such an advanced age, what power did she have to protect them in their rescue of the Waji Mountain People?
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