Section 8, Regarding Exchange

With you as the healer, the village will no longer need to invite the great shaman in the future

"Old Third, you have done very well." Tian Kuang, a person with a straightforward personality, at this moment, showed no trace of the usual disdain he held for his lazy younger brother. Instead, his eyes were filled with boundless admiration, enthusiasm, and affirmation.

In the wooden bowl placed at the entrance of the small hut, there lies a piece of meat. Its color is very red, indicating that it is fresh stock just distributed this morning. Judging by its shape, bones, and the texture of the meat, it should be from a certain part of the front leg of a wild roe deer. The meat is thick, with very few bones, and is covered with a layer of light yellow fat. Typically, only the strongest male laborers in the village are qualified to enjoy it

However, he saw Amei in the team

His injuries are severe; when the hunting team returned yesterday, Xuping was already in a state of impending death

The deceased should be Xu Ping

The old priest smiled, and this warm attitude even infected Yonggang, who stood beside him. The burly and strong hunting captain was exceptionally tall, his entire body filled with fearsome explosive muscles. Even his hard face, which seemed eternally frozen in ice and snow, revealed a hint of a smile.

Even if the elders and the leader do not speak, Yonggang will propose to regard Tianhao as the most important man in Panshi Village and to distribute food fairly

The old priest possesses some rudimentary medical knowledge, but he is absolutely helpless when it comes to "surgery." Only in large tribes with dense populations are there great shamans, who are said to have a special ability to communicate with the deities, capable of awakening the dead and beseeching the gods to spare the souls of the severely injured, allowing them to recover

Despite Tianhao's assurance that there was no need to worry about Tianfeng's situation, Tiankuang still did not rest. He sat beside his dozing elder brother, continuously adding firewood to the hearth.

Tian Hao still remembers the words spoken to him by the leader and the old priest last night

Tian Hao's voice was very flat; he did not deliberately emphasize his tone, but merely stated facts that everyone was aware of. With each additional word he spoke, Wu Xing and Yong Gang's expressions grew a shade darker.

Ping Jun himself was not confident about getting through this long winter. He knew that there was not much food in the village, and he did not have high hopes that the hunting team would bring back enough game. He did not want to die, and after much contemplation, he concluded that only Tian Hao and Tian Shuang in the village were most suitable to take action.

Tian Shuang rubbed her eyes as she crawled out from the pile of animal skins. When her gaze met Tian Hao's, a look of joy appeared on her face, her eyes filled with unabashed admiration.

Daylight has arrived

This is a reward for oneself, and it also signifies that the people of Panshi Village regard themselves as strong laborers in their prime

As he aged, Wu Xing spoke very slowly and explained things with great patience. After yesterday's incident, it was evident that he had already regarded Tian Hao as a man of status in the village.

During the season when grain is scarce and special items must serve as food, beast meat is highly valuable

Ping Jun had never anticipated that the situation would reverse overnight. He had calculated that, based on past experience, the hunting team would take at least another week to return. As long as there was no food, Tian Hao and Tian Shuang would starve to death in the coming days. Although Chief Fu Song was fair in his dealings, the distribution of food was entrusted to the subordinate "Ten Leaders." Everyone in the village knew of Tian Hao and Tu Shu's lazy nature, making it easy to refuse food distribution on that basis. Although Chief Fu Song was fair in his dealings, the distribution of food was entrusted to the subordinate "Ten Leaders." Everyone in the village knew of Tian Hao and Tu Shu's lazy nature, making it easy to refuse food distribution on that basis.

Several young girls were gazing at Tianhao, their smiles radiant. Not only in Panshi Village, but the wild tribes also tend to have a liberal view on matters between men and women. The objects of women's affection are usually strong or powerful men. Moreover, at the age of sixteen, Tianhao was already considered an adult.

If it were in the past, Tian Hao would not have concerned himself with such matters

Ignoring the girls, Tianhao and Tiankuang quickened their pace directly towards the council hall. In the distance, Tianhao saw the old priest Wuxing and the hunting team leader Yonggang standing in front of the hall, discussing something. Next to them stood a dozen or so village women, their hands bound with ropes, looking numb, surrounded by several men holding spears.

Passing by, a large pot was placed on the earthen stove beside the high platform, containing boiling snow water

Tian Hao's eyebrows slightly furrowed, almost imperceptibly. He knew what would happen next

The assembly hall is the tallest building in the Rock Fortress. Thick logs form the walls and roof, while large, unpolished stones are piled up to create the foundation. There are no delicate carvings or intricate designs, yet it is filled with a shocking and fearsome ruggedness

Every night at midnight, he would go to the cabin to check on the two siblings. By discovering the bodies at the first opportunity, he could take the initiative and secretly hide them.

The food in the village is already running low. The next snowfall is likely to block the mountain roads. We cannot support so many people; without food, it won't be long before we must draw lots. Rather than letting these women starve, it would be better to send them to the villages in the south. They are somewhat more prosperous than we are, and they will not die. If the situation improves next year... they can be redeemed again

Without hesitation, Tian Hao strode respectfully in front of the old priest and performed a courteous bow

On several occasions, Tianhao saw through the crack of the door that Amei secretly placed a few pieces of meaty bones into the wooden bowl he had set in front of his home. Many people said that this woman had a kind heart and was fair in her actions. By normal kinship standards, she should be considered Tianhao's "aunt," but Tianhao always struggled to define the relationship between himself and Amei. He felt that sometimes this woman resembled an older sister, at other times an aunt, and on some occasions even a maternal figure. How should one put it? In the cold and lonely nights after his parents' passing, the warm figure of this woman would always appear in Tianhao's heart.

Although the status of a physician is not as high as that of a shaman, in many instances, physicians are indeed more practical than shamans. Communicating with deities carries a strong sense of mystique; in contrast, physicians find it easier to communicate with ordinary people and are more readily accepted.

Mastering the art of medicine is truly remarkable. Perhaps in the future, the young Tianhao will be favored by the chief of a great tribe and granted a surname, just like the old priest Wu Xing.

... ...

As they made their way, everyone was smiling and greeting Tian Hao—news of what had happened in the wooden house yesterday spread quickly. It was all because of A Yan; the unique driving force of women in gossip has not changed much since the civilized era. People knew that a healer had joined the village. Although Tian Feng's injuries had not yet healed, many had already come to see him: the arm that had originally dislocated and bent backward had returned to a normal angle, and the previously torn chest had been stitched back together. In the past, such a recovery would have been unimaginable.

Tian Shuang stayed behind to take care of Tian Feng, while the two brothers pushed open the door and stepped out of their wooden cabin

Thinking of this, he quickly walked towards the large wooden house in the distance with Tiankuang

Tian Hao noticed yesterday that the texture of this firewood is very dense, much harder than the trees he is familiar with from the civilized era. Although both are carbon-based materials, this wood is more resistant to burning

The presence of a physician signifies that one can survive after being injured

Tian Hao did not waste any time; he took a moment to gather his emotions, raised his hand to point at the bound women, and directly said to Wu Xing: "Elder, could you please refrain from selling them?"

The old priest and Yonggang exchanged a glance, seeing the expressions of surprise on each other's faces, which gradually transformed into helplessness

On the way back to Panshizhai, he had checked Tianfeng's injuries more than once. Based on Yonggang's experience, Tianfeng's arm was essentially useless. However, after just one night, the reality he observed with his own eyes completely overturned his previous habitual thinking

These women were clearly selected from various households in the village, specifically the young, beautiful, and strong ones. The trade of people between tribes is a common occurrence. In previous years, when food was abundant in the Panshi village, they had also purchased women from other villages using giant antler deer, yellow deer, and wild boars hunted from the mountains.

This is an affirmation of him. However, Tianhao is very clear that he is not a true healer in the genuine sense, and he understands that there is still a gap between theory and practical application

He exerted all his efforts to suppress his anger and dissatisfaction

Amei is a trophy brought back from another village six years ago. In her thirties, she is very resilient, possessing the unique patience and strength characteristic of women her age. Perhaps due to the fact that her original husband was killed, she willingly became the wife of the leader. The children in the Panshi village all like Amei; she often brings back sweet and sour fruits from the mountains, and she is very kind, always wearing a smile on her face, regardless of whom she is interacting with

In this era, those who have surnames are all nobility

This large house is extremely spacious, capable of accommodating more than five hundred people. Perhaps, when it was originally built, the population of the Rock Fortress indeed required such a large structure. However, since the time of Tianhao's records, the number of people in the fortress has been steadily declining. Now, including sickly children and the elderly, they cannot even fill half of the wooden benches in the assembly hall.

Tianhao does not consider himself a healer. Although Tianfeng's arm has been reset, no one can guarantee that it will fully recover. Fortunately, the weather is cold now, and the likelihood of the wound becoming inflamed is much lower than in summer

We have not been to the south for almost a year. No one knows what has happened there. Perhaps they have suffered from snow disasters even more severe than ours? Their crops this year may also have been poor, or they might be engaged in conflict with some village. The snow on the road is deep, there is no food, and the women cannot travel that far. As you know, during this season, trade generally yields little.

Ping Jun walked over from the side and bowed to Wu Xing and Yong Gang. His expression was gloomy, and he sarcastically remarked to Tian Hao, "According to your logic, we should leave the women behind and then watch everyone starve to death?"

You have arrived. Hehe! Ayan just came by and said that your elder brother's arm can move a little now. You... have done very well