Chapter 4, Family

One cannot touch what is raised by one's own kin. From now on, as long as it is meat from the village, unless it is provided by me, you are not allowed to eat it, understood

Jokingly, in his previous life, Xiahou was already over thirty years old. If it weren't for Xiaohua's job, he might have had several children by now. How could he possibly have anything in common with these kids? Although the 'battles' among these children are indeed quite astonishing, those adult-sized wooden sticks often directly smash down on their little heads.

How touching it was, as it affectionately rubbed its head against Xiahou's chest a few times, smearing all the 'pig' dung onto Xiahou's shirt. With a leap, it had already pounced to the edge of the fire pit, eagerly gazing at the meat soup inside the clay pot.

After quite a while, as the sun was about to set behind the western mountains, a series of thunderous howls erupted from the mountain range, and hundreds of figures rushed over like the wind. These strong men were merely wrapped in animal skins around their lower bodies, wielding weapons such as steel knives, long spears, and heavy bows. On their shoulders, they carried or hoisted an abundance of fur-covered beasts, clearly indicating yet another bountiful harvest

With a kick to the belly of the Xiu, Xiahou jumped down, grabbing Bai with one hand and dragging one of the giant pig's hind legs with the other, pulling the massive creature towards the village. Bai had already nimbly climbed onto the belly of the giant pig, using sharp claws to tear open one of its front legs, eagerly gnawing at the still warm blood and meat, squealing with delight.

Bai stretched lazily, wearing an expression that seemed to say, "What can you do about it?" He chuckled a few times, then lay down on Xiahou's thigh, gazing longingly towards the distant mountain pass.

Xiu Le De laughed heartily: "There is no doubt about it, my A Yi is simply the best. The children you have now cannot compare to him. If you want to have a child who can match my A Yi, you will need to put in more effort with your wives and have a few more children."

Xiahou could only anesthetize himself, no longer caring about the perverse world he found himself in. He even mocked himself, thinking that perhaps one day the Three Pure Ones or some deity or demon might suddenly appear, and he should not be surprised. This was because his father, Chi Hu Xiu, had once collaborated with his clan to successfully kill a velociraptor. After a meticulous crafting by the old shaman who had 'baptized' Xiahou, the skeleton of that velociraptor now hung at the entrance of the Xiahou family home as a decoration

In the village, the heavy panting of men and women could be heard everywhere. Finally, accompanied by countless long howls, the village returned to tranquility

The creature opened its mouth wide, and with one hand lifted the saber-toothed beast, while with the other hand raised a machete, pointing the tip of the knife at Xiahou, boasting: "Look, my Ayi is much stronger than I was at his age. Not just me, none of you can compare to him. When he grows up, he will surely be a great man."

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. A multitude of flora and fauna once recorded on Earth has led Xiahou to indulge in a period of self-deception, believing that he was still in some remote corner of the planet. This was merely due to the fact that the location was too isolated and secluded, resulting in the preservation of many peculiar species

It seems that Xiahou asked a question that he could not answer, which left his father feeling quite embarrassed. With a kick to Xiahou's backside, he shouted, "Why are you asking so many questions? How old are you? Ever since you could talk, you've been asking this and that? Among all the kids, you are the most troublesome. If you keep asking these strange things, I will spank you."

With a sharp scream, Bai immediately jumped up, leaping onto Xiahou's shoulder, yet dared not glance at Xiu again.

Leaning on the windowsill, watching the colorful smoke rising from the chimney of the witch's stone house, Xiahou muttered maliciously: "Eat, eat, eat, go ahead and eat! There are scorpions and centipedes in the meat soup and roasted meat; one day, this old skeleton will eat you to death."

The potion of "baptism" from that old wizard is indeed effective, just as the *illustrated* book mentioned that there are no reports of children in nearby tribes dying from illnesses after birth; each one is stronger than a water buffalo. Summer侯 looked at those peers who were cheering and playfully "fighting" with each other, and couldn't help but think maliciously: "It seems that their parents have been overly naive; could it be that they were hit on the head when they were young?"

What ultimately left Xiahou completely bewildered, leading him to resign himself to abandoning his pursuit of the items in this world, was the large cleaver used by his father, Chi Hu, during his hunting expeditions.

The benefits of practicing the Xuanwu True Interpretation from a young age quickly became evident. At the very least, Xiahou demonstrated a strength ten times greater than that of children his age, even though those children were already akin to monstrous beings in the context of Earth in a previous life. A child over two feet tall could lift a stone measuring one foot in diameter and crash about; in the past life, such a child would have ended up being dissected for research in a scientific academy. However, here, even when Xiahou accidentally kicked a stone wheel three months ago, the adults merely expressed delight without finding it strange. A child over two feet tall could lift a stone measuring one foot in diameter and crash about; in the past life, such a child would have ended up being dissected for research in a scientific academy. However, here, even when Xiahou accidentally kicked a stone wheel three months ago, the adults merely expressed delight without finding it strange

Only upon turning twelve and personally hunting a fierce beast in the mountains will you be named after that beast. Xiahou's father, Chi Huxiu, was exceptionally fortunate to encounter a five-foot Pixiu that had not yet reached maturity. After a fierce struggle, he killed this formidable creature, which could be classified as a fierce beast, earning him the esteemed title of 'Xiu.' The price he paid was the deep scars left on his body, numbering over ten, which remain clearly visible to this day, as if carved by a knife.

Xiahou made a sound of acknowledgment and continued to pull Bai along, lost in his own thoughts

Thus, the bewildered Xiahou could only tell himself that this was a damned world, still in a primitive society, relying on hunting and limited domestication and cultivation to obtain the necessities of life, and that it was fortunate to possess a natural environment almost ninety-nine percent similar to that of Earth

Xiahou sighed softly and said: "By the conscience of heaven and earth, I speak sincerely. According to my aesthetic views from my previous life, if I were to marry a 'capable' woman here, I would rather castrate myself and become a eunuch"

He patted Bai, who was sitting on the ground and was almost as tall as him. Xiahou looked up at the sun on the western mountain peak and shouted loudly: "Amu, when will Father come back"

The Pixiu shook its head, casually picking up the giant pig from the ground and striding towards its wooden house. As it walked, Xiahou vaguely heard the Pixiu complaining: "A single Pixiu skin is worth a thousand white tiger skins or a hundred saber-toothed tiger skins. Hmm, when Bai grows up, should I really skin it? A Yi is getting married, and he needs to find a good wife. A good wife requires a lot of furs to exchange for her." Hmm, when Bai grows up, should I really skin it? A Yi is getting married, and he needs to find a good wife. A good wife requires a lot of furs to exchange for her.

Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the roadside, where Uncle Huohu's Amu was displaying a hearty smile towards Xiahou. Standing over 1.9 meters tall and resembling a bear, Uncle Huohu's Amu effortlessly picked up a stone roller and began smashing it against a stone slab covered with chestnuts. The ground trembled slightly as the chestnuts were successfully crushed into powder, but the stone slab also turned into dust.

A chill ran through his heart as Xiahou stammered, "Even if I never seek a woman in my life, I will never allow them to pluck a single hair from you"

Suddenly, the Pi Xiu lost its balance and bumped its head against Xiahou's thigh. Xiahou's eyes flew open, and with a swift motion, he slapped it away, sending it flying about three meters. The little Pi Xiu, looking pitiful, let out a few low whines towards Xiahou, cautiously and with a face full of flattery, it approached him. A long pink tongue licked Xiahou's hand, and it simply climbed onto his lap.

The white creature was extremely excited, extending its long tongue to repeatedly lick Xiahou's face, causing blood and saliva to splatter all over Xiahou's face in an instant. This Pixiu possessed remarkable intelligence; although it could not speak, it was not inferior to a human child in other aspects.

A group of men squinted their eyes in delight: "Indeed, if one of our clan or the *Tushu* people could produce a formidable warrior, we would certainly make a name for ourselves at the next assembly of the Chi Hu tribe. Tsk tsk, perhaps the elders would select us to join the army, and then we would have good wine to drink"

Indeed, they are a group of rough individuals. The Chi Hu clan, oh no, almost all tribes now do not have names for their children until they personally hunt a fierce beast at the age of twelve. They are simply called in the order of their birth that year, one, two, three, four, five, in a chaotic manner. Xia Hou is quite fortunate; he was born just after the New Year and is the largest child of that year, thus he is referred to as the first of the Xiu family. Others, like the second of the Bear family and the third of the Python family, are similarly named. Xia Hou is quite fortunate; he was born just after the New Year and is the largest child of that year, thus he is referred to as the first of the Xiu family. Others, like the second of the Bear family and the third of the Python family, are similarly named

Xiu blinked and rubbed the top of his head vigorously with the handle of the knife, mumbling, "Ah, study, study what? Hmm, this, I will ask the shaman tomorrow."

Xiahou, frightened, ran around holding Bai tightly, panting as he returned home. Trembling all over, he vowed to Bai, "Bai, rest assured, I care for you the most. Even if I never marry in my lifetime, I will absolutely not allow my father to skin you."

A white Pixiu, approximately two feet long, had a purple vine from Laoshan wrapped around its neck, with the other end securely tied to a stone block on the ground. This juvenile Pixiu had a body resembling that of a lion, with strong and powerful hind legs, and unusually long forearms. Its sharp claws glimmered with a white sheen, and its body was covered in tiny scales, with fine fur peeking out from the gaps in its armor. It had a mouth full of sharp, white teeth; when its golden eyelids slightly lifted, a bright red light of blood emerged, truly a formidable beast. It sat cross-legged beside Xiahou, its head bobbing against Xiahou's thigh, appearing as if it too was about to doze off.

With his head held high, he paid no attention to the several peers who were fighting with each other, dragging their snot and wielding thick wooden sticks. Bai Yitong, beside Xiahou, bared his teeth in a menacing grin, causing the bruised and battered children to panic and clear a path. Xiahou swaggered towards the small dirt slope at the village entrance

Sitting quietly on the earthen slope, Bai was jumping around restlessly beside me, baring its teeth and lunging at a few docile creatures that resembled pigs. Just as Bai was about to catch those 'pigs', Xiahou would suddenly pull on the mountain vine, yanking Bai back into the air. The plump 'pigs' blinked their small eyes and surprisingly lay down on the ground, watching Bai repeatedly and tenaciously pounce towards them, only to be pulled back by Xiahou time and again, as if watching a play.

In summary, this is an extremely bizarre world where nothing can be described by common sense

The mother of the fox family, with a hearty laugh, excitedly grabbed a ceramic pot and scooped up the corn flour along with some stone powder, taking the pot inside to prepare dinner. Just as she was about to enter, she suddenly came to her senses and turned back to Xuahou, revealing an incredibly simple and honest smile: "Xiao, Xiao's Ayi, come to my house for pancakes." As she spoke, her mouth opened, and the sharp teeth of the fox family's mother still bore traces of fresh red meat strands.

The men burst into laughter simultaneously. The Xiu smacked his lips and said cheerfully, "Let's wait for two years. Once A is a bit older and more sensible, we will let him follow the shaman for a few months to see if he can learn something."

According to the calendar here, the three-year-old Xiahou was curled up on the furthest corner of a mat, with his legs crossed and his head drooping as if he were dozing off. However, within him, a considerable amount of earth-type elemental energy was slowly circulating, traversing through various meridians in accordance with the cultivation method of the Xuanwu True Interpretation. A trace of earthy energy was seeping from beneath him into his body, heavy and warm, nourishing his flesh and tempering his primordial spirit

Even so, more than thirty strong members of the tribe groaned in bed for half a month before they could get up. It is important to note that these tribe members are capable of single-handedly killing a saber-toothed tiger without sustaining any injuries. According to the old shaman, the two white Pixiu are merely adults and not yet fully grown, lacking certain unique abilities of the Pixiu. Otherwise, the Chihu tribe would have no choice but to obediently hand over the young Pixiu and immediately migrate a thousand miles away.

He spat out a mouthful of thick phlegm, which landed on a stone by the roadside, producing a crisp sound upon impact. The creature tilted its head and muttered, "Hmm, I still need to ask the clan members to find out where there are pretty girls within a thousand miles. I should keep an eye out for A Yi. Don't be like that fool Huohu, who traded two bear skins and ten pigs for a wife, who is both foolish and clumsy, and can do nothing but bear children"

Suddenly, a burly man who seemed somewhat clever approached Xiu and shouted loudly: "Xiu, perhaps your Ayi, with such great talent, can learn something from the shaman on this fine day. Our Chi Hu clan might just produce a formidable warrior after all"

Xiahou sighed towards the sky, his face filled with worry, nearly burying his entire body into the clay pot as he gulped down his food. "Gluttony, oh my, in the twenty-first century, even pets would not suffer such abuse. Is the survival rate of infants in this world really that high?"

A thick log, accompanied by the sound of the wind, came crashing down and accurately struck Xiahou's backside. Xiu, holding a two-foot-square clay jar, shouted loudly: "A Yi, come here, eat something! Eat, eat more, eat more meat, only by eating meat can you gain strength! Hurry up!"

What a wonderful place, where the pets for one's children are such 'gentle' creatures! Summer Hou exclaimed sincerely. When he was just over two years old, his father gifted him a small, palm-sized white creature that had not yet opened its eyes for play, and at that time, Summer Hou did not realize how fearsome a creature the Pi Xiu was.

In addition to a robust physique, Xiahou's primordial spirit and internal energy have also undergone excellent training. The most practical effect is that after he regulated his breath, based on the experiences of his previous life, he determined the world he was in. A day lasts approximately twenty-four hours, perhaps slightly longer, but the difference is negligible. Similarly, a year is roughly three hundred sixty-five days, with no discrepancies.

Due to Xiahou's near-mental breakdown upon discovery, the material used for that large blade turned out to be high-quality steel, seemingly mixed with a bit of other metals. This black alloy is not only heavy but also possesses excellent hardness and remarkable toughness. If one were to compare it to a specific material, the composition of the combat knife he had custom-made at a secret weapons research institute in China in his previous life would be slightly superior to the steel used in that large blade, well, just a slight margin, really.

Xiahou tightly embraced Bai and softly comforted, "Bai, be good and listen. Rest assured, even if I do not marry, no, even if I do not seek a wife."

A robust man straightened his waist, shifted his prey, a black-striped tiger, to his shoulder, and exclaimed: "Hey, this won't do. A true man cannot only emerge from your family. This year, save a bit more food for the winter, go back and put in some effort, so my wife can bear me a couple more children. Hehe!"

Xiahou's ears twitched a few times, and suddenly he turned his head back, squinting his eyes as he asked: "Father, what is it that we are learning from the shaman?"

This is a relatively small village, home to over 1,200 members of the Chi Hu clan residing in more than 200 wooden houses. Within a radius of 500 miles of mountains and forests, it is one of the largest clans. Among the Chi Hu clan, there are 600 strong and capable men, a formidable force that can dominate everything in this mountainous world. Therefore, Xia Hou has lived a joyful life since birth. With ample food supply, especially a large quantity of meat and fresh fruits providing nutrition, the rampant ferocious beasts pose little threat to the village and its inhabitants. Xia Hou can focus on cultivating the Xuanwu True Solution from his previous life with peace of mind.

Xiahou's mother, an ordinary woman without a name of her own, laughed a few times from the woods on one side of the house and strode out carrying a bundle of firewood weighing at least two hundred pounds. Seeing Xiahou standing at the door with the Pixiu, she hurried a few steps and said with a smile: "Are you hungry? Eat a few pieces of meat to fill your stomach first. Your father is back, and he will prepare some fresh fruits for you later."

The prey, each weighing over a thousand pounds, was casually tossed to the ground by the Xiu. With a swift motion, it grabbed Xiahou by the neck and pulled him tightly into its embrace. The stiff, needle-like whiskers poked at Xiahou's face, and the Xiu squinted its eyes with a smile, asking him: "What have you done today? Haven't you played with Er, San, Si, and Wu?"

A square ceramic jar, about a foot in size, and half a cake of millet were placed in front of Xiahou by Amu. Xiu, while burping, mumbled: "Eat, eat, hurry up and eat. If you can't finish all this today, I'll hit you."

However, that night, Xiahou immediately experienced the terror of the adult Pixiu. Two white Pixiu, driven by the scent of his missing child, charged in like the wind, impervious to blades and bullets, displaying astonishing strength. The male members of the Chi Hu tribe mobilized in full force, working tirelessly throughout the night, employing various methods. In the end, it was the old shaman who secretly scattered a herbal powder, incapacitating all living beings present, which finally allowed them to subdue the two Pixiu.

The white figure had extremely pointed ears, clearly hearing the words of the Xiu. It looked at Xiahou with tears streaming down, tightly wrapping its arms around Xiahou's neck, trembling all over.

However, upon his first sight of the night sky, he was utterly despaired. In the sky, he could distinguish the Big Dipper, the North Star, and various constellations, all precisely as seen from Earth. But where is the moon? There is no bright moon in the sky! Moreover, between the two planets, Mars and Jupiter, there clearly exists a brilliant star that is not found on Earth.

Xiahou sighed, patted the little Pixiu on the head, and untied the end of the mountain vine that was secured to his hand. He led the Pixiu, which he had named "Bai," out of the door. The Pixiu had been cooped up in the room all day, and upon suddenly seeing the wind and sky, it immediately began to jump around in excitement. However, the mountain vine was firmly grasped by Xiahou, and its strength was no match for Xiahou's current power. It could only helplessly stumble around Xiahou's legs for a few steps before plopping down on the ground, baring its teeth at the two pack animals in the corner of the room.

Looking at the fierce and menacing creature, the Xiu struck its head hard with the handle of the knife. The steel handle collided with the scales on its forehead, creating sparks that flickered wildly. The creature's eyes rolled a few times before it fell backward. The Xiu casually kicked its rear and shouted loudly: "Get up, we are going back to eat with A Yi. If you glare at me again, I will skin you, just right to make a coat for A Yi to wear"

He casually tossed the bundle of firewood over three meters away, stacking it on the pile of firewood in the corner of the yard. He patted the grass leaves on his numb coat and instructed Xiahou: "Do not leave the village, just wait at the village entrance, understand? A pack of wolves has come into the forest these past few days, so don't get taken away."

Xiahou felt a chill run through his body, covered in goosebumps. What kind of world is this

The stars twinkle in the sky, and there is no moon.

He lifted the ceramic jar that could hold over ten pounds of meat and poured it into his mouth. The raccoon reached for the two-inch thick, foot-square millet cake: "Come over quickly, eat something! Eat, eat more, and make sure to eat plenty of millet cake, otherwise the greasy food won't digest and you'll get sick"

Xiahou sat on the roof of the second floor, squinting at the stars in the sky, as strands of earthy yellow air gradually merged into his body. Bai, with a large bone in his mouth and a puddle of drool at the corner of his mouth, lay comfortably asleep on Xiahou's thigh

Over there, the beast was wildly hacking with a large knife, chopping the arrow-toothed beast and giant pig into chunks of meat, which were then strung on branches and hung under the eaves. A few pieces of meat were brought in by Amu and roasted over the large fire in the fire pit. Smoke rose everywhere in the village, filling the air with the aroma of roasted meat, meat soup, and millet cakes. After a while, several strong men emerged from their wooden houses, bringing half of the day's hunt, skewered on branches, to the stone house where the shaman resided. Smoke rose everywhere in the village, filling the air with the aroma of roasted meat, meat soup, and millet cakes. After a while, several strong men emerged from their wooden houses, bringing half of the day's hunt, skewered on branches, to the stone house where the shaman resided. Thus, smoke also began to rise from the shaman's stone house, but the color of that smoke was extremely peculiar, always carrying various strange hues.

The sun hung tenaciously on the western mountain peak, reluctant to set, its crimson rays spreading across the land, equally covering the wooden floor of the building.

Xiahou rolled his eyes, displaying a face full of helplessness

Xiahou's first action after being able to lift that large blade was to test the quality of the blade using all the means at his disposal. In the end, he chose to drink an entire jar of inferior strong liquor in one go, completely disregarding the damage that such liquor could inflict on his immature brain at the age of just over two years.

Hundreds of robust men hunting outdoors simultaneously broke into hearty laughter, nodding their heads in agreement. In the tribe, who does not appreciate a strong child? A child just over three years old who can drag a several-hundred-pound giant boar across the ground is unmatched; not only in the mountains and forests within a radius of five hundred miles, but even in larger tribes farther away, there is no such remarkable young man.

Xiahou was kicked several meters away, landing awkwardly in a pile of pig dung

A cold mist enveloped the entire village, and in the distance, the chilling howl of a wolf echoed through the forest

Xiahou nodded, tightening the burlap cloth tied around his waist, and said, "I will wait for him at the village entrance." After speaking, without waiting for his mother to respond, he pulled Bai and walked out of the courtyard.

Xiahou, infuriated, bared his teeth. He was yanked by the mountain vine on his wrist, soaring through the air just like before, and landed in the pig dung. Bai, who had also fallen, jumped up, hopping and cursing in a high-pitched voice. Xiahou, extremely angry and disheveled, got up and thought: "If this were in America in my past life, just from this kick, the police and the newspapers would come knocking to accuse you of child abuse. Oh my back, I haven't even mastered the first turn of the Xuanwu True Solution, and my backside is already at the ninth turn of defense."

Looking at Bai, who had pounced dozens of times and finally shed tears of grievance, Xiahou's heart softened. He picked it up and comforted it, saying: "Bai, be good and listen. When your father comes back, there will be meat for you to eat. Have you forgotten? Last time, you took down over ten pounds of meat from the rear of the horned cow that Wu was raising, and Wu was so angry that he almost pulled all your fur out, wasn't he?"

A group of men burst into laughter again and strode towards the village.

The room measures 4 meters high, with dimensions exceeding 10 meters in length and width, and is laid with bluestone slabs. In the center of the room, a pit has been dug, where a pile of firewood burns. Three stones support a clay pot, which contains a large pot of fragrant fresh meat simmering. In the southeast corner of the room, an area approximately the size of three beds is covered with flooring, topped with sumptuous animal hides, creating a warm and comfortable resting place

The white eyeballs blinked a few times, the fiery eyes spun wildly, and the tears seemed to have vanished, surprisingly emitting a sound akin to a human's lewd laughter. Xiahou felt a shiver run down his spine and immediately grasped its neck: "I tell you, you are not allowed to touch the livestock raised by those small tribes near the village. They are already pitiful enough!"

Xiahou's father, on his left shoulder, carried a massive arrow-toothed beast, while on his right shoulder rested a large cleaver, from which dangled a giant boar, two sizes larger than any wild boar Xiahou had ever seen. As he ran towards the village, he emitted a series of howls, "Aowu, Aowu," and with each stride, he effortlessly covered a distance of five meters, moving at a speed that was more than twice that of the so-called flying men from Xiahou's previous life, all the while approaching with a beaming smile.