C20 It Was Better than an Egg

Upon their return to the tribe, they were reunited with Jiesen and Jiekui. Jiesen seemed to be faring well, not having lost much weight. Jiekui, on the other hand, was a different story. He was so emaciated he resembled a skeleton wrapped in skin. Yet, when they gazed upon Yuan Ge, they saw a man whose body had grown not only stronger but also taller than theirs. Could the tribal rumors be true? Had Yuan Ge truly been blessed by the gods? How else could one explain that while everyone else had grown thin, he alone had flourished?

Yuan Ge felt no need to justify his success to them, for behind every triumphant individual, there are many who toil in silence. Take Jieying and Jietu, for instance. They had sacrificed their own sustenance, giving Yuan Ge all their dried meat to maintain his energy, leaving themselves so depleted they could barely walk. Without the sustenance of rabbit and corn, they might have already fallen.

The snow was quietly dissolving, heralding the approach of spring to this world. At this time, all of nature was bursting with vibrant life. This life transformed into a force that stirred restlessly within a person's being. This was particularly true for Yuan Ge; each time he clenched his fists, he could feel a tidal surge of power within him. Yuan Ge knew that his moment of awakening had arrived.

With the advent of spring's first morning, everyone in the tribe donned their finest animal skin garments. They brought forth the food they had preserved, sharing in the bounty. As the first rays of dawn bathed the land in a glow of vitality, the tribe gathered at the altar in anticipation.

The air was charged with excitement, for today was the tribe's most sacred day—the Awakening Ceremony.

Yuan Ge had risen early to bathe in the river, cleansing himself for this momentous day. It was significant not only because he was to partake in the Awakening Ceremony and be inducted as a warrior of the tribe, but also because today, Yuan Ge would finally confront a true beast. The long winter of arduous training, the countless moments teetering on the brink of surrender, the lonely struggles, and the painful muscle strains he had endured—all these memories flashed through Yuan Ge's mind. Every hardship had been a stepping stone to this day.

Yuan Ge slipped into a brand new set of beast skin clothes that Jieying had prepared for him, securing the beast skin bag filled with arrows tightly to his back, and slung the Spy God across his shoulder. As he stepped into view, everyone was struck by the valiant aura emanating from him. The Yuan Ge they remembered was a fragile boy who would cry after a defeat.

But now, he had transformed into a true warrior. His gaze was commanding, his expression resolute, and he carried himself with a regal bearing. His physique was nearly on par with the tribe's elite warriors, and it seemed he was poised to surpass them.

The bow and arrow on his back was a sight many were seeing for the first time, this stuff of legends. Yuan Ge was also the only one among the children of the Awakening who did not wield a stone spear. Even Jiekui and Jiesen, who were usually inseparable from Yuan Ge, had opted for stone spears. It wasn't that they didn't wish to use a bow and arrow; they simply lacked confidence in their aim. By contrast, the stone spear seemed far more trustworthy.

Yuan Ge's exclusive use of the bow and arrow made him all the more distinctive. Many in the tribe, previously only mildly curious about the bow and arrow, were now eager to witness its prowess.

Without express consent from the High Priest and the chief, they had been hesitant to show too much interest in the bow and arrow. But with the High Priest's neutral stance, people began to take serious notice of the weapon. Yet for those accustomed to the stone spear, it was still a matter of observation. They were not ready to entertain any new ideas until they were certain the bow and arrow could indeed outperform the stone spear.

Today, with Yuan Ge brandishing the bow and arrow at the Awakening Ceremony, excitement rippled through the crowd. Whispers and debates filled the air, "See that? Yuan Ge has brought a bow and arrow, hasn't he? Can it truly be as powerful as they say?"

"Never mind that for now. The fact that Yuan Ge has the courage to bring a bow and arrow to the Awakening Ceremony speaks volumes. He must be confident. Watch closely, today's ceremony is bound to be spectacular!"

"I've heard Yuan Ge is favored by the gods. That bow and arrow of his might as well be a divine edict. How else could he have changed so drastically? Next to him, the other kids might as well be eggs!"

"Cut the crap. You're less than an egg. Remember, you awakened five times before you even became a mediocre warrior. What gives you the right to judge others?"

"Eggs, your mother! I just don't want to overshadow you all. Otherwise, would I let you fools carry on like this?"

Amidst the crowd's mix of laughter and jeers, the noise subsided when the High Priest, Jieyang, and the elders approached the altar.

Jieyang, with a smile, whispered to the High Priest before signaling to Jie'ao that it was time to announce the beginning of the Awakening Ceremony.

Jie'ao was beaming with pride today. To personally declare the commencement of the Awakening Ceremony was an immense honor for him, typically reserved for warriors who had made significant contributions to the tribe. Despite this, many harbored doubts about him, especially considering the recent failed hunt, and questioned the decision to grant him this privilege.

But as Jie'ao confidently strode to the altar, any skepticism was quickly forgotten. After all, his father was the Patriarch. If they were to blame anyone, it should be his father for shamelessly favoring his son. Despite the hunt's failure, he had not only avoided explaining the debacle but had also allowed his son to bask in this glory. Truly disgraceful.

After Jieyang sneezed several times, Jie'ao, with a voice as grating as a rusty gong, called out, "The Awakening Ceremony begins! Sing the clan song!"

Upon hearing the call to sing the clan song, Yuan Ge rolled his eyes, thinking, "From nursery rhymes to school anthems, class songs, group songs, and national anthems, I've sung them all. And now, you want me to sing a clan song? Damn, music really knows no borders!"

Jie'ao's face was contorted as if in pain, yet he was the lead singer. If singing was required, then so be it. Everyone else was singing, so Yuan Ge decided to just mouth along. It wasn't that he didn't know the song; he simply didn't want to sing it. He was well-acquainted with the clan song from his memories. As for the song's original composer, that was now lost to time. All he knew was that everyone sang with fervent devotion, and during the song's climax, many of the tribe's elders were moved to tears.