Chapter 979: Conversation in the Dark Room

Baoxi untied the willow branches binding Chengqie, though he did not sentimentally ask if Chengqie was in pain; Baoxi was unable to say such things, as his emotions were not yet that rich.

Chengqie, however, rubbed his own shoulders and shook his arms; having been bound behind his back for so long had left his arms somewhat numb.

Baoxi pressed down on Chengqie's shoulder again, then said earnestly: "Chengqie, I know what you are thinking, but we have stayed in the Suiren Tribe for too long and have no idea what it is like outside. You don't know, but the Shennong Clan is now on the verge of extinction, and the ones doing it are the Xuanyuan Tribe and Huaxia."

"Do you know what this means? The Shennong Clan is even larger than us, yet they are about to perish; if that happens, then next will be our Suiren Tribe, yet we are only capable of keeping most of our tribespeople from starving to death."

"But the current Huaxia and Xuanyuan Tribe—everyone can eat their fill. Their roads are as hard as stone; they don't use their legs to walk, they use oxen to pull carts, or they ride oxen."

"You haven't seen it yet; I came here riding an ox, and that was given to me by Huaxia. Tomorrow, you go ride one too, and experience what kind of life people in Huaxia are living now."

"And this house we live in—I have had enough of these low, dark, damp, bug-infested shacks that could be blown down by rain and Snow. You couldn't push over even one wall of a Huaxia house with ten men."

"Now, the Workers from Huaxia have also arrived; they will build me a house here just like the ones in Huaxia."

Tears almost welled up in Chengqie's eyes: "Father, because Huaxia gave you these benefits, are you willing to hand over the entire tribe to Huaxia? How can you face our Suiren tribespeople and our ancestors like this? You are already sending people to Huaxia now, aren't you?"

"What nonsense are you spouting! Huaxia has already prepared a better place for our tribespeople and will teach them how to farm. Do you know what farming means? In the future, even without hunting, there will be endless grain. That is how Huaxia is; I have seen their endless fields of grain, which is why they are able to support so many tribespeople."

"They will give our tribespeople tools and teach them everything, because after we join Huaxia, we will be one family. Everything that the people of Huaxia have, we will have too."

"Furthermore, besides the wealth given to me, do you know what the most important point is? It is that Huaxia will worship the Suiren Tribe during their sacrificial rites."

"In other words, Huaxia believes that they are also descendants of the Suiren Tribe, but our branch is the purest one; however, their branch has developed better, so it can be considered that they have come to help us."

"If you look at it from the perspective of the sacrifices, it is actually Huaxia that has joined our Suiren Tribe, though the current Tribal Chief is Baifeng. However, I can also obtain the highest Nobility, which will not be lost and can be passed down from generation to generation."

Chengqie was now extremely shocked: "Father, you say Huaxia wants to worship our Suiren ancestors and believes they are also descendants of the Suiren Tribe? Then what about their own ancestors? Did they not worship their own before?"

Baoxi also shook his head, somewhat puzzled: "Huaxia previously only worshipped gods, not ancestors, because they said Baifeng's ancestors were gods. I didn't believe this at first."

"But seeing the state of Huaxia, and after hearing some things the Huaxia people told me, I truly believe a little that Baifeng is the son of Heaven. Most importantly, he can extend a person's lifespan; any random person in Huaxia can live for over a hundred years."

"Huaxia has already lived for forty years now, perhaps, but he looks even more robust and younger than me, which makes me even more suspicious."

"No, Chengqie, what I am telling you now cannot be explained clearly. Everything requires you to go to Huaxia and see it with your own eyes to know. You also don't need to worry; as long as Huaxia worships the Suiren ancestors and acknowledges that they are also descendants of the Suiren, then our Suiren Tribe will never perish, but will instead become even stronger."

"It is just that the one who needs to make a sacrifice is me, because I will hand over power to Baifeng, and Baifeng will become the true Tribal Chief."

There was some unwillingness in the depths of Chengqie's eyes, because this meant he no longer had the chance to become the Tribal Chief of the Suiren Tribe.

"Father, are you really willing to accept this? Why must the Tribal Chief be him, Baifeng, and not you?"

Baoxi kept admonishing Chengqie: "Chengqie, stop having such thoughts. How could these foolish people of our Suiren Tribe compare to those people in Huaxia? I have told you many times already; in any case, only when you reach Huaxia will you be able to recognize reality."

"As for me, I will tell you clearly: in Huaxia, I possess the highest status besides Baifeng. I possess enough wealth and am respected, but I do not necessarily have power, because power in Huaxia is too dispersed and requires you to have enough ability to grasp it."

"I cannot compare to those people in Huaxia. Perhaps in the future, I will consider competing to become an official, but perhaps I will just enjoy life in Huaxia City, because I have everything. Our tribespeople don't need me to work hard for them to live better day by day."

"But Chengqie, you are different. You are still young; compared to those people in Huaxia, you still have time. So I need you to go to Huaxia, study well, and then compete to obtain enough power."

"Huaxia practices Primogeniture, which means that the first son born to the first woman you find is the only one with the right to inherit your position. For me, it is the same."

Chengqie suddenly raised his head, his heart pounding; he felt an unprecedented sense of crisis, because he knew that before him, there was still an older brother, and his mother was not living very well right now.

Baoxi hurriedly comforted Chengqie, because he felt that Chengqie might be emotionally agitated, but Chengqie was his son most likely to succeed, and he could not give up on him.

"I asked Huaxia what a Legitimate Son is and what a primary wife is, but because it wasn't very clear, I said your mother is my primary wife and you are my Legitimate Son. Everything I have will be inherited by you, including my Nobility and my property."

"As for your brothers, they are only eldest sons; after I die, they will only be able to divide a portion of my wealth."

"Chengqie, do you know why I chose you instead of your brothers?"

Chengqie's dissatisfaction gradually decreased: "Is it because my brothers are too stupid?"

"It is because you are the only one among my children who looks a bit smarter."