Chapter 20: Warrior Ceremony (2)

As night fell, the people in the tribe had all gathered. A series of deafening drumbeats came from the table at the center of the square, and as the rhythm grew faster, the bonfires around the square and beneath the central table suddenly ignited one after another.

The tribe members also began to dance around the central bonfire to the drumbeats. Seeing everything before him, Zhang Fan felt shocked, for this was the most primitive bonfire party he had ever witnessed in his life, and the venue of the party was even in another world.

Now Zhang Fan and Ba Ke Er sitting together made them look like a well-matched pair—one tall and handsome, the other beautiful and gentle. Ba Ke Er, watching Zhang Fan intently watching the performance, felt sweet inside. Zhang Fan looked at the dance before him, somewhat puzzled, wondering how there could be such a strange dance.

"Ba Ke Er, what kind of dance is this? First it's females dancing with females, males with males, and now it's turned into some still dancing with females, some still with males, and some even dancing together as male and female."

As Zhang Fan's living dictionary, Ba Ke Er's duty is to answer every question Zhang Fan raises!

"Fan Fan, the dance they are performing is our Heaven Lion Tribe's courtship dance, our tribe's traditional dance. At every bonfire gathering, unmated males and females who wish to mate will dance this dance. If a female and a male dance it together, it means they are willing to become partners that very day, in front of all the tribe members."

After hearing that, Zhang Fan felt, "This courtship dance is too powerful! You have to mate immediately after dancing? Even flash marriages aren't that fast!"

Beside them, Mo De and Fei Er had heard and seen the two's conversation and their respective performances and expressions. They even saw Ba Ke Er's anticipation and Zhang Fan's surprise in their eyes. Fei Er thought it was time to tease them. They've been living together for over ten days—how come they still haven't gone up to dance the courtship dance?

"Zhang Fan! Tell me, when will you be willing to dance the courtship dance with Ba Ke Er? You've been living together for over ten days—don't you understand each other by now?!"

Upon hearing Fei Er's words, Zhang Fan's face was about to blush. This is too direct! Speaking without beating around the bush—how am I supposed to answer?

"Um... well, let's wait a bit longer! We came today to participate in Ba Ke Er's warrior ceremony, not to find a mate. Let's do it next time!"

As he spoke, Zhang Fan lowered his head, not daring to look at Ba Ke Er. In contrast, Ba te er remained calm. As long as Fan Fan said that, it meant that he and Fan Fan still had a good chance of becoming partners! Moreover, Fan Fan's decision is his decision. As long as Fan Fan decides it's not suitable now, then even if he wants to become partners with Fan Fan, it's impossible! Because he wants Fan Fan to willingly become his partner. Only then will their future be happy.

Gradually the drumbeat approached its end, and the dancers exited one by one. Then, the chieftain Fei Ji walked onto the central table of the square; standing on the platform, he emitted a dignified Lion's Roar. The roar lingered in the air above the empty square, making Zhang Fan and everyone else tremble, feeling submission from the heart. After the Lion's Roar ended, the chieftain stood upright on the table, his expression kind as he said:

"Today, our Heaven Lion Tribe holds the strongest warrior ceremony for the warriors returning to the tribe, and the ceremony to welcome new females into our tribe. Now, we first invite Zhang Fan to come up on stage to meet everyone."