Chapter 57: Henlide-Tulongzhe

Snuo, who was deep in thought while monitoring the growth of his Revival Points, suddenly noticed that the Dwarfs around him were looking at him strangely. Their gazes were like those of thirsty travelers in the desert catching sight of a bucket of ice-cold beer.

Across from him, Buluoke-Damingsen was gradually regaining consciousness with the support of his disciples; he was loudly proclaiming that he had seen the Ancestor Goddess exactly as she appeared on ancient scrolls and sculptures.

According to his account, the Mother Goddess Valaya had long, golden hair that trailed on the ground, and a gentle touch of her hand on his head had wiped away all his fatigue, leaving him feeling as energetic as if he had suddenly become a hundred years younger!

Snuo looked at Buluoke with a suspicious expression. Since he hadn't yet had the chance to apply the ritual effect to himself, Snuo couldn't immediately tell whether the Dwarf across from him was hallucinating or had truly seen the Goddess.

Aided by the miracle, the atmosphere of the banquet shifted from joyful to frenzied. The Dwarfs present drank to their hearts' content and sang at the top of their lungs.

Listening to the Living Ancestors tell stories and singing praises of great deeds and epics was a part of Dwarf entertainment culture.

Hymns accompanied by drinking were so popular that many large guilds and Clans even had their own choirs.

The Jiliuguan Choir, conducted by Baolin-Houniu, enjoyed a great reputation throughout the Mountain Kingdom, and they were even invited to tour the Empire of Man.

At this banquet, amidst the enthusiastic cheers of their kin, this choir performed the story of the Mother Goddess Valaya one act after another.

However, such revelry was limited to the Dwarfs sitting below the stage; Snuo, sitting on the stage, felt the air around him almost freeze solid.

King Selending, Master Yinzhi, the massive Gatekeeper, and several other high-ranking Dwarfs qualified to sit on the stage stared at one another, their gazes almost sparking.

Because of the mutual checks between them, no one had yet spoken to Snuo. Only then did Snuo realize how great an attraction having abundant energy held for a long-lived race like the Dwarfs!

"All I can do is pray to the Mother Goddess; whether she bestows divine grace depends entirely on her will!" Snuo, having snapped back to reality, hurriedly excused himself.

Although his Revival Points were hitting a new peak of growth, even considering the expected increase, he could optimistically only perform this ritual two more times; what would he do if he were held back and couldn't leave!

This sentence eased the tense, sword-drawn atmosphere on the stage. The high-ranking officials of Jiliuguan laughed and began to toast one another.

But this pale and feeble explanation was clearly insufficient to dispel the thoughts of the Dwarfs before him; from their insincere smiles, Snuo realized he likely wouldn't get a good night's sleep tonight.

The chime clock on the dome struck twelve, and the banquet reached its end. "Let me escort Master Snuo back to his room!" Every Dwarf blurted out this sentence in unison. It was clear they had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

Realizing that their fellow clansmen had the same reaction as they did, the Dwarfs wore awkward, sheepish smiles on their faces.

Seeing this, Snuo hurriedly claimed he couldn't hold his liquor and quickly slipped back to his room.

Closing the door, Snuo had just taken off his heavy formal coat when he heard a "Boom!" outside the door, as if something heavy had slammed into the ground.

"Sigh, I still couldn't avoid it!" Snuo sighed and got up to open the door.

Pushing the door open, he saw Master Yinzhi, with his white beard and hair, being pinned to the ground by the Gatekeeper; the Gatekeeper was using one hand to pin each of the Master's hands and feet, preventing him from triggering the Runes on his body.

Looking at Snuo, who had stepped out, the Gatekeeper revealed a smile that was honest yet slightly awkward. But he ignored Master Yinzhi's struggles and kept him firmly pinned.

"Respected Chosen of the Goddess, I am Henlide-Tulongzhe! I currently serve as the Gatekeeper of Zhufuba." The Dwarf spoke, his voice sounding somewhat muffled.

Examining the Dwarf before him at close range, Snuo realized just how prominent his physique was.

If Snuo himself could be considered well-proportioned for a Dwarf, and Brother Gelimu could be called robust, then one would need words like "sturdy" and "imposing" to describe this Dwarf Warrior.

This burly man was already nearly as tall as Snuo while sitting on Master Yinzhi's back, and his broad backside covered the Master's entire back. If he stood up, even with the short legs of a Dwarf, he would be at least a head taller than the average clansman.

"Tulongzhe..." Snuo repeated. He knew that behind this simple and direct title lay endless bloodshed.

"Aye, before I became the Gatekeeper, I traveled the continent as an adventurer and slew a forest Dragon raised by the pointy-ears over in the Grey Mountains! I only returned to my homeland to lay low."

Henlide lifted his head proudly. Since he was pinning Master Yinzhi and couldn't easily reach out, he pursed his lips to signal Snuo to look at his back—a green Dragon-skin cloak with the Dragon's head fashioned into a hood.

"I wonder what this brave warrior seeks by visiting me so late at night?" Snuo asked. The Dwarf before him had a dark beard and was in his prime; by his estimation, he shouldn't be suffering from a lack of energy.

"Could it be that his energy in *that* regard is failing?" A bit of mischief flashed through Snuo's mind, but he maintained a serious expression on his face.

"My father returned to the halls of the ancestors long ago, and my mother raised me all on her own; her health hasn't been good these past few years. Could you please ask the Ancestor Goddess to bestow divine grace upon her?"

Listening to Henlide's words, Snuo's eyes suddenly grew moist. He thought of his own father, who toiled day and night for official business and was suppressed by a mountain of Grudges. After gaining the ritual ability, the first person he thought of was not this elder who had always cared for him.

Snuo's silence did not surprise Henlide. Anyone with common sense knew that begging the gods to bestow divine grace required paying a huge price.

In the eyes of Henlide and Master Yinzhi, Snuo was waiting for the Dwarf before him to name his price.

"Master Snuo, you come from a noble lineage and possess superb skills yourself; I fear the wealth I've earned through my years of hard work won't catch your eye." Henlide began.

"I have heirloom equipment, but using it to trade with you would go against the teachings of the ancestors. If you can entreat the Ancestor Goddess to bless my mother, I am willing to pledge my loyalty to you for fifty years! The kind where you just have to provide my meals." Henlide looked at Snuo.

"With my abilities, if I were using standard-issue equipment, even Agelimu in the north wouldn't dare say he could surely defeat me!"

Hearing this, Snuo nodded repeatedly; he believed in the strength of this burly man.

"S-Snuo, don't listen to him!" Seeing Snuo look somewhat moved, Master Yinzhi hurriedly spoke as soon as he caught his breath.

"Most of our Dwarf strength lies in our equipment! This guy is too big; he can't even fit into his ancestral Plate Armor. Does he really think he can compare to the Slayer King just by relying on an axe?"

I've just set up a book club; if any readers want to provide character inspiration, feel free to join.

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