The witch doctor did not explain what had happened, only venting her anger, scolding the Shu Xin sisters for their ignorance.
She demanded that Balun bring them to her immediately to apologize in person!
Balun, unaware of the situation, shifted his gaze to the young beastman serving as a backdrop and asked, "What happened between the witch doctor and them? You tell me!"
The young beastman's heart trembled. He stammered, "The witch doctor went to the cave where Shu Xin was treating patients, but she arrived too late. The sick tribesmen had already left. The witch doctor wanted to see Shu Xin's needles..."
He finished his explanation haltingly. Seeing the corner of the tribal chief's mouth twitch, he thought the chief must share his sentiment.
What was there to argue about? One wanted to see, the other refused. Both sides were somewhat at fault, but he dared not voice this.
The witch doctor's gaze was icy. "Did you hear that? I am considering the well-being of the tribe. Why is my medicine ineffective, yet Shu Xin's needling works? Chief, don't you have anything to say?"
Balun ran his hand through his hair in annoyance. "I thought it was something serious, enough for the witch doctor to fly into such a rage at two children?"
"I've heard about this. Shu Xin is skilled in peculiar medical arts, and she managed to cure the tribesmen. This proves that needling can also treat illnesses. Witch doctor, don't overthink it."
The witch doctor stared at him coldly. "Chief, I think you've lost your mind!"
"I have never heard of needling the body being able to cure diseases. Chief, I think you should thoroughly investigate Shu Xin's origins. Don't wait until she harms the tribesmen to discover the truth!"
With a heavy snort, the witch doctor had the young beastman escort her away.
As the young beastman flew, he pondered the witch doctor's words. Was Shu Xin really harming people?
Balun's expression was grim, clearly recalling something he wished to forget.
Lan Hua and Xing looked at each other with suspicion. What did the witch doctor's words truly mean?
Hu Sha interrupted their wild speculations. "If you don't eat soon, the roasted meat will burn."
The others snapped back to attention. Lan Hua, seeing Hu Sha eating with grease all over her mouth, asked with a complex expression, "Hu Sha, you can still eat? What do you think about what the witch doctor said?"
Hu Sha shook her head. "I don't have any particular opinion. The witch doctor couldn't cure the illness, but Xin'er did. The witch doctor wanted Xin'er's tablet and needles, but Xin'er refused, which is why the witch doctor became so angry. Don't you understand?"
Xing reacted, surprised. "You mean the witch doctor... she..." She couldn't bring herself to say the word "jealous." Could the witch doctor be jealous?
Hu Sha finished the last bite of meat and stood up to leave. "That's exactly what I mean. The witch doctor isn't a block of wood; she has emotions just like us. When someone more capable than her appears, how can she not panic?"
Lan Hua and Xing were stunned by this statement, unsure of what to say.
Balun asked her in a deep voice, "Where are you going?"
Hu Sha walked out of the cave. "I'm going to check on Xin'er and Yue Yue. Yue Yue is pregnant; I wonder if the witch doctor scared her." With that, she stepped onto the water and left in the light rain.
The remaining three, Balun, Lan Hua, and Xing, were left stunned. Balun watched her retreating figure, lost in thought. He realized he didn't understand his beast companion very well!
After a moment of shock, Lan Hua asked, "Balun, don't you think Hu Sha dislikes the witch doctor?"
Balun nodded. "I have that feeling. Do you know why?"
The two females shook their heads; they didn't know either.
...
"Yue Yue." Hu Sha's voice appeared outside the door.
Wen Te, who was roasting fish, quickly went to open the door. "Why has Grandma come?"
Hu Sha smiled. "I've eaten my fill and came out for some activity. You haven't eaten yet, have you?"
Upon entering, she saw two net bags of fish of various kinds in the center of the yard. She asked curiously, "Where did you catch so much?"
"We caught them in the river. Grandma, please come into the cave; the smell in the yard is too fishy. Yue Yue and the others are inside the cave." Wen Te returned to the kitchen to continue roasting fish.
Lei Te was also in the kitchen, washing wild vegetables.
"Okay." Hu Sha glanced around the kitchen. Wooden walls, wooden roof, and a half-wooden door. She thought to herself, this is really well done; it's not afraid of rain or wind.
After the rainy season, she would ask Balun to renovate their home like this.
She walked into the cave. "Yue Yue?"
Shu Yue and Shu Xin were about to come out to greet her, but the former's legs were longer. "Grandma, please come in and sit. Why did you come in the rain?"
Hu Sha said, "This little rain doesn't bother me. If I don't come out for some fresh air, I'll start to mold!"
"Hehe, Grandma is joking~" Shu Yue smiled and invited her to sit.
After Hu Sha sat on the stone stool, she inquired about the hardships of her pregnancy and finally mentioned the witch doctor's incident today.
"When I came, the witch doctor had just left my place and had a fit of temper with us."
"Uh, why did she get angry with you?" Shu Yue found it inexplicable.
Hu Sha smiled helplessly. "It's because Xin'er treated the tribesmen. I'm afraid the witch doctor has an opinion of you."
"..."
"Sigh, she's had an opinion of us for a long time." Shu Yue wasn't particularly concerned about the witch doctor's opinion.
Many people disliked them, but as long as they didn't cause trouble, they wouldn't initiate it.
Hu Sha was stunned by this remark, expecting them to show signs of worry or panic, but they were completely indifferent.
"Aren't you afraid the witch doctor will cause trouble for you?"
Shu Yue shook her head. "We are reasonable people. The witch doctor is an elder; how could she hold a grudge against us?"
"..." Shu Xin's mouth twitched. Her sister sounded like a naive little flower.
Hu Sha, unaware of Shu Yue's true personality, couldn't help but worry. Could these simple sisters contend with the witch doctor?
She sighed. "Your thinking is not wrong, but you should be more cautious and have less contact with the witch doctor."
"Mhm, Grandma, we understand." Shu Yue indicated that she had taken it to heart.
While they were talking, lunch was ready. "Grandma, please have some more."
Hu Sha politely declined. "No, I've eaten my fill." Eating more would be a waste of food.
Seeing that she genuinely wouldn't eat, they didn't press further. The four of them began to eat.
Hu Sha looked at the yard and asked, "Are all the fish you caught edible?"
Wen Te replied, "We don't know yet; we need to sort them."
"Grandma, when you go back, tell Grandpa to tell the tribesmen that since hunting isn't enough, we'll eat from the water. Everyone should take net bags. We know where the fish are plentiful."
Hu Sha agreed. "Oh, alright. You brothers are getting more and more capable. At this time in previous years, it was good enough to eat one meal a day. This year, we haven't gone hungry even during the rainy season."
Lei Te put a piece of meat into his mouth. "That's because we didn't know we could eat from the water before. Otherwise, we wouldn't have gone hungry!"
If it weren't for the Shu Yue sisters, they wouldn't have known how many delicious things they had missed. They were messengers of the beast god; he believed this wholeheartedly.
"Yes, it's all thanks to Xin'er and Yue Yue. If Lei Te and Wen Te dare to bully you in the future, come find me, and I'll teach them a lesson for you!" Hu Sha said with a smile.