At dusk, in the Tupa Tribe camp, inside Kapak's tent.
Looking at Sangduo, who had suddenly attacked him, Kapak was momentarily stunned, but he quickly regained his composure. He spread his hands and said to Sangduo.
"You've misunderstood, Sangduo. I am not an invader's spy, nor have I been possessed by evil spirits. I am just using these medicines to help my tribesmen."
"Help? Using those white-skinned people's medicines?" Sangduo said with a malicious tone, while Kapak continued to explain.
"Listen to me, Sangduo. Although the invaders are bloody and cruel, their technology is indeed very advanced. Haven't you seen? I have indeed helped many tribesmen get rid of their illnesses in the past two days. This is visible!"
"There's no problem now, but who knows if there will be problems in the future! Heaven knows if you've planted some hidden dangers now!" Sangduo continued sternly, clearly not intending to listen to a single word from Kapak, which made Kapak very angry.
"Why won't you believe me, Sangduo? Everything I've done is truly for the good of the tribe!"
"What makes you think I should believe you? You, an ordinary hunter, suddenly became a doctor with exquisite medical skills. There are many people in the tribe who watched you grow up, and no one has ever seen you study these things before... Either you were secretly trained as a spy by the white-skinned people, or you've been possessed by evil spirits."
Saying this, Sangduo walked up to Kapak, his massive physique closing in on Kapak, his clenched fists seeming ready to strike Kapak's face at any moment. Kapak, meanwhile, swallowed and said.
"I am not an invader's spy, nor have I been possessed by evil spirits. You have to believe me, Sangduo."
Kapak looked at Sangduo with determined eyes. Seeing his attitude, a surge of anger rose in Sangduo, and he clenched his fists even tighter. However, in the end, he suppressed his anger.
"If there's any problem, go talk to the Shaman!"
...
At dusk, in the Tupa Tribe camp, inside a large tent located in the center of the camp, a tall, thin elder wearing eagle feathers and a colorful fringed robe sat in the center of the tent.
While holding a pipe and smoking, the elder examined the object before him. In front of him was a hand with a splint on it, and the owner of this hand, Qichiru, looked at the elder before him with some trepidation. He asked with a hint of fear.
"Shaman, is there anything wrong with this hand that Kapak treated for me? There were rumors just now that Kapak was suddenly so powerful because he was possessed by evil spirits. Will I be affected since he saved me..."
"Don't worry, Qichiru. Your injury has been treated very well. There are no traces of evil spirits on it. I can feel your spirits are joyful because they have escaped pain."
"Although I don't quite understand the medical skills used to treat your arm, I can tell from the feedback of your spirits that this medical skill is correct and effective. It is a profound and practical technique."
The elder, referred to as Shaman, said to Qichiru in a calm tone. Hearing the Old Shaman's words, Qichiru felt relieved. He let out a sigh and said.
"Phew... That's really good. I thought I was also unlucky because Kapak was possessed by evil spirits. It's good that he wasn't... It seems he really learned a skill from some wild Shaman..."
Qichiru said thankfully, while the Old Shaman shook his head and said with a hint of a smile.
"No Shaman in this land has such a technique, and such a technique can absolutely not be learned easily in just two or three tries."
Listening to the Old Shaman's words, Qichiru was slightly startled, yet he said in disbelief.
"No Shaman has this art, so Kapak is indeed..."
Just as Qichiru was surprised and wanted to say something, the Old Shaman waved his hand, interrupting his words.
"You should leave first, I have other matters to attend to immediately."
"Yes..."
Seeing the Old Shaman's actions, Qichiru responded respectfully and immediately withdrew without delay. The Old Shaman, meanwhile, held his pipe, exhaling smoke, and waited.
After a short while, Sangduo dragged Kapak into the large tent. One looked nervous, the other arrogant.
"Shaman, I've brought Kapak. The techniques he used are indeed problematic! They all come from those white-skinned people!"
"Shaman, please listen to me. I have absolutely no intention of..."
As soon as Kapak and Sangduo entered, they started clamoring to explain to the Old Shaman. The Old Shaman, after taking a puff from his pipe, said impatiently.
"Alright, alright... Don't shout so loudly here, I can hear you... Just stand there properly..."
Hearing the Old Shaman's words, Kapak and Sangduo immediately fell silent. The Old Shaman then scanned the two people present again before slowly getting up.
Stooping, the Old Shaman came to Kapak's side and slowly circled him. While circling, the Old Shaman occasionally picked up two small jars from the ground nearby and sprinkled some water and powder on Kapak, but none of this caused any abnormal reaction in Kapak.
Seeing this scene, the Old Shaman's brows furrowed slightly, and then he slowly put down the small jars.
"Kapak, come with me for a moment. Sangduo, you can go back first."
After saying a few simple words to Kapak and Sangduo, the Old Shaman picked up a walking stick from the side, leaned on it, and walked out of the large tent. Kapak was slightly startled when he saw this, and then followed him. Only Sangduo remained in place with a look of confusion, finally only able to shout after the departing Old Shaman.
"Shaman, you must punish this invader's spy!"
Following the Old Shaman, Kapak walked out of the large tent, out of the camp, and into the forest beside the camp in the twilight glow, going deeper and deeper.
Following the Old Shaman, Kapak walked in the dark woods. He looked at the back of the Old Shaman who was steadily walking ahead, and spoke with unease in his heart.
"Shaman, where are you taking me? And please don't believe Sangduo's words. I am absolutely not a spy for the invaders! I even learned to read from you when I was a child?"
"Of course I know you're not a spy. If you were a spy... you wouldn't be so brazenly showing off your healing skills. Besides, I don't quite believe those invaders would use such an excellent doctor like you as a spy, wasting your talent. Our small tribe doesn't hold such an important position in their eyes."
Walking ahead, the Old Shaman slowly responded to Kapak. Hearing the Old Shaman's words, Kapak felt a surge of joy in his heart. He continued to ask the Old Shaman.
"That's great, Shaman. You didn't believe Sangduo's words. I'm not a spy. Please explain it to him later."
"Hehe, even if I explain, Sangduo won't listen."
"He won't even listen to your explanation? Why is that?" Hearing the Old Shaman's words, Kapak asked in confusion, and the other party also slowly replied.
"Sangduo's relatives were killed by the invaders, and he has a strong hatred for them. He also gained prestige within the tribe by spreading this hatred, attracting a group of people who hate like him to his side, and inciting neutral parties to side with him, thus forming an authority of discourse based on this. If nothing unexpected happens, he might be the next tribal chief... And what you've done these past two days might become his unexpected factor. When things concern power, no explanation, no reason is useful."
"When things concern power... no reason is useful..." Hearing the Old Shaman's words, Kapak murmured thoughtfully, then he spoke to the Old Shaman not far ahead.
"It doesn't matter if Sangduo can be reasoned with... As long as you, Shaman, can trust me, then the tribesmen will naturally be able to trust me."
"I trust you? Sorry, Kapak, I can't do that right now." The Old Shaman responded to Kapak. Hearing the Old Shaman's response, Kapak couldn't help but be slightly startled.
"What... You, don't you believe I'm not a spy?"
"I believe you're not a spy, but I also don't not believe you are something else. I watched you grow up, Kapak. I don't remember you learning such skilled medical techniques." While continuing to walk, the Old Shaman said, his words beginning to carry a hint of oppression, while Kapak argued somewhat flusteredly.
"My, medical skills were learned by chance from a wandering Shaman..."
"Hehe, the Shamans in this land don't have medical skills like yours. Moreover, I have examined the patients you've treated, and your treatment of them seems very skilled, not like you just learned a few things casually."
The Old Shaman chuckled lightly, exposing Kapak's clumsy lie, and slowly turned around to continue speaking to him.
"In this land, there is only one possibility for mastering a skill without a teacher, and that is possession by an evil spirit. The spirit parasitizing you allows you to use its skills from its previous life. Of course, this is not a good thing, because the spirit will eventually devour you."
"But don't worry, I will exorcise the evil spirit for you."