Translator: CinderTL
Before the crowd could reach a decision, Xu Sanyan spoke up, "I believe there's an even more urgent matter we must address."
"What is it?" the old man asked, puzzled.
"The Praying to the Gods Method," Xu Sanyan said, emphasizing each word. "Without it, the Dog God cannot bestow blessings. What good is choosing a clan chief then?"
The elders' faces paled with shock as they rose simultaneously, exclaiming, "What? The clan chief didn't leave you the Praying to the Gods Method?"
A commotion erupted below.
"We're doomed! The clan chief must have died too suddenly, without time to pass on the inheritance. We're finished..."
"How can we obtain the Dog God's blessings without the Praying to the Gods Method? What good is destroying the Snake and Bear Clans then?"
"Ah, Xun Baicao has doomed the Dog Clan..."
As the clamor filled the air, Xu Sanyan kept a close watch on Xun Hua from the corner of his eye. Seeing her expression remain calm and unchanged, he grew even more certain that she knew the Praying to the Gods Method.
Just then, Xun Hua slowly stood up. "The clan chief left the Praying to the Gods Method before her death. There's no need to worry."
Though her voice was soft, it settled the restless crowd like a calming tonic. A collective sigh of relief swept through the assembly—this was all that mattered.
They might not care who became clan chief, but the Praying to the Gods Method was crucial for the clan's survival and could not be lost.
"Since the former clan chief entrusted the Praying to the Gods Method to Xun Hua, it's clear she intended for her to inherit the position. Does anyone have any objections?"
Xu Sanyan frowned, glaring at the old man. Why is this old geezer so determined to support Xun Hua? Did she give him something?
At that moment, another voice rang out. "I believe Xun Ancai is more suitable. When the former clan chief was trapped, she alone returned to the tribe for help. In a way, she saved Xun Hua's life, demonstrating her courage, meticulousness, and careful planning."
"Moreover, it was Xun Ancai who proposed wiping out the Snake Clan. I recall Xun Hua initially opposed the idea, didn't she?" The old man's gaze turned probing as he looked at Xun Hua.
Xu Sanyan followed the voice to its source, recognizing the old man who had treated Xun Yang earlier.
Old geezer, you look like you'll live to be a hundred.
Xun Hua remained silent, her thoughts unreadable. Slowly, she lifted her head to meet Xu Sanyan's gaze, a strange light flickering in her eyes.
Her heart was torn. She wanted to obey the clan chief's order to kill Xu Sanyan, yet she couldn't bring herself to do it.
If she possessed the Old Clan Chief's authority, a single word would have been enough to command her people to execute Xu Sanyan. But she lacked that power, and her people would never blindly follow her orders. Moreover, Xun Ancai would never stand by and watch her kill Xu Sanyan.
She herself was deeply conflicted, unable to understand why the clan chief insisted on Xu Sanyan's death. The man had done nothing to betray the Dog Clan; on the contrary, he had consistently aided them in their raids against the Snake and Bear Clans. Even if his contributions were overlooked, why should he be killed?
Xun Hua couldn't comprehend it, and no one offered her an explanation.
Suddenly, someone shouted, "I support Brother Shitou as clan chief!"
Xun Shitou glanced at him, rolling his eyes silently. "Shut up," he muttered.
The crowd of over four hundred ignored him completely. It was clear to everyone that the next clan chief would emerge from the contest between Xun Ancai and Xun Hua.
Both women possessed immense strength and significant contributions. Xun Ancai had Xu Sanyan by her side, while Xun Hua wielded the Praying to the Gods Method, each holding their own trump cards. The matter was settled between them.
"Let's decide by vote," someone proposed. "One vote per clan member. Whoever gets the most votes becomes the clan chief."
"Agreed."
"Support whoever you choose by standing behind them," the old man declared, stepping behind Xun Ancai first.
The crowd below exchanged glances before slowly shifting their feet. The group split into three factions: some moved behind Xun Ancai, others behind Xun Hua, and a small number behind Xun Shitou.
Choosing Xun Shitou was essentially abstaining.
Xu Sanyan silently counted: one, two, three...
After everyone had made their choice, the unexpected result was that both Xun Ancai and Xun Hua had received an equal number of votes!
Each had 171 supporters behind them. Xu Sanyan thought he had miscounted and recounted, but the numbers remained the same.
As he wasn't a member of the Dog Clan, he had no voting rights.
This outcome stunned everyone.
Even more surprising, Xun Hua suddenly spoke up, "Shouldn't I have a vote too?"
The old man behind Xun Hua froze. "What do you mean?"
"I'm voting for Xun Ancai. Let her be the clan chief."
"Huh?"
Her words stunned everyone, especially her supporters, who felt betrayed—as if their leader were a spy.
If you didn't want to be clan chief, why didn't you just say so earlier? Why put us through all this? You could have just conceded to Xun Ancai!
The old man behind Xun Hua wore a troubled expression. You weren't saying this yesterday, he thought.
Xu Sanyan couldn't figure out what Xun Hua was up to, but he refused to believe she would give up so easily.
"But I have one condition!"
Of course, Xu Sanyan thought, curling his lip.
Xun Hua pointed a finger at Xu Sanyan and declared in a firm voice, "I want him to have a child!"
"Xun Hua, you're talking nonsense!"
Before Xu Sanyan could react, Xun Ancai exploded like a protective lioness guarding her cubs. Her eyes blazed with fury as she glared at Xun Hua, her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. She looked ready to beat Xun Hua to death on the spot.
Daring to make a move on my man?
You're asking for death!
Xu Sanyan froze, stunned. Have a child?
Me?
"I knew you were up to no good!" Xun Ancai roared. "You've always had your eyes on my man. Now your true colors are finally showing! Don't even think about it—I'll never agree!"
"With you," Xun Hua added.
Xun Ancai's expression froze. For a moment, she didn't know how to react. Should she be angry? Or... happy?
Truth be told, she had always wanted a child.
The crowd was equally stunned, heads bowed as they pondered the implications. Xu Sanyan and Xun Ancai have a child, and then Xun Hua withdraws from the clan chief election?
What on earth is this about?
Xun Hua felt utterly helpless. This was her last resort, a desperate measure after long deliberation. It was the only option left to her.
She could vaguely guess the clan chief's intention to kill Xu Sanyan: fear that without someone to restrain him, he would harm the Dog Clan.
But as events unfolded, killing him had become increasingly difficult. Since that was the case, she decided to give him something to care about—a child with the Dog Clan.
Xun Hua believed no one would harm their own child, and a child born to him and Xun Ancai would be considered one of the Dog Clan.
Xun Ancai secretly glanced at Xu Sanyan, her eyes filled with anticipation and a hint of shyness.
Xu Sanyan pondered for a long moment before solemnly shaking his head. "I won't have children."
A faint, mosquito-like voice drifted from the side, "Um, I could have one too..."
Xu Sanyan ignored her. Even if he truly wanted a child, he would never bring one into the world within the secret realm.
Xun Ancai's face fell, a flicker of disappointment crossing her features. She had always liked children.
Xun Hua sighed softly. "Then there's no other choice. We'll just have to..."
Before she could finish, a voice called out from the corner, "I should get a vote too, right...?"
(End of the Chapter)
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