The Ge Tribe Leader personally presented an entire slab of beef to Fang Yuan, then leaned toward him and said:
"Benefactor, please."
Fang Yuan did not hesitate. He tore off a piece of meat and devoured it while laughing happily, then followed it with an entire horn of kumis wine. Vitality spread through the tent after Fang Yuan drained the whole horn and shouted for more.
"More! The taste of life is truly wonderful when one eats!"
"Elder Chang truly possesses a wise outlook on life!"
Ge Guang immediately praised and flattered him, while Ge Yao rolled her eyes as she glanced at Fang Yuan. She recalled the scene from a few minutes ago, when she had entered the tent alone with her father and brother.
"You unfilial daughter, do you want your old father to die from anger?!"
The Ge Tribe Leader slapped his daughter harshly until her cheek turned red, then returned to his seat while watching her cry. Afterward, he turned toward Ge Guang and continued:
"You made your old father worry greatly, and your brother nearly died as well… but I understand you, daughter. That Man Duo is a toad, his aptitude is poor, yet he is unbelievably arrogant for daring to seek marriage with the jewel of Ge Tribe. I could not refuse him, however. We were forced to marry you to him."
Ge Yao stood up, tears filling her eyes.
"But father, I do not want to marry him! He is ugly, and his talent is even uglier than his face. He is utterly incompetent, yet simply because he is the son of Man Tribe's leader, you want me to marry him… this daughter refuses!"
The Ge Tribe Leader waved his hand tiredly.
"I know this, daughter. But now, at the very least, you have a chance to choose… I do not know whether Longevity Heaven is truly so merciful as to turn your escape into an opportunity for you, but now that you have become close to Chang Shan Yin, and he is currently a guest in our tribe, you have a chance to escape your marriage to Man Duo…"
Ge Guang looked at Ge Yao, then at his father in shock as he spoke.
"Father, are you saying?!…"
The elderly Ge Tribe Leader laughed when he looked at his son.
"Son, you have truly become smarter. Yes, that is exactly what I mean… men all have their desires. Some crave authority, others crave strength, while others desire different things altogether. But they all agree on one thing—beauty is desired by every man. And who in our entire tribe is more beautiful than Ge Yao?"
The Ge Tribe Leader wanted to continue, but Ge Yao interrupted him.
Her voice trembled, and joy leaked from her tone.
"Father, I am willing to sacrifice myself for the tribe… if that is the case!"
The elderly Ge Tribe Leader laughed happily, seeing hope of breaking through his deadlock with Man Tribe through Chang Shan Yin. He wanted to bind this expert to his tribe, and there was no connection better or stronger than familial ties. Even if Ge Yao could not become his wife, merely becoming his concubine or lover would already be enough.
"Ge Yao, I know you are willing, but you are still sacrificing yourself for the tribe. This father will not forget your sacrifice… besides, I also have my own suspicions regarding this Chang Shan Yin's identity. Perhaps he truly is our tribe's great fortune."
"Father, do you mean Benefactor Chang Shan Yin is actually the Wolf King Chang Shan Yin?… Ah! I remember now, he told me something like that when we were inside the poisonous grasslands."
The Ge Tribe Leader was stunned, and even Ge Guang stared blankly at his sister.
Ge Yao shook her head, her cheeks reddening as she stood up from her seat. She had been seated extremely close to Chang Shan Yin, and even her seat had been placed higher than Ge Guang's.
She poured more wine for Fang Yuan while smiling sweetly.
"Elder Chang, I still have not repaid the debt I owe you, and I do not possess anything valuable enough to repay a debt of such worth. However, I believe meaning is what gives a gift its true value, and so… I personally sewed these robes for you."
"Wise words, Little Yao!… Ah, this reminds me of my younger days, when my mother used to sew clothes for me."
Fang Yuan's eyes reddened, causing Ge Yao to shrink back as sadness filled her heart.
The heated atmosphere within the hall quieted down. Everyone had already learned Chang Shan Yin's true identity, and they could not help but say:
"Elder Chang Shan Yin, this was not your fault, but the fault of that damned Ha Tu Gu! If not for him and his bandit gang, you would have obtained Snow Wash Gu and healed your mother!"
"Those demonic path bastards are a curse upon the world! They caused a righteous and good man like Lord Chang Shan Yin to suffer!"
"Benefactor Chang, the past truly causes one pain, but a person must continue moving forward to ensure the same mistakes are never repeated again!"
Ge Guang shouted this advice, and at that moment Fang Yuan raised his head, the tears beneath his eyes already dry.
This sight caused everyone to sympathize with him even more.
Fang Yuan smiled bitterly as he said:
"I am merely a broken wanderer, not a hero or anything like that. It is a blessing from Longevity Heaven that I was able to return alive after escaping death… but the world I once knew changed after I slept for twenty years. I am merely an unfilial child who allowed his mother to die. I no longer possess the face or the desire to return to my tribe."
All the Ge Tribe elders sighed sympathetically.
"Benefactor Chang, if you are not a hero, then what are you? You cleansed our Northern Plains of Ha Tu Gu and his gang, saving countless people from their evil… how about this? You may stay within Ge Tribe for however long you wish. You are our honored guest, and more importantly, you are the benefactor of our tribe!"
Fang Yuan thanked him deeply as he replied:
"Thank you, Tribe Leader. Truly, you are someone who understands what it means to walk the righteous path."
The Ge Tribe Leader felt his heart tighten, but he still smiled warmly and called for the young girls to dance and continue the banquet. The feast lasted for several more hours before finally ending, with everyone leaving drunk and unable to even recognize the road before them.
Fang Yuan also walked out, pretending to be drunk while Ge Guang escorted him toward his large rank two lizard house Gu.
Fang Yuan stepped inside, and his expression instantly returned to indifference.
"This act truly wastes a great deal of time… but what can I do? After considering every factor, Ge Tribe is still the most suitable pawn."
Fang Yuan sighed helplessly in his heart as he opened Star Gate.
Hundreds of starlight firefly Gu appeared, forming a Star Gate large enough for him to pass through. In the next moment, he arrived inside Dang Hun Palace within Hu Immortal Blessed Land.