I am a Primitive Man
Chapter 868 – Divine Child, Will You Leave?
During the labor, time passed quietly. Alongside the increasing number of fishbones at the temporary camp, the houses built by everyone also steadily grew.
As time flowed, the first batch of houses in Jingguan City had walls erected, wooden beams placed, and on top of the beams, rafters made from split tree sticks were laid. Over the rafters, woven latticework was set, and atop that was a layer of mud, followed by a layer of pressed calamus grass.
When the top layer of calamus grass was laid, the row of twelve slave houses was finally completed.
At that moment, the sun was setting in the west. Standing on the roof ridge with a wooden fork in hand, straightening his sore back, he looked toward the sun and gazed at the shimmering water in the distance, a profound sense of satisfaction and joy filling his heart.
Those standing below, looking up at the houses in the sunset and at the figures atop the roofs, also felt immense contentment.
After such effort, seeing what they had accomplished brought a satisfaction that, while perhaps not as intense as imagined, was genuinely delightful—almost addictive.
“Once we finish installing the doors and windows, we’ll leave here and return to the tribe to share the good news!”
By the fire at night, Han Cheng watched everyone, their eyes filled with anticipation and excitement, as he spoke.
His words caused everyone to become excited. Many wished they could instantly return to the main tribe to share the good news.
They had been away from the tribe for a long time, unable to suppress their longing for the people and for everything in the main tribe.
Even Han Cheng himself felt a restless urge, wanting to leave immediately. But since the doors and windows were not yet finished, he had to suppress this impulse.
Completing and installing the doors and windows before leaving was essential. Without them, wind and rain could enter the houses, accelerating decay and reducing their lifespan.
After all the effort to build these twelve houses, only the final step remained, and it could not be compromised.
The next morning, Han Cheng lay for a while before sitting up to wash.
He had been dreaming of Bai Xue, Little Pea, and Xiao Xing’er.
After washing and eating breakfast, everyone resumed work.
Unlike before, when most hands were focused on building, now only seven or eight people experienced with making doors and windows stayed to craft them. At the same time, the rest gathered food—some for immediate consumption, some lightly salted and strung to dry for the journey.
Preparing enough food before departure was crucial. It ensured they would not starve on the way back and allowed more time for travel.
Driven by the goal of returning to the tribe, everyone worked with utmost diligence—whether making doors and windows or gathering food—barely pausing for rest or food.
In just two days, the doors and windows were completed and installed.
The doors and windows, made of rough wooden boards, could be opened and closed. While small gaps remained, they were sufficient to block wind and rain.
Even after finishing the houses, the group did not immediately depart. Han Cheng felt they had not yet gathered enough food, so he decided to stay one more day to collect provisions.
The night sky stretched vast and brilliant, like an enormous inverted chessboard.
The temporary camp had disappeared. Tents were dismantled and stored in the new houses, ready to be carried when needed.
In the new houses, Han Cheng, Second Senior Brother, and others lay on floors covered with dry grass and bark, feeling reassured as they looked at the installed doors and windows.
The sense of security provided by these houses far exceeded that of temporary camps. With these houses, the tribe had begun to root itself in this new land firmly.
When they returned next, they could live in these houses and continue developing the settlement.
The next morning, everyone rose and divided into groups to gather food.
Those skilled with fish handled fish traps and processed the catch. Hunters went to hunt.
The primitives of this era were highly adept at surviving in the wild. With abundant wildlife and tools like bows and slings, a day’s effort yielded a substantial amount of food.
Some food was eaten immediately, while the rest was roasted, cooled, and wrapped in large leaves, divided into portions for travel. Rising temperatures allowed roasted meat to be stored for longer periods.
By firelight, everyone packed supplies. The thought of leaving the next day for the main tribe filled them with joy, keeping many awake with excitement.
“Divine Child, tell us a story,” someone requested.
At once, everyone quieted, waiting attentively. Han Cheng, unable to sleep after tossing and turning, agreed.
Lying with his head on his hands, Han Cheng began:
“In a place we cannot reach now, many people live, with countless houses. Humans have become masters of the world. Animals—both fierce and tame—rely on humans for survival.
In that place, people can truly fly, using something called an airplane.
There are countless bridges and roads, with many vehicles, including cars, traveling on them. Riding a car, one could travel from the main tribe to our current location in less than a day…”
The room fell silent except for Han Cheng’s calm narration. Everyone immersed themselves in the incredible world he described.
Flying machines like giant birds, fast-moving vehicles on roads, the ability to communicate and see over vast distances—all sounded astonishing and implausible.
Each marvel alone was enough to overwhelm, but Han Cheng listed them one after another.
Furthermore, there were endless foods. People no longer worry about starvation but rather about what to eat among countless choices. Leftover food was sometimes discarded.
Everyone was deeply shocked. These were things beyond imagination.
Although the Green Sparrow Tribe was proud of its current accomplishments, hearing of such wonders inspired a deep longing and awe.
Even the ability to communicate over great distances was enough to stir desire. If the tribe had such tools, they could immediately share news with the main tribe or show off new crops like rice and sweet sorghum, and display the new settlement, Jingguan City.
They could also see if the piglets had grown and whether the wild apricots around the tribe had ripened.
This was far more astonishing than hearing that they lived on a large sphere—the marvels were of human life itself.
“Divine… Divine Child, is there really such a tribe?” someone asked, trembling.
“Yes, there truly is such a tribe,” Han Cheng affirmed, recalling the life of the future with some wistfulness.
Living so long in this era, he had thought details of the future might have faded, but memories of it still stirred him profoundly.
Hearing his confirmation, everyone gasped. Such wonders existed! This must be the realm of the gods!
One person exclaimed, “This must be where the gods live!”
Han Cheng continued:
“But it’s not a divine realm. The people there are humans. Those marvels weren’t made by gods, but by humans through generations of effort, exploration, and invention.
Just as we transformed barren land into fertile fields, tamed beasts, built houses, and constructed walls to grow our tribe—these marvels are human achievements too.”
He deliberately removed any aura that might elevate the tribe’s sense of mysticism, teaching them that the world is material and human effort produces results.
Otherwise, the tribe might misattribute achievements to gods, hoping to gain them through prayer rather than effort.
These revelations caused an internal upheaval. Things that seemed possible only for gods were human creations!
“Divine Child, can humans really do all this?” someone asked.
“Yes, truly all by humans,” Han Cheng confirmed.
“Remember, at first, before we built walls, houses, or cultivated fields, did you believe it was possible? And yet, we accomplished it. Human potential is immense.”
The tribe’s members were shaken, realizing the magnitude of human power. Some clenched fists in the dark, some touched their arms, marveling at human capability.
Han Cheng smiled silently, pleased that the tribe understood human potential.
Even while other tribes feared storms or lightning as a manifestation of divine wrath, the Green Sparrow Tribe was already investigating clouds, brewing medicine, and applying its knowledge in practical ways.
Awakened humans could accomplish even more.
“Divine Child… can you go back?”
After a quiet pause, Shitou spoke, heart pounding like a drum.
He both hoped and feared the answer. If Han Cheng left, he might follow and see those wonders, but he also feared losing the Divine Child forever.
Before meeting Han Cheng, Shitou felt his tribe wandered blindly in darkness. With him, the fog cleared, and they saw light and direction.
Many others in the tribe shared this sentiment. At Shitou’s question, the room’s tension rose sharply.