At this moment, the rocks blocking the entrance of the cave were pushed aside, and light suddenly shone into the cave, making Ethan Brooks, who was curled up on the ground, a bit uncomfortable.

Thud, thud—footsteps sounded, and a burly figure appeared.

“Grant wants you to go to the riverbank to attract the river beasts, to buy time for the water-fetching team.”

Ethan Brooks quickly realized that this must be the tribe’s punishment for his offense against the totem.

In the lingering memories, there were many black-bellied terror crocodiles living in the river outside the tribe. Anyone—human or animal—who went to the riverbank would be attacked by them.

Every year, the number of tribespeople who died fetching water at the riverbank was second only to the hunting team. This was using the dying as bait, making use of them one last time.

They’re at least of the same tribe, yet so cold-blooded.

Of course, that was just his thought. Offending the totem was absolutely the greatest crime in the tribe. The fact that he wasn’t burned alive on the spot was already a stroke of luck. Who else could he blame for his own death wish?

“Suggestion: host should commit suicide, die with some dignity.”

“Dignity my ass if I’m dead. I refuse to die, just to piss you off.”

Immediately after, Ethan Brooks felt himself being lifted up.

“Damn it!”

Outside the cave, under the sunlight, Ethan Brooks, still not quite used to it, looked up at the sky, unable to hold back.

In the sky, a massive figure soared across, three legs beneath its belly, flaming feathers like a god, covering nearly half the sky.

Is that the sun?

Pah!

That’s the Golden Crow!

Looking straight up at the sky at a 180-degree angle, Ethan Brooks felt a bit dizzy.

Where am I?

Who am I?

This scene—can’t you at least let me keep a shred of dignity?

What kind of world is this? It’s insane—even the rats—no, even the sun has grown legs.

Unfortunately, the big guy holding him didn’t care about his changing expression at all. He charged out of the tribe, joined up with three others, and plunged straight into the dense jungle.

Smack, smack, smack.

Mmmph, ahh.

Being carried like this, with leaves and branches constantly hitting Ethan Brooks, made him extremely uncomfortable.

As they got closer to the riverbank, he grew more and more uneasy. Were they really going to just throw him into the river and let the black-bellied terror crocodiles tear him apart?

Such a wasteful way to do things—this is a one-time deal! They should let him go; maybe he could dodge the crocodiles this time and come back tomorrow to lure them again.

“Ju, Lu, Kong, you go fetch water at the riverbank.”

In the thick grass near the riverbank, the burly man carrying Ethan Brooks finally spoke. He tested his arm strength while holding Ethan Brooks, clearly about to throw him into the river.

He’s really going to throw me!

Feeling his body start to swing, Ethan Brooks panicked and shouted, his body trembling like he was having a seizure, almost foaming at the mouth.

He didn’t know if his act was convincing, but with his life on the line, any method was worth a try. If he got thrown into the river, not even his ashes would be left to nourish the earth.

“Totem!”

“Totem!”

“The great totem has given me guidance, let me go!”

Limbs flailing, body arched, muttering under his breath, Ethan Brooks struggled desperately—just like those exorcists on TV.

Chapter 2: Can’t You Dig a Well If There’s No Water?

Harris looked at Ethan Brooks in his grasp, then swung his big arm in a half-circle, sending Ethan Brooks flying.

Whoosh.

Boom.

Huge waves splashed up from the river, and a swarm of dark shadows surged up from beneath the surface, blood blossoming in the water.

Ethan Brooks.

Dead.

……

“No!”

Staring at the shimmering water, Ethan Brooks shuddered and shouted, dispelling the imagined scene in his mind. Damn, that was terrifying—falling into the river would be even worse than being torn apart by horses, not even a scrap would be left.

“The great totem told me there’s water in the tribe!”

After shouting this, Ethan Brooks finally felt the hand holding him let go, and several figures surrounded him.

It worked!

The act couldn’t stop now—if you’re going to put on a show, you have to go all the way.

Just as he expected, in such a primitive and desolate world, the reverence for the totem was as deep as awe for gods and spirits.

“Totem! Totem! The great totem told me there’s water in the tribe.”

“Return to the tribe and find Grant.”

Harris grabbed Ethan Brooks and quickly headed back to the tribe. On the way, Ethan Brooks once again received the “kisses” of wild grass and branches.

Boom.

In the central cave of the tribe, Ethan Brooks, already dizzy from all the shaking, was slammed heavily onto the ground.

“Grant, Ethan says he received guidance from the totem—there’s water in the tribe.”

Harris’s burly body bowed respectfully. In front of him stood a hunched old man dressed in black animal hide, his face wrinkled and ancient, like mountains and rivers.

The old man’s body looked frail, but in Harris’s eyes, there was only awe.

At this moment, Ethan Brooks saw the old man looking at him, and couldn’t help but shudder. It was a lingering trauma from the previous body’s memories—a mysterious reverence for Grant. Even after death, that instinctive awe remained.

Seeing Grant looking over, Ethan Brooks’s heart skipped a beat.

Crap, I’ve been exposed.

He could fool Harris, but to Grant, who presided over the tribe’s rituals, his words would seem weak and unconvincing.