Han Cheng's reaction to Chang Tui was somewhat unexpected, but he quickly nodded in approval of the situation. After all, doing this would not only serve as a wake-up call to everyone but also make the matter more meaningful and help strengthen the internal unity of the Green Sparrow Tribe.
The shaman brought over two hats made from black raven feathers.
These items and the shaman's feathered crown and bone staff were placed in front of the totem pillar. However, unlike the feathered crown and bone staff placed on a platform, the hats were thrown on the ground.
At this point, the straightforward nature of the primitives could be observed. Although the two individuals felt embarrassed to wear the raven hats, they did not hesitate. They came forward, took the hats from the shaman’s hands, and put them on their heads without delay or second thoughts.
However, they still lowered their heads, too embarrassed to look around at the others.
With Han Cheng's appearance and the involvement of the Green Sparrow Tribe, the fight was easily "suppressed."
After having just acted as the judge and dealt with the case, Han Cheng shook his head slightly. He imagined himself as the stern face of the ancient court official, enjoying the moment.
It felt as though he had transformed into the righteous judge of heaven.
He had to admit that his shamelessness and internal monologue were equally grand.
Content, Han Cheng turned to leave, planning to return to his bed and see if he could regain that satisfying feeling he had earlier.
Compared to people in later generations, the primitives—who had experienced and seen so little—did not have many tricks up their sleeves. Their love and hatred were like summer storms: intense when they came but gone just as quickly.
Of course, blood feuds were not easily resolved unless the tribe, like the Green Sparrow Tribe, had enough food to make reconciliation possible. This would allow formerly hostile tribes to merge quickly.
To reach the level of the Green Sparrow Tribe, however, they would need not only sufficient food but also a wise leader.
At this point, Meng and Chang Tui's behaviors were very much in line with those of people from this era.
With Han Cheng’s arrival, the punishment being carried out, and especially after the soul-searching inquiry from Han Cheng, the conflict between the two had already dissipated.
Looking at Chang Tui, who now wore the raven hat and had voluntarily extended his time of wearing it from one day to two days—just like Han Cheng—Meng, who had been knocked to the ground and lost in the fight, no longer harbored any resentment toward Chang Tui. His feelings had changed entirely, especially since he knew he was in the wrong.
After donning the raven hat, Meng quickly darted into the house.
Everyone thought Meng was hiding in the house because he was embarrassed about wearing the raven hat and didn’t want anyone to see him.
But to everyone’s surprise, Meng quickly emerged from the house again, approaching Chang Tui.
He opened his hand, revealing a few small, broken pieces of stone.
The stones were green and quite beautiful. It was clear that these pieces had once been part of a whole, with a smooth surface.
These were the same pieces of the protective amulet that Chang Tui had recently broken by Meng.
Having been enlightened and moved, Meng held the amulet pieces before Chang Tui and promised to make a similar one for him again when the time came.
Chang Tui slowly shook his head, signaling that it wasn’t necessary.
Han Cheng then reached out and took the broken pieces of the protective amulet from Meng’s hands. After inspecting them momentarily, he returned one of the larger pieces to Meng.
"Yours," he said, his voice steady.
Meng was taken aback for a moment, then took the stone from Chang Tui's hand, gripping it tightly. They looked at each other, no longer engaging in physical conflict.
Han Cheng, who had been preparing to leave, stopped in his tracks. He stood at a distance, staring at the two individuals in a daze. Both wore black raven hats, were naked and covered in mud and after exchanging "tokens," they were now holding hands and gazing at each other intensely.
It wasn’t that Han Cheng was feeling a deep connection to the primitive emotions on display.
Rather, he felt he had just found something he had been searching for but had not yet found any answers to.
"Let go of each other’s hands! Give me the stone!" Han Cheng snapped after coming out of his daze.
Without hesitation, he rushed up to the two, ordering them to release their hands and hand over the "token" between them.
The two were startled by Han Cheng’s sudden shift in demeanor. They didn’t understand why the previously kind and calm figure had suddenly turned intimidating, his expression cold and serious.
Startled by Han Cheng’s outburst, the two quickly let go of each other’s hands, instinctively revealing the small stones they had been holding.
Han Cheng quickly snatched the stone from their grasp when their hands parted.
The small stone was entirely green, softer than an ordinary stone to the touch. Some surfaces were smooth from being polished, while the broken edges were sharp. The stone was slightly stained with dirt, which must have come from the hands of the two mud-covered individuals.
Han Cheng studied the stone carefully, a delighted expression spreading across his face.
Both Chang Tui and Meng, still shaken by Han Cheng's sudden action, stood there, unsure of what had just happened. Why would the Divine Child be so pleased with the broken protective amulet?
The two of them and even the remaining crowd who had not yet dispersed were left bewildered by Han Cheng’s unusual reaction.
Standing some distance away, the shaman seemed to snap out of her daze first. He quickly walked over to Han Cheng, her eyes filled with excitement and anticipation as she gazed closely at the stone he was inspecting.
Eldest Senior Brother, Shang, and Mao, the higher-ups of the Green Sparrow Tribe who were more knowledgeable about such matters, also gathered around, their eyes fixed intently on the stone in Han Cheng's hand.
"Divine Child, this..." the shaman swallowed hard and rubbed her hands together before speaking to Han Cheng.
Under everyone's expectant gazes, Han Cheng nodded, his heart lighter as he realized what had happened. The others, now understanding the situation, felt a sense of relief.
But before they could break into applause, Han Cheng shook his head.
"It looks like it, but I’m not sure yet. Someone gather some firewood and bring the hand drill. Once the fire’s started, I can confirm if it’s the right thing..."
When Han Cheng finished speaking, several people rushed off to gather the necessary materials. If they were stopped, the shaman also joined the group.