Closer to Revealing My True Self-Chapter 736 - 472 How Familiar the Routine Is_1

The Chieftain did bring over the adornment, but allowed only to look, not disassemble:

"The grass rope wrapped around it must not be damaged or removed!"

Feng Yi didn’t need to take it apart at all.

His request to look was merely a prelude to the topic he wanted to introduce.

The Chieftain respectfully placed the adornment on the table, then watched Feng Yi warily, to prevent any harm to this specially significant piece.

Feng Yi simply watched quietly for a moment before speaking, "The vertebral bone is well preserved."

This was not one of those long-buried, deformed fossils. This was a vertebra that existed in reality and was kept intact!

The species should be that of the emblematic creature that existed in this rainforest — the Forest Python.

Only, it was much larger.

But what interested Feng Yi the most was the faint traces of energy remaining on this piece of vertebra!

From these energy traces, Feng Yi surmised that the giant python might have been a pet kept by one of his tribe’s forebears when it was alive.

It likely wasn’t food.

If it were food, it’s unlikely that such a perfect skeleton would still be preserved.

"May I ask, does your tribe have any special relationship with this giant python?" Feng Yi asked.

The Chieftain’s face was grave. He took his time considering how to respond to the question: Should he give a perfunctory answer, or share some truth?

Thinking of the other’s identity as a bureau specialist, his professional expertise shown just now, and Feng Yi’s attitude up to this point, the Chieftain ultimately said:

"The great beast Serpent, that’s what we call it.

"It once guarded this land against pirate invasions..."

When pirates invaded, they would seize the tribe’s gold, kill some of the resisting members, and capture the rest to sell as slaves.

But under the guardianship of the great beast, they survived those most chaotic years.

As a result, their tribe saw the great beast Serpent as a guardian deity.

They would eat other snakes from the rainforest, but not the Forest Python.

They regarded the Forest Python as a descendant of the gods, and even in contact with the outside world, their beliefs were often mocked by outsiders — ridiculed as exaggerated tales, scoffing at the native villagers’ ignorance and pretense.

But they remained unwaveringly firm in their faith.

Because they knew it was all true!

The great beast Serpent really existed!

"If you knew the history of our tribe, you would understand that we weren’t located here before the period of climate anomalies..."

Their original dwelling had been destroyed by continuous storms during the period of climate anomalies; there were also floods. In the wake of these disasters, they were forced to relocate and eventually settled where they are today.

And the former dwelling place...

"Where we used to live was very close to the great beast Serpent’s burial site. This vertebra was what I dug out there after the disaster.

"The storm destroyed our old homes and also damaged the great beast Serpent’s burial site. The land ravaged by the storm was left unrecognizably altered, and when we went there back in the day, we only unearthed this single vertebra."

Feng Yi listened quietly to the Chieftain’s tale. He had initially thought the Chieftain would speak of the local mystical legends of the Three Great Snake Mothers, like Yakumamana.

He didn’t expect the Chieftain to tell another story. Moreover, the authenticity of this story, judging from the emotional information, seemed highly probable!

Yet this story raised many questions for Feng Yi.

"The great beast Serpent? Is that the name you gave it?" Feng Yi asked. In the local language, this name carried the meaning of "great snake."

The Chieftain shook his head slightly: "I don’t know. It might have been the Sage."

Feng Yi: "The Sage is?"

The Chieftain’s eyes filled with reverence: "He appeared alongside the great beast Serpent, taught us to identify herbs, taught us to fight against pirates; he must have been a messenger of the gods!"

Feng Yi: "..." How familiar this pattern seemed.

The Chieftain: "Until one day, there was a thunderous noise, and the ground trembled. When everything calmed down, my ancestors went over and saw that where the great beast Serpent often appeared, there was now a mound. The Sage said it was the great beast Serpent’s burial site. Later, the Sage also disappeared."

Feng Yi nodded. He roughly knew the direction and development of the story.

In general, all these events happened about three hundred years ago, and the burial site had existed for a long time.

The skeleton was so well-preserved after so many years, perhaps because of that burial site.

But after the period of climate anomalies and the subsequent disaster, the burial site was destroyed, and the Chieftain only managed to excavate one vertebra. If the remaining parts were scattered in the rainforest, they would have decomposed much faster. This was also the Chieftain’s regret, as he hadn’t been able to unearth a second bone relic.

The Chieftain gently stroked the grass-rope woven adornment on the table.

The vertebra had never been brought out and even been camouflaged because the Chieftain was worried it would be coveted by outsiders.

According to the records handed down by their ancestors, pirates would ruthlessly snatch all their rare treasures and kill the villagers of the tribe.

Now some people are more fearsome than the pirates were.

Once exposed, their tribe’s strength would be insufficient to protect this treasure.

"Why are you willing to bring it out now?" Feng Yi asked.

If the Chieftain had just now firmly denied it and hidden it away afterward, Feng Yi wouldn’t have insisted.

At this question, the Chieftain’s face showed helplessness and bitterness.

"It would eventually be exposed. I’ve only recently learned that people from other tribes are also digging; they may not recognize what they’ve found but might trade it away. I can’t stop them from selling the great beast Serpent’s bone relics to those affluent merchants and tourists."

Feng Yi immediately asked, "This piece you have, would you sell it?"

Chieftain: "No!"

Feng Yi: "Who else has found some? Could you ask on my behalf? I am willing to pay for it. Oh, and may I visit the site of the great beast Serpent’s burial?"

I could dig myself!

The Chieftain’s oppressive gaze rested on Feng Yi for a moment: "It’s late; we can discuss some of these issues tomorrow."

Feng Yi wasn’t in a hurry: "Alright, then I’ll come to bother you again tomorrow. Oh, I have one more question that I hope you can answer."

Feng Yi looked seriously at the Chieftain: "What did the great beast Serpent eat?"

This Forest Python, suspected to have been altered by his ancestors, should have exceeded twelve meters in size!

Could this environment sustain such a size, even three hundred years ago?

The Chieftain frowned at the question as if it were foolish, but he still replied:

"We eat what’s suitable,"

"For example?" Feng Yi asked.

"For example, the animals in the rainforest, and also, invading pirates," the Chieftain said.

Feng Yi fell silent.

I see, they still eat people.

But at that time, some tribes here were also cannibals.

Not wanting to disturb the Chieftain any further, Feng Yi returned to the quarters the villagers had prepared for him.

After the lights went out at night, lying in the hammock, Feng Yi reflected on what the Chieftain had said.

This ancient rainforest was full of legends, some true, some false, impossible to verify.

But after piecing everything together, Feng Yi guessed that perhaps his ancestors, not just one, had come here to keep pets!

Or maybe for leisure?

Or to forage?

Either their pets were discovered by someone, or it was during the time when their true forms were causing trouble in the jungle, witnessed by the natives, who saw the part that wasn’t human, and the tale grew in the telling, twisted and turned until it became a monster of thirty or fifty meters tall.

Regrettably, most of them lacked detailed written records, just some simple symbols and drawings, as well as stories passed down through generations. This kind of heritage is sure to have been distorted in the process; it’s not absolutely true, but it does have some referential value.

That "Sage" playing tricks and pretending to be divine was very likely one of his own ancestors.

Thinking of this, Feng Yi suddenly realized something:

"Did my ancestors meet the Maya people?"

If an ancestor had roamed here thousands of years ago, they would have intersected with the lost civilization, right?

Snakes also hold significance in Mayan culture; I wonder if my ancestors had any communication with them.

The next day.

After eating and drinking well and getting a good night’s sleep, Feng Yi got up in the morning and had a hearty breakfast. He set off in high spirits to keep his appointment.

There were some matters that hadn’t been finished discussing, to be continued today.

But today’s conversation wouldn’t take place at the Chieftain’s house.

The Chieftain had a canoe-like object moved out, the kind of narrow and long small boat. By its material, it was obviously not something that could be made locally, but instead, it was crafted from high-tech fiber material, lighter and easier to transport.

Clearly, this was also one of the goods the tribe had acquired through exchanges with the outside world.

After strictly controlling tree cutting, some of the original tools had also been replaced accordingly.

The high-tech canoe was one of them.

With the canoe brought out, the Chieftain invited Feng Yi on board.

According to local customs, the boat would row to the middle of the river, and the people on it would have a one-on-one conversation.

Durin the day, when lots of people are out and about, the soundproofing in the houses is poor, and there are many lurking dangers in the jungle; therefore, when they need to have more private conversations, they would conduct them in this manner.

It is a means of conversation that has elements of deterrence and confidentiality. It also tests the other party’s sincerity.

If one doesn’t have sufficient courage or sincerity, the villagers won’t continue talking with them.

The slender canoe moved along the river’s flow.

At this moment, only Feng Yi and the Chieftain were on the boat.

Other tribal people followed from a distance, just not getting too close.

Feng Yi was at the bow, but he wasn’t facing forward. Instead, he faced the Chieftain and didn’t look at the villagers keeping a distance behind the Chieftain. He was interestedly surveying the surrounding scenery.

The boat slowly reached the center of the river.

The Chieftain observed Feng Yi’s expression.

There was not the slightest hint of unease.

Considering Feng Yi’s status as an expert with the United Protection Agency, the Chieftain didn’t stop the boat at the center of the river but decided to row a bit further, toward a spot closer to the shore, as a way to show respect.

The boat continued moving forward, gradually angling toward the shore.

Judging the distance to be sufficient, the Chieftain let the boat drift with the current, getting ready to start today’s conversation.

On the boat, Feng Yi and the Chieftain stood face to face, neither observing their surroundings.

Feeling the atmosphere was about right, the Chieftain was about to speak up when suddenly his gaze sharpened:

"Perhaps this isn’t a good place for a conversation."

"No, no, no, I think it’s quite good!" Feng Yi said, raising his hand and pointing behind him.

"Are you worried about this fellow?"

A clump of dense branches reached out overhead, their leaves obscuring the view. Behind the branches, there was a large section of deadwood, leaning at an angle near the shore.

On the moisture-soaked deadwood, a large snake was resting.

One of the rainforest’s specialties, the forest boa.

At a preliminary estimate, it was at least five meters long. A threatening size indeed.

As the boat drifted toward it, getting closer and closer.

The Chieftain gripped the oar tightly, his face tense.

Feng Yi, however, was deftly rummaging through his bag, apologetically saying:

"Sorry, could you please wait a moment?"

Since he had encountered a subject matter, of course, he couldn’t let it pass!

He took out his camera to take close-up photographs and videos.

On the deadwood, the bulky forest boa flicked its tongue, its emotionless and cold eyes making the Chieftain’s muscles tense in alert.

Yet, there was still a cheerful voice on the boat.

"Chieftain, would you like to take a photo together?" Feng Yi asked.

The Chieftain glanced at the expert who was nearly face-to-face with the forest boa, his expression even more strained: "No!"

Chieftain in his mind: Can’t you keep even a little reverence for the descendants of gods?!