After the founding of the country, animals were forbidden from becoming spirits. The hedgehog Bai Cha had just passed the Chariot and Horse Pass and ascended to become an immortal spirit when a bolt of thunder struck him into a primitive world.
Covered in wounds, he was left stranded in the wilderness, with barely a breath left in him.
Just before he could be eaten by a wild beast, a tall, mighty naked man descended from the sky on a cloud of seven colors and rescued him from danger.
Held in the burly man's arms, Bai Cha teared up. "Benefactor, I'll repay you."
His benefactor said nothing, only quickened his pace, gathered firewood, built a stove, and started a fire.
Watching his benefactor bustle around, Bai Cha thought, This guy really is a good person. He knows I haven't eaten, so he's going to cook for me. He really doesn't have to hurry so much.
Bai Cha was still watching his benefactor and muttering to himself when the man lit the fire, sharpened his knife, and turned toward him.
Bai Cha was stunned. That wasn't the kind of repayment he meant!
Bai Cha: "Wait! Don't eat me!"
Bai Cha: "I've already become an immortal. If you help me recover, how about I become your guardian spirit?"
Yuan Ye asked, baffled, "What's a guardian spirit? Can you eat it?"
"..."
"You can't eat a guardian spirit, but I can bless you with health and wealth," Bai Cha pleaded, his survival instincts in overdrive, and whispered like a devil, "I'll make sure you catch more prey than you can eat."
Yuan Ye seemed tempted. He stared at Bai Cha and asked, "Where's the prey?"
"..."
"I'm injured right now, and my magic is weak. You'll have to nurse me back to health first..."
Unfortunately, primitive tribesmen didn't understand investment. All Yuan Ye knew was that he needed food now. "Forget it, then. I'm hungry right now."
"Wait! I can make the parts of your body that are missing grow back!"
Yuan Ye looked down at his mutilated body. Three years ago, the Blackwater Tribe had conquered his tribe. The men were castrated, and those who couldn't endure it became food. Those who survived, like him, lost their masculine symbol, leaving their totem incomplete. They would never be able to advance any further.
Yuan Ye gripped Bai Cha by the throat and threatened him viciously. "If you lie to me, I'll eat you alive, one bite at a time."
Bai Cha saved his own life. Keeping his thoughts to himself, he watched the uncouth tribesman and planned how to train this unqualified believer.
The tribesmen had no faith, so Bai Cha couldn't collect offerings of incense. He could only figure out how to find believers himself.
People with nowhere left to turn were more likely to develop faith, so Bai Cha set his sights on the poor slaves.
Health and wealth, the blessings of the White Immortal, were miracles anyone could see.
With just a few little tricks, he won over the tribesmen, who had no idea what immortals were, and personally taught them how to make incense, build shrines, and put up signs.
The first step to developing the tribe: offer incense to Lord White Immortal!
→ Content warning: The gong is a tribal war slave who has been castrated. He will later be healed by the shou.
P.S. The cover image is from Shetu W.
Preview blurb dated 2024-07-09.
Theme: There's always a way forward.
