Ge Guang's heart trembled, and all he felt now toward this expert who had saved them was reverence and worship. This expert appeared somewhat aged, with a faint beard upon his chin, while his eyes were dim and weathered by time, carrying the vicissitudes of countless years within them.
Fang Yuan slowly approached atop the ten-thousand beast king, causing the hearts of the Ge tribe Gu Masters to shake with every step the ten-thousand beast king took. The ten-thousand beast king itself was an existence at rank four, not to mention Fang Yuan riding atop it, who himself possessed rank four peak stage cultivation.
Moreover, this expert was the one who decided whether they would live or die. Thus, it was understandable why none of them dared to speak.
When Fang Yuan approached within a hundred steps, the gathered Gu Masters stepped forward and bent their backs slightly, placing their right hands upon their chests, not daring to raise themselves until Fang Yuan arrived before them.
Ge Guang bowed deeply toward Fang Yuan as he shouted, "Respected expert, your strength fills me with admiration and reverence! With merely a wave of your hand, wolves flooded the grasslands! This junior deeply admires your might… now our lives rest in your hands, whether to live or die, we shall listen to your command without complaint!"
The Ge tribe group was utterly exhausted, and their reserves of primeval essence had long since run dry. Even at full strength, they would not have been able to resist Fang Yuan. Thus, displaying a friendly and submissive attitude was the wisest course of action.
Fang Yuan laughed heartily as he replied, "Young warrior, I witnessed your battle earlier. You were truly brave and did not fear death… you are among the first people I have met since emerging from the poisonous grasslands, alongside this little girl. Rest assured, I, Chang Shan Yin, am not a cruel or evil person."
Fang Yuan gestured with his hand, causing a thousand beast king behind him to step forward. While the Ge tribe group laughed in relief, the wolf advanced, and upon its back sat Ge Yao.
Ge Guang was still laughing joyfully at having encountered a Gu Master from the righteous path rather than the demonic path. But the moment his eyes landed upon the poisonous beard wolf thousand beast king and saw who sat atop it, his laughter abruptly choked in his throat.
The group behind him also stopped laughing.
"Isn't that Lady Ge Yao?!"
"So Lady Ge Yao was actually protected by this expert while we struggled at death's door searching for her?!"
Ge Guang's expression shifted from shock to grievance, from anger to joy, leaving him unsure what to say. Yet what came out was, "Little sister Yao?.. You're actually safe, that's wonderful! Wonderful! Benefactor Chang, not only did you save my life and the lives of my tribesmen, you also saved my little sister! You are the greatest benefactor of the Ge tribe!"
From atop the wolf, Fang Yuan glanced toward Ge Yao, who appeared nervous and frightened. But after seeing his silent encouragement, she descended from the thousand beast king and merged back into the Ge tribe group. Just as Fang Yuan intended to leave, Ge Guang called out to him.
"Benefactor Chang, please wait!.. I am the young tribe leader of the Ge tribe. You saved my life, my sister's life, and the lives of my group. I do not feel I can leave such a debt unpaid… I invite you to our camp as a guest, and I shall do my utmost to make your stay enjoyable." Ge Guang invited him earnestly and hopefully.
Naturally, gratitude was part of the reason. But more importantly, he saw Fang Yuan's strength. The opportunity to befriend such an expert was not merely beneficial to himself, but to the entire tribe, especially an expert as powerful as Chang Shan Yin.
"The Ge tribe?" Fang Yuan pretended to ponder for a moment before replying, "Then lead the way, young man. The chance to interact with other humans after being isolated for so long is truly a priceless blessing."
Ge Guang's eyes lit up, and he smiled toward Fang Yuan before laughing warmly, "Benefactor Chang Shan Yin, thank you for accepting my invitation. Then allow me to lead the way!"
The group advanced westward together with Fang Yuan and his sea of wolves. Along the way, the group remained in high spirits. They had found their young lady, who seemed strangely cheerful for some reason, while Fang Yuan drew closer to them, laughing and conversing alongside them. They even felt that this expert possessed a truly humble and extraordinary temperament.
He even took the initiative to guide them. At one point, Ge Guang shyly admitted that he had encountered difficulties while refining Gu, leaving him stuck at the same step for weeks. Fang Yuan merely glanced at the issue before guiding him casually, causing Ge Guang's admiration, respect, and reverence for Fang Yuan to deepen to a level approaching worship.
Within merely three days, everyone in the group, whether Ge Guang or Ge Yao, felt that Chang Shan Yin was no ordinary expert. The knowledge, wisdom, charisma, humility, and strength he displayed caused each of them to think the same thing.
"This is a genius among geniuses!"
After five days of travel, the group finally arrived at the Ge tribe camp. The camp itself was enormous. A sturdy and thick wall stood along the outer perimeter, about six meters tall and green in color, with vines growing and intertwining upon it alongside large numbers of leaves and clusters of grape-like fruits.
Behind the great wall stood towering watchtowers, with three Gu Masters stationed atop each one. One specialized in defense, while the other two were investigative Gu Masters who took turns observing the surroundings.
When the camp gates opened, numerous Gu Masters emerged to welcome them.
"The young tribe leader has returned! Lady Ge Yao has returned as well!"
"The young tribe leader only left for a few days, yet he managed to find Lady Ge Yao. His capability is truly high!"
"I heard they encountered a pack of wind wolves and nearly lost their lives, but an enslavement path expert saved them! That expert had even rescued Lady Ge Yao earlier!"
"Ah, look!.. Tens of thousands of wolves! There are at least thirty thousand wolves, and that is a wind wolf ten-thousand beast king!"
Before Fang Yuan and the Ge tribe group arrived at the camp, Gu Masters had already been sent ahead to inform the tribe leader of their return and prepare to receive this great expert. As the information spread, many people became curious and pointed toward Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan sat calmly atop a thousand beast king and could not bring all the wolves into the Ge tribe encampment, so he left them outside while only bringing several beast kings inside. Ahead of him, Ge Guang waved his hands every time someone called his name or pointed toward him. Everywhere he passed, loud cheers erupted from the crowd, displaying his firmly established status as the future tribe leader among these people.
Ge Guang possessed the traditional mentality of Northern Plains men. He explained to Fang Yuan how disgusted he was by his sister fleeing on the night of her wedding, placing him, his father, and the entire tribe in an embarrassing position. The reason he explained all this in the first place was because he feared that if he scolded his sister, the great Chang Shan Yin would intervene to stop him.
Chang Shan Yin had spent several days alone in the wilderness with Ge Yao. Who knew what might have happened between them? Women did not possess much status in the Northern Plains, especially in the mortal world, and this traced back to Immortal Venerable Giant Sun himself.
Thus, Ge Yao's feelings were insignificant compared to the anger of this great expert.
After entering the Gu Masters' district, they passed many house-type Gu worms such as rank two lizard house Gu and mushroom house Gu.
"Benefactor Chang Shan Yin, ahead of us is the tribe leader's tent." When the group reached the center of the camp, where more than a hundred mushroom house Gu stood, an old man appeared before them.
The old man possessed a friendly appearance and led a group of Gu Masters to welcome them. Fang Yuan knew he was the Ge tribe leader. To display an equal attitude, he descended from his wolf and stood upon the ground before placing his hands upon his chest.
The Ge tribe leader gazed at Fang Yuan with admiration for a moment before placing his own hand upon his chest and bowing deeply, nearly to the point of kneeling. "Respected expert Chang Shan Yin, you saved my son and daughter and preserved the future of the Ge tribe along with them. As both a father and a tribe leader, I must properly thank you. Please, come inside. A banquet has been specially prepared for you!"
"Very well." Fang Yuan laughed warmly as he advanced alongside the Ge tribe leader.
Behind them followed the Ge tribe elders.