"Kexin, do you think it's possible for me to steal their beast skins from the Du'an tribe?"
Kexin was stunned by my audacious idea. Perhaps in her eyes, I had always maintained an image of maturity and stability, never doing anything without a sure outcome.
"Mas-master, are you joking? Putting aside whether you can steal the beast skins, whether you can even get in is a problem!"
I chuckled and made a casual remark to Kexin, brushing the matter aside.
However, I hadn't dismissed the thought from my mind.
It was already late at night. In the tent, Keya, like a well-behaved kitten, was curled up in my embrace, her hair idly tracing my chest.
Her hair brushed against the black spider tattooed on my chest, sending shivers down my spine.
"Keya, tell me about the Sacred Lake."
"Of course," she said, turning over in my arms and lifting her small face to look at me, beginning to tell me about the Sacred Lake.
The savage tribes on the deserted island, though they worshipped different gods, shared similar origins for their deities.
To the east of the island lay a swamp, perpetually shrouded in mist, where visibility was zero.
In the center of the swamp was a clear lake. Legend had it that all gods were born from this Sacred Lake. Over the centuries, a few lucky individuals had managed to reach the Sacred Lake.
Upon their return, they all claimed to have received blessings from the Sacred Lake. These individuals were known as "Children of the Gods" and invariably became prominent figures on the island.
Many fantasized about becoming the next "Child of the Gods," venturing into the eastern swamps in pursuit of the fabled Sacred Lake.
However, the swamps were rife with peril, and it was said that guardians of the gods also resided within. Thus, most who ventured there became nourishment for the swamp's creatures.
Two hundred years had passed since the return of the last "Child of the Gods."
"So, does this so-called Sacred Lake truly possess the power to transform ordinary people into Children of the Gods? How do they prove they returned from the Sacred Lake and didn't just wander around the edge of the swamp?"
I was somewhat skeptical of the legend of the "Children of the Gods" that Keya spoke of.
The story was too fantastical, imbued with myth.
After all, countless people throughout history had claimed to be blessed by the gods.
"I don't know the specifics, but the old shaman once told me that after a Child of the Gods undergoes the baptism of the Sacred Lake, they are reborn, their strength far surpassing others, and their words are unconsciously accepted."
"However, most recorded Children of the Gods died young and met tragic ends. It seems they carried a mission upon emerging from the Sacred Lake, and upon its completion, they returned to the lake's embrace."
Damn it, this Sacred Lake sounds incredibly sinister!
The more I listened to Keya, the more I felt something was amiss. If Zhang Shouhe were brought here, wouldn't this be a modification center?
A select few fortunate individuals entered, were crafted into perfect tool-like beings, returned to the outside world to stir up trouble, and then were scrapped and sent back to the factory.
After Keya's explanation, my resolve hardened. Unless I was truly desperate, I would never go to such a cursed place!
"Keya, what do you think about me going undercover in the Du'an tribe?"
I revealed my entire plan to Keya. After all, compared to the slim hope of finding the Sacred Lake, infiltrating the Du'an tribe to find a way to remove the black spider pattern seemed far more practical.
Keya initially reacted with surprise but then fell into contemplation.
"Master, you are not from this island. The Du'an tribe mostly captures outsiders and makes them slaves. How will you get in?"
I had already devised a solution to this problem.
In "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber," there was a character named Ku Tou Tuo. He was originally a handsome man.
But later, to eliminate threats to the Ming Cult, he disfigured himself, ruined his voice, and wore an ugly mask to infiltrate Prince Ruyang's manor.
A mask wouldn't achieve his level of disguise, but dressing up as a savage would not be difficult.
Only Pan Lili had seen my face in the Du'an tribe. As long as I avoided her, no one would expose my disguise.
"The Du'an tribe is currently short of warriors. With the sudden change in weather, if I pretend to be a warrior from a destroyed tribe, they won't be too suspicious."
I excitedly explained my vision to Keya. Although many details were still unrefined, I believed this plan was feasible.
Keya listened quietly, her expression gradually becoming serious. Suddenly, her eyes lit up as if she had thought of something.
"Master, I've thought of a treasure!"