When it came to going to the seaside, Shen Lan was naturally more enthusiastic than anyone else. Moreover, he could understand the leader's intention - with tribe members being attacked and killed by beasts one after another, he was still a bit uneasy about just a few people going to the seaside. Not to mention they were already somewhat afraid of the sea.

With Shen Lan and Xia Chuan, two people who were not afraid of the sea, going along, the safety level would naturally be much higher.

Previously, Shen Lan had countless reasons to go to the seaside: taking a bath, replenishing water, cooking, returning to the old nest... but it was the first time because of death and a funeral.

Aegon's legs and feet were still injured, making it very inconvenient for him to walk. His son was not very old and had a thin build, and was actually not that heavy.

But wrapped in leaves and with his eyes closed, he suddenly became heavier than a thousand pounds, like a mountain, pressing down on Aegon's back, making him hunchbacked, instantly losing the vigor of a young and strong man, as if he had suddenly aged many years.

He walked unsteadily, staggering with each step. His feet landing on the ground were weak, as if he would fall and roll on the ground if he was not careful.

Following behind to escort them, the few people would occasionally look at Aegon with concern, but none of them reached out to help. Perhaps only the closest person has the right to bear such a once-in-a-lifetime unbearable weight...

So Xia Chuan and Shen Lan just watched and did not intervene.

On the way, the forest was still so quiet that it didn't seem real. Not only did they not encounter any beasts, there were few bird calls. The group stopped at the edge of the forest, looked at the sea not far away, and then the three carrying the corpses laid the huge "packages" on their backs flat on the ground.

The corpses' faces had the grayish-green color unique to the dead, without a trace of blood, accompanied by an unpleasant smell, looking a bit horrifying.

But none of the group showed any disgust or fear. They dug the wet, soft soil in the forest on the spot, and then smeared it bit by bit on the faces of the corpses, as well as the wrapped leaves and vines. Everyone smeared some, giving the most simple blessings to the tribesmen who were about to leave and never return.

Xia Chuan and Shen Lan stood by and watched for a while, then also dug some mud and smeared it on the three corpses one by one, in accordance with local customs, earning grateful looks from those people.

After all this was done, the three people carried the corpses on their backs again, walking out of the forest with heavy steps, step by step, slowly heading towards the sea. This time, the accompanying people did not follow, but leaned against the trees and watched, giving them and their loved ones a final moment alone.

"They're going to send the corpses into the sea?" Shen Lan looked at their actions and said in a low voice.

"It seems so." Xia Chuan replied.

The two of them, like the other accompanying tribesmen, stayed at the edge of the forest, watching the seaside from afar. Xia Chuan's eyesight had always been amazingly good. He saw the three people walking and then dispersing, clearly walking out three paths on the sand and stones of the coast that were getting farther and farther apart, until their feet touched the seawater before stopping.

The position Aegon chose was a bit off to the side. From Xia Chuan's angle, he could see Aegon's profile with his head lowered. He placed his son's corpse in the shallow water, then knelt beside it, his lips seeming to open and close, perhaps talking, perhaps crying...

He knelt for a long time and also looked at his son for a long time. In the end, he raised his hand and with effort, pushed the corpse wrapped in huge leaves and covered in mud along the water into the sea.

Xia Chuan saw him hurriedly stand up, staggering and running a few steps after the corpse, but in the end watching the corpse being engulfed by a strip of white foam and pulled into the unfathomable depths of the sea.

"They are afraid of the sea..." Shen Lan narrowed his eyes, unable to see the actions of the three people clearly, only able to see some very blurry outlines, but he could get a general idea from some fragmentary sounds, "Why are they now sending the corpses of their family into the sea?"

Xia Chuan shook his head. After a moment, he spoke, "Returning to where one came from, I suppose."

He looked at the backs of Aegon and the others, recalling some folklore he had heard when he had stayed on a remote island tribe for a mission, which was very similar to what these primitive residents were doing -

For them, soil and water are the sources of life, the most sacred things. It's just that the soil gives them a sense of stability and warmth, so they are happy to be close to it, able to laugh heartily even when rolling in the mud all day. But the sea is boundless and fickle, so it makes them afraid to approach.

But when their lives come to an end, they still have to bring soil and return to the deep sea. Perhaps it is to pray that this most vast place that can accommodate all things will give them a place to rest their souls.

Perhaps many, many years later, when all who knew them have passed away, when all things on earth have changed many times, the ever-present sea will still remember them.

He relayed these legends to Shen Lan in a few words, earning a "nonsense" look from Shen Lan, "Legends are just legends, it sounds so beautiful."

Xia Chuan "hmm"ed in agreement. A moment later, he added, "Not necessarily, there are too many uncertain things in this world."

Aegon and the others finally turned and walked back. As the distance got closer, Xia Chuan could see that the beast tooth hanging from his neck was blown a bit askew by the wind, tapping against his chest with each step.

As he walked, he fiddled with something in his hand, rubbing it between his fingertips for a long time before squeezing it into his palm, then untying the rough cord around his neck, threading what was in his palm onto it, tying a dead knot, and putting it back around his neck.

Xia Chuan narrowed his eyes and saw it clearly - it was another beast tooth, still with strange patterns on it, somewhat similar to the original one, but not exactly the same.

He suddenly understood why quite a few people in the tribe wore such beast teeth around their necks, to remember their deceased parents, lovers, and children... one tooth per person.

And he was not the only one who understood this. Obviously Shen Lan also figured it out. He glanced at the necks of the surrounding people, then poked Xia Chuan's waist and said in a low voice with a straight face, "Hey, when I turn back into a mosasaurus later, pull out a tooth for me and draw a couple patterns on it?"

Xia Chuan: "..."

"If one day I'm no longer around, you can also punch a hole through it and wear it around your neck. It would make quite a wild and beautiful decoration, don't you think?" Shen Lan continued.

Xia Chuan let out a cold laugh and turned to look at him. "One tooth isn't enough. Why don't you just transform back and let me pull out all your teeth? I'll draw two patterns on each one, punch holes through them, and string them together in a long chain. You can wear it from head to toe for an even wilder beauty."

Shen Lan: "..."

He mulled it over, imagining that scenario, then quietly shrank his neck back and covered his mouth, mumbling, "Mm... forget I said anything."

"Don't go cursing yourself every now and then. Got nothing better to do with your mouth?" Thinking about what Shen Lan had just said about 'if one day', Xia Chuan couldn't help but add with a frosty face, "You'd better live longer than me. I'm too lazy, so even if you dried up into salted fish, I wouldn't bother to collect your corpse."