The Female Supporting Character Refuses to Be Human Again - Chapter 217.2

Meng Changjin blinked in confusion. “Elder?” she asked. “The Yan Tribe has elders now?”

Zhuo explained, “Yes, it’s the former Wu. After retiring, the Wu became the elder of the tribe.”

Now understanding the situation, Meng Changjin had no more questions. Following Zhuo to the former Wu’s, now elder’s, hut, Meng Changjin saw how much the elderly woman had aged. Inside the hut were two of the three Chieftains; the third one, Zhuo had mentioned earlier, was out leading a hunting party.

Meng Changjin’s mood lifted as she saw the familiar face of the elder, while the elder and the Chieftains were also overjoyed to see her return safely. Seven winters had passed since Meng Changjin left, and although they tried to convince themselves that “no news is good news,” it was difficult not to worry.

“Welcome back, welcome back,” the elder said with a warm smile, gently patting Meng Changjin on the shoulder, clearly relieved.

Meng Changjin responded with a smile of her own, saying, “You once said that the Yan Tribe is my root, and that a fallen leaf must return to its roots. So, here I am.”

To celebrate her return, Meng Changjin treated everyone in the Yan Tribe to a feast of striped beast meat. The tribe had grown significantly during her absence, especially with many new children around seven or eight years old. Fortunately, the beast Meng Changjin brought back was large enough to feed everyone.

The tribe members gathered to help roast and stew the meat, turning the Yan Tribe into a lively and bustling place. Among the helpers were the two female hunters who had once been assigned to “protect” Meng Changjin on her first hunting expedition. They reminisced about that event, sharing their memories with Meng Changjin, who joined in the conversation with enthusiasm.

After the day’s festivities, life in the Yan Tribe gradually returned to its usual pace. Meng Changjin fell back into a routine of hunting and enjoying a peaceful life. She even made herself a reclining chair to lounge on, basking in the sun during the calm mornings. The tranquility of these moments was short-lived in the grand scheme of things, despite feeling long in the moment.

When the time came for Meng Changjin to leave the task world for good, she felt a mixture of relief and melancholy, knowing that this chapter of her life was coming to a close. As her soul reconnected to her original body, she opened her eyes to the sight of a familiar mud-brick wall. She had been here before, after finishing previous tasks.

This time, however, things were different. Meng Changjin realized she could now move her body freely, unlike before when she couldn’t even sit up. She felt weak, which made sense after lying unconscious for so long. She reached for a spiritual stone from her internal space and began absorbing its energy to heal her muscles.

Just then, the door to the hut creaked open, and a middle-aged woman entered with a large bowl. Upon seeing Meng Changjin awake, the woman’s eyes went wide with shock, and she dropped the bowl, sending it crashing to the ground.

“You’re awake! Oh, thank goodness!” the woman exclaimed, her face caught between laughter and tears. Before she could finish her sentence, the relief on her face was quickly replaced by tears streaming down her cheeks.

Meng Changjin was left stunned, completely unsure of how to react as the woman knelt by her bed, crying uncontrollably. Soon, more family members crowded into the room, including the father, grandmother, and siblings of her new host body—all looking at her with a mix of relief, joy, and awe.

Feeling the weight of their genuine emotions, Meng Changjin remained motionless, unsure of how to respond. Although she had inhabited other people’s bodies for missions before, this situation was entirely different. This time, she was meant to truly become this girl, to live her life as her own from this day forward.

🌟 Kiliraz’s Curious Cat Corner: New Beginnings and Soul Awakenings! (≧◡≦)

Meng Changjin’s surprise at finding herself surrounded by her new family perfectly captures the emotional rollercoaster of settling into a new identity. In Chinese culture, the idea of “roots” is deeply significant, emphasizing one’s ties to family and homeland—what we call “落叶归根” (luòyè guīgēn), meaning “fallen leaves return to their roots” (Zhang, Y., 2019, Roots and Ancestry in Chinese Tradition, Cultural Heritage Journal, 45(3), 157-168). This proverb speaks to the idea of returning to where you belong, no matter how far you’ve traveled.

The moment Meng Changjin faces the family of her new host body reminds me of the “generational gap” present in many cultures worldwide. The awkwardness and sense of displacement she feels is akin to the challenge many people experience when reconnecting with their heritage after being away for a long time. It’s like how modern diaspora communities struggle to blend their ancestral customs with contemporary lifestyles (Lee, A., 2021, Bridging Traditions: The Diaspora Experience, Global Sociology Review, 22(4), 90-105).

And let’s not overlook Meng Changjin’s strategic use of spiritual stones! In historical Chinese settings, spiritual stones and elixirs were considered vital for maintaining physical and spiritual health. They’re like the ancient equivalents of today’s holistic wellness trends, where crystals and meditation play a big role in promoting energy healing and mindfulness (Chen, L., 2018, Energy Healing in Traditional Chinese Culture, East Asian Medicine, 34(2), 101-113).

This chapter also showcases the idea of returning to simpler things in life—a theme that resonates across cultures. Whether it’s finding peace in small routines or reconnecting with loved ones, the journey of finding one’s “roots” is universal. As they say, “home is where the heart is,” even if that heart has to awkwardly get used to a whole new family! (¬‿¬)