The Black Qiang Prepare to Make Their Move

Asuli had prepared a grand welcome for Wang Yu—a bonfire banquet. Night fell with a gentle breeze. The sky was blanketed with stars, and on the ground, bonfires blazed high. The massive bonfire illuminated an open expanse within the royal court as bright as day. White Qiang maidens danced gracefully around the flames, offering the steppes' greetings to their honored guests from the south. Asuli, the White Qiang King, sat in the seat of honor. Flanking him were his son Atuke and daughter Ardai. Wang Yu sat right beside him, with Zhao Shan and Zhao He seated behind him. Yan Xiangxue did not attend, having returned to her tent to rest. In her stead sat Gulanrena, accompanied by another of Yan Xiangxue's female disciples, seated together on the other side of Asuli. "Prince of Zhenxi! Thank you for saving Master Yan. Let me toast you once more!" Asuli raised his cup. "You are too kind. The White Qiang and the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor have always enjoyed good relations." Wang Yu raised his cup in return. A White Qiang maiden dressed in finery brought forward a platter of roast mutton. A pointed knife was stuck into the meat. She set it gently before Wang Yu, her watery, lovely eyes gazing up at him. "My Lord..." "Thank you." Wang Yu took the knife, speared a piece of mutton, and tore into it, devouring it in a few huge bites. "How bold and hearty of you, My Lord!" Asuli's eyes went wide for an instant before he clapped and laughed heartily. Just as the maiden was about to sit down close against Wang Yu, Ardai glared with her pretty eyes and moved to rise. Before Ardai could get up, a commotion arose among the crowd nearby. Several White Qiang men were holding back a youth who seemed intent on barging in. Wang Yu's eyes flickered, sensing the maiden beside him catch her breath. "That young lad likes you," Wang Yu remarked, looking in that direction. The maiden bit her lower lip, but quickly composed herself, looking back at Wang Yu with eyes like rippling autumn waters. "Yet I do not like him. I like great heroes like you, My Lord." Wang Yu caught the allure in her eyes—and the ambition concealed beneath it. Out of the corner of his eye, Wang Yu caught sight of the maiden's slender waist and firm thighs, and drew in a soft breath. Should he play the villain for once? While Wang Yu was still pondering, Ardai had already strode over. "Go soothe your young sweetheart. Don't make a scene at a bonfire banquet held for our honored guest. I'll look after Brother Zhao." The maiden jumped in fright at her words. She looked up at Ardai, not daring to argue. Hurriedly rising, she rushed off to the side toward the young man. Without standing on ceremony, Ardai sat down beside Wang Yu, took the pointed knife from his hand, and began slicing the meat for him. As she carved, she explained, "The meat served on these platters is too large. It needs to be cut smaller to eat comfortably. This knife is meant for slicing." Wang Yu was speechless. He had chewed that giant slab of mutton with considerable effort just now. "Why wasn't it cut smaller from the start?" Ardai smiled. "Because large cuts retain heat longer. If you cut it into small pieces, it gets cold quickly and loses its flavor." That maiden had been tasked with carving Wang Yu's meat. Wang Yu simply hadn't known; in a bid to appear bold and hearty, he had just skewered a huge chunk and stuffed it into his mouth. Of course, some guests preferred to cut their own meat, in which case the attendant maiden would pour their wine instead. Though there had been a minor disturbance, thankfully it was nothing serious and had been nipped in the bud by Ardai. However, when onlookers saw Ardai personally sit beside Wang Yu and carve his meat, quite a few were shaken to the core. This flower of the steppes had captured the hearts of countless youths from both the Black and White Qiang. Unnumbered steppe braves longed to pluck this flower and take her home as their bride. Yet despite Ardai's innocent and lively demeanor, she never grew close to men. Even the bravest youths in the tribe—those who could ride the wildest stallions, draw the strongest bows, and drink the fiercest liquor—could not win her favor. She was the White Qiang King's daughter and Granny Snowy Mountain's disciple, possessing high martial skill of her own, and Asuli doted on her like the apple of his eye. No youth could force her hand. For the past two years, everyone had wondered which steppe brave would finally sweep this blossom into his arms. And now, seeing Ardai suddenly sit beside the Prince of Zhenxi from the Central Plains, leaning in so close and personally slicing meat for him, countless White Qiang youths felt their hearts shatter. Not just the young men—even her father Asuli and elder brother Atuke were stunned, unsure whether to be thrilled or appalled. Thrilled that their prized blossom had finally taken an interest in someone. Appalled that the person in question was the Central Plains' Prince of Zhenxi! In truth, the Prince of Zhenxi had a polarized reputation among the White Qiang. Some claimed he was perverse and overbearing during his time in the capital, while others said that upon his return, he punished corrupt officials and aided the common folk. Asuli had no idea what Wang Yu's true nature was, but he knew the prince was no simple figure. Furthermore, word had it that he already had two consorts! In his heart, Asuli preferred to marry his daughter to an uncomplicated steppe warrior so she wouldn't be mistreated. Yet seeing Ardai sitting beside Wang Yu, smiling like a blooming flower as she sliced meat and chatted with him, Asuli knew things had become troublesome. The bonfire banquet ended amidst the varied thoughts of everyone present. *** Meanwhile, at the Black Qiang Royal Court. "Yan Xiangxue has returned?" Shi Mo's heart skipped a beat. "And the Prince of Zhenxi, Zhao Yu, traveled with her?" Yuan Dingle, the Black Qiang King, blurted out in astonishment. Shi Mo and Yuan Dingle exchanged a glance, disbelief written across both their faces. "What does this mean?" Yuan Dingle asked. Shi Mo lowered his head in thought, but before he could arrive at a conclusion, the two old men beside him could no longer hold back. One was missing his right arm, and the other his left leg. Their faces were sinister, their eyes icy and detached—they were none other than the Twin Stars of the Xingxiu Sea, crippled years ago by Zhao Zheng. "Zhao Yu went to the White Qiang in person?" Zhaixingzi raised an eyebrow, sitting up straight. "Is Zhao Rong with him?" Zhuixingzi asked, taking a moment to describe Zhao Rong's appearance. A Black Qiang warrior reported, "In answer to Senior: according to our informant, the Prince of Zhenxi is accompanied by only two unarmed guards. There is no gaunt, middle-aged man carrying a saber." The Black Qiang maintained scouts outside both Jinfeng Pass and Lingwu Pass. Wang Yu's departure with three thousand Chengyuan Army troops could not be concealed from them. However, they had no way of knowing who was among those troops, and Lingwu Pass lay farther from the Black Qiang, preventing them from sending a large force to probe. Fortunately, the Black Qiang had an informant planted within the White Qiang. Following the bonfire banquet, news regarding this troop deployment, as well as Wang Yu and his escort, quickly reached the Black Qiang. "Three thousand Chengyuan troops! They brought many large wagons carrying baggage and supplies; I wager they must have heavy armor." "Yan Xiangxue and Ardai have both returned. Four months have passed and Yan Xiangxue still hasn't died. Could her injuries truly have healed?" "Unlikely. Otherwise, there would be no need for Zhao Yu to bring three thousand combat troops." "Right, that makes sense." Shi Mo nodded, then smirked. "He's certainly bold enough. Does he think that because Ling Feiyun stabbed me, I haven't recovered yet?" Yuan Dingle chuckled. "Too bad he doesn't know Teacher Shi possesses Esoteric Sect spirit pills and has already mostly recovered." Shi Mo had mastered arts from the Central Plains, the northern frontiers, and the Snowy Regions, but was closest to the Esoteric Sect. He maintained ties with several Esoteric Sect gurus and had acquired their spirit pills, allowing him to heal rapidly. Zhaixingzi said to Shi Mo, "Your scheme truly worked. Zhao Yu was indeed lured out by you." Zhuixingzi's eyes brimmed with murderous intent. "Let us make another trip to the White Qiang Royal Court. This time, we must kill that whelp!" Shi Mo smiled faintly. "No need to rush, gentlemen." Zhaixingzi frowned in displeasure. "Could it be that Brother Shi dares not kill him?" Zhuixingzi snorted. "If you don't dare kill him, we do!" Shi Mo shook his head. "Since I invited you two out of seclusion, fear of killing him was never the issue. But this rare opportunity demands that we accomplish our objective in a single stroke." "What do you mean?" Zhaixingzi asked. Shi Mo replied calmly, "He knows you two came to the steppes, so he must have made ample preparations. Zhao Rong might even be lurking among the troops, waiting for you to walk into a trap. Even if the two of you and I strike together, that is still the White Qiang Royal Court after all. He brought three thousand combat troops. If our strike fails and he flees back to Longshan Prefecture, wouldn't that ruin everything?" Zhuixingzi asked, "What do you propose we do?" Shi Mo narrowed his eyes. He had laid it out so clearly, yet these two old codgers still didn't understand. Small wonder they could never inherit Old Man Xingxiu's mantle. "If I am not mistaken, the Iron Eagle Cavalry is stationed at Lingwu Pass right now, ready to support him at any moment," Shi Mo said. "If we alert the enemy prematurely, you will never kill him. But Zhao Yu has miscalculated about me." Shi Mo gave a sinister chuckle. "He assumes I am injured, and he assumes I wouldn't dare push the Black Qiang into an open war against the White Qiang." A cold gleam flickered in Yuan Dingle's eyes. "Teacher Shi, can we make our move this time?" Shi Mo nodded. "Zhao Yu is the sole scion of the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor. We must ensure he never leaves. If all goes smoothly, we might even take Lingwu Pass in the process!" Turning to Zhaixingzi and Zhuixingzi, Shi Mo added, "Rest assured, gentlemen. Killing that whelp immediately would be letting him off too lightly. Once we capture him and squeeze him dry of every drop of value, we will hand him over to you to dispose of as you please." A vicious grin twisted Zhaixingzi's lips. "A gentleman's word!" Shi Mo nodded with a smile. "Spurred by a swift whip!" Right then, a Black Qiang warrior suddenly burst into the royal tent. "Great King! An envoy from the Xiongnu has arrived!" "Hm?" Everyone froze. "Why would the Xiongnu send someone?" Yuan Dingle asked in bewilderment and displeasure. "Don't they pride themselves on being the rightful rulers of the steppes and look down on us Qiang?" Shi Mo chimed in, "Who is the visitor?" The Black Qiang warrior replied, "He calls himself Yuwen Haojie, the head disciple of Huyan Chi." "What?!" Not only Shi Mo, but even Zhaixingzi and Zhuixingzi gasped in surprise. Huyan Chi was the foremost of the Three Steppe Heroes. Having created the Azure Divine Art, his internal strength was boundless and overbearing, making him the supreme master of the Xiongnu. It was said he was infinitesimally close to Great Grandmaster, with rumors even claiming he had already stepped into that realm. Yuan Dingle did not dare dawdle. Rising hurriedly, he said, "Show him in at once!"