Grass and mustard reign supreme

Chapter 98 Night Battle
"DaDaDa..."

The rapid sound of horses' hooves, like a dense drumbeat, broke the silence of the summer night in the desolate Longshang plain.

The night was as dark as ink, with only a few scattered stars twinkling in the distance, barely outlining the undulating contours of the wasteland.

Yu Xiaobao sat upright in the carriage, the curtains swaying slightly in the wind, revealing his tense profile.

Around the carriage, nearly twenty men rode fine horses, holding torches aloft.

The orange flames danced in the night wind, casting long and short shadows of everyone present.

The group was traveling along a rugged, desolate path.

At the very front of the group were the two hunters leading the way.

Both men were around fifty years old. Their skin was tanned dark brown from years of sun and rain, their faces were covered with deep wrinkles, their hands were as rough as old tree bark, their knuckles were large, and their palms were covered with thick calluses.

It was obvious at a glance that they were seasoned hunters who spent years roaming the mountains and wilderness, making a living by hunting.

They knew the route by heart, and even in the pitch black of night, they dared to lead the team so lightly, without any fear of losing their way.

These two guides were hired by Yu Xiaobao's men from Feng'anzhuang.

At each fork in the road, the two would dismount, light torches, squat on the ground, and carefully examine the marks on the ground.

They might identify the depth and direction of hoofprints, observe the direction in which trampled grass and trees bend, or even scrutinize fresh horse droppings.

With these subtle clues, they were always able to quickly determine the right direction and easily find the traces left by Ba Limo and Tuoba Junxie.

Seeing the two men's skillful movements, Yu Xiaobao's confidence soared.

He lifted the carriage curtain, his gaze falling on the two hunters, and pondered to himself:

These two hunters are indeed quite skilled; with them around, it's only a matter of time before they catch up with Bald Falcon and his group.

If I can seize this opportunity, I might be able to win them over and use them for my own purposes. I can also show those arrogant and condescending managers that I, Yu Xiaobao, am not an incompetent fool.

What he didn't know was that these two seemingly ordinary old hunters both shared the surname Kang.

One was named Kang Jinhu, and the other was named Kang Jinlang. The two were Kang Zhengyang's fourth and sixth uncles, respectively.

This "hiring" of Yu Xiaobao was nothing more than a carefully orchestrated scheme by Yang Can.

Of course, Yang Can's scheme wasn't specifically designed to target Leopard Third Master.

Rather, any force that wanted to catch up with the Xianbei people would "coincidentally" encounter these two hunters.

Yu Xiaobao, who thought he had everything under control, was led by the nose by the "tiger and wolf" that Yang Can had specially "given" to him, and was walking step by step in the direction that Yang Can had already predetermined.

"Third Master, they've changed direction here!"

After carefully surveying the ground, Kang Jinhu suddenly shouted loudly.

He lit a torch to illuminate the ground, pointed to a clear hoofprint, and said to Yu Xiaobao behind him:
"Look at these fresh hoof prints and the trampled grass next to them. They didn't go towards Tianshui City, but instead headed into the wasteland to the west."

Judging from the number of hoof prints, there were at least several dozen horses, which should belong to Ba Limo and Tuoba Junxie.

Yu Xiaobao quickly leaned out of the carriage and looked in the direction Kang Jinhu was pointing.

In the firelight, the hoofprints on the ground were clearly visible, and the soil still had a damp sheen, indicating that they had been left recently.

He frowned, his mind filled with doubt: "They went west? Why would they bypass the shortcut and go around to this wasteland?"
"Are they planning to go straight back to their tribe? Damn it, why bother coming all the way here? Isn't that pointless?"

"Master Leopard, should we continue the pursuit?" His attendant asked hastily when he saw him hesitate.

"Chase them! Why aren't you chasing them!"

Yu Xiaobao gritted his teeth: "The two groups already have conflicts, and now they're both heading to this wasteland. If they run into each other, they're bound to fight."

"I, Leopard, am determined to be the peacemaker!"

Kang Jinhu and Kang Jinlang exchanged a glance, calmly replied "Yes," remounted their horses, spurred their legs, and galloped off in the direction of the hoofprints.

Yu Xiaobao's entourage immediately protected the carriage and followed closely behind.

The sound of hooves echoed once again across the silent wasteland, breaking the tranquility of the summer night.

……

Meanwhile, on the wasteland near Canglang Gorge, a patch of grass that had been cleared by humans became a temporary resting place for Ba Limo and his group.

In early summer, the wormwood grows vigorously, almost waist-high, and when trampled down, it spreads on the ground, soft as a natural cushion.

What's even better is that wormwood itself has a faint grassy scent, making it a natural mosquito repellent. Even without burning wormwood, no mosquitoes dare to approach.

Ba Limo lay on his back on the soft grass, his head resting on his arms, gazing at the dark night sky with a look of restlessness in his eyes.

They left Feng'an Village in such a hurry that they hadn't brought enough water or prepared any food, and now they were starving, their stomachs growling loudly.

"Great Chief! The food has been brought!"

Just then, an excited shout came from afar.

Ba Limo quickly sat up and saw several tribesmen running excitedly from a distance, each carrying their prey.

Some were carrying plump pheasants, some were holding rabbits, and one burly man was carrying a rather large antelope on his shoulder, which looked quite heavy.

Ba Limo was overjoyed and quickly got up to greet him, his voice filled with urgency.

"Great! Quick! Let's get to the stream, start a fire, and roast the meat! I'm starving!"

The tribespeople immediately got busy. Some carried their prey to a nearby stream and used sharp scimitars to skin and gut the animals.

Some people gathered dry branches from all over the place and piled them up as firewood.

Others were responsible for fetching water to prepare for cleaning the prey.

Before long, the campfire was lit, and the orange-red flames shot into the sky, illuminating the surroundings.

The sizzling sound of grilling meat filled the air, and the rich aroma of meat quickly spread, wafting in the night breeze and making people's mouths water.

Ba Limo was not worried at all that the firelight would attract the enemy.

In his view, he was the "predator" in this chase, not the "prey," and had nothing to fear.

Moreover, since Yu Rui and his group have entered the valley, they will not come out anytime soon. Do you think they would run out of the mountain pass in the middle of the night to check if there are any lights outside?
He sat calmly by the campfire, waiting for the meat to cook through, completely unaware that danger was quietly approaching.

Meanwhile, a mile away, in the dense grass, Bald Falcon Evil was lying in ambush with his men.

A gentle night breeze carried the aroma of roasted meat to their noses, making everyone's stomachs rumble.

Bald Falcon swallowed hard, suppressing his hunger, and stared intently at Balimo and his group by the campfire in the distance, a ruthless glint in his eyes.

He lowered his voice and ordered his attendants, "Listen up, everyone! Spread out immediately and surround them from three directions!"
"I'll make the first move. As soon as I shoot an arrow, you all immediately fire your own arrows. Don't give them a chance to react!"

"Yes, sir!" the two attendants on either side replied in unison, and immediately each led a few people to quietly disperse to both sides.

They slowly approached the campfire, surrounding it from three sides.

Their footsteps were light, barely making a sound on the soft grass, like ghosts in the night.

The Bali tribesmen by the campfire were immersed in the joy of about to enjoy a delicious meal, completely unaware of the approaching danger.

Until an arrow streaked across the night sky like a meteor, piercing the throat of a Bali tribesman who was drinking with his head tilted back.

The wine flask in the tribesman's hand fell to the ground with a "thud," spilling wine all over the ground.

He didn't even have time to scream before he collapsed to the ground, clutching his neck, blood gushing from between his fingers.

"Release the arrows!" The bald-headed Falcon Demon's loud shout followed immediately.

"Swish! Swish! Swish swish..."

More than a dozen arrows were fired at the same time, piercing the night sky like a dense rain of arrows, heading towards the Bali tribesmen by the campfire.

Although the darkness affected the archery accuracy, the dozen or so arrows still caused considerable damage.

In an instant, six or seven members of the Bali tribe were either killed or injured, and their screams echoed across the wasteland.

The Bali tribe has lived on the grasslands for many years and has extensive combat experience.

The sudden attack startled them, but they quickly recovered. The surviving members of their tribe immediately threw themselves to the ground and rolled to the left and right to avoid the ensuing hail of arrows.

They immediately lay prone on the grass, warily watching the direction from which the arrows were coming, gripping their scimitars tightly, ready for battle.

As for the injured members of their tribe, they could not spare the time to provide rescue; they could only ensure their own safety first.

"Kill! Don't let a single one escape!"

Seeing that the arrow rain had worked, Bald Falcon immediately drew his scimitar and roared as he led his men to charge forward.

A volley of arrows had already taken down nearly a third of the enemy; now was the perfect time to press the attack.

If we act decisively now, we might be able to annihilate the entire Bali tribe here.

"It's you! You bastards from the Baldness Department!"

Ba Li Mo stared at the bald-haired falcon charging towards him, his eyes wide with rage and his teeth grinding together.

He was filled with grievance and anger: I treated you like an honored guest, with good wine and meat. When you lost something, I even mobilized my clansmen to help you find it. And yet you turned around and tried to kill me!
“Beast! Damn beast!” Ba Limo was heartbroken and almost went mad.

At this moment, he understood perfectly well what Tuoba Junxie was thinking. He wanted to take the opportunity to annex his tribe and seize his cattle, sheep, and land!
"Bald-haired Falcon Demon, I'll fight you to the death!"

With a roar, Ba Li Mo charged at the bald-headed Jun Xie like a raging lion, brandishing his scimitar.

Bald-haired Falcon Sneered, his eyes full of disdain, and swung his sword to meet the attack.

With a crisp clang, the two curved blades collided in mid-air, sparks flying everywhere.

The two groups instantly clashed, the crisp sound of clashing swords, the screams of the tribesmen, their roars, and the neighing of warhorses all intertwined, echoing across the silent wasteland and shattering the tranquility of the summer night.

Bald Falcon's men were well-prepared and had the initiative, so they gained a clear advantage as soon as the two sides clashed.

Although the people of Balimo fought back fiercely and desperately, they were ultimately outnumbered and, having lost many men at the beginning, gradually fell into a disadvantageous position, falling one by one into pools of blood.

As Ba Limo watched his people fall one after another, his eyes filled with bloodshot veins, his heart filled with a mixture of anger and despair.

He knew that if things continued like this, everyone would die here, and Bald Falcon's conspiracy would succeed.

He couldn't let them have their way!

"Listen up, everyone! Scatter and run! Every single one of you who manages to escape can get back and report!"

Pulling out all his strength, he shouted loudly.

After shouting, he suddenly swung his knife and slashed at Bald Falcon Evil three times. The knife was so fast that Bald Falcon Evil was forced to retreat repeatedly and almost fell over.

Taking advantage of this brief moment, Ba Limo immediately turned around and galloped toward a fine horse that had already had its saddle removed not far away.

He must live. Only by living can he avenge his dead clansmen and stop Bald Falcon's plot.

"Stop him! Kill him! Don't let a single one escape!"

Bald Falcon steadied himself and, seeing that Ba Limo was about to escape, immediately roared and gave chase, with his men also spurring their horses to pursue.

A fierce hand-to-hand combat battle turned into a one-sided pursuit, with three or four bald-headed tribesmen on horseback joining forces to chase after a fleeing member of the Bali tribe.

The wasteland was filled with fleeing figures and shouts of pursuit.

The once tranquil wilderness was thrown into chaos by the fighting, startling wild birds perched in the grass into taking flight and disappearing into the dark night sky.

……

As night gradually faded, a faint glimmer of dawn appeared on the horizon, and the dim light slowly dispelled the darkness, illuminating the wasteland.

In the morning light, the distant mountains gradually revealed their clear outlines, stretching endlessly like a giant beast about to awaken.

Early birds began to circle in the air, chirping sweetly, as if mourning the fierce battle.

Suddenly, a red sun burst forth from the eastern horizon, and golden sunlight instantly bathed the wasteland, dyeing the entire land a warm orange-red.

The meadow where campfires once burned now appears exceptionally chaotic and desolate.
Corpses lay scattered on the ground, some with empty eyes and the lingering fear and resentment of their dying moments.

Some gripped their scimitars tightly, their knuckles turning white, maintaining a fighting stance even in death.

Blood soaked the ground beneath their feet, taking on an eerie and glaring dark red hue in the morning light, a stark contrast to the vibrant green grass around them, making the scene all the more shocking.

The rising sun, bursting forth from the wasteland, passed over the high walls of the Yang mansion and gently shone through the carved window lattices onto the soft brocade quilt in the bedroom, leaving behind a patchwork of mottled light and shadow.

The lotus scroll pattern embroidered on the brocade quilt seemed to come alive under the sunlight, gleaming with a faint luster.

Qingmei slowly opened her sleepy almond-shaped eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.

She moved her body, only to feel sore all over, as if she had been torn apart, and she didn't even have the strength to lift her hand.

The image of her daughter's strange gait when she woke up early that day involuntarily surfaced in her mind, and her cheeks instantly flushed.

So this is what a girl's first time really is like... so unforgettable and embarrassing.

She gently moved her fingers, and the images of last night flooded her mind like a tide.

A gentle kiss, strong arms, a deep whisper, and her fluster and shyness.

At that moment, she felt a hot breath spray on the back of her neck. Qingmei's body instantly froze, and she dared not move, her heart pounding.

She could clearly feel the warmth of the man behind her, and the arm around her waist.

The force wasn't heavy, but it carried a reassuring sense of control.

After a long while, Qingmei noticed that Yang Can behind her was not moving and his breathing was even and steady, so she carefully leaned forward.

She gently pulled away from Yang Can's embrace, then slowly turned around to face Yang Can's sleeping face.

The morning light shone through the window and fell directly on Yang Can's face.

Her features, which usually appear somewhat sharp, become exceptionally gentle in the soft morning light.

His eyelashes were long, his nose was high and straight, his lips were slightly pursed, and there seemed to be a faint smile at the corners of his mouth, completely unlike his usual seriousness and aloofness when handling affairs.

Qingmei's heart suddenly felt at ease. All her previous anxieties about the future, worries about her identity, and wariness towards Rena and the others had vanished, leaving only sweetness and peace in her heart.

She couldn't help but reach out, wanting to touch Yang Can's cheek.

But just as she reached halfway out, Yang Can suddenly opened his eyes.

Qingmei's hand recoiled as if burned, and she quickly pulled it back into the quilt.

She clutched the corner of the blanket tightly, her embarrassed cheeks practically bleeding.

Yang Can looked at her eyes, which she initially tried to close in a panic but then awkwardly opened, and a smile flashed in his eyes. He couldn't help but chuckle and asked, "Awake? Does your body still hurt?"

He hadn't forgotten that the little girl had been crying out "It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!" all night, like a frightened little animal.

She kept shrinking, hiding, and dodging, as slippery as an eel, and it took him a lot of effort to catch her.

Upon hearing this, Qingmei couldn't help but pout. She wanted to feign a wronged look and act coquettish, but the words just wouldn't come out.

Enraged, she lunged forward, burying her face in Yang Can's arms, hugging his waist tightly, and said in a muffled voice, "No...it doesn't hurt that much anymore."

"See, I told you, just bear with it."

Yang Can patted her back with a smile, his tone teasing yet full of tenderness.

Qingmei lightly punched his chest and said coquettishly, "You're such a big liar! Yesterday in the flower hall, you put on such a pitiful act."

"I just wanted to comfort you. Who knew you'd end up comforting me on the bed?"

"Oh, that's a natural progression."

Yang Can hugged her even tighter, gently stroking her soft, long hair with one hand, like soothing a kitten.

Yang Can coaxed gently, "You've just experienced that, and your body is still weak. Don't rush to get up. I'll have the kitchen prepare some goat milk for you to nourish your body in a bit."

"I don't want to!" The thought of the muttony smell made Xiao Qingmei feel nauseous.

Qingmei hugged Yang Can tightly and said sweetly, "If I don't get up, you're not allowed to get up either! I just want you to hug me more."

(End of this chapter)