Chapter 912: Chapter 40 Divine Judgment
The three chieftains looked at each other, their faces reflecting deep sorrow. The Chief of the Northern Tribes said, "These people must be the bandits known as the Wolves of the Steppe. They have long roamed our Yalian tribe’s territory, engaging in reprehensible acts of burning, killing, and looting. Despite being surrounded by several of our large tribes many times, they always managed to escape unscathed. Their biggest trait is their high mobility, comprised entirely of highly skilled light cavalry, their number maintained around three thousand. They sustain themselves through warfare, and their whereabouts are mysterious; no one knows where they come from. Every place they attack ends up with no chickens or dogs left alive! It could be said that they are like vengeful spirits that terrify the smaller tribes of the plain. We never imagined these bastards would attack us while we were celebrating the grand Batron Festival. Thank you, warriors from foreign lands, for if not for you buying us time, our three tribes might have been wiped out. But what’s wrong with these people? Why can’t they move, and why have their pupils all turned gray?"
Yan Shi shook his head with a wry smile, "The life in these people has been extinguished, it was probably the work of my brother. Those Wolves of the Steppe here are finished. Since they have three thousand men, you should quickly prepare yourself. If you’re caught off guard again, you may not be so lucky next time."
The three chieftains were shocked. "What, all of these Wolves of the Steppe were killed by your brother alone? He, he’s too powerful, being able to eliminate over a thousand bandits by himself. Could it be, could he really be the Grim Reaper as that member of the Wolves of the Steppe said earlier? Only the Grim Reaper would be able to kill all these bastards in such a short time," they said, fear evident on their faces. Earlier, they had seen three dried-up corpses and had been feeling uneasy ever since.
Yan Shi could see the discomfort in the three chieftains and frowned, "All this talk of the Grim Reaper, don’t spout nonsense. We were only passing through your territory. Since the Wolves of the Steppe have been wiped out, and your people are safe for now, you don’t need to be afraid. We’re not going to hurt you, and it’s time for us to leave."
The Chief of the Northern Tribes hurriedly said, "No, warrior, we didn’t mean any offense. Even if your brother really is the Grim Reaper, he’s a kind Grim Reaper! His arrival saved the lives of thousands of our tribespeople. Why would we fear him? Please, stay with us, and even if you must go, at least wait until dawn tomorrow!" Although he spoke hesitantly, his eyes conveyed a trace of sincerity.
Yan Shi, although eager to leave, knew that both Xuan Yue and Ah Dai were in poor condition, and he and Yan Li were also very tired from the battle, unable to travel long distances. He nodded, "Alright, then please find us a clean tent quickly. My brother and sister need to rest."
The Chief of the Northern Tribes agreed joyfully and hurried off to make the arrangements.
"Chieftains, you must quickly gather your tribes’ forces. Since the Wolves of the Steppe still have two thousand men, they could attack at any moment. You must be careful. Do you have enough manpower?"
The Chieftain of the Southern Tribe slapped his chest, "Warrior, rest assured. If it’s not a surprise attack, those bastards wouldn’t dare to trouble us. Combined, our three tribes have three to four thousand warriors. Any one tribe is stronger than those bandits and they wouldn’t stand a chance."
Yan Shi said, "That’s good. Just be cautious and stay alert."
Escorted by the Yalian tribespeople, Yan Shi and Yan Li, along with the weak Ah Dai and Xuan Yue, returned to the oasis where the Chief of the Northern Tribes had arranged a large tent for them to rest.
Xuan Yue had merely been drained of strength and wasn’t injured. She just needed rest. However, Ah Dai’s situation was quite grim: he was exhausted from overexertion and his back injury, added to the blood loss, left him with a pale face still deeply asleep, his brow furrowed in apparent pain. Xuan Yue’s heart ached; if it had not been for Ah Dai saving her the previous night, he wouldn’t have been cut by the enemy. This was the first time Xuan Yue regretted not diligently practicing magic at the church—if she had, her strength wouldn’t be as limited as it was now, and she might have been able to help Ah Dai more.
After the surprise attack, the three Yalian tribes gathered their respective forces, bracing for any threat. Perhaps the Wolves of the Steppe sensed their vigilance and did not reappear. The night, which should have been one of revelry, passed. For the Yalian, the night was supposed to be a time of celebration. Instead, the tribes were filled with sadness, mourning their dead.
Come early morning, Xuan Yue was the first to awaken. A night’s rest had restored about half of her not-so-abundant magic power. As she sat up, she began to recall everything that happened the previous night and in her anxiety, noticed Ah Dai beside her.
Ah Dai’s face was somewhat pale due to blood loss, and he was still sleeping deeply. His brow was tightly knit as if he were in pain. Xuan Yue felt a pang in her heart; last night, if Ah Dai hadn’t tried to save her, he wouldn’t have been struck by the enemy’s blade. At that moment, Xuan Yue felt regret for the first time about not having practiced diligently during her time at the church. Had she done so, her strength surely wouldn’t be what it was now, and she could have provided some help to Ah Dai.
