Chapter 73: Chapter 65: The Calamity of the Qingyang Tribe
Inside the Qingyang Tribe’s command tent, Helai Jiaohu and a group of leaders were still waiting for news from the front.
Now that it has been confirmed that the young tiger wandering in the dark was not Liu Yanran himself, the previous accusations against He Xiqing were largely misunderstandings. Given the current constant harassment, the most rational decision was to recall He Xiqing and regroup with the main army. This way, everyone could concentrate their efforts, better resisting the relentless attacks.
Of course, for many of the leaders, this was not an easy decision to accept. However, with the persuasion of Helai Jiaohu and Bulugu Niu, everyone, whether as elders or seniors, reluctantly accepted this reality laid before them.
"Young people, being a bit hotheaded is normal. How can they be called young if they aren’t hotheaded?"
Seeing that the leaders were persuaded, Helai Jiaohu stroked his beard.
"It’s good for young people to be energetic. As elders, we must show tolerance and give them some space..."
"..."
Even though they were mentally prepared, the leaders were left speechless by Helai Jiaohu’s remarks.
Goodness, you were the one who originally rallied everyone to kill He Xiqing, and now you’re the one telling everyone to be tolerant of young people? With such shamelessness, it’s no wonder you could become the leader of the Qingyang Tribe.
Helai Jiaohu naturally saw these eyes filled with doubt or disdain.
But he didn’t mind.
Being brave and fierce is the warrior’s task. But as a leader, as the manager of a tribe, what he really needed to consider were matters beyond combat — like now, where he could forgo honor, pride, even his image and reputation. But as a leader, he needed to maintain at least basic rationality.
Even if he knew He Xiqing was ungrateful, it didn’t matter. As long as the Qingyang Tribe needed him, he dared to use him.
That’s why Helai Jiaohu was the leader of the Qingyang Tribe, instead of the stronger and fiercer He Xiqing.
He didn’t expect everyone to understand this.
He only hoped He Xiqing understood.
Among the grassland tribes, mutual attacks were normal. Even within the tribes, it was common for a new leader to replace the old one — but now was not the time to continue internal conflicts. Faced with terrifying enemies and emerging monsters, only by uniting could they ensure their safety.
"I hope that kid won’t be stubborn at this time..."
Thinking of this, Helai Jiaohu turned his head, looking towards the direction of Jizhen.
At this moment, a messenger rushed in.
"Oh? Has He Xiqing returned?"
Helai Jiaohu couldn’t help but be overjoyed.
"Prepare a feast for the warriors..."
"It’s a monster! That monster has broken in!"
The messenger’s face was full of terror.
"That monster broke in! It’s killing everyone it sees!"
"...What?"
Helai Jiaohu even thought he misheard.
He could understand an attack, since that young tiger wielding three Evil Energy Weapons had been harassing the Qingyang Tribe army lately — but each time, it only took a few lives on the outskirts before retreating.
But now, the messenger said it had broken in?
"Kill kill kill kill kill!!!"
As Helai Jiaohu was still processing, deafening shouts of killing erupted in the distance.
An unseen edge tore through the tent, along with the bodies of several leaders, and when the tent collapsed, Helai Jiaohu and some leaders, scrambling out, saw that outside had already turned into a sea of corpses and blood.
In this field of dismembered limbs, blood-soaked warhorses trampled through intestines and flesh, galloping forward.
The red of the blood was the color of death.
The blood-red rider was a death deity spreading demise.
"Run!"
Helai Jiaohu turned and ran, giving Bulugu Niu beside him a kick — counting on two legs to outrun four was unrealistic, but as long as he could outrun his companion, he had a chance to escape.
But who would have thought, that sly kick missed its target.
"I knew you old bastard would try this!"
Bulugu Niu sneered and sprinted as Helai Jiaohu twisted his ankle.
Indeed, two legs couldn’t outrun four, but if four legs couldn’t outrun four legs, they could at least race to the stable for a warhorse, giving a chance to flee!
But just when Bulugu Niu thought he was running fast enough, his right half seemed to move even faster.
"...Eh?"
It was then Bulugu Niu realized his body had been split in half by some unseen edge.
Half his body fell to the ground, blood and organs pouring out.
The iron hooves of the warhorse trampled through this bloody mire, continuing its charge.
"Ah!!!"
Helai Jiaohu, nearby, screamed, nearly fainting from the gruesome sight.
But just as Helai Jiaohu thought he’d be decapitated any second, the blood-red warhorse galloped past him.
"Not enough."
Helai Jiaohu vaguely heard a Southern word.
Being intelligent, Helai Jiaohu instantly understood.
It wasn’t that it didn’t want to kill, but it didn’t need to. The bloodthirsty deity wasn’t targeting him, the Qingyang Tribe’s leader, rather the number of kills — a mere individual couldn’t compare to the main army; he wasn’t worth having the warhorse stop for him.
This disregard made Helai Jiaohu hard not to feel angry, but beyond slight annoyance, he felt more relief for surviving.
As long as he lived, it was fine. There would still be hope as long as he was alive, another chance — indeed, this young tiger was ferocious; even he hadn’t expected that kind of solo charge capabilities. But after all, it’s just a solo charge, who doesn’t have that?
True, he didn’t have it, but the Grassland Royal Court had someone, waiting for their support, he’d definitely... Okay, Desert North Royal Court was indeed far, and the support might arrive when he’s already bones and dust. But hadn’t he sent word to He Xiqing before? If He Xiqing comes, that monster can definitely be matched!
No matter what He Xiqing wanted, it didn’t matter. As long as He Xiqing was willing to come, everything would be fine!
"Yihehehehe—"
Just as Helai Jiaohu got up, preparing to escape to a secluded spot, a terrifying shadow of flesh and blood descended from the sky.
"Ah Xuan! So much meat!"
Before Helai Jiaohu could lift his head, bony, eagle-claw-like arms grabbed him.
Stuffed him into He Xiqing’s beak.
