Tens of thousands of tents are connected together, forming a city.
If unoccupied, it's just a vast emptiness, only showing traces of lines that mark the position of the tents, resembling scars born from burning, without order, without signs. Unless they are locals, outsiders would find it hard to recognize.
At this time, the grass on the prairie is exceptionally lush. Most of the herdsmen have long taken their cattle and sheep along with their tents and wander across the prairie. It's only when significant events occur or the weather turns cold that they return, to engage in grand transactions, preparing for the long winter ahead.
The seventeen-year-old boy from Cheshi, Qi Ou, couldn't help but click his tongue, gazing back and forth at the scenery here.
He had been saved by Chi Bi Heli only a year ago and hadn't seen a city formed by so many tents before. The large tents were densely packed, with many people and narrow roads, leaving him little choice but to dismount and walk the horse by hand. At times, he couldn't quite catch his breath from the astonishing sight, being dragged forward by a burly man from the falconer team, still muttering under his breath:
"So many, so many people, I didn't expect there to be so many people here..."
"There are many Jianghu people too, that sword..."
Finally coming to his senses, he continued babbling.
"So many people I've never seen, their clothing seems not of this place, I've never seen such clothes, the material doesn't seem like lambskin or wool..."
"Silk? Could it be that silk I've often heard people talk about? Or satin?"
"The quality looks better than blue cloth, yet it seems thin, not windproof, definitely not warm enough."
A burly falconer rolled his eyes and said:
"Don't you know? The martial arts in the Central Plains start with Qi cultivation. Once you get that sense of Qi, run Zhou Tian, you'll be resistant to cold, like wearing an invisible garment; it's much better for warmth than wool."
Qi Ou suddenly realized and whispered:
"So... They're from the Central Plains?"
"I've heard that more than twenty years ago, a large group of people from the Central Plains fled here. At that time, the Northern Xiongnu King took them in, even gave them official positions, and they've now established roots here."
"These people, are they martial artists from the Central Plains?"
A calm voice answered:
"Central Plains martial artists can do this, but these are not martial artists from Central Plains sects."
Qi Ou was stunned, raising his head to look at the person speaking beside him.
Wang Anfeng gave him a small smile, saying warmly:
"They're from the Western Regions."
Qi Ou was again astonished.
"From the Western Regions?"
"Brother Zhai, how do you know?"
Wang Anfeng casually replied, "I've met them before, so I recognize them." Thɪs chapter is updated by novelꜰire.net
"But let's not talk about that, let's find an empty spot outside to set up the tent. I think there will be more people coming; soon, there will be no space left."
"Oh, oh, I'll go right away."
The falconer team found a flat surface near the tent city, setting up the tents they carried as nomadic falconers, an essential skill for this lifestyle, a skill all were adept at, even Qi Ou.
Skillfully setting up the tent, he took out an iron shovel and expertly dug out a trench stove.
When it's time, firewood can be placed there, and an iron pot set up to cook some mutton soup. While working, Qi Ou kept talking about the desire for fresh hot mutton soup. He carried with him a bunch of bright red dried chili pepper powder, ground into fine spice.
Sprinkle a bit on any kind of meat, whether roast or soup, it enhances the flavor significantly.
Though, answering nature's call tended to be challenging afterward.
Afterward, using hemp paper and large dry leaves was quite painful, causing everyone to laugh heartily.
Wang Anfeng, with a gentle smile, quietly gazed towards the center direction.
Beside the royal tent at the center stood four tents.
Helian Pan took off his shoes, stepping on the fur rug, and sat cross-legged before the table. A maid in a horse skirt came and served him warm milk wine, which Helian Pan happily accepted, taking big gulps downing over half in one go, exhaling in satisfaction, looking at the old man across from him.
Unlike the tall, blue-eyed, brown-haired Xiongnu Tribe people, the old man's features were more gentle, his silver hair tied up with a jade hairpin, exuding extraordinary refinement. He slowly sipped, holding not milk wine but a rare good tea seldom seen on the prairie.
Seeing Helian Pan look up, the old man gently asked:
"Have all those Jianghu people arrived?"
Helian Pan nodded, smiling broadly:
"Indeed, just as the old gentleman said, they arrived early."
The old man smiled serenely, saying:
"Quite normal, although the Western Regions are vast and chaotic, not unified. The so-called great sects of Jianghu can't truly compare with those in the Central Plains. Previously, the Master of Divine Martial traversed the Western Regions Jianghu. Dozens of major sects hoped to establish good relations with him, essentially to be in favor with the Qin State."
"Thus, relatively speaking, Jianghu sects inevitably need to come here and pledge allegiance."
Helian Pan raised an eyebrow.
The old man calmly said:
"Indeed, it is inevitable."
"Even if they are as close as brothers, living and dying together, this will happen."
"It is the tragedy of the weak."
Helian Pan let out a breath, smiling wistfully:
"Is this the so-called balance of the Central Plains? That is an insight."
The old man inquired further: "Nothing slipped through this time?"
Helian Pan laughed, saying: "Aside from the favored young princess suddenly saying she wanted to come to comfort the Princess Consort, along with her inexplicably strange friend, there's been nothing unusual."
"Thirty plus Jianghu sects, large and small, attended, with the largest being Rose and Snow from one of the Thirty-six Sects. An elder from the sect and their chief disciple came too."
After a moment, Helian Pan finished his milk wine, wiped his mouth, and stood up to leave.
Once outside, he looked back at the big tent, coldly laughed, and muttered 'Old dog'.
Then he moved forward again, face beaming with a smile.
Inside the tent, the young girl, who previously accompanied Helian Pan and was invited to view the prairie landscape, came from behind silently to pour tea for the elderly man, cup after cup, three cups in quick succession. The old man sighed, murmuring:
"Finally, the day has come."
"Originally believed this life held no hope..."
"The Khan King is dead, taking this chance to provoke Qin and the Northern Frontier, leveraging the Northern Hun Iron Cavalry to enter the Central Plains."
"Expel Tigers Swallow Wolves, the day of restoring the rightful lineage of my kingdom should not be far away."
A high-handed maid rode a fiery steed, coming to summon.
Wang Anfeng and Qi Ou exchanged smiles, and under the gaze of the boy filled with admiration, they put down the plain and simple horsehead fiddle and followed beside the maid, passing through layers upon layers of the Northern Xiongnu cities, entering into the royal tent.
PS: Today's update is dedicated to you...five thousand.
Thanks to the generous reward from Fei Zhai's family, thank you~