Steel, gunpowder, and spellcasters

Chapter 354 The Hunt (Part 10)

[Qingqiu, Erlun's palace tent]
It was cold outside the palace tent, but warm inside, yet Winters dared not linger for even a moment longer.

"What are you doing here?" Winters tried to stand up.

Erlen quickly helped Winters up, his voice barely audible as he replied, "I've always been here."

Winters staggered toward his clothes, not daring to look Erlun in the eye, because the white lion had already told him that Erlun was in Qingqiu.

“The hunting outfit you took off is stained with blood.” Erlun calmly and naturally took the clothes and helped Winters put them on. “This is a new one. I don’t know if it will fit.”

Winters could only respond with soft "uh-huh" and "uh-huh".

Dressing in winter is a painful experience, especially for underwear. Because fabrics that don't retain body heat are as cold as ice and as hard as stone, putting them on feels like soaking in ice water.

However, Erlun had already heated the clothes in advance, so they were comfortable and warm to wear.

Tightening his belt, Winters moved his arms briefly and felt some strength returning. The dizziness and fatigue he felt upon waking gradually subsided, and the wound on his left shoulder no longer hurt as much.

He made sure he was ready, so he took a deep breath and turned to Erlun: "Erlun... I need to see the White Lion."

Erlun lowered his head: "My brother is not in Qingqiu."

Erlun's words revealed too much, and Winters immediately became alert, pressing for an answer: "Where are the troops of the Red River Tribe?"

"I...I don't know."

The phrase "I don't know" has two meanings. First, Erlun doesn't know the current location of the Chihe tribe's forces; second, wherever the Chihe tribe's forces are, they are definitely not in Qingqiu.

This is completely different from what the little lion said.

Clearing his mind of all distractions, Winters rapidly reviewed everything he had seen, heard, and known:
A spectacular hunting expedition that flaunts military might;

A large-scale mobilization involving hundreds of tribes, recruiting tens of thousands of young men, and covering the entire territory of the Chihe tribe;
The far-reaching consequences of Teldun's unexpected and disastrous defeat;

Small and medium-sized tribes wavering on the question of whether to submit to the Chihe tribe;
The unprecedented personal prestige of the White Lion clashes with the severely weakened strength of the Red River Clan...

Despite the seemingly chaotic situation, Winters vaguely grasped the underlying thread—power. In the cruel wasteland, everything is closely related to power.

……

In the Battle of the Great Wilderness, the Chihe tribe and the Teldun tribe suffered the most casualties.

Therefore, after the war, the Chihe tribe and the Teldun tribe had to band together to maintain the original position of the Teldun tribe and avoid being swallowed up by the Suz tribe and the Haidong tribe.

However, the further weakening of Teldun's forces—especially the death of the fire-breastman—broke the already fragile and delicate balance.

The disastrous defeat at the Battle of Blood Mud not only made the Teldun tribe a vulnerable target, but also left the Chihe tribe in a perilous situation of isolation and helplessness.

However, a great crisis also means a great opportunity, and White Lion is undoubtedly the leader Winters has ever seen who is most adept at utilizing crises.

The defeat caused the Teldun tribe to lose its status as one of the three major tribes, but the Teldun tribe's population, pastures, and livestock would not disappear because of the defeat.

There was more than one beast that coveted the flesh and blood of the Teldun tribe; the Chihe tribe was merely one of the weaker ones among them. Moreover, the white lion was also among the prey of the other beasts.

So, just as the Battle of Blood Mud had ended and other tribes had not yet had time to react, the Red River tribe launched this unprecedented hunt.

This hunt was not only about hunters rounding up sheep and deer, but also about giving the ferocious beasts that coveted the Red River Tribe an opportunity to hunt down the White Lion. Moreover, it was a trap set by the White Lion to hunt down all enemies inside and outside the Red River Tribe.

……

A complex mix of emotions welled up in Winters' heart; he felt anger, heartache, helplessness, and frustration all at once.

Winters looked at Ellen and asked wearily, "This is the 'safest place' the White Lion spoke of? Did he use you as bait too?!"

“No, brother, it’s not what you think. He explained it to me carefully.” Erlun was eager to explain: “With the men away from the main camp, Qingqiu is the safest place. If anything happens, the quiver warriors will protect everyone and help them escape. I never thought you would get involved. I didn’t know you would come to Qingqiu from the beginning. Originally, I wanted Little Lion to take the clothes to you…”

As she spoke, Erlun's eyes filled with tears, and she sobbed uncontrollably, repeatedly saying, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

“I don’t blame you.” Winters felt a pang of sadness seeing Erlun in tears, but he couldn’t bring himself to hold any resentment towards Erlun.

He wanted to wipe away Erlun's tears, but couldn't reach out. In the end, he could only softly comfort Erlun: "I came to Qingqiu not because I was fooled or tricked by anyone, but because of my own will. As for the white lion and the little lion hiding things from me... that's their business..."

"I'm sorry," Erlun sobbed.

“But I did not come to Qingqiu alone, Erlun.” Winters coughed violently, his breathing aggravating his injuries. “My companions are still in danger. I need weapons, armor, and warhorses. I must return to them as soon as possible.”

……

[Temporary fortifications of the Iron Peak County delegation outside the hunting grounds]
The vast majority of the attacking cavalry were killed, with only a few wounded riders escaping.

Amidst the swirling sandstorm, old Sergei dragged the corpse of an attacking cavalryman back inside the felt wall, spitting out a mouthful of sand-laden saliva: "Look at that!"

Pierre, who was leading his men to change the saddles on the captured horses, asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"

Old Sergei drew his sword and slashed at the corpse's chest, but instead of a bloody scene, there was a dull thud of metal clashing.

Old Sergei then lifted the robe on the corpse, revealing that thin iron plates, each about the size of a palm, were fixed inside the leather robe.

“They’re all wearing dark armor!” Old Sergei ripped off his scarf and spat, “No wonder they didn’t bleed when they were shot by arrows.”

"Cloth armor? Plate armor?" Lieutenant Colonel Moritz curiously reached out and touched it. "The Heds can make these too?"

Pierre frowned: "As far as I know, it's impossible. Last time we fought, the armored soldiers of the Red River tribe were still using lamellar armor made of small iron plates."

"Let's worry about what those barbarians can build later!" Old Sergei pointed to the distance—the people of the Badlands tribe were gleefully stripping the corpses of their armor.

Old Sergei gritted his teeth, revealing a wolf-like expression: "Look! Few of the barbarians from the Badlands tribe are wearing armor. They're here to hunt, not to fight! And look at the barbarians who ambushed us, they're all wearing dark armor! They were well-prepared! With such a huge investment, whoever wants to deal with the Red River tribe certainly wouldn't send so few people!"

Many members of the Iron Peak County delegation shared similar thoughts, but old Sergei was the first to voice them.

The howling wind, mixed with sand and dust, carried faint sounds of hooves, screams, and the clanging of metal, as if bloodshed was taking place everywhere.

The sense of security that everyone had just gained vanished in an instant.

"What do you mean?" Pierre asked old Sergei in a deep voice.

"Let's go, let's go now." Old Sergei's tone was resolute: "We'll go, two people on one horse, three people on one horse. Let's go back to the camp first, then find a way to find the tribal chief, and let him decide whether we stay or leave. Get as many horses as possible. If the Chihe tribe can't handle it, we'll have to rely on ourselves."

“Returning to the camp is the safest option.” Pierre pondered for a long time, unable to make a decision: “But the sandstorm is getting stronger and stronger, and we can’t even tell which way to go…” Lieutenant Colonel Moritz suddenly stretched out his right hand, spread his five fingers, and raised it high, as if sensing something.

This abrupt action drew everyone's attention. They exchanged bewildered glances, hesitant to ask questions due to his status as a lieutenant colonel.

Moritz withdrew his right hand and looked around at everyone: "The wind is getting weaker."

……

[In the center of the hunting grounds, Qingqiu]
Winters also sensed the change in the wind. He immediately looked at the banners in front of the palace tent, where the horse tails were gradually drooping.

When the sandstorm was at its worst, it was impossible to tell which way was which while standing on Qingqiu; all you could see was a sky full of red sand.

With limited visibility, Winters relied on the orientation of the palace tent to determine north and south, and roughly determined the location of the Iron Peak County delegation.

Erlun did not try to dissuade him, but only requested the captain of the guard stationed in Qingqiu to send someone to escort Winters.

Before setting off, Winters found the little lion to say goodbye.

The lion cub remained unconscious, his face pale, lying quietly on the soft couch. An elderly physician stood guard beside him. When Batu entered the bedchamber, the white-haired physician nodded slightly and continued to pluck his prayer beads.

Winters paused for a few seconds, said nothing, and then turned and left.

However, during the time it took to enter and exit the area, the wind speed had already changed significantly.

As the wind carries the sand away and its force diminishes, the sand and gravel settle, leaving only fine dust floating in the air.

Standing atop Qingqiu, the panoramic view of the hunting grounds gradually becomes clear.

Erlun breathed a sigh of relief and timidly asked Winters, "Is it... all over?"

“No,” Winters replied, “now is the most dangerous moment.”

……

[Outside the hunting grounds, in an unspecified location]
The change in wind did not only occur in Qingqiu; throughout the vast hunting grounds, everyone noticed the inexplicable appearance and disappearance of the gale.

"[Hede] What's going on?!" The leader of the Stone Cliff tribe, [Geha], was both surprised and frightened, and he questioned the armored soldier beside him sharply: "[Hede] Why has the wind stopped?"

Dark red, viscous liquid dripped from Geha's scabbard, and his lance was also stained with blood.

As agreed, the priests in the eastern part of the sea will summon a sandstorm, and the accomplices from the Stone Cliff tribe will only need to use the celestial phenomena as cover to create chaos.

But now the wind is getting weaker and weaker.

How to do?How to do?
No matter how much preparation they made beforehand, the Shiya tribe only had so many troops—no more than a hundred cavalry at most. Once the Chihe tribe regrouped, the Shiya tribe would be crushed in the blink of an eye.

"[Hede] What's the panic?" The armored soldier glanced at Geha with a gloomy face: "[Hede] The Chihe tribe is already like a bird in a cage, meat on a plate. The sons of the Haidong and Suz tribes will be here soon."

"[Herd] I'm almost there! I'm almost there! Why aren't you here yet?"

The armored soldier didn't answer. He stared intently in the direction of Qingqiu, then suddenly slammed his fist heavily on his thigh: "[Hede] What difference does it make whether they come or not? Once the arrow leaves the bowstring, it can't turn back! There's no chance to expel the scattered tribes anymore. If we want them to flee like frightened gazelles, there's only one way left!"

Geha looked in the direction the armored soldier pointed, and on the distant hills, the White Lion's palace tent shone brightly.

……

[In the center of the hunting grounds, Qingqiu]
The true leader of the Chihe tribe's palace guard was not Little Lion, nor Erlun, but Qinglingyu [Mulu].

As soon as the sandstorm subsided, Mu Lu immediately dispatched messengers to deliver the message to the tribes surrounding the hunting grounds. Armored warriors carrying the banners of the Chihe tribe galloped down Qingqiu, rushing off in all directions at lightning speed.

When Winters was found, the stag brought with him twelve fully armed quiver-wielding soldiers.

Facing the infamous champion Palatul, Qinglingyu Mulu maintained both vigilance and courtesy: "[Hede] These disciples will escort Batu back."

After listening to Erlun's translation, Winters waved his hand and went straight to the point: "There's no need to waste troops escorting me. Now that the sandstorm has stopped, the opportunity to fish in troubled waters is gone. The most dangerous place now is Qingqiu. You should consider retreating immediately."

Because of the special treatment given by the White Lion, the Blue Feather of the Red River Tribe harbored a mixture of awe and envy towards Champion Palatum.

It was precisely because of this mindset that Winters' blunt advice made the stag feel humiliated.

Suppressing his anger, the stag replied loudly, "[Hede] The Red River tribe only advances! Never retreats! The White Lion has entrusted Qingqiu to me, and I will certainly not allow the jackals to seize the White Lion's palace!"

Normally, Winters might have laughed off the stag's words, but at this moment, Winters was also filled with anger.

"No retreat?" Winters sneered. "From my own experience, you've retreated more than once!"

The stag glared fiercely at Champion Palatour, as if it were about to draw its blade and attack at any moment.

After a brief standoff, Mu Lu Cao Cao bowed and strode away, leaving the twelve quiver soldiers unsure whether to stay or leave.

Seeing the terrified look in Erlun's eyes, Wintersk controlled himself and said calmly without showing any emotion, "Now... he's even less likely to retreat."

……

[On the edge of the hunting grounds, at the Iron Peak County delegation's residence]
The riders carrying the banners galloped to the vicinity of the Iron Peak County people, roared a few times, and then headed towards the other tribes.

“What did he say?” Pierre frowned. “Translator!”

Hearing this, the interpreter, who was changing his saddle, quickly squeezed to Pierre's side and replied rapidly, "He seemed to be saying, 'The Red River Tribe wants to kill you and me, the Red River Tribe wants to annex all the tribes,' I only caught those two sentences."

Old Sergei scoffed: "The barbarians of the Red River tribe want to devour the barbarians of other tribes, isn't that obvious to them? Do they need him to tell them?!"

For some reason, once the sandstorm stopped, the horses gradually calmed down.

Pierre no longer hesitated and immediately ordered his horses to be prepared for evacuation.

"From now on, you'll stand by my side!" Pierre sternly ordered the interpreter. "Translate whatever the Heds say, without missing a single word!"

Three more riders galloped in from the direction of Qingqiu, the leader of whom also carried a white horse tail banner.

Three riders circled the felt wall, shouting messages to anyone they saw.

Pierre looked at the interpreter.

"Tell us not to move." The interpreter struggled to discern human voices amidst the sound of hooves: "The White Lion commands all tribes to remain in place and guard their positions. No one is to be ordered to move without permission..."

[One chapter first!]
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(End of this chapter)