Chapter 86: White Snow Plains

  "Jema Agu!"

  The clear voice of the child suddenly rang out, and as I looked around, I saw a white snowy plain, where a small red horse was running quickly. On the back of the horse sat two children wearing cotton-padded jackets, the older one only fifteen or sixteen years old, with a row of small braids, tied at the end with a red tassel, sturdy like a small grassland pony. The younger one was only eleven or twelve years old, wearing a fur hat, his face frozen bright red, and it was he who had just shouted out.

  "Jiema Agu!" The two children rushed to the foot of a snow slope, then quickly dismounted and crawled up the snowy slope with their hands and feet.

  It had just snowed in the morning, and now the snow was soft and deep. The big child, although tall and long-legged, was also heavy, so he sank into the snow with every step, then struggled to pull his foot out, only to sink again. In this way, he actually walked more slowly than the smaller one.

  The younger child ran up laughing, although young, the movements were very agile, and in a short while climbed up the snowy slope, facing a distant tent shouting: "Jiema Agu, mother asked me to call you for dinner."

  The tent flap shook, and in a moment, a petite woman with bright eyebrows and white teeth poked her head out. She wore a fur hat that covered both ears, revealing only a small, pointed face, a pair of autumn-water-like clear eyes that shone with a hint of stubbornness. Smiling, she opened her arms and hugged the child who had rushed over, patting his shoulder with thick gloves, and asked: "Bambur, is your mother's illness better?"

  "Alright!" Bambur smiled brightly, revealing two small tiger teeth, and said with a smile: "Thanks to Jema Agu's medicine, so Amma wants to invite Jema Agu to eat rabbit meat."

  "Leopards." The woman was taken aback and said: "Xudalai has gone hunting in the mountains again?"

  "Yes," Bambu replied, "the New Year is approaching, and Big Brother said we should prepare for the New Year's goods."

  The woman slightly furrowed her brow and said: "Recently, people from the Mu Lian department have been coming over here to stir up trouble, Xudalei should be more careful."

  "Don't worry," Bambur said with a pleased smile, "Xudalai is a sturdy leopard, and the people of Muren Department are all cunning wolves. No matter how cunning the wolves are, they can't beat the leopard."

  "Hehe," the woman laughed and held Bambur's gloved hand, saying: "You also know that wolves are cunning, so it's better to be careful."

  "Jiema Agu!" The bigger kid, after exerting himself for half a day, finally climbed up the snowy slope and shouted loudly at the woman in the distance: "Go home, Mom, they're all waiting for you."

  "Good! Wait a minute!" The woman shouted loudly, turned around and walked into the tent, took out a small red flag with two big Chinese characters written on it in black ink. Bambur had never been to school, he just followed the woman for a few days to learn some Chinese characters, at this moment, seeing the flag, he stuttered: "Sun... Moon..."

  "It's Xia Qing," the woman replied with a bad temper: "You're good at saving trouble, recognizing whichever part you read."

  "Jiema Agu, haven't you found your big brother yet?" A bigger kid ran over while patting the snow off his body.

  The girl was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing and said: "Not yet, but wait slowly, it will eventually come."

  "Let's go!" The flag was planted on the tent, and the fiery red flag stood out in the vast expanse of white snow. The woman turned to the back of the tent, led out a horse, climbed onto it herself, and said to Bambur: "Bambur, are you coming with me?"

  "Good!" Bambur shouted hastily: "I'd rather go with Kordo, he rides like a dead man."

  The child called Nakdu was furious, his eyebrows raised high, and he shouted loudly: "Me slow? I can catch wolves on horseback, am I riding slowly?"

  "Pah! Die, wolf!" Bambur was young, but his mouth was sharp. The woman smiled as she listened to the two children quarreling, then suddenly raised her whip and disappeared into the snowy wilderness in an instant.

  This woman is Qing Xia.

  She left the North Camp of Chuli on that day, galloping her horse across the Western Black Wilderness. She searched for Xilin Yue in the wilderness for three days and three nights until she fainted from exhaustion. When she woke up, it was pouring rain, her horse had run away, and with an empty stomach, she encountered a wolf pack attack, narrowly escaping being devoured by wolves. Fortunately, she met some bandits on the prairie who helped her escape disaster.

  It was the first time Qing Xia had seen the horse thieves of the Western Hei Desert. Previously, the Qin State Prince's party had disguised themselves as these horse thieves to assassinate Qin Zhiyan, and later Chu Li had used the name of the Western Hei horse thieves to disguise himself and kill the eight major families, leaving them in a sorry state. This shows how powerful the reputation of the Western Hei Desert horse thieves was throughout the continent. But it was precisely this that made them repeatedly exploited and bear the brunt of the blame.

  Although everyone knew in their hearts, these horse bandits were not yet crazy enough to attack the Qin prince and the Chu army's large camp. However, the superficial efforts still had to be made. As a result, the unlucky horse bandits almost simultaneously suffered from the frantic pursuit and siege of both Qin and Chu countries. By the time Qing Xia encountered them, this group of originally over 3,000 people strong horse bandit gang had less than 100 people left.

  After gorging on wolf meat, the group's attention turned to the young girl they had just rescued. This idea was naturally doomed to fail, and after being disciplined by Qing Xia, the burly men who revered brute force all followed her with their tails between their legs, begging her to lead them in escaping the pursuit of North Qin and South Chu and finding a place to survive.

  After being entangled with the dead skin for many days, Qing Xia finally left the Western Black Wasteland with a group of horse bandits. Although they encountered several groups of Chu army along the way, under Qing Xia's manipulation, everyone not only didn't suffer losses but also defeated the Chu army. The Western Black Horse Bandits were killed and injured by the two countries' armies for no reason, and each of them had been holding a fire in their hearts. Seeing that Qing Xia was young and still a girl, but with quick hands and feet, clever mind, and especially familiar with the Chu army, all the men were sincerely convinced, following Qing Xia through the Western Black Wasteland, carefully crossing the land of North Qin, taking one month to arrive at Bai Huang Prefecture located in the northernmost part of Qin.

  Bai E County is located at the northernmost part of Qin State, less than thirty miles from the Beijiang General Camp of Qin State. However, it has always been a place where no one is in charge. The terrain here is complex and is located at the junction of the two major armies of North Qin and West Chuan. Xicheng City of West Chuan is within half a day's ride by fast horse, and further north is the territory of the Xiongnu people.

  Although the population here is not too large, it has gathered people of all ethnic groups. There are Xiongnu people, Semu people, Quanrong people, Muli people, Qin people, Western Chuan people, and even merchants who came from Eastern Qi and Southern Chu to collect rhubarb and sable skins. In short, it is a mixed bag, with many outsiders, but it is an easy place to survive.

  Before the summer, Qing Xia and Yang Fen set a deadline of two months to meet here. During his tenure as the person in charge of the Black Guard, Qing Xia had searched for Yang Fen all over the world, but unfortunately, there was no result. Now that Chuli has been hiding from her several times during the war, it is clear that the true power of the Black Guard is still in Chuli's hands. If he doesn't want Qing Xia to find Yang Fen, then the Black Guard will naturally not be able to investigate anything. A person like Chuli, who doesn't even trust the loyal and devoted West Lin family, how can he believe in Yang Fen, who has already betrayed him once?

  So, Qing Xia settled down in Bai E's territory. The Western Black Horse thieves didn't change their ways and quickly connected with the horse thieves and robbers outside the pass. Qing Xia didn't ask them to follow him and be good people by eating turnips and salted vegetables, so he let them go as they pleased.

  In this chaotic era, there are people doing all sorts of business. They don't go looting and plundering, so naturally others take their place. But since Qing Xia lives here, the bandits no longer harass Baihe County, which is actually a good thing for the county's people. Out of sight, out of mind, Qing Xia doesn't bother to think about where these guys have gone to rob and steal.

  The Bumble family was a hunter's household that Qing Xia got to know here. Mr. Bumble was a drunkard, often wandering around the county and rarely returning home. However, his wife was a diligent and honest person who single-handedly raised four children.

  The eldest son is called Akira Takeru, a famous hunter in Shirakawa County. He can hear the sound of a mouse running through the road from 100 miles away on a dark night. The young man in his early twenties is a talented person and is the object of admiration for local girls. Every morning, the entrance is filled with love letters and flowers. The second son is called Nakkodo, who is only 15 years old this year but has grown very sturdy. He is as tall and big as a 17 or 18-year-old child. He has a fiery temper and when he gets angry, he looks like a fierce bull. The third son is Banburu, who is only 13 years old this year. Although he is small in stature, he is very clever. The fourth child is a girl, only five years old, who always clings to her several older brothers at home. Now she has a new target and clings to Seika every day without stopping.

  It's been two months since she settled down, and more than 40 days have passed since the two-month deadline. Qing Xia has built a house on the snowy slope, waiting for Yang Feng to return. She thought that if something happened on the road and delayed him, it would be at most another month. If Yang Feng still didn't come after another month, she would have no choice but to go to Nan Chu Sheng Du again, sneak into the palace, and ask Dan Fei for news. After all, when she and Yang Feng were captured by the three groups of people, Chu Li and Wu Si Mei had gained nothing, so if something happened to Yang Feng, this account would have to be settled with Zhu Dan Chen.

  "Na Ke Duo, Ban Bu Er you're back!" A bright and cheerful voice suddenly rang out, a fine horse galloped over like a whirlwind, the young man on the horse was tall, handsome and bright-eyed, with a slightly similar facial structure to the northern barbarians, but his eyes were black.

  "Xia Qing, you're here too."

  To find Yang Feng, Qing Xia had to use the alias Xia Qing. Anyway, names have always been just a code name for Qing Xia, and she didn't care much about it. Laughing and jumping off the horse, she took over Ban Buli, turned her head and said to Xudale: "I heard from Ban Buli that you went hunting again, be careful not to run into the Mu Lian people."

  "Hehe," Xuda said with a bright and refreshing smile, revealing a mouthful of pearly white teeth. "I'm not afraid of them."

  I knew he'd say that. Qing Xia rolled her eyes, patted Bambur's head and said: "Go get the homework I lent you a few days ago, Ri Yue? It's really embarrassing for me that you can even read it."

  "Jiema Agu!" A soft voice suddenly rang out, and Qing Xia hadn't even lowered her head when a red-and-green-clad ball of flesh came flying towards her at high speed, slamming into her thigh with a "thud". Two small white hands grasped her tightly, loudly accusing: "Bamboo is a bad guy, he roasted my rabbit."

  "Ah-Miao," Qing Xia bent down, squatting to look at the little girl who was no taller than her own calves, and hastily said: "How did you run out here, it's so cold outside."

  Amu's attention was immediately diverted, and he hurriedly said with gestures: "Ama made me a new robe, warm."

  Qing Xia looked at her fancy robe, smiled slightly, and picked up the little girl. A Miao Ye was round and chubby, stretched out her hand to hug Qing Xia's neck, pouted her mouth in a resentful manner, like a wronged little victim, "Jiema Agu, Bambur roasted my rabbit."

  "Amu, you useless thing, all you know is to tattle to Jema Agu. The rabbit was roasted by me and I ate it too, what can you do to me? And another thing, Kedu also ate some, why didn't you report him?"

  Nakudo was very displeased and loudly shouted: "I didn't know that was Amo's rabbit, you cunning fox Bamuru."

  "Alright, let's go back." Xudalei intervened to stop the quarrel between several little rascals, saying with a dignified tone: "Mother is still waiting at home. Ah Mao Ye, wait until tomorrow when I go into the mountains to catch a den of fox cubs for you. By next winter, we can make a fox fur coat."

  "Really?" Amu's eyes sparkled with delight and she burst out laughing happily.

  They bypassed a forest, and a village appeared in front of them. Bambur and Nakdo ran towards the village like two small leopards, while Qing Xia and Xudale walked slowly behind, leading their horses. Amu was nestled in Qing Xia's arms, quietly playing with the buttons on her clothes. The ground was covered in white snow. Qing Xia suddenly turned around and asked Xudale: "Xudale, are you still going into the mountains tomorrow?"

  "Yes," Xuda Lie said, "Before the heavy snow blocks the mountain, go in a few more times. It's going to be New Year's, stock up on some game. You're alone, come spend the New Year with us."

  "What about me?" Qing Xia slightly shook her head and said casually: "I may not be able to stay for much longer."

  Xuda Lie was taken aback and said in a low voice: "Are you going back to Guannei? Don't you want to wait for your brother?"

  Qing Xia sighed and said: "I'll wait another month, if I still can't wait, I'll go back to find him."

  "You're all alone, where can you go? It's better to just wait here honestly. Your big brother is a grown man, will he get lost?"

  "Ah," Qing Xia said gloomily, "you don't understand, this place is actually really good. I've been here for so long, and these days have passed the most comfortably. If my big brother were to arrive, I would stay here and not leave."

  Xu Da's eyebrows slightly furrowed as he followed Qing Xia, remaining silent for a long time.

  "Xuda Lie, you'd better not enter the mountain. I received news a few days ago that a big snowstorm hit the Mu Lian side, freezing thousands of cattle and sheep to death. The people over there are barely surviving. It's very likely that they will go to the Qin Kingdom's Northern Frontier Camp or Yan Emperor City to loot. Bai Huang County has also been unstable recently, so everyone should be careful and not venture out easily."

  Xuda Leng snorted and said, "What are the Muren people? They dare to go to the Beijiang Great Camp to plunder. That old waste Tuo Ha doesn't have the guts, I heard that this month, Qin Guo's war god Qin Xuanwang is personally stationed in Beijiang, and the Yanzi camp has also come with him. Let alone freezing to death cattle and sheep, even if they themselves froze to death, Tuo Ha wouldn't dare take a step closer to Beijiang."

  "Is it King Xuan of Qin?" Qing Xia was slightly stunned, having not heard from him for a long time. She couldn't help but look southward, the Beijiang Great Camp being less than thirty miles away, and they were actually this close.

  "In short, you'd better be careful, your whole family is counting on you, don't let anything happen to you."

  Xu Da let out a hearty laugh and said, "Don't worry, Xia Qing. I'm not afraid of anyone from Snow Wolf Lake, let alone the Mu Lian people. They'd better not mess with me, or none of them will make it back." As he spoke, he patted his quiver vigorously and laughed loudly twice.

  Qing Xia helplessly shook her head, the first time she met Xue Da Lie was by the Snow Wolf Lake, where she and a group of horse thieves from Xi Hei Yuan were robbed by the Snow Wolf people. Those horse thieves had spent their lives robbing others, but when they themselves were robbed, they immediately clashed with the Snow Wolf people. Although Qing Xia and her companions were strong in battle, the other side not only had more people, but also knew the local paths well, so naturally Qing Xia's group was no match for them. While escaping, they ran into Xue Da Lie who was setting traps to hunt in the forest, and were rescued by him, managing to escape.

  It's been two months already.

  Just as they were thinking, they entered the village. Xueda Lie was refreshingly loud and greeted the villagers, who mostly knew Qing Xia. Moreover, this girl also knew the horse bandits in the mountains, and in everyone's eyes, she was a capable and influential figure, so they were all very enthusiastic towards her. After a while, they arrived at Xueda Lie's home. He led the horses to the stable, and his mother, Duoi Hua, rushed out, saw Qing Xia, smiled and said: "Jiema Agu, you're here, come in and warm up."

  Jiema Agu is a general term for beautiful Han women. There are countless Jiema Agus in this small village, and Qing Xia is just one of them.

  Several people entered the steaming room, and several children were already seated on the fire pit. As soon as Qing Xia entered, Ah Mao Ye patted a spot next to her and loudly called out: "Jie Ma Agu, come sit here!" The speed was so fast that it made Bambur, who had already opened his mouth halfway, very sulky. He glared at his little sister with a fierce stare and let out a humph.

  Qing Xia took off her boots and climbed onto the warm kang, sitting cross-legged beside A Mo Ye.

  A mouth-watering aroma of meat suddenly wafted in, and Xudalai was sitting on the edge of the kang, helping Duoyi Flower Aunt to carry plates onto the kang table. The fragrant musk deer meat was roasted until it was all golden fat, making a sizzling sound that tempted people to drool.

  "Come, eat, eat," said Doihua's aunt with a smile, rubbing her hands on her clothes. "There are still some on the rack, and they're freshly baked. I heard Jema Agu is coming, these were personally baked by Xunda Lie, fragrant!"

  "Come on, Xia Qing, don't just stare." Xudale tore off a piece of meat from the leg of lamb and placed it in front of Xia Qing. The other three children had already started eating, each taking big bites. Xia Qing tore off a piece of meat and put it in her mouth, and for a moment, she only felt the fragrance lingering on her lips and teeth. Smiling, she said: "Xudale, if you become a chef in the future, you'll definitely get rich."

  "Haha!" Xuda let out a bright and cheerful laugh, not taking to heart what Qing Xia said about him becoming a chef.

  Everyone was having a great time, eating and drinking. Suddenly, the sound of rapid footsteps echoed outside the door, and just as Xudal's brow furrowed in concern, there was a loud crash as the door was kicked open with a bang!