Chapter 321: I Do It Willingly

Ha Ri Cha Gai slowly raised both hands, lifted them over his head, leaned his torso slightly, assuming a respectful posture, ready to receive Bai Ling's eagle feathers.

After hovering for a long moment, Bai Ling suddenly flapped his massive wings, and his huge body dived toward Tuan Tuan!

Careful!

The few of them all lunged forward; Xiao Er was the fastest, bent down, stretched his long arm, and pulled Tuan Tuan into his embrace, shielding her with his body.

The others gathered the two of them in the middle, looking up and glaring at Bai Ling.

Xiao Ran shouted, "Don't touch my sister!"

Tuan Tuan poked her small head out of Xiao Er's arms, lifted it, and met Bai Ling's cold golden eagle eyes.

Eye to eye, Tuan Tuan blinked, extended her little hand, waved it twice toward the massive Divine Eagle, and called out, "Hello, big bird."

A flash of light flickered in Bai Ling's golden eyes; he flew lower, circling the group repeatedly.

The huge wings sliced through the air, the wind howling.

"Uncle Er, it won't hurt me," Tuan Tuan whispered as she slipped out of Xiao Er's arms, stepped before the others, and said, "Big bird, the wind is too strong, I can barely stand!"

Bai Ling seemed to understand and actually landed on the ground!

The Divine Eagle has landed!

Oh, Eternal Heaven, I actually get to see the Divine Eagle land!

Divine Eagle Gao Xuan has never landed before!

The herders instantly erupted in a clamor.

Although Bai Ling folded his wings, he still held his head aloft proudly, stepping closer to Tuan Tuan.

Xiao Ningxun stepped forward, took his sister's hand, and pulled her a step toward his side.

Bai Ling glanced at him, tilted his head, as if asking, "Who are you?"

Tuan Tuan laughed, "Third Brother, it's so cute!"

She released her brother's hand and walked up to Bai Ling.

The Divine Eagle standing on the ground was still a full head taller than her!

Tuan Tuan stretched out her little hand toward its wing, "Your wings are so big!"

Bai Ling shifted his body, seeming to try to dodge, but Tuan Tuan grabbed him, "Let me touch it!"

Bai Ling lowered his head, opened his beak, gently snatched the pearl hairpin from Tuan Tuan's hair, stepped back a few paces, and flapped toward a felt tent, soaring upward.

"Ah!" Tuan Tuan covered her cheek, flustered.

"Big bird! That's my hairpin!" she shouted while chasing after him, her little face flushed bright red, "Xiao Yueyue gave it to me! Give it back!"

The others hurried after.

Bai Ling flew to the front of the felt tent, relaxed his beak, and the hairpin fell into the hand of an elderly woman who had been standing motionless at the doorway.

She wore a plain gray old robe, hair as white as snow, a gaunt face marked by the scars of wind and frost, and eyes deep and tranquil like a lake in the deepest part of the grassland.

Bai Ling folded his wings and lightly landed on the top of the tent.

The old lady lowered her gaze, glanced at the hairpin in her hand, stepped forward, placed her thin right hand on her chest, and bowed deeply toward Tuan Tuan who had run up to her.

This was the oldest and most solemn salute on the grassland.

The entire Keli tribe, thousands of eyes, stared at her fixedly, and the surroundings were silent.

The elder chief rose and, with utmost respect, saluted the old lady, "Grandma Cang Ling!"

The moment those words were spoken, the grassland erupted like a boiling pot.

"Grandma Cang Ling? The one who walked alone into the Gobi and returned seven days later with Ji Yu?"

"The guardian who used an ancient song to drive away jackals and wolves?"

"They say after her last divination she rode a white camel into the northern wind and snow and never returned… Is she really Grandma Cang Ling?"

Xiao Ningxun and the others exchanged glances; it seemed this old lady was far from ordinary!

Tuan Tuan anxiously pointed at her palm, "Grandma! That's my hairpin!"

Grandma Cang Ling personally re‑pinned the hairpin back to Tuan Tuan's sideburns, gently brushing over her crown.

"The item returns to its rightful owner," the old lady said, looking at her. "The distant guest, Bai Ling recognized you."

She straightened up and looked toward Ha Ri Cha Gai nearby.

"Ha Ri Cha Gai."

Ha Ri Cha Gai trembled all over, "Cang… Grandma Cang Ling."

"You lost. A man of the grassland must keep his word."

Ha Ri Cha Gai's face turned ashen.

Everyone's gaze turned toward him.

He strode to Tuan Tuan, dropped to one knee, bowed his head, and said, "I lost. From today for a month, I will be your attendant."

Tuan Tuan didn't understand, "What is an attendant?"

Ha Ri Cha Gai was startled, then raised his head, "An attendant is… my sword and horse, they will follow you wherever you go."

This little brother kept his word; what a good person!

He seemed eager to get the big bird's feathers…

Tuan Tuan looked up and shouted at Bai Ling atop the tent, "Big bird! I'm not a warrior!"

She pointed at Ha Ri Cha Gai kneeling on the ground, "He's the warrior! He's great at riding! Give the feather to him, okay?"

Ha Ri Cha Gai shivered all over, looking at Tuan Tuan in disbelief.

Grandma Cang Ling's lips curled slowly.

Bai Ling lifted his head, let out a clear cry, flapped his wings and rose, circling above everyone's heads once; a single feather fell from his wing to Ha Ri Cha Gai's front.

The feather was about the length of a palm, its base snow‑white and entwined with gold, truly beautiful.

Tuan Tuan bent over, picked up the feather, and handed it to Harichagē: "Here, the big bird is for you."

Harichagē took it, having poured all effort into horse racing, arrow practice, and wrestling, just hoping to get another one at this year's Naadam.

Now, this feather was brought by that Zhongyuan child he had mocked, despised, and provoked.

Harichagē's throat tightened, and their eyes suddenly turned sour.

Harichagē straightened the back, placed the right hand on the chest: "From now on, I, Harichagē, am set on you! Not because I lost, but because I am willing!"

Xiao Ningxun helped them up from the ground: "Please rise quickly."

Grandma Cangling turned around and lifted the curtain of the tent behind her.

"Children, come in and have a bowl of milk tea."

Everyone entered the tent; inside it was spacious, and thick woolen rugs covered the floor.

In the center stood a stone stove, and a copper kettle on it was bubbling milk tea, the scent of milk mingling with tea spreading warmly.

Grandma Cangling sat cross‑legged, signaling everyone to sit.

The group sat down in order; Harichagē hesitated a moment, kneeling by the door.

Grandma Cangling scooped the milk tea by hand, poured it into a wooden bowl, and handed it to Tuan Tuan.

"Careful, it's hot."

Tuan Tuan lifted the bowl, sipping little by little, eyes narrowing: "So fragrant!"

Grandma Cangling looked at her expression, her gaze softened further.

She extended her left hand; on the withered, thin fingers were long fingernails.

Then she raised her right hand and pulled the left index fingernail outward with force; an entire nail was ripped out in one piece!

A string of blood beads fell.

The few people were instantly shocked and pale.

"Ah!" Tuan Tuan cried out: "Grandma!"