Chapter 325

Bartel squinted: "Do you already have a plan, sir?"

Translation: Bateer narrowed his eyes: "Sir, do you already have a plan?"

Chiang Heng countered: "Your Highness, are you aware that the Ertun tribe's Heavenly Fire Festival is coming up in just a few days?"

Translation: Jiang Heng countered: "Your Highness, are you aware that the Heaven Fire Festival of the Treasure Tribe is just a few days away?"

Naturally.

Translation: "Naturally."

If anything goes wrong at the ritual, Your Highness, do you think the herders would believe that an ill‑omened person from the Central Plains has provoked the gods' wrath?

Translation: "If something goes wrong during the ceremony, Your Highness, do you think the herders would believe that ill-omened people from the Central Plains have brought divine punishment?"

Bartel leaned back in his chair: "You intend to have the Ertun tribe dispose of them, don't you?"

Translation: Bateer leaned back slowly in his chair: "Sir, are you planning to use the Treasure Tribe to get rid of them?"

Chiang Heng stared at him, saying nothing.

Translation: Jiang Heng looked at him, silent.

Bartel gave a low chuckle.

Translation: Bateer let out a low laugh.

His laughter began quietly, then swelled into a loud, hearty guffaw:

Translation: That laugh started soft, gradually grew louder, and finally burst into a hearty, unrestrained guffaw:

"Excellent!" he jumped up, strode to Chiang Heng, and clapped him hard on the shoulder, saying, "In the language of the Central Plains, sir, you are truly my right-hand man."

Translation: "Excellent!" he sprang to his feet, strode up to Jiang Heng, and slapped his shoulder hard, saying, "In the words of the Central Plains people, sir, you are truly my strategist!"

Chiang Heng bowed his head respectfully: "Your Highness, you flatter me."

Translation: Jiang Heng lowered his head, respectful: "Your Highness, you overpraise me."

In the candlelight, his drooping eyelids concealed a brief glint in his eyes.

Translation: In the candlelight, his lowered eyelids hid a fleeting glimmer of dark light in his eyes.

The sky stretched high and the plains endless, grass rolling like waves.

Translation: The sky was vast and the wilderness boundless, grass waves rolling.

The carriage pressed on across the endless steppe for several more days.

Translation: The carriage traveled onward across the endless grassland for several more days.

Black and red clouds frequently ran side by side, tracing two parallel streaks across the heavens.

Translation: Black Cloud and Red Cloud often rode side by side, tracing two parallel tracks across heaven and earth.

Tuan Tuan stuck his head out of the carriage window, shouting, "Red Cloud! Run! Go!"

Translation: Tuan Tuan poked his head out of the carriage window: "Red Cloud! Run! Give it your all!"

Xiao Ran chuckled: "Those two have turned into traveling companions."

Translation: Xiao Ran laughed: "Those two have become companions."

"Even horses have their own bonds," Qing Qing murmured, looking forward, "the Ertun tribe is right up ahead."

Translation: "Horses also have their friendships." Qing Qing said softly, gazing ahead, "The Treasure Tribe lies just ahead."

Xiao Ran amused: "Ertun? What an interesting name."

Translation: Xiao Ran chuckled: "Treasure? That's an interesting name."

"'Ertun' means 'treasure' in the steppe tongue."

Translation: "Treasure, in the steppe language, means 'treasure'."

Xiao Ningxuan interjected: "The Ulan tribe is known for its warhorses; what about the Ertun?"

Translation: Xiao Ningxun interjected: "The Red Tribe is famed for its warhorses; what about the Treasure Tribe?"

"'They are the steppe's throat, commanding the trade routes of salt, iron, tea, and cloth."

Translation: "They are the throat of the steppe, controlling the trade routes for salt, iron, tea, and cloth."

"'The tribe possesses many vast cellars stocked with supplies that could sustain the entire steppe through any calamity."

Translation: "The tribe has many huge cellars storing supplies that let the entire steppe survive natural disasters safely."

As the carriage drew near, an odd atmosphere swept over them.

Translation: As the carriage approached, a strange atmosphere swept over them.

It was unnervingly quiet.

Translation: It was too quiet.

The vast tribe, which ought to have been alive with voices and the cries of camels and horses, lay completely silent.

Translation: The enormous tribe, which should have been bustling with voices and the cries of camels and horses, was now utterly silent.

Occasionally a person hurried past, face grim.

Translation: Occasionally someone passed by, but all were hurrying with solemn faces.

Xiao Ningxuan frowned: "Ha Ri Cha Gai, go find out."

Translation: Xiao Ningxun frowned: "Ha Ri Cha Gai, go ask."

Okay!

Translation: "All right!"

Moments later, Ha Ri Cha Gai reined his horse and reported: "Today is the Heavenly Fire Festival; everyone has gone to the altar."

Translation: A moment later, Ha Ri Cha Gai reined in his horse and returned: "Today is the Heaven Fire Festival; everyone has gone to the altar site."

Lu Qi wondered: "The Heavenly Fire Festival?"

Translation: Lu Qi puzzled: "Heaven Fire Festival?"

"'It's the grand day of offering to the fire god,' Qing Qing explained. 'The steppe peoples revere fire, believing it cleanses all misfortune. The Heavenly Fire Festival is held once a year and is the most elaborate."

Translation: "It's the great day of sacrificing to the fire god." Qing Qing explained: "The steppe people worship fire, believing it purifies all ill omens. The Heaven Fire Festival occurs once a year and is the most grand."

As they spoke, a low drumbeat suddenly sounded in the distance.

Translation: As they spoke, a low drumbeat suddenly came from afar.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Translation: Boom! Boom! Boom!

The drumbeats were deep and resonant, like the heartbeat of the earth.

Translation: The drumbeats were heavy, like the heartbeat of the earth.

Soon after came a plaintive horn, wailing "woo—woo—".

Translation: Immediately followed by a mournful long horn: "Woo— woo—"

"'The rites have started,' Ha Ri Cha Gai said. 'We've come at a bad moment; outsiders shouldn't intrude now. Let's first find somewhere to wait…"

Translation: "The ceremony has begun." Ha Ri Cha Gai said: "We've arrived at an inconvenient time; outsiders shouldn't disturb now. Let's first find a place……"

Before his words faded, a thunderous roar erupted!

Translation: Before his words finished, a deafening roar came!

Boom——!!!

Translation: Boom——!!!

The ground shook and the mountains quivered.

Translation: The earth shook, mountains trembled.

The carriage lurched violently.

Translation: The carriage shook violently.

Xiao Ningxuan lunged to catch Tuan Tuan, who was about to be flung out.

Translation: Xiao Ningxun grabbed Tuan Tuan, who was about to be thrown out.

Xiao Ran lifted the carriage flap and saw a massive cloud of dust rising from the tribe's center.

Translation: Xiao Ran lifted the carriage curtain and looked out, seeing a great cloud of dust rising from the tribe's center.

Qing Qing gasped, "That sound! Could the cellar have collapsed?"

Translation: Qing Qing cried out in shock: "That sound! Could the cellars have collapsed?"

That would mean countless casualties!

Translation: That would mean countless casualties!

Xiao Ningxuan urged: "Let's go see!"

Translation: Xiao Ningxun urged: "Let's go see!"

The crowd followed the sound and hurried over; the nearer they drew, the more horrifying the scene became.

Translation: Everyone rushed toward the sound, and the closer they got, the more shocking the sight.

Women's sobs, men's shouts, and children's screams merged into a chorus of terror.

Translation: Women's wails, men's roars, and children's screams mingled together.

Strangely, though every face showed fear, no one looked toward the collapse; instead, they all huddled at the base of a high slope.

Translation: Strangely, although everyone's faces were filled with fear, no one glanced at the collapsed site; instead, they all gathered beneath a high slope.

That spot resembled an altar.

Translation: That place looked like an altar.

Upon the altar, a massive fire basin blazed fiercely.

Translation: Built of blue stone, it stood at the tribe's center, surrounded by countless herders in an impenetrable throng.

An elderly shaman in ceremonial robes lifted both arms, his wide sleeves billowing in the heat.

Translation: Upon the altar, a huge fire basin burned with fierce flames.

His face was daubed with red‑and‑white paint, a bone‑beaded band tied across his brow, and he chanted a harsh incantation with eyes shut.

Translation: An old man in shamanic robes raised both hands, his wide sleeves fluttering constantly in the heat.

"'That's the Ertun tribe's shaman, Batu,' Qing Qing murmured. 'He is seeking the gods' counsel."

Translation: His face was painted with red-and-white pigments, a headband strung with bone beads tied across his forehead, and he chanted an obscure incantation with eyes closed.

At the altar's base, an elderly chief in splendid robes wore a deathly pallor, flanked by several other richly attired elders.

Translation: "That is the Treasure Tribe's shaman, Ba Tu." Qing Qing whispered, "He is consulting the gods."

"'That is Chief Agula and several tribal elders."

Translation: At the foot of the altar, an old man in splendid chief's robes had an ashen face, with several other richly dressed elders standing beside him.

Batu's chant rose higher and more fervent.

Translation: "That is Chief A Gu La and several tribal elders."

Suddenly he halted, flung his eyes wide, lifted his bone staff, and slowly swept it over the heads of the crowd below the altar.

Translation: Ba Tu's chant grew ever more strident.

His hand jerked to a stop, pointing directly at Tuan Tuan and his companions!

Translation: Suddenly he stopped, flung open his eyes, lifted the bone staff in his hand, and slowly traced it over the heads of the crowd below the altar.

His hand jerked to a halt, pointing at the crowd!

Translation: His hand jerked to a halt, pointing at Tuan Tuan and his companions!

"They're them!" his hoarse voice like tearing cloth: "These are the ominous people who came from Zhongyuan!"

They carried a filthy evil aura, which angered the Earth Fire God!

Only when the gods send down punishment will the cellar collapse!

The herdsmen all stepped back several steps at once, making room for a few people to stand.

Are they just unknown Central Plains People?

Evil Central Plains People! It's you who brought disaster upon us!

Yes! It's them!

"Nonsense!" Xiao Ran shouted angrily, "We just arrived here; we don't even know where the cellar is!"

"It's them!" Batu shouted loudly, "The Fire God himself told me! The ominous star comes from Zhongyuan, bringing a girl!"

Tuan Tuan blinked, looking puzzled: 'The Fire God said that? How come I didn't hear it?'

Batu roared angrily: 'Impudent! How dare this girl blaspheme the gods!'

He turned to Agula: 'Chief! We must immediately bind these omens to the altar and appease the Fire God's wrath with a blood sacrifice!'

Otherwise, the earth fire will continue to surge, all cellars will collapse, and the entire Ertun Tribe will be exterminated!

The herdsmen were both shocked and angry, firmly believing:

Seize them!

We can't let them live! If they live, we're doomed!

Blood sacrifice! Blood sacrifice! Blood sacrifice!

The herdsmen's eyes turned red, and they all drew their daggers, closing in step by step.

Xiao Ningxun and Xiao Ran shielded Tuan Tuan in the middle.

Harichagai, Qing Qing, Lu Qi, and Xiao Er stood back to back, drew their swords against the herdsmen, protecting the three behind them.

"Wait a moment!" Xiao Ningxun shouted loudly, "Chief! We just arrived today; how could we collapse the cellar under everyone's eyes?"

If we really did it, why would we come here to walk into our own trap?

The cellar's collapse must have a cause; the urgent task is to go down and inspect, to find the reason for the collapse!

"Impossible!" Batu shouted sternly, "The cellar has already suffered heavenly punishment from the gods; anyone who steps in will be cursed!"

You lot of omens clearly just want to take advantage of the chaos to escape!

Qing Qing said coldly: 'Why won't you let someone go check? Could it be you have a guilty conscience?'

Agula looked at them, then at Batu: 'Great Shaman, are you really sure it's them?'

"Yes, Chief!" Batu raised his bone staff, shouting, "You still dare to quibble? Then take the Fire God's path, and let the gods judge!"

"Assistant sacrificer!" He waved his hand, "Lay out the Fire God's path!"

Several people in ritual robes brought a large basket of black-red charcoal, which clattered down onto the empty space of the altar.

Batu took a torch and threw it into the charcoal pile.

Boom—

Flames shot up into the sky, a scorching heat wave hit the face, and those nearby felt a burn, instantly turning their heads away.

The charcoal quickly turned red-hot and scalding.

An assistant sacrificer carrying a bag of something walked up to the charcoal pile and evenly scattered the bag's iron caltrops into it.

The herdsmen all knelt down, their chanting rose like a tide.

Batu proclaimed loudly: 'According to the steppe's law, anyone who doubts or blasphemes the Fire God must walk barefoot over the Fire God's path!'

If you are innocent, the Fire God will surely protect you, keeping you safe and sound!