Chapter 333: They Are Grassland Wolves

Hasen looked up: "What?"

The wolf pack was poisoned, and the Red Mountain Tribe then came to take over the Sacred Mountain.

Xiao Ningxun looked at him: "Chief, can't you see that this was planned long ago?"

He paused, then looked at the wolf corpses on the ground: "The poison must have come from the Red Mountain Tribe."

Their goal is to first destroy the Azure Wolf Tribe's guardian wolves.

With the wolves dead, you lose your support; they will then seize the Sacred Mountain in the name of the Royal Court, and you won't even have the courage to resist.

Hasen fell silent.

Wu En lowered his head; Xiao Ningxun was right, but what could they do?

"Chi Na's backing is the Great Prince," Hasen said wearily, "the Red Mountain Tribe is numerous, with strong soldiers and fine horses; we can't defeat them."

"If," Xiao Ningxun said slowly, "we can prove that the Red Mountain Tribe poisoned the wolf pack, intends to seize the gold vein, even secretly mine gold and send it to the Great Prince?"

Then this would no longer be a dispute between the Azure Wolf Tribe and the Red Mountain Tribe.

When that time comes, even the Great Prince must give an answer to the various grassland tribes.

A flash of light passed through Hasen's eyes, then dimmed again: "What about evidence? Anyone can harvest poison‑eye grass; it proves nothing."

Xiao Ningxun asked, "How many guardian wolves are there in total?"

Wu En thought for a moment: "Many; we don't know the exact number, but counting the wolf cubs, there are at least over a hundred."

Xiao Ningxun nodded: "If the Red Mountain Tribe takes over the Sacred Mountain, they'll surely target other wolves as well."

"Clear out the wolf pack, then drive you out; only then can they go after the gold."

He paused: "If we can catch them on the spot, we'll have both the culprits and the evidence, won't we?"

"Even if we can't find anything about the Great Prince, at least the Azure Wolf Tribe can continue to survive here."

Hasen frowned: "You're thinking of setting an ambush?"

"Yes. Chi Na's display just now was clearly a show of force,"

"The purpose is to intimidate you; if you leave the Sacred Mountain, they'll wait until you're gone and then slaughter the wolf pack en masse."

"But if you don't leave, they'll first clear the wolf pack, then force you out."

Hasen thought for a long while, then nodded slowly.

He turned and shouted to the tribe members: "Warriors of the Azure Wolf Tribe!"

"Someone poisoned our guardian wolves, someone wants to seize our Sacred Mountain, someone wants to drive us out of our ancestral home!"

"What do you say we should do?"

Wu En was the first to raise his curved blade: "Defend the Sacred Mountain! Avenge our guardian wolves!"

The young of the Azure Wolf Tribe straightened their backs and roared: "Defend the Sacred Mountain! Avenge the wolves!"

Hasen looked at Xiao Ningxun, placed his right hand on his chest, bowed deeply: "Azure Wolf Tribe, we are willing to join forces with you all."

Xiao Ningxun returned the salute: "Punish evil and promote good; it is only proper."

Harichagai felt blood surge: "Right! We can't let them bully people like this!"

Qing Qing sneered: "The future Great Khan? Until he ascends the throne, he's just a prince for a day."

Xiao Ran, Lu Qi, and Xiao Er exchanged glances and nodded.

This journey was undertaken for Jifeng; sooner or later we'll have to face the Great Prince, and this moment is no longer a waste of time.

Tuan Tuan walked up to Hasen, lifted her small face: "Chief Grandfather, the wolves won't die in vain. We must catch those villains!"

Hasen looked at her earnest little face and felt his heart soften.

He gently patted Tuan Tuan's head: "Child, I haven't thanked you yet. You discovered the poison powder on the wolf's claw and the meat in its mouth."

"Otherwise, we'd never know how these wolves died."

Tuan Tuan glanced at the wolf corpses on the ground: "The wolves have protected you for so long; now it's your turn to protect them."

Hasen's eyes welled up, and he nodded heavily: "Yes, it's our turn to protect them."

He stood up and said to Wu En: "Go arrange lodging for several guests."

"We'll give the poisoners a lesson they'll never forget."

The setting sun sank, tinting the outline of the Sacred Mountain a dark gold.

Mountain wind swept through the valley, and in the distance a few distant wolf howls drifted, as if the mountain pack were calling lost companions.

Tuan Tuan stopped in her tracks.

Xiao Ningxun and Xiao Er both bent down: "What's wrong, Tuan Tuan?"

Tuan Tuan looked puzzled: "They're calling, I don't understand! How strange!"

Xiao Ningxun's heart stirred; her younger sister always had the ability to communicate with animals, yet why can't she understand these guardian wolves' calls?

It seems these wolves are indeed extraordinary!

Xiao Er glanced at him, took Tuan Tuan's small hand: "Miss, if you can't understand, you can't. They're Grassland Wolves; they don't speak Zhongyuan language."

Xiao Ningxun could neither laugh nor cry; wolves have this distinction too?

Tuan Tuan found it very reasonable: "Right! Uncle Er is right!"

Xiao Er wore a smug grin, while Xiao Ningxun helplessly pressed a hand to her forehead.

Xiao Ran and Lu Qi snickered nonstop beside them.

The few followed Hasen into his felt tent.

Everyone took their seats.

Xiao Ningxun asked: "Chief, where do those wolves usually stay?"

Hasen replied: "Wolf Throat Gorge. The gorge is flanked by two mountains with a narrow entrance and a wide interior, shaped like a wolf's throat."

"The gorge shelters against strong winds, and the soil is loose; the wolf pack digs burrows there, making it an ideal habitat."

Tuan Tuan exclaimed, "Wow! Wolf Wolf is so clever!"

Ha Sen looked at her and smiled, "Indeed, their lair has passages in all directions, many exits, and even a den specially for the little wolves!"

"Little wolf!" Tuan Tuan's hands itched; a fluffy little wolf must be especially cute!

Wu En continued, "Last night the wolf pack had an incident; according to their habit, before they're sure the outside is safe, they won't come out again and will stay in the Wolf Throat Gorge."

Xiao Ningxun rejoiced, "So if they try to poison again, they can only do it inside the Wolf Throat Gorge. That's perfect—we can set an ambush there and catch them in the act."

Ha Sen nodded in agreement, "Good! Starting tonight, I'll send men to guard both ends of the Wolf Throat Gorge. If they dare come, they'll have no way back!"

Xiao Ran asked, "Tomorrow the Red Mountain Tribe will seal the mountain; do we still have food supplies? How many days can they last?"

Ha Sen thought for a moment, "It's not winter now; there are wild vegetables on the mountain, and we have sheep. If they try to cut off our provisions, they can't."

Lu Qi understood, "No wonder they resort to these tactics to drive you away."

Ha Sen looked at his son, "Wu En, tonight you take twenty men to guard the distant entrance, and I'll take twenty men to guard the nearer entrance."

"Alright!"

Xiao Ningxun ordered, "Xiao Er, Xiao Ran, keep an eye on Tuan Tuan. Lu Qi and I will follow the Chief. Qing Qing, Ha Ri Cha Gai, you follow Wu En."

"Yes!"

With everything arranged, after a hearty meal the group busied themselves.

Yet for several nights in a row, the Red Mountain Tribe did not show a single silhouette.