Chapter 347: He is a Central Plains Person

The Great Shaman stopped before a gentle slope on the Holy Mountain.

The white deer lay on the grass about twenty-odd steps ahead.

Its snowy-white body lay still, eyes lightly closed, antlers like jade, appearing as if asleep.

Looking closely, there was no blood on its body, no obvious wound, and even the grass beneath it was neat and orderly, not disordered.

Extremely calm, yet extremely eerie.

The Great Shaman raised a hand, the bone staff blocking the way: "You aren't wanting to look? Go ahead and look."

Tuan Tuan trotted forward on her short legs, taking a few steps toward the white deer.

"Stop!" the Great Shaman shouted sternly, "The holy beast's sacred body must not be defiled!"

The Great Shaman looked around at the crowd: "Since you've already seen it, you may go back."

Tuan Tuan lifted her little face to look at him: "Grandpa, if you won't let me pass, how can I know how the deer died?"

I just want to touch it!

"Preposterous!" an assistant priest behind the Great Shaman couldn't help shouting, "The white deer is dead—what could you find out by going over?"

Among the crowd, a blue-robed herdsman laughed out loud.

"This Central Plains child actually still wants to come over and touch our holy beast?"

Those around immediately began to discuss.

"This is the grassland! The white deer are dead, and you're still playing around?"

"It's all your fault that it died!"

"Exactly! We can't let them get close!"

Lu Qi and Xiao Er glared, faces full of anger, at the few who were shouting the loudest.

Xiao Ran clenched his fists, Xiao Ningxun's brows furrowed tightly.

From this distance, nothing can be seen—wasn't this trip for nothing?

Tuan Tuan tugged at Xiao Ningxun's sleeve: "Third Brother, hold me!"

Xiao Ningxun bent down and lifted her up: "What's wrong, Tuan Tuan?"

Tuan Tuan cupped her little hands to her mouth, faced the deep, vast forest of the Holy Mountain, took a deep breath, and shouted as loudly as she could:

"Deer deer! Come out quickly!"

"I'm Tuan Tuan!"

"Your companions are here! Please come out and see it, okay?"

The child's tender voice echoed in the valley, striking an empty reverberation.

The blue-robed herdsman burst out laughing: "This Central Plains kid must be crazy, right?"

The others also chimed in.

"Exactly! Who would still think to shout the white deer out?"

"Isn't this nonsense? Disturbing the holy beast, even Eternal Heaven won't tolerate her!"

The words had just fallen.

"Yo—"

From deep within the Holy Mountain came a long, clear and mournful deer call.

Everyone's voices cut off abruptly.

The mocking smile on the blue-robed herdsman's face froze instantly.

Immediately followed, a second call, a third…

Countless deer calls rose in response, from deep in the forest, from far to near, layer upon layer, surging like a tide!

The grass began to rustle softly.

Tree shadows swayed.

The first white deer stepped out of the thicket and walked toward the crowd.

Immediately followed by the second, the third…

Dozens of white deer, like messengers from myth, quietly walked up to Tuan Tuan.

They lined up in a single file, their amber eyes clear as mirrors.

The Great Shaman stared, mouth agape.

All around was dead silence.

Even the wind seemed to have stopped.

Tuan Tuan struggled out of Xiao Ningxun's arms, lifted her head, and looked at the leading deer king.

It was the largest, its antlers like ancient tree branches, with a wisp of fine golden hair on its forehead.

Tuan Tuan reached out her little hand and touched it: "Deer deer, you've come."

The deer king lowered its head, warm breath brushing her fingertips, and from its throat issued a low, almost sobbing soft cry.

Tuan Tuan opened her little arms and embraced the deer king's neck.

Everyone held their breath, silently watching this Central Plains little girl and the white deer pressed tightly together.

Tuan Tuan asked: "Deer deer, were your companions killed by someone?"

"Have you seen that bad guy?"

"Yo—yo—"

The deer king issued one mournful cry after another.

Xiao Ran couldn't help asking: "Tuan Tuan, what is it saying?"

Tuan Tuan tilted her little head, listening carefully: "It says, the one who killed its companions is a Central Plains person."

The crowd instantly erupted.

"Central Plains People?"

"Isn't that you?"

"After you arrived, the white deer only began to cry out at midnight!"

The crowd began to surge forward, the herders with angry faces, each gritting their teeth.

Tuan Tuan completely ignored them, her small hand continuously stroking the Deer King's back.

"Don't be afraid, Deer Deer, I'm here!"

"Where's that villain? Find him and I'll help you avenge your companion!"

The Deer King quietly lifted his head, his gaze slowly sweeping over the crowd.

The crowd instantly halted, falling silent.

Its gaze shifted, scanning the pallid high priest, then Tie He gripping a knife hilt, finally fixing intently on the blue‑robed herder's face.

It slowly took a step.

One step, two steps, it walked straight toward the blue‑robed herder.

The blue‑robed herder's whole body stiffened, instinctively stepping back, but his heel caught a grass root on the ground, stumbling and nearly falling.

"Why does the white deer only look at him?"

"Could it be related to him?"

The crowd whispered and retreated, giving up the spot where he stood.

The blue‑robed herder watched the Deer King draw nearer step by step: "What do you think I'm doing?"

His voice hoarse, his face deathly pale: "Everyone, look! The divine beast must have been deceived by that little demon girl!"

"How could she possibly understand what the white deer is saying?"

"She killed the white deer and is now pretending to be a god here!"

The herders looked at each other, clearly not knowing whom to believe.

But the Deer King's steady steps continued, drawing ever closer to the blue‑robed herder.

Tie He gave a signal to the guard beside him.

"Grab him!"

The blue‑robed herder spun and fled.

Twenty‑something guards rushed forward together.

Tie He was the fastest, but he "happened" to be knocked on the shoulder by a herder, his body stalling, only managing to grab the blue‑robed herder's robe edge.

The sleeve tore, and the blue‑robed herder escaped.

He stood in front of everyone, whispering, "Sir, run quickly!"

Jiang Heng bolted away.

"Where are you running to?" Xiao Er and Lu Qi had already set their sights on him.

The two moved at lightning speed; Xiao Er blocked his path, and Lu Qi, with a long arm, seized his arm.

"Iron Guard, the two of us brothers are enough, thank you for your help."

Tie He: "..."

Lu Qi pressed Jiang Heng to the ground: "Who are you?"

He examined the face before him: "No!" From behind his ear he pinched, pulling at the edge.

"Screech!"

The entire human‑skin mask was ripped off.

A face completely different from before was revealed.

About twenty‑something, pale and delicate, with a shallow old scar on the left brow bone.

The face bore none of the roughness or redness a grassland herder should have.

Tie He was clearly stunned: this person… wasn't Mr. Jiang?

The crowd instantly erupted in a clamor!

"He is a Central Plains Person!"

"No wonder the white deer said it was caused by a Central Plains Person!"

A fierce glint flashed in the blue‑robed man's eyes, and he suddenly gritted his teeth!

"Pull his jaw down!" Xiao Ningxun shouted loudly.