Chapter 360

He slowly stepped onto the Sacrificial Altar, gazed down at the Great Shaman's corpse, then lifted his head and looked at Bateer, whose face was pallid and eyes panicked.

He shifted his gaze to the face of Wurenna, who was slumped in her seat, panting heavily.

Wurenna's blood throughout her body had frozen.

The herders looked up at their Great Khan.

Menggen turned toward the sea of dark people below the stage and finally spoke:

"Today, at the Spring Sacrifice ceremony, the Eternal Heaven watches; my subjects, you are also watching."

"Ular, he should have been the Eternal Heaven's envoy, yet he licked poison with the tongue that speaks for the gods, and bit the backs of the loyal and righteous."

"He stitched the name of the deity onto his greedy sacrificial robe, sharing the flesh and blood of the people with the jackals."

"The Eternal Heaven's wrath will not be extinguished by his fall."

"Attendants! Carry him to the foot of the Sacred Mountain!"

"Let the eagle devour his lying tongue, and let the wolf gnaw his filthy heart and lungs."

"Only after three days may he be buried; may the Eternal Heaven calm its anger because of this."

Aersi Leng himself brought two people, stepped onto the Sacrificial Altar, and dragged away the Great Shaman's corpse.

A low, collective sigh rose from the crowd.

Menggen explained that the handling of the Great Shaman after death on the steppe is the harshest punishment for the most heinous criminals.

"Wurenna."

Wurenna trembled all over, lifted her head, and a trace of hope lingered in her eyes.

How will you deal with me?

Will you, considering our many years together, show me mercy?

But immediately, Menggen's words shattered all her hope.

"The crown of Da Ha Dun should have been purer than Snow Mountain. Yet you! You reached your hand to the feet of the deity."

"You seek to destroy the Holy Maiden with lies; your heart has already turned away from the Eternal Heaven."

A bitter smile flickered on Wurenna's face.

Back then, she herself had forged that lie, "The heart of the White Deer Tribe has turned away from the Eternal Heaven," which doomed the White Deer Tribe's people.

She never imagined that today the words would fall upon her own head.

Menggen paused: "From this moment, you are no longer Da Ha Dun of my Xilu."

"Attendants! Pluck the peacock feather from her head and strip off her brocade robe."

The maidens stepped forward, helped her up from the seat, and in front of all the herders removed the garments that symbolized Da Ha Dun's authority.

Menggen looked at the completely bald Wurenna, who resembled a chicken stripped of its feathers:

"Return to the old tent of the White River Tribe; unless you die, you are not allowed to step out even a single step!"

Wurenna's complexion faded inch by inch as his words sank in.

She collapsed softly onto the ground, unable to utter a plea for mercy.

"Are you planning to keep me locked up until I die?"

"What difference is there between that and an Arrow killing me?"

"The extermination of the White Deer Tribe was clearly something you wanted! Today it is all blamed on me!"

"On what grounds?"

Her gaze suddenly sharpened, and the urge to reveal the whole truth made her spring to her feet.

"Wurenna!" Suhe shouted loudly.

He understood at a glance what his sister intended, but it was impossible!

If they exposed everything in front of all the herders, Bateer would inevitably be implicated, and even the White River Tribe could not be saved!

Wurenna saw her brother shake his head slightly toward her, his gaze pointing behind her.

She turned back, met Bateer's anxious eyes, instantly understood her brother's meaning, and bit her lip tightly.

The herders silently nodded, the Great Khan's handling was good!

From then on, Wurenna was no longer the lofty Da Ha Dun.

She became merely a woman imprisoned within her mother clan, heavily burdened with sin, having no longer any ties to the Royal Court or power!

Bateer's complexion turned deathly pale; he tried to rush to Wurenna's side, but Aersi Leng firmly held his shoulder.

"Father Khan!" he shouted, twisting his body, his gaze toward Menggen filled with terror and pleading, but he received only a cold glance.

The maidens dragged Wurenna away.

Menggen turned his gaze again toward Suhe.

Suhe's face turned ashen, his fists clenched, yet he dared not move a single inch.

"Suhe, the prosperity of your White River Tribe today is built on lies, fed by devouring the flesh of other tribes."

"As the leading ram, you only care about grazing yourself, allowing jackals to grow among the flock."

"The rule of the steppe is fairness."

"Those of you who have taken more must spit it out; those who have seized more land must return it."

"Within three years, all tributes of the White River Tribe shall belong to the Royal Court."

"Half of your wealth must be taken and given to the other tribes."

Suhe's body swayed, and he closed his eyes in despair.

But he also understood that this was the Great Khan's final dignity and lifeline left for the White River Tribe.

He slowly knelt, pressing his forehead to the ground: "Thank you, Great Khan... for your magnanimity."

After dealing with the mastermind and accomplices, Menggen's gaze fell upon the Grey Feather Grandmother.

He bowed slightly; this is an extremely rare courtesy from the Great Khan.

"Grand Witch Cangling."

He changed his address, reverting to the divine title once held by Grand Witch Cangling's grandmother.

"The gods' road is shrouded by dark clouds. And the Royal Court's blade failed to cut down the unclean hand reaching for the Sacrificial Altar in time."

He paused: "This is my fault."

He looked at the herdsmen below, his voice solemn, carrying in all directions.

"From now on, which cloud should rain, which star should guide the way—only the Grand Witch Cangling and her chosen successor have the authority to decide."

"The golden roof of the King's Tent, and all the tribes' whips, cannot interfere!"

Upon these words, the whole audience gasped!

Everyone understood; from now on, the supreme divine authority of the Grand Witch of the grasslands will be completely independent of royal power and tribal forces.

Full authority is entrusted to this venerable, nearly legendary previous-generation Grand Witch!

This is not only the utmost trust in Grand Witch Cangling's grandmother, but also the most solemn pledge to the tainted divine office!

Grand Witch Cangling's grandmother calmly looked at Menggen, nodded slowly, performed a chest‑touching salute: "I will obey the Great Khan's command."

"I will continue to serve the Eternal Heaven with a pure heart, bringing shelter to the grasslands."

Menggen nodded, lifted his gaze to the Holy Mountain, his voice growing heavy: "White Deer Tribe."

These three words made Jifeng clench his fists tightly.

"Their loyalty is buried in the earth; may the souls of the departed rest in peace."

He turned to Jifeng: "Jifeng, my child."

Jifeng drew a deep breath, stepped forward, knelt on one knee: "Here."

"Your grandmother's name will henceforth be as pure as a snow lotus."

"Your people's story will be sung by herdsmen beside the fire."

"The forbidden zone of the Holy Mountain will forever be your home, your roots."

"The name White Deer Tribe shall forever be inscribed on the grasslands; no one may forget them!"

This is not compensation, for no amount of compensation could bring back those hundreds of living lives.

But this is a gesture, a public declaration of an irrevocable vindication.

Jifeng's throat choked, he knocked his head heavily to the ground, and did not lift it for a long time.

Salrin's tears streamed down his face; the stigma of the White Deer Tribe was finally washed away!

Grand Witch Cangling's grandmother lifted her gaze to heaven and slowly closed her eyes.

Menggen's gaze finally fell upon Tuan Tuan, held in Xiao Ningxun's arms.

Tuan Tuan curiously looked at him; his clear eyes reflected the Sacrificial Altar and his silhouette.

Grand Witch Cangling's grandmother's face relaxed, revealing a genuine smile.

He raised his voice: "Princess Jiayou of Lie Kingdom, you come bearing the spirituality granted by the Eternal Heaven, so that divine manifestations may appear before all the grassland peoples."

"I, Menggen, hereby swear by the glory of the Great Khan and the Eternal Heaven witnessed by the sun and moon, to honor you as the Holy Maiden of the Xilu Grasslands."

"From the noble chieftain to the young shepherd, seeing you is like seeing the Great Khan."

"The grasslands will shield your steps with the softest felt, and guard your rest with the sharpest curved blade."

As his words fell, enthusiastic cheers erupted immediately from beneath the Sacrificial Altar.

"Holy Maiden! Our grasslands' Holy Maiden!"

"The Great Khan is wise! The Eternal Heaven blesses!"

"Pay respects to the Holy Maiden! Pay respects to the Holy Maiden!"

The sound surged like mountain cries and sea tides, rising again to the heavens, more fervent and sincere than when the divine manifestation previously appeared.

No one harbored the slightest doubt any longer.

Tuan Tuan was startled by the tremendous sound, clung to Xiao Ningxun's neck, his shy little face flushed, and he waved his small hand at the herdsmen.

The herdsmen cheered even more enthusiastically.

Feeling her warm little body, Xiao Ningxun's perpetually tense heartstrings finally relaxed completely.

Xiao Ran reached out and patted Tuan Tuan's little head.

Lu Qi, Xiao Er, and Harichagai showed relieved smiles.

Jifeng split his mouth wide, laughing to reveal a mouthful of white teeth.

"Our Tuan Tuan! So impressive!"

Suddenly, "Great Khan!" Aersi Leng exclaimed, rushing onto the Sacrificial Altar to steady the wobbling Menggen.