Chapter 362

Lu Qi thought for a moment: "Is he still with the Great Khan?"

Translation: Lu Qi thought for a moment: "Is he still with the Great Khan?"

We need to keep punctuation? We'll produce natural English.

Tuan Tuan heard and said: "Uncle Ji must have gone drinking! The White Deer tribe is fine now, so when he's happy he'll surely sneak off somewhere to drink again."

Translation: Tuan Tuan upon hearing: "Uncle Jifeng is definitely off drinking! The White Deer Tribe is fine now, right? When he's happy, he's sure to sneak off somewhere to drink again."

We need to keep the quoted speech as is.

Everyone hearing that thought it made sense.

Translation: Everyone hearing that thought it made sense.

Xiao Ningxuan said: "I'll go look for him; you stay in the tent and don't go elsewhere."

Translation: Xiao Ningxun said: "I'll go find him; you stay put in the tent and don't go elsewhere."

Xiao Er nodded: "Okay."

Translation: Xiao Er nodded: "Okay."

Xiao Ningxuan lifted the curtain and stepped out; Tie He came forward: "Where would you like to go, honored guest? Shall I show you the way?"

Translation: Xiao Ningxun lifted the curtain and stepped out; Tie He came up to meet him: "Where would the honored guest like to go? Shall I show you the way?"

Xiao Ningxuan sized him up from head to toe, making Tie He feel uneasy.

Translation: Xiao Ningxun sized him up from head to toe, making Tie He feel uneasy.

Xiao Ningxuan gave a slight smile: "Tie He, you also saw what happened today."

Translation: Xiao Ningxun gave a slight smile: "Tie He, you also saw what happened today."

"What comes after this is unpredictable; as a person, you should still leave yourself a way out, don't you think?"

Translation: "What comes after this, nobody can predict; as a person, it's wise to keep a retreat for yourself, don't you think?"

"Ah... oh..." Tie He felt a mix of emotions, meaning the Great Khan is gone, the crown prince has lost power, and now it's the second prince's world.

Translation: "Ah? Oh..." Tie He felt a tumult of thoughts: this means the Great Khan is gone, the Eldest Prince has lost power, and from now on it's the Second Prince's world?

Xiao Ningxuan said no more and headed toward the golden tent.

Translation: Xiao Ningxun said no more and walked toward the Golden Tent.

Tie He hesitated for a while, but in the end he did not follow.

Translation: Tie He hesitated for a while, but ultimately did not follow.

Xiao Ningxuan arrived at the golden tent, asked the guards, and learned that Jifeng had already left.

Translation: Xiao Ningxun arrived before the Golden Tent, asked the Imperial Guard, and learned that Jifeng had already left.

He turned and followed the road toward the grasslands, finally seeing Jifeng and Qing Qing sitting side by side by the roadside.

Translation: He turned and followed the road toward the grasslands; finally, by the roadside he saw Jifeng and Qing Qing sitting side by side.

Qing Qing saw him, stood up, silently performed a salute, stepped back a few steps, and left space for them.

Translation: Seeing him, Qing Qing rose, performed a silent salute, stepped back a few paces, and left space for them.

Xiao Ningxuan walked over and sat beside Jifeng.

Translation: Xiao Ningxun walked over and sat beside Jifeng.

The wind carried the herders' calls home and the lowing of cattle and sheep, making this corner especially tranquil.

Translation: The wind carried the herdsmen's calls home and the lowing of cattle and sheep, making this corner especially tranquil.

"Brother Ji."

Translation: "Brother Jifeng."

Jifeng kept his head down, pinching a dry grass stalk between his fingers, idly twisting it: "Brother Xiao, are you here to advise me?"

Translation: Jifeng didn't lift his head, pinching a dry grass stalk between his fingers, idly twisting it: "Brother Xiao, are you here to advise me?"

"Not to advise, but to settle an account with you."

Translation: "Not to advise, but to settle a score with you."

Jifeng snorted: "What account do I have left to settle?"

Translation: Jifeng snorted: "What account do I have left to settle?"

"Yes." Xiao Ningxuan turned to look at him, his gaze intense: "Consider what would happen if you simply brushed off your pants and left now."

Translation: "There is." Xiao Ningxun turned his head to look at him, eyes blazing: "Consider what would happen if you simply brushed off your pants and walked away now."

"The first is your mother and your entire White Deer tribe."

Translation: "First, your mother and your entire White Deer Tribe."

"Today the Great Khan publicly cleared the White Deer tribe's name because he is still alive, and his word remains the Khan's decree."

Translation: "Today the Great Khan publicly cleared the White Deer Tribe's name, because he is still alive and his word remains the Khan's decree."

"But if he were gone and Batur succeeded, do you think your mother's name would be smeared again by tomorrow?"

Translation: "But if he were gone and Bateer succeeded him, do you think your mother's name would not be smeared again the very next day?"

"He could easily claim that everything today was just the Great Khan's delirium from illness; when he becomes Khan, how many would dare defy him?"

Translation: "He could easily claim that all of today was merely the Great Khan's delirium from illness; when he becomes Great Khan, how many would dare oppose him?"

Jifeng's fingers twisting the grass stalk suddenly stopped.

Translation: Jifeng's fingers twisting the grass stalk suddenly stopped.

"The second is the five tribes that stood up for you and Tuan Tuan today."

Translation: "Second, the five tribes that stood up for you and Tuan Tuan today."

"They stood up today, putting their lives and livelihoods on the line for you and Tuan Tuan."

Translation: "By stepping forward today, they staked their lives and livelihoods on you and Tuan Tuan."

"If you turn and leave, once Batur takes power, the first to be settled will be these 'clueless' tribes. What fate awaits them then?"

Translation: "If you turn and walk away, once Bateer takes power, the first to be settled will be these 'clueless' tribes—what fate awaits them then?"

Jifeng's spine tensed.

Translation: Jifeng's spine tensed.

"The third," Xiao Ningxuan paused, "is you and Tuan Tuan yourself."

Translation: "Third," Xiao Ningxun paused, "is yourself and Tuan Tuan."

"If you go, where would you go? To Lie State?" He looked at Jifeng: "The gates of my Ning Prince's mansion are always open to you; stay as long as you like."

Translation: "If you leave, where would you go? The Fierce Kingdom?" He looked at Jifeng: "The gates of the Ning Prince's Mansion are always open to you; you may stay as long as you wish."

"Tuan Tuan will probably be delighted to cling to you every day. But Brother Ji, from now on you are merely a 'guest'."

Translation: "Tuan Tuan would surely be delighted to cling to you every day. But Brother Jifeng, from now on you are merely a 'guest'."

"A guest who has left his homeland and lives under another's roof."

Translation: "A 'guest' who has left his homeland and lives under another's roof."

"Your roots are on the grasslands. The holy mountain is here, and the souls of your mother and your people are here."

Translation: "Your roots are on the grasslands. The Holy Mountain is here, and the souls of your mother and clansmen reside here."

"Can you truly bear to sever them?"

Translation: "Can you truly bear to sever them?"

"Then, in a pavilion far away, you would drink facing the grasslands, and one day hear news that the White Deer tribe has been labeled rebellious again."

Translation: "Then, in a pavilion far away, you'd drink facing the grasslands, and one day hear news that the White Deer Tribe has again been labeled rebellious?"

"Hearing that all the tribes that helped you have withered away?"

Translation: "And hear that all the tribes that helped you have withered away?"

Jifeng's shoulder twitched.

Translation: Jifeng's shoulder twitched.

"As for Tuan Tuan," Xiao Ningxuan's voice softened, "she has become the holy maiden of the grasslands, unrivaled in fame."

Translation: "As for Tuan Tuan," Xiao Ningxun's voice softened, "she has become the Holy Maiden of the grasslands, unrivaled in fame."

"But this fame stems from the Great Khan's recognition and your presence."

Translation: "But this fame stems from the Great Khan's recognition and your presence."

"If you were gone, she, a child from Lie State, bearing such a conspicuous title, would be seen by Batur and his mother as a thorn that must be removed."

Translation: "If you were gone, she—a child from the Fierce Kingdom—bearing such a conspicuous title would, in Bateer's and his mother's eyes, become a thorn that must be pulled out."

"Brother Ji, I am not urging you to contend for the khanate."

Translation: "Brother Jifeng, I am not urging you to contend for the Khan's position."

"It's too troublesome, not suited to your nature, and I know you don't care for it."

Translation: "It's too troublesome, too contrary to your nature, and I know you have no interest in it."

"I want to tell you that some things cannot be discarded just because you wish them gone."

Translation: "I want to tell you that some things cannot be discarded just because you wish them gone."

"If you reject it, it will fall into the hands of those who desire it."

Translation: "If you reject it, it will fall into the hands of those who desire it."

"They will use it to kill you and everyone you care about."

Translation: "They will use it to kill you and everyone you care about."

"By then, you won't even have the right to say no."

Translation: "By then, you won't even have the right to say 'no'."

Dusk deepened, and the wind grew cooler.

Translation: Dusk deepened, and the wind grew cooler.

Jifeng kept his head down; that grass stalk had long been ground to powder by him.

Translation: Jifeng kept his head lowered; that grass stalk had long been ground to powder by him.

After a long while, he lifted his head, his eyes red-rimmed, yet his face bore an almost absurd smile: "You say, was my grandmother also put through this back then?"

Translation: After a long while, he lifted his head, eyes red-rimmed, yet wore an almost absurd smile: "You say, was my grandmother also this troubled back then?"

Xiao Ningxuan said nothing, merely reaching out and firmly pressing his tense shoulders.

Translation: Xiao Ningxun said nothing, merely reaching out to press firmly on his tense shoulders.

Many things, the act of choosing itself is the heaviest answer.

Translation: For many matters, the act of choosing itself is the heaviest answer.

At the same time, in an utterly ordinary tent of the Bai He tribe...

Translation: At the same time, in an utterly ordinary tent of the White River Tribe,

Wu Renna sat on a rough felt mat, still wearing the garments left after her brocade robe was stripped away.

Translation: Wurenna sat on a rough felt mat, still wearing the garments left after her brocade robe had been stripped away.

Her hair was disheveled, the carefully applied makeup on her face washed away by sweat and tears into a mess.

Translation: Her hair was disheveled, the carefully applied makeup on her face washed away by sweat and tears into a mess.

"How could he treat me like this!" she cried, her voice hoarse, tears streaming: "Was wiping out the White Deer tribe really just my idea?"

Translation: "How could he treat me like this!" Her voice hoarse, tears streaming: "Exterminating the White Deer Tribe—could that really have been my sole idea?"

"It was clearly him back then! He needed to destroy the White Deer tribe! How has it become solely my fault now?"

Translation: "Back then it was clearly him! He needed to destroy the White Deer Tribe! How has it become my sole guilt now?"

Her eyes were filled with a crazed hatred born of betrayal and abandonment.

Brother! Tell me, what's the difference between him treating me like this today and killing me?

Suhe stood at the edge of the tent curtain slit, silently watching the sky darken outside.

Hearing his sister's sharp question, he slowly turned around: "There is a difference."

If he had killed you on the spot today, the White River Tribe would be allies, and Bateer would have no chance of succeeding.

The White River Tribe would be torn apart and given to those cheering hungry wolves today.

He walked up to Wurenna, staring into her wild eyes: "He kept you captive for the White River Tribe, for Bateer, leaving only a sliver of face."

"Wurenna, you are no longer a Great Hadhun, but you are still Bateer's heir; as long as Bateer remains in the Royal Court, you have not reached a dead end."

Wurenna let out a mournful laugh, "I'm already like this, isn't it a dead end?"

"No," Suhe said resolutely, "Listen! As long as Bateer can sit on the Great Khan's throne, everything you lost today he can double back to you tomorrow!"

"True power lies on the Great Khan's throne!"

"If our Bateer sits on it, you will remain the most honored woman on the steppe! What the White River Tribe loses today will be reclaimed a hundredfold in the future!"

A cold glint of ambition flashed in his eyes: "Therefore, you must endure! Like a snow fox on the steppe, hide in a den until the storm passes…"

"Heir! Abuga!"

The tent curtain was ripped open, and Bateer staggered in, his whole body radiating cold.

He lunged to Wurenna's feet, clutching her leg as if wronged in childhood, shouting loudly, "Heir! Father Khan! Father Khan he…"

Wurenna was jolted by his impact, and Suhe's heart sank sharply: "What happened to the Great Khan? Speak clearly!"

"Emuqei said he's probably scared, probably can't go on!"

The resentment and madness on Wurenna's face froze instantly.

A sharp glint flashed in Suhe's eyes.

Can't go on? That man, like a mountain bearing down on them, pushing them into the abyss, is about to fall?

He was the first to react, grabbing Bateer's collar: "Where is Jifeng? Who is guarding the Golden Tent now?"

"I don't know!" Bateer stammered, "He left, I—I don't know what to do, so I ran here."

Suhe's thoughts raced: the Great Khan was dying, Jifeng's prestige was rising, and they had the support of the Holy Maiden and the Five Great Tribes.

Meanwhile, the White River Tribe had just been publicly condemned, half its assets confiscated, Wurenna stripped of status, and Bateer lost all popular support.

The situation was literally a sheer cliff!

"No! Can't!" Wurenna finally snapped out of shock, "We cannot let Jifeng succeed! Absolutely not! If he becomes Great Khan, his first act will be to avenge the White Deer Tribe!"

"He will uproot the White River Tribe! He will kill Bateer! He will make me die worse than a dog!"

Suhe knew it all too well; his face turned ashen, veins in his forehead pulsing.

Yet every rational calculation was worthless before absolute strength and hatred.

Silence fell inside the tent, broken only by the three of them's heavy, suppressed breathing.

Wurenna suddenly lifted her head, recalling that person.

That Zhongyuan person who always hid in the shadows, spoke slowly and deliberately, yet always seemed to have a way!

"Go! Bring Mr. Jiang!"