Chapter 574

Ashina stayed silent, not uttering a sound.

Bogeda let out a hum: "You think that if you don't speak, I have no way?"

Ashina suddenly lifted his head, looking at him: "What are you going to do?"

Bogeda's face turned cold: "Although the Golden Camel Tribe and the Black Wolf Tribe are not on good terms, I have never harmed them. Now that they have attacked my son, I naturally should retaliate."

Ashina fell to his knees with a thud: "Don't! Chief, punish me however you like, I'll bear it—just don't implicate the Black Wolf Tribe!"

Bogeda shook his head: "You're really loyal to them!"

"Take him away! Lock him up!"

"Yes!"

"Let go of me! Let go of me!" Ashina struggled as he was dragged out.

The men in the tent grew restless:

"Chief, we can't let them go!"

"Right! Tell us—what should we do?"

Seeing this, Xiao Ningyuan rose, clasped his fists: "Gentlemen, discuss among yourselves; we'll take our leave."

The others also rose one after another.

Bogeda nodded: "Fine, thank you all for today's affair."

"Since the little lady is drunk, please stay here for a day; I'll personally see you off tomorrow."

Upon hearing that, Sa Dike frowned: "We'd have to delay a whole day?"

Xiao Ningyuan glanced at him: "My sister is drunk—what's wrong with a delay?"

"All right, then we'll impose on you."

The next day after noon, Tuan Tuan finally opened her eyes, stretched, and sat up.

She looked around; she was lying on a bed, not in a cart.

Eh, Elder Brother and Third Brother, why are you both asleep slumped by my bed?

She stretched out her little hand and shoved the two brothers: "Why are you both sleeping here?"

Xiao Ningxun blinked awake blearily: "Tuan Tuan's awake? Does your head hurt? I'll go get you a cup of water—wait."

Xiao Ningyuan also sat up straight, patting his back: "How could we not worry about you? We've been guarding you—you really can sleep! Any dizziness?"

Tuan Tuan shook her head: "I'm fine! I slept so comfortably—much better than in the cart."

Xiao Ningxun brought a bowl of water and held it to her sister's lips: "Be good, sip slowly."

Tuan Tuan cradled the bowl, drinking it down mouthful by mouthful: "Thank you, Third Brother."

"How did I fall asleep? Where's that bastard? I wasn't talking to him?"

"He was holding the rake upside down; I turned it right side up for him."

The two brothers stared, stunned.

Xiao Ningxun laughed and cried: "That's called 'beating someone with their own rake,' not holding the rake upside down."

"Oh," Tuan Tuan rubbed her belly, "I'm really hungry."

Xiao Ningyuan chuckled: "How could you not be hungry? You slept that long without eating anything."

"Brother will go get you something tasty, Tuan Tuan—your drinking capacity, you must never drink again." Having said that, he walked out.

"Wine?" Tuan Tuan pondered, "Is that the white, sweet thing wine? It's quite tasty—no wonder Uncle Ji loves drinking it so much."

Xiao Ningxun put her little clothes on her: "What Uncle Ji drinks isn't this kind; that stuff he drinks—if you took a sip, you'd probably pass out right away."

The tent flap lifted, and Xiao Er, Lu Qi, Kang An, and Xue Tong walked in.

Kang An walked to the bedside, looking worriedly at her: "Tuan Tuan, how are you?"

Tuan Tuan grinned: "I'm fine!"

Xue Tong sat beside the bed, took one of her small hands, and placed it on his pulse.

After a moment, he nodded: "All right, nothing serious—but you must never drink again; that stuff harms the body, and at your tender age, how could you withstand it?"

He paused: "If this happens again, Master will have to give you a needle."

"Master, you're scaring me!" Tuan Tuan gave a sweet smile, "You'd never bear to prick me!"

Xue Tong tweaked her little nose: "Try getting drunk again—see if I'd bear to?"

Tuan Tuan giggled, snuggling into his arms: "Of course I still wouldn't let you!"

Xue Tong laughed, shaking his head: "There's nothing I can do with this disciple."

"Well, he's my disciple—what else can I do? Just dote on him!"

Xiao Er and Lu Qi gazed at their young lady, recalling her cute drunken appearance yesterday.

"Actually, the miss is even cuter when drunk."

Xiao Ningyuan entered carrying food, set it on the table: "Hurry up and eat, little lazy pig! No, little drunk pig!"

Tuan Tuan pouted at him, got off the bed, walked to the table: "Why aren't you eating?"

Everyone laughed: "What time is it? We've already finished eating."

"Oh." Only then did Tuan Tuan start eating in big mouthfuls.

Just as she finished eating, Huerman entered: "The chief asks you few to come to his tent for a moment."

He smiled at Tuan Tuan: "Little lady, you're sober now? Yesterday you were amazing—thanks!"

"Otherwise, I really couldn't clear my name even if I had a mouth."

Tuan Tuan shook her head: "No way, Uncle—you're a good person; I won't let the villain frame you."

Huerman was deeply moved: "What a fine child!"

Xiao Ningxun carefully wiped her sister's mouth, tidied her hair, and scooped her up: "Come on, let's go say goodbye to your Uncle Bogeda."

Everyone came together into yesterday's tent.

Bogeda and his wife were there: "Please sit. Someone, bring food and drink up!"

Still take? No thanks.

Xiao Ningxun hastily waved his hands: "No need, thanks for the hospitality, we've already eaten and drunk our fill."

"Now my younger sister has awakened, we should also continue on the road."

Tuan Tuan looked around; the tent was empty, only the two of them: "Where is that bad guy?"

Bogeda smiled: "He left, went to where he should go."

Tuan Tuan tilted his little head: "Where?"

The woman smiled: "Little girl, yesterday in the chaos, I still haven't thanked you for helping us ferret out the thief in the tribe."

After saying that, the couple stood up, about to bow to Tuan Tuan.

Tuan Tuan hastily waved: "No need, that person is a bad guy! He harmed children, of course I should tell you!"

Xiao Ningxun stood up: "You two need not be overly polite; seeing someone in difficulty, one ought to lend a hand; to repay kindness with malice, how could that not be a villain with ulterior motives?"

Several people sat down again.

Bogeda asked: "May I ask where you all are headed?"

Xiao Ningyuan replied: "Qiuchi Capital, I've heard the Grand Sacrifice Festival is in a few days; we're going to see the festivities."

Bogeda nodded, took out a delicate pure gold bell from his bosom, and handed it to Tuan Tuan: "Little girl, take this; this is uncle's thanks to you."

"Thank you for not only saving my son, but also ferreting out the spy in the tribe."

Tuan Tuan took it, held it in hand and gently shook; the bell's sound was not loud but very pleasant: "Thank you, uncle, I like it very much."

Bogeda said: "Everyone, please hang this bell before the horse; my Golden Camel Tribe is called Golden Camel precisely because of this bell."

"Throughout the Western Regions, anyone who transports goods knows this object; upon seeing it, they will make way for you."

Xiao Ningyuan looked at his sister's bell: "Why?"

Bogeda smiled: "Because the Golden Camel Tribe is known throughout the Western Regions as one that repays grudges."

"Even if we chase to the ends of the sky, whoever dares to move against the person hanging this bell, we will pursue to the death."

He paused: "Last year, someone clueless robbed a caravan bearing the golden bell of three camels."

"Now their bones still hang on top of this tent."

"Your entourage may be grand, but it cannot stop the thieves' greater boldness."

"With this, within the Western Regions, no one dares to lay hands on your goods."

Bogeda pondered: "If there truly are any, we will certainly avenge you."

"Ah? Revenge? Or rather not," Xiao Ningyuan swallowed his saliva.

Xiao Ningxun understood: "No wonder the Black Wolf Tribe only dares to use such tactics against you."

Bogeda's mouth curled: "Now, there is no Black Wolf Tribe anymore."

"Uh." Xiao Ningyuan choked a bit, "Tuan Tuan, quickly give this bell to your Uncle Seven, hang it on our carriage."

"Oh." Tuan Tuan handed the bell to Lu Qi, Lu Qi turned and left.

The woman glanced at Sa Dike: "This person is the one who yesterday obstructed the little girl from saving my son?"

Sa Dike frightened, hastily stood up, cold sweat pouring: "I, I was just in a hurry to travel, my family still awaits my return home, not that I refused to help."

The woman nodded: "This little girl shall henceforth be like my daughter; if you are again rude to her, you will be an enemy of my Golden Camel Tribe."

Sa Dike hastily said: "I dare not, I dare not, I will never dare again."

Tuan Tuan laughed: "Auntie, you're truly kind!"

The woman's eyes gentle: "Truly obedient, I have always wanted to give birth to a little girl like you, alas, I keep bearing only sons."

Bogeda looked at his wife and smiled: "Since you all are in a hurry to travel, I won't keep you longer; farewell until we meet again!"

Everyone stood up and returned the salute, bade farewell to the Golden Camel Tribe, the carriage again slowly moved forward.

After walking a day, a town appeared ahead.

Sa Dike said: "Ahead is Wensu City, where merchants gather; many caravans will stop here to unload and change routes."

"We must keep our eyes peeled; the swindlers here are the most numerous and craftiest in the whole Western Regions."

Tuan Tuan blinked: "Swindlers?"