Chapter 870

Cai Tong hurriedly asked, "What is it? Elder, please speak freely."

Ma Li'an walked back to under the tree, looked at him, and chirped a few sentences.

Cai Tong's face suddenly changed drastically, he lost his voice asking something, his tone full of disbelief.

Ma Li'an slowly nodded and sat down on the stone.

Cai Tong's lips moved a few times; when he looked at the crowd, his expression was almost desperate.

"Mr. Cai, don't panic," Xiao Ningxun asked, "What exactly is the matter?"

Cai Tong took a deep breath: "The elder said, he wants you to retrieve something for him."

"What thing?" Xiao Ningchen asked.

"The ancestral spirit mask of the Ma Dou She."

Feng Zhou scratched his head: "A mask? What kind of mask could make him like this?"

Cai Tong slowly said: "That mask is carved from the heartwood of a thousand-year-old camphor tree, passed down through generations in the indigenous tribe."

"The mask bears the tribe's ancestral totem, a spread-winged mountain eagle."

"On the mountain eagle's forehead is set a ruby the size of a pigeon's egg, said to contain the soul of their first ancestor, together with the gods' blessing."

"In the past, whenever there was sowing, tribal marriages, newborn births, the elder would don this mask and perform the ancestral spirit dance."

"They believe that where the mask is, there lies the blessing of their ancestors and the gods."

"If the mask is absent, newborns' naming rites receive no blessing, and the souls of deceased tribespeople cannot find rest."

He glanced at Ma Li'an: "To them, it is not just a mask, but the very root of the entire tribe."

Everyone listened intently; Lu Qi couldn't help but ask: "Since it's so important, where did it go? Do we need to retrieve it?"

Cai Tong's voice sank: "Not long after the Red-haired Barbarians arrived, they discovered the mask's usefulness to the indigenous tribe and began to covet it."

"They sent troops to besiege the Ma Dou She, forcing the elder at the time—Ma Li'an's father—to hand over the mask."

"The old elder would rather die than comply, so they began slaughtering the tribespeople."

"In the end, Ma Li'an personally handed over the mask."

"Because if he didn't surrender it, the Red-haired Barbarians would kill all his tribespeople."

Xiao Er's fists clenched upon hearing this.

Xiao Ningyuan asked: "Now then? They seized it—where is it kept?"

Cai Tong replied: "The Red-haired Barbarians took the mask back to Relanzhecheng, placing it in the governor's office council hall, flaunting it as a war trophy to every visiting merchant."

Xiao Ze recalled seeing the mask on the windowsill case in the governor's office that day: "Is that the mask we saw in the governor's office that day?"

Cai Tong nodded: "Actually, every time I hear them mention that mask, I feel utter contempt."

"They say the indigenous tribes are savages, and the so-called gods are mere nonsense."

Feng Zhou snorted: "Are they crazy? If they don't believe in it, why seize it?"

Cai Tong sighed lightly: "They want everyone to see that the mask is in their hands, so even if the gods truly exist, the blessing now belongs to them, not the indigenous people."

Xiao Er frowned: "Can't we take it back?"

"Tried." Cai Tong shook his head: "Over the years, Ma Li'an has attempted twice."

"The first attempt was the year the mask was just seized; he personally led a dozen of the tribe's best hunters, sneaking into Relanzhecheng under cover of night."

"But the Red-haired Barbarians were prepared; besides Ma Li'an, everyone else was shot dead by firearms." Cai Tong glanced at Ma Li'an: "The wound on his face is from that."

Everyone suddenly understood.

"The second attempt was three years ago; Relanzhecheng had undergone multiple repairs, making it impregnable, truly impossible to infiltrate."

"He therefore spent a fortune to bribe a Han laborer working in the governor's office, sending him to steal it under cover of night."

"Unexpectedly, the Red-haired Barbarians had hung a copper bell behind the mask; when the laborer took it, the bell rang loudly, soldiers rushed in, and they killed him on the spot, hanging his body at the harbor for three days as a public display."

Cai Tong's voice low: "In total, over a dozen lives were lost, yet the mask was never recovered."

Everyone looked at each other, fully understanding.

Cai Tong's voice hoarse: "The elder said, if you can accomplish this, he will trust you once."

"I told him it's utterly impossible, but he said, whether you can do it is for you to tell him."

Xiao Ze turned his head toward the direction of Relanzhecheng.

The castle's outline loomed faintly on the distant mountain ridge.

He withdrew his gaze, looking at Ma Li'an: "Tell him, we will surely retrieve the mask."

Cai Tong stared for a moment, then hurriedly said: "Your Highness, are you serious? The Ma Dou She values promises greatly; if we fail, even if I bring you here again, Ma Li'an will never see you again."

Xiao Ze nodded: "Translate what I said to him."

Cai Tong gritted his teeth and conveyed his words to Ma Li'an.

Ma Li'an glanced at Xiao Ze, then at Tuan Tuan, rose, walked to under the tree, picked up the bow on the ground, and used his finger to wipe off the mud on the bow limbs.

Xiao Ningxun shouted at Tuan Tuan: "Tuan Tuan! Come over quickly! We're heading back!"

Tuan Tuan responded, sliding off the mother deer's back onto the ground, hugging the deer's neck and rubbing against it: "I'm leaving! I'll come back to play with you later!"

She looked around, spotted Ma Li'an under the tree holding a bow and arrow, raised her hand and pointed: "Remember, whenever you see him, you must run as fast as you can!"

Ma Li'an: "……"

The mother deer glanced at him, turned and ran, the herd following behind, swiftly dashing deep into the forest.

Everyone suppressed laughter, remaining silent.

Luo Zhenjiang showed no restraint, laughing loudly as he scooped up Tuan Tuan: "Come on! Let's go back with Uncle Luo!"

Everyone bade farewell to Ma Li'an, mounted their horses, and returned to the inn.

In the following days, everyone enjoyed touring the island's mountains and waters, having a great time.

On the day before the appointment with Kui Yi for the banquet, Cai Tong brought a message from Lin Jiang, wishing to meet again.

Everyone arrived again at the sugarcane field's shade pavilion as promised.

Lin Jiang, Lin Shan, and Lin Xi were all present, and they all rose to greet.

A Dai poked half her head out from behind Lin Xi, and upon seeing Tuan Tuan on horseback, she smiled.

Everyone dismounted and walked to the shade pavilion.

Lin Jiang clasped his fists and said, "Your Highness, everyone, I pay my respects."

"Lord Lin, you're too polite," Xiao Ze said with a smile, "How are the lady and the child?"

Lin Xi smiled and said, "Very well!"

She walked over and took Tuan Tuan's little hand: "Come, try the sweet soup auntie specially made for you, boiled with sugarcane juice—it's sure to be delicious!"

Having said that, she opened a small ceramic jar on the table, poured out a bowl, and handed it to Tuan Tuan.

Tuan Tuan held the bowl with both hands, took a sip, and his eyes lit up instantly: "So sweet! It's even better than what I drank at the market last time!"

Lin Xi's face broke into a blossoming smile: "If you like it, drink more."

Tuan Tuan gulped down half the bowl, while A Dai watched eagerly from the side.

Tuan Tuan handed the bowl to her: "You drink too! Let's drink together!"

The two little girls took turns sipping, and they finished the bowl of sweet soup completely.

Tuan Tuan wiped his mouth, took A Dai's hand, and said: "Let's go! Let's go play in the field!"

"Okay." A Dai replied, and the two Xiao Tuanzi held hands and ran toward the sugarcane patch.

Luo Zhenjiang hurried after them, and Xiao Er and Lu Qi simultaneously lifted their feet and gave chase.

The sugarcane leaves rustled loudly, and soon the children's clear laughter could be heard.

Lin Jiang fell silent for a moment, then looked at Xiao Ze: "Your Highness, I will keep your kindness in my heart."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone's faces: "Please, Your Highness, speak plainly—what do you want me to do?"