Chapter 338: Hand Over Li Xiang to Me
"The Na Shan Tribe? Do you think I'm scared?"
The man walked toward her slowly, as if treating her like a piece of game.
"What do you want to do?"
In the fourth watch of the night, a bright moon hung high in the sky.
The lights in the Tulou had already gone out, and the tribe members were deep in sleep.
Nan Qinghuan was exhausted after Ying carried her back; Ying felt sorry for her, having done so much for the tribe's development, so he cared for her as best as he could.
Amu had already fallen asleep, so he didn't dare disturb her; he boiled water to wash Nan Qinghuan's feet, and after cleaning them he let her get into bed. They now covered her not with Tiger Skin but with a silk quilt taken from the Matriarchal Tribe; these quilts are just right for autumn, and when it gets colder they'll need a cotton blanket.
But cotton is limited, so this year may be a bit hard.
The cotton blankets may not hold much.
The night was chilly, and Ying even went to close the small window, "Qinghuan, go to sleep."
Ying placed her little feet on his chest; now, to avoid touching each other, they each slept on one side, and Nan Qinghuan's feet could rest on his chest to warm them.
Covering her feet was the best care he could give her; Nan Qinghuan's belly was beginning to swell, and he hoped she would be fine.
Nan Qinghuan felt his warmth, but for some reason she was worried about her senior brother.
"Ying, are senior brother and Duo Luo really fine when they go back?"
She was truly worried; going back in the middle of the night meant the forest, and she had never run out into such a vast forest where beasts roamed.
If something happened to senior brother, she would be very upset.
Ying hadn't expected her to care so much about his senior brother, and felt a bit uneasy, but he gently coaxed, "Don't worry, with Duo Luo there won't be any trouble. This is my territory; who would dare confront them?"
"But didn't you say there were Masai?"
At Nan Qinghuan's words, Ying let out a light laugh, "They won't come out easily, perhaps …"
"Wuwuwu …"
Suddenly, a roar of beasts came from the forest outside, making Ying alert; he sprang up at once.
Nan Qinghuan couldn't sleep either and hurriedly sat up, "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, you go back to sleep; I'll go out and take a look."
Ying said that, and it wasn't proper to say more, so he hurriedly whispered, "Be careful."
"Sleep then."
After Ying went out, Nan Qinghuan still felt uneasy; she'd been here for so long, and hadn't heard such a strange sound in the middle of the night.
The more she thought, the more worried she became.
No, she had to go check!
After Ying left, Ashu hurried over, and Youchao Xuan came with him.
"Ying"
"What sound? Can you tell?"
Ashu rushed forward, "It sounds like the sound of an animal being killed."
"What?"
Ying was silent for a moment, then said, "Go see what's happening."
Ashu and Youchao Xuan didn't linger, hurrying to see what was going on; after they left, Nan Qinghuan stepped out from behind, the wind outside was strong and hurt her face.
"Ying"
Ying, seeing her come out, quickly pulled her back in, "Why did you come out? It's windy at night, go back inside."
"What?"
"It's nothing; we heard the sound of an ape in the forest."
"Ape?"
Nan Qinghuan inhaled a cold breath; how could she not know there were apes here? She didn't know what they looked like, having only seen them in paleontological photos—like a gorilla but also somewhat human.
Ying knew she was curious about everything here, reached out and touched her cheek, "Go to sleep; I'm going to check. How can I be at ease with you like this?"
Nan Qinghuan also knew that if she didn't sleep, the man would worry, so she said, "Then I'll rest; you come back early."
After seeing Nan Qinghuan go to rest, Ying also followed Ashu and the others up.
Daybreak came, and birds chirped in the forest.
Nan Qinghuan, half-asleep, was constantly called by Axi from outside.
"Qinghuan, Qinghuan."
Amu was squatting by the fire preparing breakfast; this morning they ate rice porridge. Since Nan Qinghuan had eaten Bodhi Root, she no longer vomited, so eating was normal.
To help her eat better, Amu also sliced some meat cubes inside, so Nan Qinghuan could replenish her body.
"Axi, don't shout Qinghuan so early; she's resting, what's the matter?"
"Amu, something happened."
Hearing that something happened, Amu was stunned, "How could anything happen? You girl, stop talking nonsense."
"It's true; the Rongdi have arrived, saying Li Xiang and his High Priest are missing."
"What?"
"What do you mean 'missing'?"
Inside the room, Nan Qinghuan hurried out, "Axi, what's really going on?"
"Oh, you go check quickly; those Rongdi claim we hid the people—what should we do?"
"Ying?"
When Nan Qinghuan ran into the forest, the Rongdi were there leading lone wolves and whirlwinds, coming here to demand Ying for a person.
"Ying, we have already formed an alliance; you can't do this. Return Li Xiang to us, or don't blame me if the Rongdi are not courteous to you."
Ying wants him to calm down, "Why are you in a hurry? They left from me last night; everyone here can testify."
"Leave—who knows if they were captured again by you?"
"I would never do that. Why would I seize Li Xiang? To keep him here to be with Qinghuan day after day?"
Ying's words left the Rongdi speechless. Indeed, why was he so frantic? If it were Ying, why would he keep Li Xiang? Everyone knows he cares about Li Xiang and Nan Qinghuan.
"So where do you say they went?"
Ying, hearing this, also grew worried, "After they left last night I heard the sound of apes; I've already sent Ashu and his men to investigate, to see what's really going on."
"Chief, could it be that they encountered a beast and were eaten?"
"Shut up, with the High Priest present, how could they run into a beast?"
Rongdi was angry; since those two hadn't returned all night, he had no choice but to come looking for Ying, and now it really seems they're not here.
"Where did they go? That worries him; Li Xiang had only just agreed to build a tribe with them, and now this person is missing—what can be done?" (Rongdi)
Behind, Nan Qinghuan rushed over; when the Rongdi saw Nan Qinghuan arrive, his gaze turned to her, and the sharp look he had softened gradually.
Ying, seeing Nan Qinghuan arrive, also realized she knew about this, "Qinghuan."
Nan Qinghuan was very worried, "What on earth is happening? Senior brother, didn't they return?"
??
End of Chapter
