Chapter 1486: then title translation, then ===GLOSSARY=== with list of named entities appearing in these lines

Huang Zha nodded, he waved his hand, and commanded: "Monggele, Geduo, you two each take a hundred men and storm the Butterfly Garden through the front and back gates."

Yes!

Just as everyone was preparing to launch the attack, the gate of the Butterfly Garden slowly opened, and a blind old man leaning on a cane appeared before the gate, calmly saying: "With such a grand display, do you think bullying this blind man who can't see is okay?"

Huang Zha frowned, coldly snorted: "Seize him!"

Two burly men, vigorous and high-spirited, walked over; they reached out to seize the blind man, but the moment their hands touched his body they felt an invisible force strike their chests, and both flew out sprawling.

Everyone was utterly confused about what had happened, and they didn't even see the blind old man move—how had he sent people flying? Qiao Fangzheng sighed and said, "You shameless wretches, do you really think an old beggar is that easy to bully?" He tapped his toe and shot into the enemy crowd. His movements were astonishingly fast; though blind, he seemed to see, weaving freely through the crowd, his dog‑beating stick striking left and right. In an instant, over a thousand warriors before the gate fell into chaos, dismounting to surround the blind old man—but these Red Yi tribesmen were nothing in Qiao Fangzheng's eyes. Not only did he inflict no injury at all, within moments dozens lay groaning on the ground.

Qiao Fangzheng followed the pre‑made plan to create chaos. Given his temperament, wiping out these Red Yi warriors would be no trouble, but Hu Xiaotian had expressly ordered that no one be lightly killed; Qiao Fangzheng had come to respect Hu Xiaotian's wisdom, though he would never admit it aloud, yet in carrying out the plan he never dared to act on his own initiative.

Qiao Fangzheng displayed great might among the warriors, while Zhan Peng's figure had already appeared on the Watch‑Heaven Tree at the southeast corner of the Butterfly Garden—the only spot that could evade the watchtower's surveillance. Zhan Peng drew his bow, nocked an arrow, and aimed at Baher, who was shielded among the crowd. As Qiao Fangzheng slaughtered in all directions, naturally some Red Yi warriors went to protect Baher, thereby exposing his identity completely.

To capture a man, first shoot his horse; to catch a bandit, first seize their leader. At this range, Zhan Peng had full confidence in shooting Baher dead with a single arrow, but killing the Lord of Huoshu City was not part of their plan; their ultimate goal was to control Redwood River, and slaying Baher might vent momentary anger, yet it would do nothing to help them hold this area.

To shoot a person, first shoot the horse; to capture a bandit, first capture the leader. At this distance, Zhan Peng is fully confident he can kill Baher with a single arrow, but killing the lord of Fire Tree City is not within their plan; their ultimate goal is to control Red Wood River, and killing Baher might vent their anger for a moment, but it would do nothing to help them control this area.

Zhan Peng locked his gaze on the enemy formation, then suddenly shot an arrow—whoosh! The arrow flew like chasing wind and lightning toward the enemy formation, and Huang Zha immediately sensed the danger. He took a big step sideways, let out a tiger's roar, and slashed at the oncoming arrow with his saber. As Huang Zha drew his blade, Zhan Peng fired a second arrow. Huang Zha's saber struck the arrow shaft, deflecting the arrow, but the second arrow quickly followed and successfully broke through his defense, the arrowhead piercing Baher's mount's right eye, going straight through the skull. The fine horse let out a mournful cry and collapsed to the ground; Baher lost his mount's front hooves and also tumbled off its back, in a sorry state.

The nearby warriors rushed forward in panic to help him up, and at that moment a flock of birds swept across the sky and flew straight into the Butterfly Garden. But it was Xia Zhangming returning safely with the captured High Priestess Tongyun, whose acupoints had been sealed. Seeing from the treetops that Xia Zhangming had succeeded, Zhan Peng immediately blew the whistle.

Hearing the whistle, Qiao Fangzheng swung his staff twice at random, knocking down two Red Barbarian warriors beside him, then retreated toward the gate of the Butterfly Garden.

The warriors had long been terrified by this blind old man; although they gathered around shouting, it was all bluster, and none dared to approach.

His mount slain, Baher, bruised and battered, bellowed, 'Kill him… kill him!' His voice clearly showed fear; he was no fool—just now Zhan Peng's arrow could have easily killed him, but fortunately they shot the horse.

A group of Red Barbarian warriors merely shouted, taking no real action. At that moment the crowd felt the ground tremble, then heard a tide-like shout of killing coming from afar. Turning to look, they saw countless Red Barbarian believers surging forward like a tide, at the very front a masked red-robed person riding a white elephant charging madly toward the Butterfly Garden. No need to ask—the rider on the elephant was Hu Xiaotian. Though Hu Xiaotian had no skill in taming elephants, he had plenty of ways to make one go berserk; a few slaps sent the white elephant into a frenzied gallop.

Seeing the mad elephant charging, nobody dared to block it; they scattered in panic to the sides. Baher and his warriors also did not know why tens of thousands of believers had come; seeing the scene, they turned pale and their legs went weak. Though they numbered a thousand, facing nearly a hundred thousand believers they had no power to resist. Only when they heard the believers shouting, 'Release the High Priestess! Release the High Priestess!' did they realize the believers had come running to rescue the High Priestess.

Hu Xiaotian laughed loudly and proclaimed, 'The High Priestess is in my hands; if you want her to live, stay outside obediently.' The white elephant had already charged through the gap in the crowd and burst into the Butterfly Garden's gate, and Qiao Fangzheng followed, slipping inside.

Seeing that they had all returned safely, Liang Yinghao hurriedly ordered the warriors to shut the Butterfly Garden's gate again.

The white elephant was still berserk, rushing madly inward. Although Hu Xiaotian could make it run, he could not calm it down. Fortunately, Xia Zhangming arrived just in time, leapt onto the elephant's back, gently stroked its large ears, murmured something, and the elephant's agitation gradually eased, its steps slowing until it stopped in the courtyard.

Hu Xiaotian jumped down from the white elephant's back.

Long Xi Yue, hearing that Hu Xiaotian had returned, came out to meet him. Seeing his disheveled appearance, she couldn't help laughing. Hu Xiaotian pulled the red cloth from his head and, smiling, asked, 'Where is the High Priestess?'

Zhan Peng pointed to the room inside; Hu Xiaotian nodded, turned, and shouted loudly to the crowd outside, 'Listen up, everyone: your High Priestess Tongyun is in my hands. If any of you dare to step even half a pace into the Butterfly Garden, I will kill her!' His voice was full of strength and carried far.

Hu Xiaotian's voice spread in all directions, but few could actually understand it. Baher also didn't understand; after asking the interpreter Jiang Shaoyang, he finally grasped what Hu Xiaotian had said. At this moment those believers had already arrived outside the Butterfly Garden; hearing that the lord of Fire Tree City was present, they immediately selected representatives to come forward and report to him what had happened in the Divine Temple.

In the hearts of these Red Barbarians, the High Priestess clearly holds a higher status than the city lord; the city lord can be replaced if he dies, but if the High Priestess were killed, it would be an earth-shattering matter.

Baher had originally made all his preparations, but the formation had just been disrupted; still he had a backup plan—if he gave the order, the archers hidden in the blockhouses around would unleash a volley of arrows, leaving no safe spot in the Butterfly Garden, not even a butterfly could escape. Yet now, though he should have held the initiative completely, the situation had been turned against him: High Priestess Tongyun had been captured, leaving them in a bind. If they launched a strong attack and accidentally harmed the High Priestess, these nearly hundred thousand tribesmen would never forgive them.

As Baher hesitated, persons arrived from the Divine Temple—High Priestess Tongyun's master, Granny Ying Popo, together with Yan Nujiao. Baher had previously met Granny Ying Popo, who, as a Red Barbarian, was highly respected among her people. Approaching Baher, she said, 'City Lord Sir, you must not act rashly; the High Priestess is in their hands.'

Actually, Granny Ying Popo still did not know why the other side had seized the High Priestess. Baher simply told her the purpose of Hu Xiaotian's group: he did not reveal his own aim in besieging the Butterfly Garden, only saying that Hu Xiaotian and company had kidnapped High Priestess Tongyun in order to seize control of Red Wood River.

Yan Nujiao fully understood the circumstances of this affair. After Granny Ying Popo left Baher's presence, she whispered a suggestion: 'Master, why don't you ask them directly yourself?'

Granny Ying Popo had long noticed that this girl's behavior today was somewhat abnormal, and she replied softly, 'How can I go ask them?'

Yan Nujiao said, 'Since Senior Sister is in their hands, we cannot launch a frontal assault; we must find another way to resolve the issue. I think the best approach is negotiation—at least we need to clarify their true intentions before we can devise countermeasures. I feel Baher is not a good man; his words may not all be true.'

A hint of a meaningful smile appeared on Granny Ying Popo's lips: 'You seem to know the inside story quite well.'

Yan Nujiao then realized she had spoken too much, and hastily said, 'Disciple is only concerned for my senior sister's safety; I have no other motives.'

Granny Ying Popo said, 'Very well, then go in my stead to arrange a meeting with Hu Xiaotian, and meanwhile check on your senior sister's well-being.'

Yan Nujiao bit her lip; her master had always doted on her, yet today he had suddenly put her in danger, which must mean she had inadvertently revealed a flaw, and her master was beginning to suspect her. She nodded and said, 'Then disciple will go in and have a look!' She turned to leave, but unexpectedly Granny Ying Popo reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder, saying softly, 'Just joking with you, Master could never bear to let you go, little Jiao. Stay outside and wait; I will go in to meet that Hu Xiaotian myself—I want to see what he's really capable of.' (To be continued~^~)