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Li Mingda, as a princess of noble birth, had never experienced such passionate events. She felt as if she were in a dramatic tale, wishing to shout alongside the Xu Zhen and others!
She looked at the back of the Xu Zhen, feeling it was like a towering mountain; that kind of aura could only be emitted by her father when he was reviewing reports on enemy invasions in the Imperial Study.
She had once thought it would be difficult to return to Chang'an, but now she felt that as long as she followed the Xu Zhen, there was no place they couldn't reach!
She had heard her father recount many blood-stirring battles from his past campaigns. Although he did not embellish them much, in her heart, she had already formed an image of her father as a hero.
And today, it was the Xu Zhen who vividly brought that image to life for her. It seemed her father in his youth must have been just like the Xu Zhen at this moment...
Thunder rumbled and rain poured down, yet it could not extinguish the warriors' fervor. Murong Xiao looked at the back of the Xu Zhen, and his heart finally turned cold.
He had fallen into the hands of the Xu Zhen more than once, yet he remained unyielding and had never submitted to her. Now, as he watched her standing with a sword in hand, what rose in his heart was not submission but fear!
The warriors of the Salar Tribe felt immense respect for the Xu Zhen's grandeur. After hearing legends from Yin Zong and others, they were even more convinced that the Xu Zhen was the Son of Ahura, sent by heaven to save them and grant them freedom!
After clearing the battlefield, Ulyet and Yin Zong invited the Xu Zhen's team to rest in their tribe. However, after discussing with Zhang Jiunian, the Xu Zhen decided to set up camp behind High Slope on the riverbank.
This move provided enough security for the Salarian people while also guarding against enemy attacks—truly a win-win situation.
The heavy rain gradually ceased, and the sun peeked out from behind the clouds, bringing warmth to the grasslands. By evening, a brisk autumn wind blew, painting the sky with red clouds. The large sun resembled a piece of warm red jade, and dusk intoxicated all who beheld it.
After returning to camp, Yin Zong and Ulyet brought cattle, sheep, and wine to reward their troops and helped establish a Camp for the Xu Zhen's forces. The Rouran people were naturally robust; communication was smooth due to their similar customs. Before long, they mingled with the Salarian people around a bonfire, feasting on meat and drinking wine while singing and dancing vigorously—showcasing the passion of the grassland people!
Zhou Cang and others were originally from martial arts circles. After being taken in as vassals and gaining some official status, they handled such scenes with ease. Dressed in Red Armor, they were elite Tang soldiers; without it, they seemed like native Barbarians. They even laughed and joked in broken Turkic Language while drinking heartily—truly carefree!
The Salar Tribe's Sijin Mianbu suffered heavy losses. After discussing their wounds, they met with Xu Zhen and then returned to their main camp, leaving Yin Zong and Ulyet to discuss the specifics of their alliance with Xu Zhen.
Yin Zong and Ulyet felt somewhat restrained in front of Xu Zhen, the Son of Ahura, especially Yin Zong, who regarded Xu Zhen as an idol. Xu Zhen, however, did not maintain a pretentious demeanor or adopt the formal tone of a Tang military leader; instead, he appeared like a free-spirited wanderer, winning the admiration of both men. As the three exited the tent, they were greeted by a lively atmosphere filled with singing and dancing.
The straightforward and open Prairie Girls were influenced by the presence of many men and eagerly joined in the festivities. According to prairie customs, they began to secretly choose their preferred partners, preparing to visit the men's tents after the bonfire gathering concluded.
When Xu Zhen and the two men emerged, all the young women's gazes shifted to Xu Zhen.
Xu Zhen had a delicate appearance and a tall figure, embodying both the imposing strength of prairie men and the elegance of Tang scholars. He radiated an aura befitting a son of the fire god, with deep-set eyes reminiscent of a wise prophet. His every movement exuded an enigmatic charm that made him the prime target for many young women.
However, feeling somewhat inferior, they understood that the Son of Ahura was not someone easily approached. Instead, they focused their attention on sturdy young men like Zhou Cang, Gao He Shu, and Li Dejiang, maintaining a clear distance from Xu Zhen.
Li Mingda had heard tales of how depraved the northern winds had become. Seeing prairie girls boldly entering men's tents without any concern for appearances made her feel embarrassed. The silhouettes cast by the bonfire on the tents resembled shadow puppets, evoking a sense of shyness that was hard to bear. The air was thick with youthful exuberance.
As a Tang Princess raised in royal etiquette, she couldn't help but silently curse while shyly observing from afar. Her feelings became complicated as she remained alone in her tent, idly stroking a small stone gifted by Xu Zhen, which had become smooth and rounded from her touch.
As night deepened without stars or moonlight, the bonfire gradually dimmed. Occasionally, muffled yet unmistakable sounds of embarrassment echoed from the camp until they eventually subsided after some time.
Xu Zhen sat on a stone in front of the tent while the fire crackled before him. Caesar, who had not shown up all evening, sat beside him.
While others reveled in joy, he searched for herbs along the riverbank. At that moment, he chewed on juicy grass leaves and applied them to Xu Zhen's left hand. The fragrant herbal juice emitted a minty freshness that relaxed Xu Zhen entirely.
The two exchanged few words as Xu Zhen gazed up at the dark night sky while inhaling Caesar's faint mature fragrance. A smile gradually appeared on his lips as he teased Caesar: "You certainly picked a good time; those swans during the day see you here and dare not come near my tent..."
Upon hearing this, Caesar felt a surge of annoyance. If it weren't for him getting burned while saving her, she wouldn't have willingly gone out at night to find herbs. How dare that damned Tang People blame her for ruining his chances when his hand was so badly burned? What an outrageous Tang People!
Xu Zhen maintained her smile, yet Caesar sensed a subtle tension. As an assassin, Caesar was always very self-controlled, particularly strict with her emotions and restraint. However, every time she saw Xu Zhen, she felt an urge to be angry, sometimes not even knowing what she was upset about. This feeling made her uneasy.
Sensing the provocation hidden in Xu Zhen's smile, Caesar's competitive spirit was immediately ignited. Taking advantage of Xu Zhen's unpreparedness, she suddenly swept her into her arms and tossed her into the tent. With a cold expression fading away, she provocatively teased, "Since you've chased away your suitor, why not let me serve you instead?"
Xu Zhen was startled by Caesar's bold action. Remembering how Caesar once hid a venomous snake as a secret weapon, she felt her legs go weak. With no mood left to spare, she saw Caesar casually lift her skirt and straddle her waist, hastily pushing Caesar away under the pretense of changing shifts to stand guard, and fled in embarrassment.
Watching Xu Zhen retreating in the distance, Caesar couldn't help but chuckle like an inexperienced novice who had never fired a shot before. This cunning Tang People, who usually liked to appear deep and wise, surprisingly had such an adorable side.
It was only after laughing out loud that Caesar suddenly realized how long it had been since she last laughed freely.
As Xu Zhen prepared to sit on a high mound for a while, she stepped out of the tent area and noticed a fire still burning nearby. A petite figure was dancing gracefully with a sword beside the fire, executing each move meticulously. It was none other than His Highness Li Mingda, who had been involved in the Xuanwu Gate Incident!
At that moment, Li Mingda, holding a slender short sword, practiced the swordsmanship taught by Li Dejiang, while muttering curses under her breath: "Damn that Xu Zhen! Damn those Hu Ji! Damn the influence of those Barbarians!"
She had been keeping an eye on Xu Zhen's tent. Seeing Caesar applying crushed herbs to Xu Zhen's hand and their flirtatious banter—culminating in an embrace—made Li Mingda inexplicably angry, causing her to vent all her frustration onto her sword techniques.
Though she had spotted Xu Zhen, she chose to ignore her. However, feeling unsettled led to numerous flaws in her swordplay; despite her efforts to maintain composure, it appeared somewhat clumsy.
Unaware that she had angered this noble lady, Xu Zhen squatted on the ground watching the little girl pout while practicing swordplay. At that moment, there was nothing regal about her; she resembled an annoyed neighbor girl, making one feel both amused and exasperated.
Seeing that this insufferable girl showed no reaction and merely watched like it was a circus act only fueled Li Mingda's anger further. In frustration, she threw the short sword from her hand towards Xu Zhen, who stumbled backward in shock and fell hard. This made Li Mingda burst into laughter, feeling quite relieved.
Xu Zhen turned pale; she truly was startled. That short sword was genuinely sharp! This little lady threw it without hesitation—how reckless!
While Li Mingda continued to laugh foolishly, Xu Zhen, feeling playful again, picked up the short sword from the ground and mimicked the posture of palace eunuchs as she presented it with both hands, exclaiming: "Your Highness, please do not be angry; I know I was wrong..."
He initially thought that this action would amuse Li Mingda once again, but unexpectedly, his acting skills were remarkable, and Li Mingda became sentimental, recalling bits and pieces of life in the palace. Her brows furrowed slightly, and she looked as if she might cry.
"Such a girlish heart, like a needle in the sea..." Xu Zhen also found it amusing yet pitiful. While playing with a short sword in her hand, she sat down beside Li Mingda, waved her hand, and said, "Girl, come here. I’ll tell you a story."
In Li Mingda's eyes, Xu Zhen initially seemed like just a little Wuhou, a commoner from the lower class of Chang'an. However, as they went through various adventures together, Xu Zhen's image in her mind grew increasingly proud. When Xu Zhen spoke passionately and rallied the Salarian people, she even saw in him the same aura as her father. So when Xu Zhen said he wanted to tell a story, Li Mingda was genuinely moved.
"In my hometown, there was a Hu child named Hansel who had a sister named Gretel. One day..."
Xu Zhen tried to omit the unfamiliar terms from the fairy tale or find similar ones to replace them. He managed to finish telling the story of Hansel and Gretel following the breadcrumbs home. Although it had completely changed in flavor, when the siblings pushed the Witch into the oven and successfully returned home after their stepmother died, resulting in a happy ending, Li Mingda still secretly wiped away a tear.
She lowered her head silently; she didn’t quite understand what bread was exactly, but the breadcrumbs deeply touched her heart. Perhaps Xu Zhen was her breadcrumbs; one day she would be able to return home guided by them. Meanwhile, those wicked little birds that devoured the breadcrumbs and caused the siblings to lose their way should be in Chang'an now? Or perhaps at Liangzhou Camp?
Xu Zhen wanted to comfort her further but suddenly became alert. A blazing fire lit up downstream of the Salar River, and an ancient song filled with desolation and sorrow wafted through the night wind, chilling his heart. He suddenly understood something and slowly stood up, reaching out his hand toward Li Mingda, saying, "Do you want to come with me to see those children returning home?"
Li Mingda abruptly raised her head and nodded vigorously. Habitually extending her hand as if being led by her elder brother, she rode alongside Xu Zhen downstream.
(Note: Grimm's Fairy Tales, "Hansel and Gretel," also known as "Adventures in the Enchanted Forest.")
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