4 Chapter 4

◎Roasted whole lamb◎

As the saying goes, poverty brings sorrow to everything. If the Canglang Tribe is temporarily worried, the Black Eagle Tribe is truly under the shadow of Black Thyme, shrouded in gloom.

According to Northern Di custom, Tuge was buried on the same day of his death. However, given the circumstances, Tuge's eldest son, Burke, simply ordered a few trusted followers to wrap the former leader of the Black Eagle Tribe, once so arrogant, in animal skins and straw, and then loaded him onto a cart and sped off into the depths of the grasslands, where he would be eaten by vultures and wolves, a return to the eternal heaven that nurtured this land.

The sight of a black eagle circling in the sky should have been a good sign, but for some reason it made people tremble with fear.

Everyone around him was watching carefully, their eyes and noses watching their hearts. The Black Hawk tribe knew that this eldest son was tyrannical and capricious, and the exact cause of Tug's death was an open secret—the hasty funeral was merely to maintain the dignity of the nobility.

Suddenly, a clear silver bell rang out from the side, and a girl's slightly hoarse and sweet voice floated over: "Brother, have you sent father away?"

The visitor was Tuge's youngest daughter, Tana. Tuge had few children to begin with, and he had allowed his brothers to kill each other. All that remained were his eldest son, who resembled Tuge most, and his youngest daughter, born in old age and unknown to the world.

Burke glanced past his younger sister and turned to the crowd, raising his voice. "Father will return to the Eternal Heaven. Only after we avenge him can he truly rest in peace! Tana, what are you asking? Do you want those ridiculous Central Plains rituals to disturb Father's body?"

Tana was stunned, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes, and her voice trembled: "I was just wondering if I could see my father one last time."

Even though Tug was a tyrant, he had ruled the tribe for many years and had established his authority. The Black Hawk tribe had indeed become powerful under his rule. Therefore, upon hearing this, many people whispered to each other and expressed sympathy for Tana.

Burke's forehead bulged with fury after hearing these ordinary words and seeing the reactions of those around him. He was already over thirty, but he had spent half his life as a subservient son to Tug. He hated being questioned the most.

His face darkened, and he roared angrily, "How can you cry so much! My father has lived a heroic life, how can he be sullied by a woman's tears? Why not follow me and razze Batur's territory? I'll use the head of that Central Plains witch to sacrifice to my father!"

"Hu Shan, gather the tribe's archers and plan a surprise attack soon." Burke's words grew increasingly passionate, and he immediately ordered his trusted confidant, who had been standing with his hands hanging down, "Destroy their caravan, steal their cattle, sheep, and salt bricks, and see what else they can do to show off their power!"

The decision was like a grain of sand falling into the Dead Sea, without causing a ripple. Only those who had always been pro-Burke looked indignant, but their stomachs growled in disrespect.

"Think again!" an old woman knelt on the ground, her face haggard and her voice hoarse. "Chief, our horses have no fodder, and our warriors are hungry. How can we fight Batur?"

"yes……"

"Brother, please reconsider." Tana echoed the crowd's words, lowering her delicate neck and sobbing. "How could Father rest in peace if he saw the warriors unable to even draw their bows? The black thyme has sucked our very bones. We can no longer...bleed."

Her words touched many people's hearts. They clenched their fists in hatred, and the balance in their hearts couldn't help but tilt towards Tana.

Burke was distraught by the crying, but Hu Shan beside him cleared his throat and said softly, "My fellow warriors, you don't know. The leader's point is, we're not talking about unnecessary bloodshed. We're fighting to sustain the war. As long as we grab the first batch of supplies and recuperate, why would we worry about what's next?"

"Yes, let them know that the Black Hawk warriors are not weak and can be bullied!" Burke's expression relaxed a little, and he was obviously very pleased.

Many were persuaded by these words, while others remained adamantly opposed, creating a tense atmosphere. With both sides deadlocked, a resounding announcement came from afar: "Report—The Canglang Tribe's envoys are arriving!"

Burke grinned and said, "Great, he'll be a perfect sacrifice. Let him in!"

A moment later, an envoy entered the tent, his demeanor completely different from the others present. He walked slowly, oblivious to the surroundings, and announced loudly, "I am here by order of the Khan and Khatun of the Canglang Tribe to negotiate peace between our two tribes."

"Peace?" Burke raised an eyebrow. "You destroyed our pastures and killed our leader, and now you're talking about peace? Unless that Central Plains woman commits suicide over my father's body!"

Thinking of Li Hengqing he had met that day, he gritted his teeth even more. That woman was clearly like a delicate flower from the Central Plains that couldn't grow on the grasslands, so why was she now thriving under the blue sky?

"Every wrong has its perpetrator, every debt has its creditor. The poisonous weeds were a natural disaster and have nothing to do with the warriors of either tribe," the messenger replied calmly. "Our Khatun is kind and invites the warriors of the Black Eagle Tribe to meet at the narrow opening of Wolf Mountain in three days for a detailed discussion. We will provide you with fine wine and delicious food. If you agree, we will also provide you with rations for the journey."

He opened the package in his arms, and the dried meat gave off an enticing salty aroma. Many people swallowed their saliva and became eager to try it.

*

Three days later, there was a line of sky.

It is called Yitiantian, but it is actually a natural barrier, which is also the reason why the poisonous weeds failed to affect the Canglang tribe.

The bonfire was burning brightly, and the whole sheep was roasted on the flames. Special seasoning was gently brushed on the sizzling oily skin, turning it into an attractive honey color. The spicy taste mixed with spices was so fragrant that it could be smelled for miles, making people salivate.

Li Hengqing carefully cut a piece of the lamb leg with his dagger. The rich juices immediately gushed out from the blade, nearly splattering his white hands. As he put it into his mouth, it was incredibly tender and juicy. The sweet aroma of honey blended perfectly with the unique spices of the grassland, and it also had a unique aroma of lamb's milk and the fragrance of the grass itself.

The meat from free-range livestock in Changsheng Tianxia was inherently superior to that of modern captives, not to mention the added benefits of salt bricks and new varieties of grass. The maids, accustomed to beef and mutton, were momentarily overwhelmed with grease and couldn't stop praising, "Khedun's cooking is truly the best in Changsheng Tianxia! I wish I could swallow my tongue!"

Hearing this, Li Hengqing smiled and looked towards the distant skyline, vaguely seeing a large group of carriages and horses.

The sound of horse hooves could not hide the fatigue.

After Helian Xiao and his guards finished their instructions, they also moved over, followed her gaze, and took the dagger. "What did the princess see?"

Li Hengqing lowered his eyes and smiled: "I think it's time to put out the Snow Condensation Soup."

The guards immediately observed his expression and rushed to the makeshift earthen stove on the other side. Helian Xiao, holding the jewel-encrusted dagger, only had his trusted confidants go to meet the Black Eagle Tribe's carriages and horses, while he concentrated on cutting the most delicious and tender parts of the whole lamb into small pieces for Li Hengqing.

Li Hengqing looked at the mutton that had almost piled up into a small mountain and couldn't help but laugh. "This is enough. Khan, won't you try some yourself?"

Helian Xiao then slightly avoided her smiling gaze and put the mutton into his mouth, but he seemed to have no taste for it.

Li Hengqing seemed to be lost in thought as he pushed the bowl that his personal guard had just brought over. "If Khan doesn't mind, you might as well try this."

It is normal for people of noble status to be picky about things.

The bowl contained the snow-condensed soup Li Hengqing had mentioned. The ceramic bowl was rough, but the contents were pure white, its surface smooth as a mirror, seemingly fragile and brittle, emitting a light milky and sweet aroma. Li Hengqing had given it an elegant name, calling it snow-condensed soup, but it was actually double-skin milk. This dessert required only a few steps, and the test lay more on the quality of the ingredients.

The maid looked over curiously. She had taken a heavy bite of mutton and should not have been interested in such a light meal, but she felt an inexplicable dryness in her mouth and her index finger twitched slightly.

Helian Xiao took the bowl of snow condensed soup and gently scooped up a corner with a wooden spoon. The paste was delicate and smooth, melting in his mouth like a condensed cloud. The milky aroma, richer than freshly squeezed milk, was wrapped in a sweet taste that soothed his internal organs. A subtle flash of surprise flashed in his eyes, but then he regained his composure and quickly devoured the entire bowl, mouthful after mouthful.

Li Hengqing looked at him and understood that this Khan was not picky about food, he just didn't want to share the same leg of lamb with her.

Just then, the Black Hawk tribe arrived.

Burke was the leader, followed by his military advisor, Hu Shan, and a group of alert, hungry-looking warriors. However, Li Hengqing's attention was immediately drawn to an unremarkable girl in the group.

The girl, thin and wearing a simple fur coat, followed Burke with her brows lowered and her eyes lowered. She was Tuge's youngest daughter, Tana. Li Hengqing had done his homework and knew that this princess had always been unknown and had almost no presence in the brutal family strife of Tuge, like an insignificant shadow.

But Li Hengqing's intuition told her that this was anything but simple. How could a truly cowardly and incompetent person survive unscathed in an environment surrounded by wolves?

The girl in the distance kept her head down, but her back was as straight as a bamboo. Suddenly, as if sensing something, she raised her eyes and met Li Hengqing's gaze. Li Hengqing arched his brows and gave her a warm smile, but the girl simply pursed her lips.

Both parties sat down, and just as the servant was about to bring the dishes, the man beside Burke raised his hand to stop him. With a forced smile, he said, "There's an old saying in the Central Plains that one shouldn't talk while eating. Let's respect the Princess of Nansheng and talk business first."

Not far away, the roasted lamb on the grill was emitting a mouth-watering aroma. The people of the Black Hawk tribe behind Burke exchanged glances and said nothing.

Li Hengqing's eyes swept across the man's face calmly, and he caught a glimpse of a subtle sense of disharmony between his Northern Di eyebrows and eyes. He then calmly withdrew his gaze and got straight to the point: "It's okay to talk about business first."

"Chief Burke, the Canglang Tribe will have a bountiful harvest, which will be enough to help your tribe survive this disaster."

She stared at Burke with a serious expression, her eyes filled with tenderness. Burke listened, his thoughts shifting for a moment before Hu Shan gently nudged him back to his senses. "So... is the princess truly so kind?"

Everyone knows there's no such thing as a free lunch. Even the heavens, so revered by the Northern Di people, can sometimes bring disaster, let alone a woman of a foreign race. Burke's heart grew alert, and the balance in his heart inevitably tilted slightly.

"Captain Burke has a good idea." Unexpectedly, it was Helian Xiao who took over the conversation. His wolf-like eyes narrowed slightly, and a warning flashed across his face. "Of course, this is not an unconditional gift."