Chapter 162 Farewell
Xie Mianmian picked up a helmet and examined it carefully. Although time was tight, the finished product was not rough and was very sturdy and durable.
There is also a space left at the top, specifically for releasing the ears. Below the helmet are layers of small armor plates, which can effectively protect the beast's vital part—the neck.
Xie Mianmian fiddled with the armor plates a few times, creating ripples on the water. They were very flexible and not rigid at all, which showed that the beast would move normally after putting on the helmet.
While protecting their vital organs, their armor does not impede their movement.
Besides the helmet, there were also scale armor worn on their bodies, showing that they had put a lot of thought into it.
He Chuan said, "The battlefield is cruel, so it's always good to be prepared. The beast army has enough equipment to back you up, so you'll be safer. Besides, it's all the people's good intentions. Mianmian, come back safely."
She put down her armor and bowed deeply in the direction of He Chuan, saying, "Thank you, brother-in-law, and thank you to the people of Mianmian for helping me."
He Chuan offered her a helping hand and said, "It's all for the sake of the Great Zhou. By the way, when are we setting off?"
Xie Mianmian gazed at the distant north, wishing she could sprout wings and fly to the border right now.
She couldn't wait any longer.
"Leave tomorrow, the sooner the better."
The sky was a deep purple at dusk, and the originally gloomy sky began to pick up a wind, which ruffled the plants and trees in the Xie residence.
A sense of impending storm hung in the air, and passing servants tightened their collars, trying to suppress their unease.
The next day, at the crack of dawn, Xie Mianmian led this elite force to stand in front of the Xie residence. The Xie family members anxiously grabbed Xie Mianmian and took turns giving her instructions.
Be careful, wear clothes when it's cold, eat when you're hungry, take shelter when it rains, be a little selfish, and be the first to run away if there's danger.
Not only Xie Mianmian, but the three black wolves were also given a long lecture. Xie's father patted each of them on the shoulder, his voice hoarse and choked with emotion: "Mianmian is in your hands now."
The black wolf howled and gently patted Xie's father's knee with its thick paws, comforting him.
Needless to say, their love for Mianmian is no less than that for the Xie family.
Xie Mianmian bowed deeply to her family. After a long while, she straightened up and said, "We're about to set off."
After saying that, she boarded the carriage, gave her family a complicated look, and then climbed into the carriage.
The carriage started moving slowly. She reached out of the window and waved to them, indicating that they didn't need to see her off any further and should hurry back.
At this moment, Xie Mianmian finally understood why her third brother could leave so resolutely without looking back when he went to war.
Because even a single glance would make me reluctant to leave.
It wasn't until the group disappeared around the street corner that Xie Mingyi suddenly came to her senses and walked blankly into Xie Mianmian's courtyard.
Xie Mianmian left in a hurry, leaving the inner room somewhat messy. Xie Mingyi personally tidied up each item, putting everything away so that it wouldn't gather dust during this time.
On the dressing table, a box was half-closed, looking as if it was stuck by something inside.
Xie Mingyi opened the box, and in the middle lay a sandalwood bracelet, its color deep and rich, indicating that it had been around for quite some time.
She wanted to put it back in its place, but as soon as Xie Mingyi picked up the bracelet, it broke without warning.
The prayer beads fell from her fingertips, dripping onto the ground. Xie Mingyi's heart skipped a beat.
This is a Buddhist prayer bead string that Master Qianjing left for Xie Mianmian. How could it break on the very day she went to war? It's so ominous. Could it be that Mianmian...
Xie Mingyi interrupted her own thoughts, repeatedly chanting, "Peace and safety... peace and safety..."
This means that the Buddha string shielded Mianmian from a calamity, right?
It could also be said that the string used to string the prayer beads had simply reached the end of its life due to its age; I was just overthinking it.
Xie Mingyi comforted herself in this way.
*
Once outside the city gates, the procession headed towards the village, where they divided into smaller teams, and each of the brave and majestic beasts donned specially made armor.
"Mianmian, why are you wearing a helmet? My head hurts!" A lynx walked over.
Xie Mianmian reached out and pulled its pointed ears out of the hole.
"Mianmian, why is my helmet falling off?" It was a small hyena.
She tightened the rope above and tied it securely.
"Mianmian..."
Seeing the other beasts eagerly gathering around, the snow wolf let out a low, warning growl from the side.
Xie Mianmian patted its head reassuringly, then asked the logistics soldiers to help solve their problem; it was a family of agile monkeys.
They are skillful and adept, not only excellent at catching lice, but also at dressing the beast army neatly. Looking at them, their bloodthirsty and ferocious appearance is truly terrifying.
Soon, the Mian army was fully prepared and set off, with a flag tied to the lead carriage.
The flag is entirely black, with a pink animal pattern sewn around the perimeter, and a pink and gold "绵" (mian) character embroidered in the center.
This unique flag fluttered in the wind, and even from a distance, it could excite the people waiting in Wuliting.
The Mian army, orderly and disciplined, marched with great momentum and soon passed through Wuliting.
"Princess, you must return safely. When you come back, we'll eat stewed goose together."
"The Mian army is formidable; they will surely defeat those shameless scoundrels of the Northern Rong and bring peace to the dead!"
"Mianyang Army!" "Mianyang Army!"
The people shouted in unison. Inside the carriage, Xie Mianmian wiped the cold sweat from her hands, leaned out the window, and responded to them with a smile.
Many fruits, eggs and meats were enthusiastically placed on the accompanying carriage, and even the cold-faced tiger Sangbiao was hung around its neck by the old lady in a large bamboo basket.
A sweet fragrance I'd never smelled before wafted to my nose. The old woman stroked its exposed fur, "Oh my, this child is so handsome, take good care of it!"
Startled, Sang Biao slipped and ran two steps forward, escaping the terrifying two-legged beast.
"Mianmian, let's go! I don't want to be here, let me go to the battlefield!"
The entire team moved much faster and soon left Wuliting behind.
Xie Mianmian sat outside the carriage, feeling the wild wind blowing on her face, holding a persimmon in her hand.
She thought, "The Mian Army will not let the people down."
His eyes were fixed straight ahead, slightly lost in thought.
Suddenly, a figure entered Xie Mianmian's field of vision.
Through the hazy light, one could vaguely see a horse ahead, with a person sitting upright on it, who looked like a slender young man.
Who was it? Was that person also seeing someone off?
As they got closer, Xie Mianmian saw many details more clearly.
The man had his back to them, and the horse he rode was no ordinary horse; it was a purebred Akhal-Teke, a breed extremely rare even in the capital.
The horse was tall and strong, standing upright. Even with its rear end facing them, the bulging lines on its side still revealed its solid muscles.
As far as Xie Mianmian knew, there was only one person in the entire capital who owned such a beautiful and spirited horse.
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