“Xia Qing, you came too.”
To search for Yang Feng, Qing Xia had to use the alias Xia Qing. Names had always been just labels to her anyway, so she didn’t mind much. Laughing, she jumped down from her horse, took Banbu’er, and turned to Xudalie saying: “Banbu’er said you went hunting again—be careful of encountering Mulian people.”
“Haha,” Xudalie laughed heartily, revealing a set of snow-white teeth. “I’m not afraid of them.”
She knew he would say that. Qing Xia rolled her eyes, patted Banbu’er’s head, and said: “Go get the homework I left you the other day. ‘Sun moon’? How embarrassing that you could read it that way—you’re making me lose face.”
“Jiema Agu!” A tender voice suddenly rang out. Before Qing Xia could lower her head, she saw a little ball of red and green rushing toward her at high speed, crashing into her thigh with a bang. Two chubby little hands desperately hugged her as the child loudly complained: “Banbu’er is bad—he roasted my rabbit!”
“Amoyeh,” Qing Xia bent down, crouching to look at the little girl who wasn’t as tall as her calf, quickly saying: “How did you run out here? It’s so cold outside.”
Amoyeh’s attention was immediately diverted as she gestured excitedly: “Mama made me a new robe—it’s warm!”
Looking at the girl’s gaudy robe, Qing Xia smiled slightly and picked up the little girl. Amoyeh was round and plump, stretching out her arms to wrap around Qing Xia’s neck, pouting vengefully like a wronged little pitiful thing: “Jiema Agu, Banbu’er roasted my rabbit.”
“Amoyeh, you useless thing, all you know is tattling to Jiema Agu. I roasted the rabbit and I ate it too—what can you do about it? Besides, Nakduo ate it too—why don’t you tattle on him?”
Nakduo was very displeased upon hearing this, shouting in his rough voice: “I didn’t know that was Amoyeh’s rabbit. Banbu’er, you cunning fox!”
“Alright, let’s all go back.” Xudalie stopped the pointless quarrel among the little ones, saying with authority: “Mama is still waiting at home. Amoyeh, tomorrow I’ll go into the mountains to catch a litter of hibernating fox cubs for you. By next winter, we can make you a fox fur robe.”
“Really?” Amoyeh was overjoyed and laughed happily.
Rounding a grove of trees, a village appeared before them. Banbu’er and Nakduo ran toward the village like two little leopards while Qing Xia and Xudalie walked slowly behind, leading their horses. Amoyeh curled up in Qing Xia’s arms, quietly playing with the buttons on her clothes. The ground was covered in white snow when Qing Xia suddenly turned back to Xudalie: “Xudalie, are you going into the mountains again tomorrow?”
“Yes,” Xudalie said. “Before the heavy snow seals the mountains, I want to go in a few more times. New Year is coming—need to stock up on more game. You’re alone, so come spend New Year at our house.”
“Me?” Qing Xia shook her head slightly, saying casually: “I might not stay much longer.”
Xudalie was startled, saying solemnly: “Are you going back inside the passes? You’re not waiting for your brother anymore?”
Qing Xia sighed: “I’ll wait one more month. If I still can’t wait for him, I’ll have to go back and look for him.”
“Where can you look by yourself? You’d be better off waiting here honestly. Your big brother is a grown man—how could he get lost?”
“Sigh,” Qing Xia said gloomily. “You don’t understand. This place is really nice. I’ve been here so long, and these have been the most comfortable days. If I find my big brother, I’ll stay here forever and never leave.”
Xudalie frowned slightly, following behind Qing Xia without speaking for a long time.
“Xudalie, you still shouldn’t go into the mountains. I received news a few days ago that there were big blizzards on the Mulian side, freezing thousands of cattle and sheep to death. The people there can barely survive and might go rob the Northern Border Garrison or Flame Emperor City. Bailing Prefecture hasn’t been peaceful lately either. Everyone should be careful and not go out casually.”
Xudalie snorted coldly: “What are the Mulian people? They dare rob the Northern Border Garrison? That old waste Tuoha doesn’t have the guts. I heard Qin’s God of War, Prince Xuan, is personally stationed at the northern border this month, and the Flame Character Battalion came with him. Even if they freeze their cattle and sheep to death, even if they freeze to death themselves, Tuoha wouldn’t dare approach the northern border.”
“Prince Xuan?” Qing Xia was slightly startled—she hadn’t heard news of him for a long time. She couldn’t help but look south. The Northern Border Garrison was less than thirty li away—so they were this close.
“Anyway, you should still be careful. Your whole family depends on you—better not have any accidents.”
Xudalie grinned upon hearing this: “Don’t worry, Xia Qing. I’m not even afraid of the Snow Wolf Lake people—why would I fear the Mulian people? They’d better not run into me, or none of them will escape back home.” He vigorously patted the quiver at his waist and laughed twice.
Qing Xia helplessly shook her head. When she first met Xudalie, it was at Snow Wolf Lake where she and the Western Black Wasteland bandits were captured by the Snow Wolf people. Those bandits had spent their lives robbing others—when had they ever been robbed? They immediately got into a brawl with the Snow Wolf people. Though Qing Xia and her group had strong fighting power, the opponents were numerous and familiar with local routes, so naturally they were no match. While escaping, they encountered Xudalie setting traps in the forest and were saved by him.
In a flash, two months had passed.
Lost in thought, they entered the village. Xudalie cheerfully greeted the villagers. Most of them knew Qing Xia, and moreover, this girl knew the mountain bandits—in everyone’s eyes she was a capable and influential figure, so they were all very warm to her. Soon they reached Xudalie’s house. Xudalie led his horse to the stable while his mother, Aunt Doyihua, ran out. Seeing Qing Xia, she smiled and said: “Jiema Agu, you’re here! Come in and warm up.”
Jiema Agu was a general term for pretty Han women. This small village had countless Jiema Agus—Qing Xia was just one of them.
Several people entered the steaming house where the children had already seated themselves on the heated kang. As soon as Qing Xia entered, Amoyeh patted the spot beside her, loudly calling: “Jiema Agu, sit here!” Her speed left Banbu’er, who had half-opened his mouth, quite depressed. He glared fiercely at his little sister and snorted.
Qing Xia took off her boots and climbed onto the warm kang, sitting cross-legged beside Amoyeh.
A mouth-watering meaty aroma suddenly wafted in. Xudalie sat on the edge of the kang, helping Aunt Doyihua bring dishes to the kang table. The fragrant roe deer meat was roasted with golden fat, sizzling enticingly.
“Come, eat, eat,” Aunt Doyihua said with a smile while wiping her hands on her clothes. “There’s more on the rack, still roasting. Hearing that Jiema Agu would come, Xudalie roasted this personally—it’s very fragrant.”
“Come, Xia Qing, don’t just watch.” Xudalie tore off a piece of meat from the roe deer leg and placed it before Qing Xia. The other three children had already started, chewing away enthusiastically. Qing Xia tore off a piece of meat and put it in her mouth, immediately feeling the lingering fragrance. She smiled and said: “Xudalie, if you become a cook in the future, you’ll definitely make a fortune.”
“Haha!” Xudalie laughed heartily, not minding at all that Qing Xia suggested he become a cook—such an unambitious profession.
Everyone was harmoniously feasting when suddenly urgent footsteps sounded at the door. Xudalie frowned, then heard a bang as someone kicked the door open violently!
With a thunderous crash, the door panel was kicked away and cold wind instantly rushed in. Qing Xia raised an eyebrow and immediately held Amoyeh close. The three Xudalie brothers jumped up from the kang and leaped to the ground, glaring menacingly at the people outside.
Over twenty burly men immediately rushed in. The leader kicked and shattered a water jar by the entrance—freshly drawn well water splashed everywhere, and the area near the door instantly formed small icicles.
“Who are you people!” Xudalie jumped to a small cabinet in the room, drew three chopping knives with a swoosh, tossed them to his brothers Nakduo and Banbu’er, then leaped before those people, shouting loudly.
The leader stared at Xudalie with copper-bell eyes and said hoarsely: “Are you Xudalie? Tuha owes us money—he told us to come collect from you.”
Tuha was Xudalie’s father, who often drank and gambled outside. When he owed debts, he’d have people come to his family to collect from his wife and children. In the short time Qing Xia had known this family, such incidents had happened many times. Xudalie’s face turned red—clearly he was suppressing his anger. Seeing Xudalie’s expression and remembering his reputation, the big man became less fierce. He pulled out a paper from his chest: “Pay your debts—Xudalie, you’re a man, you won’t default, right?”
“He owes the money—go collect from him! Why come to our house?” Banbu’er suddenly shouted, holding his big knife like an angry tiger cub.
Hearing this, the group became furious and started clamoring noisily. Aunt Doyihua panicked. This honest woman was so anxious she ran in circles, wanting to hold back her sons but really unwilling to pay debts for that drunkard again. Soon, tears of anxiety flowed down her face.
“Banbu’er is right—we won’t pay this money,” Xudalie said coldly, staring at the group of big men. “If you want to collect debts, go find the person who borrowed your money. If you want to find me, talk to my blade.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Nakduo suddenly roared, his sturdy body like a young colt, fiercely facing the uninvited guests.
“Aunt Doyihua, what happened?” Footsteps suddenly sounded outside. Aunt Doyihua had always been well-liked, and Xudalie always shared his hunting spoils with every household, so they had excellent relations in the village. Hearing commotion at their house, men, women, and children from every household rushed out. Seeing this menacing group, the villagers each went home to grab chopping knives before charging into Aunt Doyihua’s small courtyard. In no time, they surrounded the small yard completely.