Hearing this, Pang Xiao nodded, one arm around Qin Yining’s shoulder, looking up at the mud-brick palace walls.

At this moment, Zhou Meng and several ministers were just leaning over the wall to look down. When they suddenly met Pang Xiao’s hawk-like gaze, they all shrank their necks in fright.

Pang Xiao sneered coldly, “A bunch of rats!”

Zhou Meng on the wall also felt his actions were too undignified. He immediately straightened his expression, standing with hands behind his back at the wall’s edge, saying in a deep voice, “Who are you people! Why do you rashly come to my territory and snatch away my fiancée!”

The joy of reuniting with Qin Yining had not yet faded, but Zhou Meng’s words ignited Pang Xiao’s fury!

The hatred of a stolen wife – who could endure it?

Pang Xiao was too lazy to waste words with Zhou Meng. He casually drew his bow, nocked an arrow, and shot toward Zhou Meng.

His movement was too fast – no one could react.

Only the sound of cutting through air “whooshed” and exploded in their ears. Zhou Meng was scared pale and quickly crouched to dodge.

That arrow pierced right through the golden crown atop Zhou Meng’s head, causing him to stumble backward and fall to the ground. The sharp arrowhead embedded deeply in the mud wall behind Zhou Meng, pinning him in place.

“Prince, Prince, are you alright!” The ministers beside him were all scared senseless, rushing over – some to pull out the arrow, others to help him up.

Zhou Meng’s mind was still buzzing. He reached up to touch his head – his hair crown had been shot through, many strands on top were severed, his hair bun now disheveled with many broken hairs falling down in handfuls…

Zhou Meng thought of that man’s sharp gaze like a man-eating beast, and that fierce incoming arrow. Thinking that if he hadn’t dodged quickly, he probably would have had his head blown off by the arrow, cold shivers ran up his spine. Zhou Meng’s legs trembled, feeling warmth and wetness in his crotch – he had actually urinated himself.

Pang Xiao was now too lazy to bother with Zhou Meng. Not killing him was merely because he temporarily didn’t want to rashly break this balance and provoke the hatred of the local people.

He lowered his head and unabashedly kissed Qin Yining’s forehead again, smiling, “Yining, is there a place here where we can rest temporarily?”

By now Qin Yining had stopped crying, though crying so much had given her a slight headache. Being kissed so publicly by Pang Xiao made her face completely red. She coughed once to cover her shyness and embarrassment.

“The Minuo tribe that came with me is in a remote area to the southeast. However, to control the Minuo tribe people, the Xiyue Prince has surrounded them with soldiers. From what I heard the Xiyue Prince say, he seems to have used about four to five hundred men.”

Pang Xiao’s large hand ruffled her long hair as he smiled, “Don’t worry. With this level of opponents, each of my Elite Tiger Guards can fight a hundred. Besides, this place is like a paradise – they look like they haven’t seen outsiders for a long time and haven’t fought battles. Give them a good beating and they’ll be scared.”

Qin Yining nodded and looked around, spotting Uncle Ar Han, Su Ri Na, and Wu Lan.

“Your Highness, that is Uncle Ar Han. He speaks the best Great Zhou language among the Minuo tribe. During this time, I’ve been much cared for by them. When I fell ill and unconscious in the desert, they didn’t abandon me and brought me here for treatment.”

Hearing this, Pang Xiao felt immense heartache.

When he looked at Uncle Ar Han and the others again, his eyes were full of gratitude. He patted Qin Yining’s shoulder, then dismounted and quickly walked to Uncle Ar Han, cupping his hands and bowing deeply, “Uncle Ar Han, thank you for your life-saving grace toward my wife!”

Uncle Ar Han had been sighing in his heart earlier when Qin Yining buried her head in Pang Xiao’s embrace and cried.

It seemed Qin Yining’s husband had come to find her – Young Master Lu was completely without hope now.

But he was also very moved.

He understood something about Pang Xiao’s identity. A prince of Great Zhou, able to leave the wealthy capital of the Zhou dynasty, come to Tatar territory, and risk crossing the entire no-man’s land desert to find Xiyue, all just to search for his wife.

Such fearless behavior made Uncle Ar Han have to admire him as a true man.

“Prince of Great Zhou, you’re too courteous. The Princess Consort and Young Master Lu helped us kill that demon woman A’na Ri, avenging our Minuo tribe. The two of them are the leaders of our Minuo tribe. Moreover, she not only has great kindness toward our Minuo tribe but never abandoned us. What we’ve done for our leader – how could it count for anything?”

Even though Tatar and Great Zhou had always had friction, the Minuo tribe had now been listed as traitors by Khan Wutejin. The Tatar people had destroyed their families, but the Great Zhou people protected their tribespeople from harm and went through fire and water with them. Uncle Ar Han no longer cared about nationality.

Qin Yining also dismounted, linking arms with Cao Yuqing and smiling at Liao Zhibing, understanding everything in her heart.

“Aunt Cao is too clever. To think of using a tracking gu?”

Cao Yuqing helplessly pushed Qin Yining’s forehead, “You stubborn girl, when you get obstinate there’s simply no way to deal with you. You insisted on staying behind – what could I do? I could only discuss with Master Liao. He happened to have planted a tracking gu on Young Master Lu, and you would definitely travel with Young Master Lu. When you entered the no-man’s land desert, only Master Liao could find what direction you had gone.

“So I thought to first go to the capital to find your father for help. But it was also coincidental – we had just entered Great Zhou’s borders when we met the Prince bringing Elite Tiger Guards to find you. So we prepared and rushed into the desert at full speed.”

Qin Yining nodded, feeling especially grateful to Liao Zhibing in her heart. Regarding Mrs. Liao being thrown into the desert by Si Qin, she actually felt somewhat guilty.

“Master Liao, thank you.” Qin Yining solemnly thanked Liao Zhibing.

Liao Zhibing quickly stepped aside, not accepting Qin Yining’s courtesy, “Alliance Leader, please don’t be so formal.”

Uncle Ar Han was a straightforward man, and Pang Xiao was also accustomed to mingling with soldiers – he was especially good at befriending such men. They had already developed mutual admiration.

Uncle Ar Han then said, “Come, let’s first charge into the camp.”

Pang Xiao smiled and nodded, “Excellent! After traveling through the desert all this way, our muscles and bones have gotten a bit loose. The brothers could use some exercise!”

“Yes!” The Elite Tiger Guards were tremendously spirited, immediately responding with resounding voices.

Pang Xiao leaped onto his horse’s back, smiling as he extended his hand toward Qin Yining.

Qin Yining smiled slightly, unhesitatingly placing her hand in his.

With a slight effort from Pang Xiao, Qin Yining borrowed the force to jump onto the horse’s back, sitting sideways in front of him.

Everyone galloped together toward the southeast direction.

Where the horse hooves passed, dust clouds rose everywhere, making people’s hearts tremble. The Minuo tribe civilians all hid in their homes, trembling as they peered out through window cracks and door gaps. Seeing this group of black-clothed people all riding horses, each one so fierce, they were all very frightened – not one person dared come out.

In the Minuo tribe’s camp, Lu Heng stood pale as paper beside the supply wagons, wearing a cotton cloak. He had already secretly instructed Chagan Bala and Ha’er Bala to tell the tribespeople to be alert and prepare for battle.

Because earlier, for some unknown reason, the civilians who had gone to the square to watch the Prince’s wedding had actually come running back in a rush, each one panic-stricken as they ran home and shut their doors – clearly looking terrified.

Lu Heng guessed that perhaps things had changed.

The general leading troops guarding outside the Minuo tribe camp now had a grave expression, watching the people in the camp with strict vigilance. But the soldiers were all young people born and raised in Xiyue. They didn’t know what had happened or how their parents and families were, so everyone kept looking back anxiously.

The surrounded people each had imposing bearing.

Instead, those doing the surrounding were like ants on a hot pot.

Just then, everyone heard the sound of horse hooves approaching from far to near at rapid speed.

The general’s heart jumped, and he quickly ordered everyone to watch their backs.

Lu Heng also frowned as he gazed into the distance.

He saw a group of black-clothed people riding horses, sweeping toward them like a dark cloud. They all held gleaming weapons that reflected pale, intimidating cold light in the afternoon sun.

When he could clearly see that the leader was Pang Xiao, and that Pang Xiao was holding Qin Yining in front of him, Lu Heng couldn’t help but smile.

“Good, very good!”

Lu Heng turned back and instructed the tribespeople behind him in Tatar, “Prepare for battle – those in black clothes are our reinforcements!”

Ha’er Bala and Chagan Bala received the order and immediately led the tribespeople toward the Xiyue soldiers.

Pang Xiao had already led his people charging to the front, shouting loudly, “Your Prince has already abandoned you and hidden away! I advise you to preserve your lives and go home to see if your parents and family are still safe! No need to lose your lives here for a cowardly turtle!”

Hearing Pang Xiao’s words, Lu Heng immediately understood and also changed his strategy, shouting loudly in Tatar, “Don’t harm lives – intimidation is enough!”

“Yes!” The tribespeople all responded loudly in agreement.

The two sides engaged in close combat. The Xiyue soldiers were surrounded like dumplings. Though the Elite Tiger Guards were tired, each was an elite selected through rigorous training. At peak condition, each could fight a hundred enemies. Though they couldn’t kill now, their fighting power was still formidable with just a few punches and kicks.

The Minuo tribe had many people, everyone was united, and they had reinforcements helping – their morale was naturally extraordinary.

Only these Xiyue soldiers, born and raised locally, though young, had always been frogs in a well here. Not only were their martial skills poor, but they had never seen such scenes. Each was already scared senseless, not knowing how to react.

Thus the situation became completely one-sided. Soon the leading general fled in disorder with his soldiers. A few with heavier injuries lay on the ground groaning. Pang Xiao was too lazy to bother with them and led the Elite Tiger Guards to the camp entrance, dismounting in formation.

Uncle Ar Han, Wu Lan, and Su Ri Na arrived first, joyfully gathering with their tribespeople.

Qin Yining walked toward Lu Heng, joy impossible to hide in her eyes and brows, “Is everyone alright?”

Lu Heng felt bitterness and joy intertwined in his heart, difficult to express.

He was very happy that Qin Yining didn’t have to marry someone like Zhou Meng, but seeing Qin Yining return to Pang Xiao’s embrace, his heart also felt somewhat sour.