For a moment, everyone fell into silence. The severity of the situation had already exceeded the original expectations of Qin Yining, Lu Heng, and the others.
Among these people, only Pang Xiao appeared the most carefree. It seemed as if being proclaimed a traitor to the nation by Li Qitian was not a big deal at all.
“Alright, don’t worry so much. Problems can always be solved.”
Uncle Alhan had always admired men like Pang Xiao, and since he was also Qin Yining’s husband, and Qin Yining had shown great kindness to the Minuo tribe, he felt extra concern for Pang Xiao.
“If it doesn’t work out, why not just stay here? Your emperor can’t find this place anyway, and this place is sufficient for all of us to live self-sufficiently.”
Uncle Alhan spoke in Tatar, and the Ha’er Bala and Chagan Bala brothers beside him nodded in agreement, very much approving of Uncle Alhan’s suggestion. They also joined in persuading: “What’s good about going back? Your emperor might even be jealous that you’re more capable than him! Just like how that demon woman A’na Ri was jealous of our Abu and Eji, and eventually tried every means to harm them. Our Minuo tribe was originally such a large tribe, but in the end we were harmed until only a few thousand people remained, and the elderly, weak, women and children were left outside the desert before we entered it during our escape.”
Speaking of this, several Minuo tribe members felt very sad. Some thought of family members who had died tragically, while others had wives and daughters left outside the desert.
They still wanted to go fetch them, but now the no-man’s-land desert had become the greatest barrier to their reunion. They didn’t believe they had the ability to cross the no-man’s-land to find their tribespeople and successfully lead everyone to this oasis while being pursued by Khan Wutejin.
Perhaps they truly had no possibility of meeting again.
Everyone’s mood was very low.
Pang Xiao couldn’t help but sigh as well.
He said in Tatar: “Just as you cannot abandon your tribespeople, Yi Jie’er and I also have our parents and relatives in the capital. If we don’t return, their lives will be sacrificed. How can we let others charge forward to sacrifice themselves while we enjoy a carefree life here? Not to mention anything else, we would only feel guilty and ashamed to death.”
Upon hearing this, Uncle Alhan and the others nodded in understanding.
“Since you put it that way, we can all understand. When you leave the desert this time, can you find the direction back?”
Uncle Alhan asked this question because of some doubt in his heart. After they entered the desert, they had completely left everything to fate, wandering aimlessly without direction. Yet Pang Xiao and Cao Yuqing’s group had arrived at the oasis just in time, as if they had known their direction in advance.
At this moment, Cao Yuqing smiled and came forward to explain: “Actually, we owe this matter to Mr. Liao from the Qingtian Alliance.”
Cao Yuqing openly told them about how Mr. Liao had come with Lu Heng’s subordinates and planted a tracking parasite in Lu Heng’s body, explaining how they had detected Lu Heng’s abduction, determined the direction, and pursued to rescue him.
“Because the tracking parasite in Second Master Lu’s body hasn’t dissipated yet, and this tracking parasite has an extremely wide sensing range, when Yi Jie’er decided to enter the desert with you all, I kept an extra eye out and consulted with Mr. Liao and the Qingtian Alliance brothers, leaving the group together.
“So this time, our encounter with the Prince at the border was purely coincidental, but our finding this place with the Prince was entirely thanks to Mr. Liao’s tracking parasite. Whether you had found the oasis or not, we had decided to follow the direction of the tracking parasite deep into the desert.”
Lu Heng listened with eyes already widened in surprise: “I actually have this thing in my body?”
“Yes.” Liao Zhibing smiled and said, “But Second Master Lu need not worry. This parasite has a limited lifespan and can survive at most three years. It will gradually die off without needing an antidote, and won’t cause any harm to the body.”
Lu Heng nodded understandingly: “If not for this parasite, I would have been taken away back then, and who knows what fate would have awaited me. So this parasite actually saved my life.”
Cao Yuqing couldn’t help but nod upon hearing this. Lu Heng was indeed a person of good character.
However, compared to him, Pang Xiao was not inferior either.
Thinking of this, Cao Yuqing looked toward Qin Yining and smiled: “So looking at it this way, Yi Jie’er, the Prince cares about you very much.”
After all, not many people would be willing to risk danger, knowing full well that ahead lay a desert of no return, yet still be willing to venture forth for your sake.
Qin Yining was suddenly called upon and her face turned red. Feeling sweet and shy inside, she couldn’t bring herself to look at Pang Xiao’s expression, but said seriously: “So I’m also very grateful that Aunt Cao was willing to risk coming to the desert to find me. And the Jinghu Guard brothers as well.”
Qin Yining stood up and addressed Huzi and the fifty-plus Jinghu Guards beside Pang Xiao: “That you’re willing to follow the Prince through life and death battles, in my heart, you are all upstanding heroes. Thank you all!”
The crowd had witnessed Qin Yining’s composure in crisis and her skillful completion of plans before the Xiyue people, and now receiving such praise from her, everyone felt very elated.
Huzi grinned and said: “Princess Consort, you’re being too kind. Our lives belong to the Prince. Going up mountains of knives or down into seas of fire – it’s all just a matter of the Prince’s word. Princess Consort need not be so formal with us.”
All the Jinghu Guards nodded as well: “Being chosen by the Prince is our honor.”
Pang Xiao turned back and smiled at his brothers. Having these loyal comrades together filled his heart with joy.
Infected by such a scene, Uncle Alhan and the Chagan Bala brothers all felt their blood stirring.
Uncle Alhan slapped his thigh and said in Tatar: “Back then, it was Second Master Lu and the Princess Consort who killed A’na Ri for us, so we already recognized them both as our tribal leaders. Now that the Princess Consort wants to follow the Prince back to Great Zhou, we Minuo tribe members naturally wish to follow and assist the Princess Consort.”
Uncle Alhan turned back and repeated these words to the Chagan Bala brothers, and both nodded solemnly, expressing their desire to go together.
Pang Xiao translated their words to Qin Yining.
But Qin Yining smiled and said: “Uncle Alhan, I understand your kind intentions and am very grateful. However, when the Prince and I leave here to return to Great Zhou, we will face a very severe situation. I cannot let the tribespeople take risks with us.”
Uncle Alhan said anxiously: “There has never been anyone in the Minuo tribe who was afraid of death! Each of our warriors is willing to risk their lives for friends and tribespeople!”
“I know.” Qin Yining comforted Uncle Alhan, saying: “Living together with the Minuo tribe members, I already consider them my closest friends and family. The unity and courage of the Minuo tribe is something I’ve rarely seen in my life – this is an undeniable fact.
“It’s just that we went through countless hardships to finally reach this place. Here, there’s no Tatar tyranny, no one will persecute our tribespeople. This place has sufficient oasis for the tribespeople to multiply and thrive, and they never again need to toil for others. The grain seeds we brought are enough for everyone to live on.
“The Minuo tribe has experienced so much struggle – what was it all for? Everyone risked their lives – wasn’t it so that one day they could live freely with dignity?
“Now we’ve achieved our goal. Staying here to live is the best choice for the Minuo tribe. I absolutely cannot bring the Minuo tribe members to Great Zhou to take risks just because the Prince and I face a severe situation.”
Pang Xiao also nodded: “I also agree with Yi Jie’er’s approach, and everyone must consider the bigger picture. Having the Minuo tribe stay here to multiply and thrive – that’s the best choice.”
“But!” Uncle Alhan felt conflicted inside.
Actually, his first choice was also to hope they could stay here to live, which is why he initially tried to persuade Qin Yining and Pang Xiao to stay and not return to Great Zhou. But then thinking that Qin Yining had been good to the Minuo tribe members, he couldn’t be cowardly when they were in danger, so he proposed going to Great Zhou to help.
Ha’er Bala and Chagan Bala had the same thoughts as Uncle Alhan. Though they yearned for this land that could give them freedom, as long as Qin Yining said the word, they would follow them to Great Zhou without hesitation.
“Uncle, listen to me.” Qin Yining said: “Although you are the leaders of the tribespeople, the life and death of the tribespeople shouldn’t be decided by just a few of us. Since we can let everyone live, why make them take risks? Moreover, if you stay here, it doesn’t mean I’ll never return. Perhaps in the future, if the Prince and I can’t survive out there, this place might become our last refuge.”
Pang Xiao also said: “Exactly so. I also disagree with bringing innocent people to take risks. I think most tribespeople would prefer to live peacefully. The future development and reproduction of the Minuo tribe still rests on your shoulders. The Minuo tribe endured so much suffering to finally reach this day, which shows that heaven doesn’t want to see the Minuo tribe disappear from this world. So I absolutely will not bring these friends into danger.”
Seeing that both Pang Xiao and Qin Yining were so determined, Lu Heng also sighed lightly and said: “Everyone should live peacefully here. Perhaps one day, when we can’t survive outside, this place will become our only refuge.”
Uncle Alhan asked in surprise: “Young Master Lu is leaving too?”
Both Pang Xiao and Qin Yining looked toward Lu Heng.
Lu Heng smiled bitterly: “I also have unfinished missions outside.”
Everyone fell silent again. The melancholy of impending separation settled in their hearts, making everyone’s faces tense.
Qin Yining sighed and said to Liao Zhibing beside her: “Mr. Liao, can the method of the tracking parasite be taught to the tribespeople? When we were fleeing for our lives, we divided the tribespeople into two groups. I want to use the tracking parasite to help everyone find the other tribespeople. Moreover, although this is an oasis, it doesn’t mean everyone should be trapped here like in a prison forever. The Xiyue people searched for a hundred years without successfully leaving the no-man’s-land desert. I don’t want the Minuo tribe members to be trapped by this as well – they should have the right to choose for themselves.”