“I’ve heard that Nazhan is an extremely selfish person. Whatever the reason, this E’naqi tribe is doomed. Without the support of a powerful ruling clan, they’ll surely lose thousands to natural disasters and human calamities!”
“That’s not our concern. In this world, misfortune is simply one’s fate. As our leader says, for one to live, another must die. It’s heaven’s decree!”
“Well said!”
Listening to their conversation, Huang Beishuang found it laughable. She had long known that among the multitudes, she was but a speck of dust. The life of one at the cost of another—this was heaven’s will, a truth even a bandit could understand.
“The best is mine. The rest, divide them as you please!”
Finally breaking the long silence and resuming his usual tone, Langhead and Manhu exchanged glances upon hearing these words, their eyes darting towards Huang Beishuang in her red wedding dress.
The best woman, they thought.
The best woman stood before them, unfazed, in the prime of her youth, breathtakingly beautiful. Her presence chilled them to the bone. During their plundering, no one had dared to lay hands on her. In the end, they had merely bound her at the front of the captives’ circle, symbolizing their greatest prize. Regardless of who she was or where she came from, no one but her had dared to question their leader so defiantly.
As Ruowen’s group moved farther away with their spoils, they were unaware of a graceful figure that had appeared on a yellow dune. Standing atop the hill, a black cloak danced in the wind, making a flapping sound.
“Feita, look at this coincidence. Isn’t it interesting?”
The speaker was Qing Yun. He pulled his cloak to half-cover his face, preventing sand from blowing into his mouth. His expression was hidden, revealing only a pair of unfathomable eyes fixated on the distant riders.
“Ha ha!” He let out a deep laugh, then turned to mount his horse. “Let’s go! Time to repay her ten pouches of water!”
Feita let out a long neigh, its strong forelegs stomping impatiently before charging northward in fierce pursuit.
Feita, with your human-like intelligence,
Do you know,
What you’re chasing,
Is an epic tale of love,
What you’re chasing,
Is an ancient oath,
What you’re chasing,
Is a saga of gratitude and grudges in chaotic times!
Heaven knows,
Earth knows,
But you do not…
**Chapter 2: Prelude to the Storm**
The bandits had no oasis of their own; their hideouts frequently changed. They belonged to no ethnic group. Beyond living by the sword and surviving arrows, they were left with only their base instincts and desires…
Killing for pleasure, indulging in rape and debauchery, bathing in wine and revelry, gambling for wealth—nothing was beyond them.
Tonight would be another sleepless night of bestial desires and wild clamor.
Huang Beishuang surveyed her surroundings. Though brutish, these bandits were adept at observing terrain. Their village was built in a wind-dead zone, a place rarely affected by quicksand or storms. Given that all their food and supplies were stolen, this earthen fort—devoid of water and animal life—became their most advantageous encampment.
Upon their victorious return, the bandits would hold public fights. The best spoils always went to the strongest first.
Ruowen had stripped the dozen or so yellow- and blue-clad maids around Huang Beishuang completely naked, lining them up bare-bodied. Before them stood an arena made of packed sand. The bandit’s faces flushed and eyes swollen with excitement, surrounded the arena. Their beastly aura engulfed the dozen helpless, despairing young beauties.
Huang Beishuang suppressed the pain in her heart, guessing that she would likely be the grand finale. She hadn’t seen the hundred-plus guards captured with them, unsure where they were being held, but certain they hadn’t all been killed off so quickly.
Preparations seemed complete as Ruowen emerged from behind. He was bare-chested, his bronze body appearing incredibly muscular, adorned with the jewels the E’naqi tribe had offered to Nazhan. He seemed to have washed his face, looking much more handsome than before. His short black hair stood up like sharp bristles, water droplets still clinging to his chin. Huang Beishuang estimated he was about twenty-four or twenty-five, indeed possessing the bearing of a great general. His deep purple eyes gleamed with sharp light, and at his waist, he still carried his three weapons—knife, gun, and sword.
He sat down in the fur-covered chair to Huang Beishuang’s right, satisfied with the lively atmosphere. Turning his head towards her with a smug smile, he said, “Look, the show’s about to begin!”
Huang Beishuang turned away, ignoring him.
Clap! Clap!
Undeterred, Ruowen clapped twice, and the frenzy began.
The first to step into the arena were two small, wiry men with fierce expressions, apparently twins. They grinned at each other grotesquely before lunging into a grappling match as the crowd cheered them on.
“These twins were sold to human traffickers at age six. They used to be extremely beautiful, more so than women. Due to their small stature, they were sold to noble generals for their pleasure until they escaped together at fourteen,” Ruowen explained as he watched, occasionally tossing meat from a plate into his mouth. Huang Beishuang knew he was speaking to her but still refused to engage. At this moment, she desperately needed to stay calm. Even if there was only a glimmer of hope, she had to cling to it.
Ruowen studied her expression for a while before continuing, “Aren’t you hungry? Eat. If you don’t eat now, you won’t eat again until tomorrow night. We only eat once a day.”
Huang Beishuang was indeed very hungry. After all the turmoil, she hadn’t eaten even a bite of dry rations. Hearing Ruowen’s words, she could think of nothing else. As if throwing caution to the wind, she grabbed food from the plate with one hand and began to devour it ravenously, appearing quite savage.
“Hahaha!” Ruowen laughed heartily at the sight. “You are an interesting woman!”
With that, he stopped provoking Huang Beishuang and turned his attention back to the arena with keen interest. The first fight lasted about half an hour, half the sand in the hourglass having run out. Ruowen commented with a smile, “Looks like the younger brother won again.” He turned back to Huang Beishuang, “They’ll publicly indulge here. Do you want to watch?”
Hearing his words, Huang Beishuang felt a chill run through her heart. The meat fell from her mouth as she heard Guoer and Yaner’s shrill screams. Their cries were futile now; no matter how heart-wrenching, they only added fuel to the fire. The men had gone mad—they had long since gone mad.
She turned away, unwilling to witness the obscene scenes, but the shouts continued to rise and fall. More people climbed onto the arena amidst the chaotic jeering, and more terrified women were thrown to the ground by the crazed fighters. The violence and shamelessness continued to assault Huang Beishuang’s mind until she suddenly shuddered and began to vomit profusely. She could barely endure it any longer!