Chapter 147
Chapter 147
Ye Sima, who had arrived at the head of a light cavalry unit, had a full beard that ran into his sideburns. Probably because he had been marching through the desert, his face was sunbaked so dark he could have passed for an African.
His voice was rough, and nothing he said was particularly pleasant.
But he did not show much outright malice. He kicked his mount in the belly and rode forward. “I knew you were the type with a tough life.”
Ye Sima raised a fist, looking as though he meant to thump Han Lie in the chest.
But halfway there, he stopped and stared in surprise at Qin Ying, who sat in front of Han Lie’s saddle, wrapped in a sun-shading cloak.
“What’s this… you picked up some spoils of war?”
He could roughly tell that the person beneath the cloak was a slender woman. Ye Sima assumed Han Lie had found himself a fleeting romance during this mission.
The Jade Balance Army was often sent out on assignments, and there were plenty of skirt-chasing degenerates among them.
Whenever they traveled somewhere, it was common for soldiers to get entangled in affairs with the locals.
Even in later ages, regional prejudice still existed, and in Great Xia it was even worse.
In the eyes of these Great Xia men from Luoyang, the Sand People were several ranks beneath them.
That was why Ye Sima had used such an utterly disrespectful term as “spoils of war.”
Before Han Lie could sharply frown and snap back, Qin Ying, hidden beneath the cloak, reached a hand backward.
Her palm pressed lightly against his waist and abdomen, signaling that there was no need to make an enemy over a petty verbal slight.
Besides, Ye Sima’s assumption could serve very well to complete the cover story for Qin Ying’s background.
Only then did Han Lie force himself to endure it.
At his side, Aman, who understood Great Xia speech, had a flash of anger in his eyes. His hand moved to the curved saber at his waist.
Ye Sima noticed Aman’s movement and did not take it seriously in the slightest.
He gave a soft scoff, his arrogance plain to see.
“Aman.” Han Lie turned and shook his head at Aman.
Only then did Aman rein in his hostility a little.
Ye Sima toyed with the horsewhip in his hand and said, “If it’s you, then this will be easy. Let’s go. Back to camp.”
With that, he raised a hand wearing a glove of some unknown black leather and waved.
The light cavalry following him was well trained. Riding strange horses with ratlike claws, they guarded the Sand Lizard convoy on its way to the Fengshan Elite Cavalry formation in a posture that was half escort, half surveillance.
Ye Sima, leading the group, tugged on his reins and rode side by side with Han Lie.
Only then did he lower his voice. “Kid, you’ve done something big this time.”
When he spoke, he treated Qin Ying entirely as if she were an ornament, with no intention of avoiding her ears.
Han Lie remained silent.
Ye Sima snapped in irritation, “Still the same dull gourd who couldn’t fart even after three strikes.”
“The one leading the army this time is General Chen. You’re in luck.”
With that, he urged his mount ahead and went to call for the gate before the main military camp.
Once he had ridden farther away, Qin Ying asked quietly, “Why did he say that?”
Why had Han Lie visibly relaxed the moment Ye Sima mentioned General Chen?
Could there be some history between them?
Han Lie first apologized in a low voice, then said, “When my father was alive, he was on good terms with General Chen.”
In other words, he had someone above him.
Qin Ying nodded in understanding.
As they spoke, the camp gate ahead opened with a sharp, grating creak.
Qin Ying secretly took a look at the military stronghold and was startled.
When she had been standing on the sand dune, she had already been curious.
According to word from the Yunwu County Commandery, this army had only just arrived not long ago.
How had they built such a massive camp?
But now she knew the answer.
Linked by enormous iron chains, giant beasts as tall as four- or five-story buildings crouched one after another on the yellow sand, their bodies forming a towering city wall.
These colossal beasts looked like elephants, yet also like giant turtles.
They had the solid bodies and rough, thick hides of elephants, but on their backs were extremely thick black tortoise shells.
Their noses were pierced through by massive iron chains, and with their broad bodies, they had encircled the area into a small city.
Even though Qin Ying did not suffer from megalophobia, her heart still thudded hard.
It seemed these creatures were one of the sources of Great Xia’s domineering confidence.
Strategic beasts like these could be used both to attack and defend.
When building a stronghold and holding ground, the tortoise shells on their backs were the finest shields for city defense.
And if they attacked, what city wall could possibly withstand creatures of this size?
The Sand People traveling with them had lived their whole lives in the desert. When had they ever seen such colossal things rising straight out of the ground?
Every last one of them developed a sudden case of megalophobia, their hearts quailing.
Aman’s back was drenched in sweat.
As they passed through the camp gate, one of the giant beasts used for building the city shifted its head, revealing a short, blunt snout.
The hot breath it snorted out carried a fishy stench, whipping up the windproof cloaks around them.
Han Lie raised an arm and turned sideways, shielding Qin Ying.
Ye Sima caught sight of it, and a flicker of surprise flashed through his eyes before vanishing.
After entering the camp gate, they were no longer permitted to ride their Sand Lizards. Everyone was also ordered to lift their cloaks for inspection.
When it was Qin Ying’s turn, Ye Sima sidled over without a word to take a closer look.
Under his gaze, Qin Ying lifted her hood.
To pass herself off as one of the Sand People, she had altered her face.
Using the dark art of Eastern makeup, she had dipped her fingers in sand and dust, then smeared shadows along her brow bones, eye sockets, and the sides of her nose bridge.
It made her eyes and facial contours appear much deeper.
The lower half of her face was hidden behind a veil. At first glance, only her brows and eyes were visible, and they fit the Sand People’s features quite well.
Ye Sima looked her over with one eyebrow raised. After his gaze swept over her twice, he chuckled and said, “She really is a rare beauty.”
That tiny mole beneath her eye was utterly bewitching.
“Hey, which tribe did you find her in?”
If it was along the way, he would go find one to bring back to Luoyang too.
He even wanted Qin Ying to remove her veil so he could see her entire face.
But Han Lie suddenly stepped in and blocked his view.
“Ye Sima, mind your words.”
His lips were pressed tight. If not for Qin Ying’s orders, he would have already erupted.
After being challenged like that, Ye Sima’s black, needle-like mustache bristled.
He looked ready to lash out, but in the end he suppressed it and gave a cold snort. “What a temper you have, Han Lie.”
Seeing the two of them at daggers drawn, the clerk beside them urged, “Gentlemen, this is the camp gate, not a place for quarrels.”
Only after he said that did the atmosphere ease slightly.
Ye Sima’s tone, however, remained dripping with sarcasm. “Let’s go, then. I’ll find a tent for you to hide your pretty little mistress in.”
With that, he led them on foot through the military camp.
Giant beasts were kept in this camp, and the air was filled with waves of rank, fishy animal stink.
In front of every large tent crouched all manner of strange, grotesque things.
Ye Sima temporarily ordered someone to clear out a tent with a wooden fence. Then he said to Han Lie, “Have your little lover go in. You’re coming with me to see Chen Sima.”
He stopped outside the tent, giving Han Lie a moment to make arrangements.
Aman and the others waited outside while Han Lie and Qin Ying entered the tent.
The felt tent stank terribly and had no windows. A glowing Migu Flower hung from the top of the tent to provide light.
The Migu Flower’s cold radiance served as their light source, illuminating a small couch covered in animal hide and a little folding table.
Han Lie said nothing, only mouthed: Sorry. There are many sharp-eared people here.
Qin Ying nodded in understanding.
In this strange and uncanny world, anything could happen.
She also mouthed back: Don’t worry about it. Keep acting like this.
Only then did Han Lie draw a slight breath and say aloud, “Stay in the tent and don’t wander around.”
“I’ll be back soon.”
With that, he turned and left. Before departing, he gave Aman two looks, ordering him to lead the others in guarding the tent.
Qin Ying was left alone inside.
She was curious about everything here. Standing on tiptoe, she looked up at the Migu Flower above her head, then reached out curiously to touch its petals and see what was glowing.
Han Lie followed Ye Sima to the large tent at the center of the military camp.
After the summons came from inside, the two lifted the curtain and entered one after the other.
All they heard was a rush of wind.
A black inkstone came smashing toward them.
Han Lie, standing in front, sharpened his gaze. He turned sideways and caught the inkstone in one hand.
Beside him, Ye Sima had ink splashed all over his face.
Seeing this, the middle-aged man who had thrown the inkstone cursed at Han Lie, “You damned bastard!”
“Before you took action, did you even bother to consider whether you were capable of handling it?”
“Who gave you permission to do something so dangerous on your own?”