Since returning to the wolves, except for occasionally eavesdropping on the conversation of the merchant caravan, I have not spoken to humans in over three years. Even though I often talked to Lang Xiong, for some reason, due to tension or something, I stammered.
The youth in white asked softly, "There's only one wolf?" I was secretly furious, if there were other wolves, would I let you question me? My brain immediately spins, should I tell the truth or lie? After considering it a few times, I felt that I shouldn't deceive the young man, besides, a woman's instincts told me that she had actually guessed my true state, and she was only asking questions to appease the people by her side.
"There's only…just this one". As soon as I heard what I said, everyone's faces lightened up, then they looked at me and Lang Xiong with curiosity and wonder, they didn't understand how I could live with the wolves.
Drawing his crossbow, the young man said, "Control your wolf". I nodded, but I then turned around and told Lang Xiong to attack if he wanted to attack. After that I asked the young man, "Which hand do you want to cut off?" I've heard merchants say that after being caught, a thief often has his hands cut off as a lesson.
The man in purple asked, "What are you trying to steal?" I looked down at my tattered dress, then noticed the young man's clothes in a beautiful white dress, haltingly I said, "I want...I want...a dress". Surprised the man in purple widened his eyes, in disbelief he shot me, "Is that all?" I said, "And salt". The man in purple said coldly, "We have several hundred ways to make you tell the truth, you are better"
The young man in white said, "Take a set of women's clothes that were given to us at Shanshan Lake, then weigh our salt enough to wear for a few days, give the rest to him." The purple clothed man's face changed slightly, he opened his mouth and said, "Jiu Ye". The young man glanced at him, and he immediately covered his mouth. Not long after, a man gave me a set of light blue women's clothes, with confusion I accepted it, and also took a small jar of salt, while staring at the young man in white in white.
The young man in white smiled and said, "Our group is all male, no women's clothing, only this shirt, which was gifted to me by a friend when we were passing through Luolan, I hope you like it." I felt it with my fingers, it was soft and smooth like goat's lard, surely this is the most precious silk cloth, I felt that this gift was too expensive and meant to refuse it, but in the end I couldn't resist the temptation to have it, and reluctantly nodded .
He nodded slightly "You may go". I was stunned for a moment, saluted him, then called Lang Xiong and left.
A horse neigh sounded from behind me, I turned to look at the horse, but I have accepted people's kindness, and now I can't quarrel with the master, but Lang Xiong didn't give face to anyone, he suddenly turned around, the hair all over his body stood on end, then it looked up and gave a long howl, before the howl ended, several camels had fallen on the sand, while the horse, although it did not fall, but all four legs trembled.
I couldn't hold back my laughter, if you don't show off your wolf power, wouldn't that horse think that he is the king of the desert? How can you invite the wrath of the wolf king who rules like the wolf tail? Maybe because he was startled by my loud laughter that broke free, the young man in the white shirt looked stunned, he was watching me without blinking, under his eyes, my face turned red, I immediately stopped laughing, and he immediately averted his eyes. With a sigh of admiration he looked at Lang Xiong, "Although this horse is not Hanxue Baoma, it is a chosen stallion. People say he can single-handedly fight a tiger or leopard, but it turns out to be all nonsense."
To comfort him I said, "Not necessarily bullshit, ordinary tigers and leopards can't compare to my Lang Xiong". After I finished speaking, I immediately sent Lang Xiong away. I saw that he was looking at the chosen stallion with great taste, if he didn't go who knows what chaos would ensue.
After a long walk, I turned to see them, beside the yellow sand and emerald green water, the white clothes became a sight in the middle of the desert that was hard to forget. I don't know if he can see me, but I still waved my hand at him with all my might, then just hid behind the sand dunes.
Beside the bonfire there were only Lang Xiong and I, because of fear of fire, the other wolves hid far away, Lang Xiong used to be afraid of fire, but then I slowly taught him to get used to fire, but the wolves others did not have the courage of Lang Xiong.
My attempts to force the other wolves to lie down by the fire not only failed, but instead scared me away from the wolf cubs in the pack, I became a secret weapon for the wolf mothers to frighten off the wolf cubs that wouldn't sleep at night. day, as soon as they said they would leave their children to me, the wayward wolf cubs immediately obeyed.
I unfolded the dress and looked at it carefully, the dress was somehow dyed with what plants so it had a dreamy blue color. The sewing was very neat, the sleeves were full of embroidered mega-parades, the belt was full of small pearl frills, as soon as she tied it and walked, the pearl tassels fluttered and accentuated the wearer's waist. Luolan women have to cover their faces with a thin silk cloth all year round, therefore there is also a silk cloth covering the face of the same color, at the end of which hangs a large round pearl, once the veil is worn, the pearl will sit right on the hair and become a bando. At home when it was not necessary to wear the veil, it would hang behind the head and accentuate the jet-black hair, together with a pearl headband on the head, it made a great hair ornament.
I glanced at Lang Xiong, then asked, “Isn't this dress too precious? Why do you think that Jiu Ye could give a foreigner such a precious item? normal
listening to my chatter, he kept his eyes closed and slept peacefully, ignoring me.
I tweaked his ear, but he didn't budge, I was forced to stop my chatter, leaned on him and slowly sank into dreamland.
Full moon arrives. I have always been amazed at the wolves' fondness for the moon, at that time, they were always very excited, even to the point where a wolf howled at the moon all night long, therefore at this time the desert was filled with wild howls, travelers who were a bit timid lest all night can not sleep.
The dark blue sky was like a tent, the moonlight was like water rushing down and falling on the hilly boundless desert, and made it bathed in a soft silvery white light. I put on my most precious dress and strolled in the middle of the desert with Lang Xiong.
The blue dress floated up and down with my steps, my jet-black hair with a pearl headband and silk handkerchief fluttering in the wind. I took off my shoes and stepped on the sand which still remained warm, a feeling of warmth immediately rose from the soles of my feet to my heart. As far as the eye can see there is an endless sky. For a moment, I feel that the whole earth and sky are mine. For a moment, I can fly freely as I please. I couldn't help but look up at the moon and screamed loudly, Lang Xiong immediately howled in response to me, amidst the darkness of the night countless wolves howled to each other.
I think I understand a little what is special about this night for the wolves, the moon is ours, the desert is ours, the loneliness, pride and sadness contained in the long howl at the moon.
Lang Xiong and I climbed to the top of a sand dune that had been worn out with holes, while puffing out his chest he stood, looking at the entire desert. He is the king of this region, he is paying close attention to his territory. Although I also took a deep breath, but I didn't want to spoil her current mood, so I stood silently behind her, then looked up to enjoy the moon.
Lang Xiong growled in a low voice, I immediately looked into the distance, but my eyesight and hearing ability were not as good as his, I couldn't see or hear what he thought was unusual, except for the howling of a wolf cub, to me that night was still a night serene and beautiful.
Moments later, I could gradually hear voices hidden in the darkness of the night, getting closer and closer, as if a thousand horses were galloping closer, Lang Xiong laughed scornfully, he felt that there were not many of them. A while later, I could gradually see clearly, just like Lang Xiong said, under the light of the night, a merchant party of a dozen or so people were walking in front of us, while behind them several hundred people were chasing after them, it seemed they were not an army, of course they were desert bandits.
For a long time, hooves thundered on the yellow sand, the moonlight even dimmer, Lang Xiong looked irritated at the hordes of humans in the distance for ruining the wolves' night, but he didn't want to fight, he shook his head. , then lie down. In a wolf pack there are various rules for survival, the number one rule is that unless there is very little food, or in order to protect themselves, wolves always try to avoid attacking humans, this is not because they are afraid, but just a way to avoid trouble.
I put on my shoes, put on my veil, then sat watching the hand-to-hand combat in the distance where the outcome was obvious. It was said that once they wanted to rob, the desert bandits would not stop unless they died, especially in a one-sided battle like this. Among the group of merchants in front there were already two people who had been stabbed and fell off their horses, the hooves of the horses following them trampled their corpses, then continued forward while neighing.
Suddenly, a horse's leg was slashed off by the bandits, fresh blood was splashed, the horse staggered forward, then fell to the ground, the person riding it fell, it seemed that he too would be trampled to death by the horse behind him, but the person in front of him suddenly turned his horse, grabbed the fallen person, then continued to lunge forward, but his horse seemed to have slowed down, the person he was helping was struggling to jump off the horse. The person who helped him seemed very annoyed, he swung his hand and hit the man on the back of the neck, that person fainted and fell limp on the horse's back.
My eyes seemed to be shrouded in a dense blood mist, my nose seemed to be able to smell the faint smell of blood, the sound of galloping horses that filled the sky three years ago was again ringing in my ears. I couldn't help but get up, then looked down with empty eyes.
Yu Dan and I rode the best horse in the entire Xiongnu. We have fled for two days and two nights, but have not yet arrived at the Han Dynasty, and still cannot break away from the pursuing troops. Yu Dan's bodyguards died one after another, only the two of us remained. I was also worried that we would soon fall off the horse and be unknowingly trampled by the horse's hooves. Yinzhixie, do you really want to kill A Die and us? If you have killed A Die, I will hate you.
"Yu Jin, I'll stab the horse's thigh to make the horse run faster, after we manage to escape from the pursuing troops, I'll get you off the horse, you run yourself. When you were little, didn't you become a wolf in this wilderness? This time , return to being a wolf, you will definitely be able to avoid the hunters behind you".
"Then what about you? A Die said, he wants us to run to Zhongyuan together."
"Don't I have a horse? I can escape faster than you, wait until I get to Zhongyuan, I will come to pick you up". Yu Dan's smiling face was still beaming. I looked at his face, but couldn't help but feel scared and shook my head.
However Yu Dan put me down from the horse, I ran in the middle of the desert chasing him while screaming with sobs, "Don't leave me, we run together". Yu Dan turned around and begged, "Yu Jin, listen to what I say for once, will you? Just obey me this once, I'll definitely come to pick you up, run away quickly!"
I stared at him in astonishment for a while, took a deep breath, then nodded with all my might, then turned around and ran as fast as I could, behind me, Yu Dan galloped in the opposite direction. When I turned, I saw that in the middle of the night, we were both farther and farther apart, he turned to look at me, waving his hand with a smile, finally we each disappeared in the middle of the desert.
I only remember that the horse ran fast, but I forgot that a horse that has been running for two days and two nights, and which keeps bleeding from its thighs, how long can it keep running fast? Besides that, there was still the rancid smell of blood that would attract the attention of the pursuing troops who didn't know that I had run away alone, they would definitely catch up to him.
.....................
It seems that the desert bandits are getting more and more excited about this game, but they haven't killed anyone yet, only slowly advancing from both sides, starting to surround the merchant group.
The circle of besiegers soon slowly continued, I suddenly made up my mind, this time I will change the destiny that Heaven has decreed, I glanced at Lang Xiong, then let out a wolf howl towards the front. Lang Xiong shook his body, then slowly got up, he looked up, the sound of his howling grew louder and louder, calling his people.
Instantly, the howling of wolves bustlingly rang out throughout the wilderness, one after another, wolves appearing on the high and low dunes, more and more, in the middle of the night, pairs of green eyes sparkling like lanterns who illuminates the way to the gates of hell.
I don't know what nation the desert robbers belong to, I can't understand their screams, but they immediately stopped chasing the merchant group, and quickly flocked together, more than a hundred people joined together and looked for a way to save their lives. , but the four corners are full of wolves, nowhere to loose. The wolves stared at them from a distance, they did not dare to recklessly attack the wolves. The bandits who seek their livelihood in the desert are also called wolf bandits, of course, they know very well how terrifying a pursuit to death can be.
The merchant group immediately gathered together, even though they were small and weak, they had a strong determination to survive. I started to doubt my own opinion, beside me were desert bandits whose name alone made one's hair stand on end, while around me were more than a dozen wolves, how could an ordinary merchant troupe when faced with such a situation be as calm as an army?
The howling of the wolves has stopped, the bandits are no longer screaming, in the dead of night there is an irony, the fate of people can't be predicted! Very quickly, the bandits changed roles from hunters to hunted. I assumed that they were going to use fire, but alas there was no firewood around, and even if they had brought torches and lit them they still could not break through the wolves.
The bandits lit torches one by one, I patted Lang Xiong, "It seems they don't want to kill anymore, order the wolves to give them a way out". Lang Xiong mustered his authority, the wolves scattering to open the way.
At first, amidst the chaos, no one paid attention to us hiding on high ground, but as soon as Lang Xiong's howl sounded in the darkness of the night, everyone immediately looked our way. Lang Xiong stepped forward proudly, then stood in front of the cliff, he arrogantly nodded to the human group below him, his silvery hairs that stood straight like needles flashed silver light under the moonlight, he was very dignified.
Annoyed I kicked him, still pretending! Ai, tonight who knows how many hearts of the she-wolf will be shattered here.
At this time, the wolf pack had opened a path, the bandits were stunned and unexpectedly motionless, for a moment they looked at us, then looked at the wolf-free path, they were either studying me and Lang Xiong, or considering whether the road safe or not.
I became impatient, regardless of whether they could understand Han or not, I shouted loudly, "We've given you guys a way out, but you still won't run away?" The bandits were silent for a moment, then suddenly shouted while swinging their machetes, jumped down from their horses, then began to kowtow to us. I was stunned for a moment, then immediately felt relieved. Although the bandits are afraid of wolves, they worship the strength, cruelty and tenacity of wolves. They call themselves wolf robbers. Perhaps the wolf is their sacred totem. After they finished prostrating, they quickly got on their horses and ran all the way down the wolfless road.
After the dust had fallen, I gave a long howl to order the wolves below to continue what they were doing, the night is not half past yet, you who are grieving continue to grieve, you who are happy continue to rejoice, those who are making out please continue, at all don't mind me.
The wolves weren't as wary of me as they were of Lang Xiong, they simultaneously snorted and grinned at me, then scattered on their own. To human ears, their voices sound like wild boisterous howls.
I looked at the merchant group below, I didn't want to talk to them at all and told Lang Xiong to leave. When I had just jumped down from the hill and had not gone far, hooves could be heard behind me "Thank you very much for your kind kindness miss saving our lives". I turned and nodded slightly, but then ran, trying to avoid them.
"Miss, please wait a moment! When we were being chased by robbers we had lost our way, begging you to show us the way".
Since they said that, I had to make Lang Xiong stop, their horses avoided Lang Xiong far away while neighing, however, they didn't want to take a step forward, so I told Lang Xiong to stay where he was and endure his aggressive attitude, and also endured the smell of the wolf on his own body. I stepped toward them, and they immediately dismounted. Maybe because I was wearing Luolan clothes, they saluted Luolan custom to me, and also used Luolan language to greet me. I took off my veil, "Even though I'm wearing a Luolan's clothes, I'm not a Luolan person. I don't even understand their language."
A man asked, "Are you a Great Han?" For a moment I hesitated, am I Han? A Die said that his daughter must be a Han, then I should be a Han, so I nodded.
A voice came from behind the group, "We are a group of merchants from Chang'an who have come to buy spices, miss where are you from?" When I looked in the direction where the voice came from, I recognized him as the one who was helping his friend.
Unknowingly, he was only a six or seventeen year old youth, tall and sturdy like a green fir tree, dignified and strong like the scorching sun, under his sword-like eyebrows, a pair of eyes sparkling like cold stars were looking at me. curiously, a nonchalant smile appeared on his face. I avoided his blade-sharp eyes, lowered my head and looked at the ground.
He knew I wasn't happy, but he didn't care at all and kept looking at me, a middle-aged man by his side immediately stepped forward, smiling he said, "Great kindness is difficult to repay with words, Miss's clothes are luxurious, Miss's attitude is extraordinary, actually We don't dare to offer the usual gifts, but we do happen to have a pearl earring that might complement Miss' outfit, please kindly accept it." While speaking, the middle-aged man had carried a small brocade box and handed it to me.
I shook my head "This thing is of no use to me, but if you have a set of women's clothes you can give it to me". The men looked at each other in confusion.
I said, "It's okay if you don't have one. Where are you going?" The middle-aged man said, "We are going to Dunhuang City, then return to Chang'an". With a grunt I said, "From here to Yueya Quan in Mingsha Shan it's a four day journey, I can only guide you there".
Upon hearing this, their faces looked worried, only the young man still smiled indifferently. The middle-aged man asked, “We know the way from Yueya Quan to Dunhuang. But, is there a shortcut? to reach Yueya Quan". I said "I think speed is our destiny. You have horses, of course it can arrive two days early". Upon hearing that, their faces looked a lot lighter.
They decided to rest and eat first, to recover after a day and night of being chased by bandits, then continue their journey. When they asked my opinion, I said, "All day I wander in the desert, I have nothing to do, it's up to you to manage." But secretly I was surprised, these people were able to survive the pursuit day and night of the bandits, if only the bandits didn't control the area, I don't know who would win or lose.
I told Lang Xiong to leave, but also ordered him to order a few wolves to follow me secretly. Lang Xiong didn't understand my relationship with humans, he was a bit confused, but he licked my hand, then ran away gracefully.
The merchant group took water and food, then sat down on the ground, I took a little distance from them, sat on a dune hugging my knees. Although there were many people, the atmosphere was still eerily silent. I felt that they were not an ordinary merchant group, but that had nothing to do with me, so I was reluctant to investigate who they really were. And they also avoided me, either because I was with Lang Xiong, or because my identity was suspicious, a woman dressed in luxurious Luolan clothes, who appeared in Xiyu claiming to be Han, but did not reveal her origins.
The middle-aged man who was about to give me the pearl earrings walked to my side smiling, then gave me a piece of bread, as soon as I smelled the cumin, I couldn't help but swallow my saliva, I embarrassedly accepted it, "Thank you, dashu".
The middle-aged man smiled, "It should be us who should be thanking you,
just call me Uncle Chen.” Pointing at everyone he introduced them to me, “This is Wang Bo, this is Tu Zhuzi, here…….” After introducing everyone to me, he then looked at the young man sitting in front of everyone. without saying anything, for a moment he hesitated and said nothing. I looked at the young man in surprise, a smile appeared at the corners of his lips, "Call me Xiao Huo".
I saw that everyone was looking at me with friendly smiles, I thought for a moment and said, "My name is Yu. My name is Jin Yu. You can call me A Yu". Besides
with Jiu Ye who happened to meet me at Yueya Quan, I haven't socialized with people in more than three years. As soon as the name came out of my mouth, I suddenly decided to change my name, from now on there was no Yu Jin, only Jin Yu.