Chapter Fifty-Six: The Alliance (Part Ten)

Outside the main tent, Bu Li suddenly rushed out, her long hair flying, anxiously looking around. The eyes of more than a thousand Yuet warriors, who had been standing guard outside, all turned toward her.

The arrival of the nine noble clans brought a sizable entourage, numbering over a hundred, but most had been intentionally or unintentionally led to a spot some distance from the main tent. Some among them were already in tacit agreement with the Yuet warriors and naturally complied; others, though unsure of the situation, thought nothing amiss when led away.

The people of the nine clans were scattered across the north and south of Yin Mountain. Aside from Luo Dun, who had stayed secluded for years, the other clans often interacted, and there were many acquaintances among them. When some moved, those unaware of the truth followed suit, gathering dozens of paces from the main tent to chat idly.

The Yuet people joined the fun, offering their own mare’s milk wine and the turbid spirits of the Han. On the grasslands, men seldom refuse a drink, and spirits ran high as they drank and talked, laughter occasionally ringing out.

Meanwhile, the Yuet warriors had unconsciously formed ranks outside the main tent, waiting for the outcome within.

Luo Dun refused to submit, allowing Bu Li to leave first. The sounds of hurried movement and struggle from inside were clearly heard by the guards outside. Before they could rush in to assist, Bu Li had already sliced through the tent and burst out!

Countless gazes converged on her—the slender figure with flying hair, the face full of panic and helplessness. Everyone recognized her as the young girl who had arrived with Luo Dun, the chieftain of the Lianghait clan.

Shouts erupted from inside the tent. Lie Lie was the first to charge out, his straight blade flashing coldly.

“Seize her! Dead or alive!”

Lie Lie lunged forward, but Bu Li darted out like a gust of wind, slipping past the Yuet guards posted outside.

More Yuet warriors poured out behind Lie Lie. The guards outside finally reacted, drawing their long knives and chasing after Bu Li’s fleeing form.

The sudden commotion drew the attention of the other clans, who erupted in cries and shouts.

“What’s happening?”

“What’s gone wrong inside the tent?”

“There’s trouble at the chieftain’s place!”

Amidst the shouting, many from the various clans threw aside their wine skins and drew their blades, intent on storming into the royal tent to rescue their own chieftains.

Behind Lie Lie, Gaida Blackfruit rushed out anxiously, roaring at the top of his lungs, “Attack now!”

At his call, many from the clans turned their blades against the brothers they had just been drinking with, while the Yuet warriors shouted forward, their voices echoing through the encampment: “Drop your weapons!”

The unexpected turn left many bewildered; faced with gleaming blades, some dropped their weapons in confusion. Yet there were those among the grassland men whose tempers flared, roaring as they swung their blades in defiance.

“The Yuet want to swallow us whole! Rescue the chieftains!”

Steel flashed, screams sounded, blood splattered. Once blood was drawn, the skirmish grew fierce. Hundreds of grassland men cursed and roared, clashing together, blades slashing at each other. Weapons collided, sparks flew, and men fell screaming.

Some tried to break through toward the royal tent, but the Yuet warriors surged forward, desperately blocking them. The previously harmonious nine clans turned on each other, erupting into chaos.

Blackfruit’s face was pale as death.

The plan had been to quietly subdue the nine nobles, then use them as hostages to deal with their followers. Once order was restored, the nine clans would unite. Gaida Uto would no longer be in charge, and Blackfruit, relying on the combined strength of the clans, would have standing before the Turks—perhaps even earning the favor of Shibi Khan, and leading Gaida’s clan to become a great tribe under the Turks, one that could claim the title of khan like the Zhibi tribe.

But he had not anticipated that, at the crucial moment of capturing Luo Dun, the little girl at his side would disrupt everything, escaping from the royal tent surrounded by Yuet warriors and even Turkic Blue Wolf riders!

He could not fathom where Luo Dun had found such a little wolf girl—she was proving to be his nemesis.

Bu Li escaped the royal tent, with Lie Lie and others in pursuit. Even if the clans were close, they were still separate entities. Their nobles had vanished within the tent, and now such chaos erupted outside. Those clans who had not secretly pledged to the Yuet had every reason to resist. An unforeseen battle exploded.

He had assured the Zhibi nobles with confidence, certain the alliance would succeed, but now everything had collapsed. How could he answer to the two nobles of the Zhibi tribe?

Blackfruit was at a loss, clenching his fists, his bulk trembling, unsure what to do.

Beside him, Uto emerged slowly from the royal tent, his voice thunderous: “Guard their mounts, seal the gates—let none escape! Lie Lie, this is your Yuet clan’s responsibility; seize that little wolf girl!”

Compared to Blackfruit, Gaida Uto, who had led the Yuet clan for thirty years, commanded deep respect. Even the nine clansmen, locked in deadly struggle, slowed their weapons upon seeing Uto emerge.

The Yuet warriors shouted as they advanced: some went to control the clans’ mounts, others to seal the gates and walls, still others joined the fray, determined to subdue the rebellious clans in the shortest time possible.

Lie Lie ground his teeth, eyes fixed on Bu Li’s diminutive figure as he gave chase.

Yet, just moments ago in the cramped royal tent, so many had failed to stop her. Now, outside in the open, amid the chaos, with people battling everywhere, Lie Lie could not hope to catch her.

Bu Li’s slight figure darted among the crowd, her long hair streaming, nimbly evading the wildly swinging blades. She raced toward the camp wall.

Lie Lie and his trusted men fought desperately to follow, forced to parry and dodge flying blades, his eyes bloodshot with urgency.

The chaos of today was entirely his doing, and now he could not account for it. If Bu Li escaped, who knew what consequences would follow? The ones watching him now were not the amiable Luo Dun, but Gaida Uto and Blackfruit, and even the two nobles of the Zhibi tribe.

In the blink of an eye, Bu Li reached the camp wall, scrambling up with hands and feet. In moments, she was atop the low wall.

Lie Lie finally fought his way out of the crowd and, seeing Bu Li about to leap down, snatched up a nearby spear and hurled it fiercely at her back.

The spear whistled through the air, grazing her shadow as it sailed over the wall, but Bu Li’s figure had already vanished on the other side.

Lie Lie roared hoarsely, “Bring the horses! She won’t get far!”