Chapter 191: Lead the Way

Chapter 191: Lead the Way

It was only when the exhausted Holywolf Warrior arrived at her base that she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Though she nearly choked when she tallied the casualties.

Less than 200 tribesmen had returned with her! That was as good as a wipeout!

Cries echoed throughout the tribes. They were not just crying for the deceased but for themselves too. Most households would struggle to survive now that they had lost their breadwinner.

The Icewolf Tribe and its vassal tribes would struggle for at least the next decade.

However, there was no time to grieve.

“Gather your items. We’ll be heading for the northern ice field,” the Holywolf Warrior ordered.

The chieftains were horrified to hear that.

“Khan, should we reconsider this matter? The ice field is... is...”

The ice field was a forbidden zone for the living! At least half of their tribesmen would freeze or starve to death if they spent their winter there.

“We have no choice. At least some of us will survive there. Those who stay here will die once the Tangs arrive!” the Holywolf Warrior explained.

Soon, the Icewolf Tribe and its vassal tribes began marching northward with uneasy hearts.

“Khan, should we hand over the pegasi to the Tangs? I heard that the Tangs’ Anxi Protectorate-General is rampaging throughout Transoxania in search for the pegasi. Our people were presumably attacked over the pegasi too. Perhaps, we could make peace with the Tangs if we hand the pegasi over...” a chieftain proposed.

“That won’t do!” the Holywolf Warrior rejected the proposal.

They had lost too many wolves to the Tangs. To preserve their tribe’s strength and ensure its survival, they had to keep the pegasi with them. Furthermore...

“What if the Tangs refuse to let us go after we hand over the pegasi? We won’t even have a chance to escape!”

The Holywolf Warrior didn’t think the Tangs’ commander would let them off just like that.

You’ll let us off if we hand over the pegasi? How’s that possible?

If it’s me, I’d take both the horses and their lives.

“We might still be able to make a comeback if we keep the pegasi. The Chachs have many more pegasi anyway. If the Tangs can’t find us, they’ll turn to extorting from the Chachs. We’ll be safe by then.”

【Ah... I don’t get what’s going on.】

What further bewildered him was that these people, despite their abysmal military might, were fond of dispatching envoys over to preach about their true god and commandments. They would demand him to join their faith or scram.

Shu Yichao was initially intrigued by them, but they quickly got annoying as they kept repeating the same lines. His stance was clear; he would flatten them if they refused to surrender.

Shu Yichao’s stance regarding them was straightforward.

“Done.”

A white fog swiftly devoured the city.

The envoys from other Transoxanian states gloated over their plight.

There were all sorts of faiths in Transoxania, ranging from Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, to Buddhism. However, there was one religion that piqued the hatred of the others.

Subscribe to our religion or die!

The believers of that religion were incredibly domineering, and they wouldn’t hesitate to come to blows with others over the differences in their faiths.

The nearby countries would have long dispatched troops to curb them if not for them having the backing of the Abbasid Caliphate.

But they have messed with the wrong person this time.

“Now you know how formidable the Tangs’ heavenly army is!”

As much as the Tangs’ army of specters induced despair in enemies, they also inspired confidence and security in allies.

Just then, West Ushrusana’s king delivered a piece of news to Shu Yichao.

“Oh? You have news on my pegasi?” Shu Yichao’s eyes lit up.

“I put in 200% effort when it comes to Lord Protectorate-General’s orders,” West Ushrusana’s king replied with a fawning smile. “After some investigating, I heard a piece of news...”

Soon, a frightened Icewolf Tribesman was dragged in. He kneeled in fear as soon as he saw Shu Yichao. “I-I know where the Holyw... Icewolf bandits hid the pegasi! Please let me lead the way!”

—

Starve’s Note:

It’s a bit confusing, but the Icewolf Tribe has several ‘vassal tribes’ under it, with each of these ‘vassal tribes’ having its own chieftain.