Укротитель зверей

Глава 54

Well, whether you stick your neck out or not, you'll still get stabbed; running away is pointless.

I stood up, forced a smile, and said, "I really didn't expect this, Elder Lan, Elder Qing, oh, and Elder Huang."

4

I never imagined I would meet these three elders in a place like this, and I never expected that Abul, whom I had regarded as a perverted madman all along the way, would be the person they were trying to rescue.

The elders brought a handful of keys, stained with blood, and quickly opened the iron gate. They then respectfully removed the iron chains from Abule's body. When it was my turn, they weren't so polite. Before the iron gate even opened, Elder Qing used a hidden weapon from his iron fan to strike my pressure points in mid-air. Only then did the flustered old man walk in. Just thinking about the lewd and terrifying things those old men did made my stomach churn. I couldn't make a sound to resist, and I was so anxious that my forehead was covered in sweat.

"What are you doing?" Able stepped out of the iron cell and was stretching his body when he saw that I had suddenly gone limp. He immediately spoke in a rough voice.

"Does Your Highness know who this woman is?" Elder Huang asked.

"Your Highness, we simply used acupressure to immobilize her, making it easier to take her away," Elder Qing explained to Abul. He added, "Fourth Brother, let's leave this place first and then discuss things in detail with His Highness. You take her with you for now."

Elder Lan nodded, "Your Highness, this place is not safe to stay any longer. We should leave first."

Abule glanced at me again, then suddenly strode over, bent down, and lifted me up. He was tall and imposing, and lifting me was like lifting a child. He thought for a moment, then reached out to the elders, "Give me some clothes."

The elders looked surprised, but still obediently agreed, handing me Elder Huang's cloak. Abule grabbed the cloak and covered my head with it before waving his hand, "Lead the way." His voice was crisp and clear.

Sure enough, there wasn't a single person moving around outside the dungeon. My pressure points had been sealed, and my head was covered. I could only vaguely see the surrounding scene through the gaps in the cloth. There were many soldiers in military uniforms lying haphazardly on the ground, some still holding knives and guns. The entire barracks was as quiet as a dead city, without even the sound of horses neighing.

A couple was waiting outside the barracks. As soon as Abul came out, someone led a horse over. "Why didn't you take me with you earlier?" he thought, glancing back at the barracks before asking, "Did you drug me?"

Elder Huang said proudly, "It was my second brother who put muscle relaxant in their water source; even the horses were knocked down."

I remembered how Elder Qing's poisoned needle almost killed Mo Li, and my hatred intensified.

Someone brought something over, and Abule took it. "Great! Where did you find this?"

With three elders present, he kept speaking Chinese, so the man replied in broken Chinese, "It was found on Lieutenant General Jelig, along with this chain."

I heard the faint clatter of chains and realized that it must be the golden lock that the lieutenant had taken from me. I was extremely anxious and wanted to snatch it back, but unfortunately, my pressure points had been sealed, and I couldn't lift a single finger. I had no choice but to speak, but my voice was hoarse, and since I was lying face down under the cloak, the sounds I made were muffled.

Give it back to me.

Abule remained unmoved. I was under his roof and couldn't move. No matter how much I gritted my teeth, it was useless. Although I couldn't bear it any longer, I had no choice but to endure it, while mentally tearing him to pieces.

"Your Highness, these people will surely be unconscious until tomorrow morning. They'll take drugs and set fire to this military camp now to prevent future troubles?" Elder Lan said sinisterly.

Abule paused for a moment, then said, “No need. This place is our border. In the past, it was attacked by the Southern Dynasty, who marched all the way into our territory and almost captured Dadu. Now that there is a war at the front, if we burn down the border behind us, wouldn’t that be harming our own strength?” After saying that, he spurred his horse and galloped away first, with the others following closely behind, including the three elders.

I was powerless to escape and could only sway on horseback, trying to sort out my chaotic thoughts.

It now seems that the so-called master of these three elders must be very close to Abule. Otherwise, given their martial arts skills, they wouldn't have been so easily dispatched to save an insignificant person, especially since they call him Your Highness.

Could this man be a prince of the Mo Kingdom?

"Impossible," I thought to myself, shaking my head. If he were a prince of the Mo Kingdom, where would those Mo cavalry have gotten the audacity to chain him up, put him in an iron cage, and send him all the way back to Dadu?

Furthermore, if he is a prince of the Mo Kingdom, then wouldn't he be Mo Fei's brother?

Thinking of this, I was suddenly startled.

—I don't like Han Chinese women. My brother wanted to marry one a few years ago, but he was killed by my men before he even arrived.

Could the Han woman he was talking about be me?

That day, Ji Feng and I hid underground and overheard the conversation between the Mo Kingdom's wedding party and Lord Li on Luan Shi Ping. They said that the Second Prince used the abduction and murder of the princess to sow discord between the First Prince and the new emperor of the Celestial Dynasty, and to seize the position of Crown Prince. If this was true, then Mo Fei would finally ascend the throne, and how could he tolerate such a tiger beside his bed? Naturally, he would have to pick up this rebellious Second Prince and cut him into a thousand pieces.

In that split second, I suddenly understood many things, and then I broke out in a cold sweat.

It's over. The elders already know that I am Princess Ping An, and this Abule wanted to kill me three years ago. Now that I'm in his hands, I'm doomed.

The troop sped along, entering a valley near the border before dawn. The valley entrance was riddled with sentries, and as soon as Abule and his party stepped into the valley area, a small group of men rushed out to greet them. The leaders almost rolled off their horses to kneel in welcome, repeatedly calling out "Your Highness."

"Don't worry, we'll be there soon."

I froze, and then I heard myself gag, and I actually threw up.

The cavalry had already crossed the drawbridge when Abule heard the sound and flipped me over. I was vomiting violently, and this sprayed all the filth onto him. He couldn't dodge in time and was hit squarely, his front a mess. He grabbed my body with both hands, his dark face turning ashen.

I heard a series of gasps coming from the side. After I finished exhaling, I felt a little refreshed. I looked around and was stunned.

When did so many people gather around us?

With me vomiting like this, Abule lost interest in carrying me around anymore. He handed me directly to the man closest to him and said, "Bai Sang, find a few women to wash her up and keep a close eye on her, lest she escape."

The man took it from me and I was shocked when I looked at it.

He really was the one who, outside Lan Family Village, led Timur to chase me and Mo Li to the cliff until we fell down!

A look of surprise flashed in his eyes. He immediately turned around and exchanged glances with the elders in the caravan. Having probably received some information, he did not ask any further questions about my identity. Instead, he looked up at Abule and said, "Your Highness, the Lord has been waiting for you all night without sleep."

Abule remained seated on his horse and said, "I understand." Then, perhaps feeling dirty, he ripped off his already tattered shirt, revealing his bare torso, and shouted something in Mexican language to the dark mass surrounding him. His words were met with thunderous applause; the crowd erupted in excitement.

He suddenly stripped naked, and I was facing him. I didn't even have time to close my eyes, and I couldn't help but curse in my mind again.

Shameless!

Abler was about to leave when he suddenly remembered something and turned back to Bai Sang, saying, "She can pick locks, so someone must keep an eye on her at all times to prevent her from escaping."

A mouthful of blood welled up in my throat, and I almost threw a knife at him through my eye. Abule, sensing my anger, actually smiled at me before striding away, followed by a long line of people.

The elders followed, and in the blink of an eye, only Bai Sang and I remained. I knew I was like a lamb entering a tiger's den. The elders' skills were far superior to mine, not to mention the impenetrable secret base and the soldiers swarming the valley.

He looked at me for a long time, and finally bowed slightly. Although he was still holding me, it felt like he was bowing to me.

He said, "You must be tired from your journey, Your Highness."

The title "Princess, Your Majesty" evoked countless memories of the past. I stared at him for a long time, my gaze gradually turning cold, my voice becoming hoarse, and even the words I uttered sounded unlike my own.

I can't believe I've forgotten this person's face, and that I only remembered him now.

I slowly opened my mouth and replied, "Lord Li, it's been a long time."

5

Bai Sang led me indoors.

The valley is riddled with entrances and exits, resembling cave dwellings from the outside, but inside lies a completely different world, filled with interconnected bunkers hidden within the mountain. The bunkers vary in size, some as spacious as palaces, others so low that one has to bend over to enter. The bunkers are connected by passageways, secret passages leading to secret passages, a complex and intricate network that leads nowhere.

This complex garrison, layer upon layer, stretching upwards and encircling the entire valley, could probably conceal countless troops. Even just glimpsing a part of it, I was awestruck by its grandeur; entering it only left me speechless. Bai Sang seemed very familiar with this place, leading us through several secret passages to a large bunker. Soldiers stood at the entrance, and inside were tables, chairs, and beds. Animal hides covered the floor, and curved swords hung on the walls. It appeared to be a typical living quarters. Several Mo tribe women were busy tidying up, but immediately stopped what they were doing upon seeing him.

"Mr. Bai."

Bai Sang spoke a few words to them in the Mo language, and they left, each of them stealing glances at me with curious eyes.

The door closed, and the bunker fell silent. Bai Sang put me down. I had just vomited and smelled pungently, which disgusted even myself. But he lifted his robe and knelt down in front of me, performing a respectful salute between ruler and subject.

I haven't received such a grand ceremony in years. The scenes of people prostrating themselves before the imperial carriage are now just a distant dream, and I can hardly remember them anymore. When I saw his actions, I was immediately dumbfounded. "What, what are you doing?"

He had already stood up and said in a low voice, "His Majesty has always been concerned about the princess's safety over the years. Now that the princess is safe, it is truly a blessing for the country."

When I heard the word "Your Majesty," I became confused and afraid. I looked at him and asked, "Lord Li, did you come to see me?"

He neither nodded nor shook his head, but said, "Princess, please call me Bai Sang. It is not convenient to go into details now. Just remember that the Emperor has already arranged everything, so there is no need to be afraid."

My brother had already made arrangements... I was even more terrified, colder than ever before. The words "brother" were on the tip of my tongue, but I dared not say them. When I finally spoke, my voice was trembling, "Then, then release my pressure points first."

He bowed slightly, "Princess, please forgive me. I have been studying literature since childhood and know nothing about martial arts. I truly do not know how to release acupoints."

I was devastated. I wanted to say, "What are you, a scholar, doing here in this desolate wilderness?" But then I suddenly remembered his composure when dealing with Cheng Ping, and his ruthless methods during the war. I fell silent.

None of my brother's men are easy to deal with. This Lord Li must be a high-ranking official in the imperial court, yet he has repeatedly led the charge into enemy territory without batting an eye. With such spirit, he should be a first-rank official by now, right?

Bai Sang didn't have time to explain in detail. Soon, the Mo tribe women pushed the door open again, bringing in a large wooden tub for bathing, filled with hot water, steaming with white vapor.

Bai Sang then left, leaving me to face them alone.

The women quickly stripped me naked. I couldn't move my limbs or struggle, and in the blink of an eye, I was completely naked. The ground was cold and damp, and although there was a fire in the bunker, I still shivered from the cold. They laughed and whispered among themselves. I didn't know what they were saying, but they were undoubtedly judging me.

I was placed in the water in a large, deep wooden tub. Although I wasn't short, my stature was significantly smaller compared to these Mo people. Unable to maintain my balance, I slid straight down into the water. A woman stood at the edge of the tub, supporting me with both hands, and would touch me every now and then. The other women who were washing me did the same. I couldn't bear the touching any longer and finally cried out, "What are you touching?"

They probably didn't understand Chinese, but they guessed what I meant from my expression. The person who was supporting me laughed, patted my skin, and made a welcoming gesture.

I almost burst into tears. I never imagined that I, a princess, would be reduced to being groped by a woman from another race. My brother, you might as well just send me to my death sooner.

Thinking of my brother made me feel even colder; no matter how hot the water was, it was no use as I kept shivering. After they washed me clean, they scooped me out and hurriedly dressed me. There were no Han women here, so they brought out Mo ethnic clothing, which was brightly colored and very gorgeous, but extremely thin, just enough to cover my body, even less than a nightgown. Finally, they placed me on the bed, arranging me in a position like a delicious dish ready to be devoured, and covered me with a thin blanket before carrying the wooden tub out.

I lay blankly on the bed, pondering and thinking, but I couldn't figure out what my elder brother's plans were.

Could it be... that he suddenly decided to marry me off to Abul because he saw that I refused to marry Mo Fei even if it meant death?

Thinking of this, I suddenly felt a sense of despair, and my body grew colder and colder.

The room was completely silent. I slowly closed my eyes, only remembering to whisper someone's name. Even though I knew he couldn't possibly come, calling out his name was still worthwhile.

I don't know how long it has been since I've closed my eyes in bed. My body was pushing its limits. Although I was cold, I finally drifted off to sleep and had a dream. In the dream, I was only five or six years old. I didn't like the tributes from various countries. I threw a tantrum and swept away all the rare treasures on the table. All I wanted was for my father to hold me.

My father wasn't angry at all. He smiled and held me in his arms. The sunlight was bright, and his face was hidden behind the beaded curtain on his crown, so it was blurry. I tried hard to see clearly, and then someone hugged me from behind. It turned out to be my elder brother.

My elder brother still had that same smug smile, and the same beaded curtain was being blown down. I was very surprised, because how could my elder brother be wearing the same crown as my father? I turned back to look at my father, but what I saw was an old man with a face covered in blood. So much blood was pouring out of his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, but he was still staring at me intently, one finger stiffly pointing in my direction.

I stopped breathing instantly, unable to even scream. The suffocating sensation made my mouth and eyes open like a dying fish.

Someone stood in front of my bed, the lamplight casting his shadow on me. I looked at him in the shadows. He had his head down, his face was paler than I could ever remember, and he was completely still, his chest not rising or falling at all, as if he had stopped breathing or forgotten how to breathe.

His appearance filled me with worry, and my own discomfort and shock vanished. I struggled to speak, "Mo Li, are you... are you alright?"

6

My voice broke the silence in the bunker. He finally let out a breath, but his face was still deathly pale; he looked like he was about to suffocate. I grew increasingly worried and wanted to reach out and touch him, but I was afraid he was just a figment of my imagination, and that touching him would mean he would disappear.

Actually, I was overthinking it. Even if I wanted to reach out, my acupoints were still pressed, so I couldn't move my fingers.

But in that instant, my fingers under the thin blanket tightened, firmly grasped by Mo Li. With his other hand, he moved with lightning speed, instantly releasing the pressure points that had been restraining me. My pressure points were suddenly released, and I couldn't help but cough. He lowered his head, and in the shadows, I couldn't see the expression on his face, but he spoke through clenched teeth, his voice right next to my ear.

"Don't make a sound, I'll take you away."

I couldn't make a sound anymore. The sudden, overwhelming joy made me dizzy, made me forget everything around me, and I just stared at him intently.

He told me to get up, and he pulled back the thin blanket. I felt a chill and realized how lightly I was dressed. When I looked up, I saw that his face was completely black, full of murderous intent, and he was terrifying to the extreme.

In just a short while, his complexion changed so drastically. I was really worried about him and wanted to get up as soon as possible to find some clothes to wear, but the dizziness was still there. Although the acupoints had been released, his body was still weak and he couldn't get up for a while.

Mo Li reached out and supported me, then pulled out a set of black clothes from somewhere. It was the same military uniform I had seen on the soldiers in the valley, slightly simpler than what he was wearing, but not much different.

I felt cold all over, and even the simple act of getting up made me dizzy for a long time. My vision was also blurry. In my haste, afraid of making him wait too long, I reached for the clothes with both hands, but I grabbed them in the wrong place. My movements were ridiculous.

Mo Li paused slightly in her hand holding the clothes, then bent down without a word and began to help me change.

He didn't speak. His hands, which were used to handling weapons for many years, were steady and strong, but for some reason, they were trembling slightly and continuously. Even through his clothes, it made my heart ache.

I think I've scared him. I wanted to say something to comfort him, but when I saw him, all the strength I had been holding back suddenly vanished. My body just wouldn't cooperate. It was as if his arrival meant it could completely collapse and stop trying. Even my voice disappeared.

He quickly helped me change my clothes, then whispered in my ear, "There are a few steps you'll have to walk by yourself, is that alright?"