After escaping from the Black Mountain Tribe, the group did not stop for a moment and galloped toward Gu Yuan Tribe. Even the injured warriors gritted their teeth and spurred their horses into a fierce gallop without uttering a single groan.
The dozens of people were like a group of demons that had just walked out of hell, exuding an intense menace. Even the ghosts and gods would have feared them. Birds and clouds scattered wherever they passed. Even a beast of high rank, after taking one look at them, disappeared without a trace, realizing that these blood-soaked humans were not to be trifled with.
By this time, the Black Mountain Tribe, which had been raided repeatedly by Xiao Chen and his men, was a sight of devastation, suffering heavy losses.
Eldest son Xiong Yu had been slain, and the condition of the second son, who had been shot by an arrow, was unknown. Countless tribespeople had been killed or injured. The tribespeople of the Black Mountain tribe could hardly believe that this was the once powerful and formidable Black Mountain War Division, which had suppressed countless tribes around it.
Xiong Li and Xiong Kang had long disappeared, and only a few of Xiong Li's loyal followers took over the tribe to clean up the battlefield.
The phrase "losing more than one bargains for" perfectly described the current situation of the Black Mountain Tribe. What originally seemed like a risk-free task resulted in such disastrous consequences, leaving them in despair.
Several hours later, an injured Mu Yan appeared in the Stone House where Xiong Li lived. The small room was like a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment.
After collecting the bones of his eldest son and stabilizing his younger son's condition, Xiong Li couldn't wait to see the injured Mu Yan. Desiring revenge, he couldn't wait to tear Xiao Chen to pieces.
"I want Xiao Chen dead! No! I want all of Xiao Zhan's tribe killed, not leaving one alive!" Xiong Li said, his eyes flashing with a biting cold light, as if he wanted to trample Xiao Chen under his foot immediately.
Unfazed by Xiong Li's impudent act, Mu Yan chimed in, "This little beast must die! Only his death can alleviate my hatred."
The humiliation of being severely wounded by Xiao Chen in an instant made Mu Yan feel extremely shamed. As a warrior of the tribe leader's level, he was severely injured by a young man without any means of fighting back. The news of this could really damage his reputation, which he had built over a hundred years. Moreover, they had secretly messed with the Gu Yuan Tribe a long time ago, and the feud had already been formed.
Xiao Chen's exceptional talent brought forth a sense of crisis in the two. In order to avoid more complications, they wanted to get rid of Xiao Chen as soon as possible so that they could feel at ease.
"In that case, we'll have to ask for help from those underground vermin." Said a gloomy and uncertain Xiong Li. His brawny body seemed a little overcast at this moment.
Hearing Xiong Li's intention to collaborate with the foreign races to attack Xiao Chen, Mu Yan hesitated to say "But they are beasts...".
Interrupting Mu Yan, Xiong Li forcefully said, "A man who is not cruel cannot stand tall. Even at the cost of having to kill Xiao Chen, would you want to give up? We have been planning for a year, and finally sent that old fool Xiao Zhan into that place. We must not change our course because of a brat."
"Alright! As long as we can kill that beast and share the blood food with the Scorpion Clan, it's a deal." Thinking about Xiao Chen's offence, and his own approaching death if he didn't breakthrough to the next realm, a murderous intent surged in Mu Yan's heart.
"Once my injuries heal, I will personally visit the Underground World and meet the Scorpion Clan's leader Xie Li, who is said to be terrifying," said Mu Yan after the two had a secret talk.
The Scorpion Clan is a race of different beings with human heads and scorpion tails, who enjoyed eating humans. Within tens of thousands of miles around Giant Stone Valley, there are more than a dozen different tribes, including a small Scorpion Clan near Gu Yuan Tribe, which has caused great harm to the surrounding tribes.
The pain of losing his son had greatly stimulated Xiong Li, driving him somewhat mad. For the sake of revenge, he had even agreed to cooperate with the different tribe.
Almost every person in Xiao Chen's group was injured, and since there were many women, they didn't travel fast. In the end, they had to stop and rest. Many warriors were seriously wounded, with deep knife injuries reaching their bones, and in some cases, their intestines and stomach could be vaguely seen.
Luckily, these young girls knew some simple medical techniques and bandaged their wounds.
"Does it hurt?"
Seeing the warriors covered in wounds from their fierce battle to save them, the young girls couldn't help but shed tears. With trembling hands, they gently bandaged their wounds as if they were afraid to cause the warriors any more pain.
"No, it doesn't! Even if the Black Mountain bastards catch up with us now, I can still take down ten of them."
Seeing these tearful young girls fussing over them, the warriors didn't even mind storming into Black Mountain again. They began to comfort the young girls, one by one.
These girls had given up hope after they were captured. Some of them were even contemplating death. They didn't expect that their young tribe leader saved them in the end like a knight in shining armor.
It was even more unimaginable that their tribe leader had become a Blood Refining Realm Warrior, which meant that their Gu Yuan Tribe wouldn't be oppressed by other tribes in the future.
Watching these young girls bustling about under Mu Qing's command like butterflies fluttering around flowers, a warm feeling rose in Xiao Chen's heart, "I didn't realize I had fallen this deep."
"Brother Xiao, what did you say? Qing Er didn't hear you clearly?" asked Mu Qing, having just finished her busy work and noticing Xiao Chen muttering to himself.
Xiao Chen lightly patted his horse's back, dispersing the bitter sweetness in his heart. He was familiar yet estranged from this feeling. It appeared as if countless years had passed in an instant. Xiao Chen woke up, understood; he finally realized what this feeling was—it was the feeling of home.
Mounting his horse and pulling Mu Qing onto the saddle behind him, he said, "I said, let's go home."
"Oh, we're going home."
The group rushed towards the Gu Yuan Tribe.
When they were about a dozen miles away from the tribe, they met scouts sent by the tribe. Seeing that the tribal chieftain had indeed rescued the young girl from the tribe, the scout didn't even have time to greet Xiao Chen before he swiftly rode back to the tribe, shouting loudly as he went.
"The Chieftain has returned, he has rescued the girl...."
Ever since Xiao Chen left the tribe with twenty soldiers, ordered by Gu Lin the Elder, Lin Shan and Tie Shi, the Gu Yuan Tribe was put on full alert. The tribe people stopped hunting outside, all guards were on high alert, ready for unforeseen circumstances.
Although Xiao Chen had already broken through the Blood Refining Realm, Elder Gu Lin and others were still worried about him. After all, he was facing a well-known Blood Refining Realm powerhouse, whose life-or-death battles were terrifying, any wrong move could cost him his life.
Lin Shan, with his fiery temper, couldn't sit still, pacing back and forth at the tribe's gate, regretting letting Xiao Chen leave so easily.
Upon hearing the scout's shout, Lin Shan rushed towards the direction Xiao Chen was coming from as if he were a sharp arrow.
Furthermore, the returning scout rushed into the tribe without a break, conveying the exciting news to the awaiting tribe people.
"Mighty Chieftain!"
"Well done, Chieftain!"
When Lin Shan brought Xiao Chen and his group to the gate of the tribe, he was startled. The entire entrance of the tribe had been crowded. The tribe people had heard that their chieftain had returned triumphantly and came to welcome him. Looking at these warriors, covered in wounds and drenched in blood, many tribe people fell silent, while others bowed their heads, wiping tears from their eyes.
Seeing the crowd surge forward, even the severely injured warriors who had collapsed on the horseback tried their best to stand straight. In the Gu Yuan Tribe, men die in battle, there are no cowards!
When they were about ten steps away from the crowd, everyone dismounted, and the young girls who had been rescued ran towards their relatives in the crowd, hugging each other and crying.
"Chieftain Brother, you're so cool, Cai Er admires you so much!" The first one to jump out was Lin Cai Er, who was being supported by Gu Lin. She threw herself onto Xiao Chen's neck, disregarding the others around her. She made a face at the gawking Lin Shan, causing him to stomp his foot in frustration but not daring to stop her. In the young girl's heart, Xiao Chen was the bravest hero at this moment!
"Cai Er, come to your sister. Brother Xiao has things to do," said Mu Qing, who noticed Xiao Chen's predicament and helped him out.
"Okay, okay, Sister Mu, tell me how Chieftain Brother rescued you, was it like riding on the colorful auspicious clouds..."
Hearing Lin Cai Er's words, Xiao Chen almost stumbled and fell. It seems no matter the world, every young girl has the dream of a prince charming.
He shot Mu Qing a grateful look, and the beautiful girl gave him a smile in return, understanding him so well!
"Glad you're back," Gu Lin said when Xiao Chen came up to him.
In the old man's heart, even if Xiao Chen had not rescued anyone, he would be satisfied as long as Xiao Chen came back safely. After all, Xiao Chen was the youngest Blood Refining Realm Warrior in the history of the Gu Yuan Tribe. As long as he didn't perish, he might lead the tribe further in the future. Thus, in his eyes, risking his life to infiltrate enemy territory for a few tribe girls was simply not worth it.
Looking at the old man's aged face, Xiao Chen's eyes were somewhat moist. The simple four words represented the old man's endless expectation, just like what he had said before he set off - to come back alive!
The warriors, bloodied and wounded, were hailed by the tribe people. Everyone rushed to lead their horses. Today, they were the heroes of the Gu Yuan Tribe!
Looking at the cheering tribe people, Xiao Chen didn't stop them. He knew that his tribe people had been oppressed for too long and needed an outlet, and the Gu Yuan Tribe needed an opportunity to be reborn from the ashes!
"Xiao Chen Brother, I...I...When I grow up, I want to...to be a...a great hero like you, killing villains and protecting the tribe."
These timid words came from below Xiao Chen, a boy of about six or seven years old clutching Xiao Chen's leg.
He stooped and picked the boy up, wiping the snotty bubble from his face, and said to him, "Good! When you grow up, you must become an even more powerful hero than your brother, protecting the safety of the tribe."
Because of children like this boy, generations of tribesmen have thrown themselves bravely into the fray, shedding blood and sacrificing themselves for their tribe, securing the 800-year legacy of the Gu Yuan Tribe.
The flame is passed from generation to generation, to ensure it never extinguishes!