"The wind is picking up. We need to take shelter. Can we share this space?"
As she spoke, the sound of footsteps approached from outside.
The first to rush in were two children, a boy and a girl, both around four or five years old, dressed in clothes made from animal fur. Close behind them followed two large Barbarian men draped in black cloaks.
Many tribes of the Desert Barbarians were scattered throughout the desert like stars across the sky.
A hundred years ago, they had a Royal Court that could unite them. During that era, the Desert Barbarians posed a significant threat to Yan State. The Yan monarch was even forced to personally lead multiple military campaigns, harnessing the full power of the state, just to successfully repel their invasions.
However, with the decline of the Barbarian Royal Court, their unifying power vanished, and the tribes dissolved into disarray, scattered like loose sand.
If not for this, the contemporary monarch of Yan State would not have been able to curtail the power of the tribes as he did.
Nevertheless, Zheng Fan and his companions had clashed with Barbarians just days ago, even taking their heads for bounties. Seeing Barbarians now, an instinctive vigilance was unavoidable.
Indeed, the moment Zheng Fan saw the two children and the two large Barbarian men, he was waiting for Liang Cheng and Xue Three to act. If they moved, he was prepared to charge forward with his saber, not because he thought he'd be of much use, but… at least I could serve as an extra target to draw some fire.
However, neither Liang Cheng nor Xue Three showed any sign of sudden aggression. Finally, Liang Cheng even nodded to the woman in the white robe.
"Come in," he said.
And so, two groups occupied the already cramped space.
Zheng Fan and his companions took the northern corner, while the woman in the white robe and her party settled in the southern corner.
After entering, they too began to eat and drink. However, the two Barbarian men sat at the very edge of their group, their gazes occasionally flicking towards Zheng Fan's trio with clear wariness.
Despite the mutual suspicion, the two children were not subdued.
Their childlike nature led them to chase each other playfully soon after they had eaten and drunk their fill. Several times, they even ran over to Zheng Fan's side.
Zheng Fan could clearly feel that each time the children ran near, the two Barbarian men would tense slightly, obviously prepared for the possibility that his group might suddenly seize the children as hostages.
However, such a thing did not happen.
The sandstorm had not ended, and there was no telling how long it would last, but it was indeed getting late.
The two children were the first to succumb to exhaustion. Tired from playing, they lay down beside the woman in the white robe and fell asleep.
At this point, the woman in the white robe stood up. Holding a wineskin, she walked towards Zheng Fan.
She offered the wineskin to Zheng Fan, who was clearly the leader of his group.
Zheng Fan shook his head, pointed to his throat, and said, "I've caught a bit of a cold. My throat hurts, so I can't drink wine."
Being cautious isn't shameful, Zheng Fan thought. No need to act tough and put myself at risk. Throughout history, how many heroes' last words were: "Damn, this wine is poisoned!"
He also figured, After I refuse, she'll probably take a drink herself to show how open she is, subtly looking down on my caution. These are common tactics.
The woman in the white robe seemed unfazed. She uncorked the wineskin, removed her veil, and boldly took two large gulps of wine, then wiped her mouth with her sleeve.
Hmph, Zheng Fan scoffed inwardly. Typical tactics!
At the same time, he silently mused, Tsk tsk, a classic 'back view beauty.' With the veil on, her age was a mystery. But once it came off, it was clear she was older—forty, perhaps? Though she still had a certain dignity, she was leagues below Siniang.
Actually, Zheng Fan knew his two subordinates well. If they were facing a Yan people merchant caravan, there might be room for discussion. But since their opponents had identified themselves as Barbarians, his men would undoubtedly eliminate them if conditions allowed, to remove any potential instability.
However, since Liang Cheng and Xue Three hadn't acted, it meant this woman was formidable. Even the two of them weren't absolutely confident they could kill her swiftly.
At the same time, it was clear the woman was also very wary of them.
The woman tossed the wineskin to the two Barbarian men behind her. They thanked her gratefully and immediately began to share the drink.
"Do you know who these two children are?" the woman suddenly asked, pointing to the sleeping toddlers.
Liang Cheng and Xue Three remained silent. This was the time for the leaders of the respective groups to communicate.
But Zheng Fan also remained silent, pretending he hadn't heard. He deliberately refused to engage, making the situation awkward for her.
The woman pursed her lips, a slight smile playing on them. Then, she continued, "They are the grandson and granddaughter of the Shatuo tribe's chieftain."
Liang Cheng's eyes narrowed. Xue Three licked his lips. Zheng Fan, no longer concealing his intent, placed his hand on the hilt of the saber beneath his seat.
The Shatuo tribe was the 'chicken' the Zhenbei Army had chosen to 'slaughter' this time. The recent 'fishing expedition' had successfully lured out their elite warriors. In that battle, the Zhenbei Army annihilated the Shatuo elite. The very next day, a cavalry unit was dispatched to wipe out the rest of the tribe and, incidentally, to secure some spoils of war.
So, they were truly... face to face with their enemies.
"I saw your horses," the woman said. "They bear the mark of the Li household, of the Lord of the North. You are retainers of the Li family. The Lord of the North's household truly lives up to its reputation; they always see things through to the bitter end. I rushed all the way from the Royal Court to save these two children, never expecting to encounter an ambush by the Lord of the North's men on the way. Isn't it said that your Lord is in a very difficult situation right now?"
"I think there might be some misunderstanding between us…" Zheng Fan began, wanting to explain.
The fighting is over, he thought. I just want to go home.
"Misunderstanding?" The woman in the white robe's smile widened. Suddenly, she stepped back, her hands forming a seal as she chanted in a low voice, "Barbarian spell, Corpse Animation!"
The two Barbarian men, who had been sharing the wineskin, suddenly shivered, their eyes filled with horror. They turned to the woman. One of them even pointed at her, as if to question her. But in the next instant, blood began to seep from their eyes, ears, mouths, and noses, and their faces instantly turned a ghastly greenish-black.
"Rise!" the woman commanded again in a low voice.
The two Barbarian men lurched to their feet. All signs of life had vanished from them, yet their bodies began to swell, becoming grotesquely 'strong.' Wisps of a deathly aura swirled around them.
At the same time, their eyes began to emit a faint green glow, and from the corners of their lips, two fangs slowly protruded.
In an instant, using the wine as a medium, the woman had sacrificed two living men, turning them into undead corpses!
The moment the woman began her incantation, Zheng Fan and his companions had already stood up, ready for a confrontation. However, upon seeing the two undead corpses, Zheng Fan, standing behind Liang Cheng, suddenly poked him in the back.
POKE. POKE. POKE.
Liang Cheng turned, looking at his lord with a puzzled expression.
Zheng Fan gestured with his chin towards the two figures.
"Your kin, eh?" he said. "Perhaps you'd like to greet them?"
"…" Liang Cheng was speechless.