Refining the Mountains and Rivers

Rourou’s eyes remained closed but she smirked, “You are a man and you have already seen it. Hiding and dodging away is so laughable.”

Qin Yu did not want to be agitated by her. He asked, “What are you doing?” He was an expert at changing the topic after so much practice and he successfully got over the awkwardness.

“See for yourself!”

From Rourou’s tone, it was easy to see that she was in a bad mood.

However, she was not covered up and Qin Yu could not get angry in this situation.

Although Qin Yu did not abstain from such blissful scenes, he did not want to peek at her.

“Cough! I wanted to ask you, how much longer do you need? It is time for us to go.”

Rourou calmly said, “Now.” She spread her arms out wide and tilted her head to the sky.

There was the cry of a bird and the Golden Crow Totem flew out of the magma pool and circled around Rourou.

Boom –

Heat surged in the entire valley and the scorching hot air started to shake with heat currents.

Bright red and deep blue-colored light specks started to appear in the currents and they gave off hot and cold auras.

There was a mass of these light specks and they looked like a galaxy of stars that shrouded Rourou. Mysterious, deep energy continued to spread out from them.

The more the Golden Crow squawked, the more tired it became and it was evident that creating these light specks was draining its energy.

Qin Yu’s heart fell and he put aside his honor and peeked at her. The light specks were sparkling as they circled Rourou, and she was frowning like she was enduring some pain.

Bits of light specks dotted every inch of delicate and smooth skin that she exposed.

When he looked closer, Qin Yu realized that the position of the light specks on her body was identical to those in the vibrating space currents. Furthermore, the light specks on her body and the space were exactly identical; each position of light specked mirrored each other.

It felt like Rourou was now a mirror that was imprinting everything that happened here.

This entire process was evidently not comfortable for her to do.

Her light specks on her white skin were shining brighter and brighter while the light specks in the air were slowly becoming dimmer.

Qin Yu took in a deep breath and stared at Rourou. At that moment, his mind was completely clear of any messy thoughts.

He could clearly sense that her aura was vanishing as the two forms of light specks were imprinted onto her body.

It was a seal!

That’s right, this was the feeling. Rourou was currently sealing her own aura such that nothing was released to the outside world.

A realization jumped into Qin Yu’s mind. The reason why Rourou came with him to the Golden Crow Tribe was for this. The pearl that she gave to help the Golden Crow Totem transform was also a part of her plan.

However, what was her objective for doing this?

Right at that moment, Rourou’s eyes suddenly flung open. Without any movement, a green sphere appeared in front of her.

A lively aura was being released from the green sphere and there was a clear and bright aura that felt like pureness from a newborn was drifting out from it.

This was the Divine Willow Totem of the Green Willow Tribe!

Qin Yu personally touched that willow branch before and he recognized the aura. If he didn’t know that the Green Willow Tribe had sought them out themselves voluntarily, Qin Yu would have thought that all of this was Rourou’s arrangement.

Unless, was Rourou controlling everything?

Rourou gulped down the green sphere in one shout and two light spots appeared on her body. They gradually stabilized and appeared lively.

‘Crack crackle’. Sharp cracking sounds came through the air and the light spots broke apart and dispersed. At the same time, Rourou’s aura completely disappeared and it was almost like she was a shadow.

If he closed his eyes, Qin Yu could not sense her presence even though she was right in front of him. She was an existence that went beyond heaven and earth; she could not be sensed or locked on to.

The Golden Crow Totem squealed, announcing its fatigue. It furled its wings and landed beside Rourou. Its eyes that were red and as pure as jade looked dull.

Rourou lifted her hand and stroked its features. The Golden Crow instantly jumped in excitement. After rubbing against her hand a few times, it jumped off her shoulder and went into the sea of magma.

My goodness, sure enough, the Golden Crow Totem only cared about Rourou!

Qin Yu…was like a shooting target that was placed on the surface.

Although he already sensed this previously, Qin Yu could not help rubbing his nose after personally witnessing what happened.

“Little Qin Yu, remember this. You will owe me more after today.” Rourou glared at him, “Are you done peeking?”

She lifted her hand and maneuvered flames to cover her petite figure as though they were clothes.

Rourou took one step forward and almost stumbled into the magma pool directly. She glared at Qin Yu angrily and demanded, “What are you staring blankly at? Aren’t you going to hurry over and lead me out of here?”

Her face was red and her forehead was dotted with sweat. She looked like she could not withstand the heat from the valley now.

Qin Yu’s heart clenched and he threw aside his honor. He jumped towards her and pulled her out.

There was a complicated look in his eyes as he stared at her and his lips quivered although he did not speak. By now, Qin Yu had a good guess for the reason why she sealed her aura.

No wonder she said that he owed her a lot more now.

Rourou waved her hand. “You can close your mouth and swallow back your thanks. Just remember it in your heart.”

Qin Yu nodded, “Let’s go.” He pulled Rourou along and strode out. The two of them walked forward and the pool of magma separated to form a path for them. He greeted the Tribe Leader with a smile on his face.

“General, Lady.”

The Golden Crow Tribe Elder who was waiting by the valley hurried to send a message to the Tribe Leader. He smiled brightly before walking forward to greet the two of them.

“General, Lady, Tribe Leader has some things to attend to, please wait here for a while.”

Qin Yu knew that Rourou did not like to talk to outsiders and he said directly, “Thank you. Please inform Tribe Leader Cutuo that we will be leaving directly.”

The Elder did not dare to stop them at all and he quickly bowed and showed them the way.

Qin Yu and Rourou headed out directly, but right before they left the Golden Crow Tribe, Cutuo caught up to them. In a deep voice, he said, “General, Lady, why don’t you stay for a while, I will order the servants to prepare a banquet.”

Qin Yu gleaned at him with a deep look in his eyes. Cutuo suddenly felt like Qin Yu saw through him with his eyes. A look of uneasiness crossed his face.

Coughing lightly, he laughed, “There are indeed a few friends who asked me for a favor. I can’t push them aside and I had to give it a try.”

Master Prajna had already given him a clear answer that he did not have to worry about the Golden Crow Totem. This was why he was able to divert his attention to this.

Granted, his ‘friends’ had given him favors. Since Cutuo asked Qin Yu, he must have obtained some gifts. The various tribes must have been very generous for the Golden Crow Tribe Leader to have taken a fancy to them.

Qin Yu smiled, “Tribe Leader, please announce in my stead that I and my Lady have expended a lot of energy and we can’t handle any more requests. We will head back tomorrow.”

“Ah! General, are you going…” A look of panic crossed Cutuo’s eyes.

Qin Yu immediately knew that the Tribe Leader of the Golden Crow Tribe had received a lot of bribes. He did not stop after Qin Yu turned him down the first time.

Blinking his eyes, Qin Yu said, “If you are willing, I can help you add a sentence for you and announce to everyone that we are good friends.”

Cutuo’s eyes brightened and he laughed, “What are you saying General? We are already very good friends!”

He walked over and grabbed Qin Yu’s hand without a sound. Then, he placed a storage ring in Qin Yu’s hand. Between a long term profit and a short term gain, it was obvious which was the better choice.

Rourou frowned, but Qin Yu’s smile remained, “Farewell.”

Tribe Leader Cutuo ushered them out personally. Once they left, his forehead was covered with sweat and he was frowning.

The Lady was very strange and hard to grasp. No wonder she was the General’s wife…just now, she rolled her eyes at him. This was supposed to be a cute gesture, but his heart had clenched and he had to try his best to hold in his fear.

What was more frightening was that he could not sense her aura at all.

She was right in front of him but she felt far away!

……

The Desolate camp men were returning soon.

Although the Golden Crow Tribe made a prior announcement of the news and also reassured the tribes that General Jinwu would come back soon, many people were gathered outside the camp.

Many barbarians came and their eyes were fixated on something.

They had deliberately spread news previously. As long as the men in the Desolate camp were not deaf and blind, they would have gotten the news.

However, a few days passed without anything happening. It was like a large rock that dropped into a lake. The muffled drop felt stifling to the barbarian tribes.

Some people had wild thoughts that included capturing General Jinwu and binding him in the Barbarian Clan regardless of the consequences.

Yet, after they saw the calm Master Prajna near the horse carriage, they quickly suppressed these wild thoughts.

They could not violate the will of the Holy Land!

“Farewell General Jinwu, please return to the Barbarian Clan soon. The Boundless Tribe will set up a camp for you beforehand and welcome you back!”

“Hmmph! The Boundless Tribe will set up a camp beforehand? My Obsidian Tribe have already arranged men to build a camp. General Jinwu, if you are looking for a place to stay, please consider my tribe and receive our sincerity!”

“Us too…”

Voices shouted over each other and powerful barbarians disregarded any shame. This included Elders of the various tribes.

With an opportunity presented in front of them for their tribe’s totem, what was shame?

Right at that moment, the crowd parted and the chaos subsided. The old Tribe Leader of the Green Willow Tribe hurried over.

With a ‘thud’, he knelt on the ground and bowed repeatedly, “General Jinwu, this servant is late. Please forgive me.”

The elites of the Barbarian Clan were annoyed by his bootlicking attitude. However, when they thought about the Green Willow Tribe’s circumstances, they could understand.

Anyone who was in a desperate situation for the last five hundred years would act the same way after they were saved and given a chance at life again.

Qin Yu’s voice came from the horse carriage, “Tribe Leader, you don’t need to be too polite. Please rise.”

The old Tribe Leader rose. With a deep voice and a determined look, he said, “I am here to fulfill my previous promise. The Green Willow Tribe is willing to give up all our territory for permission from the Holy Land to enter Traverse Mountain and head west.”

West of Traverse Mountain…

A few images formed in Qin Yu’s mind. The bloodline of the Barbarian King gave him knowledge.

The sincerity from the Green Willow Tribe was sufficient!

Abandoning the eastern territory of Traverse Mountain to head west…not everyone would be able to put this down with such determination.

Before Qin Yu could think further, the old Tribe Leader gave him a ring storage device with two hands.

“General, this is all my tribe has to express our thanks. Please keep it.”

Rourou suddenly spoke, “There isn’t much but the grade of the items is good. I didn’t expect that the starving Green Willow Tribe would still have such treasures.”

Qin Yu thought about it and said, “Tribe Leader, please come in.”

The carriage doors opened.

The old Tribe Leader was taken aback. He wore a humble look and hurried into the horse carriage.

Behind him, the carriage doors closed automatically. He immediately felt that energy from space time surround him.

As he looked at the two people in front of him, he could not help being in awe of them.

Space time rules were not only the hardest form of rules to control for Desolate Area men, it was also a very powerful force.

This applied to barbarians too!

At that moment, the old Tribe Leader thought of the terrifying tremors in space time when the Divine Willow was being saved. Now, he looked at the inconspicuous pair of hands before him. They looked normal but they could maneuver space time.

The old Tribe Leader bowed, “Greetings to General and Lady.”

Qin Yu raised his hand, “There are many eyes on us, I will just speak directly.” He knocked on the carriage and said, “Firstly, the Green Willow Tribe will not need to give up your territory and move to the west of Traverse Mountain.”

“General…” A look of worry crossed the old Tribe Leader’s face.

Qin Yu smiled, “I know that you are doing this in hopes that I will not be faced with too much pressure when I return to the West Desolate.

“But old Tribe Leader, rest assured. Since I made my move, I have everything under control and I will not be put in a tight spot.

“The Green Willow Tribe has gone through a lot and made it through this hardship. Please rest here…the west of Traverse Mountain isn’t a place that you guys should be now.”

The old Tribe Leader was taken aback and he stared at Qin Yu in shock. He obviously did not think that General Jinwu of the West Desolate would know about the west of Traverse Mountain.

Qin Yu smiled and ignored his gaze, “Secondly, I will keep the items. However, sometime in the near future, I will need to borrow a space in the Green Willow Tribe. I hope I will have your permission for that.”

The wide eyes of the old Tribe Leader were filled with emotions and he understood what Qin Yu meant – the next time the Desolate Area men entered the Barbarian Clan territory, they would stay at the Green Willow Tribe!

This was also what the elites of the Barbarians Clan were pleading for as they stared at the horse carriage with passionate eyes.

Establishing close relationships could grant benefits and a horse would not get fed if it wasn’t fed…look at the Golden Crow Tribe today. Tribe Leader Cutuo benefited greatly from the Desolate camp and he was greatly envied by many.

Qin Yu waved his hand, “I have my reasons for choosing the Green Willow Tribe. Old Tribe Leader, don’t be too bothered about it.”

“Thank you General, the Green Willow Tribe will definitely make the preparations beforehand to welcome you!” The old Tribe Leader bowed respectfully.

Qin Yu nodded, “Alright, I won’t keep you further. We will meet again soon.”

The old Tribe Leader stood up too and left. Once he got off the horse carriage, he was met with jealous and envious gazes from the rest of the barbarians. His lips twitched and he felt like he was still living in a dream.

Inside the carriage, Qin Yu said, “Master Prajna and fellow barbarians, all feasts come to an end. You don’t have to send me off.”

Prajna smiled, placed his hands together, and bowed, “Farewell, General Jinwu.”

The rest of the barbarians cupped their hands together and shouted, “Take care, General Jinwu!”

The hatred between the Barbarian Clan and the Desolate Area ran deep. However, the ascetic of the Holy Land expressed his attitude. Although the barbarians did not know the truth, they knew fear. This was also the key as to why Qin Yu was welcomed and respected by the various barbarian tribes.

The wheels of the horse carriage started turning and the group from the West Desolate headed back to the empire without stopping.