220: Huyan Guanyin came to the door, and the white-robed Guanyin leaned against the wall

Chapter 218: Huyan Guanyin Comes Knocking, White-Robed Guanyin Leans on the Wall

Summer had arrived, and Sha Province was filled with a peaceful atmosphere, with all industries showing signs of prosperity.

Officials from Sha Province had already taken up their posts in the newly recaptured Gantai Commandery, and some bold refugees had begun to relocate there.

Zhang Yichao, in alliance with White-Robed Guanyin's Wala Tribe, completely annihilated the Shanshan Tribe, and Murong Fuyun died in battle.

The entire Sha Province was now connected to the closest Wala Tribe and stood in distant opposition to the farthest Yalong Tribe.

Huo Qubing and Li Cunxiao fought across thousands of miles, each destroying ten Western Rong tribes, and two to three hundred thousand foreign tribesmen from the grasslands were slaughtered.

The entire Western Rong grasslands were filled with apprehension, every bush and tree seeming like an enemy, and the former foreign cavalry were now terrified.

Everyone knew that the Protector-General of Anxi, King of Tang Li Chang'an, was a cruel and bloodthirsty tyrant; the name Li Chang'an could stop babies from crying at night.

With the combat power of Huo Qubing and Li Cunxiao, they could have continued deeper into the grasslands, but no matter how wide the net was cast, it was impossible to kill all the scattered foreign tribesmen.

Beheading those who needed to be beheaded, leaving some to be dogs, killing those who needed to be killed, and then dividing and governing the rest was the real strategy.

Li Chang'an's actions were meant to tell the Western Rong: if you want to raid, go find the Northern Mang people or the Western Fan People, just don't come to Sha Province.

Li Cunxiao returned to Sha Province with the leader of the last tribe and his army.

Ten miles away, Zhuge Liang, along with other civil and military officials, welcomed the meritorious generals from afar, and countless common people came to watch.

From a distance, a black torrent of cavalry galloped from the horizon, and even from hundreds of feet away, one could feel the powerful killing intent.

The Xuanjia Army and the Great Tang Iron Cavalry totaled over thirty thousand men; because they absorbed many captives who had been taken by the barbarians, their numbers grew with each battle.

Li Cunxiao saw Huo Qubing in the welcoming party from afar and couldn't help but twitch his mouth; that kid still got ahead of him.

This meant that Huo Qubing had completed the slaughter of ten tribes before him.

Li Cunxiao dismounted and knelt on one knee, "Military Advisor, this subordinate has lived up to his mission!"

Zhuge Liang was the most powerful person under Li Chang'an, and Li Chang'an had given him immense authority, so these military generals were all under his command.

Zhuge Liang helped him up and then said with emotion, "After several months of campaigning, the lads have worked hard."

At this moment, Huo Qubing also stepped forward and cupped his hands, "Welcome back, General Li, in triumph!"

Li Cunxiao chuckled, "I rushed day and night, but you still beat me to it."

Huo Qubing coming to greet him was enough to give Li Cunxiao Face.

This young general excitedly said, "No one in the world understands raiding foreign tribes better than I do!"

"You were only three days later than me, little brother, I admire you!"

Li Cunxiao, also a brave and passionate general, patted Huo Qubing's shoulder and said, "This time I accidentally got lost, that's why I was three days later than you!"

"Next time, I'll definitely be faster than you!"

Huo Qubing believed him, "So, people surnamed Li are prone to getting lost..."

Zhuge Liang took the hands of the two generals and said with great satisfaction, "Both generals are Your Highness's right-hand men; with you two, Your Highness's great cause is sure to succeed!"

"Let's go, Your Highness has already prepared a grand banquet to celebrate the achievements of both generals!"

Along the way, the Sha Province common people were a sea of humanity, and bursts of cheers shook the sky.

"Sha Province Iron Cavalry, invincible under heaven!"

"Welcome back, General Li, in triumph!"

"Long live His Highness the King of Tang!"

Within three days, they had twice gone out of the city to welcome the great army.

However, they had been bullied by foreign tribes for too long and had long awaited this day.

The common people's worries about Li Chang'an not being able to withstand Northern Liang also gradually subsided.

If even foreign tribes could be slaughtered like this, what was a mere Northern Liang?

After this bloody expedition, the fifty thousand refugee cavalry had been completely transformed into a mighty army.

A few days later, twenty tribal leaders were escorted to the execution ground.

The grassland barbarians who had once run wild now had fear in their eyes, completely devoid of their former leadership aura.

Because of these people, countless Sha Province common people had lost their families; now, retribution had finally arrived.

Lingchi!

The small knives for slicing flesh fell one by one on these strong men; the leaders, who were initially somewhat unyielding, eventually all became pleading insects.

"His Highness the King of Tang, please give us a quick death!"

"We will never dare to harass Sha Province again!"

Screams and pleas filled the execution ground; many common people from the five commanderies specially rushed there, just to get a piece of these beasts' flesh.

Some had their wives and daughters taken, some had their entire families killed, and some had been slaves to foreign tribes for many years.

Such deep-seated hatred was vented and released amidst the screams of the foreign tribal leaders.

They picked up the slices of flesh from these leaders and swallowed them directly with blood, yet even this could not quench their immense hatred!

On this day, the King of Tang sent a decree deep into the Western Rong grasslands.

If there were any tribes that had abducted Sha Province common people, they were to return and release them as soon as possible, or Face the Great Tang Iron Cavalry's punitive expedition!

The tribes destroyed by Li Cunxiao and Huo Qubing were only those that had most severely bullied Sha Province.

Deep in the grasslands, there were still many scattered tribes.

Three months later, various places successively returned over seventy thousand Sha Province common people.

These common people settled in the newly recovered Gaochang Commandery, and many voluntarily joined the army to guard their new homeland.

Because those abducted were mostly young adults and women, an astonishing ten thousand new soldiers were generated from them.

These new soldiers were just right for guarding Gaochang Commandery, and it was unlikely that any foreign tribes would dare to challenge Li Chang'an in the short term.

In the past six months, Northern Mang had sent small detachments to probe Sha Province, but they were all met with a fierce counterattack by Gu Dazu leading the Modao Soldiers and refugee infantry.

Although Northern Mang had a million-strong army, they were not currently unified and prepared for war, so their forces were relatively dispersed.

Moreover, Li Chang'an had killed Hong Jingyan and his group, which was Northern Mang's initial probing, and Sha Province was not Northern Mang's core interest.

General Zhong Shentong was still consolidating his forces, intending to launch a large-scale campaign against Sha Province to avenge his brother.

However, there was another opinion among the Northern Mang high command: to ally with Sha Province and cut through Northern Liang.

In their eyes, the three hundred and fifty thousand Northern Liang Army was the real hidden danger.

For a time, the two opinions were at an impasse, and no decision was made quickly.

Meanwhile, some tribes on the border between Western Rong and Northern Mang were also in constant unease.

Some of them had raided Sha Province and feared Li Chang'an's retaliation.

There were also some weaker ones who had not raided but were still afraid of Li Chang'an's slaughter.

After all, Li Chang'an had now become a Devil Head on the grasslands.

The Huyan Tribe was a small tribe, now living in daily fear.

Because they not only had to Face the possible clean-up from Sha Province but also attacks from larger tribes.

Just a few days ago, the large Pugu Tribe attacked them, snatching many horses and women.

Because the grassland tribes dared not raid Sha Province, they could only devour each other.

The Pugu Tribe declared that if the Huyan Tribe handed over the "Pearl of the Grasslands," Huyan Guanyin, they would spare the Huyan Tribe.

The leader, Huyan Dahan, was constantly frowning, unsure how to break the deadlock; he was unwilling to hand over his daughter no matter what.

It was at this time that his daughter, Huyan Guanyin, offered him advice.

"Father, let your daughter go to Sha Province."

Huyan Guanyin was not Huyan Dahan's biological daughter but an abandoned infant he had found outside the tribe.

However, what he didn't know was that this woman carried immense Luck and was a descendant of the Northern Mang imperial family.

Huyan Guanyin was exceptionally beautiful, with a graceful and enchanting figure, a renowned beauty on the grasslands.

In the original work, she was among the top five on the Rouge List: Nangong Pu She, Chen Yu, Jiang Si, Huyan Guanyin, and Pei Nanwei.

Huyan Dahan's eyes widened, wondering if he had misheard.

"Daughter, are you mad! Why would you go to Sha Province? That's the territory of the Great Devil King Li Chang'an!"

To these small tribes, Sha Province was a place filled with experts, strong soldiers, and was a man-eating, bone-spitting place.

Huyan Guanyin, however, said, "Father, even if I am offered to the Pugu Tribe, they cannot guarantee our safety."

"We have always lived by herding horses and sheep, never raided Sha Province, and are not enemies of Sha Province."

"If your daughter is offered to the King of Tang, and the tribe becomes a loyal vassal of the King of Tang, only then can the safety of our tribesmen truly be guaranteed."

Huyan Dahan replied, "You have also heard of the Sha Province common people's hatred for the grassland people; the King of Tang even subjected twenty tribal leaders to Lingchi!"

"Moreover, I, Huyan Dahan, cannot do something as shameful as selling my daughter for glory!"

Huyan Guanyin continued to analyze, "Father, it's not you selling your daughter for glory; this is my own decision."

"If we don't make up our minds soon, our tribesmen will all be killed or taken away by the larger tribes, and your daughter will also fall into their hands."

"Instead of sitting back and waiting for death, it's better for your daughter to go to Sha Province and try, after all, the King of Tang's retaliation targets only those tribes that have raided Sha Province."

Huyan Dahan knew that Huyan Guanyin intended to offer herself to the King of Tang in exchange for Sha Province's protection for the tribe.

The King of Tang had many beautiful women around him; these things were well-known among the grassland people.

"But... the King of Tang doesn't seem to accept grassland women. Some small tribes tried this before, but they were all rejected by the King of Tang."

Huyan Guanyin said confidently, "Father, but your daughter is different."

Huyan Dahan knew that this daughter was indeed extraordinary, more beautiful and captivating than the women in the Northern Mang imperial palace.

He hesitated for a long time, but finally made up his mind.

"Daughter, I will go with you; this will also show our determination to surrender."

"If the King of Tang wants to kill me, as long as he is willing to protect our tribesmen, I will die without regret!"

After the father and daughter finished their discussion, they took hundreds of elite personal guards and rushed to Sha Province overnight to seek aid and allegiance.

To Huyan Dahan and Huyan Guanyin's surprise, Li Chang'an actually arranged a time to specifically meet them.

What they didn't know was that Li Chang'an valued Luck extremely highly; now, Jiang Si's Luck was gradually transferring to Li Chang'an.

And this Huyan Guanyin carried even greater Luck, capable of helping Li Chang'an accelerate his Cultivation, not to mention being a famous figure on the original Rouge List.

Three days later, Qingniao led Huyan Guanyin and her father into the King's residence.

Huyan Dahan and Huyan Guanyin were cautious and kept their eyes straight throughout the journey, feeling very nervous.

After all, they were entering the legendary Dragon's Den and Tiger's Lair.

After passing through several corridors, the three saw a white-clad figure at a low gate.

It was a peerless nun, with skin as white as porcelain, bare feet on the ground, and a beauty like a celestial being.

Although the white-clad nun was dressed in Esoteric Buddhism attire, long, cascading black hair had already grown on her head.

This was precisely the Sect Master of Esoteric Buddhism's Red Sect, the Six-Jeweled Bodhisattva, White-Robed Guanyin.

At this moment, White-Robed Guanyin's willow-like brows were tightly furrowed, and her beautiful Face looked somewhat pained.

Her body trembled slightly, and one hand was propped against the wall, as if she was in great agony.

After Huyan Dahan saw White-Robed Guanyin, his legs felt like they were filled with lead, and he immediately knelt down and kowtowed.

The Huyan Tribe believed in Esoteric Buddhism, which was why he named his daughter Huyan Guanyin.

White-Robed Guanyin had operated in the entire Western Regions for many years, had a vast following, and commanded considerable prestige.

Huyan Guanyin, like her father, both bowed down together, respectfully offering greetings.

"Believing woman Huyan Guanyin, greets the Bodhisattva."

White-Robed Guanyin wiped away the fine beads of sweat on her forehead, her expression a little awkward.

She wanted to release her hand from the wall, but her body was unsteady, so she had no choice but to continue holding the wall and maintain a dignified appearance.

"Both of you, please rise. The Huyan Tribe does not raid common people; truly immeasurable Karma."

Having received White-Robed Guanyin's praise and affirmation, Huyan Dahan had already overlooked why White-Robed Guanyin would appear here.

However, the observant Huyan Guanyin felt very curious, but she dared not ask, and could only kowtow and express gratitude with her father.

After the father and daughter left, White-Robed Guanyin let out a long sigh, then gritted her teeth and slowly moved towards her small courtyard, leaning on the wall.

With every step White-Robed Guanyin took, she felt a tearing pain, so deep that even with her physique close to that of a Great Vajra, it was bone-piercing.

"Didn't they say Dual Cultivation Technique is beneficial for women, and men would be slowly drained? But why am I suffering so much now?"

"Moreover, Li Chang'an's concubines, after being with him, all became radiant and even more charming, so why do I feel like I'm being tortured?"

"Although the process was as wonderful as a dream, the aftermath is unbearable pain. What exactly is going on...?"

"Hiss... every time I have to lie in bed for several days before I can get up. Could it be that Li Chang'an is targeting me...? It hurts so much..."

Actually, White-Robed Guanyin was truly overthinking.

The Esoteric Buddhism's Dual Cultivation Technique in the Western Regions was somewhat unorthodox; the one with lower Cultivation among the Dual Cultivators would suffer a strong backlash of Karmic Obstruction.

So now, White-Robed Guanyin was helping Li Chang'an Cultivate; her own Cultivation not only didn't increase, but she would also suffer backlash afterward.

She thought about Dual Cultivating with Li Chang'an all day, and Li Chang'an couldn't disappoint her; as for the consequences, she could only bear them herself.

Dual Cultivating with White-Robed Guanyin not only enhanced his Cultivation but also solidified his relationship with the Wala Tribe, which was a win-win situation.

In the main hall of the King's residence.

Li Chang'an sat in the main seat, looking sternly at Huyan Dahan and his daughter.

"Greetings, His Highness the King of Tang!"

Qingniao held the Kshana Spear, and Jiang Ni held the Dragon Sparrow Sword, standing left and right, heroic and spirited.

Huyan Guanyin and her father knelt nervously on the ground, not daring to lift their heads.

"Raise your heads."

Huyan Dahan had the ordinary appearance of a grassland man, but Huyan Guanyin could be described as a peerless beauty.

The young woman had specially worn a white dress of Han women, her features were refined and delicate, and her figure was slender and perfect, like a slender branch bearing abundant fruit.

Huyan Guanyin's eyes flickered; she stole a glance at Li Chang'an and then dared not look again.

The Great Devil King, infamous for his ferocity, turned out to be a handsome and valiant young man, which was truly surprising.

Huyan Dahan had prepared a belly full of words, about how cruel and fierce the Pugu Tribe was, and how he had long admired the King of Tang's sagacity.

But Li Chang'an said, "Huyan Guanyin, you speak."

Huyan Guanyin's little heart suddenly pounded, and for a moment, she stammered, unsure where to begin.

However, she knew the opportunity was rare; one wrong word might cost the tribe its chance for survival.

She gathered her courage, her voice trembling with anxiety.

"His Highness the King of Tang, this concubine is willing to be your servant, only asking Your Highness to help the Huyan Tribe."