Chapter 65
Chapter 65: The Crisis Sense of the Wilderness
Qiqige murmured acknowledgment and quietly continued organizing the medicinal herbs with downcast eyes.
“Even though you’re not going, you still have work to do.” Xie Changqing said, collecting the herbs she’d previously processed and giving her a fresh bag.
Then he explained each one to her: “These need to be cut into sections, pick out the bad parts, cut into powder… these all need to be roasted first, dried, then cut into fine powder…”
Each medicinal herb had a different usage method.
“Good.” Qiqige nodded, carefully memorizing everything.
Having work to do was better than being idle here.
What she feared most was becoming useless to them.
Nomin reached out and patted her shoulder, shaking it: “Oh, you don’t need to explain all this—Qiqige knows it all! She’s so meticulous!”
Qiqige handled every herb with exceptional care.
Unless something was truly unusable, she wouldn’t waste even a bit.
Xie Changqing looked through her work—it really was quite good, and he smiled slightly: “Indeed very impressive.”
The key was that she truly recognized many medicinal herbs, and after he’d explained their processing methods once, she remembered them all.
Such talent—yet Zhuolige had only wanted to use her as a tool for venting emotions…
What a luxury, what a waste.
Suhe nearby remained silent. Having been cared for so attentively by Qiqige, he knew better than anyone the benefits of having such a healer at the ranch.
But their ranch couldn’t keep her.
Qiqige had originally been from their ranch, but Zhuolige had driven her to Xie Changqing’s side…
As he was feeling bitter, someone outside suddenly called out.
It was… Batu!?
Xie Changqing was somewhat surprised to see Batu running down the slope quickly: “Aha, aha!”
“Hm?”
Batu came running down without even breathing hard, his eyes bright: “People, people are coming our way!”
His favorite thing now was standing on high ground and looking into the distance.
Sure enough, he’d spotted something again.
Qiaoba quickly went out to look, while telling Xie Changqing and the others to wait inside: “Let me check the situation first. If anything’s wrong, I’ll have Batu notify you.”
Before leaving, he especially glanced at Qiqige.
Xie Changqing frowned, saying hesitantly: “If I’m not mistaken, it should be Alatan and them…”
After all, Alatan had said he would come to pick up Suhe.
Hearing this, Qiqige became nervous.
She looked around frantically, wishing she could find a crack to hide in.
But Xie Changqing gently pressed his hand on her shoulder, calming her: “Alatan knows the situation—remember?”
Since he was coming, he naturally wouldn’t bring anyone inappropriate.
Qiqige’s breathing was rapid, but under Xie Changqing’s steady words, she gradually calmed down, though her eyes were a bit red.
Sure enough, Batu soon returned.
“They brought a cart and came to pick up Suhe.” Batu’s little mouth chattered away expertly: “They also brought lots of meat, saying it’s for us!”
His eyes lit up when he mentioned meat.
Just as he finished speaking, the tent flap was lifted.
Alatan and Suren came in, very excited to see Suhe and the others.
After much greeting and conversation, they eventually took Suhe away.
“We came while the snow stopped…” They didn’t dare delay, afraid more snow would affect Suhe’s wound recovery.
Actually, if it were up to Xie Changqing, it would be best to stay here for recovery.
At least here, Qiqige was helping with care.
If he really went back and encountered someone like Zhuolige, there was no telling what would happen to his leg.
But Suhe himself wanted to go back—he was really going moldy lying here: “Changqing, I really owe you this time… I won’t say empty words, but I’ll definitely handle what I promised you!”
Now Xie Changqing was truly at ease: “Good, thank you, Uncle Suhe.”
They escorted them all the way out and watched them depart.
“We’ll set out early tomorrow.” Qiaoba suddenly said: “I just asked—on their way here, they encountered a group that also wants to take advantage of this opportunity to catch the wild stallion.”
It would be best if the two sides didn’t meet, or it would be quite troublesome.
Xie Changqing naturally agreed and immediately took Batu back to pack.
Early the next morning, they set off.
This time, Haierte and the others stayed at the ranch.
Qiaoba, Sangtu and others brought ten people total, choosing the strongest ones.
Hairile was very excited, running back and forth.
Yesterday Alatan and them had traveled this route, so the snow was packed down and quite passable.
Passing by Chagan’s area, they didn’t go greet him.
Chagan didn’t come out either—his ice house was hidden under snow and completely invisible from horseback.
“Over there in those mountain valleys, not close.” Qiaoba rode beside Xie Changqing, pointing out the location: “Between those three mountains.”
When spring came and the snow melted, that area would have the best grass growth.
“Every year before we go to spring pasture, we pick a time to circle around there.”
Livestock that ate grass from there grew exceptionally well.
Sangtu looked longingly at the sky: “That’s the blessing Tengger brought us…”
Xie Changqing nodded: “There must be trace elements underground that are good for livestock growth.”
“…” Sangtu indicated he didn’t understand.
Chatting and laughing, they hadn’t gone far from ranch territory when they indeed saw fresh tracks.
“These prints are quite deep—should be the people Alatan mentioned yesterday.” After dismounting to examine them, Qiaoba remounted: “We’ll follow directly behind.”
They were breaking trail, while his group followed behind—quite convenient.
“Just don’t know which ranch these people are from.” Qiaoba had specifically asked yesterday, but Alatan had only seen them from afar and couldn’t tell clearly.
“Just be careful.” Sangtu said, gripping his gun tighter and warning Xie Changqing: “Don’t trust anyone in the wilderness except us.”
Wind whipped up the snow from the ground, suddenly striking their faces.
Xie Changqing gripped his gun—only now did he feel the crisis sense of leaving their safe shelter and returning to the dangerous wilderness.
They followed very carefully, not daring to alert anyone.
Especially after going forward a while and discovering the snow on the ground had been trampled flat.
“Definitely tracks of the wild horse herd passing through.” Qiaoba nodded, becoming more alert: “Everyone slow down, ready to turn back at any moment.”
They absolutely couldn’t let the wild horse herd scatter them!
But unexpectedly, the journey to the mountain valley went extremely smoothly.
So smoothly that Qiaoba felt something was wrong.
“This doesn’t make sense.” Even Sangtu was frowning, somewhat anxious and restless: “How is this possible?”
After days of continuous snow, those small creatures didn’t dare come out. Wolves and such must be lacking food and would definitely emerge to hunt.
But these mountain valleys were too quiet…