Meanwhile, on the Grasslands several hundred miles away.
The mounted party stopped beside a river to make camp. Their patron, Huo Yi, lit a bonfire in camp and arranged for several warriors to hold a wrestling contest.
Jiang Xiao Biao, the Long River Tribe's foremost baturu, enthusiastically served as referee, while Zhao Ling grew too tempted to resist and began betting wine on the matches. Empress Dowager Guo, Ye Yunchi, and Bu Yuehua all joined in, while Coal Ball stared unblinkingly at the whole roasting lamb.
As a mighty Fifth Realm Old Devil, Xie Jinhuan would have been bullying people if he joined the wrestling, so he patrolled around the camp with his weapons hanging at his waist.
Although Huo Yi was only a Tribal Lord and there could hardly be any danger-even if someone wanted to assassinate him, they could not get within seven paces of Xiao Biao-the patron really was paying far too much this time!
Xie Jinhuan wanted both the ore and the Buddhist Sect's cultivation techniques, so naturally, he had to show the right attitude toward his work. Even if nothing was happening, he had to patrol a few rounds and show his patron what professionalism meant.
The scenery of the Grasslands was utterly different from that of the Central Plains. Green grass stretched as far as the eye could see, and a bright moon hung amid a sea of stars. The scenery was simple, yet possessed an indescribable grandeur.
Xie Jinhuan admired it alone for a moment, rather wanting to ask A Piao whether she had enjoyed his attentions.
But his Ghost Wife seemed to have grown shy for once and was hiding on the Milk Melons wagon, refusing to come down. He had no way to summon her himself. Just as he was growing