A Gift of Horses and a First Tour
With mixed feelings, Qingsui arrived at the stables, and her gaze immediately fell on the two exceptionally fine horses— Chasing Wind and Treading Clouds.
Chasing Wind is a dark-colored stallion with a glossy coat. He is nearly a head taller than a typical pony, with smooth muscle lines and bright, piercing eyes. Even when standing quietly, he gives the impression of being ready to pounce. Treading Clouds is a pure white mare with only a tuft of black star-shaped hair on her forehead, which makes her appear elegant and intelligent.
Looking at them, Qingsui felt a pang of reluctance. These two horses, along with the black, spirited horse "Galloping Thunder" that her father often rode, were her precious children whom she had watched grow up. The Valley Tribe had spent generations of their lives trying to breed better horses, importing stallions from the Horse Tribe, carefully breeding and selecting them to finally establish the most outstanding bloodline. They were taller and stronger than ordinary ponies, with exceptional endurance, speed, and load-bearing capacity. They were fed carefully selected beans, fine rice, and top-quality hay, and were even occasionally given eggs to supplement their nutrition during training. They were also carefully cared for by dedicated grooms.
She gently stroked the smooth neck of the Chasing Wind, which nuzzled affectionately against her palm. "You're going to your new home tomorrow..." Qingsui whispered, a hint of sadness in her voice. But then she thought, the Fire Tribe was a large tribe of tens of thousands; they probably wouldn't mistreat such fine horses. And that boy named Yan seemed steady and reliable; he should treat them well, right?
Thinking of Yan, Qingsui's cheeks involuntarily flushed slightly again. The thrilling scene from yesterday reappeared before her eyes—she was tightly hugging that strong waist, feeling the unfamiliar scent of sweat and sunshine emanating from him, and seeing those clear and calm eyes... Her heart skipped a beat.
"Pah! What nonsense are you thinking!" She shook her head, trying to dispel these distracting thoughts, but her mind wandered even further. She'd heard from the Fish Tribe's chief, Canglan, that Yan, about her age, already managed over a thousand people! At the banquet today, facing her father and the seven elders, he remained composed and dignified. Most impressively, the Fire Tribe's exquisite pottery was actually his invention! Qingsui, having grown up in the Valley Tribe, knew the immense value of this new technology. This young man was not only brave but also so intelligent... truly admirable.
She forced herself to concentrate and, together with the groom beside her, began to carefully groom and care for Chasing Wind and Treading Clouds. First, she gently combed their Zongmao and long tails to remove dust and grass clippings, then meticulously wiped their entire bodies with a damp cloth, even cleaning their hooves as thoroughly as possible. She did it with exceptional care, as if she were packing the bags for dear friends who were about to embark on a long journey, hoping they would arrive at their new owners in the best possible condition and receive more love and care.
After finishing all that, it was already late at night. Qingsui washed up and lay down, but tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. Yan's figure, his words, his agile hands as he subdued the runaway horse, his calm profile at the banquet... various images flashed through her mind. One moment she felt her face burning, the next she couldn't help but wonder what his expression would be when he received the horse tomorrow... She tossed and turned until the early hours of the morning before finally drifting off to sleep.
The next day, Qingsui was startled awake when the blinding sunlight streamed into the room. Looking at the sky, she saw that the sun was already high in the sky!
"Oh no! It's so late!" she exclaimed, scrambling to her feet, quickly washing up, grabbing a few bites of food, and getting ready to leave.
She had just reached the door when she suddenly stopped, glancing down at her slightly oversized, unisex linen top and trousers—the kind of "men's clothing" she often wore when sneaking out. Today... she was going to formally express her gratitude, and maybe even show the person around...
She hesitated for a moment, then turned and ran back into the house, rummaging through the belongings. Finally, she changed into a beautiful light blue linen dress. She also carefully combed her hair, holding up part of it with a smooth bone hairpin, leaving the rest draped over her shoulders. She looked at herself again and again in a polished bronze mirror (a precious item she had obtained from the Tiger Tribe) until she was satisfied, then took a deep breath and went out again.
With two servants helping to lead Chasing Wind and Treading Clouds, Qingsui headed towards the dock.
She hadn't gone far when she ran into her two cousins on the road— Daiyan's sons, Daishi and Daisha. Daishi was eleven years old, somewhat thin, and his face was a little pale; Daisha was nine years old and looked timid.
Daishi's eyes widened instantly when he saw Qingsui, and he blurted out, "Sister Qingsui? You... why are you dressed like this?" In his limited memory, this cousin always seemed to wear clothes that were easy for her to move in, so her outfit today was clearly a girl's, which surprised him greatly.
Qingsui blushed instantly at his blunt question, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed. She glared at him and said, "Mind your own business! I'll wear whatever I want! If you say another word, I'll beat you up!" She deliberately waved her fist.
Daishi then realized he had said the wrong thing. Remembering his cousin's past "fierce reputation" and trickery, he immediately shrank back and shut his mouth, afraid that saying another word would invite "retaliation."
The younger Daisha, however, didn't think too much about it. Looking up at her, she sincerely exclaimed, "Sister Qingsui, you look so beautiful today!"
This unexpected praise was like a gentle breeze, dispelling the slight embarrassment on Qingsui's face. She couldn't help but laugh, bending down to ruffle Daisha's hair. "Daisha has such a sweet tongue! Much better than your brother!"
After a brief chat with her two cousins, Qingsui didn't linger any longer and continued walking towards the dock with her horse.
Even from some distance from the dock, she could see the bustling scene at the Fire Tribe camp. The exchange of grain and pottery was underway, with people coming and going, carrying and exchanging goods. Yan was among them, directing several Fire Tribe warriors to count a pile of pottery jars. He occasionally exchanged a few words in hushed tones with the Valley Tribe's manager in charge of the exchange, his expression focused and serious.
Qingsui composed herself and first walked towards Uncle Fengren, who was overseeing the overall situation not far away, and Chief Jianshi, who was standing and talking with Chief Canglan.
"Uncle Fengren, Leader Jianshi, Leader Canglan," Qingsui greeted them respectfully.
Fengren nodded to her, and Jianshi and Canglan also gave her friendly smiles. She turned around and saw Yan, who had noticed her and stopped what he was doing to walk over.
"Young Master Yan." Qingsui raised her voice slightly, trying to make her tone sound natural, "Thanks to you for saving me yesterday. My father asked me to give you these two horses as a token of my gratitude." She gestured to the servants to bring over Chasing Wind and Treading Clouds.
Yan's gaze was first drawn to Qingsui's completely transformed appearance. The girl before him was a stark contrast to the panicked "tomboy" of yesterday. Her light blue dress made her skin appear even whiter, and her bright eyes made her truly a sight to behold.
Immediately, his attention was drawn to the two horses. Yan could tell at a glance that they were extraordinary. They were taller and stronger than ordinary ponies, with well-proportioned frames, full muscles, glossy coats, and alert expressions. They were definitely the best of the best among ponies!
"What a fine horse!" Yan couldn't help but exclaim, quickly approaching to examine it closely. He gently stroked the strong neck of Chasing Wind, then examined the gentle yet powerful limbs of Treading Clouds, his eyes filled with admiration and affection. For a tribe that valued cavalry development, such a fine steed was a dream come true.
Seeing how much Yan liked them, Qingsui's reluctance seemed to lessen, replaced by a sense of satisfaction, like "a treasure given to a hero." She couldn't help but begin to describe them in detail, her speech quickening. "They're called Chasing Wind and Treading Clouds. They've been carefully bred by our Valley Tribe for generations, and their bloodlines are excellent! They're stronger and longer-lasting than ordinary horses, and they don't get sick easily. They need to be carefully fed, preferring a mix of bean feed and refined grains. When training is intense, we even need to add eggs! Chasing Wind is a bit fierce, but it's very intelligent; you'll get used to it after spending more time with it. Treading Clouds is gentler, but it's quite fast..." She went on and on about all the things to know about raising horses and the characteristics of the two breeds, as if she wanted to spill everything she knew.
Yan listened attentively, nodding occasionally. He held the Valley Tribe's breeding technology in even higher regard, while also subtly sensing the hint of reluctance in Qingsui's words. When Qingsui had finally finished speaking, he smiled and said, "Miss Qingsui, I only happened to be passing by yesterday when I saved you. It was a small favor, there's really no need to give such an expensive gift."
Qingsui was taken aback by his words, and it took her a while to realize that he had seen her reluctance and was politely declining. Her face turned even redder, and she hurriedly said, "How can that be! My father said he wanted to give it to you. If you don't accept it, I... I'll definitely be punished when I get back!" Her words were half true and half a small "threat," and her eyes were full of pleading.
Looking at the girl's eager and earnest expression, Yan felt a surge of warmth in her heart and decided not to refuse any longer. She nodded and said, "Alright, then I'll accept your offer. Don't worry, I'll take good care of them."
Hearing his agreement and promise, Qingsui breathed a sigh of relief, a bright smile spreading across her face, "Yes! You must take good care of them!"
Just then, Fengren, who was extremely busy, walked over. It turned out that Yan had previously suggested to Fengren that during the few days while waiting for the ship to be loaded, he could have someone from the Valley Tribe accompany him to visit and learn about the Valley Tribe within permissible limits. Fengren had originally agreed, but today's handover affairs were too heavy for him to get away. When he saw Qingsui here, his eyes lit up.
"Qingsui," Fengren beckoned her over, lowering his voice, "Chief Yan wants to look around, but I really can't leave here. Since you don't have anything else to do, why don't you show Chief Yan around the tribe?" He specifically instructed, "Remember, don't take him to the area near the workshop and the elders' private storerooms."
Qingsui also wanted to spend more time with Yan and was just looking for an excuse, so she immediately nodded and agreed, "Okay, Uncle Fengren, leave it to me!" She was a little excited to be able to take her savior (who was someone she was very interested in) to visit her tribe.
Fengren gave Yan a few more instructions before hurriedly returning to the handover site.
Thus, the hustle and bustle of the grain and pottery exchange was temporarily left behind, and Qingsui and Yan, along with several servants and members of the Fire Tribe, began their first tour of the Valley Tribe headquarters.