xymnovel Chapter 45: Green Lion and White Elephant, Host and Guests Enjoy Themselves
Chapter 45: Green Lion and White Elephant, Host and Guests Enjoy Themselves
On the left is a man over eight feet tall, extremely robust, dressed in a robe made of thick, dark blue-black animal hide, his bare arms bulging with muscles like the gnarled roots of an old tree.
With a resolute face, thick eyebrows like halberds, and a pair of bright, piercing eyes, the most striking feature was a bronze lion head pendant with a ferocious and ancient design tied between his forehead. The lion's mouth was slightly open, revealing its fangs, adding a touch of primitive wildness to his appearance.
He simply stood there quietly, yet his body naturally exuded a chilling aura, like the king of beasts surveying his territory, resembling a blue-maned lion that might suddenly leap up and devour its prey.
The man on the right was slightly shorter than the burly man in the green robe on the left, but he was more sturdy and broad, like a thick city wall.
He wore a plain white thick linen robe, covered with simple leather armor. He had broad shoulders and a thick back, with unusually long arms. His hands, hanging down, were as large as palm-leaf fans, with thick knuckles covered with calluses and small scars.
His skin was a bronze color from years of wind and sun exposure. His face was honest and steady, and his eyes were calm, yet he possessed a sense of imposing weight, like a silent and powerful ancient white elephant.
Mu Yunlingyuan's mind raced, and he had already guessed some of what was going on, but he didn't show it on his face. Seeing this, Jin Peng grinned smugly, stepped aside, and solemnly introduced:
"Brother Lingyuan, I'm not here empty-handed! I've come to introduce you to two renowned heroes of the grasslands, my brothers-in-arms, with the courage of ten thousand men!"
He first pointed to the giant man in the green robe on his left: "This is Brother Qing Shi, from the Mad Lion Tribe, the tribe's number one warrior! He once single-handedly fought a maddened Snow Mountain Yak, can draw a bow with a strength of three hundred stones, and his arrows can pierce heavy armor! His Mountain-Shattering Saber Technique is so powerful that dozens of ordinary people cannot get close to him!"
Upon hearing this, the Green Lion took a step forward, and the ground seemed to tremble slightly.
Without elaborating, he slammed his right fist into his left chest with a heavy thud, then knelt on one knee, his voice booming like thunder rolling across the grassland, carrying the straightforwardness and ruggedness characteristic of grassland men:
"Azure Lion of the Mad Lion Tribe pays respects to Prince Mu Yun! I am a rough man, but I only recognize true heroes! I respect your integrity, Your Highness! If Your Highness is to accomplish great things, I am willing to offer my strength and my life to you! A true hero will not flinch even in the face of mountains of knives and seas of fire!"
It turns out that the Mad Lion tribe has been repeatedly oppressed by the Xiutu tribe in recent years. Their grasslands have been encroached upon and their people have been humiliated. Although the Green Lion is brave, he is unable to resist the overwhelming force and harbors resentment.
Later, he was taken in and protected by Jinpeng. Hearing that Muyun Lingyuan was the chief of the Muyun tribe and was about to return to the tribe to compete with Muyun Zhao, who relied on the Xiutu tribe, and having heard of Muyun Lingyuan's reputation for enduring humiliation in the Hu lands, he took the initiative to volunteer to Jinpeng and was willing to serve him.
Jin Peng then pointed to the burly man in white robes on his right:
"This is Brother White Elephant, the young chieftain of the Savage Elephant Tribe! Don't let his honest appearance fool you, he is born with superhuman strength and could throw down an adult bull at the age of thirteen!"
He wields a massive iron spear weighing 180 jin (approximately 90 kg), which is impenetrable even when wielded! Even more remarkable is his calm and composed nature, possessing the qualities of a wise and virtuous general from ancient times.
White Elephant stepped forward steadily, bowed respectfully with clasped hands, and spoke in a deep and resonant voice, like a boulder landing: "White Elephant of the Barbarian Elephant Tribe greets the Great Prince."
Our tribe and the Dapeng tribe have been on friendly terms for generations, helping and supporting each other. Now we hear that the prince is about to undertake a great mission, and Brother Peng strongly recommends him, saying that the prince is a dragon among men, possessing both benevolence and courage.
The white elephant, though unworthy, followed the prince south to serve him. Firstly, this fulfills my duty to my brother Peng; secondly, it also seeks a wise ruler for my tribe.
The Manxiang tribe is of medium size and is adjacent to the Dapeng tribe, with whom it has always maintained a friendly relationship.
When Bai Xiang learned that Jin Peng was determined to help Mu Yun Ling Yuan, he discussed it with the clan elders and believed that this was an opportunity for the future development of the tribe. If they could help the eldest son to take the throne, the tribe's status would surely be improved. Therefore, he came in person, both out of friendship and for the long-term benefit of the tribe.
Mu Yunlingyuan's heart stirred. With his return to his unit imminent, what he lacked most was a reliable military force and fierce generals who could charge into battle.
He quickly stepped forward, personally helped the blue lion up, and then solemnly returned the greeting to the white elephant, his tone sincere and warm, without any princely airs.
"Please rise, my two brave warriors! What virtue or ability do I possess to have earned the favor of two eagles of the grasslands and tigers of the mountains, who are willing to humble themselves and come to serve me? This is truly the help of Heaven!"
With your two assistance today, I am like a tiger with wings; my journey back to my unit is now much more secure!
He then turned to his attendants and ordered, "Quickly prepare the finest mare's milk wine and roast the fattest lamb. Today, I will drink with my three brothers until we are completely drunk!"
Before long, the charcoal fire inside the tent was burning brightly, and servants came and went, serving strong mare's milk wine that was warm in a copper pot and smelled delicious, as well as large pieces of roasted beef and mutton that were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside and sizzling with oil.
The four men removed their outer robes and sat around on the ground covered with a thick felt, with a huge wooden platter piled high with meat in the center.
The wine bowls clinked together, producing a crisp sound. The spicy, scalding wine entered their throats, transforming into a warm current that dispelled the morning chill and quickly brought them closer together.
The atmosphere inside the tent was lively, lacking the cold and heavy atmosphere of intrigue and scheming, and filled with the straightforward and bold boisterousness and enthusiasm of the men of the grasslands.
The Green Lion emptied his bowl of wine and ate meat with the speed of a whirlwind. The White Elephant was more composed, but also had a large capacity for alcohol. Although he didn't talk much, every word he uttered hit the nail on the head. The Golden Roc was witty and humorous, telling stories of the wonders and anecdotes of the various tribes on the grassland. Mu Yun Ling Yuan listened attentively and responded appropriately. The guests and hosts were all very happy.
Halfway through the drinking session, Jin Peng suddenly put down his wine bowl, wiped the grease from his lips, raised his thick eyebrows, looked around, and spoke with obvious doubt:
"Hey, speaking of which, Ling Yuan, where's your black ice block? That brat Tai Chu Cang Ye! Every time I come here, I can't find him anywhere!"
Could it be that it knew I was coming and deliberately hid in some snowdrift?
The black ice block he mentioned was naturally a description of Tai Chu Cang Ye's perpetually cold, taciturn, and unapproachable demeanor.
Upon hearing this, Mu Yunlingyuan was taken aback at first, then couldn't help but laugh and shook his head.
Even the blue lion and the composed white elephant, who had been silently eating meat, stopped what they were doing and showed expressions of great interest.
The feud between Jinpeng and Taichu Cangye has long been a popular and interesting topic within Muyun Lingyuan's small circle.
About four years ago, not long after Jin Peng first met Mu Yun Ling Yuan, he heard that Mu Yun Ling Yuan had a guard named Tai Chu Cang Ye who was extremely skilled in martial arts.
Jin Peng, who prided himself on his strength and was a martial arts fanatic, couldn't contain himself and immediately went to Jin Peng's door to challenge him to a duel.
Tai Chu Cang Ye initially declined, citing his duty, but Jin Peng persisted and he had no choice but to accept the challenge. As a result, witnessed by Mu Yun Ling Yuan, the two clashed three times in an open field under the moon. The swordplay was spectacular, but in the end, Jin Peng lost each time because he had exhausted his moves or had his weaknesses found.
Jin Peng accepted his defeat wholeheartedly, but it also fueled his competitive spirit. From then on, he regarded Tai Chu Cangye as the best whetstone and would seek him out for a duel whenever he had free time.
Tai Chu Cang Ye was quiet by nature and impatient with entanglements. He felt that although fighting with Jin Peng could exercise his muscles and bones, the opponent's fighting style was very open and powerful, which consumed a lot of energy. Moreover, Jin Peng became more courageous after each defeat and was very tenacious. After a few times, he began to avoid fighting.
Later, it even got to the point that whenever Tai Chu Cang Ye heard that Jin Peng was coming, he would either immediately take on the task of patrolling the distant outposts, or simply hide in his tent or stable and avoid seeing him.
Mu Yun Ling Yuan often used this incident to tease Cang Ye, saying that he was "fearless of heaven and earth, only afraid of the Roc coming to fight."
Mu Yunling suppressed his laughter and explained in a serious tone:
"Cang Ye... has indeed been very busy lately. With his return journey imminent, he needs to personally check and review all his luggage and supplies, and also needs to re-arrange the guard routes to ensure that nothing goes wrong along the way and at the base."
Perhaps they've been too busy to even have a moment to spare, which is why they haven't had a chance to meet.
He cleverly omitted the real reason for his avoidance, knowing full well that if he revealed it, given Jin Peng's unwillingness to admit defeat, he would probably immediately overturn the tent and drag the person out to "determine the winner again."
Upon hearing this, Jin Peng didn't believe it, curled his lip, and snorted:
"Busy? I think he's like a camel, hiding somewhere! So what if he beat me a few times? What's there to be so proud of! Once I'm done with this busy period, I'll definitely find him and have another match!"
"I've recently figured out a few new halberd techniques, and I'm determined to impress him!" As he spoke, he clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles cracking, looking eager and determined to succeed.
His earnest and simple-minded manner made Mu Yunlingyuan, Qing Shi, and Bai Xiang unable to hold back any longer and burst into laughter, filling the tent with a joyful atmosphere.