In the Divine Citizens’ City of the secret realm world.
Xue Yi walked up the rough thick stone steps with a face full of disgust. She felt an unspeakable loathing for this backward world. She had changed into silk clothes that only upper-class citizens in the Divine Citizens’ City could wear. But in her eyes, these clothes still seemed crude and inferior. They could not set off her beauty. Yet thinking of the date just now, a gentle smile still appeared on her face.
Among the princes of the Divine Citizens’ City, she had originally favoured the Fourth Prince. But she unexpectedly found that the Ninth Prince had not died. Though rumours said the Ninth Prince was a kind-hearted good youth who spent every day with that Debbie from the Anduin family, now she realised he was such an interesting person. Hidden under his kind exterior was a decisive and ruthless heart.
She had to admit, that was quite intriguing.
Perhaps supporting the Ninth Prince to take the throne could be a good choice too.
It was just a pity that the Ninth Prince was too young. He seemed not to grasp the hint she had shown in that aspect just now.
With a sigh of some regret in her mouth, Xue Yi finally reached the top of this tower. This was where the Divine Citizens’ City kept Snow Thunder Birds. The tower top was very open. Wind blew through from all four sides. Inside stood one stone hut after another. Those huts were filled with cold icy stones and soft white velvet grass. Several Snow Thunder Birds stood on perches, fluffing their feathers. They made chirping sounds like “cheep cheep, cheep cheep.” As if noticing her arrival, a few closer birds screeched at her. They flapped and flew to other spots.
Xue Yi knew these birds had intelligence like three or four year old children. Hearing them chirp at her chaotically made her irritable for no reason. But that was not what she cared about. She looked at the priest Huka standing by the tower railing and asked, “Has the message come back?”
Not long ago, Priest Huka learned of the grudge between the Ninth Prince, the Eldest Prince, and Ye Chui. He hurried to send a Snow Thunder Bird to contact the pawn in the Gale Tribe to prevent the Eldest Prince from meeting Ye Chui. Now several hours had passed. She did not know the result.
Priest Huka’s expression was a bit anxious. But seeing Xue Yi, he quickly put on a calm and deep look. He said, “No message has come back yet. But Miss Xue Yi, rest assured. The pawn we placed in the Gale Tribe is a very capable person. She can firmly control the Gale Leader. With her there, she will surely stop the Eldest Prince and Ye Chui from meeting. Even if they meet, once she gets our message, she will work to stop them from reconciling.”
Xue Yi looked at Priest Huka. Though he spoke with such confidence, she could still sense worry from him. Before even meeting Ye Chui, Priest Huka had been slapped in the face by Ye Chui time and again. Anyone in his place would doubt themselves.
“But Ye Chui has done too many unexpected things,” Xue Yi said faintly.
“Rest assured. Even if the pawn in the Divine Citizens’ City fails the task, she has one last method,” Huka said, as if cheering himself up. Xue Yi looked at him strangely. He explained, “One of the most fearsome magical beasts in the secret realm, the giant whale. Our pawn can summon it at the last moment. This brutal monster, even if it cannot kill Ye Chui, can cause them huge harm.”
“How does the giant whale compare to the Blood Scorpion Tribe’s giant tortoise? I heard the Blood Scorpion Tribe’s giant tortoise was killed by Ye Chui. And when people from the Divine Citizens’ City went to check, only a huge skeleton remained,” Xue Yi asked.
Huka’s expression froze. Then he answered, “The giant whale cannot compare to the giant tortoise of course. But the desert giant whale is more dangerous. It can shuttle freely underground.”
“The Almighty Magus can use earth magic. Among them there is also a gravity magus who uses an inheritance magic book. Earth magical beasts are no big deal to them,” Xue Yi replied.
Huka suddenly grew angry. “Miss Xue Yi, why do you speak for Ye Chui!?”
“Because Ye Chui is an enemy you must treat like a friend,” Xue Yi said meaningfully. “I told you, any accident can happen on him!”
“But not this time. I am certain!” Huka said huffily.
Xue Yi did not reply to Priest Huka’s words. She just looked expectantly through the railing at the grey sky in the distance. In truth, she now looked forward to good news from afar too.
In her view, a small white dot suddenly appeared.
That was a Snow Thunder Bird flying back at high speed.
Xue Yi’s eyes lit up.
“It is here!” Huka’s face showed great joy. He hurried to stretch out his arm and wait for the Snow Thunder Bird’s arrival. Moments later, this messenger bird landed on Huka’s arm. It chirped “cheep cheep, cheep cheep.” Huka knew what it meant. So he smiled and took out several icy fruits from his bosom. This Snow Thunder Bird had the secret realm world’s top speed. But its weakness was the icy fruit. With this, one could fully control them. And in the hot secret realm world, only the divine citizens had such cool fruits.
The Snow Thunder Bird quickly swallowed several icy fruits. Then it stretched out one leg for Huka to untie the divine stone on it. After that, it flapped and flew back to its companions. It chirped “cheep cheep, cheep cheep” to them, as if sharing some fun news.
Huka held the divine stone with a smile and started to read the message inside.
“How is the situation?” Xue Yi asked impatiently.
“No rush. It must be good news,” Huka said with a smile. But his smile suddenly stiffened.
“What message is inside!?” Xue Yi pressed.
Huka looked up strangely at Xue Yi. “There are only two words inside.”
“What two words?”
“Thanks.”
“Thanks?”
A puzzled look appeared on Xue Yi’s face too. What kind of message was this? Why send such a message? Just then, a “flap flap” sound of wings suddenly merged into a loud rush. It reached the two ears with a whoosh. Turning to look, the Snow Thunder Birds in this tower suddenly flew from their nests one after another. They flew out without stop. Like a white cloud, they drifted to the distance, toward the direction of Ye Chui!
“What are you doing, come back! Come back now!” Huka never expected this to happen. He leaned on the railing and shouted loudly.
But those little ones, so obedient to him usually, vanished from his sight in a blink.
At this moment, Xue Yi seemed to realise something in a flash.
“The words in the divine stone were left by Ye Chui!”
Thanks.
Thanks for speeding up the fight between Blood Scorpion and Green Bay, so I could reap the benefits.
Thanks for drawing the Gale Tribe, so I could just unite the three great tribes.
And thanks too, for these Snow Thunder Birds of yours!
…
When the flock of Snow Thunder Birds flew back to Ye Chui’s side, Ye Chui had prepared a big basin of iced fruit pulp, plus some other snacks and sweets made with ice magic. Snow Thunder Birds liked icy fruits only because the fruit flesh was cold as ice. They craved just that cool icy taste. And Ye Chui could use ice magic. His companion included an Archmage level ice magus too. Luring this group of little gluttons was easier than easy.
The Divine Citizens’ City could grasp the sand people’s movements thanks to the Snow Thunder Birds’ messaging ability. Now with Ye Chui taking the whole flock, it was like blinding the Divine Citizens’ City’s eyes directly.
“Cheep cheep, cheep cheep,” the meritorious Snow Thunder Bird hopped onto Ye Chui’s shoulder and made crisp chirps. Ye Chui picked up an iced fruit with his fingers and fed it into its mouth. He rubbed its head and said with a smile, “Well done, Little Eight.”
This Snow Thunder Bird was originally called Number Eight. It was used to that name too. So Ye Chui named it Little Eight.
“Cheep cheep, cheep cheep,” Little Eight happily swallowed the fruit in its mouth and flew back to its companions.
At this moment, warriors from the Blood Scorpion and Green Bay tribes had arrived at the oasis. The Gale Tribe’s Leader had agreed to Ye Chui’s alliance request. And because of the strength Ye Chui showed, they chose to support the Thirteenth Prince to fight the Divine Citizens together. Up to now, Ye Chui had united the three great tribes. He had gathered all the sand people warriors.
“Next we need a resounding slogan,” Ye Chui said with a smile to Debbie and the others.
“What slogan?”
“For example, for the tribe!”
