Ada led me out of the royal tent and chatted a bit before going back to rest.
The day passed peacefully, and nothing unexpected happened at night. The high priest, perhaps sensing I was on guard, didn't send any more divine envoys to assassinate me.
However, this didn't make me happy; instead, I felt increasingly uneasy.
Although I had only met the high priest twice, that old man was clearly a ruthless old fox. There was no possibility of reconciliation between us, and the current calm was merely an illusion.
That old fox must have more deadly moves waiting for me, like the most cunning hunter who always delivers a fatal blow when the prey is relaxed.
If I were the high priest, I would definitely take me out while I was leading people to eliminate the vanguard of the Land of the Godforsaken. This would be his best opportunity.
Perhaps because we were about to go into battle with the enemy, breakfast today was exceptionally lavish.
An iron pot was placed over a fire, stewing some kind of meat inside, its enticing aroma making diners' appetites soar.
A tribesman with gray hair from the Duan tribe stood by the large pot, stirring the contents with a wooden ladle.
When I first arrived, I found it strange: where did the Duan tribe get an iron pot?
Ada later explained that although the Duan tribe possessed no metallurgical skills, they were robust and vigorous.
They frequently encountered outsiders and received gifts from nature. Therefore, they had everything from iron pots to lunchboxes.
Seeing these savages, each holding an aluminum lunchbox and gazing at the meat stewing in the iron pot, struck me as both absurd and dramatic.
I waited for a while, and the meat was finally ready. It was so tender that it melted in my mouth with the slightest touch.
Damn, it smelled so good!
As I sat by the pot, eating the meat, I suddenly heard familiar footsteps approaching from behind.
I turned around and saw Ada walking towards me.
Ada's expression was grim. If anger could be displayed as a meter, it would have exploded.
Ada went to get a bowl of meat soup from the Duan tribesmen distributing it and then sat down beside me.
Before I could speak, Ada deliberately lowered his voice and leaned in to whisper a warning.
"Brother Batu, be careful on this trip!"
My heart skipped a beat, and the first image that came to mind was the high priest's inscrutable face.
Had the old fox made his move?
"What happened? Is the high priest trying to harm me?"
Ada shook his head, then nodded.
This left me baffled. I never expected the usually straightforward Ada to become a riddler.
"What do you mean?"
The meat soup in the bowl was still scalding hot, but Ada, as if he had no taste buds, tilted his head and drank the entire bowl of soup in one go, without even a hiccup.
What had gotten into Ada today?!
After swallowing the last bit of soup, Ada finally spoke to me.
"This morning, that wench Guilichi brought her subordinates to see the King."
"She told the King that she wanted to join this expedition to eliminate the traitors and atone for her past actions."
It was indeed connected to the high priest!
The moment I heard Guilichi wanted to join the expedition, I understood.
What kind of bullcrap atonement is this? This is clearly aimed at me!
"Then what? The King must know Guilichi's intentions, how could he agree to it!"
Ada sighed, a hint of shame on his face.
"Alas, Brother Batu, you don't understand. In our Duan tribe, this form of atonement has been passed down through generations. Even the King cannot stop it."
"So, Guilichi will be setting off with me later?"
"Yes, Guilichi will bring her subordinates, but they will only form a small part. The rest of the men are brothers who have fought with me through thick and thin, and they will all obey your commands."
Ada sighed again and produced a beast bone from somewhere.
The bone was about the size of a palm, its edges smooth, with a symbol I didn't recognize carved into it with a dagger.
"I originally wanted to go with you, but the King ordered me to stay in the tribe and be responsible for its defense. This beast bone is a symbol of the warriors of the Duan tribe. With it, all Duan tribesmen who see it must obey your commands."
"Anyone who disobeys will be executed without mercy!"
Isn't this just like the ancient tiger tally!
In ancient times, before a general went on campaign, the emperor would grant him a tiger tally as proof of authority to mobilize troops. I never expected that despite the Duan tribe's low level of civilization, they already had such a mechanism for commanding warriors.
I took the beast bone, put it in my backpack, and secured it, feeling more confident.
"Ada, don't worry. If Guilichi behaves herself, it'll be fine. But if she tries to harm me again, I'll make sure she never returns!"
A cold smile crept onto my lips as I finished the meat soup.
Guilichi, the downfall of the Duan tribe will begin with you!