Tomb Robber: I, Chen Yulou, am dedicated to cultivating immortality!

Poli has a typical Turkic appearance.

He was tall, with a flat nose, narrow shoulders, rosy cheeks, and wore a felt hat. He had small eyes that always revealed a fierce look.

It's been a month since we last met.

He was still dressed the same as that day.

He was wearing a long fur coat, with his hair braided under a felt hat, holding an ox-horn bow in his hand and a quiver slung across his back. He was standing by the lake, reining in his horse and patrolling back and forth.

There was an indescribable murderous aura.

As for everyone else.

Divided into two branches.

A group of people rode on horseback and surrounded the swamp. Holding large bows, the buzzing sound of bowstrings could be heard from time to time, and deep in the reeds of the swamp, rustling sounds could also be heard.

Something seemed to be fleeing among the reeds.

hum!
at last.

An arrow shot across the sky.

Then, a young man quickly jumped off his horse and dived into the swamp. Soon, he was seen coming out laughing, holding a gray-yellow animal as big as a lamb in his hands.

As for the other one.

They steer small boats and cast nets to catch fish on the lake surface where the ice has been broken.

As a nomadic people, this Turkic tribe had lived by the Fish Sea for hundreds of years and had long since given up their single pastoral lifestyle.

He guarded the big lake, fished, and went hunting in his spare time.

Some people even tried to burn the mudflats to open up land and plant some crops.

This is simply unimaginable for the Turks.

After all, for more than two thousand years, their ancestors had been hunting in their spare time, and when they encountered years of famine, they followed the Khan to the south to plunder.

Wait until they have robbed enough food, gold, silver and women.

Then return to the tribe.

Repeat.

You won't starve to death.

Settling by a lake is already rare, let alone farming and reclaiming land?

"it is good!"

Facing the wind, Poli was reining in his horse and watching the hunt. Looking at the muskrat in the boy's hand, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up.

That thing is cautious by nature and hides in the reeds.

As soon as winter comes, they burrow into the swamp and mud.

Hunting is extremely difficult.

Moreover, generally speaking, muskrats are at most the size of a palm. It is rare for this one to grow so big. At least it is the first time he has seen it.

but.

Their target today is not just a few mice.

Instead, it is the goitered gazelle, which is known as the most precious treasure in the sea of ​​fish.

In order to hunt this group of antelopes, they waited for three to five days in the wind and snow, and finally drove them into the swamp.

otherwise.

In the Gobi Desert and on the lakeshore.

Hunting them is extremely difficult.

Even the most experienced hunters in the tribe are helpless in the face of them.

But now.

There was a smile on Poli's face.

"Everyone, be alert and don't let any one escape."

"Yes."

The group responded loudly.

Although the tribe had stockpiled enough food before winter to allow most people to survive the cold winter, in this kind of time, who would complain about having little food?

What's more.

This is not just one end or two ends.

There were more than ten goitered gazelles, which were enough food reserves for their tribe for most of half a year.

Buzz!
Almost the moment he gave the order.

At the edge of the swamp, the sound of bowstrings trembling was like wind and rain, and arrows fell from the sky like black clouds, which was completely different from the previous way of hunting sand wolves in the Gobi Desert.

After all, the most valuable part of a sand wolf is its fur.

Even if it is only slightly damaged, its value will be greatly reduced.

Therefore, experienced hunters all know that when hunting sand wolves, they will specifically aim at their eyes, from left to right, directly through the wolf's head.

In this way, the entire leather can be preserved intact to the greatest extent.

only.

Not everyone can master such miraculous archery skills.

Among the younger generation of the entire Turkic tribe, only Poli can achieve this. And he can't succeed every time. If he can hit three or four out of ten targets, he can be called a sharpshooter.

After all, jackals are known for their agility and nimbleness.

Hunting quickly.

It is hard to imagine how difficult it is to pierce a jackal's eyes with an arrow.

This kind of siege is now in place.

It was obvious that they were not going for the skin in the first place, but purely for the meat.

"Woo——"

As the rain of arrows fell straight into the reed marsh.

Screams and sounds of people falling to the ground could be heard one after another.

The hunting team riding on horseback, feeling the smell of blood blown by the wind and water, suddenly cheered and everyone's face was filled with smiles.

This time out.

It took about six or seven days in total.

With such a big harvest, it was worth their time to brave the severe cold and stay by the lake for so many days.

amid cheers.

Except for a few people who stayed behind to continue hunting in case any fish slipped through the net and took the opportunity to escape from the swamp, the rest of the people dismounted and rushed into the reed marsh to count the harvest.

See this situation.

Poli's heart, which had been hanging in the air, finally settled down in his stomach.

Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly seemed to realize something. His hand pulling the reins stopped abruptly, then he pulled the horse and looked back.

That moment just now.

He clearly heard the sound of hurried horse hooves.

There are more than one tribe living on the vast Yuhai Sea. There are also descendants of the Jurchen, Tatar, Khitan and Diqiang peoples, existing in the form of tribes or villages.

Although they don't interfere with each other.

But as fellow nomadic people, everyone knows each other's character.

There have been many conflicts over the years.

What he was worried about was the guys who would take advantage of their harvest to rob them.

only……

When he turned around and looked through his squinted eyes.

A look of astonishment and hesitation gradually appeared on his face.

It was not until the man reined in his horse and stopped more than ten steps away, staring at him with a smile, that he suddenly realized what had happened.

"Brother Chen... Brother Chen?"

Poli really couldn't believe it.

To know.

They are now at the southern foot of Yuhai Lake.

One south and one north.

It was completely opposite to the direction they entered the Black Desert that day.

After being stunned for a long time, Bo Li even rubbed his eyes subconsciously. After confirming that he didn't see a ghost, he spoke.

"Hahaha, brother Poli, it's me!"

"It really is."

Seeing that he agreed, Po Li's expression became even stranger.

I glanced behind him, but only saw a handful of people. For a moment, I felt excited and a little nervous.

When they left that day, there were more than 300 people in the group.

It's only been a month.

They were the only ones who returned.

The rest...did they all die in the Black Desert?
No wonder the clan leader and the wizard always say that it is a land abandoned by God and only demons and ghosts survive.

"Don't."

One look at the change in the look in his eyes.

Chen Yulou reacted immediately and shook his head repeatedly.

"Brother Boli is overthinking. We are just separated from Una and the others. Nothing has happened."

"what?"

Hear this.

Poli, who was still pondering how to explain to the wizard Azhiya when he returned to the tribe, was shocked. He raised his head and looked over in surprise and doubt.

after all.

He still knew that Una was Azhiya's daughter.

In addition, the patriarch obviously wanted to push him out to do things.

About that incident that year.

Didn't hide it from him.

"It was like this. After we arrived at the heart of the Black Desert, we encountered a storm and accidentally entered an ancient city. After that, we turned around and returned from Kunlun Mountain."

"We agreed to meet at this lake."

"I would also like to ask, have Miss Una and the others arrived?" Chen Yulou explained helplessly.

He hadn't expected to run into Bo Li and the others here, and he had no plan at all.

"I see……"

After listening to it, Poli finally understood what was going on and couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.

Then he seemed to have thought of something and spoke thoughtfully.

"Don't say that, Brother Chen. Una and the others may have even reached the tribe."

"We have been out for six or seven days. We don't know what the situation is in the village yet."

"That's really possible."

The group dismounted and stood on the lake beach chatting, letting the horses, which had been running for most of the day, go to the lake to drink water and eat on their own.

I heard that they actually bypassed the Black Desert, followed the Kunlun Mountains, crossed the Tarim Basin, and traveled all the way to the Yuhai Sea.

Even the well-informed Po Li couldn't help but marvel at it.

Black Desert and Kunlun Mountains.

That is an existence even more terrifying than Tianshan Mountain.

They, the herdsmen who have lived in the Western Regions for generations, dare not set foot there easily.

These Han people before us actually dared to cross the Kunlun Mountains in this season.

The key is.

Judging from their appearance, apart from being tired, they didn't look injured.

This was what puzzled him the most.

I have no idea how they did it.

"It looks like you guys have made a good harvest this time."

While talking.

The members of the hunting team were each carrying a goitered gazelle and walking out of the reed marsh with laughter.

He also had a long string of muskrats in his hand.

"Haha, not bad."

Poli waved his hands, but he couldn't hide the joy on his face.

A cursory sweep.

At least fifteen or sixteen antelopes were hunted, and there were also dozens of muskrats.

This is more than just okay.

It is no exaggeration to say that we returned with a full load.

"Karen, go and tell the brothers who are fishing to come back and return to the village as soon as possible before it gets completely dark."

Poli waved his hand.

He warned a young man.

"Yes."

The young man looked to be about thirteen or fourteen years old, with grey eyebrows and a narrow body. There was a wolfish ferocity in his brows, and he carried a large bow on his back that was much taller than the others.

You can tell from your figure and aura.

This was by no means his first time out hunting.

At this moment, I heard what Poli said.

He even kicked the horse's belly, turned around and walked away quickly. His skill in archery and horse riding was no worse than those adults even in the hunting team.

"The tribe leader mentioned you when we came out a few days ago."

"Haha, he will definitely be surprised when we get back later."

He was seen staring at the boy's departing back.

Poli casually mentioned his origins. Although the little guy was young, he was extremely experienced and had the potential to become the next him in the tribe.

Chen Yulou had seen him in action.

Hear this comment.

He looked at the young man with even higher regard.

"Thank you for your concern, Patriarch."

He replied with a smile.

After waiting for a while, the people who were fishing on the lake had returned.

Carrying the small boat and carrying the catch.

It is somewhat similar to the common patrol boat. It is made by hollowing out the middle of a whole tree, which can just accommodate one or two people. It is light and agile, and can come and go freely.

Wait for the group to meet up.

After simply processing the prey.

Everyone mounted their horses.

We headed straight towards the village along the lakeshore.

Until night falls.

The lake was shrouded in fog, with a thin layer of green smoke floating up. The team finally arrived outside the village.

Far away.

People patrolling the gatehouse.

They saw the returning hunting team and quickly went down to open the village gate. At the same time, someone went to inform the chieftain Wutuo.

slam-la-

soon.

Lights were hung one by one.

The village was brightly lit.

For them, the return of the hunting team is more important than anything else.

Every household, men, women, old and young, came out of their houses and crowded together along the village gate.

Especially seeing the goitered gazelle hanging on the side of the horse's back.

There was a sudden burst of cheers from the crowd.

Poli was already immune to this and simply ordered the prey to be sent for processing in an orderly manner.

Although it is winter.

However, if the meat and skin are not separated in time, they will also be affected over time.

The best way is to drain the blood and remove the skin, fur, bones and flesh of the prey before it cools down completely.

The fur is sent to the beams of the earthen house to dry in the shade, the bones and scraps are stewed in a pot, and the meat is cut into long strips, rubbed with coarse salt, and put into a jar, which can even be preserved for several years.

He joined the hunting team when he was in his teens, and it has been seven or eight years now.

He has become the leader of the team.

Naturally, you can treat each other calmly.

But those young people’s mouth corners are stretched to the back of their ears.

Chen Yulou took a special look at the young man named Ge Lu. Facing the cheering tribesmen at this moment, he actually showed a maturity beyond his youth.

He just pursed his lips, his face calm.

It is no wonder that such a character earned Boli's endless praise.

Wait for the tribesmen to take the prey from the horse.

Not long after.

A familiar figure also emerged from the night.

It was none other than the clan leader Wutuo.

"Shaman's blessing, I can return safely."

really.

The moment he saw Chen Yulou and his group in the team, Wutuo was dazed at first, then a look of surprise appeared on his face, and he bowed from a distance towards the back of the village.

"Thank you, patriarch."

Do as the locals do.

An old hand like Chen Yulou would naturally not refute anything in front of others.

Even this trip to the Western Regions had nothing to do with the so-called shaman's blessing.

"Where's Una?"

We chatted lively for a while.

Wuto glanced at the team but didn't see Una, and frowned.

This time, Chen Yulou doesn't need to explain.

Po Li, who was standing by, had already responded for him.

"Okay, okay, I'm glad you're okay. If you lose business, you can get it back, but safety comes first."

Wuto did not seem surprised that they did not cross the Black Desert.

After all, how dangerous that place is is ingrained in the bones of their Turkic tribe.

Even with Una leading the way, it wouldn't work.

After all, she had only been there once many years ago with her old friend Azhiya.

The black desert is filled with wind and sand, and it is difficult to tell the direction. Even the most experienced guide cannot guarantee that he can get through.

As long as you are alive, you are lucky.

"Yes."

"We survived a near-death experience in the Black Desert, and we have learned a lot."

Chen Yulou smiled.

His words came from the heart.

If the route had not been planned in advance, if the plot had not been understood, and if Una had not led the way, it would have been a very difficult task for someone else to survive in that hellhole.

We can get a glimpse of this from the mummies and bones we see along the way.

Even the merchants on the ancient Silk Road and the rampant sand bandits did not dare to enter easily.

There are only those expeditions that are set up to steal treasures.

Going deep into the Black Desert with a torn map from hundreds of years ago is simply courting death.

"Stop talking about this."

"Let's go. I've asked someone to prepare a bonfire feast. It just so happens that Pauli is back, so let's celebrate tonight." (End of this chapter)