In the Clouds: Mulan Line

Chapter 5
The next day, when the sun was setting.

Just before the sun was about to fall into the western mountains, a small tribe appeared in front of Hua Mulan and the three of them.Large and small tents are scattered on the grass, and there are about dozens of them. From time to time, cattle and sheep can be seen, which are the most common small tribes in the clouds.

Such small tribes often migrate along with the lush aquatic plants and live in no fixed place. Only the people in the tribe can accurately find the location.

The herdsman's eyes are black and blue, but his eyes are not as decadent and lifeless as when he first arrived at the Great Wall Guard Army, but full of expectations: "We are here, and our Dalan tribe is ahead. My daughter, her name is Alan..."

The closer they are to the tribe, the more impatient the herdsmen are.

"Alan suddenly disappeared around the tribe. The people in the tribe and I have searched all over the place. It can be said that every inch of grass has been turned over by us, but there is still nothing."

"But you are different. You must have a way to find my Alan, right?" The herdsman looked at Hua Mulan and Baili Shouyue with expectant eyes.

These two Great Wall guards are now his belief and pillar.

Ordinary people will definitely feel a lot of pressure when they hear such words, and it is even more difficult to make a promise in the face of such eyes.

But Hua Mulan nodded seriously: "I will do my best to find Alan."

This is not a consolation, but a vow.

The spirit of the Great Wall Guards is to never give up.

Although it was a mission this time, not a battle...but to Hua Mulan, there was no difference between the two.As long as one acts in the name of the Great Wall Guards, no matter what it is, it is a never-say-die battle.

Although Baili Shouyue didn't say anything, he gave the herdsman a reassuring look. The gentle and indifferent gaze immediately made the herdsman feel certain, and he tried his best to calm down his excitement.

That's right, he has already invited the Great Wall Guards, and he should trust that iron-blooded army that is invincible in all battles.

At this time, a middle-aged man came back from the outside with a flock of sheep, and he saw the herdsman at a glance, and suddenly showed a surprised look: "Shijiao, you are back! Everyone has been thinking about you these days! By the way, you Didn't you say to find Alan, they are...?"

The middle-aged man glanced at Hua Mulan and Baili Shouyue curiously. They looked like no ordinary people. He couldn't help but look twice.

And when Hua Mulan looked over, the middle-aged man was even more startled.

What a woman, what sharp eyes!

Even when encountering wild wolves on the prairie, they don't have such eyes!
"Shijiao, who are they?" The middle-aged man subconsciously lowered his voice.

A smile appeared on Shijiao's face: "They are... specially here to help me find Alan!"

He also knew that Hua Mulan and the others were secretly investigating, and he didn't know whether to reveal the identity of Hua Mulan and the others...so he kept it vague.

But the tone and expression are still very happy.

This smile made the middle-aged man stunned for a moment. They all saw how desperate Shijiao was before. When they learned that the herdsman was going to find a way to save his daughter, they just thought it was Shijiao who was unwilling to accept the reality. .

In fact, Shijiao was really desperate at the time, struggling to grab a straw, but in fact he knew that there was little hope.

But now, Shijiao seems to have grasped the life-saving straw.

And this transformation...

The middle-aged man looked at Hua Mulan and Baili Shouyi with curiosity and puzzlement in his eyes. Shi Jiao seemed to have placed great hopes in these two "helpers".

Just don't know who they are, they look like bounty hunters?But the temperament is not as simple as that of ordinary bounty hunters... Especially Hua Mulan's aura of gold and iron horse is really extraordinary.

Seeing the middle-aged man staring at Mulan and Mulan, the herdsman Shijiao said, "They are all very powerful people. With their help, my Alan will definitely be able to find his way home."

Hearing the herdsman's words, the middle-aged man showed sympathy in his eyes, and then said, "Shijiao, you have been away for the past few days, and everyone misses you very much. Since you are back, why don't you go see the clan elder first."

"Is there anything the clan elder wants me to do?" The herdsman was stunned for a moment, and then asked very nervously, "Could it be that Alan has news..."

The middle-aged man simply stretched out his hand to give the herdsman a hand: "You should go to see the clan elder first and you will know. He has something to tell you."

The herdsman looked at Hua Mulan and Baili Shouyi with some hesitation. Of course, he wanted to take Hua Mulan and the others to find the trace of his daughter immediately, but in the Yunzhong tribe, the status of the clan elders was very respected. They not only It is the elders, often the wise men in the tribe, who are responsible for imparting knowledge and teaching the tribe.

The clan elders offered to see him, and the herdsmen could not refuse.

Hua Mulan waved her hand: "In that case, Uncle, you go first, we will wait for you here."

The herdsman gave her and Baili Shouyi a grateful look, then turned and followed the middle-aged man.

When the middle-aged man and Uncle Shitou had gone far away, Baili Shouyi clamped the horse's belly, approached Hua Mulan, frowned slightly and said, "That man's expression just now is a bit wrong."

Hua Mulan glanced at him: "Your eyes are really good."

"The captain should have seen it too?" Baili kept his promise.

Hua Mulan responded and looked towards the Dalan tribe not far away.

She saw it because of her intuition, and she just felt a little weird, but Baili Shouyue saw it... probably because of her extremely keen observation skills.

After the middle-aged man opened his mouth, Hua Mulan noticed that Baili's eyes of keeping promises had been patrolling the middle-aged man, taking his every move, even the slightest look and expression into his eyes.

But he can also make his own sense of existence extremely low... So even though he is not an ordinary person, the middle-aged man almost only pays attention to Hua Mulan.

Although Hua Mulan's momentum is indeed extremely outstanding.

Hua Mulan couldn't help but blinked. This kind of talent is really suitable for being a bounty hunter... But now as a team member, this ability is also quite practical.

Baili Shouyue said: "He looked at us with some defensive eyes, but he looked at Uncle very sympathetically...the latter is quite normal, but the former...we are here to help Uncle, there is really no need to guard against us. "

Hua Mulan thought for a while and said, "Maybe it's because you look more dangerous."

After all, they didn't reveal their identities, maybe they were regarded as dangerous people?After all, her new team member was a bounty hunter before.

And bounty hunters... can be said to be both righteous and evil in their standpoint.

As for Hua Mulan, of course she was not taken into account by herself. As a guard of the Great Wall, she is upright, how could she be a dangerous person?

Baili kept the promise: "...the captain is right."

"In short, we are here to investigate and find someone, nothing else matters," Hua Mulan said.

Baili Shouyue nodded when he heard the words. In this case, they will not enter the Dalan tribe for the time being, and just wait here for the herdsmen.

The two of them just waited not far from the Dalan tribe. They could see with their eyesight that many people in the tribe had spotted them, but they had no intention of coming over. Watch them surreptitiously nearby or inside a tent.

Just looking at it, Baili Shouyue frowned slightly.

Although it seems normal to be guarded... But the eyes of these people are not only defensive, but more like they are still afraid of something.

At this time, Hua Mulan suddenly heard a slight movement from behind.

But Baili Shouyue who was faster than her was Baili Shouyue, his wolf ears trembled, and he immediately turned his head in the direction of the sound.

Hua Mulan also turned around abruptly: "Who?"

The grass swayed gently with the wind, and it seemed to be just some light noises from the wind.

However, Hua Mulan stared at the grass and raised her eyebrows: "Baili, I seem to see a fat little rabbit, don't you want to like to study cooking, or else, I will give you another roasted rabbit today." There's a good chance."

Baili Shouyue smiled: "Alright."

As soon as the two of them finished speaking, there was a tremor in the grass, and then a small figure rushed out: "I'm not a rabbit!"

What got out was a seven or eight-year-old boy, wearing a short leather jacket commonly seen in grassland tribes, with a dirty face and grass leaves in his hair. He was looking at Hua Mulan and Mulan in horror. Baili keeps the promise, especially Baili keeps the promise.

Baili kept his promise and couldn't laugh or cry, did he really seem to be able to roast children?

The instigator, Hua Mulan, smiled and asked, "My child, what are you doing hiding here?"

The little boy raised his head and looked at Hua Mulan on the horse, he couldn't help being a little dumbfounded.

The woman on the horseback is bright and generous, and there are traces of swords and soldiers on the crimson light armor. It is not very gorgeous, but the precipitation left after the battle is more awe-inspiring and passionate.

The epee on the back seems to be much heavier than her body, but it doesn't look out of place on her body, and even makes people feel that this sword should match her.

This big sister seems to be stronger than the most powerful warrior in the tribe!
The little boy asked curiously, "Are you soldiers?"

Hua Mulan raised her eyebrows and said, "You little guy has a lot of eyesight."

The little boy let out a soft "wow", and tentatively stretched out his hand to touch the horse's head. The horse snorted immediately, and the little boy backed up several steps in fright, but looked at the horse with bright eyes. .

This big horse... is also more handsome than the tallest horse in the tribe, and it doesn't look like an ordinary horse!
This is the horse that warriors and warriors ride...

"Are you really fighters? Then where are you fighters?" The little boy asked curiously again.

Hua Mulan thought for a while, but she didn't answer. Instead, she deliberately asked, "Where do you think the fighters are the most powerful?"

Without even thinking about it, the little boy shouted loudly without hesitation: "The Great Wall!"

"I heard...the Great Wall Guards are the most powerful fighters!"

"They guarded the Great Wall, fought against the demons, and expelled all the bandits!"

Hua Mulan couldn't help raising her eyebrows.

She thought the little boy would name a certain big tribe, but she didn't expect...

Demon species have rarely appeared, but the flags of the Great Wall Guards are still buzzing.

"Child, you are good." Hua Mulan praised her.

Baili Shouyue couldn't help but pursed the corners of his mouth and smiled inwardly.The captain's way of praising people is really the same for both adults and children...

He still remembers what Hua Mulan said to him when he first met, when he showed off his ability.

The little boy grinned, revealing a missing tooth: "I will definitely become a Great Wall guard in the future!"

Hua Mulan snorted: "Ambition! However, it is not so easy to join the Great Wall Guards."

The little boy puffed up his chest: "I know, I will definitely become the bravest warrior!"

Hua Mulan finally couldn't help but burst out laughing. Such a child who is not as tall as a horse's legs, with a serious face showing his teeth that have not yet grown in, said that he wants to be the bravest warrior or something...

Hua Mulan: "Baili, this kid is really interesting."

Baili kept the promise: "..."

Captain, you are also very casual.

"Kid, go on."

The little boy raised a puzzled face, and then a small dagger appeared in his arms.

"This is... for me?"

Hua Mulan pulled the rein and said with a smile, "I see you off, little warrior."

The little boy was very pleasantly surprised, holding the small dagger carefully, and couldn't put it down.

In the end, he carefully hung the small dagger on his waist - imitating Hua Mulan's sword on his waist.

At this moment, Baili Shouyue suddenly asked, "Little friend, do you know Alan?"

The little boy was taken aback for a moment, then nodded blankly, then hesitated for a while, and asked, "Big sister, are you... are you here to find sister Alan?"

Hua Mulan nodded.

The child was hiding in the grass just now, so he naturally heard the conversation between them.

Baili Shouyue asked again: "Then kid, do you know what happened to Sister Alan?"

The little boy nodded hesitantly: "I know that Sister Alan is gone, and Uncle Shijiao is very sad... Someone in the tribe said before that Sister Alan was originally given to Uncle Shijiao by the gods, and now she was brought back by the gods Now, is this true?"

The little boy looked at Hua Mulan and Baili keeping their promise with doubts.

A trace of doubt flashed in Hua Mulan's eyes, and she asked, "I was given to Uncle Shijiao by the gods..."

What does it mean?
The little boy nodded earnestly: "Well, because Alan's sister was picked up by Uncle Shijiao, A Niang told me before that she was given to Uncle Shijiao's daughter by the gods."

Hua Mulan immediately understood that the missing Alan was the adopted daughter of the herdsman Shijiao.

But judging by the pain and anxiety of the herdsmen, it doesn't matter whether they are adopted or not.

Hua Mulan couldn't help thinking of her adoptive father...

But Hua Mulan just had a flash of thought in her mind, and continued: "Child, what else do you know?"

But the little boy hesitated again: "I... I shouldn't have said these things to you... Yesterday, Auntie gave special instructions, saying that the clan elder told everyone not to talk about Sister Alan again..."

He whispered more and more, stretching out his hand to run through his hair.

The clan elder refused to let him speak, but he had already unconsciously said a lot just now!

He blinked a little blankly, why?

At this time, the very gentle elder brother asked again: "Okay, then I won't ask you about sister Alan. But kid, did your mother tell me why the clan elders don't allow everyone to mention this matter?" What's up?"

The little boy blinked blankly again... If you don't ask about Alan's sister, then it should... can be said, right?
The little boy nodded dazedly: "Because...everyone said that since sister Alan was taken away by the gods, she will not come back again. If she continues to search, the gods will be angry...so let everyone stop mentioning it. ..."

Baili Shouyue and Hua Mulan exchanged glances.

At this time, the little boy slapped his head: "I can't tell you any more, it's time for my mother to find me!"

After speaking, the little boy immediately spread his legs and ran towards the tribe.

I clearly said that I couldn't say it again, but why did I say it again without knowing it!

But before he ran far, the little boy suddenly turned his head and waved vigorously at Hua Mulan and Baili Shouyue: "Big sister, big brother, you... you must find sister Alan!"

After speaking, he really ran away.

Hua Mulan and Baili Shouyue saw a woman rushing out from the Dalan tribe from a distance, grabbed the little boy by the arm anxiously, brought him back to the tribe, and turned around vigilantly. head looks.

Baili Shouyue's ears moved, and some unclear sounds were blown into his ears along the direction of the wind.

"...I'm not telling you not to run around..."

"...If you are also taken away by the gods, what should I do?"

"... whoever they are..."

"...Don't you listen to what Auntie said, let's go!"

Baili Shouyue turned his head and said, "It seems that our previous feeling was correct."

That middle-aged man called the herdsman away, so I'm afraid he really has nothing to do with it.

When the herdsmen went to the Great Wall Guard Army, they clearly said that the people in the tribe were all busy about Alan's affairs, but now... the clan elders did not let the people in the tribe talk about this matter anymore.

Hua Mulan frowned. She didn't know what had happened in just two or three days. The attitude of the people in this tribe must have changed too much.

"Alan was taken away by the gods...does this sentence mean what I think?" Hua Mulan asked.

In the cloud, being taken away by the gods means that the person is no longer alive, and his soul has returned to heaven and earth.

But even if the elders of the Dalan tribe think that Alan is dead, there is no reason why they should not be allowed to talk about it.

Hua Mulan intuited that something was wrong.

At this time, the middle-aged man who took the herdsman away came back.

However, there was no herdsman behind him, but another man who seemed taciturn.

"You two have come from a long way, but the Shijiao matter is our tribe's own business, so I don't need your help."

The middle-aged man opened his hands while talking, revealing the three silver coins in his palm.

Hua Mulan raised her eyebrows, without even looking at the silver coin, she asked bluntly, "Where is Uncle Shijiao? We came here on the commission of Uncle Shijiao. Do we need any help? Of course we should." Uncle Shijiao told us face to face. If we don’t see Uncle Shijiao, we won’t leave.”

The middle-aged man froze for a moment. He originally thought that these two people were just invited by Shijiao to help, and now they can get paid without working hard. Shouldn't the normal reaction be to leave happily?
As an ordinary herdsman, this reaction completely exceeded his expectations, and he didn't know how to react. He subconsciously turned his head to look at the taciturn man behind him.

Hua Mulan and Baili Shouyue had noticed this man a long time ago, and seeing the reaction of the middle-aged man now proved that this man is the one who can really call the shots, and probably has a certain right to speak in the Dalan tribe.

So Hua Mulan and Baili Shou promise also looked at him.

The man had been silently observing Hua Mulan and the two just now, and was silent for a while, before finally speaking in a low voice: "You two guests, please follow me to see the clan elder."

Hua Mulan and Baili Shouyue looked at each other and followed the man.

I thought that the difficulty of the investigation of this matter was the mastermind behind the scenes... Unexpectedly, before the investigation started, they had already encountered trouble, and it was still trouble from the side of the sufferer.

Now that this man is willing to let them go to see the clan elders, it is naturally the best. After all, this place is different from the bandit's lair. As the Great Wall guards, they can't force their way.

The two of Hua Mulan were taken into the largest tent of the Dalan tribe.

Before entering the tent, the two of Hua Mulan passed by many tents along the way, and naturally received more attention.

Among them, children are mostly curious, while adults are mostly vigilant, and some people even have a faint repulsion in their eyes.

None of these people spoke, they just stared at Hua Mulan and Baili Shouyi silently, feeling a little depressed along the way.

Hua Mulan frowned slightly, always feeling that the atmosphere of this tribe was very strange.

"I'm afraid we'll have to meet that clan elder to find out what's going on here," Baili Shouyue whispered.

(End of this chapter)