Poli has a typical Turkic appearance.
Tall, with a flat nose and narrow shoulders, red cheeks, wearing a felt hat, small eyes but always showing a fierce look.
It’s been a month since I last saw you.
He is still dressed as he was that day.
Wearing a long coat of animal skins and braided hair under a felt hat, holding an ox-horn bow in his hand and a quiver on his back, he was reining in his horse and standing by the lake, patrolling back and forth.
There was an indescribable deep murderous aura.
As for the others.
Divided into two branches.
A group of people on horseback surrounded the swamp, holding large bows in their hands. From time to time, the buzz of strings and bows could be heard, and deep in the reeds of the swamp, rustling sounds were also endless.
It seems like something is escaping among the reeds.
Buzz!
Finally.
An arrow shot across the sky.
Then, a young man quickly jumped off his horse and dove into the swamp. After a while, he saw him holding a gray beast the size of a lamb in both hands, laughing and walking away. come out.
As for the other one.
It is to drive a small boat and cast a net to catch fish on the lake that has broken through the ice.
As a nomadic people, this Turkic tribe has survived on the Yuhai Sea for hundreds of years and has long given up on the single herding life.
Guarding the big lake, fishing at the same time, and going out hunting in his free time.
Some people even tried to clear up wasteland on the tidal flats and plant a few crops.
For the Turks, this is simply unimaginable.
After all, for more than two thousand years, their ancestors had been hunting in their spare time. In times of famine, they would follow the Khan south to plunder.
Waiting to grab enough food, gold, silver and women.
Return to the tribe.
Repeat like this.
I will never starve to death.
It is already rare to settle down by the lake, let alone farming and reclaiming land?
"Okay!"
Facing the wind, Po Li was reining in his horse and watching the hunt. Looking at the muskrat in the boy's hand, the corner 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, we dive into the swamp and mire.
It is extremely difficult to hunt.
Also, generally speaking, muskrats are only about the size of a palm at most. It is really rare for this one to grow to such a big size. At least this is the first time he has seen it.
However.
Today their target is not just a few mice.
It is the goose-throated antelope, which is known as the most precious fish in the sea.
In order to hunt this group of antelope, they waited in the wind and snow for three to five days, and finally drove them into the swamp.
Otherwise.
In the Gobi and lake beaches.
It is as difficult as going to the sky to hunt them down.
Even the most experienced hunters in the tribe are helpless when facing them.
But now.
Po Li had a smile on his face.
"Cheer up, don't let any of them get away."
"Yes."
The group responded loudly.
Although before winter, the tribe had stocked up enough food to survive the cold winter for most people, but in this year, who would object to the lack of food?
What's more.
This is not one end and two ends.
There are more than ten goose-throated antelopes, enough for their tribe's food reserves for more than half a year.
Buzz buzz!
Almost the moment he gave the order.
Beside the swamp, the sound of bowstrings trembled like wind and rain, and arrows fell from the sky like black clouds. It was completely different from the previous way of hunting sand wolves in the Gobi.
After all, the most valuable thing about Sand Wolf is his leather.
Even if it is slightly damaged, the value will be greatly reduced.
So seasoned hunters all know that when hunting sand wolves, they will specifically aim at their eyes, running directly through the wolf's head from left to right.
Only in this way can the entire leather be preserved to the greatest extent possible.
Nothing more.
Not everyone can practice this miraculous archery.
In the entire Turkic tribe, among the younger generation, Poli is the only one who can achieve this step, and he doesn’t succeed every time. He can hit three or four out of ten, which can be called a master shot.
After all, Jackals are famous for their agility.
Hunting quickly.
One arrow pierces the jackal's eyes, and the difficulty can be imagined.
The current method of encirclement and killing.
Obviously not for the skin from the beginning, but purely for the meat.
“Woo——”
With the rain of arrows from the sky, they fell straight into the reed swamp.
Screams and sounds of falling to the ground came one after another.
The hunting team riding on horseback felt the smell of blood blown by the water and wind. Suddenly, the mountains screamed, and everyone had smiles on their faces.
This trip comes out.
It’s been almost six or seven days.
Such a big harvest was not in vain, they braved the severe cold and stayed by the freezing lake for so many days.
With cheers.
Except for a few people who left behind to continue hunting in case any fish slipped through the net and took advantage of this opportunity to escape from the swamp, the rest dismounted and rushed into the reeds to count the harvest.
See this situation.
Po Li's hanging heart finally fell back into his stomach.
Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly seemed to notice something. His hand holding the reins suddenly stopped, then he reined in his horse and looked back.
That moment just now.
He clearly heard the sound of rapid horse hooves.
On the vast Yuhai Sea, not only their tribe survives, but also descendants of the Jurchen, Tatar, Khitan and Di Qiang tribes exist in the form of tribes or villages.
Although there is no conflict between each other.
But both are nomads, and neither of them knows the virtues of the other.
There have been many conflicts over the years.
What he was worried about were the guys who came to rob them while they just had a harvest.
Just...
When he turned around and squinted his eyes.
But surprise and hesitation gradually appeared on his face.
It wasn't until the man reined in his horse and stopped more than ten steps away, staring at him with a smile, that he suddenly realized it.
“Brother Chen…Brother Chen?”
Po Li really couldn’t believe it.
To know.
They are currently at the southern foot of Yuhai Sea.
One south and one north.
It was completely opposite to the direction they entered the Black Desert that day.
After being stunned for a while, Po Li even subconsciously rubbed his eyes to make sure he hadn't seen a ghost before he spoke.
“Hahaha, Brother Po Li, it’s me!”
"It's true."
Seeing him agree, Po Li looked even weirder.
I looked behind him, but saw only a few people. For a moment, I felt excited and a little nervous.
When they left that day, there were a group of about three hundred people.
It has only been a month.
Only a few of them returned.
The rest...did they all die in the Black Desert?
No wonder the clan leaders and wizards always say that it is a place abandoned by gods, where only demons and ghosts survive.
"Don't."
Look at the change in the expression in his eyes.
Chen Yulou immediately reacted and shook his head.
"Brother Po Li is overthinking. We were just separated from Oona and the others, nothing happened."
"Huh?"
Hearing this talk.
Po Li, who was still thinking about how to explain to the wizard A Zhiya when he returned to the tribe just a moment ago, couldn't help but be shocked. He raised his head and looked over in surprise.
after all.
He still knew that Oona was Azhiya's daughter.
In addition, the patriarch obviously has the idea of pushing him out to do things.
About that incident back then.
I didn’t hide it from him either.
"That's it. After we arrived at the hinterland of the Black Desert, we encountered a storm, and then accidentally entered an ancient city. After that, a few of us returned from the Kunlun Mountains."
"We agreed to stay in this sea Meet up."
"I also want to ask, Miss Oona, are they here?" Chen Yulou explained helplessly.
He did not expect to bump into Po Li and the others here, and had no plan at all.
"That's it..."
After listening, Po Li understood what was going on and couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.
Then he seemed to think of something again and spoke thoughtfully.
“Don’t say it, Brother Chen, Oona and the others may not be sure when they arrive in the tribe.”
“We have been out for six or seven days, and we still don’t know what the situation is in the village.”
"That's really possible."
The group of people got off their horses and stood on the beach chatting, leaving the horses that had been running for a long time to go to the lake to drink and eat on their own.
I heard that they actually bypassed the Black Desert, along the Kunlun Mountains, and then across the Tarim Basin, all the way to the Fish Sea.
Po Li, who was well-informed, couldn't help but marvel.
Black Desert, Kunlun Mountains.
That is an existence even more terrifying than Tianshan Mountain.
Herders like them, who have made a living in the Western Regions for generations, do not dare to get involved easily.
These Han people in front of me dare to cross the Kunlun Mountains in this season.
The key is.
Looking at them, apart from being tired, they didn’t look like they were injured.
This was what puzzled him the most.
I can’t figure it out at all, how did they do it?
"It seems that you have gained a lot from this trip."
As he spoke.
Everyone in the hunting team was already carrying the goose-throated gazelle on their shoulders, and walked out of the reed swamps with laughter.
He was also carrying a long string of muskrats.
“Haha, not bad.”
Po Li waved his hand, but the joy on his face could not be concealed at all.
A rough scan.
At least fifteen or six antelopes were hunted, and there were also dozens of muskrats.
Is this more than okay?
It is no exaggeration to say that we returned home with a full load.
"Karen, go say hello and ask the fishing brothers to come back. Before it gets completely dark, return to the village as soon as possible."
Po Li waved his hand.
He warned a young man.
"Yes."
The young man looked to be only thirteen or fourteen years old. He had gray eyebrows and a narrow body. There was a wolf cub's fierceness between his eyebrows. He was much taller than the others when he carried a big bow.
You can tell from his body shape and momentum.
This is by no means the first time he has gone out hunting.
At this moment I heard Po Li’s words.
He even pinched the horse's belly, turned around and left quickly. He was so skilled in bowing and horsemanship that even if he was placed in a hunting team, he would not be any weaker than those adults.
"A few days ago, when we came out, the clan leader mentioned you."
"Haha, he will definitely be surprised when we go back later."
See him staring at Looking at the young man's leaving figure.
Po Li casually said something about his origins. The little guy is not old, but he is very experienced and has a faint tendency to become the next one in the tribe.
Chen Yulou had seen him take action before.
Hear this comment.
He gave the young man a high look.
"Thank you, patriarch, for your concern."
He responded with a smile.
After waiting for a while, everyone fishing on the lake had returned one after another.
Carrying the boat and carrying the catch.
It is somewhat similar to the common sentinel boat. It is hollowed out in the middle of a tree, just enough to 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 handling the prey.
Everyone got on their horses.
Headed straight towards the village along the lake shore.
Until night falls.
The big lake was shrouded in fog, and a thin layer of green smoke floated up. The team finally arrived outside the village.
Far away.
People patrolling the gatehouse.
I saw the returning hunting team and quickly went down to open the village gate. At the same time, someone went to notify the clan leader Wutuo.
Crash—
Soon.
The lights are hung one by one.
Brightly illuminate the village.
For them, the return of the hunting team is more important than anything else.
Every household, men, women, old and young, walked out of their houses and crowded together along the village gate.
Especially see the goose-throated antelope hanging on the side of the horse's back.
The crowd suddenly cheered.
Po Li was already immune to this and just ordered the prey to be sent for processing in an orderly manner.
Although it is winter.
But if the meat and skin are not separated in time, it will also be affected over time.
The best way is to drain the blood and remove the fur, bones and flesh of the prey while it is still cool.
The furs are sent to the beams of the mud house to dry in the shade, and the bones and scraps are stewed in a pot. The meat is cut into long strips, rubbed with coarse salt, and placed in a jar. It can even be preserved for several years.
He has been in the hunting team since he was a teenager, and it has been seven or eight years now.
Has become the leader of the team.
Nature can treat each other calmly.
But those young people grinned from the corner of their mouth to the back of their ears.
Chen Yulou glanced specifically at the young man named Gelu. At this moment, facing the cheering tribesmen, he actually showed a maturity beyond his youth.
He just pursed his lips and looked calm.
It is no wonder that this kind of character was praised by Po Li.
The other tribesmen took the prey from horseback.
Not long after.
A familiar figure also appeared from the night.
It was the clan leader Wutuo.
“With the blessing of the shaman, I can return safely.”
As expected.
The moment he saw Chen Yulou and his party in the team, Wutuo lost his mind at first, then his face showed surprise, and he bowed to the back of the village.
“Thank you, patriarch.”
When in town, do as the Romans do.
A veteran like Chen Yulou would naturally not refute anything in front of others.
Even this trip to the Western Regions has nothing to do with the so-called shaman's blessing.
"Where's Oona?"
Have a few lively chats.
Wutuo glanced at the team, but did not find Oona's figure, and couldn't help but frown.
There is no need for Chen Yulou to explain this time.
Po Li on the side has already responded for him.
"Okay, okay, as long as everything is fine, you can come back again if the business is gone, but safety is the first priority."
Wu Tuo did not express any concern that they had not crossed the Black Desert. Strange.
After all, how dangerous that place is is engraved in the bones of their Turkic tribe.
Not even with Oona leading the way.
After all, she had only been there once many years ago with that old guy Azhiya.
The wind and sand are rolling in the Black Desert, making it difficult to discern the direction. No matter how experienced the guide is, there is no guarantee that he will be able to pass through.
As long as a person is alive, he is lucky.
"Yes."
"We have learned a lot about the Black Desert after nine deaths."
Chen Yulou smiled.
His words came from the bottom of his heart.
If we had not planned the route in advance, understood the plot, and had Oona leading the way, it would not have been easy for someone else to survive in that hellish place.
You can also get a glimpse of it from the mummies and bones seen along the way.
Even the merchants on the ancient Silk Road and the tyrannical bandits did not dare to enter easily.
Only those expeditions to steal treasure.
Having a broken map from hundreds of years ago and daring to go deep into the Black Desert is simply seeking death.
“Let’s not talk about this anymore.”
"Let's go, I've already asked people to prepare a bonfire feast. It just so happened that Po Li also came back. Let's celebrate tonight." (End of Chapter)