Jieyou

Are there gods in the heavens?

The Xiongnu would say yes, but if you asked them what a god looked like, most would be unable to answer.

But now, the Xiongnu had an answer to that question.

Should a celestial being truly look like this—clad in a white gauze dress, adorned with jewels and pearls, skin whiter than goat's milk, and hair purer than the waters of the Black River...?

If so, then this truly appeared to be the visage of a god. Yet, why would a god not help them?

The Xiongnu soldiers did not understand.

They only knew that the celestial wolf beneath the moon had blocked their advance. Its resonant howls terrified the horses beneath them, sending them into a panicked flight that even the most robust men on the grasslands could not control. The entire cavalry formation descended into chaos in an instant!

As the cavalry fractured, the conscripted footmen gathered by the Xiongnu were trampled underfoot, resulting in countless casualties.

Under the moonlight, the scene was one of total disarray.

Qingnu landed atop the city wall, holding Chunyu Tiying in her arms.

The hazy moonbeams seemed to drape Qingnu in a layer of soft, ethereal silken raiment, leaving the defending Wusun soldiers rooted to the spot in a daze.

She set Chunyu Tiying down, and the latter immediately began treating the wounded.

Gradually, voices began to cry out.

"The Heavenly Maiden... is it the Heavenly Maiden?"

"Heavenly Maiden!"

"The Saintess of Tianshan has descended the mountain! She has saved us!"

All the shouts converged into those two words: Heavenly Maiden. One by one, the Wusun soldiers knelt and prostrated themselves, gazing at Qingnu with pious devotion.

Her robes fluttering, Qingnu watched the Xiongnu flee in chaos through the night.

Only after they had vanished into the wilderness did Qingnu turn back to the Wusun soldiers and ask, "Where is Chigu City?"

Chigu City was the capital of Wusun.

One man volunteered himself, stating he could lead the Heavenly Maiden to Chigu City.

Having gained a guide for free, Qingnu was naturally pleased!

The following morning, Qingnu prepared to set out. Following the intimidation of the celestial wolf who had arrived by the moon the previous night, the Xiongnu would not dare to approach this small city again for the time being. The place was temporarily safe.

The man who had volunteered to be the guide felt a sense of unreality even after he had climbed onto Jingang's back.

He had never imagined that he would one day be able to sit atop a celestial wolf!

Chigu City was located southeast of the Hot Sea and was a major city rarely seen in the Western Regions. Upon arriving at Chigu City, Qingnu met the King of Wusun, Wengguimi.

Accompanied at his side was Princess Jieyou, Liu Jieyou.

"Heavenly Maiden! I have heard of your existence in legends. After sixty or seventy years, you have finally appeared again!"

Wengguimi looked at Qingnu with a burning gaze and asked, "Are you here to help us?"

"Otherwise, did I come here for a vacation?"

Qingnu glanced at Wengguimi, her gaze settling on Liu Jieyou, and she waved a hand dismissively. "However, don't expect me to resolve the Xiongnu for you by myself. I will not do such a thing."

Hearing this, Wengguimi blinked and asked, "Why?"

"If I do everything, what use are the rest of you? Is this my kingdom, or yours?"

Qingnu countered with a question.

Wengguimi looked embarrassed and nodded.

Liu Jieyou suddenly took a step forward, bowed to Qingnu, and then asked, "Heavenly Maiden, may I speak with you in private?"

Qingnu looked her up and down before nodding. "You may."

After dismissing the others, Liu Jieyou performed a formal salute and bowed deeply. "Liu Jieyou, daughter of the King of Chu, pays respects to Our Lady the Jade Maiden!"

Hearing how she addressed her, Qingnu leaned down, looked into her eyes, and asked, "You recognize me? I even changed my clothes; how did you still know?"

"You resemble the statue in the Shrine of the Jade Maiden of the Azure Heavens very closely, and... there is also a blue bird."

Liu Jieyou explained to Qingnu.

Qingnu came to a realization and tapped Hongluan. "I told you to transform into a person and follow me, but you insist on being a bird every time. You were recognized instantly."

Hongluan pecked at Qingnu's fingernail and said stubbornly, "Stupid snake, I refuse!"

Qingnu laughed and waved at Liu Jieyou.

"Get up, get up."

After both were seated, Qingnu said, "Wusun has an army of a hundred thousand. If you borrow troops from the other states of the Western Regions to form a coalition, breaking the Xiongnu will be no problem! You are a princess of the Han; use your seal to request troops from the various states."

"Though the title of a princess of the Han carries weight, what if the states fear the Xiongnu and refuse to lend their aid?"

Liu Jieyou looked at Qingnu, her expression filled with concern.

Qingnu waved her hand and said, "That's easy. I'll just have my wolf brother make the rounds with you!"

Wolf brother?

Liu Jieyou was stunned.

Before she could ask, she saw Qingnu snap her fingers, tossing out a flurry of snowflakes.

Immediately after, the sound of thundering footsteps approached!

A hulking man rushed in and asked, "My Lady, did you seek me?"

Soon, Liu Jieyou understood what she meant by "wolf brother." When she watched the burly man transform into a giant wolf, her expression turned blank, and Wengguimi, standing nearby, was not much better.

Wusun messengers carrying letters stamped with Princess Jieyou's seal traveled to every state in the Western Regions on Jingang's back in just half a month!

With the celestial wolf as proof, the states of the Western Regions all dispatched their respective armies.

Looking at the Western Regions coalition, Liu Jieyou's expression was one of excitement as she bowed to Qingnu in gratitude. "Thank you, Our Lady the Jade Maiden!"

"No need to thank me. If you hadn't spent these years managing the relationship between the Western Regions and the Han, it would have been impossible to borrow so many troops with just a large wolf."

Qingnu slowly shook her head. She looked at Liu Jieyou and suddenly asked, "Do you regret it?"

Liu Jieyou was taken aback, then she smiled and nodded.

"I do, but I am a princess of the Han, and I must have the resolve of a princess of the Han! I was originally the daughter of a criminal official; to have today is the grace of Emperor Wu."

"The name Jieyou is meant to resolve the worries of the Han!"

"Resolve the worries of the Han..."

Qingnu murmured to herself. She then said, "You are great. In the future, if you wish to return to Chang'an, just offer a prayer to me. I will hear it and come to take you back."

Liu Jieyou bowed deeply to Qingnu once more. "Thank you, Our Lady the Jade Maiden!"

Led by Wengguimi, the Western Regions coalition set out in a grand campaign!

The vast grasslands were boundless and should have been a natural sanctuary for the Xiongnu. However, with Qingnu pointing the way, the coalition moved as if aided by the gods. They quickly found the royal court of the Xiongnu Right Guli King!

The Right Guli King had long ago learned of the Heavenly Maiden's descent from the mouths of fleeing soldiers. He had already intended to retreat, but he never expected the Western Regions coalition to arrive so quickly!

Over a hundred thousand coalition troops broke through his royal court.

When he saw the Heavenly Maiden in white gauze riding a celestial wolf in the center of the army, he lost all his strength and fell to his knees.

The Right Guli King was captured and brought before Wengguimi and the others.

As soon as he saw Qingnu, he prostrated himself on the ground, crying out in grief, "Celestial god! Have you truly decided to abandon the Xiongnu? Are the Xiongnu not your children?"

"What is he babbling about?"

Qingnu grumbled, glancing at Wengguimi. "Find someone to translate!"

Wengguimi nodded hastily and brought over someone proficient in the Xiongnu language.

After hearing the translation, Qingnu nodded with an enlightened expression. Suddenly, she had an idea and asked, "You worship me?"