Chapter 76

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Chapter 76: The Kazakh Yurt

Memories began to fade, and in a state of half-dreaming, Lin Mo could not distinguish which was real and which was a dream.

He poured a little water from his kettle into his palm, splashed it on his face, and slapped his cheeks hard. His dazed gaze sharpened quickly, sparkling anew with the sharpness of an eagle. The dream remained a dream, and he lived in reality, where the peaceful life had unknowingly dulled his vigilance.

He needed to accept challenges again and sharpen himself, ensuring he always maintained a warrior’s heart that remained alert. Therefore, he had come to this prairie, fraught with danger.

The sky was vast, and the wilderness stretched out; the wind blew the grass low, revealing cattle and sheep. The grasslands of Kazakhstan were not much different from the Mongolian steppe in China’s interior.

With a horse to ride, Lin Mo traveled leisurely, truly resembling a tourist. Occasionally, he would encounter a pack of wolves, but perhaps because of the fearsome dragon aura emanating from him, they would howl from afar and avoid him.

In the end, the Gold Coins that could serve as GPS satellites provided great assistance, allowing him to depart from the road and charge towards his target in a straight line.

In the distance, he heard the melodious sounds of pastoral songs and lightly rising smoke toward the sky. Lin Mo smiled lightly, knowing he would not have to sleep in the wilderness tonight and would have a warm meal to fill his stomach.

During the past few days of traveling, Lin Mo often encountered nomadic herders.

Although he was alone and unable to communicate, the hospitable herders warmly welcomed him when they saw his kind demeanor and the absence of weapons. Their yurts became Lin Mo’s temporary lodgings, where he savored Kazakh cuisine, including hand-held lamb, deep-fried bread, and smoked horse sausage.

An old Kazakh proverb states, "If a guest is released at sunset, one cannot wash away the shame even by jumping into water." They believed guests were a gift from Allah and should never be neglected.

After receiving their warm hospitality, Lin Mo would leave a small stack of dollars upon his departure to express gratitude for the herders’ genuine hospitality.

Riding his chestnut horse towards the source of the rising smoke, Lin Mo enjoyed a leisurely pace. In the grasslands, there was a saying among the Kazakhs: "As long as there are Kazakhs along the way, you won’t need to carry a grain of food or a dime, even if you walk for a year."

As long as he spotted a yurt, Lin Mo knew he had found his resting place for the night.

The closer he got, the clearer the sounds of people and livestock became, including the playful laughter of children.

Accompanied by the light sound of hooves, several children riding small horses appeared in Lin Mo’s sight, chasing and laughing joyfully. They were indeed a nation of horse riders, showing remarkable horsemanship at such young ages, expertly steady on their mounts and occasionally attempting difficult tricks.

This was the true essence of horseback games, far surpassing the bamboo horses held by children in farming regions.

Before long, the children seemed to notice a stranger approaching from afar. Curious, they halted their chase and slowed their horses to approach Lin Mo.

Lin Mo’s attire set him apart from the nomads, standing out sharply. However, their curiosity also made him more welcome compared to the horse thieves and wild beasts of the prairie—this foreign visitor was indeed much more endearing.

As the children closed in within just a dozen steps, they smiled and sized up Lin Mo, speaking in Kazakh, a language he couldn’t understand, bursting into giggles occasionally.

Suddenly, one of the children’s expressions grew serious. His eyes widened as he stared at Lin Mo’s horse, seemingly confirming something. Suddenly, his expression changed, and he shouted in panic.

Lin Mo was about to wave and greet them when he saw the children turn their horses in fright and run back towards the yurt, leaving him standing there.

"What happened?!" Lin Mo looked around, seeing no danger and glancing at himself; he didn’t appear monstrous!

Full of questions, Lin Mo wondered, "What is going on?"

Before long, several burly adults appeared, wielding guns and sabers, charging towards Lin Mo and surrounding him, their weapons aimed squarely at him, expressions hostile.

Lin Mo still had no idea why they misunderstood him so badly. He raised his hands innocently, deciding not to act against the civilians without understanding the situation.

Seeing Lin Mo’s bewildered demeanor seemed to infuriate them even more. Their guns were pointed at him, and they waved their sabers threateningly, as if ready to strike.

At that moment, an elder wearing a long robe, with a wide leather belt around his waist and a black felt hat adorned with white trim, rode into the circle. His face was a bright red, with streaks of white in his beard and hair. He raised his hand, halting the aggressive actions of the men surrounding Lin Mo, and spoke a few words to him.

Lin Mo still couldn’t understand. He spread his hands helplessly, like a blind cat stumbling upon a rat, and said hopefully, “I’m sorry, I don’t speak Kazakh or Russian. I can’t understand what you are saying!”

To be honest, Lin Mo regretted not preparing more before coming here, not even knowing how to say a simple greeting in Kazakh. He wondered whether the Intelligence Group’s Twin Stars had forgotten to train him or had deliberately left him unprepared.

Surprisingly, the elder understood and began to speak fluent Mandarin, “Hello, distant guest. I apologize for my children’s rudeness!”

As soon as Lin Mo spoke, the elder realized it must be a misunderstanding. He sternly reprimanded the armed Kazakhs beside him, who sheepishly lowered their weapons.

“What is happening?” Lin Mo finally breathed a sigh of relief. He preferred to avoid conflict whenever possible. The strength of a Dragon Knight combating a Giant Dragon was beyond the capacity of ordinary people, and he certainly wouldn’t let them shoot or cut at him.

“May I ask where you got this horse?” The elder turned his gaze toward Lin Mo’s chestnut horse. This horse was his trophy—strong, obedient, and convenient for travel across the prairie, requiring no fuel, making it the most environmentally friendly mode of transportation.

“Horse?!” Lin Mo patted the chestnut horse’s head, and it affectionately nudged his hand. Lin Mo could not imagine the trouble could arise from the horse; he had ridden it for several days.

“Look, isn’t there a pattern on the horse’s rear? This is a unique mark from our herd. It was stolen half a year ago. We thought we could never find it again, but now it is being ridden by you.”

It was clear that the group of children and the adults believed Lin Mo to be a horse thief. In the grasslands, stealing horses was a serious crime; if the original owner caught a thief, they could be executed on the spot.

Lin Mo glanced at the horses’ rear ends, then looked back at his own chestnut horse. Sure enough, the branded patterns were identical; it made sense why these people displayed anger and threats toward him now.

“Oh! So that’s what happened!” Lin Mo suddenly understood, immediately expressing his clarity. “I didn’t steal this horse. I rescued it from a group of bandits.”

“Bandits? Damn horse thieves! Where have they fled to? Thank you for this information! I must notify the other herders and ensure this gang of troublemakers is eliminated,” the elder said angrily, cracking his whip in the air as if striking those damned robbers.

“Hehe, I don’t know which direction they ran off to. Anyway, they didn’t succeed in stealing it from me; rather, I took it from them!” Lin Mo chuckled, speaking half-truths.

Since that gang of robbers was likely to be wolf food by now, their bones scattered to nothing, Lin Mo felt free to say whatever he wanted.

“Since I’ve come across the original owner today, let’s return the horse to its rightful place!” Lin Mo dismounted and gave the horse a pat on the neck. He was generous since a horse represented much effort from its herder, and no one would be happy about having their property stolen.

Now that he had met the original owner, helping them made sense; he could walk a little further. After all, he wasn’t too far from the rendezvous point. Otherwise, he would need to find a place to dispose of the horse.

“No, no, no!” The elder quickly dismounted, surprised, and shook his head before grasping Lin Mo’s hand. “This horse was taken by the thieves, yet it brought a distant guest like you to us. This must be the will of the Almighty! You are our honored guest; this horse is a gift to thank you for taking care of those robbers. We cannot take it back!”

Perhaps there truly was divine will at play. The elder dared not reclaim Lin Mo’s horse, fully considering it a gift to him.

“No need; I am nearing my destination and won’t be able to keep this horse. I am already satisfied with this temporary loan,” Lin Mo said, shaking his head. During this journey, the horse was a convenient means of transportation. If he hadn’t encountered the original owner, he had even planned to set it free. Although it was obedient and strong, he wouldn’t be able to bring it back home.

“Are combat planes flying above while ground horses chase below? There are no cavalry in the base!’

Kazakh proverbs convey that part of the inheritance left by ancestors is for their guests. With this fortunate meeting, the elder initially insisted on not accepting it, but Lin Mo spoke the truth. As a lone Chinese visitor on the vast grassland, borrowing a horse temporarily could only work; he could not bring it home. Even if he did, how would he maintain it? They weren’t small cats or dogs, which any supermarket sells food for.

“Well then! If you need anything in the future, just ask. Kazakhs will spare no effort for friends.” The elder suddenly turned to the burly men and glared, “What are you waiting for? Go prepare and slaughter the fattest sheep! Bring out the best mare’s milk!”

The beefy men scattered like birds and beasts, hurrying to prepare.