The Princess of Northern Land
Chapter 740: Hot Commodity (2)_1

Chapter 740: Chapter 740: Hot Commodity (2)_1

The people around the Second Prince chose to hide her identity, which spoke volumes about the instability within the North Country. Perhaps, her trip there would be fraught with life-threatening danger.

Next, she thought about the brutal final battle in Border City between General Bayal and the State Preceptor, and her heart began to sink once more. If a commoner from the Northern Land saw avengers who had taken the lives of their fathers and descendants, they would probably not just want revenge but would wish to devour their enemy’s flesh and drink their blood.

Except now, she was the object of this progressive enmity. The taste of it was anything but pleasant!

Bayan sensed her desolation but couldn’t guess the reason behind it. Assuming Lin Ziyin was reluctant to go to North Country, he tried to reassure her. "Don’t worry, with the Second Prince there, you will be well treated once you arrive."

Lin Ziyin’s mind was in turmoil and she could only nod in response to his words.

In contrast to Bayan’s kindness, the rest of the Tatars obviously harbored hostility towards her.

Yet, Lin Ziyin was not bothered. She laid back into her bedding after a hearty meal. Seeing her relax, the Tatars reluctantly accepted her as they crawled into their tents while the guards stood watch.

Tana didn’t get the same kind of treatment as Lin Ziyin, she had to sleep on a fur spread across the bare ground right outside her tent, wrapped in just a blanket.

Lin Ziyin was exhausted and even though she had a short nap before it got dark, she quickly fell into a deep sleep again.

The next day, the snowflakes in the sky got heavier and the north wind became fiercer. Lin Ziyin was woken up and hustled onto her horse to continue traveling after a quick meal.

They were heading north and had to face the harsh winds head-on. Their speed was much slower compared to their usual pace.

Bayan was slightly anxious. However, he could not do anything about the wretched weather. Furthermore, in his eyes, Lin Ziyin’s petite figure seemed vulnerable. To take care of her, he did not dare urge his companions to go any faster.

Thus, they traveled in the mountains for five or six days. On the seventh day at dusk, the exhausted group finally found a wind-sheltered cave to rest in.

"Once we cross this mountain ridge, we would have reached the territory of the North Country," Bayan encouraged everyone. "General Batulu is guarding that area."

Lin Ziyin didn’t know Batulu personally, but she had heard of his formidable reputation. He was said to be a staunch supporter of the second prince, not boastful yet not to be underestimated, and also the second prince’s relative by marriage.

He was a mortal enemy of the Bayal Family who supported the elder Prince. The Bayal Family had long sought to get rid of Batulu. However, he also had control over a large part of the Northern country’s army - enough to withstand the Bayal family. Hence, the Bayal family had not been successful in their attempts.

A General who could hold his own at the border was never someone to be trificked with.

Even without meeting him in person, Lin Ziyin was already strategizing on how to handle this individual.

"Roar..." A sudden roar of a tiger echoed, and the resting Tatars immediately sprung into action, gripping their weapons at the ready.

Tana and a young man silently moved closer to Lin Ziyin. From their movements, it seemed like their task was to protect her.

Lin Ziyin breathed a silent sigh of relief. Tigers were mostly solitary creatures; a couple at most. With the Tatars’ strength, even two tigers wouldn’t pose a significant threat. But a pack of wolves might present a dire situation.

With perfect calm, Lin Ziyin picked up a prepped wild chicken and began roasting it over the fire.