As night fell, the last bit of warmth that the sun brought to Freljord was erased.

The howling wind and snow fell on the camp, filling in the footprints that people had stepped on during the day.

"Knock~~"

"Squeak~~"

There was a knock on the door of the room, and Ash, who had been sitting at the table to deal with tribal affairs, rubbed his brow and stepped forward to open the door to the room.

It was also at this time that Ash met the eyes of Zuo Chi outside the door.

Zuo Chi smiled lightly at Ash, "Are you feeling better?" ”

"Hmm" Ash nodded: "Zuochi, thank you!" ”

"Come on in."

The door of the room slowly closes, completely isolating the cold and hustle and bustle of the outside world.

Walking into the room, Zuo Chi looked curiously at the things in front of him.

In the small room, the charcoal fire in the stove was burning, and the Ice Magic Bow was hung from one side of the wall, and in addition to the longbow, there was also a map of Freljord.

Because it was already late at night, and it was in his room, Ash had stripped off his daytime cloak, wearing only a close-fitting inner armor on his upper body, and a lean navy blue skirt on his lower body, and a golden bandage to tighten the upper end of his boots, which looked very similar to the leg rings that Zuo Chi had seen before.

As an Iceborn, Ash wasn't afraid of the cold of Freljord, so she dressed exactly how neatly she came.

However, it seems that with the exception of Zuochi, an outsider, the other Freljords do not regard Ash's delicate figure as beautiful.

In this harsh land, only the muscular figure of Sejuani or Aloy is perfect.

Because a strong body also indicates greater strength, greater survivability, and a higher hunting success rate!

In the dim firelight, Ash straightened her white hair, and with a bit of sadness on her delicate face, she and Zuo Chi looked at each other, looking at Zuo Chi in a daze.

However, as if he didn't want Zuo Chi to see his too weak side, Ash tried to adjust his facial expression.

"Zuo Chi, you said you have something to ask me today, is it about the things you talked about with Sejuani before? Just open your mouth, and I'll tell you everything I know. ”

Zuo Chi looked at Ash in front of him, recalling the duel that took place this evening, and he asked softly:

"Ash, it seems that there are still a lot of secrets behind your recruitment of the Blood Alliance?"

It's been two days since he came to Freljord, and through people's stories and personal experiences, Zuochi has a clear understanding of Ash's current situation.

The world knows that she is the warmother of the largest clan of Freljord today, but no one notices how much effort she has put into stabilizing this vast empire-like power.

It would be fine if it was an autocratic empire like Noxus or Demacia, but the Avarosa tribe is made up of countless tribes, large and small.

Once, after the death of her mother and her break with her sister Sejuani, Ash had nothing left but a few dozen hearths with no fighting ability behind her.

However, with the "Holy Bow" in his hand and the reincarnation of Avarosa, Ash traveled all the way south to form a powerful alliance with some of the rich tribes in the south of Freeljord.

It was also at that time that the present-day Avarosa tribe began to take shape.

Later, over time, Ash gradually consolidated his rule and earned the respect of everyone.

However, it is precisely because the members of the Avarosa tribe are scattered that it is very difficult for these autonomous tribes to manage.

If they are not satisfied at all, there may be a tribal rebellion, or a direct challenge to Ash, the War Mother.

It's like tonight's challenge, which is related to the recruitment of the Ash Blood Alliance!

Zuo Chi had a lot of doubts about the current situation of the Avarosa tribe, so he wanted to ask Ash for clarification.

When Ash heard Zuo Chi's words, a look of loneliness flashed in his eyes.

She looked into Zuo Chi's eyes, and did not hide it, but said softly: "There are too many members of the Avarosa clan, and the composition of the clan is extremely complicated. Each clan has selfish intentions, and they all want more benefits from the Avarosa tribe. ”

"So at this time, they must find ways to improve the status of their tribe among the Avarosa tribe. And becoming my blood alliance is undoubtedly the fastest way. ”

"All the tribes want me to be able to pick one of them to be the Blood Alliance, especially the powerful ones, who are more desperate than the weaker ones. But."

Ash turned to look at the Ice Magic Bow on the wall of the room, her voice was soft and slow, as if the pressure was about to crush her.

When facing Zuo Chi, she let go of the majesty and wariness she usually had towards other clan members, and opened her heart instead.

"No matter which clan I recruit from, it will cause great resentment among other tribes, and even the alliance I have worked so hard to maintain will likely be destroyed overnight."

"It stands to reason that the War Mother can recruit a lot of blood alliances, but the consequence of that will only be to introduce endless contradictions into my account, and those warriors from different clans will only intrigue all day long to win more benefits for their clan."

Listening to Ash's story, Zuo Chi also has a clear understanding of the predicament that Ash is facing now.

Now Ash's situation is really walking on thin ice, and one wrong step could probably undo everything she has worked so hard to maintain.

In fact, in the final analysis, it is because the power is not centralized enough, but it seems unrealistic to want to completely take the power into the hands of Ash.

Because these various tribes have their own management methods, it is difficult to achieve perfect balance.

Zuo Chi sighed lightly, raised his hand and patted Ash's shoulder gently, expressing his worries.

"Ash, do you want to wait for the results of the tournament in a day's time? I feel that even if you choose the strongest person in the tournament as the blood alliance, those big tribes will be dissatisfied, right?

They will think that since you can recruit people from that tribe as blood alliances, you can naturally recruit more blood alliances from other tribes, and those blood alliances should be chosen from their tribes. ”

Regarding Zuo Chi's words, Ash didn't speak, just bit his lower lip and nodded gently.

Obviously, Ash had this in mind.

"But I really can't help it."

Ash looked up at Zuo Chi, her ice-blue eyes full of helplessness.

"I don't want the Avarosa tribe to fall apart, and I don't want the small tribes I shelter to return to a life of starvation. Freljord deserves to move towards reunification"

Ash's voice grew lower and lower, and by the time he got to the back, it had turned into a faint murmur.

Zuo Chi looked at Ash in front of him, and he seemed to be able to understand why Anivia, the god of ice and snow, would only give Ash her blessings.

Because compared to Sejuani's faith of the jungle and Lisandro's seclusion, Ash now behaves more like a benevolent leader.

It's just that because of his own lack of strength, Ash is obviously not able to become a dictator with absolute right to speak.

At this point, there seems to be only one way to solve all this perfectly

Just as Ash was standing in front of Zuo Chi, looking at Zuo Chi's eyes with ice blue eyes, she suddenly found that Zuo Chi in front of her was getting closer and closer to her.

In the next moment, Ash felt a strong arm wrap around her waist and pull her whole body into his arms.

At the same time, Zuo Chi's incomparably affirmative voice also sounded in her ears.

"I'll help you!"

Lying in Zuo Chi's arms, Ash was stunned.

She just lay quietly in Zuo Chi's arms, her chin resting on Zuo Chi's shoulder, staring blankly at the window on the wall behind her.

The wind and snow outside the window were still howling, and the extreme cold made the flames in the station flicker and darken.

But it was at this moment that the fire in Ash's heart was quietly beating, getting stronger and stronger.

"Zuo Chi, do you have a way?" Leaning into Zuochi's ear, Ash asked in a daze.

Zuo Chi nodded and said in a deep voice:

"Now, you need to find someone who is neither from any tribe, nor affiliated with any demigods, and who has no affiliation with any tribe to make your blood alliance. And the most important point, and the one that is enough to decide everything:

This person has to be strong enough, strong enough to crush any challenger, strong enough that no one can rise to the idea of resisting, strong enough to make everyone feel that you are enough for him alone! ”

Zuo Chi's words fell, and he could clearly perceive that Ash's body lying in his arms suddenly trembled slightly.

Ash looked at Zuo Chi's face and asked blankly, "I did think about this before, but how difficult it is to find such a person in Freljord today, where can I find it?" ”

Under Ash's gaze, the corners of Zuochi's mouth rose slightly, and he winked at Ash.

"Huh?"

Seeing Zuo Chi's actions, Ash first tilted his head, and then looked at the smile on Zuo Chi's face.

Gradually, a faint flush crept up Ash's cheeks, and she quickly took a step back and quickly broke free from Zuochi's arms.

She kept waving her hands and shaking her head: "No, no, no, no, everyone else can do it, but you can't." ”

As he spoke, a scene from a recent incident began to echo in Ash's mind.

Sejuani: "If you don't, then don't mess with it, keep it for me!" ”

Ash: "I'm not the Claw of Winter, Zuo Chi doesn't want to, so I won't force him to do anything!" ”

Sejuani: "That's good, when he gets his luggage back to you, let him come to Winterclaw, don't dwell on it too much." I'll make him my blood alliance! ”

“.”

The conversation with Sejuani was still echoing in her mind, and Ash could even imagine that Sejuani was now sitting in Winterclaw's residence, waiting eagerly for Zuoike to pass.

Obviously, he just promised people less than a day, but he gave the blood alliance that others recognized as backhanded

However, do you really want to refuse Zuo Chi and give him up to Sejuani?

Ash's eyes were full of struggle and entanglement, and she quietly raised her head to see how Zuo Chi was behaving now, but it was also at this moment that her gaze met Zuo Chi's eyes full of self-doubt.

"Why can't I?"

Zuo Chi looked at his hand with some lovelessness: "Could it be that I don't meet the conditions I just said?" ”

"No, no, no"

Ash hurriedly waved his hand: "You are very strong, much stronger than me, and other conditions are also met, and you are still very good!" ”

"Then why can't I." Zuo Chi, who was just halfway through speaking, suddenly paused.

He looked at Ash with a look of surprise and sadness.

"You just don't like me."

Zuo Chi thought about it carefully, and it seemed that he was right, after all, he was not a native of Freljord, and his dress and living habits were different from here, and it seemed understandable that Ash didn't like him.

No wonder they say I'm good, and it's a subtle hint that I'm a good person after making trouble for a long time!

"No!" Ash hurriedly grabbed Zuo Chi's arm: "It's not."

Ash clutched Zuo Chi's hand tightly, his face flushed with anxiety, and the majesty of being a war mother in the past was not left at all.

Looking at Ash's performance, Zuo Chi leaned closer to her face and asked with a smile, "Why is that?" ”

"Because. Because "

Ash opened his mouth several times to explain, but after thinking about it for a long time, he didn't say anything except that his little face was red.

I can't say to Zuo Chi: You have been set by Sejuani, I can't rob her man!

However, just as Ash was in a dilemma and struggled, a large hand landed on her head and rubbed it between her long silver hair.

At the same time, Zuo Chi's voice sounded again: "It's okay, it's okay if you don't say it." ”

"Huh?"

Ash looked at Zuo Chi, only to see his helpless smile.

"No one stipulates that if you win the tournament, you must perform the ceremony of husband and wife. We'll just go through the motions then, and I'll just help you deal with the delusional tribes. Once that was settled, I left the Avarosa tribe and went to the Winterclaws. ”

As what Ash wants to accomplish the most at the moment, Zuochi will help her achieve it no matter what, no matter how much she hates him.

Because only in this way can Zuo Chi complete the regulations of the system and open the skin system!

The opening of the weapon identification system has greatly helped Zuo Chi to judge the enemy's combat effectiveness, and Zuo Chi believes that the opening of the skin system will also help him in the future.

So it's always a matter of trying.

As for the matter with Ash after winning the tournament, Zuo Chi really didn't think much about it, and even Zuo Chi himself was not ready for marrying a wife, so he never had the luxury of really doing Ash's blood alliance or something.

But Zuo Chi didn't think much about it, but it doesn't mean that the heroine of this matter won't think much about it!

Ash listened to Zuo Chi's helpless tone, and then looked at his slightly dim eyes, she only felt a loss rise in her heart that made her extremely uncomfortable.

Thinking back to the time she first met Zuo Chi to the present, Zuo Chi would always appear when she needed help the most and pull her out of the abyss.

And what she fed back to Zuo Chi seemed to be only a few words of thanks?

Now, Zuochi has come up with the best solution to the dilemma she is facing, and is willing to sacrifice herself to help her get through it, but she ruthlessly rejects Zuoike because of her agreement with Sejuani.

While thinking about it, Ash's gaze at Zuo Chi became more and more moved, and finally even a thick water light.

And Zuo Chi looked at Ash's watery appearance in front of him, and thought that she didn't even want what she just said.

"Isn't that okay?" Zuo Chi asked in a low voice: "I don't make your blood alliance, I don't touch you, and you don't have to give me anything, just let me participate in the martial arts competition." ”

"No way!" Ash shouted anxiously.

Zuo Chi: "."

Hearing Ash's answer, Zuo Chi was directly a head and two big.

This person is unwilling, and if he can't fulfill Ash's wish, his skin system can't be turned on.

In fact, Zuo Chi didn't understand one point, that is, what Ash said was no, whether he couldn't participate in the martial arts tournament, or what he was referring to.

However, just as Zuo Chi hesitated, Ash suddenly seemed to have made some kind of important decision in her heart, and she raised her head and looked at Zuo Chi with a resolute expression.

If you complain, complain, I don't care, when I cook the raw rice, then Zuochi will only be my blood alliance!

"Zuo Chi, please help me!"

Zuo Chi was stunned again, and looked suspiciously at Ash, who looked like he was going to die generously.

He couldn't figure out why Ash suddenly agreed again, when she had refused so firmly.

Eventually, Zuochi came to the conclusion that in order to maintain the stability of the Avarosa clan, Ash finally decided to put aside her dignity and reluctantly accept the ugly Zuochi as her nominal blood alliance.

And the reason why Ash reluctantly agreed was mainly because Zuochi had promised that he would not touch her, and Zuochi would leave immediately after solving the problem, and would not stay in the Avarosa tribe to be an eyesore!

For the first time, it was the first time that Zuo Chi felt that his iron will had been hit.

I don't take you to bury people like this!

Shaking his head with a wry smile, Zuochi took a step back and waved his hand at Ash.

"Then it's decided, I'll go to the tournament, and after that, I'll leave."

Zuo Chi didn't say anything more, turned around and walked out of the room, and soon disappeared into the long snowy night.

He was going to say hello to Reezor and his clan, and left the Avarosa clan after the jousting convention.

On Ash's side, it wasn't until Zuochi's figure disappeared into the snowy night that she had just recovered from her chaotic thoughts.

Looking at the empty room, Ash was a little curious as to why Zuochi left without saying hello, but the resoluteness in his heart quickly took over.

"Hmph, if Sejuani comes to rob someone, let her come! I can hold the left pool for the first time, and naturally I can also hold the left pool for the second time! ”

As the words fell, a strange look suddenly flashed in Ash's eyes.

She lifted the hem of her skirt with her hand, surveying her dress up and down, and then, she woke up the Transmission Jewel on the side of the room.

Soon, there was another knock on the door of the room, and Ash opened it, revealing a female warrior in a coat of animal skins.

She is Ash's war sacrifice - Sigra.

The so-called war sacrifice is actually the assistant of the tribe's war mother, similar to a personal guard.

Sigra looked at Ash curiously, "War Mother, do you have any orders?" ”

Ash pulled Sigra into the room and looked at her mysteriously.

"Sigra, I remember the last time our tribe traded with Demacia, didn't they give away some clothes worn by the nobles over there?"

"Huh?"

Sigra looked at Ash with a confused expression, but she still nodded: "That's right, the War Mother, in fact, those merchants paid you tribute in order to establish stable trade relations. ”

"But the War Mother."

Sigra said indignantly: "The clothes that Demacia paid tribute to are extremely awkward, especially those shoes with high heels, and all kinds of strange silk socks, which are not suitable for us to wear when hunting or fighting. I really don't know what kind of woman with fine skin and tender flesh wears that kind of clothes. ”

However, Sigra soon discovered that as she spoke, the light in her mother's eyes was getting brighter and brighter.

Immediately after, Ash grabbed Sigra's arm: "Ahem, Sigra, you bring those clothes to my room, I need to taste them." ”

“？？？”

(Guys, there was a power outage during the day today, and the next chapter is a big chapter, so it's a bit of a stretch to finish today.) Update more tomorrow to make up for it. ）

(End of chapter)