Chapter 121: Tatar Bro’s Trouble

The off-road vehicle sped away, leaving Wuerkolo Township behind.

Fatty Bi’s driving style was as rough as his appearance. With his foot pressed hard on the accelerator, the vehicle careened wildly across the rugged wilderness, jolting violently. Li Tianque struggled to secure himself with the seatbelt, feeling as though his bones were about to rattle apart.

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before the aspergillus flavus toxins in his system began to take effect. As the cancer cells within him multiplied, his body started to recover at an astonishing speed. In the midst of this healing process, an overwhelming sense of exhaustion washed over him, and he drifted off into a deep sleep before he knew it.

Though the drive took less than an hour, it felt like an eternity in his dream-filled slumber. When Li Tianque finally woke up, the car had arrived at the Wolf Totem Restaurant.

The morning sun was just beginning to crest the horizon, casting a brilliant red glow. The entire grassland looked like an endless, rolling green sea, now draped in a shimmering, vibrant crimson mist—a surreal and magnificent sight. Scattered across this green expanse, individual yurts appeared like floating, bobbing islands.

The complex before Li Tianque, enclosed by a steel fence, stood out as the most prominent archipelago in this vast emerald sea. The yurts inside were built in the most traditional style: golden painted domes, lattice walls made of wooden slats, and umbrella-shaped roofs covered in thick felt and secured with ropes. At the very center of each roof was a circular skylight, adorned with stark white cloud patterns. A golden, trident-like spire pierced the center of each cloud-patterned roof, adding to their imposing presence.

Brother Tatar stood outside the massive, three-story central yurt. He wore his signature long-haired wolf-fur coat and a thick fur hat. His long beard swayed in the breeze, and his hands were planted firmly on his hips, his face partially obscured by a dark, ruddy shadow.

As the car pulled up to the entrance, Brother Tatar walked into the light. A warm, enthusiastic smile instantly bloomed on his face. He removed his hat, bowed slightly, and gestured for them to enter.

Li Tianque stepped out of the car and noticed a plaque with a black background and gold trim hanging by the entrance, bearing the name "Wolf Totem" written in vigorous, bold calligraphy.

Suppressing the churning sensation in his stomach, Li Tianque followed Brother Tatar inside. Fatty Bi, having been here before, was clearly on familiar terms with the man. With a grin, he asked, "Brother Tatar, Miaoran and the others aren't awake yet, are they?"

"Right, they were busy all through the night. I reckon the three of them will be sleeping until the sun is high in the sky," Brother Tatar replied, his smile fading quickly.

"Fair enough. Then, why don't you show my brother Li to his room? I've been through a long night myself and need to get some sleep," Fatty Bi said.

"Come now, what kind of talk is that? I would have seen to him regardless. Do you really think I’d leave a guest out here to feed the mosquitoes?" Brother Tatar laughed.

With that, Li Tianque was shown to a private room on the second floor of the massive yurt.

Inside, there was a simple floor bed, yet it felt surprisingly comfortable. The room was filled with a soothing aroma, likely from some form of incense. Li Tianque drank a cup of hot milk tea brought by a server, feeling a pleasant warmth spread through his stomach.

Having already slept in the car, he felt no further desire to rest and walked back downstairs shortly after.

Brother Tatar was sitting on a wolf-skin armchair in the center of the yurt, smoking a cigarette and thoughtfully flicking a long, curved blade in his hand, producing a crisp, ethereal sound. The Kang people were known for their love of raw tobacco, but Brother Tatar seemed to follow modern trends, opting for a high-end brand of cigarettes.

Hearing Li Tianque’s footsteps from behind, he raised his hand, his fingers already clutching a fresh cigarette. Li Tianque took it from him, but failing to find a lighter, he let Brother Tatar light it for him.

"Brother," Brother Tatar murmured, "the way you approach someone from behind—you really do remind me of a wolf cub."

"How so?" Li Tianque took a deep drag.

"Wolves... these beasts love to attack from their prey’s blind spot. Once a wolf decides to strike, it rarely holds back. They prefer lethal attacks, aiming to finish their prey in one go. That’s why they always sneak up from behind. If you’ve ever watched videos of them, you’d know that once a wolf lands a successful strike, it can take down a dog its own size within ten seconds. If a human were to run into that... heh." Brother Tatar didn't finish his sentence; he let out a laugh, though there was no real mirth in it.

"It seems you’re very fond of wolves," Li Tianque observed.

"Of course. Many people on the grasslands feel the same. You might not imagine it, but the environment here is truly harsh. Every creature that manages to survive here deserves respect. But the wolf is the most formidable of them all. It is the ultimate king, the most ferocious predator, and the undisputed master of the grasslands, having fought against nature, other beasts, and humans alike. To achieve this, they must possess extraordinary abilities."

"These prairie wolves have immense offensive power, explosive speed, and lightning-fast reflexes. They possess sophisticated team coordination, tight-knit cooperation, and deep-seated loyalty to their pack. You’ve been to Wuerkolo; you should know there are many tribes there that worship the Wolf God. The wolf has become an object of worship for the prairie people, transcending all other living entities to become a 'true god,' largely because the image of the wolf is deeply ingrained in our hearts. We fear them, we respect them, we fight them, and we coexist with them. A man can defeat a wolf, but he must never insult one. A man can kill a wolf, but he must never seek to eradicate them."

"I named this yurt 'Wolf Totem' as a form of faith. I, too, have great respect for these fierce beasts."

Brother Tatar spoke at length. Li Tianque listened patiently, then said quietly, "Indeed. Though, most people still fear them more than anything."

"Perhaps," Brother Tatar replied, taking a deep drag of his cigarette. "Perhaps being feared is safer than being loved."

The two men sat in silence, surrounded by clouds of smoke. After a moment, Li Tianque spoke up. "Brother Tatar, you know we weren't just invited here to film a food review video."

"Indeed. If that were all, I wouldn't have welcomed you here," Brother Tatar said.

"Then, can you tell me now? What exactly is the trouble you’ve run into?" Li Tianque asked.

Brother Tatar glanced at Li Tianque with a hint of disdain, clearly lacking confidence in the thin, frail-looking man. He murmured, "You’ve surely seen those horrifying reports recently—how those food-review streamers have inexplicably become entangled with curses, and how these absurd taboos have emerged. Just a few days ago, someone in my restaurant broke one of those damned taboos, and it has caused me quite a bit of trouble. That is why I wanted Miaoran and her team to come here and help me resolve it."