The Calm Before the Storm and the Ominous Omen

For several days thereafter, the armies of the Jiang and Ling kingdoms held their positions, and no battles occurred. Then, one day, the Jiang leaders convened and decided to launch a major offensive the following day. Led by Boidoi, Qula, and Caima Keji, a force of twelve champions—including the chieftain Sela, the veteran Serige Bu, the three Long-Armed Brothers, the three Poisonous Brothers, and A Ri Chang—set out on horseback, heading straight for the Ling camp. They believed such a force could surely overcome the Great Lion King and secure victory.

Seeing a troop of riders approaching from the front, the Ling army sprang into action. The heroes donned their armor and mounted their steeds, while a portion of the army remained to guard the camp closely. The sight gave the Jiang troops pause, causing them to hesitate. Because the Jiang forces had committed blasphemous acts against the Great Lion King's war gods, the Ling warriors fought with even greater ferocity. Their men and horses surged forward like streaks of lightning. Seeing the Great Lion King Gesar clad in armor and helmet, weapons in hand, a majestic figure of a war god, the morale of the Ling heroes soared. The King himself was contemplating how to subdue the three demonic soul-binding birds nesting with the three Poisonous Brothers. Danma, discerning the King's thoughts, said to him, "Allow me to shoot three arrows; I can kill those three demon birds."

Chao Tong, standing nearby, overheard Danma and interjected, "Let me cast a curse; I can kill the three demon birds."

Both men wanted to demonstrate their prowess and argued back and forth. King Gesar said, "Danma, hold your arrows for now. Save them to shoot the Jiang Kingdom's three Poisonous Brothers. It would be better to let Uncle cast a curse to kill the three soul-binding demon birds."

Hearing this, Chao Tong was overjoyed. He immediately took up ritual offerings and began tossing them with shouts of "Hong hong! Pa pa!" He flung the offerings into the distance while brandishing his black sword. From the tip of the black sword's blade, balls of flame the size of earthen pots erupted. These flames then transformed into three fiery masses that shot into the distance like meteors, swiftly incinerating the three soul-binding demon birds. A fierce wind swept up the charred bird carcasses, which then fell upon the heads of ministers Qula, Caima Keji, and Boidoi. Seeing this, Qula thought: Such an ominous event today bodes ill; perhaps the Jiang Kingdom cannot be preserved. Qula felt deep unease. If this were the case, rather than waiting for death, it would be better to ride out and fight to the finish. So he spurred his horse and charged towards the Ling heroes positioned on the outskirts of their camp.

The Duel of Captivity and the Fall of a Young Hero

Qula first encountered the heroine Adanam. Seeing such a fool seeking death come her way, she taunted him: "Today, as the sun rises high in the sky, I happen upon a ghost like you delivering yourself to death. You need not panic or rush; wait for my iron arrow to deliver you to the next life. The evil karma you've accumulated in the past is already plentiful; today you deserve severe punishment. Before the World Lion King, your head should be offered up. In this battlefield of bloody rain and foul wind, you have no right to wish for survival. In this whirlpool of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, there is no room for you to keep your life."

Adanam shot an arrow that struck Chieftain Qula squarely. His armor was shattered to pieces. However, protected by the Jiang demon god's life-preserving garment, his skin remained unharmed.

Chieftain Qula reined in his horse, thinking that against such a woman, there was no need for spear or blade; a lasso would suffice to take her life. So, wielding his red snake lasso, he said to Adanam: "Even the famed Gesar will be bound with a black rope, taken prisoner to the Jiang Kingdom, and made a slave there. Whether this can be done will be seen later. Listen well, you black-faced woman. Your face is thicker than cowhide, you shameless, thick-skinned woman who knows no better. You disgraceful wretch, today I won't use spear or arrow against you. King Sadan's weapons are more formidable; an iron hook and lasso await you. Especially, I, Qula, have my treasured weapon, the nine-foot red snake lasso, waiting for you. This snake-rope can bind celestial gods and fierce demons, let alone a lone woman!"

Having sung his challenge, Qula flung the red snake flying lasso forward. The lasso looped perfectly around Adanam's neck. As Qula pulled with all his might, the heroine swiftly slashed three times with her sword but failed to cut the rope. Helpless, she was captured alive by Qula.

Seeing this, the Ling heroes immediately rushed to her rescue. Gyalo Buya Zhujie, the commander of the Gyalo division and younger brother of Queen Zumu, mounted his blue flying steed and charged alone into the Jiang camp. He rampaged through their ranks but could not rescue Adanam. At that moment, the Jiang warrior Seri Bawo came forward to engage him. They fought for three rounds before Bawo was defeated. He immediately turned his horse and fled into the distance. The blue flying steed pursued at incredible speed. From horseback, Buya Zhujie swung his blade, and Seri Bawo's head was instantly severed from his neck, tumbling to the ground.

Then, from behind, Baigan Tulu charged diagonally at Buya Zhujie. As the two closed in, Buya Zhujie nocked an arrow and sang a song invoking the arrow deity:

I am the fine descendant of the white snow lion,

Ruling over snowy peaks and grassy plains.

Skilled in the six arts, adept at riding and shooting,

I dwell not in castles but on battlefields to slay foes.

Pitiable, arrogant, and contentious people of Jiang,

Your twelve sets of men and horses deliver themselves to death.

On the path swept by my precious blade,

I send each of your fierce generals to the western heavens.

After singing, Zhujie let fly an arrow that struck Baigan Tulu's body. However, protected by the Jiang demon god, it failed to wound him. Baigan Tulu drew his war blade, spurred his horse, and charged fiercely. Swinging his great sword, he struck Buya Zhujie from his horse with a single blow, killing him instantly on the battlefield. Witnessing this, the Ling heroes felt as if their hearts and livers had been slashed, overcome with grief and pain; some even wept aloud.

Vengeance and Desperate Struggles

Gade burned with rage, ready to fight to the death. He spurred his horse and charged at Baigan Tulu. Seeing someone charging, Baigan Tulu feigned flight. As Gade closed in, he suddenly turned and threw his lasso, catching Gade around the neck. Gade had anticipated this move. With his blade already in hand, he severed the lasso with one stroke and shouted loudly: "Aha! Baigan Tulu, your boasts are only fit for others' ears; they hold no weight before me. My brother Buya Zhujie was a young commander, slain today by the Jiang Kingdom's poisonous men. The Gyalo division's rare wish-fulfilling jewel has been devoured by a great whale in the water. Murderous Baigan Tulu, listen! Both you and I are men. Two men should test their strength. See how I avenge him today!"

With that, Gade shot an arrow that struck Baigan Tulu squarely in the heart. The golden arrow pierced through his back and fell onto the grassland, tearing open a large gash in the earth. Baigan Tulu fell from his horse, lay in a pool of blood, and breathed his last. Seeing the enemy dead, Gade immediately severed his head, took his helmet and armor, seized his mount, and returned to camp.

Demoralized by Baigan Tulu's death, the Jiang troops turned their horses and retreated to their camp. However, the two poisonous men, Zhaxi Toju and Taqiong Lugu, refused to give up, determined to fight to the death. Gnashing their teeth, they were about to charge forward when ministers Boidoi and Caima Keji saw them and tried strenuously to dissuade them, attempting to lead them back to camp. Just as they were about to turn back, they saw the Ling forces pursuing once more.

The Jiang youth, the swift slave Dongtong Long-Armed, immediately turned his horse to counterattack. Seeing the Ling general Sinba Meruze charging ahead, raising his bow to shoot, Dongtong said not a word but fiercely threw his lasso, firmly catching Sinba around the neck. With a powerful tug, he dragged Sinba from his horse. Dongtong drew his long-handled black blade and struck Sinba twice. Protected by his guardian deity, the blows were as if striking stone and did not penetrate. At that moment, Bara and Danma hurried to the rescue. Dongtong continued to drag Sinba some distance. Only when the Ling heroes pursued relentlessly did Dongtong release Sinba and flee hastily. Boidoi handed the poisonous man Zhaxi Toju over to Chieftain Sela, then turned his horse. Together with the youth Dongtong Long-Armed, they shot arrows at the Ling pursuers while retreating.

Mourning the Fallen and Burying the Dead

The Ling heroes, seizing the moment, withdrew and held their camp. Soon, the men and horses gathered before the Great Lion King Gesar to report that the heroine Adanam had been captured by Qula and that Buya Zhujie had fallen in battle. Hearing this, the King was deeply saddened and said, "That child Zhujie was more precious than nine castles. Alas, his fate was exhausted; there is nothing more to be done."

At that moment, the heroes fell silent, each face clouded with sorrow and worry, sitting there in mute contemplation. The Chief Steward Rongtsa Chagen sighed: "Alas! Matters have come to this, all determined by destiny; there is simply no remedy. When we first set out from the Ling Kingdom, the dream Karemma had aligns with the present situation. The child Rongtsa Maerle died at Qula's hands, and now Buya Zhujie was killed by Baigan Tulu. These seem like inescapable calamities. That such misfortunes befall our Ling heroes... I would rather die in their place. I only hate that this old, undying one cannot replace them in death! Now, before my nephew the Great Lion King, what should I do? For now, we can only bury Zhujie's remains on Tiger-Nose Mountain Ridge. Excessive grief serves no purpose."

Gade placed Baigan Tulu's head before the Great Lion King's divine tent and stepped forward to report: "Great King, your subject has brought here the head of Baigan Tulu, the murderer of Zhujie. That I could avenge Zhujie brings some comfort to my heart. I beg Your Majesty to witness this."

The King and his ministers, seeing that Gade had swiftly avenged the dead, were satisfied and praised Gade highly. Then, with heavy hearts, the Ling people cremated Zhujie's body and buried his ashes on Tiger-Nose Mountain Ridge. The remains of others who had fallen in battle were given water burials in the rivers of the Jiang Kingdom.