Chaotong’s Betrayal and Yuda’s Decision
 
The seven heroes continued their journey until they reached a fork in the Hor White Road, where the path split into an upper and lower route. Chaotong, burdened by his secret promise to the White Tent King, thought to himself:
 
"I persuaded Yuda to come here, but now all of Ling Gabu’s top warriors are with him. Who knows what kind of damage this could cause to Hor if things go wrong?"
 
He turned to the group and said, “We shouldn’t act like hungry foxes running around aimlessly. We should be like well-fed tigers, eating before we fight. Let’s stop for a quick meal before heading into battle.”
 
While the group stopped to eat, Chaotong added, “I was never in favor of sending Yuda on this mission. Today’s date is unfavorable, and Dasa’s words earlier were full of bad omens. I think it would be better for one elder and one young person to return home. With the rest of you heroes here, I’m confident you can handle the Hor camp just fine.”
 
Jiacha, who had been considering ways to convince Yuda to return home, thought Chaotong’s suggestion made sense and immediately agreed. He ordered Yuda to return home with Chaotong.
 
Though reluctant, Yuda couldn’t disobey Jiacha’s command. He said his goodbyes to the group and started back with Chaotong. After the five heroes were out of sight, Chaotong changed his tone.
 
“Yuda,” he mocked, “you’re turning back before even entering the battlefield. Isn’t this shameful? You’re young and full of energy, yet you’re already retreating. How about this: instead of going home, I’ll accompany you to scout the lower path of the White Road and observe Hor’s movements.”
 
Yuda hesitated and replied, “It does feel shameful to retreat without fighting. But since Jiacha has already given the order, I’ll follow it for now and find another chance later.”
 
Chaotong spat on the ground and sneered, “How strange! You were the one insisting on coming to fight, and no one could stop you. But now, it seems you were just boasting to show off!”
 
Angered by the taunt, Yuda, eager to prove himself, rode down the lower path toward Hor’s camp, leaving Chaotong behind. Pleased with his manipulation, Chaotong secretly returned to Ling Gabu alone.
 
Yuda's Heroic Stand and Ling Gabu's Loss
 
The five heroes took the upper route of the White Road and reached its highest point near Laze. From there, they looked down and saw chaos in Hor’s camp. They couldn’t make sense of what was happening. Suddenly, from the Black Tent division of Hor, a warrior on a black horse emerged. His helmet plume swirled like dark clouds, a bow and sword hung at his waist, and he carried a black spear as he charged forward.
 
The heroes, confused by the commotion, decided to hide near the mountain by the convergence of the upper and lower roads, waiting for the right moment to act.
 
Meanwhile, Yuda, taking the lower route of the White Road, reached Hor’s camp before the five heroes. Though the path was longer, it avoided steep mountain climbs. Driven by his eagerness to win, Yuda moved quickly. Before the heroes arrived at Laze, Yuda had already caused havoc in the Hor camp—he drove off nine herds of horses and killed five or six of the White Tent King’s guards. Then, he began herding the stolen horses back toward Ling Gabu.
 
In Hor’s camp, Sinba warrior Meruze silently observed the scene. Another warrior, Dochin, exclaimed, “Forget Ling Gabu’s generals—now even their young boys dare to humiliate us. If we let this one get away, Hor will truly be no better than a pack of useless dogs!”
 
The White Tent King, furious, ordered the mighty warrior Zan Jia Kasho, who was as fierce as a bear, to chase Yuda.
 
Yuda’s Triumph and the Heroes’ Reunion
 
Yuda, driving the horses, continued toward Ling Gabu. Looking back, he noticed a shadowy figure darting through the mountain pass. Recognizing he was being followed, he stopped to assess the terrain and retreated slightly to a rocky nook where he could defend himself. When the pursuer came close enough, Yuda stepped into the open to confront him.
 
The pursuer, Zan Jia, shouted, “You Ling Gabu people have stolen from us repeatedly. This insult to Hor is intolerable! Let’s fight it out today. If I fail to retrieve these horses, I, Zan Jia, am no longer a man!”
 
He fired an arrow at Yuda, but Yuda dodged easily. His next two arrows also missed their mark. Just then, another Hor warrior, Tulai Nazuo, arrived to support Zan Jia.
 
Yuda drew his sword and charged directly at Zan Jia. With a swift strike, he severed both of Zan Jia’s arms, and the warrior fell from his horse. Tulai fired an arrow, hitting Yuda’s saddle, but Yuda grabbed Zan Jia’s fallen spear and hurled it at Tulai, striking him in the chest.
 
Seeing Yuda dispatch two of their strongest warriors, the remaining Hor soldiers were too scared to approach. Yuda calmly tied the severed heads of Zan Jia and Tulai to his saddle and continued driving the horses toward Ling Gabu.
 
The five heroes, waiting near the upper path, saw Yuda approaching with the horses and the heads of two Sinba warriors hanging from his saddle. Jiacha, realizing what had happened, cursed Chaotong a thousand times for his betrayal but couldn’t help feeling proud of his younger brother’s bravery. The other heroes were equally moved.
 
They galloped forward to greet Yuda, but their joy was short-lived. Two more Sinba warriors had secretly followed Yuda. They fired two arrows, one of which struck Yuda in the gap between his armor plates, wounding his right arm. Though bleeding profusely, Yuda ignored his injuries and continued to fight.
 
Yuda's Sacrifice and Ling Gabu’s Grief
 
The brothers, catching up to Yuda, joined the fight against the remaining Sinba warriors. The battle was fierce but brief, and the heroes managed to eliminate their enemies in no time. However, Yuda, exhausted and gravely injured, collapsed and lost consciousness.
 
Jiacha and Danma discussed the situation and decided to send Dapan back to Ling Gabu to secretly bring doctors, diviners, and seers to treat Yuda. Dapan swiftly rode off and, within a short time, returned with those who could help. The group busied themselves, building fires, boiling water, and doing everything possible to save Yuda.
 
Meanwhile, the Hor camp mourned the loss of four Sinba warriors. Worried about hidden enemies in the mountains, the White Tent King, restless and uneasy, sent two more generals, A’e and Juben, to scout the area.
 
A’e, dressed in red with a red horse, looked as if he had emerged from a sea of blood. His plume seemed to be spitting fire. Juben, clad in white on a white horse, resembled an icy avalanche, his plume glowing like flames. They took different routes, unnoticed by the Ling Gabu heroes.
 
Suddenly, A’e fired six poisoned arrows at once from his bow. The arrows struck Yuda, Panda, the doctor, the diviner, and the seer, while another hit the tea kettle, overturning it. Jiacha, enraged, leapt to his feet, unsheathing his sword, and rode off with Danma to chase the attackers. Meanwhile, Senda and Dapan tended to the wounded.
 
The two Sinba generals fled sideways off the main road. Jiacha and Danma gave chase. Danma shot an arrow that struck A’e’s horse, causing him to fall. Jiacha stood over A’e, who pleaded for his life.
 
“My brother is dying! How can I spare a villain who fired six poisoned arrows?” Jiacha roared. With one swift motion, he severed A’e’s head.
 
Meanwhile, Danma caught up to Juben. Just as he was about to strike, Juben leapt off his horse and escaped into the dense forest. Jiacha returned to the camp with A’e’s head, but it was too late. Panda and the others had succumbed to their injuries, leaving only Yuda barely clinging to life.
 
Jiacha placed A’e’s severed head beside Yuda. “Yuda, look up. Do you recognize your brother?” he asked.
 
“I know my brother well,” Yuda said weakly. “I know you’ve taken the heads and plumes of our enemies. But until I see the head of my foe with my own eyes, I cannot die like a cowardly fox. That’s why I’m still here.”
 
Tears welled up in Jiacha’s eyes, but he couldn’t speak. Danma added, “Yuda, you truly are a worthy descendant of the Bemba royal family. We are in awe of your courage. The man who shot you was the six-fingered A’e. Not only did we take his head, but we would have torn out his heart if we could. But if you don’t survive, how can we answer to the Chief Steward or King Gesar?” Tears streamed down Danma’s face as he spoke.
 
Yuda smiled faintly and said, “Brave Jiacha and Danma, don’t disgrace yourselves as men. There’s an old Tibetan saying: ‘No matter how much it hurts, a man does not cry—that is his nature.’ Comfort my father, the Chief Steward, and don’t worry about King Gesar. I’m dying ahead of my brothers, that’s all. If you stand united to defend Ling Gabu, I’ll have no regrets…”
 
Before he could finish his sentence, Yuda passed away. Overwhelmed with grief, Jiacha broke down in tears like a child. The others, though equally heartbroken, tried to console him.
 
Dapan said, “Brother, no matter how much you grieve, the dead cannot return. We must move on. Let’s take the horses, the enemy heads, and Yuda’s body back to Ling Gabu. If we delay, more trouble may arise.”
 
Jiacha replied, “Yuda is gone. Even if we bring back a thousand enemy heads, it won’t ease my pain. I regret not fighting alongside him. Though Hor didn’t harm many of us, this loss is the most heartbreaking thing I’ve ever experienced.”
 
With heavy hearts, the group loaded Yuda’s body onto a horse and began their sorrowful journey back to Ling Gabu. By dusk, they arrived. Jiacha and three ministers reported the battle’s results to the Chief Steward.
 
Preparations for War and the Mourning of Yuda
 
Dasa, gifted with foresight, had already foreseen Yuda’s death. She prepared butter lamps and arranged the necessary rituals according to tradition in advance.
 
The Chief Steward, though overwhelmed with grief, suppressed his emotions and spoke calmly:

“I, the Chief Steward, am heartbroken over the loss of my son, but I still have Jiacha, Dapan, and the rest of our younger generation. Most importantly, we still have the mighty Lion King, Gesar. As an old man, I must continue to fight alongside the young to defend Ling Gabu. Now, let’s focus on the pressing matter—what did your scouts find? Is it certain that Yellow Hor intends to invade us?”
 
Danma replied solemnly, “Yellow Hor will definitely attack us.”
 
Hearing this, the Chief Steward immediately issued orders for Ling Gabu to prepare for war against the Hor forces.
 
The next day, Yuda’s body was cremated, and a grand ceremony was held to honor his sacrifice. The entire nation mourned the brave warrior, but they steeled themselves for the battle that lay ahead.