Chapter 42: Fishing in the Sea of Sand

This is what you call a drop in the bucket. Besides, if we give all the water away now, what will everyone drink later?

It would take a full two days to walk from here back to the nearest relay station.

He Lingchuan crossed his arms. "I'll bet you ten taels of silver that State Preceptor Sun already has a plan; it's not our concern." It's better to lean against a big tree for shade, after all.

Ten taels! Situ Han's face soured. "I can't afford that bet."

Sun Fuping glanced at them, brushed his ring, and a round ball the size of a pomelo appeared in his hand.

*This old guy really does have something up his sleeve,* He Lingchuan thought. He watched as Sun Fuping stuffed the ball into the mouth of the monster atop his staff—

The massive ball vanished.

Immediately after, Sun Fuping turned the staff, aiming the beast's head toward the pool, and muttered a few incantations.

The monster opened its mouth and spat out a thick, long jet of water that fell directly into the pool.

"This is the jet sac of a Bullet Fish," Sun Fuping explained casually.

He Lingchuan felt as if he had heard of this strange fish before. They inhabited the lakes and seas in the central part of the Kingdom of Yuan; they could even spit water jets powerful enough to knock large land prey like cattle, horses, or young elephants into the water to feed. Their jetting ability was top-tier. During the dry season, they could survive out of water for about a month.

However, its jetting ability wasn't needed right now. This kind of water sac could retract to store water, and it even seemed to negate the weight.

It was truly a treasure for traversing the desert.

After filling the pool for over two quarters of an hour, Nian Songyu suddenly spoke: "Something is wrong. The water surface hasn't expanded for a long time."

Based on the diameter of the monster's spout, the bottom of the pool should have been full long ago, perhaps even causing the water to overflow slightly. Yet, right before their eyes, only two-thirds of the pool's floor was covered, while the remaining third remained bone-dry.

Where was the water going?

Sun Fuping reached out and pressed the bottom of the pool. "There is indeed a trick to it; the water is being sucked in."

"Then what do we do?"

Sun Fuping's expression darkened slightly. "Let's wait and see."

Another two quarters passed, and the water in the monster's belly was completely spent; it even let out a couple of coughs. But compared to before, the accumulation at the bottom of the pool had barely changed.

Everyone knew then: they were in trouble.

Plans change faster than anything else; no matter how meticulous Sun Fuping's design was, there would always be moments when it couldn't keep up with the situation.

Nian Songyu thought for a moment, then turned to instruct Zeng Feixiong, "Go and collect everyone's water skins."

Zeng Feixiong was startled. "Take away their drinking water? We still have to endure many days in the desert, and what if it's still not enough?"

Nian Songyu looked at Sun Fuping. Seeing that he remained silent, he stood his ground: "We cannot let our efforts go to waste at the final hurdle. Go and collect the water immediately."

In a desert march, water is for survival. Zeng Feixiong couldn't even imagine how much his subordinates would resist such an order. "But... but..."

Nian Songyu's face darkened. "Do you intend to defy orders?"

Zeng Feixiong's mind went into chaos, and he couldn't help but look toward He Chunhua.

Nian Songyu's gaze grew even gloomier. These petty officials truly lacked any sense of situational awareness.

He Chunhua had no good solution either. Should they defy orders and head back, or pour everyone's drinking water into the pool and leave it to fate?

Neither choice seemed rational.

While he was struggling with his decision, his eldest son spoke composedly, "Why make such a scene? If you take the soldiers' fresh water, how will they ever make it out of the desert later?"

Nian Songyu said coldly, "A journey of a hundred miles is ninety percent complete. What if we are only lacking this one bit?"

"Can you guarantee it's only this one bit?"

Nian Songyu smiled. "I can."

And if he couldn't? By then, the water would already be poured out, the deed would be done, and would the soldiers dare to mutiny?

He Lingchuan rolled his eyes and turned to ask Sun Fuping, "The bottom of the pool needs to be filled with water, right?"

"Correct."

"Then what if it's not fresh water?" This was the crux of He Lingchuan's thinking. "Would other liquids work?"

"Like what?"

"Blood." To prevent these two from thinking perversely and attempting something like a human sacrifice, he quickly clarified, "I mean the blood of monsters or exotic beasts. The Panlong Desert is full of big creatures; it shouldn't be hard to catch a few for their blood."

Sun Fuping's eyes instantly lit up. "That makes sense! Blood sacrifices are commonly used to appease gods. If we mix blood into the pool, the Great Fanghu shouldn't mind; in fact, it might prefer it." He tossed the Walnut Boat to Nian Songyu and pointed at He Lingchuan. "Take your men into the desert and bring back a few giant beasts."

...

The group replenished with Du Hun Powder and re-entered the desert.

The creatures in the desert, much like the Three-Corpse Insects, were more active during the cool nights. Nian Songyu deployed the Walnut Boat to provide a place for everyone to stand, and ordered the boatman to drop bait into the sand to fish.

Nian Songyu stood while He Lingchuan sat; neither bothered to look at the other.

Fishing was not going smoothly this time; for a long while, nothing bit the hook. He Lingchuan's waist was aching from sitting, and when a few Three-Corpse Insects drifted near the Walnut Boat, he called someone over to massage his back.

"Comfortable, good! A little lower, yes, lower! Use more strength."

The eldest young master of the He family sighed in contentment. Hedonism truly eroded one's very essence; who would have thought that only three months ago, he was a shut-in who felt uneasy if anyone came within half a meter of him?

Nian Songyu shook his head secretly, only to hear He Lingchuan ask with his eyes closed, "Why did Commandant Nian come to Black Water City in person?"

"What?"

"A mission where no one survives—how could the Great General of the Northern Expedition bear to let his beloved son take the field personally?" He Lingchuan rolled his eyelids. "Is he your biological father?"

Nian Songyu's face twitched. "Did Governor He not have you follow as well? Are you not his seed?"

*A ginseng rooster,* He Lingchuan thought. People without literary talent were never subtle. With a wave of his hand, a *thwack* sounded as a dagger flew out and pinned itself into the wooden plank Nian Songyu was leaning against.

Incidentally, his throwing accuracy was still quite poor. Once the flying knife left his hand, he had no idea where it would land.

Before Nian Songyu could react, his guards had already lunged forward, swords drawn, ready to shout at He Lingchuan.

He Lingchuan put a finger to his lips in a "shush" gesture and preempted them: "Quiet! Don't scare the prey away!" He pointed below the boat. "Don't forget the most important matter, or you'll face military law!"

Nian Songyu waved his subordinates back and said indifferently, "I might live, but you might not. If you're smart, behave like a good dog, and perhaps you and your father can return alive. Otherwise, Lady Ying will be left a widow, and as for your brother—"

He licked his lips, his eyes flashing with a hint of cruelty amidst his excitement. "Don't worry, whether you live or die, I will find a way to help him return to the Great Capital. He will certainly be very popular in the capital!"

He Lingchuan stared at him, his face slowly darkening.

The Governor of Xunzhou, the Grand Marshal, and State Preceptor Sun—why were these three great powers entangled together?

Perhaps his old man shouldn't have accepted the mission from the Great Fanghu?

Just as He Lingchuan was about to speak, the boatman's fishing rod suddenly plunged, nearly dragging him straight off the bow.

The prey had finally bitten!

The group worked together, and finally, they hauled whatever was beneath the sand to the surface.

It was an Earth Dragon, though its size was two notches smaller than the two they had encountered during the day, making it small enough to fit inside the boat.

(End of Chapter)