Chapter 28: The End of Red Cliff Road

“You must trust the State Preceptor.” He Lingchuan gestured with his chin toward Sun Fuping. “Even the dignified State Preceptor is risking his life; surely we have some measure of confidence?”

Sun and Nian walked at the very front, maintaining a long distance from He Lingchuan, with more than ten rows of soldiers separating them.

The newly joined group of bandits was not taken seriously by them at all.

Situ Han watched their retreating backs. “If I speak, will they even hear me?”

“Don't worry, definitely not.” He Lingchuan himself couldn't remember how much badmouthing he had done about the two in front.

Only then did Situ Han whisper, “Those two are truly arrogant. If they encounter danger after entering the desert, I fear they won't care about our lives. Young Master He, for the sake of the New Year's gifts every year, please look after us brothers. We are over thirty people out here making a living, but there are over a hundred women and children back in Mount Mang! If we die, they won't even have enough porridge to drink.”

Although he referred to robbery and murder as "making a living," his expression was quite sincere. He wore his anxiety plainly on his face.

“I know,” He Lingchuan comforted him. “I will keep an eye on you and won't let him send you to your deaths for nothing.”

Once he walked away, He Chunhua asked his eldest son, “What did he mean by 'for the sake of the New Year'?”

“Doesn't he come to pay our New Year's respects every year?” Most importantly, every New Year, Situ Han would prepare a special, lavish gift for the eldest young master. For instance, last year, he gave He Lingchuan a string of bright pearls, each bead nearly the same size, round and lustrous.

Yes, the very same string that He Lingchuan had later given to Uncle Hao.

What did he give the year before? Hmm, he couldn't remember.

Of course, there was no need to tell his father such trivial matters.

He Chunhua looked at him and shook his head. The brat might be reckless, but he certainly never turned down a gift.

￥￥￥￥￥

Blackwater City, He Residence.

Although only two people remained in the house, Madam Ying had instructed the kitchen to cook meticulously. A total of seven dishes were laid out, making the meal even more sumptuous than usual.

However, she had little appetite. She drank only half a bowl of millet porridge and took only two bites of the flower buns He Yue offered her before setting her chopsticks down.

“Yue'er, where do you think your father has reached by now?” Ever since He Chunhua left, it was as if he had taken her soul with him. Madam Ying could not sleep, and even her exquisite makeup could not hide her haggardness.

“He should have passed a few relay stations by now,” He Yue comforted her. “Zeng Feixiong is familiar with the desert, and with State Preceptor Sun stabilizing the situation, Father and Brother will surely make it back before the sandstorm season arrives.”

Madam Ying sighed. “They say your brother is a lucky charm, but this time, he truly needs good luck.”

He Yue found it strange; it seemed his mother didn't blame his father for taking his brother along.

Madam Ying asked about some matters in Qiansong County, and He Yue assured her he could handle them.

Finally, she asked, “Still no news from the east?”

“None. Floods have blocked the roads, and besides, the fighting in the east is intense. The rebels execute anyone caught spying, so the messengers don't dare travel there.”

In truth, even without his father's repeated instructions, he would have kept an eye on intelligence from the east. Unfortunately, there was currently no word.

￥￥￥￥￥

By the second day, there was nothing but vast, rolling yellow sands in every direction; not even a living creature could be seen.

This short stretch of the Red Cliff Road pointed toward the ancient city of Panlong; no merchant caravan would ever travel that way.

Everyone walked each step with care, for even this smooth path was coming to an end.

“The road has ended,” a voice came from the front of the procession.

Looking east, the He father and son could see the massive base of half a mountain peak sloping upward, looking like a dagger thrust into the sky.

The upper half had collapsed spectacularly nearly a hundred years ago, crashing onto the Red Cliff Road where this expedition was supposed to proceed. The endless mountain stones had turned it into a dead end.

Zeng Feixiong murmured, “I wonder if this is the will of Heaven,” preventing the sleeping heroic spirits in the city from being disturbed by latecomers.

“Since when is everything a matter of wishful thinking?” Nian Songyu sneered and commanded the group, “Everyone, dismount. We need to lighten our load.”

With no road ahead, horses were of no use. Everyone prepared five days' worth of dry rations and water, handing the horses over to several military cooks.

Situ Han stared at the boundless desert. The undulating dunes were clean and pristine, without a single footprint.

“How do we proceed? If we step off the Red Cliff Road, we'll be eaten alive!”

“Of course not. Aren't you sand bandits the most knowledgeable about this?” Nian Songyu's words shut him up instantly.

Situ Han felt sheepish. Having made a living in the Panlong Desert for most of his life, they knew the local taboos better than anyone and had their own little tricks and experiences.

Nian Songyu pointed to the desert. “You tell us, how do we move without the Red Cliff Road? I assume you have some experience.”

“First of all, all you officials must keep your State Mandate Tokens tucked away. You must never show them, and certainly never activate them!” There were many officials in this group.

Nian Songyu gave an "oh" and asked, “Why?”

“The heroic spirits in the desert were defending their own borders in life. If we walk in carrying the State Mandate Tokens of another nation, isn't that like deliberately planting a flag to incite hatred? These things are single-minded; if you can avoid them, do so. Never provoke them!”

That made sense. Sun Fuping instructed the officials, “Keep your Kite Coins secure; do not reveal them.”

Then Situ Han said, “Are we going to the ancient city of Panlong? It's still a long way off, and it's impossible to get there on foot. I have no solution for that.”

Sand bandits entered the desert mostly to escape pursuit or vendettas; it was usually a matter of immediate necessity. They wouldn't go on a hiking trip in such a death trap unless they had a death wish.

“Therefore, we must change our mode of transport.” Sun Fuping took three items from his robe.

They were three micro-carved boats, each about an inch long, looking as if they were carved from half a walnut. The craftsmanship was exquisite. Not only was the wood grain of the gunwales visible, but even the folds in the boatmen's clothing and the strands of their flying hair were carved with meticulous detail.

Judging by the carving alone, it was master-level work.

“These are treasures borrowed from a friend; I must return them once used. Alright, everyone, step back!” With that, Sun Fuping took out three translucent green pills and placed them into the raised right hands of the boatmen within the tiny boats, then tossed the three walnut boats onto the sand.

Nian Songyu gasped, “Mystic Crystals!”

The green pills were about the size of quail eggs; dropping them seemed like they would crush the walnut boats. But the reality was quite different. The moment the green pills touched the boatmen's hands, they vanished, and the entire tiny boat began to vibrate strangely, as if something was about to burst out.

No one was foolish; they had already moved out of the way.

Sure enough, the walnut boats expanded at an astonishing speed, their volume multiplying. In just two breaths, the original one-inch toys had become wooden ships over fifty feet long and ten feet high!

They sat upon the yellow sands—magnified versions of the original walnut boats. Naturally, the boatmen standing at the bows had also grown to normal human size. They walked over and lowered the gunwales to allow the passengers to board.

(End of Chapter)