Lost in the Storm

Tianyou Commandery, Yellow Sand Ancient Road.

Stepping into this boundless desert, a desolate aura rushed toward him. With the blazing sun overhead and scorching sand beneath his feet, Lu Changsheng walked alone through the vast wilderness.

His steps were steady as his wary gaze swept over his surroundings. Amid the reddish-yellow sand, he could vaguely make out many enormous skeletons.

Most of these skeletons belonged to demonic beasts. Their bones were stark white and startling, half-covered and half-buried in the yellow sand, giving off a hair-raising feeling.

"There are actually so many demonic beast skeletons on the Yellow Sand Ancient Road. This place is clearly no friendly ground."

Lu Changsheng frowned slightly, inwardly becoming vigilant at once.

After pondering for a moment, he took out the sheepskin map and checked his direction again.

Then, treading through the yellow sand, he continued deeper into the ancient road.

Whoooosh! Whoooosh! Whoooosh!

Yet by the afternoon, the sky abruptly changed. Thick black clouds blotted out the blazing sun, and the light between heaven and earth rapidly dimmed. Then, howling winds swept in without warning.

"Not good!"

Lu Changsheng's expression changed. He heard the mournful wailing of the gale. A Yellow Sand Storm was clearly about to arrive.

Sure enough, before long, heaven and earth became a hazy gray. Violent winds rolled up the sand and formed a terrifying Yellow Sand Storm that swept through every direction, blotting out the sky and covering the earth.

Lu Changsheng was caught in the storm. Sand, carried by the raging wind, lashed wildly against his exposed skin, causing bursts of burning pain.

Even more frighteningly, the wind and sand blocked his vision, making Lu Changsheng lose his sense of direction in an instant. However, he reacted swiftly and immediately circulated the spiritual power within him, forming a faint protective glow around his body.

Whoooosh! Whoooosh! Whoooosh!

However, the Yellow Sand Storm only grew stronger, like enormous yellow sand dragons erupting one after another, sweeping and roaring across the desert.

"Damn it!"

Lu Changsheng's expression changed. He had completely lost his bearings and was trapped within the storm. He could only rely on instinct, struggling forward against the wind with deep and shallow steps, every step forcing its way through the hurricane.

Fortunately, half an hour later, the storm weakened considerably. But after being swept along by the Yellow Sand Storm, Lu Changsheng was now utterly lost.

He took out the sheepskin map, but he could no longer find the correct route.

Just as Lu Changsheng was worrying over how to leave the Yellow Sand Ancient Road—

Creak, creak!

At that moment, he suddenly heard an unusual sound drifting through the wind. It seemed to be the sound of wheels crushing sand.

Lu Changsheng's spirits lifted. Following the sound, he cautiously approached. After climbing over a sand dune, he suddenly saw a caravan appearing not far away.

Lu Changsheng looked over and saw that it was a fairly large convoy.

At this moment, the convoy had stopped behind a huge wind-sheltering boulder, temporarily taking refuge from the Yellow Sand Storm. It consisted of more than a dozen heavy-looking carriages covered in thick oilcloth.

The carriages were pulled by Sand Camel Beasts with exceptional endurance. There were roughly thirty guards in the convoy, all of them sturdy and capable. They wore leather armor suited for movement, held sharp blades in their hands, and vigilantly watched the activity around them.

Beside a carriage in the center of the convoy, one that was clearly more elaborately decorated, stood several people. At their head was a burly middle-aged man with a scar across his face. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, and he was quietly speaking with a lean man beside him, dressed in brocade robes, pale and beardless, though his gaze flickered somewhat.

Nearby stood a young woman of about seventeen or eighteen, whose demeanor seemed gentle and refined. She wore white robes beneath a sand-blocking cloak, her delicate brows faintly furrowed as she watched the wild sand outside.

"Who goes there?!"

At that moment, the scarred man suddenly raised his head, one hand pressing against the hilt of the saber at his waist as though he might launch a fierce attack at any time.

Lu Changsheng stepped out from behind the sand dune. The people of the convoy immediately grew alert and sized him up from head to toe with unfriendly expressions. Lu Changsheng promptly coughed and cupped his fists.

"My name is Lu Changsheng. I entered the Yellow Sand Ancient Road by accident, only to encounter a Yellow Sand Storm and lose my way out. Might I travel with you all?"

"Hmph! The Yellow Sand Ancient Road is fraught with extreme danger. What ordinary person would dare venture through it alone? You look suspicious to me. Leave at once and do not approach the convoy, or do not blame us for showing no courtesy!"

The scarred man looked ferocious and menacing.

"That's right. You brat have the look of a sneaky thief. Who knows whether you're a bandit's spy? Get the hell out of here at once!"

The lean man beside him also shouted in a strange, mocking tone.

Having said that, both of them released the aura of the first level of the Divine Palace Realm. They were clearly trying to put Lu Changsheng in his place.

"Commander Wu Yan, Commander Song Dao, what happened?"

Hearing the shouting, the white-robed young woman, who had been resting, slowly walked over.

At once, the scarred man called Commander Wu Yan and the lean man called Song Dao embellished the tale of Lu Changsheng's arrival as an uninvited guest.

"Oh? I don't think this young master looks like a bad person. Perhaps he truly lost his way. Why not let him travel with us? Once the storm has passed, we can point him in the right direction. What do you think?"

The white-robed young woman spoke softly.

"Miss! You mustn't!"

Wu Yan hurriedly tried to dissuade her.

"Yes, Miss. What we are transporting on this journey is no ordinary cargo. There cannot be the slightest mistake. This brat looks suspicious, and we absolutely cannot allow him to travel with us!"

Song Dao said as well.

"I'm truly sorry, but I really am lost. If the young lady is truly concerned, then I'll look for a way out myself..."

Lu Changsheng said awkwardly.

"Wait! The terrain within the Yellow Sand Ancient Road is exceedingly complicated, and the storm could return at any time. It will be difficult for you to get out alone. I think you should come with us."

The white-robed young woman said softly.

"Thank you very much!"

Lu Changsheng was deeply grateful.

"Hmph! The Miss is kind-hearted. Since that is the case, you may follow the convoy. But you must obey our arrangements. In particular, you are not to approach the cargo, nor may you wander around as you please. Otherwise, do not blame the swords and sabers in my hands for being blind!"

Wu Yan said in an unfriendly tone.

"Understood."

Lu Changsheng nodded, then found a spot and sat down.

From their conversation, Lu Changsheng also learned that they were a professional merchant caravan escorting a batch of important goods, something that could be called priceless. Aside from the scarred man Wu Yan and the lean man Song Dao, the white-robed woman was named Lin Ningshuang, the pillar of this convoy.

Moreover, they were going to transport this batch of goods out of the Yellow Sand Ancient Road...