Bandits

"My young master is the King's blood relative, left outside twenty years ago."

"The King is in his prime now, yet he only has one son, the eldest son, Bai Hua."

"That eldest son... is ruthless and cruel, with a fearsome reputation throughout the kingdom."

Elder Bai spoke cryptically, but everyone present understood.

Wasn't this just a melodramatic family feud over inheritance?

With Bai Fengling, the illegitimate son, suddenly appearing, it was no wonder the eldest son, Bai Hua, wouldn't tolerate him.

"So, the real trouble comes from within the White King's Mansion?" Shen Che asked pointedly.

Elder Bai nodded solemnly. "Bai Hua has gathered many experts under him. If he doesn't want the young master to reach the capital smoothly, he's capable of anything on the way."

"Understood."

Shen Che's response was simple and direct.

The greater the risk, the higher the reward.

The core risk of this mission came from a clear enemy, not unpredictable demonic beasts.

For him, this was actually easier to handle.

"I accept."

The smile on Yan Xiu's face deepened.

Seeing him agree so readily, the last trace of doubt in Elder Bai's eyes vanished.

Someone who could kill a Primal Force Peak elder demon would certainly not lack confidence or strength.

"Little Brother Shen Che, when can we depart?"

"In an hour, at the city gate."

After speaking, Shen Che turned and left without another word.

An hour later.

West Gate of Cangyun City.

Shen Che, carrying a simple travel pack and leading a fine steed provided by the Demon Suppression Division, waited quietly.

A short while later, Elder Bai and Bai Fengling also arrived on horseback.

Their horses were exceptionally spirited, pure white, clearly not ordinary mounts.

"Let's go."

Elder Bai said.

The three didn't linger at the city gate. They urged their reins and galloped west.

Their destination was to cross more than half of the Great Jing Dynasty and reach their western neighbor, the Great Sun Kingdom.

The journey was long. As all three were martial artists, they chose the most direct method: traveling day and night.

They rode hard during the day and, at night, found a secluded spot to meditate and recuperate instead of sleeping.

During the monotonous journey, Shen Che occasionally asked Elder Bai about the Great Sun Kingdom and even the ten human kingdoms.

Elder Bai seemed happy to demonstrate his extensive knowledge to the young man of formidable strength, answering every question.

Through their conversations, Shen Che's understanding of this world deepened.

It turned out the human race was not monolithic. The ten kingdoms had cooperation as well as friction, their relationships intricate and complex.

Bai Fengling, for the most part, listened quietly, rarely interjecting, like an emotionless tool for travel.

Days passed.

More than twenty days later, they had entered the western border of Great Jing.

The scenery along the way gradually changed from lush plains to desolate lands.

One afternoon, the three reined in their horses on a low hill.

Below the hill lay an endless expanse of yellow.

The boundless desert, like a giant griddle, steamed the air into distortions under the scorching sun.

"After this 'Forgotten Sand Sea,' we will enter the territory of the Great Sun Kingdom."

Elder Bai's expression was even more somber than the desert itself.

"This is the border between Great Jing and Great Sun, a no-man's-land, and a paradise for bandits and fugitives."

He pointed into the distance.

"Our goal is to cross this desert and reach White Sheep County on the other side. Once we arrive there, the White King's Mansion's reinforcements will appear, and our mission will be complete."

Shen Che followed his gaze, seeing only a blur of yellow sand.

He could feel that both Elder Bai and Bai Fengling's auras were tense.

The real test was about to begin.

The three changed into the camels they had prepared for the heat and plunged into this sea of death.

The scorching air hit them like a wave, and the sand beneath their feet was hot enough to cook eggs.

Shen Che's robust physique made him almost immune to this environment, and he only felt a bit stuffy.

Elder Bai and Bai Fengling had clearly also cultivated special techniques. Other than a slight sheen of sweat on their foreheads, they were unharmed.

Traveling in the desert was much slower than on the plains.

The endless sand dunes could easily cause one to lose their way.

Fortunately, Elder Bai was experienced and could always find the correct path.

After traveling for about half a day more, the sun began to set in the west, casting long shadows of the three.

Elder Bai, who had been traveling in silence, suddenly raised his hand.

"Stop."

His voice carried a hint of imperceptible tension.

Shen Che and Bai Fengling immediately reined in their camels.

Elder Bai listened intently for a moment, then pointed to a sand dune behind and to their side.

"Something's coming."

Shen Che gazed intently.

On the distant horizon, a long plume of dust and smoke rose.

Beneath the dust, dozens of black dots were vaguely visible, charging towards their location at an extreme speed.

As the distance closed, the outlines of the black dots became clearer.

They were a group of riders on tall horses, their attire messy, each carrying a gleaming weapon, exuding a fierce bandit aura.

"It's bandits!"

The sound of hooves, approaching from afar, was like the beating of war drums, striking against their hearts.

Moments later, nearly a hundred riders surrounded the three of them, kicking up dust that stung their eyes.

The leader was a burly man with a full beard, a large ring-hilted saber slung over his shoulder, and a face full of coarse flesh.

"This mountain is mine to open, this tree is mine to plant."

"If you wish to pass, leave your travel money behind!"

The whole routine was performed with practiced ease.

Elder Bai dismounted from his camel, a smile on his face, and cupped his hands towards the burly man.

"Good sirs, you've worked hard. We are passing merchants. A small token of our appreciation, please accept it."

As he spoke, he took out a thirty-tael silver note from his robes and handed it over.

The burly man took the silver note, weighed it in his hand, and grinned, revealing a row of yellow teeth.

"You know what's good for you."

He waved his hand.

"Let them pass!"

The group of bandits surrounding the three parted, creating a path.

The three urged their camels forward, slowly passing through the crowd.

It wasn't until the figures of the bandits disappeared behind the sand dunes that Bai Fengling let out a long sigh of relief.

"Elder Bai, is it over just like that?"

"It's over," Elder Bai nodded. "The bandits in this Forgotten Sand Sea have their own rules."

"They only seek wealth, not lives. Once they collect the toll, they won't trouble you."

"If they were to kill everyone and cut off the trade routes, how would they survive? Besides, if they truly angered the Great Jing and Great Sun, sending large armies to suppress them, not a single one of them would survive."

Elder Bai explained.

Shen Che listened without comment.

This set of unwritten rules sounded quite reasonable.