Sandworm

The next moment, the ground exploded.

A massive, grayish-brown shadow burst forth from the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

Lu Yuan instinctively took a step back.

It was a giant worm.

It was as thick as a person could hug, and at least thirty or forty meters long. Its grayish-brown hard shell was covered with ring-shaped patterns, which gleamed eerily in the torchlight.

Its head is a round mouthpart.

The inward-curving sharp teeth are layered and closely packed together.

Sandworm burst forth from the ground dozens of meters high, obscuring part of the starry sky.

It opened its mandibles, emitted a low hiss, and then swallowed the Sandworm Lure Stake.

The wooden stakes, metal wires, and devices were all sucked into that dark mouth and disappeared.

Then, the Sandworm's body slowly fell down.

"Boom!"

The ground was smashed into a deep crater, and the tremors reverberated throughout the entire town.

Lu Yuan steadied himself and his gaze fell on the deep pit.

Water is seeping from the bottom of the pit.

Clear water seeped from the sand and quickly gathered into a small puddle.

"It's done!"

Some people cheered.

The townspeople flocked to the deep pit, carrying various containers, and began to draw water.

Lu Yuan stood still, without moving.

He was looking at the Sandworm.

The enormous insect body lay coiled on the sand, its mouthparts opening and closing as if waiting for something.

Low IQ.

Its destructive power is astonishing.

If used for attacking cities and capturing strongholds, probably few city walls could withstand it.

But the people here... just use it to fetch water?

Lu Yuan withdrew his gaze, not giving it much thought.

It's not his business.

Just then, the crowd automatically parted to make way.

An elderly man with white hair and beard walked over.

His steps were slow, but those around him automatically stepped back, their attitudes extremely respectful.

Lu Yuan glanced at him instinctively.

At the edge of vision, gray and white text quietly emerged:

[Observation Target: Mayor of Sandworm Town]

[Status: Knowledge Transcendent (Abnormal)]

[Analysis: A person with Transcendence Knowledge Path possesses a strange power within him; perhaps he is exploring something?]

Lu Yuan frowned slightly.

What's going on? Does this person possess Knowledge Transcendent and a strange power within them? An analysis never seen before.

Is the town mayor conducting some kind of strange experiment?

However, Lu Yuan quickly reassured himself that if it was merely Second Order, unknown, Knowledge Transcendent, he was not afraid.

After all, before reaching the Third Order, those with Knowledge Transcendent lack combat skills.

Lu Yuan suppressed his inner thoughts and carefully examined the town mayor.

His face was pale, and there were dark circles under his eyes, as if he had suffered from long-term insomnia or illness.

His gait was also somewhat stiff, as if he were enduring some kind of pain.

The mayor walked up to the Sandworm and took out a Bone Flute from his pocket.

He played a low, melancholic melody.

Ancient, hoarse, with a certain indescribable rhythm.

The Sandworm's movements became noticeably more pleasant; its enormous mouthparts slowly closed, and its entire body quieted down, as if soothed by some force.

Clearly, it had stopped in place just to wait for this rhythm.

Just then, gray text appeared.

[You have heard the Ancient Music Theory, Forbidden Studies - Seeker: +0.2...48.5/50]

Lu Yuan noticed something.

Sometime during the day, Herman brought him to a spot that was right in the mayor's line of sight as he turned around.

The mayor put away the Bone Flute and turned around.

His gaze swept across the crowd.

It lingered for a moment on the badge on Lu Yuan's chest.

His gaze remained unchanged.

But Lu Yuan noticed that the fingers holding the Bone Flute tightened slightly.

It only lasted a moment, and then everything returned to normal.

You wouldn't notice it at all unless you were deliberately observing.

"Water collection will be accelerated."

The mayor spoke, his voice remaining calm.

"We'll continue hunting new Sandworm tomorrow as usual."

After he finished speaking, he glanced at Herman.

Then he turned and left.

He didn't say a single extra word throughout the entire process.

The Sandworm slowly burrowed into the sand behind him and disappeared.

The ground returned to calm, leaving only the deep, seeping pit.

The townspeople continued with their work, and no one noticed the brief eye contact they had exchanged earlier.

Lu Yuan, however, saw it very clearly.

Herman deliberately placed him in that position.

Is the Night Watcher emblem some kind of signal, or perhaps a deterrent?

The mayor's reaction showed that the badge had served its purpose. However, since he had been used, he felt that although the debt of being saved was not enough to offset the debt, he had at least repaid it to some extent.

After fetching water, Lu Yuan and Herman walked back.

The night wind carried sand and dust, blowing it everywhere. Nearby houses had Sandworm Oil Lamp hanging in front of them, emitting a white glow.

A few townspeople passed by on the road, talking in hushed tones.

"... Failed again..."

"... Old Hans's son hasn't returned yet..."

"... The mayor looks even worse today..."

Lu Yuan kept these words in mind and continued walking.

"You did it on purpose."

Lu Yuan suddenly spoke.

Herman paused slightly, but did not turn around.

"What special use does the Night Watcher's identity have for that old man?"

Silence.

The cigarette holder dangled from Herman's lips.

A long time.

Herman sighed. "I mean you no harm. Once you've recovered, I'll take you away."

After saying that, he quickened his pace, a cigarette dangling from his lips, and walked away.

Lu Yuan watched his retreating figure, raising an eyebrow slightly.

Interesting.

However, the old man didn't show any malice for the time being.

We returned to the mud-brick house, half-buried under the sand dunes.

Lu Yuan was assigned to a side room.

The room was small, containing only a simple bed, a wooden table, and a Sandworm Oil Lamp.

The ceiling was low, and the wooden beams were clean, but dust still slowly drifted down in the light.

The air was dry, carrying the smell of hay and some kind of ointment.

"Have Martha come to change your dressing tomorrow." Herman stood in the doorway. "Just call if you need anything."

He turned to leave.

I stopped when I reached the door.

"Try not to go out when I'm not around."

Lu Yuan looked at him. "Why?"

"Because it's dangerous."

Herman didn't explain; he simply shook his head, put his cigarette holder in his mouth, and walked away.

The wooden door closed.

The room fell silent again.

Lu Yuan lay on the bed, staring at the low ceiling.

The Flame of the Sandworm Oil Lamp was pale white, flickering slightly in the darkness.

The wind howled outside the window.

He closed his eyes, trying to rest.

Herman brought him here not just out of kindness.

But none of that matters.

The important thing is that he needs to regain his senses, figure out the situation, and then find a way out.

Finally, I went to Bronze City, hoping to find an opportunity to send the letter out, though I had no idea how its contents had been distorted.

Thinking like this, I don't know how much time passed.

Lu Yuan awoke from a light sleep.

It was still dark.

It was pitch black outside the window, but amidst the sound of wind and sand pounding against the glass, a faint, ancient, and melodious rhythm could be heard.

It was Ancient Music Theory I heard last night.

Lu Yuan gripped the Revolver in his arms.

At the edge of my vision, grayish-white text suddenly flickered:

[Environmental Perception: A weak Source of Pollution has been detected.]

Lu Yuan sat up and looked out the window at the pitch-black night. The moonlight had been obscured, and in the distance, there were only undulating sand dunes.

And so, the voice and cues from Ancient Music Theory continued for a few minutes, then gradually faded away.

Those things have obviously left.

Lu Yuan gripped the Revolver and lay back down.

He remembered Herman's words.

"There is danger."

That's definitely dangerous.

But at least, it's safer Grim Port.