Sand Bandits

The gale howled against the wooden window, and no one dared to open it. However, the light leaking through the cracks told He Lingchuan that night was falling outside.

He lay on his bedding with his legs crossed, idly turning He Chunhua's Kite Coin in his hand. "Father, who actually developed the use of Origin Power in the first place? Some say it was taught by gods, others say it was passed down by immortals."

When inactive, it looked like nothing more than an ordinary coin. Who would have guessed that a tiny State Decree could carry the destiny of a nation and the hearts of its people?

Origin Power was truly mysterious.

"Opinions differ, and history is hard to trace," He Chunhua frowned. "The origins of Origin Power are very vague. After all, recorded human history spans only two or three thousand years, and organized states have existed for barely over a millennium. It is said that in ancient times, gods and immortals walked among men, and there were no nations then. It wasn't until after the Great Cataclysm, when the gods vanished and demons ran rampant, that humans were forced to band together for survival, giving rise to nations."

He took the Kite Coin back from his son. "It was the appearance of the State Decree that made it possible for human nations to stand against the Demon Race. Whether it was taught by gods, immortals, or realized by humans themselves, does it really matter?"

Cultivators were, after all, a minority. Most people were born ordinary; how could they resist powerful demons? In such times, the Origin Power born from the unity of the masses became the nation's sharpest weapon against the Demon Race.

From standing on equal footing to shifting the balance of power, Origin Power played an indispensable role. Today, the number of human nations and the extent of their territories far exceed those of the demon kingdoms and demon domains.

"So, in other words, no one actually knows the origin of Origin Power?" He Lingchuan sighed and returned to the main topic. "Father, why did you follow them into the desert?"

"Could I have refused?" He Chunhua lay back as well. Exhausted from days of travel, his body felt like it was falling apart the moment he relaxed. "If I refused, State Preceptor Sun could have me executed by imperial decree."

"Does an imperial decree make him so high and mighty?" He Lingchuan sneered. "The royal order also required us to cooperate with the investigation, yet didn't we drag our feet for so long? On the day of departure, you could have stalled for time if you had been truly determined."

There are policies from above and countermeasures from below; isn't that the same in every world?

This kid's mind has become much sharper than before. He Chunhua closed his eyes to rest for a long while before whispering, "With State Preceptor Sun here, the chances of returning alive are not low. Besides, I have always felt that this trip to the Ancient Coiling Dragon City is suspicious. If I don't come to see it for myself, I fear there may be a great misfortune ahead."

He Lingchuan's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"

"I can't put my finger on it." He Chunhua shook his head. "It's just a gut feeling. I considered ways to decline, but the anxiety in my heart grew heavier, and my intuition told me I had to make this trip."

What people called a "gut feeling" was essentially a sixth sense.

People of this era placed great importance on such things, so He Lingchuan didn't press the matter. Yet, he still felt there was something strange about it.

Governor He was known for his prudence and caution; would he really risk his life just because of a feeling?

But if he wouldn't say, how was a son supposed to guess?

He Chunhua added, "Chuan'er, you performed very well on this trip."

"Oh?" Father is actually praising me? He Lingchuan's spirits were instantly lifted.

"Don't be too polite with Nian Songyu; use your own methods to pry information out of him. He has the State Preceptor behind him, and you have me behind you." He Chunhua's voice dropped low. "But don't resort to violence with him; you can't beat him. You've grasped that boundary well."

"Yes!" As expected, He Chunhua wants his eldest son to play the bad cop while he plays the good cop. The eldest son would bluster and say what needed to be said, and He Chunhua would then step in to smooth things over.

His father could even make good use of his own ruffian, devil-may-care personality; he was truly suited to return to the Yuan Capital and play the political game.

He would never suffer in the bureaucracy, no matter where he went.

The next morning, the caravan set off again.

Although they were still on Red Cliff Road, travelers in this direction were becoming increasingly scarce. Finally, State Preceptor Sun's team encountered the second greatest scourge of the Coiling Dragon Desert:

Sand bandits.

These sand bandits were human, about thirty riders strong, mostly rugged men who moved like the wind on horseback. He Lingchuan could tell at a glance that the muscular men in the lead were martial artists, and there might even be sorcerers among them.

The two sides approached from opposite directions and bumped into each other, both sides pausing to size the other up.

There was no need to mention how his side viewed the bandits; but in the eyes of the sand bandits, this group was neatly dressed, equipped with light armor and long blades, standard-issue weapons, and warhorses that were recognizable at a glance. What did that mean?

This was an army!

Whether they were marching, suppressing bandits, or patrolling, what else could an army be doing in the Coiling Dragon Desert?

Commoners don't fight with officials, and besides, the army's numbers far exceeded their own. The sand bandits were thoroughly startled.

Fortunately, the masked man in the lead turned his head, saw He Chunhua, and his eyes lit up. He actually spurred his horse forward: "Governor He, we're just passing through!"

Before they had looted anything, weren't they just passing through? He Chunhua coughed, feeling a bit awkward. "We have no time to suppress bandits today, just see that you don't commit any evil... Is there anyone else to the due north?"

State Preceptor Sun and his companion looked at him, then at the bandits, and understood.

These two sides clearly knew each other.

"None, not a soul," the man laughed dryly and quickly added, "We'll be off then, we won't delay your important business!"

Just as the sand bandits were preparing to slip away, Sun Fuping spoke up: "Wait! You must be very familiar with the Coiling Dragon Desert, right?"

"Uh, I suppose so." The man looked at him; he was positioned half a horse-length ahead of He Chunhua and carried an extraordinary air, so he assumed he was a big shot. Such people were usually their favorite kind of "fat sheep"—after looting their valuables, they could even hold them for ransom. It was a two-for-one deal.

However, with the Governor at his side, they dared not act rashly.

"How long have you been here?"

"Ten... just a few years," Situ Han tried to explain. "We always know when to quit..."

"Then stay."

"Huh?"

Sun Fuping said to He Chunhua, "We are short on manpower, isn't this perfect?"

Two hundred government troops aren't enough? He Chunhua thought to himself, but he nodded on the surface. "True, it's not easy to recruit people in the city."

The State Preceptor smiled kindly, looking at the sand bandits like a weasel eyeing chickens. The bandits felt a chill run down their spines and accelerated, wanting to flee. Unexpectedly, He Chunhua raised the Kite Coin high and coughed lightly: "Everyone stay! By order of Blackwater City, I am officially conscripting the thirty Mang Mountain Bandits..."

He Lingchuan counted them clearly from the side: "Thirty-two people!"

"...Thirty-two people, to be incorporated under the command of Lieutenant Zeng Feixiong and follow the army's orders!"

He Chunhua even went as far as to list their salary and benefits.

The Mang Mountain bandits widened their eyes, exchanging bewildered glances. The bandit leader couldn't believe it and asked tentatively, "W-we're just becoming government soldiers like this?"

This felt too fake, too much like a farce. These officials sure knew how to play games.

"Precisely!"

"Then, where is Governor He heading?"

"Awaiting the State Preceptor's orders," He Chunhua said, pointing at Sun Fuping. "To venture deep into the Coiling Dragon Ruins."

Watching the government troops closing in from all sides, the bandits were instantly dumbfounded: "What!"

After walking more than ten miles, the bandit leader Situ Han still felt a bit dizzy. He had clearly checked the almanac before heading out to rob today; how did he suddenly end up as a regular soldier halfway through?

He Lingchuan patted him on the shoulder and said sympathetically, "Hang in there. As long as you make it back to the city alive, you'll be eating the emperor's grain from now on."

How could eating the emperor's grain be as carefree as being a mountain king? But with his men surrounded by the Blackwater City army with nowhere to run, Situ Han's smile was uglier than a cry, and his back felt icy cold: "Young Master He, are we really going into the Coiling Dragon Ruins? The Furious Sand Season is almost here; getting trapped in there means ten deaths and no life!"