The Capital to Return Home Safely

He Chunhua said in a deep voice, "We do, but it is by no means something we did intentionally."

"Human life is precious, but the war in the central region is a race against time. If we cannot bring back the Great Square Pot in time, the rebels will move down the river, and the capital may be washed in blood!" Sun Fuping sighed heavily. "By then, the number of innocent civilians who die will be far more than a hundred or a thousand... it will be ten thousand."

He Chunhua opened his mouth, but could not find the words to respond. On one side was the righteousness of the nation, and on the other, the lives of those on the frontier. Which was heavier, and which was lighter?

Seeing him fall silent, Nian Songyu also let out a soft breath, secretly relaxing the tension in his muscles.

If Governor He proved to be pedantic, he would not mind drawing his blade to settle things quickly.

"The Furious Sand Season generally begins in September each year and lasts until February or March of the following year," Sun Fuping said, his knowledge of the data etched in his mind. "But there are occasional exceptions, are there not?"

He Chunhua thought for a moment and nodded slowly. "There are. According to the official historical records of Qiansong Prefecture, there have been years when the Furious Sand Season did not arrive on time, resulting in heavy casualties among people and livestock."

"What is it like when it arrives?"

"First, there are violent storms, thunder, and lightning. Then, it is as if evil spirits are howling in the desert, with wind and sand dancing like dragons and snakes." That was why it was called the Furious Sand Season. "If a person walks into the desert at this time, they will be buried alive within a few breaths. And the wind and sand will not cease until the following year."

"I have also checked the records. In fact, the timing of the Furious Sand Season in the Coiling Dragon Desert has changed five times over the past hundred years. It arrived early three times and was delayed twice. The most recent instance was twenty years ago, when the Furious Sand Season arrived in mid-May."

He Chunhua had an impression of this as well. "I had just arrived in Qiansong Prefecture at that time, and the local residents talked about it for many years afterward. It even affected the flow of travelers on the Red Cliff Trade Route for the next seven years before it slowly recovered."

People traveled the Red Cliff Trade Route because it was safe; if the violent temper of the Coiling Dragon Desert flared up at random, who would dare to earn this blood money?

"The interesting thing is that I obtained a clue from Ancestor Zhu Gen: twenty years ago, he dispatched a team from the Baling Kingdom to probe the Ancient Coiling Dragon City once more. He did not go himself, but if you calculate the time, that team should have arrived here right around April or May!"

Even Nian Songyu was astonished this time. "State Preceptor, are you saying... that the early arrival of the Furious Sand Season that year was man-made?"

"It is highly likely! At the very least, the timing matches." Sun Fuping said, "This team was personally led by the eldest grand-disciple, whom Ancestor Zhu Gen held in high regard. Before departing, he must have received face-to-face instructions, and after arriving here, they successfully triggered the early arrival of the Furious Sand Season."

He Lingchuan kept a straight face and asked, "But did they manage to return successfully?"

Sun Fuping sighed and shook his head. "That failure was a heavy blow to Ancestor Zhu Gen. Afterward, Baling stopped organizing expeditions to Coiling Dragon City."

"Doesn't that prove it's a one-way trip?" He Lingchuan laughed in anger. "Then why are we even here?"

"What if I told you that when the Furious Sand Season descends, the safest place in the entire desert is actually the Ancient Coiling Dragon City?" Sun Fuping turned slightly and pointed to the set of coarse porcelain wine vessels on the counter. "Look, are these things that could withstand a storm? Yet, they are exactly as they were when the coalition forces left the Coiling Dragon Ruins."

The group's expressions shifted, and they could not help but look around.

It was true. This tavern was open to the wind on three sides, yet the tables and chairs in the front hall and the stoves in the back kitchen were all in perfect order. From Situ Han's angle, he could even see two earthen jars on the stove, containing either salt or lard. If the furious sand descended here every year, how could these things possibly remain? Even this tavern, these two rows of street-front shops, and the many civilian dwellings in the city were all century-old wooden structures; why had they not collapsed in the high winds and sand?

Walking into the city, no one had thought much of it until Sun Fuping offered a reminder.

He Chunhua let out a soft breath. "There is often no wind in the eye of the storm."

Therefore, even if the Furious Sand Season began, no matter how the sand and stones flew outside, Coiling Dragon City remained unaffected.

"You should have said so earlier; we wouldn't have had a misunderstanding." He Lingchuan laughed toward the ceiling, stopped bickering with Nian Songyu, and walked back to sit down and drink some water.

Situ Han muttered softly, "But the Furious Sand Season lasts at least four or five months. What will we eat and drink during that time?"

People had to eat, and they had only brought a few days' worth of food and water.

This team was full of vigorous, strong men—all big eaters, not cultivators capable of fasting.

Before anyone else could speak, He Lingchuan mocked him. "Use your brain. If the Great Square Pot is taken by the State Preceptor, how could it continue to generate the Furious Sand Season? Our return journey might be even more peaceful than the trip here."

He Chunhua frowned slightly.

Though this kid was reckless, he wasn't wrong. Sun Fuping felt a slight sense of relief and stroked his long beard. "Exactly!"

It had taken a great deal of effort to persuade this father and son to follow his arrangements; if he were to simply kill them, the team would be difficult to lead.

People's hearts were fickle.

When out in the field, such local snakes in the middle of nowhere were truly troublesome, even if their official reputation was low.

Little did he know, He Lingchuan turned back and asked him, "State Preceptor, you still haven't made it clear: if we summon the Furious Sand Season but fail to get the Great Square Pot, how are we supposed to get back?"

That was the crux of the matter!

Sun Fuping smiled, calm and composed. "Before we set out, I received special permission from my King to invoke the Primal Power of the Divine Altar!"

Everyone was overjoyed, setting aside their worries.

Primal Power was the manifestation of a nation's destiny, the collective will of the people, and the morale of the army.

It provided a massive boost to supernatural abilities, could suppress all demons and monsters, and could break enemy divine arrays; it was one of the most precious strategic resources of a nation, possessing all manner of miraculous uses.

As the nation's strategic reserve, Primal Power was usually sealed within the Divine Altar, and even high-ranking officials could not mobilize it at will. Fortunately, the State Preceptor was the one in charge of such things, and Sun Fuping had received special permission from the monarch.

With this promise, the chances of the group leaving the desert alive increased more than tenfold. Although the Yuan Kingdom's destiny was not what it was in its prime, protecting two hundred people as they left the desert was not a difficult task.

By now, He Lingchuan had eaten and drunk his fill. He stood up and stretched. "In that case, shall we start work at daybreak?"

Nian Songyu smiled coldly. "Where do you think you're going?"

"I'm tired, going to sleep." He Lingchuan yawned. "Aren't we busy tomorrow? There are no beauties to keep me company here, no songs to listen to; what else is there to do but sleep?" This brat just loved to go against him.

"Who told you that you could rest?" Nian Songyu didn't even bother to hide his contempt. "You'll do the work tonight, right now!"

"Do what?" He Lingchuan couldn't stand him. "You?"

Nian Songyu stepped forward with a dark face, and He Lingchuan retreated two steps, standing next to Zeng Feixiong. "Deputy Commander Zeng, protect me!"

Sun Fuping coughed lightly. "Business first. Bring the puppets up."

He Lingchuan then remembered that the State Preceptor had tied up the two puppets parasitized by the Three-Corpse Insects back on the Walnut Boat and had brought them all the way into the city; they were still being kept outside.