Fishing in the Sea of Sand

This is truly a drop in the bucket. Besides, the water is already given away; what will everyone drink later?

Walking from here back to the nearest post station would take a full two days.

He Lingchuan crossed his arms. "I'll bet you ten taels of silver that State Preceptor Sun already has a plan; it's not our place to worry." After all, it's easy to enjoy the shade under a big tree.

Ten taels? Situ Han's face soured. "Can't afford to bet."

Sun Fuping glanced at them, brushed his ring, and a round, plump ball the size of a pomelo appeared in his hand.

This old guy really has the goods. He Lingchuan watched as he stuffed the ball into the mouth of the monster head at the top of his staff.

The massive ball vanished.

Immediately after, Sun Fuping turned the staff, aimed the beast head at the pool, and muttered a few incantations.

The monster opened its maw and spat out a thick, long column of water that fell straight into the pool.

"This is the spray sac of a Bullet Fish." Sun Fuping's explanation was casual.

He Lingchuan had heard of this strange fish. It hid in the lakes and seas of central Yuan Kingdom and could even spray water columns to knock large land prey—like cows, horses, or young elephants—into the water to feed. Its spraying power was top-notch, and during the dry season, it could live out of water for a month or so.

However, its spraying ability wasn't the point right now. These water sacs could shrink to store water, and even their weight was reduced.

Truly a treasure for desert travel.

They had been filling the pool for over half an hour when Nian Songyu suddenly said, "Something's wrong. The water level hasn't expanded for a long time."

Given the caliber of the monster's spout, the bottom of the pool should have been full long ago, perhaps even overflowing with a small puddle. Yet, right before their eyes, only two-thirds of the pool floor was covered in water, while the remaining third remained bone-dry.

Where was the water going?

Sun Fuping reached out and pressed against the pool floor. "Indeed, there's a trick to this; the water is being sucked in."

"Then what do we do?"

Sun Fuping's expression darkened slightly. "Let's keep watching."

Another half hour passed, and the water in the monster's belly was completely spent; it even coughed twice. But compared to before, the accumulated water at the bottom of the pool hadn't changed at all.

Everyone knew they were in trouble now.

Plans never keep pace with changes; no matter how meticulous Sun Fuping's design was, there were times it couldn't keep up with the situation.

Nian Songyu thought for a moment, then turned to order Zeng Feixiong, "Go and collect everyone's water skins."

Zeng Feixiong was startled. "Take away their drinking water? We still have to hold out in the desert for several days, and what if it's still not enough?"

Nian Songyu looked at Sun Fuping, and seeing he remained silent, he insisted, "We cannot fail at the final hurdle. Go collect the water at once."

In desert marches, water was for survival. Zeng Feixiong couldn't even imagine how much his men would resist this order. "But, but..."

Nian Songyu's face sank. "Do you wish to defy orders?"

Zeng Feixiong felt a surge of panic and couldn't help but look toward He Chunhua.

Nian Songyu's gaze grew even colder. These small-time officials truly lacked any sense of the situation.

He Chunhua had no good solution either. Should he defy the order and turn back, or pour everyone's drinking water into the pool and leave it to fate?

Neither choice seemed rational.

Just as he struggled to decide, he heard his eldest son say leisurely, "Why make things so tense? If you take away the soldiers' fresh water, how will they walk out of the desert later?"

Nian Songyu said coldly, "The last leg of a journey is the hardest. What if we are just this short?"

"Can you guarantee we are only this short?"

Nian Songyu smiled. "I can."

And if he couldn't, what then? By then, the water would already be poured out, the rice would be cooked, and would the soldiers dare to mutiny?

He Lingchuan rolled his eyes and turned to ask Sun Fuping, "The bottom of the pool needs to be filled with water, right?"

"Correct."

"Then what if it isn't fresh water?" He Lingchuan's focus was elsewhere. "Will other liquids work?"

"Such as?"

"Blood." To prevent these two from getting the wrong idea and resorting to human sacrifice, he quickly clarified, "I mean the blood of monsters or exotic beasts. The Coiling Dragon Desert is full of big creatures; getting a few and bleeding them shouldn't be difficult."

Sun Fuping's eyes lit up instantly. "That makes sense! Blood sacrifices are common for appeasing gods. If we mix fresh blood into the pool, the Great Square Pot shouldn't mind; in fact, it might prefer it." He tossed the Walnut Boat to Nian Songyu and pointed at He Lingchuan. "Take some men into the desert and bring back a few giant beasts."

The group applied the Soul-Suppressing Powder and entered the desert once more.

The creatures and Three-Corpse Insects in the desert were more active in the cool night. Nian Songyu deployed the Walnut Boat for everyone to stand on and ordered the boatman to cast bait into the sand to fish.

Nian Songyu stood while He Lingchuan sat, neither bothering to spare the other a glance.

This fishing trip wasn't going well; for a long time, no prey took the bait. He Lingchuan's back ached from sitting, and as a few Three-Corpse Insects drifted near the Walnut Boat, he called someone over to massage his back.

"Comfortable, good! A bit lower, yes, lower! Use some strength."

The young master of the He family sighed in contentment. Hedonism truly was soul-corroding; who would have thought that three months ago, he was a shut-in who felt uncomfortable if anyone came within half a meter of him?

Nian Songyu shook his head secretly, only to hear He Lingchuan ask with his eyes closed, "Why did Commandant Nian come to Blackwater City in person?"

"What?"

"A mission with no survivors—how could the General Who Conquers the North bear to send his own beloved son into the fray?" He Lingchuan rolled his eyes. "Is he even your real father?"

Nian Songyu's face twitched. "Didn't Governor He make you tag along, too? Are you sure you're his seed?"

A personal attack; people without literary talent are never subtle. He Lingchuan flicked his wrist, and with a thwack, a dagger flew out and pinned itself to the wooden rail Nian Songyu was leaning against.

As an aside, his aim remained abysmal. Once the blade left his hand, he had no idea where it would actually land.

Before Nian Songyu could react, his guards had already lunged forward, blades drawn, ready to bark orders at He Lingchuan.

He Lingchuan pressed a finger to his lips and hissed, "Quiet! Don't scare off the prey!" He pointed down at the water. "Anyone who forgets our top priority had better watch out for military discipline!"

Nian Songyu waved his men back and said indifferently, "I might survive, but you? That's not certain. Be sensible and do as you're told—be a good dog—and perhaps you and your father might make it back alive. Otherwise, Madam Ying will be left a widow. As for your younger brother—"

He licked his lips, his eyes gleaming with a mix of excitement and cruelty. "Don't worry. Whether you live or die, I will find a way to help him return to the Great Capital. He'll surely be very popular there!"

He Lingchuan stared at him, his expression slowly darkening.

The Governor of Xun Prefecture, the Grand Marshal, State Preceptor Sun—why were these three major powers tangled up together?

Perhaps his old man shouldn't have taken on the task of the Great Square Pot?

Just as He Lingchuan was about to speak, the boatman's fishing rod suddenly dipped violently, nearly dragging him right off the bow.

The prey had finally taken the bait!

Working together, the group finally managed to haul the creature up from beneath the sand.

It was another Earth Dragon, though it was two sizes smaller than the two predecessors from earlier that day, small enough to be hauled onto the boat.