Sandstorm [Second Update]

Perhaps because he held Pharaoh Nitocris in great reverence, or perhaps because Nitocris's beauty was enough to captivate Nahekt, the merchant became endlessly talkative whenever she was mentioned.

"I once saw her traveling from afar. She reclined beneath a canopy made of golden brocade. Even magnificent golden ornaments could not do justice to her beauty. She was ten thousand times more radiant than the exquisitely painted goddess Hathor, as sacred and inviolable as the great god Horus..."

(Hathor was the goddess of love and beauty, wealth, dance, and music in ancient Egyptian mythology. She cared for all living beings and pitied the dead. She was also the protector of mothers and children, and Horus's wife. The Ancient Greeks often compared Hathor to Aphrodite.)

"After the Nile River's annual flooding, she personally comes to the fields to sow grain and leads the people in developing production. She is a very approachable queen, and everyone respects her..."

As if he wanted to fully express the admiration in his heart for Pharaoh Nitocris, Nahekt rambled on somewhat. Ye Ting did not mind, however, and listened with a smile. He was also very interested in this female pharaoh.

Their conversation continued until a slave's shout interrupted them.

"Careful! Careful! A sandstorm is coming!"

The slave's cry was like a clap of thunder, jolting Nahekt awake.

Sandstorms were the most terrifying disaster in the desert. The windswept sand not only blotted out the sky and sun, but the fine grains could choke people to death. And if a sandstorm lasted too long, those who failed to take shelter might even be buried beneath it.

Ye Ting and Nahekt looked into the distance.

Driven by fierce winds, a wall of sand nearly a hundred meters high swept toward them, covering the sky and earth. Taller than