Chapter 28: End of Red Cliff Road

"Believe in the State Preceptor." He Lingchuan pointed to Sun Fuping's direction. "The dignified State Preceptor is risking his life; can you and I have a little confidence?" Sun and Nian walked at the very front, separated from He Lingchuan by a long distance, and separated by more than ten rows of soldiers in the middle.

This group of newly joined sand bandits was not taken seriously by them at all.

Boss Situ Han looked at their backs: "If I speak, can they hear me?"

"Rest assured, definitely not." He Lingchuan didn't even remember how many bad things he had said about the two in front.

Boss Situ Han then whispered: "These two are really arrogant. If they encounter danger after entering the desert, I fear they won't care about our lives. Young Master He, for the sake of the New Year, you must take care of our brothers. Our thirty-something people came out to fight, and there are more than a hundred women and children in Mang Mountain! If we die, they won't even have porridge to drink."

Although he called killing and robbing fighting, his expression was still very sincere.

All the worries were written on his face.

"Know." He Lingchuan comforted him. "I will watch you and not let him send you to die in vain."

After he walked away, He Chunhua asked his eldest son: "What does he mean by looking at the New Year?"

"Every New Year, doesn't he come to pay New Year's greetings to us?" Most importantly, every New Year, Boss Situ Han would prepare a thick gift specifically for Eldest Young Master He. For example, last year, the gift he gave He Lingchuan was a string of pearl necklaces, each bead almost the same size, round and shiny.

Yes, it was the string that He Lingchuan transferred to Uncle Hao.

What did he send the year before? Um, can't remember.

Of course, there was no need to tell his father about these sesame-sized things.

He Chunhua looked at him and shook his head. The stinky kid is reckless, but he never softens his hands when receiving gifts.

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Black Water City, He residence.

Although only two people were left in the house, Lady Ying still instructed the kitchen to cook carefully, and a total of seven dishes were placed on the table, eating more sumptuously than usual.

But she actually had no appetite, drank half a bowl of yellow rice porridge, and only gnawed two bites of the flower roll that He Yue gave her, then stopped eating.

"Yue'er, where do you guess your father is now?" He Chunhua left, as if he had taken her soul away. Lady Ying couldn't sleep at night, and her exquisite makeup couldn't cover her haggardness.

"Should have passed a few relay stations." He Yue comforted her. "Zeng Feixiong is familiar with the desert, and State Preceptor Sun is sitting in the town; Father and Big Brother will definitely be able to rush back before the wild sand season arrives."

Lady Ying sighed: "Everyone says your big brother is a lucky general; he really needs good luck this time."

He Yue heard it strangely; Mother doesn't seem to blame Father for taking Big Brother away?

Lady Ying asked about the affairs of Qiansong Commandery again, and He Yue said he could handle it.

Finally, she asked: "Still no news from the east?"

"No. Floods blocked the road, and besides, the war in the east is fierce. The rebels kill spies and scouts when they catch them, and the messengers dare not go there."

In fact, without Father's repeated instructions, he would also pay attention to the intelligence from the east.

Unfortunately, there is no news now.

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By the next day, there was yellow sand everywhere, and not a single living thing could be seen.

This small section of the Red Cliff Road pointed to the former Panlong Ancient City, and no merchant team would walk there at all.

Everyone cherished every step they took, because such a smooth road was coming to an end.

"No road." News came from the very front of the team.

The He father and son looked east and could still see the huge base of half a mountain peak slanting upward, as if it were a dagger pointing to the sky.

As for the upper half, it collapsed with a bang nearly a hundred years ago and smashed onto the Red Cliff Road that this team should have traveled.

Endless mountain stones turned it into a dead-end road.

Zeng Feixiong murmured: "I don't know if it's God's will." Not letting the later comers disturb the sleeping heroes in the city.

"How can there be so much wishful thinking?" Nian Songyu sneered and ordered everyone, "Get off the horses, we have to reduce the burden."

There is no road ahead, and horses are useless. Everyone prepares five days of dry food and water, and hands the horses to a few army cooks.

Boss Situ Han stared at the boundless desert.

The undulating sand dunes were clean and tidy, without even half a footprint.

"Where to go next? If we leave the Red Cliff Road for one step, we will be eaten!"

"Of course not; aren't you sand bandits the most clear about it?" Nian Songyu blocked him with one sentence.

Boss Situ Han was embarrassed. As people who have lived in the Panlong Desert for most of their lives, they are very clear about the local taboos and have their own little insights and tricks.

Nian Songyu pointed to the desert: "You tell me, what should we do if there is no Red Cliff Road? I think you also have some experience."

"First of all, distinguished adults, put away the national decree, and don't show it, let alone activate it!" There are many officials in this group.

Nian Songyu said "Oh": "Why?"

"The heroes in the desert were all defending the border of their country before they died. We walk in with the national decree of another country; isn't that deliberately planting a flag to pull hatred? These things are all one-track minded; avoid them if you can, don't provoke them!"

Makes some sense. Sun Fuping instructed the officials: "Put it away, don't show it."

And then Boss Situ Han said: "Are we going to Panlong Ancient City? The distance is still far, it's impossible to walk there. I have no way for this."

Sand bandits drill the desert, mostly to avoid pursuit or vendetta, and they do it for urgent needs. They wouldn't travel on foot in such a place of death if they had nothing to do; that's asking for death.

"So, we have to change a vehicle." Sun Fuping took out three things from his arms.

They were three micro-carved small boats, each about an inch long, looking like they were carved from half a walnut, with exquisite craftsmanship. Not to mention the wood grain of the boat side, even the folds of the boatman's clothes and the flying hair were carved in detail.

Just looking at this carving skill, it could be called master-level.

"This is a treasure I borrowed from a friend, and I have to return it after use. Alright, everyone stay away!" After speaking, Sun Fuping took out three crystal clear green pills, placed them in the hands of the boatman in the boat, and then threw the three walnut small boats onto the sand.

Nian Songyu whispered: "Mysterious Crystal!"

The green pill was the size of a quail egg, and throwing it down seemed to be able to smash the walnut small boat. But the fact was completely not like this; the green pill disappeared when it touched the boatman's hand, and the whole small boat began to emit strange tremors, as if something was about to run out.

Everyone was not stupid and had already avoided it in advance.

Sure enough, the walnut small boat expanded at an amazing speed. In just two breaths, the one-inch-long toy became a wooden boat more than five zhang long and one zhang high!

They stopped on the yellow sand, which was the walnut boat enlarged according to the original proportion. Of course, the boatman standing at the bow also became normal human size, walked over and put down the side board so that passengers could board the boat.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 29 =====