Chapter 129: Sandstorm, Scorpion King Ruins

Huanhuan's brows arched upon hearing this. "Customer, this is an inn. If you want to eat, drink, or stay, that's no problem, but if you're looking for a guide, you'd better go elsewhere."

"One thousand taels," Qin Jiang said.

Huanhuan's eyes widened slightly, and a charming smile tugged at her lips. "If you have money, everything is negotiable. But it's a busy time right now; there probably aren't many guides left in the city."

"You might not know this, but the guides here have long-term partnerships with visiting merchants. Very few take on private jobs."

"Three thousand taels," Qin Jiang said, downing a cup of strong liquor.

*Hiss—* This time, not only Huanhuan but even those who had been frightened earlier couldn't help but gasp.

He was truly wealthy and imposing. For them, if they wanted to go to Feilong City, it would only cost thirty or fifty taels, even if they were in a group of a dozen people.

Huanhuan's expression shifted for a moment, and then, as if she had made a decision, she said, "If the customer can raise it to five thousand taels, then Huanhuan can take you there personally!"

Qin Jiang raised a brow slightly. "You? You're a guide? You're not a local, are you?"

Huanhuan shook her head gently. "My father and husband are both locals, so I count as half a local. But don't worry, I've been to Feilong City alone many times; there won't be any problems! Besides, during this period, sandstorms appear in the Black Scorpion Desert. If you look for a local guide, they won't agree to go. To them, a sandstorm is a symbol of the Desert God and cannot be offended."

"Fine." Qin Jiang nodded slightly and took five one-thousand-tael banknotes from his robe.

To him, the so-called silver money was just a number now. As long as he could achieve his goal, he didn't care about the amount.

Huanhuan took the money, tucked it carefully into her robe, and looked at the people in the inn. "Everyone, I am truly sorry. My little shop will be closed for half a month. Today's drinks are on me!"

The people drinking looked at each other and silently got up to leave. In front of Qin Jiang, they didn't dare to make a sound.

"Let's go," Qin Jiang said.

"Now? In such a rush?" Huanhuan asked, then nodded. "Alright, let's go to the backyard."

The two arrived at the backyard, where there were only a few simple wooden huts and a camel trough. Two camels were eating fodder.

"Please wait a moment, I need to tell my father-in-law."

As she spoke, Huanhuan walked into one of the wooden huts. A series of old coughs and a little girl's voice came from inside, filled with reluctance.

A moment later, Huanhuan walked out, her eyes slightly red.

Rubbing her face, she opened the trough gate, led the camels out, and hung two huge iron boxes that had been leaning against the wall onto the camels. "Customer, I still don't know your surname?"

"Qin."

"Young Master Qin, don't worry. The camels I raise are better than most guides'. It will only take five days to reach Feilong City," Huanhuan smiled.

"Let's depart," Qin Jiang said.

"Mm, alright. I'll teach you how to mount."

Three days later, in the Black Scorpion Desert, two lines of camel footprints extended for hundreds of meters before being buried by the wind and sand.

Huanhuan looked travel-worn, ignoring her image as she took large bites of a dried, cracked flatbread.

It was harder than a stone; even with her Grandmaster-level strength, it was a struggle to bite.

Her gaze fell involuntarily on Qin Jiang beside her. He looked rosy-cheeked, and his clothes were spotless.

In fact, she hadn't seen him eat anything for the past few days.

"Young Master Qin, would you like some water?" she asked.

Qin Jiang shook his head. "No need. How much further?"

Huanhuan shook her head. "I don't know exactly, but it's two more days of travel. This desert is very strange; mirages often appear. Sometimes you can even see Feilong City right before your eyes, but no matter how you walk, you can't reach it."

Qin Jiang nodded slightly. He knew about this situation. "Eat while we walk," he said.

Huanhuan pouted upon hearing this. "Alright, I'll have a drink of water."

After continuing for half an hour, Qin Jiang suddenly pulled the camel to a stop. Huanhuan looked at him with some confusion.

"What's wrong, Young Master Qin? Are you hungry?"

Qin Jiang shook his head and pointed to the side. "Is that a mirage too?"

Huanhuan's eyes were filled with doubt. As she looked in the direction he pointed, her pupils suddenly contracted! In the distant sky, black clouds were spreading like ink.

"No, no, no! That's a sandstorm!"

Her expression turned panicked. She jumped off the camel and began setting something up on the ground.

Bad luck! Truly bad luck!

"Young Master Qin! There are sand scorpions in this sandstorm, a creature unique to the Black Scorpion Desert! They are extremely vicious! Once you lie inside, don't open it no matter what you hear! Wait for me to open it for you! Remember that! These sand scorpions can mimic human speech!"

In just a few breaths, she had dug two deep pits and then took the two iron boxes off the camels, stomping them heavily into the sand pits.

*Creak~*

"Alright, get in quickly!" she shouted urgently, but she saw Qin Jiang didn't move at all.

Looking into the distance, the black clouds had already spread, and they were less than a thousand meters away!

"Young Master Qin! Hurry! It's too late!" she shouted, reaching directly for Qin Jiang's pant leg, wanting to drag him in.

But before her fingertips could touch Qin Jiang, they were blocked by an invisible repulsive force.

"You are the professional, take care of yourself," Qin Jiang said, then soared into the air, releasing a dense golden-black light from his body.

For a moment, the light Qin Jiang produced was like a new sun, illuminating the gloom beneath the black clouds.

Huanhuan stared blankly at the rapidly approaching sandstorm, which was almost rendered translucent by the light. Through the dense sand, she could even see the sand scorpions moving rapidly inside! They were like streaks of black shadows! *ROAR—!!! * A dragon's roar resounded through the heavens and earth. The terrifying pressure from a high-level life form made her collapse to the ground. She stared blankly at the sandstorm ahead.

The next moment, a pitch-black dragon shadow instantly pierced through the entire sandstorm, its fierce power destroying the nearly sky-covering storm!

*Step. *

Qin Jiang landed lightly, casually brushing away the sand and gravel that had splashed over.

Huanhuan stood frozen in place, staring blankly ahead. The pitch-black darkness had vanished, and the sunlight shone down, scorching the air.

She looked at Qin Jiang, her eyes gradually filling with terror. This was definitely not power that an ordinary Secret Martial Artist could possess!

A High-level Secret Martial Artist! Or even a Twelfth-Stage Peak Secret Martial Artist! If that was the case... Ignoring her own disheveled state, she threw herself before Qin Jiang. "My Lord! My Lord! This little woman has a request! I will return the five thousand taels in full, I only hope you will grant it!"

Qin Jiang was stunned for a moment, then casually released a strand of Source Power to lift her up. "Tell me first, what is it?"

Huanhuan nodded heavily, calming her excited heart. "My Lord, my father-in-law is actually one of the desert guides.

Not long ago, while guiding a group, he contracted the Black Qi Disease. Besides needing a large amount of money for treatment, he also needs a medicinal herb called Copper Thorn as the main ingredient.

But this herb is extremely rare and only exists in the Scorpion King Ruins near Feilong City. To save my father-in-law, my husband went to the Scorpion King Ruins alone and hasn't returned yet.

If possible, I hope you can go to the Scorpion King Ruins and save my husband.

Don't worry, the Scorpion King Ruins aren't dangerous; they are just easy to enter and hard to leave. It's nothing to you. I'm just afraid my husband didn't bring enough food. If he is delayed any longer, I fear he will starve to death inside."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 130 =====