Chapter 59: Western Desert's Barren Lands, the Drought Demon's Campaign Against Rebels

The Western Desert was already the most barren place in the Human Realm.

Yellow sands stretched for a thousand li, with green oases scattered like stars.

The people here had lived by following water and grass for generations; a single sandstorm could swallow an entire village.

And the Drought Bone Abyss was a chasm deep within the heart of the Western Desert.

Legend held that in ancient times, a drought demon had fallen here, and after its death, its bones and blood had formed the abyss, remaining unrotted for a thousand years.

The Old Dynasty had once established a seal at the Drought Bone Abyss, but later the seal fell into disrepair due to age and was left unattended.

Now that the Sky Patrol Edict of Wrath had descended, remnants of the Heavenly Gate had infiltrated the Western Desert and, using Ascension Quotas as bait, had broken open the Drought Bone Abyss.

On the day the Drought Demon King emerged, three green oases dried up overnight.

Livestock died violently, and well water turned to sand.

The Drought Demon King raised his banner:

"Obeying Heaven to punish rebels, executing Jiang Che, and restoring the Heavenly Gate."

It did not immediately attack the cities but instead drove the disaster-stricken refugees toward the Central Plains.

Hundreds of thousands of starving refugees left the Western Desert, wailing along the way.

If the Council Hall did not act, the people's trust would be lost.

If the Council Hall did act, the pressure on grain supply lines would increase greatly, and the Western Desert Drought Demon could expand amidst the chaos.

This was a poisonous chess move.

Upon receiving the urgent report, the Capital Council Hall erupted in uproar.

The Dongling Representative roared, "The granaries have just recovered; how can they support hundreds of thousands of refugees?"

The Luo'an Representative slammed the table, "Are we to watch them starve to death?"

The Military Affairs Representative stated, "If the Drought Demon King is not eliminated, no matter how many we save, it will be a bottomless pit!"

Qin Su spoke coldly, "Save the people first, then fight the war."

Gu Chongming looked at the map, his expression grave.

"Who can go to the Western Desert?"

A brief silence fell within the hall.

Xie Wuya still guarded Tian Duan Cliff.

Xie Tingxue accompanied Jiang Che on the journey of Northern Return.

Chen Shanhe guarded the Northern Border.

The Green Blade Camp was scattered across various locations.

Although the Human Realm seemed to have won many battles, there was a shortage of people everywhere.

Just then, a voice came from outside the hall:

"I will go."

Everyone turned their heads.

Walking in was Xiao Cheng'an.

Gu Chongming frowned, "You just returned from Anling; you haven't even studied for a few days."

Xiao Cheng'an clasped his hands, "The old seal in the Western Desert was established and then abandoned by the Great Yin Royal Family back then."

"Now that the Drought Bone Abyss has opened, there is also an old debt of the Xiao Clan."

If Chen Shanhe were here, he would surely scold the child for showing off his strength again.

But Gu Chongming did not immediately reject him.

He looked at Xiao Cheng'an and asked, "Do you know how to fight?"

Xiao Cheng'an shook his head.

"I do not."

"Do you know how to seal?"

"I do not."

"Then what will you do?"

Xiao Cheng'an fell silent for a moment, then said, "To atone for my sins."

The hall fell silent.

Qin Su said, "Atoning for sins cannot rely solely on death."

Xiao Cheng'an nodded, "So I wish to bring grain."

This statement stunned everyone.

Xiao Cheng'an continued, "The Imperial Clan of the Old Imperial Family had vast amounts of land and wealth confiscated, part of which has not yet entered the treasury."

"I request the Council Hall to permit me to lead the History Camp, the Medical Camp, and the Merchant Association to escort this batch of old royal wealth to the Western Desert for disaster relief."

"At the same time, I request the Anti-Heaven Bureau to send people to behead the Drought Demon."

The look in Gu Chongming's eyes changed.

This young man was not going to die.

He was truly learning how to act.

The Council Hall ultimately passed the Western Desert Disaster Relief Order.

The Wan Tong Merchant Association was responsible for grain transport.

Qin Su personally led the Medical Camp to go.

The Anti-Heaven Bureau dispatched one thousand from the Green Blade Camp, along with two elders from the Sword Pavilion.

By the time Jiang Che received the message, the convoy had already left the Capital City.

He fell silent for a moment, then said, "I am going to the Western Desert."

Xie Tingxue looked at him.

"You just said the Human Realm cannot rely solely on you."

Jiang Che nodded. "That is why I am not going to do it for them."

"Then what will you do?"

Jiang Che gazed toward the west.

"To see."

"If they can win, I will not draw my sword."

"If they cannot hold out..."

He did not finish.

Xie Tingxue understood.

After all, he could not bear to know people were dying while waiting for battle reports from afar.

Xie Tingxue sighed.

"Then go slowly."

Jiang Che smiled. "I cannot move quickly these days anyway."

Amid the wind and sand of the Western Desert, Xiao Cheng'an and the relief team saw for the first time the Green Oasis ravaged by the Drought Demon.

The lakebed was cracked and dry.

The trees were scorched black.

Villagers knelt beside empty wells, their lips split, their eyes numb.

A child clutched the hem of Xiao Cheng'an's robe and asked:

"Brother, is there water?"

Xiao Cheng'an could not speak.

Suddenly, he understood that the word 'atonement' was not found in the courtroom.

It was here.

In every pair of eyes waiting for water.