Chapter 00027: Sand Bandits
# Sand Bandits
Chapter 27
Novel: After the Immortals Disappeared
Chapter 27: Sand Bandits
The wind howled against the wooden windows, making it impossible for anyone to open them.
However, the faint light seeping through the cracks told He Lingchuan that nightfall was approaching.
He lay on the bed, one leg crossed over the other, fiddling with the Yuan Coin his father, He Chunhua, had given him.
"Dad, who was the first to discover how to use Yuan Power? Some say it was taught by the gods, others say it was passed down by immortals."
When inactive, the coin looked like an ordinary piece of currency.
Who would have thought that such a small token could carry the fate of a nation and the will of its people?
Yuan Power was truly mysterious.
"There's no consensus, and history is hard to trace," He Chunhua frowned.
"The origins of Yuan Power are very vague. After all, human history only goes back two or three thousand years, and the existence of nations is even shorter. It's said that in ancient times, gods and immortals roamed the earth, and there were no nations. It wasn't until after a great calamity that the gods disappeared, demons ran rampant, and humans had to band together to resist. That's when nations were formed."
He took the Yuan Coin back from his son.
"The appearance of the Nation Token made it possible for human nations to stand against the demon race. Whether it was taught by gods, immortals, or discovered by humans themselves, does it really matter?"
After all, cultivators were a minority.
Most people were born ordinary.
How could they stand against powerful demons? At that time, the unity and collective will of the people gave birth to Yuan Power, which became a powerful tool for nations to combat demons.
From standing toe-to-toe with demons to eventually gaining the upper hand, Yuan Power played a crucial role.
Now, the number and territory of human nations far surpassed those of demon kingdoms and domains.
"So, no one really knows the origin of Yuan Power?" He Lingchuan sighed and changed the subject.
"Dad, why did you follow us into the desert?"
"Do I have a choice?" He Chunhua also lay back.
After days of exhaustion, his body felt like it was about to fall apart.
"If I refused, the Imperial Preceptor Sun could have had me executed by royal decree."
"Just because it's a royal decree, does that make it invincible?" He Lingchuan scoffed.
"The royal order also asked us to cooperate with the investigation, but we still delayed for so long. On the day of departure, you could have dragged your feet if you really wanted to."
There's always a way around the rules, no matter the world.
This kid has become much more perceptive.
He Chunhua closed his eyes to rest for a while before speaking in a low voice.
"With Imperial Preceptor Sun here, the chances of coming back alive aren't low. Besides, I have a feeling that this trip to the Panlong Ancient City is a bit strange. If I don't see it for myself, I fear there might be great misfortune ahead."
He Lingchuan's heart skipped a beat.
"What do you mean?"
"I can't explain it," He Chunhua shook his head.
"It's just a gut feeling. I thought about finding excuses to avoid it, but the unease in my heart kept growing. My intuition tells me I should go on this trip."
What he called a gut feeling was what people often referred to as the sixth sense.
People of this era placed great importance on such feelings, so He Lingchuan didn't press further.
But he still felt there was something odd about it.
Prefect He was known for his cautious and steady nature.
Would he really risk his life based on a mere feeling?
But if he didn't say anything, how could his son guess?
He Chunhua continued, "Chuan, you've done well on this trip."
"Oh?" His father was actually praising him? He Lingchuan immediately perked up.
"Don't be too polite with Nian Songyu. Use your methods to get information out of him. He has the Imperial Preceptor behind him, but you have me."
He Chunhua's voice was very low.
"But don't get into a fight with him. You're no match for him. You've handled this balance well."
"Yes!" It seemed He Chunhua wanted his eldest son to play the tough guy while he played the mediator.
The eldest son would say all the necessary things, and He Chunhua would step in to smooth things over.
His father could even make good use of his reckless and unruly personality.
He was indeed suited to return to Yuandu and navigate the political landscape with ease.
He would never lose out in any official setting.
￥￥￥￥￥
The next morning, the team set out again.
Although they were still on the Red Cliff Road, the number of travelers in this direction was dwindling.
Imperial Preceptor Sun's team finally encountered the second major scourge of the Panlong Desert:
Sand Bandits.
These bandits were humans, about thirty riders, mostly burly men who rode their horses like the wind.
He Lingchuan could tell at a glance that the muscular men at the front were martial artists, and there might even be a sorcerer or two in their ranks.
The two groups came face to face, both sizing each other up.
From their side, the bandits were clearly visible; but in the eyes of the bandits, this team was well-equipped, with light armor, long swords, standard-issue weapons, and easily recognizable warhorses.
What did that mean?
This was a military unit!
What else could a military unit be doing in the Panlong Desert besides marching, suppressing bandits, or patrolling?
Commoners didn't fight with officials, and the military outnumbered them.
The bandits were genuinely shocked.
Fortunately, the masked leader of the bandits spotted He Chunhua and his eyes lit up.
He actually rode forward and said, "Prefect He, we're just passing by!"
Before they started looting, weren't they just passing by? He Chunhua coughed, feeling a bit awkward.
"We don't have time to deal with bandits today. Just don't cause any trouble... Is there anyone to the north?"
Imperial Preceptor Sun and the others looked at him, then at the bandits, and understood.
These two sides clearly knew each other.
"No, not a soul," the bandit leader laughed nervously.
"We'll be on our way now. We won't delay your important business!"
Just as the bandits were about to make a quick escape, Sun Fuping spoke up.
"Wait! You must know the Panlong Desert well, right?"
"Uh, I guess so," the bandit leader replied.
Seeing that Sun Fuping was half a horse length ahead of He Chunhua and had an imposing presence, he figured this must be a high-ranking official.
Normally, such people were their favorite targets—rich and easy to ransom after robbing them.
But with Prefect He nearby, they couldn't act recklessly.
"How long have you been here?"
"Ten... just a few years," the bandit leader, Situ Han, tried to explain.
"We always know when to stop..."
"Then stay with us."
"Huh?"
Sun Fuping turned to He Chunhua.
"We're short on manpower. Isn't this perfect?"
He Chunhua thought to himself, isn't two hundred soldiers enough? But he nodded on the surface.
"True, it's hard to recruit people in the city."
Imperial Preceptor Sun smiled amiably, looking at the bandits like a fox eyeing chickens.
The bandits felt a chill down their spines and wanted to flee.
Unexpectedly, He Chunhua raised the Yuan Coin and coughed lightly.
"Stay! From this moment on, Blackwater City officially enlists the thirty-two fierce bandits of Mang Mountain..."
He Lingchuan counted from the side.
"Thirty-two people!"
"... Thirty-two people, to be incorporated under Deputy Commander Zeng Feixiong's command, to follow military orders!"
He Chunhua even listed their salaries and benefits.
The Mang Mountain bandits stared wide-eyed, looking at each other in disbelief.
The bandit leader couldn't believe it and tentatively asked, "So... we're soldiers now?"
This was too absurd, too much like a joke.
The officials really knew how to play.
"Exactly!"
"Then, Prefect He, where are you headed?"
"At the Imperial Preceptor's command," He Chunhua pointed at Sun Fuping.
"We're heading deep into the Panlong Ruins."
Surrounded by the soldiers, the bandits were dumbfounded.
"What!"
...
After traveling more than ten miles, the bandit leader Situ Han still felt dazed.
He had checked the almanac before setting out to rob today.
How did he end up becoming a soldier halfway through?
He Lingchuan patted his shoulder sympathetically.
"Hang in there. As long as you make it back to the city alive, you'll be on the government payroll from now on."
Being on the government payroll wasn't as fun as being a bandit king.
But with his men surrounded by Blackwater City's troops, there was no way to escape.
Situ Han's smile was uglier than a cry, and his back felt cold.
"Young Master He, are we really going into the Panlong Ruins? The sandstorm season is coming. If we get trapped there, it's certain death!"
(End of Chapter)