Chapter 00037: Divergence
# Divergence
Chapter 37
Novel: After the Immortals Disappeared
Chapter 37: Divergence
Apart from him and Situ Han, everyone else had prepared quite lavish meals for themselves.
Nian Songyu's dried salted meat looked plain and unremarkable, dark with a reddish hue, but when roasted over the fire, it emitted an extraordinary aroma, clearly seasoned with many spices.
Cutting off two pieces and pairing them with fine white steamed buns gave the expedition a bit of a picnic vibe.
He Chunhua had prepared a bowl of oily noodle tea.
When boiling water was poured over it, the fragrance of sesame and peanuts wafted further than the smell of meat.
He had also added some cashews and walnuts, instantly elevating the dish's status.
He Lingchuan had always thought that slurping such a drink loudly was the most satisfying way to enjoy it, but his father ate with refined elegance, quietly and without a sound.
Upon hearing the Imperial Preceptor's words, He Chunhua pondered for a moment, and his expression changed: "The wrong time? Wait, is he talking about the Sandstorm Season?"
"All treasure-hunting teams avoid the Sandstorm Season, and as a result, they find nothing. Zhu Gen tried every known method and mystical art but couldn't detect the presence of the Grand Pot. So he concluded that the treasure was most likely hidden by Zhong Shengguang, or even the deity he worshipped, and that finding it would require meeting certain prerequisites."
Sun Fuping spoke slowly, "Otherwise, no matter how much later generations search every inch of the Panlong Ruins, they would never find it."
He Lingchuan, his mouth greasy from eating, was enjoying his meal but didn't let it stop him from talking: "Zhong Shengguang resented the allied forces, so of course, he wouldn't want them to get the Grand Pot. Is it possible that the Grand Pot was taken back by the deity and is no longer in the mortal realm? And all the strange phenomena in the Panlong Desert now are caused by resentful spirits—no, heroic spirits. After all, the Three Corpses Worm is born from the human body and isn't unique to the Grand Pot."
He adhered to the principle that no matter how tough life gets, one should never skimp on food.
He first tore off a braised goose leg and devoured it, then crunched on two slices of fragrant fried noodle pancakes.
The local noodles from Blackwater City were chewy and springy when cooked, then dried with hot air, somewhat resembling the instant noodles from another world he knew.
The locals would cook the noodles, coat them with flour again, fry them into pancakes, and sprinkle them with chili and spices, making them an excellent dry ration suitable for both home and travel.
He Lingchuan had specifically requested extra meat and eggs in his.
As a martial artist, his appetite was much larger than others, and he couldn't do without staple foods and meat at every meal.
He was practically a glutton, with crude table manners.
Nian Songyu glanced at him disdainfully: "The Three Corpses Worm that can even invade sorcerers must be unique to the Grand Pot."
From the moment a person is born, the Three Corpses Worm coexists with them, causing more mischief as they grow older—disrupting thoughts, fostering greed, and breeding evil intentions.
Thus, it is also known as the "Three Corpses Deity," far from being a mere lowly worm.
For a person to cultivate and attain enlightenment, they must pass the trial of wielding the sword of wisdom to sever the Three Corpses, achieving clarity of mind.
Of course, this refers to severing the Three Corpses Worm within one's own body.
The Three Corpses Worm lurking in the Panlong Desert can even affect sorcerers with clear minds and can remain active outdoors for long periods, fearing nothing but sunlight.
This enhanced version of the Three Corpses Worm must have come from the Grand Pot.
He Lingchuan chuckled: "According to the Imperial Preceptor's thinking, the Grand Pot only appears during the Sandstorm Season?"
"Most likely."
"Then we won't keep you company. You can stay and play slowly."
He Lingchuan stood up and walked out without looking back, "Dad, let's go home!"
The Sandstorm Season? What a joke.
There are countless ways to commit suicide; he didn't need to come all the way here for that!
A figure flashed before him, and Nian Songyu stood with his sword drawn, blocking the staircase: "Go back and sit down, or I'll send you on your way right now, no need to wait for the Sandstorm Season!"
"Oh?" He Lingchuan laughed instead of getting angry, "So quick to show your true colors?" He turned to his father, "Dad, these two just want to use us as cannon fodder. Are you coming or not?"
He Chunhua put down his half-finished noodle tea and stood up: "The Imperial Preceptor has everything well-planned and is confident of success. Even without Blackwater City's help, it seems you can still retrieve the treasure."
Nian Songyu's smile turned sinister: "Do you think this is still Blackwater City? Killing you is as easy as slaughtering chickens! Without you two, this team of over two hundred will still be under my command. Who dares to object!"
If the He father and son died, of course, the highest-ranking officer would take charge.
The team would still be in their hands.
Zeng Feixiong had already stood up, and with a clang, half-drew his sword: "Commander Nian, watch your words! We only follow Prefect He!"
The guards outside the building heard the commotion and rushed in, surrounding everyone.
In just a few words, the situation had become tense.
He Lingchuan's eyes darted around.
What if they took this chance to break the facade? Would these two dare to kill him and his father?
Nian Songyu was a fierce man, but could his own team of over two hundred handle Imperial Preceptor Sun?
Was this a good opportunity to take them out?
These thoughts flashed through his mind, and the answers were clear:
They would dare, they couldn't handle it, and it wasn't a good opportunity.
It seemed they couldn't escape unscathed and needed another plan.
"Young man, you're quite hot-headed."
Sun Fuping tossed aside his pancake and gulped down some water, "Prefect He, you've always been known for your steadiness. Why are you following this kid's lead? If it were a certain death situation, would I come all this way to die?"
Before Prefect He could speak, He Lingchuan interjected: "You wouldn't. You'd just send us to die."
This old man and this young man had been up to no good from the start.
Nian Songyu glanced at him sideways: "Still trying to drive a hard bargain? Once wasn't enough?"
He looked at He Lingchuan with increasing disgust, and He Lingchuan felt the same.
Neither of them bothered to hide it anymore.
"Everything else is negotiable, but Imperial Preceptor, where the sandstorm passes, all life is extinguished. It's not something to joke about, nor should we even consider trying it!" He Chunhua coughed, "Besides, the food and water we brought can only last another three to five days, not enough to last until the Sandstorm Season arrives."
He was trying to ease the tension, and Sun Fuping played along: "If we can trigger the Sandstorm Season, I'm confident I can get everyone out safely. If we can't, we'll return to Blackwater City before the real Sandstorm Season arrives. How about that?"
"Trigger the Sandstorm Season?" The bandit leader Situ Han couldn't help but interject, "Can that even be done ahead of time?"
And send them to their deaths early?
He had been quietly sitting in a corner, finishing a naan bread and roasting a few black scorpions.
He knew he had no right to speak; everyone here was his superior.
But as he listened, it seemed like he was being led to a dead end.
"Wait, please wait!" His expression changed as he thought about it, "There are still people on the Red Cliff Road. If the Sandstorm Season comes early, they'll surely die!"
"There are only a few days left before the Sandstorm Season. Anyone with sense knows not to risk it for the last penny."
Nian Songyu didn't care, "Besides, in previous years, the Sandstorm Season didn't come on a specific day or time. Prefect He, hasn't there been casualties on this road every year?"
(End of Chapter)