Chapter 00038: The Capital to Return Home Safely
# The Capital to Return Home Safely
Chapter 38
Novel: After the Immortals Disappeared
Chapter 38: The Capital to Return Home Safely
He Chunhua spoke in a deep voice, "Yes, but it was not our intention."
"Human lives are precious, but the battle in the central region is a race against time. If we cannot bring back the Great Square Pot in time, the rebels will move downstream, and the capital might be bloodied!" Sun Fuping sighed deeply, "By then, the number of innocent civilians who will die won't just be in the hundreds or thousands... but tens of thousands!"
He Chunhua opened his mouth but couldn't say anything.
On one side was the righteousness of the nation, and on the other were the lives at the border.
Which was more important?
Seeing that he had fallen silent, Nian Songyu also let out a slight breath, secretly releasing the tension he had built up.
If Prefect He proved to be too rigid, he wouldn't hesitate to draw his blade swiftly.
"The Sandstorm Season usually occurs in September every year and lasts until February or March of the following year," Sun Fuping was well-versed in these details, "But there are exceptions, right?"
He Chunhua thought for a moment and slowly nodded, "Yes, according to the official records of Qiansong County, there have been years when the Sandstorm Season arrived unpredictably, causing massive casualties to both people and livestock."
"What does it look like when it arrives?"
"First, there are violent storms, thunder, and lightning. Then, the desert seems to howl like vengeful ghosts, with sand and wind swirling like dragons and snakes."
That's why it's called the Sandstorm Season, "At that time, if anyone ventures into the desert, they'll be buried alive within moments. The sandstorms won't calm down until the following year."
"I've also checked the records. Over the past hundred years, the Sandstorm Season in the Panlong Desert has shifted its timing five times. Three times it came early, and twice it was delayed. The most recent was twenty years ago, when the Sandstorm Season arrived in mid-May."
He Chunhua also recalled, "I had just arrived in Qiansong County at that time, and the locals talked about it for years afterward. Even in the following seven years, the traffic on the Red Cliff Trade Route was affected, and it only slowly recovered later."
People took the Red Cliff Trade Route because it was safe; if the Panlong Desert's temper flared unpredictably, who would dare risk their lives for profit?
"Interestingly, I found a clue from Ancestor Zhu Gen: twenty years ago, he sent a team from the Balin Kingdom to explore the Panlong Ancient City once more. He didn't go himself, but based on the timing, that team should have arrived here around April or May!"
Even Nian Songyu was surprised this time, "Grand Preceptor, are you saying... that the Sandstorm Season arriving early that year was man-made?"
"Very likely! At least the timing matches," Sun Fuping said, "That team was led by Ancestor Zhu Gen's most trusted senior disciple, who must have received detailed instructions before setting out. After arriving here, they successfully triggered the Sandstorm Season to arrive early."
He Lingchuan said with a stern face, "But did they make it back?"
Sun Fuping sighed and shook his head, "That failure hit Ancestor Zhu Gen hard. After that, Balin never organized another expedition to Panlong City."
"Doesn't that prove it's a one-way trip?" He Lingchuan laughed bitterly, "Then why are we here?"
"What if I told you that when the Sandstorm Season arrives, the safest place in the entire desert is actually the Panlong Ancient City?" Sun Fuping tilted his body slightly and pointed to the set of coarse porcelain wine vessels on the counter, "Look, do these look like they could withstand a storm? Yet, from the time the allied forces left the Panlong ruins to now, they've remained exactly the same."
Everyone's expressions shifted, and they couldn't help but look around.
Indeed, the tavern was open on three sides, but the tables and chairs in the front hall, as well as the kitchen utensils in the back, were all neatly arranged.
From Situ Han's angle, he could even see two earthen jars on the stove, likely containing salt or lard.
If the Sandstorm Season swept through here every year, how could these things have survived? Even this tavern, the row of shops along the street, and the many residential houses in the city were all wooden structures over a hundred years old.
Why hadn't they collapsed under the wind and sand?
When they entered the city, no one had given it much thought until Sun Fuping brought it up.
He Chunhua exhaled softly, "The eye of the storm is often calm."
So even if the Sandstorm Season began, no matter how fierce the sand and wind raged outside, Panlong City would remain unaffected.
"You should've said that earlier. We wouldn't have misunderstood," He Lingchuan laughed dryly, no longer engaging with Nian Songyu, and walked back to sit down and drink some water.
Situ Han muttered softly, "But the Sandstorm Season lasts at least four or five months. What will we eat and drink during that time?"
Humans need to eat, and they had only brought a few days' worth of food and water.
The team was full of strong, vigorous men—big eaters, not ascetic cultivators who could go without food.
Before anyone else could speak, He Lingchuan mocked him, "Use your brain. If the Grand Preceptor takes the Great Square Pot, how could the Sandstorm Season continue? Our return journey might even be smoother than the way here."
He Chunhua frowned slightly.
Though reckless, the kid wasn't wrong.
Sun Fuping relaxed slightly and stroked his long beard, "Exactly!"
Convincing this father and son to follow his plans had taken a lot of effort; but if he were to kill them casually, leading the team would become difficult.
People's hearts are fickle.
When traveling in such remote, backwater places, even a low-ranking local official could be quite troublesome.
Unexpectedly, He Lingchuan turned back and asked, "Grand Preceptor, you haven't explained clearly. If we summon the Sandstorm Season but fail to obtain the Great Square Pot, how will we return?"
That was the key point!
Sun Fuping smiled calmly, "Before we left, I received special permission from His Majesty to draw upon the divine altar's Yuan Power!"
Everyone was delighted, and their worries eased.
Yuan Power was the combined essence of a nation's fortune, the will of its people, and the morale of its army.
It greatly enhanced divine abilities, could suppress all malevolent spirits, and even break enemy divine formations and arrays.
It was one of the nation's most precious strategic resources, with countless uses.
As a national strategic reserve, Yuan Power was usually sealed within the divine altar, and not even high-ranking officials could casually access it.
Fortunately, the Grand Preceptor was in charge of this, and Sun Fuping had received the king's special permission.
With this promise, their chances of leaving the desert alive increased tenfold.
Although the Yuan Kingdom's fortune wasn't at its peak, protecting two hundred people through the desert wouldn't be difficult.
At this point, He Lingchuan had eaten and drunk his fill.
He stood up and stretched, "In that case, let's get to work at dawn, shall we?"
Nian Songyu gave a sarcastic smile, "Where do you think you're going?"
"I'm tired. I'm going to sleep," He Lingchuan yawned, "Aren't we supposed to be busy tomorrow? There are no beauties here, no songs to listen to. What else is there to do besides sleep?" This kid just loved to oppose him.
"Who told you that you could rest?" Nian Songyu didn't even bother to hide his disdain, "You'll work tonight. Right now!"
"Doing what?" He Lingchuan couldn't stand him, "You?"
Nian Songyu stepped forward with a dark expression, and He Lingchuan retreated two steps, standing next to Zeng Feixiong, "Deputy Commander Zeng, protect me!"
Sun Fuping coughed lightly, "Focus on the task at hand. Bring the puppets forward."
He Lingchuan then remembered that the Grand Preceptor had tied up two puppets possessed by the Three Corpses Worms on the walnut boat and had brought them all the way into the city.
They were still stationed outside.
(End of Chapter)