Chapter 00042: Fishing in the Sea of Sand
# Fishing in the Sea of Sand
Chapter 42
Novel: After the Immortals Disappeared
Chapter 42: Fishing in the Sea of Sand
This was truly a case of trying to put out a fire with a cup of water.
Besides, if they gave away all their water, what would they drink later? It would take a full two days to walk back to the nearest post station from here.
He Lingchuan crossed his arms and said, "I'll bet you ten taels of silver that Grandmaster Sun already has a plan. We don't need to worry about it."
After all, it's always easier to relax under the shade of a big tree.
Ten taels? Situ Han's face twisted in discomfort.
"I can't afford that bet."
Sun Fuping glanced at them, then flicked his finger over his ring.
In an instant, a round, puffy ball the size of a pomelo appeared in his hand.
This old man really had some tricks up his sleeve.
He Lingchuan watched as Sun Fuping stuffed the ball into the mouth of the beast carved on the top of his staff.
The large ball disappeared without a trace.
Immediately after, Sun Fuping turned the staff, aiming the beast's head toward the pool.
He muttered a few incantations under his breath.
The beast's mouth opened, and a thick, long stream of water shot out, directly into the pool.
"This is the water sac of a pellet fish," Sun Fuping explained casually.
He Lingchuan had heard of this strange fish before.
It lurked in the lakes and seas of central Yuan Kingdom and could even shoot water jets to knock large prey like cows, horses, and young elephants into the water to feed on them.
Its water-jetting ability was formidable.
During the dry season, it could survive out of water for a month or so.
But right now, they didn't need its water-jetting ability.
The sac could shrink and store water, and even the weight of the water was reduced.
It was truly a treasure for traveling through the desert.
They continued filling the pool for over half an hour when Nian Songyu suddenly said, "Something's wrong. The water hasn't spread out for a while now."
Given the size of the beast's mouth, the pool should have been full long ago, with water even spilling over.
But right before their eyes, only two-thirds of the pool was filled, while the remaining third remained dry.
Where did the water go?
Sun Fuping pressed his hand against the bottom of the pool.
"There's indeed something unusual here. The water is being absorbed."
"What do we do now?"
Sun Fuping's expression darkened slightly.
"Let's wait and see."
Another half-hour passed, and the beast had emptied all the water from its belly.
It even coughed a couple of times.
But the water level in the pool hadn't changed much compared to before.
Everyone knew they were in trouble now.
Plans couldn't keep up with changes.
No matter how meticulous Sun Fuping's plan was, there were always moments when it couldn't adapt to the situation.
Nian Songyu thought for a moment, then turned to Zeng Feixiong and ordered, "Go and collect all the water pouches from everyone."
Zeng Feixiong was startled.
"Take away their drinking water? We still have to survive in the desert for several more days. What if it's still not enough?"
Nian Songyu glanced at Sun Fuping, who remained silent, so he insisted, "We can't let all our efforts go to waste. Go and collect the water now."
In desert travel, water was essential for survival.
Zeng Feixiong couldn't imagine how much resistance this order would face from his men.
"But... but..."
Nian Songyu's face darkened.
"Are you disobeying orders?"
Zeng Feixiong's mind was in turmoil, and he couldn't help but look at He Chunhua.
Nian Songyu's expression grew even more sinister.
These petty officials really had no sense of propriety.
He Chunhua didn't have a good solution either.
Should they defy orders and turn back, or pour everyone's drinking water into the pool and leave it to fate?
Neither option seemed rational.
As he struggled to make a decision, he heard his eldest son, He Lingchuan, say nonchalantly, "Why make things so tense? If you take away the soldiers' water, how will we get out of the desert later?"
Nian Songyu said coldly, "The last stretch is always the hardest. What if we're just short of this little bit?"
"Can you guarantee that we're just short of this little bit?"
Nian Songyu smiled.
"Yes."
And if not? By then, the water would already be gone, and the soldiers wouldn't dare to mutiny.
He Lingchuan rolled his eyes and turned to Sun Fuping.
"The pool needs to be filled with water, right?"
"Right."
"What if it's not clean water?" He Lingchuan's focus was on this point.
"Would other liquids work?"
"Like what?"
"Blood."
To prevent these two from getting any twisted ideas, like human sacrifice, he quickly clarified, "I'm talking about the blood of demons or exotic beasts. There are plenty of big creatures in the Panlong Desert. It shouldn't be hard to catch a few and drain their blood."
Sun Fuping's eyes lit up.
"That makes sense! Blood sacrifices are often used in rituals. The Dafang Hu wouldn't mind having blood mixed in the pool. In fact, it might even prefer it."
He tossed the walnut boat to Nian Songyu and pointed at He Lingchuan.
"Take some men into the desert and bring back a few giant beasts."
...
After replenishing their supplies of Soul-Soothing Powder, the group re-entered the desert.
The creatures of the desert and the Three-Corpse Worms were more active during the cool night.
Nian Songyu released the walnut boat for everyone to stand on and ordered the boatman to cast bait into the sand to fish.
Nian Songyu stood while He Lingchuan sat, neither bothering to look at the other.
This fishing expedition wasn't going well.
After a long time, no prey had taken the bait.
He Lingchuan's back was sore from sitting, and when a few Three-Corpse Worms drifted near the walnut boat, he called someone over to massage his back.
"Ah, that feels good! A little lower, yes, lower! Use a bit more strength."
The young master of the He family sighed in contentment.
Hedonism truly eroded one's willpower.
Who would have thought that just three months ago, he had been a recluse who couldn't stand anyone coming within half a meter of him?
Nian Songyu shook his head inwardly, but then He Lingchuan, with his eyes closed, asked, "Why did Commander Nian personally come to Blackwater City?"
"What?"
"It's a mission with no survivors. How could the Northern Expedition General bear to send his beloved son into such danger?" He Lingchuan opened his eyes slightly.
"Is he really your father?"
Nian Songyu's face twitched.
"Didn't Prefect He also bring you along? Are you not his son?"
What a tasteless insult.
He Lingchuan waved his hand, and with a "thud," a dagger flew out and embedded itself in the wooden plank Nian Songyu was leaning against.
By the way, his throwing accuracy was still terrible.
Once the dagger left his hand, he had no idea where it would land.
Before Nian Songyu could react, his guards had already stepped forward, drawing their swords and preparing to shout at He Lingchuan.
He Lingchuan raised a finger to his lips and said, "Shh, don't scare away the prey!" He pointed downward.
"Anyone who forgets the top priority will face military punishment!"
Nian Songyu waved his hand to dismiss his subordinates and said indifferently, "I can survive, but you might not. If you know what's good for you, behave and be a good dog. Then maybe you and your father can make it back alive. Otherwise, Madam Ying will be a widow, and as for your brother—"
He licked his lips, his eyes showing a hint of cruelty amidst his excitement.
"Don't worry, whether you live or die, I'll make sure he returns to the capital. He'll be very popular there!"
He Lingchuan stared at him, his face slowly darkening.
Why were the three major powers—the Governor of Xunzhou, the Grand Marshal, and Grandmaster Sun—all tangled up in this?
Perhaps his father shouldn't have accepted the mission involving the Dafang Hu?
Just as He Lingchuan was about to speak, the boatman's fishing rod suddenly jerked, nearly pulling him off the boat.
The prey had finally taken the bait!
With everyone working together, they finally managed to pull the creature from beneath the sand.
It was another earth dragon, though much smaller than the two they had encountered earlier.
It was small enough to fit into the boat.
(End of Chapter)