Chapter 98: The Camp!

News on the desert spreads just like the wind and sand.

Not only is it fast, it blots out the sun.

In a mere three days,

wave after wave of Sand Bandits appeared around Ten Mile Slope.

Their numbers quickly grew from a few hundred to over a thousand.

They were like wolves, staring intently at Ten Mile Slope.

Leng Wa had noticed something was wrong as early as three nights ago.

Because people had stopped coming to Ten Mile Slope.

Ten Mile Slope wasn’t the only path to Baishi Town, but it was the easiest one to take.

In the past, there would be at least two or three merchant caravans passing through daily.

On busy days, there could be as many as seven or eight.

Yet in the last three days, there hadn’t been a single one.

However, less than two li away from Ten Mile Slope, a temporary camp had appeared.

This camp had cropped up three days ago.

Leng Wa didn’t know how it was originally established.

He only knew that the appearance of this camp was eerie.

As soon as it appeared, it attracted all the passing merchant caravans.

And it was becoming increasingly lively.

Looking at it now, there were at least several thousand people.

“This is even livelier than a New Year’s market.”

Standing on the Fort walls, Leng Wa stared at the distant camp with wide eyes.

He was both amazed and found it even more inconceivable.

Because he saw the scouts of the Sand Bandits.

And not just one group of Sand Bandit scouts.

At first, these Sand Bandits were eyeing the Fort, but once this market-like temporary camp appeared, they shifted their focus over there.

There were still people watching this side too.

But he had done the math.

Not even one in ten remained.

At least twelve or thirteen groups of Sand Bandit scouts would pass before someone would spare a couple of glances this way.

He could spot these Sand Bandits himself.

Could the people in that camp fail to notice them?

They definitely could.

But the people in that camp simply turned a blind eye.

That’s right!

Turning a blind eye!

He had just seen another Sand Bandit scout pay money and walk openly into that temporary camp.

What were they doing?

Doing business? Have they lost their lives?

Those were Sand Bandits!

Sand Bandits who kill and plunder!

Leng Wa was filled with confusion.

Subconsciously, he looked at Ding Xie beside him.

Ding Xie’s expression was calm.

The appearance of this camp was an accident.

Ding Xie was absolutely certain of this.

He had personally watched two caravans discover the Sand Bandits, not dare to act rashly, and temporarily huddle together for warmth, choosing to take a detour.

But only half a day later, these two caravans returned to Ten Mile Slope.

There wasn’t a single extra person in the group.

Nor was there anything unusual.

Yet they chose to set up camp.

Then, this camp developed rapidly.

Undoubtedly, someone wanted to muddy the waters.

And then, fish in those troubled waters.

Moreover, Ding Xie was certain that what the other party wanted to attract was definitely not the Sand Bandits.

The Wenxiang Cult?

Or rather, was it not just the Wenxiang Cult waiting for that person?

Were there others involved as well?

Thinking this, Ding Xie turned and walked toward the Fort walls.

“Brother?”

Leng Wa called out.

“Let’s go take a look.”

As Ding Xie spoke, his entire body sank into the sand.

It had been three days; the time was about right.

Returning to the Region was not a short journey.

Leng Wa, up on the wall, did not follow.

Leng Wa was simple, but he wasn’t stupid.

If Ding Xie wanted to take him, he wouldn’t have traveled through the sand.

Traveling through the sand meant he didn’t want to bring him along.

Leng Wa climbed down the wall and walked toward his lodging in the Fort—a rented house with no courtyard wall, just an adobe building.

The lease was for three months.

There was only one day left.

Neigh!

Amidst the neighing, the crisp sound of hooves rang out.

Ding Xie’s old horse led a group of horses, running joyfully past Leng Wa.

Looking closely, at the end of the line were sheep, dogs, cats, and chickens.

The little calico cat even ran a few steps before getting tired and jumping onto a big yellow dog’s back.

“They’ve gone mad!”

“They’ve really gone mad!”

“They’ve all become spirits!”

Watching the departing livestock, Leng Wa kept muttering to himself.

He didn’t know what had happened; all he knew was that Ding Xie had touched these animals, and then they had become strange.

Each was smarter than the last.

Especially that old horse, the yellow dog, and the calico cat.

To Leng Wa, they were almost like humans.

Because of this, he had begged Ding Xie to touch him too.

Then, he got a smack on the back of his head.

Thinking back now, it still hurt.

“Is my brother really some kind of Reincarnation?”

“Is that touch a form of enlightenment?”

“He’s even more powerful than the immortals in the Qinling Mountains.”

Leng Wa recalled an old man he had met in the Qinling Mountains who claimed to be an immortal.

The moment the man saw him, he said Leng Wa had immortal fate.

He wanted to lead him into the Dao.

At the time, Leng Wa was busy hiding from a Mountain Demon and couldn’t be bothered with the old man.

Looking back, it was truly a narrow escape.

But immediately, Leng Wa thought of something else.

However, those red fruits were really delicious.

He wondered if there were any more near that Mountain Demon’s place?

If there were, I’ll pick a couple for my brother to taste.

Leng Wa thought as he pushed open the door and entered the house.

He had been on watch all night, but he wasn’t sleepy.

However, he had to cook for Ding Xie.

This was no easy task.

Ding Xie wasn’t a picky eater, but his appetite was enormous.

One man could eat as much as ten strong men.

Getting it all ready would take half the morning.

But as soon as he pushed the door open, Leng Wa’s hand went to the knife at his lower back.

There was the smell of blood.

It was very faint.

But having been with Ding Xie recently, Leng Wa was extremely sensitive to this smell.

“Little brother, I mean no harm.”

Just as Leng Wa was about to draw his knife, a voice rang out.

A man with blood on his waist and abdomen and messy hair walked out from the side.

A hood covered his face, and he wore a sheepskin coat.

He had a saber tucked under his arm, and his steps were steady and light.

A Swordsman!

Leng Wa identified the man’s background at a glance.

But because of this, Leng Wa became even more vigilant.

Swordsmen weren’t all good people.

The man seemed to understand this.

He immediately placed the saber from under his arm onto the ground, sat down on the floor, and spoke in a negotiating tone, “Little brother, could I ask a favor of you?”

“No!”

Leng Wa shook his head.

The man was stunned, seemingly not expecting Leng Wa to refuse so bluntly.

“I’ll give you a reward.”

The man emphasized.

“I don’t want it!”

Leng Wa frowned and began to drive him out.

“Leave my house right now.”

“Fine!”

Without a hint of hesitation, the man stood up, took his saber, and walked out.

Watching the man cross the threshold and disappear from sight, Leng Wa gripped his knife and rushed out, heading straight for the old horse.

Bad news!

He’s attracted a wolf!

“No way!”

“We agreed on three days, so three days it is!”

“Not a single day more!”

In a camp tent, a man was shouting loudly.

“Exactly!”

“As merchants, we must have integrity.”

“If we said three days, it’s three days.”

Another man also began to shout.

Not only were the two dressed in fine clothes, but they were also covered in gold and silver.

It was just a bit too much gold and silver.

It didn’t give them a shred of noble air.

Instead, they looked like monkeys dressed in human clothes.

The person arguing with them was dressed simply in ordinary clothes, with a face scarf to block the wind and sand.

Moreover, looking at the two shouting men, he didn’t seem the least bit anxious.

He only said softly—

“Lin-san, Wang-san, I can pay more.”