Chapter 27: Red Cliff Road

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From now on, I'll have to rely on my own wits. He Lingchuan changed the subject and asked, "Father, why must we return to the capital?"

"The He family's foundation is there. How could an unworthy descendant not return?"

He Lingchuan rolled his eyes. "We're surrounded by ears and eyes, do I have to spell it out?" He leaned in close to his father's ear, his voice a mere whisper, easily drowned out by the sound of hooves. "Our whole family was ruined by the emperor; why should we go back and work ourselves to death for him?"

He Chunhua frowned. "Otherwise, where would we find an opportunity to fulfill our ambitions? How can a man of ambition achieve greatness without relying on a powerful foundation?"

"The Western Ba Ling Kingdom would be fine too; doesn't our Qiansong Commandery border four countries? I think that monster country to the northeast isn't bad either…" He Lingchuan kept a watchful eye, dodging a slap He Chunhua swung at his head. "Besides, the domestic situation is tumultuous, with those peasant rebels raising flags and daring to call themselves petty kings! And look abroad—emperors change like revolving lanterns! I heard that in Xuan State to the east, they've had eleven emperors in twenty years, the shortest reigning for only nineteen days."

A genuinely high-risk profession, indeed.

What's wrong with this brat, always thinking of treason? He Chunhua said sternly, "How can insignificant states compare to Great Yuan? After all, we've been established for over sixty years, fully equipped and prepared."

Heh. He Lingchuan let out a long breath. "We've barely escaped death this time, Father. Won't you share what's truly on your mind with me?"

He Chunhua was slightly startled, then suddenly stared at him. "Has something possessed you?"

The words came out of nowhere, and cold sweat immediately beaded on He Lingchuan's back.

"What?"

His eldest son was courageous enough but not particularly perceptive; he shouldn't have seen through his father's reservations. He Chunhua looked at him, then said in a deep voice, "Don't ever speak such treasonous words again. They could cost you your head."

A gust of wind and sand blew by, and He Lingchuan sneezed.

Father's thoughts also run deep.

Grand Master Sun's convoy finally set foot on the Red Cliff Trade Route.

After traversing the heart of the mountains, a boundless world of yellow sand stretched out before them.

Dune after dune stood in the hot wind; some were as low as mounds of earth, while others rose dozens of zhang high, comparable to mountains. Yet, they were nothing like solid cliffs. Some massive dunes would vanish overnight, only to reappear suddenly in other depressions.

All vegetation had disappeared, not a speck of green to be seen.

As far as the eye could see, only vast emptiness remained.

The Red Cliff Road itself was laid out in the desert, five zhang wide, allowing several domestic carriages to travel abreast. The paving stones had lost their original color, becoming uneven from the countless footsteps of merchants coming and going. Some bricks were new, as Blackwater City and its neighboring countries each took responsibility for renovating sections of the road; other ancient bricks remained, their surfaces varying in shades of black, layered upon layer.

This made the Red Cliff Road resemble a vast, grayish-black serpent coiling through the sea of sand.

Zeng Feixiong also walked beside He Chunhua and his son. Seeing He Lingchuan's curiosity about the bricks, he explained, "The bricks are covered in bloodstains, both fresh and old. This road is home to many desert bandits, and many battles have taken place here. By the way, some of the bloodstains are over a hundred years old. The Red Cliff Road was once the route used by Panlong City to transport troops and provisions. It's said that countless massacres occurred along these roads."

To attack a besieged city, one must cut off the enemy's reinforcements and supplies.

As He Lingchuan listened, a sense of fierce bloodshed seemed to wash over him.

So many brutal battles, so many vibrant lives, so many resolute cries for homeland defense—all were ultimately buried by the endless yellow sand, leaving nothing behind.

Three years after the fall of Panlong City, Xiluo State perished; six years later, Xianyou State also fell.

These old adversaries had battled for decades, only to eventually collapse together, lost to the dust of history.

"Is that also why everyone displays the 'Bell Banner'?" He Lingchuan pointed to the tall flag at the very front of the convoy.

This was clearly an army of the Great Yuan, led by the highly respected Grand Master Sun, yet the convoy's banner bore a large embroidered character for 'Bell'.

It was inconceivable that people traveling now would carry an old banner from a previous dynasty.

In fact, it wasn't just their own convoy; almost all moving travelers on the Red Cliff Road prominently displayed the Bell Banner, as if sending a message to the entire desert.

Of course, all convoys would put away the Bell Banner after leaving the Red Cliff Road and before entering other countries' territories. That's why, although He Lingchuan had heard of it, he rarely saw this flag.

"Vengeful spirits and mutated monsters roam the desert, devouring anything they catch, but they don't step onto the Red Cliff Road. That's because it was the route the Great Wind Army traversed countless times back then. Everyone displays the Bell Banner to pay tribute to the Great Wind Army and to ensure their own safety."

According to He Lingchuan, it wasn't a tribute at all; it was clearly an imitation.

Zeng Feixiong pulled down the cloth covering his face, spat into a cloth, and then folded it away. "Saliva and urine cannot be casually spilled on the Red Cliff Road; they must be collected and carried away. Otherwise, it's considered a sign of disrespect and will anger the heroic spirits here."

He Chunhua also said, "In the past, many countries didn't believe in such superstitions and forbade their merchants from carrying the Bell Banner on the Red Cliff Road. The result was—"

"The result was that they later had no choice but to permit it," He Lingchuan understood. "The living have no reason to contend with the dead."

Just then, several loud shouts came from behind.

Everyone turned to look. From another convoy walking behind, a small, snow-white dog darted out, leaving the Red Cliff Road in a few bounds and sprinting towards the nearest dune.

Its young owner, a five-year-old girl, instinctively lifted her leg and gave chase the moment the dog slipped from her grasp.

Soon, she too had left the Red Cliff Road.

Before her family could react, a guard rushed forward from the rear, yelling at her, "Come back! Quick, come back!"

It was his shouts that He Lingchuan and the others heard.

The child's mother, a noblewoman, walked over and said discontentedly, "Lower your voice; don't scare my child!"

"If she doesn't come back now, your child will be gone!" the guard continued to yell. "Come back quickly, a monster is going to eat people!"

The desert was eerily empty, like a still painting; not a single wild animal appeared.

The little girl stopped, looked at the convoy, then at the distant white dog, and hesitated.

The child's mother said dismissively, "Go fetch her back."

The guard refused, unwilling to take even one step off the Red Cliff Road.

The child's mother had no choice but to stride quickly towards her daughter, scoop her up, and start walking back.

Nothing happened.

"You useless ma—" Before the noblewoman could finish her insult, the ground beneath her feet suddenly collapsed.

A large mouth suddenly appeared from below, swallowing both her and the child in one gulp.

The screams were horrific and brief.

At that moment, they were less than three steps from the Red Cliff Road.

After devouring the two, the monster didn't immediately submerge but instead swiftly moved towards the white dog not far away.

The creature resembled a flounder, with its mouth on top of its head. Its body was like a large, flat, round disc, its color blending in with the yellow sand. Had it not suddenly revealed itself, He Lingchuan might not have noticed its presence even if he had approached it closely.

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