Chapter 79: Closed Doors, No Visitors

He Lingchuan threw two more stones, which met the same fate. Did this signify they were unwelcome?

While everyone could indeed exit after the Black Dragon's death, the passage to the secret realm simultaneously closed.

He Chunhua was disheartened.

After immense effort, suffering losses, and even killing high-ranking officials, it was uncertain how Qiansong County would later offend the Xunzhao Governor and the Grand Marshal.

After all, General Nian's most esteemed son, Nian Songyu, was dead, as was Sun Fuping, who had mysteriously lost his title as Imperial Advisor.

The He father and son had played a significant role in their demise.

Would the Royal Court assign blame if an investigation followed?

The future seemed bleak at the thought.

“Chuan'er, what wish did you make to the Black Dragon?”

“I didn’t even know I made a wish!” He Lingchuan said with a bitter smile, gesturing to the soldiers nearby. “Ask them, did I exchange more than a few words with the Black Dragon?”

Those who had been listening from the city wall, including Mao Tao and Situ Han, shook their heads vigorously. In a moment of crisis, who would have the leisure to make a wish?

“This is a trophy,” He Lingchuan said, presenting the broken blade. “Dad, do you want it?”

He Chunhua, somewhat dispirited, replied, “You keep it.”

After over ten thrilling hours, everyone was exhausted. The only good news was that the raging sandstorm outside the city had temporarily ceased, revealing the desert’s somber natural hue once more.

He Chunhua ordered them to rest where they were and return home the following morning.

Since the Great Wind Army had also left the illusion, they were currently patrolling the desolate Dragon Coiling City. They ignored the humans but drove away or killed the malevolent spirits lingering within the city.

The presence of these heroic spirits provided much reassurance to the humans.

He Lingchuan led He Chunhua to a sheltered courtyard to rest, with Zeng Feixiong and Situ Han automatically following. Mao Tao was still hesitating when He Lingchuan turned and instructed him, “Bring a pot in.”

“Alright!” Mao Tao exclaimed, delighted. He promptly acquired a large pot from a guard and carried it into the courtyard.

Zeng Feixiong gave a wry smile. “Young Master, all the water has been poured into the pond, so we can’t cook anything. I still have half a waterskin of fresh water for you.”

He Lingchuan beckoned Situ Han over. “Come, fill this pot.”

Situ Han was slightly mortified but, under the gaze of the other four, produced a waterskin and poured water, gurgling, into the pot.

Though the waterskin appeared deflated, it yielded enough fresh water to fill the pot eight-tenths full.

He Lingchuan laughed, “Boss Situ was a sand bandit leader; it’s not easy to completely empty him out.”

Situ Han chuckled, “Look at you, I’m a regular border soldier now, officially enlisted!”

Mao Tao then gathered several old pieces of furniture, broke them apart, and used them as firewood to boil water.

Pooling their resources, they still had plenty of rice cakes, naan bread, dried meat, and fish jerky, which they simply threw into the pot to boil. Besides salt, Mao Tao surprisingly even had seasoned pepper and chili powder.

After the fierce battle, everyone had a hearty appetite and desperately needed a substantial meal.

Just then, water began dripping from the roof tiles and wall tops; it was starting to rain.

The rain quickly intensified, turning into a sudden downpour.

Fortunately, they were all sitting under the eaves, spared from the drenching. Zeng Feixiong heard the cheers of the official army outside and, with a smile, declared, “This is truly a timely rain! We can live to return to Blackwater City!” He then stepped back into the rain, letting the water wash the dust from his face.

Even though the vengeful spirits and Three-Corpse Worms were not hostile, and heroic spirits protected them through the sandstorm area, living people still needed water to survive. Sun Fuping and Nian Songyu had made everyone empty their waterskins to replenish the well, but the return journey would take over ten days; how could they possibly manage without water?

Now, with this heaven-sent sweet rain resolving their biggest concern, how could they not be overjoyed?

“Actually, if we calculate the time, it’s almost the rainy season,” He Chunhua mused. The rainy season in the Dragon Coiling Desert typically began in September. He paused, then added, “By the way, what day in August is it?”

The four shook their heads. Time within the secret realm was chaotic, and once outside, there was no longer any reference point. Who knew how many days had passed?

Perhaps it was already September, in which case the rain was just a normal occurrence.

He Lingchuan instructed Mao Tao to find all intact bottles and jars to collect rainwater. They would rely on these for their journey out of the desert.

Without any instruction from their officers, all the Blackwater City soldiers did the same.

As Mao Tao carried an eighty-jin (roughly 40 kg) water jar into the courtyard, He Chunhua instructed his son to remove his upper garment so he could personally apply medicine.

He Lingchuan’s injuries were not severe, but surprisingly numerous. Most were inflicted by the grappling hooks of the Entangling Silk Rope; he had two marks on his nose alone, and a piece of flesh had been torn from the back of his hand.

He Lingchuan asked, though he already knew the answer, “Is Sun Fuping dead?”

Though Sun Fuping’s injuries had been healed by Nian Songyu, the magical power he had previously expended would not spontaneously return, and he still had to contend with enraged heroic spirits, demon birds, and the Blackwater City army. He Lingchuan doubted he could have possibly survived.

“The Great Wind Army commander delivered the final blow,” He Chunhua explained, “the same one who attacked us in front of the temple.”

“He never used the Imperial Decree, from beginning to end?”

“No,” He Chunhua sneered. “You were right; he had been stripped of his Imperial Advisor position and couldn’t control fate at all. Otherwise, even the Great Wind Army’s heroic spirits would have struggled against him.”

With the nation’s destiny protecting him, how could vengeful spirits approach? Even within a self-contained secret realm, this rule would still hold some sway.

Without the Imperial Decree, Sun Fuping was merely a powerful sorcerer, and they had more than enough people to defeat him.

He Lingchuan rubbed his hands, grinning, “Were there no last words or personal effects?”

He Chunhua, familiar with this greedy demeanor, replied, “Didn’t you already get a trophy? The one the Black Dragon gave you.”

“Just a broken blade, and I found it with my own sharp eyes. If I hadn’t had that flash of inspiration, we might all have been swallowed by the Black Dragon.”

He had a point; this young man was indeed the chief contributor to their escape. He Chunhua produced two more trophies, both magical artifacts:

The Entangling Silk Rope and a beast-head staff.

“These are the two main treasures; which one do you want?” He didn’t bother taking out the many other minor items.

“Men wearing red ropes look effeminate,” He Lingchuan said, choosing the staff. “This beast-head looks more appealing.”

“It’s yours,” He Chunhua said, putting away the Entangling Silk Rope and tying it around his own wrist.

When idle, the beast-head staff transformed into a short pestle, only a foot long, making it easy to carry. He Lingchuan toyed with the short pestle, musing, “Sun Fuping was both capable and cunning; why was he stripped of his Imperial Advisor position?”

If not for his incredibly good fortune, he, his father, and the Blackwater City army would never have escaped Sun Fuping’s schemes and would all have become sacrifices.

“It seems many changes have occurred in the capital,” He Chunhua sighed. “It’s frustrating that intelligence is so poor; we still haven’t received any news from the central and eastern regions. Without first-hand intelligence, even with strong troops, we have no chance of advancing eastward.”

Situ Han couldn’t help but interject, “How could the Black Dragon be Zhong Shengguang? It’s simply unbelievable.”