Red Envelope Group of the Three Realms

Panda Novel

“I’m afraid not. The mark in my grandfather’s map is very close to the Black Desert. But we don’t really know how near or far it is until we get there. I cannot confirm anything until then!” Zhuo Qunfeng replied.

“I remember you said once that your grandfather and the others had to turn back halfway due to a big sandstorm, right?” Chen Xiaobei asked.

“Yes! There are no trees in the desert so there was nothing to keep the wind at bay. Sandstorms are even more terrifying than a Tsunami! Even a towering mountain of sand could be blown away to nothing by the wind. Even a person with our cultivation level would die buried under all that sand!”

Luo Puti frowned. Zhuo Qunfeng and Chen Xiaobei’s combat powers were almost 100,000. Even they could die in a sandstorm? That really was alarming to hear!

“The weather has been good, and it’s not a windy season. Hmm, I’m guessing there probably won’t be any sandstorm, right?” Chen Xiaobei questioned, looking at the sky.

“Logically speaking, it should not. But no one could really say for sure what could possibly happen. This desert is called ‘Taklamakan’, which translates to ‘A place of no return’ in Mandarin. My grandfather said that this place is forbidden for humans! The people of Xijiang said that it was abandoned by the gods, and conquered by demons! The deeper you venture, the more scientifically unexplainable, the phenomena there are! Even on a good weathered day like this, we cannot let our guards down!”

Chen Xiaobei and Luo Puti nodded.

Chen Xiaobei was even more in a state of higher alert now – Yue Changkong told him once that China’s biggest moving sand dunes occur in the Black Desert.

When the gale blows, the deserts will move. Being engulfed by the sand was like being trapped in a swamp; the harder you struggle, the deeper you will go.

A demigod was once buried there alive!

Zhuo Qunfeng’s grandfather and his expedition team were lucky enough to have evacuated the place. If they had stubbornly pressed forward, they would all have died.

“Are you ready? If you are, then follow me. Let’s go!”

The grandson of Kunlun Faction’s first elder who was leading at the front of the group, issued the orders and lead the group forward to the direction pointed in the map.

The leader of the expedition was actually supposed to be Zhou Xiaokun and Ding Ding’ao. But after what happened last night despite having explained themselves to the rest, they were too embarrassed that they decided to hover back in the middle of the group to lay low for now.

Chen Xiaobei and Luo Puti chose to stay at the tail end of the group. Besides Zhuo Qunfeng, they decided not to have too much interaction with anyone else.

As the proverb saying goes, when one is not on the same page with each other, it is better to keep the conversation short.

The best was just for everyone to mind their own businesses.

That morning, the journey sailed without any hiccups.

Trailing the map, they finally arrived at the first refilling stop!

Based on Zhuo Qunfeng’s grandfather’s journal, there was supposed to be an oasis where they could fill up their drinking flasks.

However, when they finally arrived at the place, the water had already dried up. What was left were wilted plants scorched by the sun, a confirmation that there was once an oasis.

Things change drastically over time especially in the desert. It might look like this on one day, and the next after a stormy wind, it would be something else.

Transient – that would be the best description of a moving sand dune.

“All core disciples, please check on the fresh water supply now and let us know how many days it will last us!” The first elder’s grandson, Fang Lingce ordered.

All sixteen of the core disciples from Kunlun Faction and Xingxiu Faction immediately got to work.

Since they were travelling without camels, these core disciples had to carry all of their supplies.

Excluding the tents and food, they had only brought with them seven days’ worth of drinking water.

Not only were Zhou Xiaokun and his convoy of third generation rich brats carrying nothing, their usage of water was extremely wasteful. Within just half a day, they had already used up almost three days’ worth of water!

“Reporting, Elder Shixiong!! We still have enough to last through four days!” One of the core disciples reported.

Fang Lingce’s forehead crinkled at the news, and he ran to inform Zhou Xiaokun and Ding Ding’ao.

“Master Zhou! I’m from the Xingxiu Faction. Our purpose here is to ensure that we won’t be suffering in our situation. But then, if there isn’t going to be any water left, I don’t think I can afford to join you!” Ding Ding’ao said.

“Don’t we still four days’ worth of water? Why are you in such a hurry to leave?” Zhou Xiaokun said. “Worst comes to worst, we will share our water supply with you!”

Fang Lingce frowned at this. “Elder Shixiong, we also need water! How are we supposed to share something so vital as this?”

“We’ll just take from the lower core brothers’ ration. They will have to stretch one day’s worth of water into three days!” Zhou Xiaokun paused for a moment to think and then added, “Also, we’ll cut off the water supply of those named Chen and Luo! Not a single drop! We’ll give the Xingxiu Faction two days’ worth of water!”

“What…” Fang Lingce’s thoughts on this decision reflected vividly on his face.

“What’s the problem? Without Xingxiu Faction’s help, how are we supposed to survive any possible poisoning?” Zhou Xiaokun’s tone was obdurate. “Whoever has a problem with this, send him to me!”

“Yes.”

Fang Lingce had no choice but to agree.

Back in Kunlun Faction, young master Zhou Xiaokun had always had his ways in everything. No one dared disobey him.

“Master Ao! Are you satisfied?” Zhou Xiaokun asked.

“Yes! Very much!” Ding Ding’ao smiled. “I will stay so that I can watch Chen Xiaobei and Luo Puti suffer! I wonder, with no water in the desert, will they come to kneel before us? Hehehe.”

“Heh, even if they come begging from me, I won’t give them any! Unless Luo Puti strips naked and lie on bed, I won’t give them a single drop!” Zhou Xiaokun laughed. “If you’re game, then let’s play. If not, get the hell out of my sight!”

“That’s right! That’s exactly right!” Ding Ding’ao smiled. “They are at a disadvantage to toy with us!”

On the other end of the group, as Zhuo Qunfeng spotted Chen Xiaobei and Luo Puti, a sullen look fell over his face.

“What is it? Why the long face?” Chen Xiaobei asked.

“Elder Shixiong gave out an order that from today onwards, we’re not allowed to give you any freshwater,” said a devastated Zhuo Qunfeng.

“What? No water? What are we going to do?” Luo Puti panicked.

If it were someone else, they would have already chosen to retreat.

But not Luo Puti. She lived her entire life just to enter the Black Desert. How could she possibly give up halfway?

More importantly, besides having the roadmap, Zhou Xiaokun and his expedition team had done their research and came prepared.

With so many unknown variables ahead, following their convoy was the only way they could learn about those things.

Chen Xiaobei had agreed to go with Zhuo Qunfeng for this very reason.

If they wanted to find Black Desert, they could not afford to leave the group.

But if they chose not to follow, then they would have no water supply!

Wedged between the dilemma at hand, Luo Puti completely lost her cool.

Chen Xiaobei, on the other, did not seemed peturbed by this.

“Fine then. They can keep their water. If they ever run out of drinking water, they better not come running to me!”

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