129: Sandstorm, the ruins of the Scorpion King
Huan Huan's eyebrows twitched at the words, "Guest, this is an inn. If you want to drink or stay, of course, there's no problem, but if you're looking for a guide, please go somewhere else."
"A thousand taels," Qin Jiang said.
Huan Huan's eyes widened slightly, and she curved into a charming smile, "Money is certainly good, but right now is a busy time. There shouldn't be many guides left in the city.
Perhaps you don't know, our guides here all work with foreign merchants long-term, and very few take on private jobs."
"Three thousand taels," Qin Jiang drank a mouthful of strong liquor.
Hiss~
This time, it wasn't just Huan Huan; even those who had been scared earlier couldn't help but gasp.
He was truly rich and powerful. If they wanted to go to Flying Dragon City, it would only cost thirty to fifty taels, even if it was a team of over a dozen people.
Huan Huan's expression changed for a moment, then, as if having made a certain decision, she said, "If the guest can add up to five thousand taels, then Huan Huan can personally take you!"
Qin Jiang raised an eyebrow slightly, "You? You're a guide? You shouldn't be from around here, should you?"
Huan Huan shook her head gently, "My father and husband are both locals, so I'm half-local. But don't worry, I've been to Flying Dragon City many times by myself, there won't be any problems!
Moreover, during this time, sandstorms will appear in the Black Scorpion Desert. If you look for local guides, they won't agree to it. For them, sandstorms are a symbol of the Desert God and cannot be offended."
"Alright," Qin Jiang nodded slightly and took out five one-thousand-tael silver notes from hisPregnant.
For him, the so-called money was just numbers now. As long as he could achieve his goal, he didn't care about the amount of money.
Huan Huan took the money, carefully tucked it into herPregnant, and looked at the people in the inn, "Everyone, I'm truly sorry, the small shop will be temporarily closed for half a month. Today's drinks are on Huan Huan!"
The people drinking looked at each other, then silently got up and left. In front of Qin Jiang, they really didn't dare to laugh out loud.
"Let's go," Qin Jiang said.
"Now? So urgent?" Huan Huan asked, then nodded, "Alright, then let's go to the backyard."
The two came to the backyard, where there were only a few simple wooden houses and a camel trough. Two camels were eating fodder.
"Please wait a moment, I'll go tell my father-in-law."
Saying that, Huan Huan walked into one of the wooden houses, and an old cough and a little girl's voice, filled with reluctance, came from inside.
A moment later, Huan Huan walked out, her eyes a bit red.
Rubbing her face, she opened the trough gate, led the camels out, and hung the two huge iron boxes leaning against the wall onto the camels. "Guest, I still don't know your surname?"
"Qin."
"Young Master Qin, don't worry, the camels I raise are better than most guides'. It only takes five days to reach Flying Dragon City," Huan Huan said with a smile.
"Let's depart," Qin Jiang said.
"Mm, alright, I'll teach you how to ride."
Three days later, in the Black Scorpion Desert, two lines of camel footprints stretched for hundreds of meters before being buried by the sandstorm.
Huan Huan looked dusty, unmindful of her image, biting into a dry, cracked flatbread.
It was harder than a stone, even with her Grandmaster-level strength, it was tough to bite.
Her gaze unconsciously fell on Qin Jiang beside her, who had a rosy complexion and spotless clothes.
In fact, she hadn't seen him eat anything these past few days.
"Young Master Qin, do you want some water?" she asked.
Qin Jiang shook his head, "No need, how much further is it?"
Huan Huan shook her head, "I don't know how far, but it's still two days' journey. This desert is very strange; mirages often appear. Sometimes you can even see Flying Dragon City right in front of you, but no matter how you walk, you can't reach it."
Qin Jiang nodded slightly, he was aware of such situations.
"Let's eat while we walk," he said.
Huan Huan pouted at his words, "Alright, I'll have a drink of water."
After continuing for another half an hour, Qin Jiang suddenly reined in his camel. Huan Huan looked at him with some confusion.
"What's wrong, Young Master Qin? Are you hungry?"
Qin Jiang shook his head, raised his hand and pointed to the side, "Is that also a mirage?"
Huan Huan's eyes were puzzled. As she looked in the direction he pointed, her pupils suddenly contracted!
In the distant sky, dark clouds spread like ink.
"No, no, no, no, it's a sandstorm!"
Her face became flustered. She immediately jumped off the camel and began to arrange something on the ground.
Unlucky! Truly unlucky!
"Young Master Qin! There's a creature unique to the Black Scorpion Desert in this sandstorm, the Sand Scorpion, which is extremely venomous!
After you lie inside, no matter what you hear, do not open it! Wait for me to open it for you! Remember this! These Sand Scorpions can mimic human speech!"
In just a few breaths, she had already dug out two deep pits, then took down the two iron boxes from the camel and heavily stepped them into the sand pits.
"Squeak~"
"Alright, hurry and get in!" she shouted urgently, but saw that Qin Jiang made no movement.
Looking into the distance, the black clouds had already spread, now less than a kilometer away!
"Young Master Qin! Hurry! There's no time!" she shouted, directly grabbing Qin Jiang's pant leg, wanting to pull him in.
But her fingertips hadn't even touched Qin Jiang before they were blocked by an invisible repulsive force.
"You are still more professional, take care of yourself," Qin Jiang said, then directly soared into the air, releasing intense golden-black light around him.
For a moment, the light generated by Qin Jiang was like a new sun, illuminating the gloom beneath the black clouds.
Huan Huan stared blankly at the rapidly approaching sandstorm, almost rendered translucent. Through the dense sand, she could even clearly see the rapidly moving Sand Scorpions inside! Like streaks of dark shadows!
Roar—!!!
A Dragon roar resounded throughout the heavens and earth. The terrifying pressure from a higher life form made her directly collapse to the ground. She stared blankly at the sandstorm in front of her.
The next moment, a dark Dragon shadow instantly pierced through the entire sandstorm, and the ferocious power directly destroyed the almost overwhelming sandstorm!
Thud.
Qin Jiang landed lightly, casually flicking away the splashing sand.
Huan Huan stood frozen, staring blankly ahead. The scene of darkness had disappeared, and sunlight shone down, scorching the air.
She looked at Qin Jiang, her eyes gradually filling with terror. This was definitely not power that an ordinary Secret Martial Artist could possess!
A High-level Secret Martial Artist! Perhaps even a twelfth-level Peak Secret Martial Artist!
If that was the case...
Ignoring her disheveled appearance, she directly threw herself in front of Qin Jiang, "My Lord! My Lord! This humble woman has a request! The five thousand taels will be returned in full, and I hope My Lord will grant it!"
Qin Jiang was startled. He casually sent out a burst of origin energy to lift her up, "First, tell me what it is."
She nodded heavily, calming her excited emotions, "My Lord, this humble woman's father-in-law is actually one of the guides of the desert.
Not long ago, my father-in-law contracted the Black Qi disease during a guiding trip. Besides needing a large amount of money for treatment, he also needs a herb called Copper Thistle as the main medicine.
However, this herb is extremely rare and only found in the Scorpion King Ruins near Flying Dragon City. My husband, in order to save my father-in-law, went to the Scorpion King Ruins alone and has not returned since.
If possible, I hope My Lord can make a trip to the Scorpion King Ruins and rescue my husband.
Don't worry, the Scorpion King Ruins is not dangerous. It's just easy to enter but difficult to leave. It's nothing to you. I'm just afraid my husband didn't bring enough food, and if he delays any longer, I'm afraid he'll starve to death inside."