Chapter 29: A Wager Against the Sands

Chapter 29: A Wager Against the Sands

As dusk settled, Ji Bingyan and Chu Liuxiang emerged from the shade of a building, their rest complete. Ahead lay the vast desert, its golden dunes glowing softly in the fading sunlight. This was the perfect hour to begin their journey—neither too cold nor too hot.

After scouting the town, they found no sign of Hu Tiehua. Asking Xiao Pan, who had been chatting with locals, they learned Hu Tiehua had apparently made a bet with Li Chaofeng. Details were scarce, but Xiao Pan mentioned Li Chaofeng had spent silver buying dozens of bundles of wheat straw—a commodity no one else seemed to care about.

The town, perched on the desert’s edge, grew wheat rather than rice, common in the north. When they finally located the pair, they saw Hu Tiehua darting across a sandy patch, laying wheat straw in neat grids using his Lightness Skill. Nearby, Li Chaofeng moved with equal speed, planting the straw into the sand with a wooden spade. He buried the center of each stalk, leaving both ends exposed, creating square patches of straw that resembled tiny fields.

A group of children watched, wide-eyed, as Li Chaofeng divided the sand into orderly sections.

“Hu Tiehua, are you trying to waste your strength?” Ji Bingyan snapped. Known for his meticulous planning, Ji Bingyan had let the Black Pearl slip through his fingers—a mistake he wouldn’t repeat. While he usually ignored Hu Tiehua’s antics, conserving energy was critical in the desert.

Chu Liuxiang observed Li Chaofeng’s effortless movements, impressed by his stamina. In the martial world, true cultivation strength was rarely revealed without a fight. Yet Li Chaofeng’s control of True Qi was evident, his skill far beyond mere rumors of his agility.

Hu Tiehua, catching his breath, explained, “The kid bet me these straw patches will survive the desert winds until we return.”

Chu Liuxiang chuckled. “And the stakes?”

“If I lose, I bathe every half-month. If he loses, no more horse meat dishes.”

Chu Liuxiang nodded. “Fair enough.”

Ji Bingyan, however, paled. “Fair? It’s absurd! If those straws remain, even half of them, I’ll break Hu Tiehua’s legs and force him to bathe daily!”

Hu Tiehua froze. “What’s the big deal?”

Ji Bingyan’s eyes burned with intensity. “If the straw holds, it’ll anchor the sand, stopping dunes from burying this town. With enough straw, Li Chaofeng could erase this desert entirely.”

Silence fell. Even Hu Tiehua stared at the straw grids, realization dawning.

Li Chaofeng, finishing his work, approached. Ji Bingyan hesitated, then asked, “Will this actually work?”

Li Chaofeng shrugged. “I read about it in an old text. A gamble, nothing more.”

Ji Bingyan’s hope flickered. “Of course… straw can’t defeat the desert.”

“Unless,” Li Chaofeng added, smirking at Hu Tiehua, “people don’t rip it out for firewood.”

Ji Bingyan summoned Xiao Pan. “Tell the townsfolk this land is mine. Protect the straw, and I’ll reward them.”

He paused, then sighed. “Better yet—say this is Hu Tiehua and Li Chaofeng’s bet. Let the townsfolk guard it themselves.”

The group laughed. In the martial world, bets often defied logic.

Ji Bingyan left Xiao Pan behind to oversee the town. He chose Shi Tuo as his desert companion—his survival skills invaluable. As they departed, Ji Bingyan handed Xiao Pan a sealed letter. “If we don’t return in a month, send this to Lanzhou.”

He didn’t explain the straw’s true purpose. Hope, he knew, was a fragile thing.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end