Chapter 34: Desert Dilemma

Chapter 34: Desert Dilemma

Beneath the sand dunes, a simple sheepskin tent had been erected. Ji Bingyan had Shi Tuo direct the camels to form a circle around the tent, then stood gazing toward it, deep in thought.

Hu Tiehua had already carried the four Peng men into the tent. Li Chaofeng lit a fire outside using dry branches, setting up an iron pot to prepare a porridge-like meal.

Chu Liuxiang approached Ji Bingyan from behind, watching Li Chaofeng toss shredded flatbread and spices into the pot. He asked softly, "Do you still suspect Li Chaofeng?"

Ji Bingyan shook his head. "If their coordination during the previous ambush could be explained, this time’s teamwork is simply too seamless to fake."

The four men and five horses had been driven here by unseen forces, but over two miles of galloping, the horses’ speed remained constant. Ji Bingyan calculated the timing and realized Li Chaofeng’s warning had coincided precisely with their arrival.

By modern standards, Li Chaofeng would have needed a communication device like a mobile phone to pinpoint the distance so accurately. In ancient times, even using secret signals would require evading Ji Bingyan and Chu Liuxiang’s sharp senses.

After explaining his reasoning, Ji Bingyan sighed. Suspicions of betrayal were always messy.

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on it—their bigger problem was Stone Guanyin. He suspected she had fully targeted their group. And now they had four more mouths to feed.

Chu Liuxiang sensed Ji Bingyan’s regret but merely patted his shoulder before walking to Li Chaofeng. He stared at the porridge being stirred into a slurry. The aroma was decent, but the texture...

Chu Liuxiang grimaced. "Little Gourmet God, are you trying to create a desert specialty?"

Li Chaofeng, now stirring the pot, glanced up with a sneer. "You keep eating your flatbread. This is for the Peng family."

Though unsure what the Pengs had endured, they likely lacked the strength to chew rock-hard flatbread. Li Chaofeng added meat crumbs and salt before shouting into the tent, "Is anyone awake in there?"

Inside, Hu Tiehua dripped water onto the Peng men’s lips as instructed, keeping them from dying of thirst. Hearing Li Chaofeng’s call, he saw the bearded Peng Yihu open his eyes.

"Wake up! Wake up!" Hu Tiehua exclaimed, relieved. He’d followed Li Chaofeng’s orders to the letter but had no idea how to proceed.

Peng Yihu suddenly bolted upright, screaming, "Demons! Thousands of demons attacking!"

Li Chaofeng and Chu Liuxiang entered just as Peng Yihu tried to rise.

"Immobilize him!" Li Chaofeng barked.

"Got it!" Hu Tiehua’s fingers darted, pressing acupoints to restrain Peng Yihu. Li Chaofeng set the pot aside to cool, then examined Peng Yihu’s eyes, waving his fingers before them. Slowly, Peng Yihu’s gaze steadied, his mind clearing.

"Are you Hu Tiehua?" Peng Yihu rasped, recognizing one of the three. He’d met Hu Tiehua’s father, Peng Yun, before.

Hu Tiehua grinned. "Kid, you finally woke up! You’ve aged me decades!"

Li Chaofeng handed Hu Tiehua a bowl of porridge. "Feed him this." He had no intention of spoon-feeding a grown man.

Hu Tiehua released Peng Yihu’s pressure points. Starving, Peng Yihu gulped the bland porridge greedily, snatching the bowl himself. After three bowls, his composure returned. He saw his companions stirring awake, then panicking, shouting "Demons!" again.

"Spit!" Hu Tiehua’s fingers flew—six precise acupressure strikes—before repeating Li Chaofeng’s technique, steadying their gazes.

Once all were lucid, Li Chaofeng served them porridge. Peng Yihu recounted their ordeal: the Peng Five Tigers escorting a caravan to Kucha Kingdom, ambushed mid-journey. Their water pouches pierced by venomous spines, they’d stumbled upon a water source while chasing their attackers. Desperate, they drank recklessly, only to suffer hallucinations—slaughtering illusions with blades until one of them died. Fleeing deeper into the desert, thirst overtook them until they collapsed.

As he spoke, Peng Yihu suddenly remembered his mission. "Have you seen our cargo chests?" He struggled upright, but Hu Tiehua restrained him.

"Relax", Hu Tiehua assured. "They’re outside. We haven’t touched them. Rest first."

Peng Yihu, knowing Hu Tiehua’s reputation, nodded. The precious Star of Paradise still rested on his shoulder—Hu Tiehua had no reason to lie.

Before he could speak further, Peng Yihu’s eyes drooped, and he collapsed asleep. The other three followed suit.

Hu Tiehua steadied them, alarmed. "Snake Boy, are they okay?"

Li Chaofeng, now cleaning the pot, replied, "Fine. I added calming herbs. They’ll recover fully after resting."

Hu Tiehua rolled his eyes but arranged them comfortably. He and Chu Liuxiang stepped outside.

Ji Bingyan, still strategizing for the next day, beckoned the trio with a frown.

Chu Liuxiang and Hu Tiehua exchanged glances—they knew Ji Bingyan’s moods well. Li Chaofeng wiped the pot clean before joining them.

"Is it the water supply?" he asked directly.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end